video;

[thaumatophage]

[A teenage girl with a cat-eared headband on is squinting at the camera. When she speaks, she does so with an Australian accent.] Well. Well well well well well.

Well.

Hi. [She shakes her head and the bells on her headband jingle.] No chance of sending out a distress signal, eh? Not that I think this place is bad or anything. I just, uh...I got Stuff to take care of, back home. At least I don't have amnesia this time, right? Heh heh heh... [The laughter is nervous, and trails off. She looks concerned for a moment before turning a thousand-watt smile to the camera again.]

Also, I only have like four Tim Tams in my bag and that is a grave effing injustice.

Comments

audio;

[skeletonenigma]

Whatever it is you have to take care of, it can wait. You'll go back to the exact same moment you were taken from.

[Juuuuuuust in case no one's mentioned that part yet. Have some good old-fashioned Irish reassurance in place of more Tim Tams.]

video;

[thaumatophage]

[She makes a face.] I know. But I hate waiting. Alec says I'm not blessed with patience. But what does he know, 'cause he isn't patient either.

video;

[skeletonenigma]

Who said anything about you needing to be patient? You're living in a city on the back of a giant turtle. I'm sure you can find something to occupy yourself with.

[This based off one incredibly short conversation and listening to some of the others spawned by this post, but. You know.]

video;

[thaumatophage]

Oh, no question. I've been known to entertain myself with a paperclip.

[Beat.]

If you're wondering, I usually pop up the middle part at a thirty-to-forty-five-degree angle and pretend it's a tiny jet ski. Then I do some rad tricks with it.

Anyway, about that. Does our gracious chelonian host have a name? Or shall I call him...? her...?? them Buttons?

audio; also the above was meant to be audio orz

[skeletonenigma]

[A paperclip? That's... industrious.]

I wasn't wondering, but thank you for the explanation.

[He was totally wondering.]

Well, that's something of a debate. Most people use 'Asti', but we're fairly sure Asti was the name Malicant used when he possessed the turtle. Some of us use 'Tu Vishan'. I'm not sure where that comes from.

[Beat of his own.]

'Buttons' works as well as any, I suppose.

voice

[pushtheboundaries]

Not quite, I'm afraid. Though if you find a way, you'll have to share.

video;

[thaumatophage]

I'm sure it just takes a little creativity!

Or not. I'm sure we've all tried before.

video;

[pushtheboundaries]

Well, if you have any fresh ideas, I'm sure a number will be willing to hear them. [says the man who seems rather calm about it all. he's in no hurry, ok?]

video;

[thaumatophage]

I got nothin' but ideas, man, I'm like an idea factory, only one you don't need to buy carbon offsets for.

...buuut right now I think the workers are all on strike, [she says with a rueful smile.] They're demanding wages in actual food instead of snacks. Know anywhere good for food around here?

[pushtheboundaries]

That depends on if you want to try the local cuisine. I know a few places.

[deadclumsy]

'This time' ?

[Her brows have raised nearly to her purple hairline.]

[thaumatophage]

Ha ha, yeah... [Said with the air of both 'oh god what a story that was' and, oddly, genuine fondness.] But that was kind of an extenuating circumstance. Still...gotta find the good wherever, right?

[deadclumsy]

It was more an invitation for you to elaborate than an expression of surprise.

What sort of extenuating circumstance?

[thaumatophage]

Oh, gladly then! Basically, blah blah blah, secret undercover mission, blah blah blah, forced to suppress my memories, blah blah blah magic school yadda yadda yadda demon invasion.

It was for my job, then, wasn't it? Gotta do what you gotta do.

[deadclumsy]

[Oh, you can be dismissive, but you can bet she's going to perk up at --]

Magic school?

video;

[wintershepherd]

So... amnesia is a common thing for you? You gotta stop and wonder what that says.

[ It's telling how long Jack's been here and grown that he can joke about such things now. ]

Tim Tams are like a cookie, right?

video;

[thaumatophage]

It was like one time. Way crazy.

Wait, if I stop and wonder what that says, what's to say I'm not forgetting things right now? Is this all real or did I get false memories implanted in me by aliens and this is their creepy little ant farm slash sociology experiment? Where are my keys? Did I leave the stove on? These are the mysteries, m'friend.

Yeah! They're chocolate-covered, super tasty. Also excellent as a makeshift straw for hot drinks.

Re: video;

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack makes a face. ]

I'll take the cookie, you can keep the hot drinks. I'm Jack.

video;

[thaumatophage]

I'm Kitty. And sure, I'll keep the hot drinks. You one of those iced coffee fiends or something? Only way to drink the stuff from Headquarters is too hot to taste, heh.

Re: video;

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, but kind of by necessity. Iced anything is great! Hot things are kind of a health risk for the guy whose last name is "Frost".

[lasergrenades]

[Now this is interesting. This newcomer looks like she's about Pepper's age, which is new and exciting.]

I don't know about Tim Tams but I know a great crepe place. Also, amnesia this time? How many times have there been? Nice headband. I'm Pepper, by the way. What's your name?

[As per usual, her introduction is at a rapid fire pace.]

[thaumatophage]

[Awright, someone on Kitty's level! She fires back at the same speed.]

Crepes are great, I love crepes. No chance of Nutella round here, is there? Only the one time, I think, but if I have amnesia more than that who knows if I'd even know, you know? Thanks, I'm proud of it, I made it myself, one of a kind, hehe. I'm Kitty! Nice to meetcha.

[lasergrenades]

[It's a truly rare and wonderful thing to find anyone who can not only keep up with all her questions, and even more so to find someone who can match Pepper's speed. She grins.]

I can show you the shop sometime. No Nutella, sadly, but my best friend found some great pseudo-chocolate, and one of the shops that sells it also makes good frosting, so that might be the closest. Some of the kedan are pretty adventurous about trying to replicate Foreigner stuff. Your ears might even catch on.

[thaumatophage]

I'll take sugary treats where I can get 'em! Maybe I can consult with them on food items. [She looks thoughtful.]

Really? You think I might make a fashion statement?

[She laughs, and her hair goes bright teal.]

[lasergrenades]

Maybe. I guess it depends on if the kedan like cat ears.

[When Kitty's hair changes, Pepper's eyes go wide.]

Whoa! What was that? How did you change your hair? Can you turn it other colors? That is awesome!