→ o1. [video]

[aperfectthird]

[The feed opens quite abruptly on a young man looking into the device with a combination of consternation and confusion. A finger appears and taps on the screen, then the view promptly swings around to a pair of perfectly polished dress shoes. The view shakes for a moment before coming back to Percy's face, brow still furrowed.]Oh, I think it's

Comments

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[7thborn]

[Merlin's beard. Merlin's beard. What's the City playing at? He's never been here before, not until that one weekend, and that had to have been a fluke because Percy Weasley doesn't ever follow where his family's been, not for years-Merlin, it's been years-and here he is because who else could it be, she can't forget a face, even if it belongs to her estranged older brother.

Had they even parted on good terms that weekend? Civil, at least? She'd been awful. But they'd still spoken. They'd been in the same room and she didn't draw her wand.

Breathe.

Breathe.

... How is she supposed to react to this? How is she supposed to greet him?]

voice ][

[7thborn]

[She can't deal with video right now. She cannot promise her expression won't be less than pleasant.]

Percy?

[... or her tone, for a matter of fact.]

voice ][

[aperfectthird]

Ginny?

You've been brought here, too? That is absolutely unacceptable. Don't worry. I'll get us back to England.

voice ][

[7thborn]

[And he's acting like they're best friends.]

I'm not worrying and no, you won't.

[... Alright, maybe she ought to reel her temper back in just a bit more. She pauses, working through the tightness in her throat, and when she speaks again, her voice is more even. Maybe softer on the edges. A little.]

And you haven't got to yell, I can hear you just fine.

video;

[oneminutemaze]

[ Ow. Yes, they can hear you. More importantly, the confusion toward technology and the red hair remind her of several people she knows. ]

There should be a button to turn it off, probably a red one, but they turn on themselves half the time anyway.

[ Pause. ]

I can't help with the rest, though. None of us can.

video;

[aperfectthird]

[A moment of shock as the girl appears on his screen, then he squints and peers at it, looking to either side of the phone as though looking for a secret fireplace before looking at the keypad.]

A red - yes, I see it now.

What do you mean, no one can help with the rest? That's absurd.

video;

[oneminutemaze]

[ There's a slight smile as he looks at either side of the phone; yes, definitely someone who isn't used to this sort of technology. ]

Let me rephrase that. None of the people who are likely to answer this can help, anyway. We've all been brought here -- this place is called the City, by the way -- by some beings who call themselves deities. They don't seem to have any intentions toward letting us go; instead, we get to deal with strange happenings everyone calls 'curses' every few days. No one outside the City can hear us on these, and there are barriers preventing anyone from leaving.

[ There's a pause, and then she gives him a slightly rueful smile. ]

I'm Ariadne. I've been here for about a month and a half now, though apparently I've been here before, which I don't remember at all. I can send you a guide, if you'd like. It's a bit outdated, but it's a good reference tool.

video;

[aperfectthird]

[There's a moment as the information sinks in, and his brow furrows.]

Hello, Ariadne, it's good to meet you. You're absolutely sure there's no way out at all? I'm sorry, but that's impossible.

Voice;

[alwaysadoe]

I'm terribly afraid that the Minister has no power here. Unfortunately you're stuck for the time being.

Voice;

[aperfectthird]

I beg your pardon? That's impossible.

Voice;

[alwaysadoe]

Until I arrived here, I would have agreed with you. You seem to have figured the voice bit of the device out at least.

Voice;

[aperfectthird]

What do you mean?

[bedsidemanners]

You won't get any help from him.

[aperfectthird]

Do you mean the Minister, or is there another 'him' to whom you're referring?

[primrosella]

Oh, are you from England? How lovely! Yes, you're doing it quite right, we can all hear you admirably--you could stand to speak a bit softer, really, and we'd all still hear you just fine--and I don't think you'll want to turn it off just yet, before anyone can answer you, but when you do there ought to be a button on the side near a little red light? Or possibly a switch of some sort, but it's usually near a red light, and that's how you know if it's on or off.

[aperfectthird]

What?

[A moment, and then he speaks again, in a more normal tone.]

Are you sure you can still hear me?

[primrosella]

Oh, yes! You're just fine, thank you. These devices are really quite good about picking up voices when someone speaks to them. You can hear me all right as well, can't you?

[aperfectthird]

Yes, ma'am, I can. I apologize for earlier, then; I don't use these sorts of things often.

My name is Percy Weasley. It's nice to meet you, Miss ... ?