video | november 12, 2016

[inkulcation]

[Right off, what will be remarkable is that China has enabled video; those familiar with her network habits will probably recall she doesn't usually.]

[The second remarkable thing is the small fluffball she's holding cradled to her chest. It's a rabbit. It's small, it's white, it's adorable, and it's got a collar around its neck with a soul gem. Which means yes, the small animal China is cuddling is none other than Erskine Ravel.]

[She's stroking the bunny very nicely.]

I wonder. Wasn't some fine gentleman giving us updates on the weather, occasionally?

I find I miss his gardening tips.

[She sounds and looks entirely earnest, blue eyes wide, face innocent, and she pauses only a moment to scratch behind the bunny's ears very delicately.]

And some sort of a forecast would be useful, I think, as things turn cooler.

[This is completely and totally the only reason she's made this post. Really.]

Comments

[backwordscompatible]

[My, what a cute little bunny you have there.]

How domestic have we all gotten that we're starting to miss our weatherman.

...although, you sort of had a point. He was the only accurate one I'd ever known.

[inkulcation]

[It is a precious bunny, isn't it. And she didn't even pull it out of a hat.]

I suppose we have, but isn't it preferable to always looking for the next explosion?

[Not that they don't still have plenty of those, apparently.]

[backwordscompatible]

[...yet]

Well, yeah.

But there has to be some happy medium between explosions and the Kedan Weather Channel.

[inkulcation]

[There's time for such things yet. China pauses briefly, considers.]

Controlled demolitions?

[Compromise.]

[backwordscompatible]

[Zatanna pretended like she had to consider that for a long, moment. It was a testament to her skills how straight a face she managed all the while.]

I think I can live with that.

So long as they're decent fireworks going off. Gotta still have some entertainment in there, right?

action;

[gistful]

[Those in the Hotel soon after this broadcast airs will notice a nearly immediate downturn in Mr Shudder's mood. It isn't dramatic ... for anyone else. For Anton, it's practically a mood crash. Mostly, he keeps casting dark looks over at the console and is slightly short with anyone who asks him something.

[It takes half an hour before he's able to post someone at the desk and get away, striding With Purpose to China's residence. It's likely too much to hope that she isn't expecting him, hasn't thoroughly warded her house in as far as is possible without actively preventing anyone comfortable entry. The urge to break in the door is still very, very high, which is why he pauses at the door.

[He does not take a deep breathe. That would indicate a loss of control. But when he reaches out to press the doorbell he does it with his thumb and holds the button down with increasing pressure until it gives way with a splintering of plastic. He gets a bit scratched up out of it. He's not particularly worried.]

permaction;

[inkulcation]

[Ah. That continuous ringing, not much more than half an hour later, could only be one person. It manages to sound irritated despite being only a doorbell, which China personally thinks is an accomplishment.]

[She does touch a sigil on the back side of the door to turn it selectively transparent, however, just to ensure that it's who she thinks it is. And yes, there's Shudder, with scratches on his hand and the ruin of her doorbell. She appears to have annoyed him somehow. How shocking.]

[China returns the door to opacity, cradles Erskine a bit more closely to her chest, and opens the door with her free hand, a polite little smile on her face.]

Master Shudder. How lovely to see you again. What can I do for you today?

Tea? Bandages, perhaps?

[gistful]

[Anton looks back at her with an expression that should have been bland, but came out rather flat. Given the heat in his chest, even that's rather impressive. His gaze, nevertheless, is sharper than usual.]

How did you get Erskine?

[inkulcation]

A kind young woman allowed me to borrow him from her.

[She strokes Erskine very gently, with two fingers along the top of his head, between his ears.]

She seemed quite overcome.

[It's earnest. It even almost sounds like don't blame her. Almost.]

[China steps back a pace. Not to distance herself from Shudder: to allow him room to come in.]

Do you plan to stand on my doorstep all day, Master Shudder?

[gistful]

[A kind young woman. Anton will have to look into that. His gaze falls on those stroking fingers and fixes on them, as though he'd rather like to rip them off.]

No. Give me Erskine.

[He holds out his arms.]

kind of not here?

