video;

[dragonswag]

[ the video feed shows Lina looking right back at the screen with a dubious expression on her face, as though she’s unconvinced that this terminal thing actually works. ]

Well, this thing doesn’t look like it’s powered by magic, but it’s definitely not like any machine I’ve ever seen. Where’s Zel when you need him? I guess I’ll just have to trust that it works.

[ And then her disposition shifts a little. Lina draws herself up, smiling winsomely at the screen, hands clasped in front of her. ]

Well! Who cares about that anyway, right? Since I’m in a totally new world and none of you have probably heard of me, I guess it’s up to me to enlighten you all! Standing here before you is none other than the world’s most beautiful, intelligent, magnificent sorcery genius extraordinaire, Lina Inverse, at your service!

Comments

audio

[tuskenlancer]

Oh yeah?

[CT grins, her triumph evident in her tone.]

So if we're all from different worlds, and nobody knows each other, then how do you know you're the only one?

You may be the smartest, most beautiful sorcerer back home, but you're not home any more. Maybe we're all beautiful sorcerers here. Maybe that's why we're here.

Maybe you're the weakest one.

video;

[dragonswag]

Huh, I don't buy it! Trust me, if there were any sorcerers around here worth knowing about, I'd know 'em. So don't tell me you're some kind of magical prodigy!

audio

[tuskenlancer]

What if I am?

[She presses harder, willing to call Lina's bluff. If it turns out she's wrong, well, she's also anonymous on the network.]

What makes you so sure you'd know?

video;

[dragonswag]

Pffft -- you? C'mon, you've gotta be joking me! What do you know about magic?

audio

[tuskenlancer]

[well she knows it's not real, for one thing.]

I know it's pretty stupid to get online and announce to everyone that you're the most powerful magician ever.

You're just asking to be challenged.

video;

[dragonswag]

Hey, hey, if there are any sorcerers worth their salt on this weird island, then they'll have just as much sense not to throw themselves at me without a second's thought! And if you think I'm scared of you, sister, you've got another thing coming!

audio

[tuskenlancer]

Then I guess you've got nothing to worry about.

Sleep tight.

video;

[dragonswag]

Is that supposed to be some kind of a threat?

video;

[tuskenlancer]

Why do you care? I thought you weren't scared.

video;

[dragonswag]

I'm not! But that doesn't mean I'm some kind of idiot! If somebody's threatening me, then of course I'm gonna wanna know about it!

video;

[tuskenlancer]

Someone as amazing and intelligent as you should be able to figure out for herself whether or not she's being threatened, shouldn't she?

video;

[dragonswag]

You think you're real funny, don't you?

audio

[tuskenlancer]

I do all right.