003 - Besides, by and large she was having a very good time.

[una_persson]

[AUDIO, public. Una sounds as composed and friendly as ever, her cut-glass accent as reassuring as a BBC news anchor's.]

To those of you I've not met before—hello. My name's Una Persson. I'd like to canvass the foreigner population here with just a brief question—who here is familiar with time travel, in the world from which they come? I'll be quite transparent: it's something with which I'm very familiar, and I'm curious to know who else is as well. Should you prefer to discuss this face-to-face, I live in the Wood sector. [A pause.] And if you're familiar with the technology behind it, I'd be especially interested in hearing from you.

---

[TEXT, separate messages sent privately to Bruce Wayne and Dorian Gray, basic encryption. Subsequent to her conversation with Iorveth, after his fail!private post.]

You may recall that there was a name in my notes that I showed you. Do not speak it out loud and be very careful with whom you share it.

Comments

[una_persson]

[There's a black Royal Albert bicycle leaning against the wall fairly close to the front door, and it's to this that she leads him.]

This is it. I know; feel free to laugh.

[The only thing to distinguish it from an ordinary bicycle are the three instruments on the handlebars: a speedometer with a little dial on the side, something that looks like a set of concentric brass and copper rings set in a powder-compact, and a brass gadget like an old-fashioned perpetual desk calendar, only instead of having changeable day, date, and year, it's all a series of numbers.]

[imaginate]

[He approaches it and studies it from all angles, taking time and care to examine the dials, and any other pertinent details that might pop up. It's wonderfully innocuous, which he supposes is good, in the long run. It means it's less likely to be stolen or misused. It's also well-cared for, which he appreciates.

He holds up both hands when she speaks, a half-smile on his face.]

No judgement. Friend of mine uses a treadmill.

[una_persson]

[She laughs.] And here I thought I'd seen or heard of nearly every device. This is why I suspect that time travel is at least partly magic and illusion.

[She indicates the instruments.] This acts as a sort of multi-dimensional compass. The numbers set coordinates. And the speedometer both sets and checks velocity. And none of it works right now.

[imaginate]

Well, the beings I met definitely fall into the 'magic' category, or pretty close to it.

[He examines the compass, before he holds out his right hand to show her a green ring, with a stylised lantern insignia.] I can scan it with this, if you'd like me to, but I have no idea what might happen - if there might be feedback.

[una_persson]

[She leans forward to look more closely at the ring.]

What is it?

[imaginate]

It's a power ring, it's fuelled by my will and limited only by my imagination. [A beat, then he adds-] Only works for its assigned bearer.

[Just in case.]

[una_persson]

Prudent. Well, I'm willing to let you give it a try, if you're willing to chance it. If nothing else it might help me figure out what's out of whack.

[Possibly nothing could happen at all. Or perhaps he'd find that there was something wrong but not be able to clearly identify what. Or Chaos could break out too; that was always possible.

The possibility that he might be able to correctly diagnose and/or fix the thing was set aside as remote. Una might be an optimist, but she's also pragmatic.]

[imaginate]

[He nods, raises his ring. It emanates a soft green glow, and a screen appears, showing him the different parts of the bicycle. It's attempting to annotate with the names of parts (because he usually scans something in order to re-create it) and starts to spark and sputter. Kyle shakes it.]

Does your bicycle have something against scanners?

[una_persson]

Er. This, I believe, is where I awkwardly admit that it has never been subjected to such a thing outside of a Time Centre. [She frowns.] Something might be causing metatemporal interference—either whatever's wrong with the instruments, or they're reacting against unfamiliar ... technology.

[imaginate]

[He rubs his chin thoughtfully.]

That's possible. Let me try something else.

[He bends down and scans it carefully, bit by bit. As he does, each wedge appears on the screen, putting together a complete picture. The process is a lot easier this time, and twenty minutes later he gets up and turns the screen towards Una so she can see it.]

This is probably the best I can manage, I hope it's enough.

[una_persson]

[She tilts her head to look at the screen, raises her eyebrows.]

I'm impressed. Looks like they're actually functioning, but can't get a lock on the megaflow or chronoflow. My friend Alvarez would make more sense of it, probably, but ... hmm.

[Privately she swears she's never going to zone out during one of Alvarez's technical rambles again.]

Still, that's more than I knew from the start. Thank you.

[While she's talking, there's a sort of stutter in time, very minor.]

Still, that's more than I knew from the start. Thank you.

[Pause.]

Didn't I just say that?

[imaginate]

Let's hope there's someone like him here, that you trust to have a look at it, because time travel is way above my pay grade.

[He holds up both hands, and comes to stand at a professional distance from her, before the stutter in time happens. He frowns.]

I'm not sure, but I just got a really weird sense of deja vu.

[una_persson]

Right. Not just me then.

[She takes a step back from the bicycle and gestures for him to do so as well.]

Better leave off anything else, then. I don't want temporal ripples around here on top of everything else.

[imaginate]

[He obeys.]

Good idea. Let me know if you need anything else.

[una_persson]

Thanks. I do appreciate the help—and if there's ever anytime I can return the favour, don't hesitate to ring me up.

[imaginate]

[He nods and wanders towards the door.]

I'll keep that in mind.