004 - “Better the myth of happiness,” Harlequin murmured, “than the myth of despair.”

[una_persson]

[Video post. The first thing you'll see is a metal domino mask, in shape something like this crossed with this, a diamond pattern etched into the surface. Then she lowers the mask, revealing her own face.]

So many things I'm not sure what to make of. These mysterious bits of metal, for instance. I've spoken to at least one other person for whom it's taken the shape of some familiar object. Has anyone heard anything interesting about it? [She twirls the mask in her hands.] Why do I have a feeling I'm going to regret having picked this up? [Her slightly aggrieved tone is mostly put on for comic effect, but she is a bit concerned.]

[Private to the Emperor] I've completed the repairs to my time machine. And thanks to the markets of Bresylik, I think I may be able to work out safe navigational paths in this time-stream.

[Private to Orion Pax] The material you supplied to me worked. I haven't made any significant ventures yet, but my all my instruments indicate that everything should be operational. Thank you.

[ASS Filter] Lots of activity amongst us of late. Well, here's more—I believe I may be able to make some further investigations into the past here—very direct investigations, shall we say. I have Iorveth's notes, but if anyone has uncovered any additional specific dates or time periods of interest, I should very much like to know.

Comments

video | private;

[cowled]

Ms. Persson.

[A flicker of a smile.]

Una. It's been a while, and that's a lovely mask. It almost makes me want to throw a costume party.

video | private;

[una_persson]

Bruce. [She grins.] It is a pretty thing, isn't it? I do enjoy a good fancy dress party, I admit.

Have you been well?

video | private;

[cowled]

I don't suppose you'd object to one thrown in your honour, would you?

[Okay, he's maybe teasing a little.]

As ever. I can hardly complain, though I do confess a certain homesickness. How have things been with you?

video | private;

[una_persson]

I'd only wonder what I'd done to deserve it.

[Teasing right back.]

I've been ... busy. Some unexpected developments got me back to work on my time machine, and I think I've succeeded in making it work.

video | private;

[cowled]

I need a reason beyond your being beautiful? For shame, Una. You know me better than that by now.

[Well. She doesn't. But that's its own bag of worms, quite frankly.]

Oh? Do you think it'll be of help to us?

video | private;

[una_persson]

That's a very kind reason, but I do so hate being the centre of attention. [Lies. Sort of.] But with the season being what it is, surely you can come up with a better reason for a party?

[Her expression sobers.]

I hope it does. I've heard of exploratory efforts along those lines already, and I should like to follow up on what those attempts have gleaned.

video | private;

[cowled]

Are you asking me to throw a Christmas party?

[For shame! No, not really. Bruce is already sort of semi-planning one, as much as he hates the season.]

I don't suppose you're at liberty to discuss the specifics with an old friend, hm?

video | private;

[una_persson]

Asking? Not as such. Suggesting? Perhaps. Just a thought.

[A theatrically diffident wave of the hand. Then, less airily:]

There have been some practical attempts to take a firsthand look at the history of this place. I'm trying to work out a method that won't overlap with what's already been done.

video | private;

[cowled]

[He makes an amused noise.]

I'll consider it. If I can fit it into my busy schedule. We'll see.

[... Well then. That's interesting, and to his irritation he knew absolutely nothing about it. Wow, that chaps his ass.]

Do you know the information accrued?

video | private;

[una_persson]

Hang on—

[She ducks off screen and there's a noise of rustling paper, and she returns a minute later.]

Right. Something about a harvest festival, not quite two hundred years ago—not sure if that helps us any. And ... about a hundred fifty years before that, there was some kind of security crisis—massive damage to the city, lots of identity checkpoints and—

[She stops and goes a bit pale.]

Oh.

video | private;

[cowled]

[He raises an eyebrow.]

'Oh'?

video | private;

[una_persson]

Do you recall that odd business of a couple of months ago, where some of us got ... discorporated, or knocked out of phase or [a sort of flailing gesture with her hands] whatever that was?

video | private;

[cowled]

Difficult thing to forget, frankly.

[He is so cluelessly bemused about all this so he simply waits for Una to provide clarification. Obviously.]

video | private;

[una_persson]

Yes, well—I got caught up in that. And I saw something—I suppose a kind of glimpse of the past, if you like.

[And she tries to describe the scene as best she can. When she finishes:]

In any case—I just now realised, that very likely happened during the period our travellers saw, when the city was essentially on lockdown.

video | private;

[cowled]

[Hm.]

Due to this-- Mal.

video | private;

[una_persson]

"Our nameless friend", I like to call him. [The driest of irony.]

Not sure what to make of it, except perhaps as a warning of the paranoia that could easily set in, since our nameless friend can take whatever shape pleases him.

video | private;

[cowled]

[Curiously,]

Are we certain he can take shapes on his own? Everything I've heard points to possession, which seems to imply he can't maintain a form independently of it.

video | private;

[una_persson]

[A nod of concession.]

Sorry, yes—loose language on my part. Any such scenario, though, will make it hard to know who to trust, and will make it easy for those who want it to stir up additional fear.

video | private;

[cowled]

I expect you trust me, or we wouldn't be having this conversation.

[Though it is a query, in and of itself.]

video | private;

[una_persson]

I do. [A little smile.] Does that surprise you?

video | private;

[cowled]

Should it?

[Airily,]

I've always considered myself quite trustworthy, thank you.

video | private;

[una_persson]

You do have an honest face. You could be keeping a million secrets, for all I know.

[She's teasing him.]

video | private;

[cowled]

Only a million?

[He sounds the tiniest bit indignant about that, but after a moment he relents.]

What if I told you that one of them is that I'd like to, at some point when we aren't in the midst of a looming war, take you out on a date?

[It's quite the casual comment, all things considered.]

video | private;

[una_persson]

[Her eyes widen; she's maybe just a little surprised, by the delivery if nothing else.]

Then I should scold you for keeping it a secret and then give my assent, of course.

video | private;

[cowled]

[His grin suggests that of course her answer couldn't have been any other. Of course.]

The venue is lady's choice, of course.