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libraritology) wrote2011-07-14 12:33 am
libraritology) wrote2011-07-14 12:33 am
It Had to Be You, Log 1/??? [Audio]
Hello?
[The audio crackles, buzzes into the correct tuning, and there's the click of a dial. A distinctive, very proper, English voice speaks over the comm unit. At least she's familiar with radio enough to manage this much.]
Is anyone there? This is...my name is Evelyn Carnahan, and this is not Cairo or Hamunaptra.
[A pause.]
I don't know where I am, and I was right in the middle of something very important, and this is exceedingly inconvenient. If someone could-
[Rustling noises.]
-if someone could please tell me what's going on, I need to find my brother, Jonathan, and our guide, Rick, as I was in the midst of an expedition, thank you, I'm in...I think it's a foyer.
...anyone?
[For those interested in seeing Evelyn in person, seeing as the last thing she can remember was falling into a river off of a boat, she's wearing a soaking wet nightgown. This. This will not stand. This is scandalous.]
[The audio crackles, buzzes into the correct tuning, and there's the click of a dial. A distinctive, very proper, English voice speaks over the comm unit. At least she's familiar with radio enough to manage this much.]
Is anyone there? This is...my name is Evelyn Carnahan, and this is not Cairo or Hamunaptra.
[A pause.]
I don't know where I am, and I was right in the middle of something very important, and this is exceedingly inconvenient. If someone could-
[Rustling noises.]
-if someone could please tell me what's going on, I need to find my brother, Jonathan, and our guide, Rick, as I was in the midst of an expedition, thank you, I'm in...I think it's a foyer.
...anyone?
[For those interested in seeing Evelyn in person, seeing as the last thing she can remember was falling into a river off of a boat, she's wearing a soaking wet nightgown. This. This will not stand. This is scandalous.]
no subject
No, it's...no, thank you. It's fine, it's just...unexpected.
[Frequent hazardous situations cropping up? For Heaven's sake. Looks as though she'll have to be more careful around here - not that Evelyn tends to run straight into danger, unlike certain adventurers she knows, but at least there's a way to get back.
It's almost cheap, but she won't complain.
Evelyn sips her tea quietly, contemplatively, before speaking again.]
How...how long have you been here, Philip?
no subject
[ Counting... counting... count-- oh God. ]
About two months short of a year.
[ Philip knows it's been a while, he just never had a closer look at that while before and saying it out loud is... something new, to say the least.
He can't exactly ask Evelyn the same question, so he opts for a little more Wonderland trivia instead. ]
...Which seems to be the average, actually. A few months, from what I've gathered. Some have shorter stays, others... I think five years is the longest stay I've heard of, five... or four, I can't remember.
no subject
Five years sounds even more daunting. Do they miss their homes? Don't they age? Is there no way of getting back at all, except in death?
She wants to ask those questions, but fears they sound a bit morose for her first day. Evelyn opts for a different approach.]
Is it very difficult to make friends here? Several people over the radio were not particularly encouraging in their transmissions.
[And that's the understatement of the
centurycenturiesuniverses.]no subject
The, er... cultural differences can be a problem. It seems impossible for people of one world to live together peacefully, you can imagine how it might go with residents from several of them.
[ He looks up. ]
I suppose the more colourful characters here tend to leave stronger impressions, but--
[ This is the point where the story demands Philip provide helpful instructions on how he met some of his friends, like he did back at home. A sage advice such as 'sit in the lobby and have coffee ready to share' or 'show up at That Restaurant early in the afternoon'.
Alas, they include a whole lot more stabbing than a newcomer should be subjected to, in theory and in practice alike. ]
...Wonderland has... a way of bringing people together.
[ "For better or worse" is cut from the final script. Philip clears his throat. ]
Actually, you did use your communication device already, didn't you? You'll be able to see videos of the others who live here- text and calls as well, I- I'm sure you'll come across a few more, um, promising transmissions sooner or later.
[ How do you do that encouraging smile again? ...Ah, there it is! ]
no subject
Colourful characters? Do a strange little masked man and a grey-skinned person with sharp teeth count? She's had quite enough colour for one day, thank you.]
