feigns | ► one → video/action。

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► one → video/action。

[There’s a teenager!

He’s wet, in something of a ‘I’m going to ignore how much of a drowned rat I appear’ way. One might assume that he fell into the fountain at some point, but equally, the all-encompassing wetness may have something to do with the fact that he was just in England, aka the land of copious amounts of tea-and-rain. His expression, for the record, reflects his irritation at being displaced without warning, frustration from trying to get whatever this might be to work (he's not entirely convinced it is), and curiosity. You know, at the whole ‘suddenly displaced, this isn’t London’ thing. It’s hard not to wonder about something like that.

When he finally speaks, he sounds Remarkably British, although his accent is rather indistinct for the most part – southern, one might assume, well-brought up, although there’s a slight hint of Welsh. No, he doesn’t do anything untoward with sheep. London doesn't have sheep.]

Normally, one only has to ask for my company to be granted with it. [This? This would be the unmistakable tone of `GRUMPINESS`.] I do try to make myself available for all, but it can’t be helped if someone misses out here and there. Kidnapping tends not to be the answer, though. If I said I was impressed, I’d sadly be lying, but if it makes you feel any better, you can pretend I’m of that opinion regardless. Likewise, I think you’ll find you’ve managed to overshoot ‘mysterious’.

[There’s a pause, and for a moment, there’s a flash of wry amusement in his expression, as if this entire scenario is utterly ridiculous to the point of absurdity.] “I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?'” I hope you won’t mind if I happen to refuse any bottles labelled ‘drink me’, or any foods labelled ‘eat me’. I’m quite content with who I am and don’t envision any existential crises a la dear Alice.

I won't decline any explanations, though, even if they happen to come from hatters and caterpillars and assorted small mammals with a fondness for tea and an inability to correctly tell the time.

[There’s another pause, and after he glances away from the device and up at the sky, he shoves the device into a pocket – without, for the record, bothering to turn it off, so have fun with the sound of footsteps and the wonderful blackness of pockets until the device times out.]

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I'm human, of course.

[Pause.]

Well, alright, in a place like the City maybe that isn't always a given.

Of co―. [He stops as she speaks again.] What else is there?

Er, all sorts, really. You're safer just assuming everything exists, even if you've just heard about them in stories.

[He doesn't sound remotely surprised by this revelation.]

Then it's fortunate I've done a lot of reading, isn't it?

I suppose that's for you to find out, isn't it? The City always manages to have its surprises, even for people who've been here for a while.

[The lightness in her tone lessens some at this, because it's true. Don't take the place like a joke, it can bite you in the arse when you least expect it.]

So perhaps I should be on the look out for caterpillars after all. Or perhaps it ought to be the Queen of Hearts -- but only after I've had a few arguments and played croquet, if I remember correctly.

[Unfortunately, Will won't act as if he takes any of this seriously until he absolutely has to.]

... beg your pardon?

[Mildly:] You said the city could surprise anyone, regardless of how long they've been here, and that I'd best believe in all manner of creatures.

No, I just...

[Never mind. Muggle pop culture references, she will never really understand them.]

Forget it. You got the important bit, that's what matters. I don't know what your world is like, but if it doesn't have anything like―I don't know―magic, then this place can be a bit of a shock. As if turning up somewhere completely different isn't enough of a surprise.

Does your world have magic?

Does yours?

Ah, I asked first. That's rather rude, you know.

Of course, I could just assume 'yes'. If you don't, or didn't, you'd have no reason to deflect the question.

I don't make a habit of giving everything away on the first date, mate.

[It's said teasingly, but Ginny keeps her magical status close and quiet until she has an idea of how the other person would react. A lesson she's learned here.]

I don't even know your name.

But you can always make exceptions.

Herondale. William Herondale.

I need a good reason to make an exception, William.

But at any rate, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ginny Weasley.

Am I not a good reason, Miss Weasley? [A beat.] Or a reason, at least. It's not often 'good' is affixed to description of me but for very specific situations.

[A longer pause.]

Assuming I was correct, of course: mine does, too.

Specific situations?

[Pause.]

You know, usually people ask questions about this world before poking around the others.

Would you care for a list? And if I'm to be absolutely truthful, I don't care about where I am. That's not important. What's important is where I'm not and who isn't here.

And usual doesn't look to have got you very far.

[brb grumping]

Fine, then.

[Grump for grump.]

But don't go running off to find a stake and some firewood just because I'm to be absolutely truthful.

[silence.]

Are you implying I'd go hunting vampires for no reason at all?

[... pause. Now, rather bewildered,]

Who said anything about vampires?

[Wait.]

You have them in your world, then?

Stakes and fire. One tends to associate that with vampires, even in fiction, not whatever you were attempting to refer to.

One tends to associate them with witch burnings, too. And I know that's history in a lot of worlds, but not exactly what I meant to be discussing.

[Thoughtfully.]

Worlds without some magic usually don't have vampires running around.

Edited 2011-06-06 13:31 (UTC)

They tend not to do much running around in any case, and I'd already answered your question. I'm used to being distracting, but it's not usual for my voice alone to have that effect.

Alright, alright. Merlin, you're tetchy, aren't you.

[Have a mildly irritated huff of breath coming from Ginny's side of the conversation, Mr Herondale.]

Yes, there's magic in my world. No, that doesn't make this place any easier to understand.

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