video | un: silver

[inthewood]

(( The face on screen is a young man's with bright eyes and dark curls. Excitement shines through his expression. There's no trace of confusion, only a bubbly sort of eagerness that creeps from his look to his soft voice. ))

I do hope I'm using this correctly. We haven't such devices in my world.

(( How easily he accepts this new world in which he finds himself. It isn't the first time Silver's found himself in a strange land. At least this one resembles home in the most basic of ways. Other than this device, much of the technology he's seen thus far seems the same. ))

It is my understanding that magic fuels this place. I would be much obliged if anyone would be willing to sit with me and discuss your experiences since you've been here.

(( He pauses abruptly, looking somewhat abashed. ))

Ah, forgive me for getting ahead of myself. This is all so exciting! My name is Silver, Henry Silver, and I am a folklorist. I study the magical and marvelous in my world and I hope to do the same now that I'm here. It's always best to play to one's strengths, is it not?

(( Another pause, and the giddy smile returns to his face. ))

I thank you in advance.

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[ Video; un: amethyst fiend ]

[amethystfiend]

[ Those eyes were bright and her ears twitch slightly, especially at the excitement that can be seen in the other's expression. Luckily, his voice isn't too soft, but she's sure if it was she'd be able to hear him just fine. ]

Magic. Us. Probably weird things that Brother Zhou and my Master would understand much better.

[ Henry has her curious now. What was that? ]

How do you study them?

[ If anyone tried to harm those she considered family... All because they were studying something... ]

I'm Gu Xiang. What's a folklorist exactly? I've never heard of one of those before.

[inthewood]

Observation, mostly. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to be able to interact with the creatures I study. Well, sometimes that's dangerous, but how can one gain anything without some risk?

(( Being English he isn't familiar with Asian naming protocols. And he struggles a little to mimic the pronunciation of her name. ))

A folklorist, Miss Xiang, is someone who studies myths and legends and tries to find the truth behind them. Every story starts with some kernel of truth, after all!

[amethystfiend]

We're not creatures here. None of us are. We might gain the features but we're not creatures.

[ She's very confused, however, on the whole 'Miss' thing. ]

Who are you calling Miss?

[ Studies myths and legends... ]

Is that what you think this is?

[inthewood]

(( Ah, he seems to be digging his own grave. It's so like him to speak without thinking. He's grown too used to Tobias who would quietly sit while Silver prattled on about this story or that legend he'd heard.

Ah, Tobias... He hasn't even had the good sense to miss the man until right now. It shows clearly in his face, the enthusiastic expression giving way to something more melancholy. ))

Well, Mi--... it is another world. It isn't the first one I've been to, but it seems to be the most interesting.

[amethystfiend]

Gu Xiang. I don't know where you got the Miss from.

[ It was her name and since he's a stranger, it's what he should use. Not Miss. That sounded funny to her. ]

It's another place and different time. A weird place.

[ Her tail swishes slightly. ]

You could even end up with animal features. We don't come in with those.

[inthewood]

(( He's been to weirder places. Let him tell you about Fairyland. What a strange adventure that turned out to be. Not at all what he expected. Then again, what did he really know about fairies? Not much, considering Fairyland was a dead and barren place devoid of any life at all. And the closest thing to a fairy king he met tried to kill him and steal his body. Disappointing, that.

Silver flips open his leather-bound notebook and begins to jot down some notes. Animal features, his mouth makes the shape of the words as he writes them. ))

May I ask, ma'am, what is the significance of the, uh, animal features?

[amethystfiend]

My name is Gu Xiang. I'm not a Miss or a ma'am.

[ What in the world was wrong with this strange person? None of it made sense to her. Why call someone Miss or ma'am? That was as bad as Scorpion calling her Mistress! ]

You gain the features through bonds.

[inthewood]

I beg your pardon!

(( He only meant to be polite, as per the customs of his time and place. It was almost inappropriate to call a young lady by her name alone. Especially one whose acquaintance has just been made. ))

I understand. That's very interesting, indeed. And Mi-- Gu Xiang, (( He still stumbled over her name. )) may I inquire as to the nature of the bonds that gave you those ears?

[amethystfiend]

I beg your pardon. No one calls me Miss or ma'am. Those are just weird things to hear out of a stranger or anyone, in general.

[ He might be trying to be polite, but for her? That's just weird and strange. Her own master didn't even do that kind of thing. ]

My family is how I ended up with the bonds that gave them to me.

[inthewood]

Ah! How fortunate you are to have family here.

(( He hasn't been gone long enough to miss his own mother, yet. ))

And, if I may, do you all share the same traits or do they differ from person to person?

[amethystfiend]

They differ from person to person. Not everyone, no matter who you're close to, has the same features.

[inthewood]

That's very interesting. Would you say, then, that these traits somehow relate to the personality of the person on which they appear?

[amethystfiend]

You're really into all this stuff, aren't you? When eventually, if you make friends, you'll be able to use yourself as an example and find out.

[inthewood]

Of course I am! Magic is not common in my world. It's usually secret and hidden. Here it's everywhere!

[amethystfiend]

Just don't go getting into something you can't get out of. Not everyone is willing to give things away when you're giving nothing in return.

[inthewood]

(( Cue the awkward laughter. Getting into something he can't get out of is pretty much Silver's forte. He did, after all, walk right into the arms of the Lord of Summer. And there was that time he walked right off the edge of a cliff to find the path to Fairyland. Sometimes Silver had more curiosity than sense. ))

What would you like in return?

[amethystfiend]

[ That awkward laughter has her ears perking a bit and she shakes her head, tail swishing. ]

You need to be careful.

[ Forget what she wants in return. What was with people asking the hard questions? ]

[inthewood]

You sound like my mother.

[amethystfiend]

I don't sound like anyone.

[inthewood]

No, truly, my mother is always telling me to be more careful.

[amethystfiend]

Well I'm not your mother.

[inthewood]

Obviously! (( He laughs quietly. )) I can't imagine you're much older than I am.

[amethystfiend]

How old are you?

[inthewood]

Twenty-five.

[amethystfiend]

You're older than me.