Videos...of course.
[Here's the part she doesn't like. Being out of her element. To some extent, Evelyn should be able to fare quite well. She knows how to work radios, but film is a bit beyond her. As is this 'text' thing. The word itself is one she knows well, but applying it to standards and terms of the twenty-first century is difficult for someone from the twenties.]
I...I don't, ah...
[...like asking for help. Evelyn's face falls, and she looks down at her cup, embarrassed.]
...I don't really know how to use it. The video just sort of happened.
no subject
They tend to do that, whether we want them to or not. But you'll get the hang of it. If you brought the device I can show you how it works?
no subject
Thank you. I don't quite know- [A frustrated sigh.] ...It's just harder than it looks.
[These miniature film tubes don't make any sense.]
no subject
I haven't seen one of those in a while.
[ Philip inspects the device. 1926. If memory serves Evelyn is still a few years away from a television set, although she must have been to a movie theatre. Likely she at least knows about telephones, unlikely she actually owes one herself. That sounds about right, let's get to work! ]
All right, do you see that button here? You press it before you use the dial, it's connected to the....
[ - INSERT TUTORIAL ON SENDING AND RECEIVING AUDIO, VIDEO AND TEXT MESSAGES HERE - ]
...otherwise you'll end up sending the message to the entire mansion. [ He clears his throat. ] And that should just about cover the basics.
[ Reaching into his pocket he pulls out his own communication unit (http://i.imgur.com/5ZpyS.png). ]
Try giving me a call, see if it works.
no subject
There's a speaker, a tuning switch for the radio, and plenty of other bits and bobs that make more sense to a technician than a historian, but by the end of Philip's lecture she's got the gist of it.
Curiously, she glances over at Philip's communicator - which looks markedly different - and turns the dial on hers to select the name and call option. Static crackles across the screen for a moment, and something on Philip's side of the table beeps.]
...is it working?
no subject
See? Easy as pie.
no subject
[So it is working! Marvelous stuff, this Video-Audio-Texting thing.]
Fancy that.
[She switches the transmitter back off, quite pleased with herself, and tucks it away.]
If it isn't too much trouble, I might call upon you in the future with this...thing.
no subject
That would be--
[ Philip stops himself. Just a quick check to make sure his level of enthusiasm is appropriate.
Welcoming rather than the sort coming from a person who might become best friends with a raving mad cannibal in a matter of hours, providing the situation was dire enough.
No. No, everything seems to be in order. ]
It would be no trouble at all.
no subject
...back to the tea, right? Or was it orange juice? Who knows?]
Thank you.
[Evelyn fidgets for a moment.]
I...I probably shouldn't take up any more of your time, but I really did mean that. Thank you. For everything you've done to help me.
no subject
Time is one of the few things we have in abundance here.
[ He smiles softy as he remembers the quote of his dear friend, glancing down at the plate where a half-eaten slice of pizza still serves as testimony of his decreased appetite.
Philip stands up. ]
...I could show you around the grounds once you've settled in.
[ One last glance at the Mai Tai on the table. Not much left except a pink paper parasol. ]
But you might want to look for a room first.
no subject
She stands as well, setting aside her strawberry daiquiri and smoothing the front of her skirt.]
I would like that very much.
[Once she's settled in. It has a certain finality to it that makes her uneasy.]
I think I should like a room on the second floor...just up the stairs in the main hallway? There isn't anything surprising I should know about, is there?
no subject
[ He nibbles on the last piece of Soylent Green thoughtfully. ]
...I can't make any promises though. The only thing that would surprise me would be if Wonderland didn't have any surprises left.
no subject
Unless we count eyestabbings, which hasn't happened yet at this point. But just to disprove her, it will!]
You've been so helpful. Shall I see you around, then?
[Evelyn extends her hand for one last shake - because propriety is important no matter the situation.]
no subject
I hope so.
[ Shake, shake, sha-- Oh, right! ]
Um, have--
[ Step back. ]
Have a good day then.
no subject
[With a polite nod and another grateful smile, Evelyn gives him a short wave - because she won't be crippled in a few days' time - and makes her way out of the parlour.]