[oceantier]

[Lapis is finding herself wary and isn't sure why . . .]

[Maybe because the post seems a little . . . too innocent?]

[And she's holding Erskine.]

[She stays quiet. Just watches, her own video feed off. But. Can't quite escape the coiling of her insides.]

video;

[purered]

[Wow, look who's the same colour as his hair. ]

I did not realize such things would be missed.

I shall resume the announcements post haste.

[He clears his throat, his hand nearly tipping over a glass of water on it's way up to cover his mouth.]

I see you've also found Mr Ravel?

video;

[inkulcation]

[Adorable.]

Ah, the gardener himself. If you would, I believe they'd be welcomed.

[It was, mostly, a joke. And yet, he's so earnest about it.]

I have, yes. [China tips her head downward, infinitely gentle as she runs her fingers down the bunny's back.] I must admit, this form is growing on me.

video;

[purered]

[He straightens his tie. Not that he needs it. His appearance is immaculate as ever aside from the blush. ...He may have actually put a comb through his hair before replying but shh.]

You are most kind to say so, Miss Sorrows. If it would please you- and others, then I will gladly return to doing them.

[He chuckles a bit, surveying Bunskine.]

Alas, he may be stuck like that. Though it's not the worst change that could befall him.

[inkulcation]

By the responses, it seems any number of people have missed your updates.

[Smile. It's not even just about her own personal amusement any more.]

He's much calmer like this, yes. And people are naturally inclined to bestow attention on small animals.

[Indeed, so far as she can tell, Erskine is nearly constantly cuddled or otherwise held by someone.]

[purered]

I truly hadn't realized. They had come of a rather lighthearted jest from Mr Cormac.

[He straightens his tie. ....Again. He's still a bit flushed.]

I admit, Mr Ravel's new shape is rather... [Adorable? Precious? Tiny and fluffy?] ...charming. I do hope I didn't frighten the poor man when I discovered him in this state.

[video]

[pushtheboundaries]

Calm skies and cool temperatures as we move on to the night?

[this is his terrible impression of a weatherman. it may be deliberately bad.]

video continuing;

[inkulcation]

[China laughs, genuinely.]

I certainly hope so.

And how lovely it is to see you again as well, my dear Professor.

[pushtheboundaries]

[well that just makes him extremely happy. considering recent events...he needed that smile of his own.]

And you, China. I'm hardly a meteorologist but I could probably find one among the crowd.

[inkulcation]

The original weather-man seems to have come out of the woodwork himself, but should such a dreadful lack recur...

[She might call upon his meteorologist-finding talents. She shifts a little-- it looks like the impulse to lean forward, temporarily aborted by the recollection of the bunny on her chest, which she shifts into a lean on the arm of her chair.]

You've been quiet lately.

[pushtheboundaries]

I'll stand by, then. And it's amazing what you can get done when you don't get distracted by things, even if it can lead to you losing track of time.

[solo_patria]

I do believe you are right. How else would I know of when to switch out my coat for the warmer?

Do you suppose we must take over that duty for ourselves now? It seems your furry friend is warm enough at least.

[There is an eyedart and a smile on the last bit, particularly at the bunny. Because he CAN.]

[inkulcation]

Precisely. We are woefully uninformed without our weather-man.

[Still amazingly earnest. Anyone would believe she meant it, except perhaps people who know her.]

[China adjusts the rabbit where he sits on her chest slightly, strokes him to soothe away any disruption in calm.]

He does seem it, doesn't he? I certainly haven't noticed him shivering, and he's held often enough.

[solo_patria]

Under the weather himself, is he? How dreadful for us all.

[Enjolras CAN half believe it, actually. It's more the fact he's been around certain of his friends, good at things like this, that has him a LITTLE doubtful. Which amuses him no small end, honestly.

Whatever's going on with the bunny who appears to usually belong to the hotel in a different capacity, he's certainly following with interest.]

Perhaps somehow he was given tips to prepare for this weather. An odd circumstance, there.

[inkulcation]

[Ah, yes, the weather man under the weather. Apropos. China smiles a little.]

I wouldn't put it past him myself, to have found such a way to opt out of the weather, but for the fact he seemed so dreadfully angry about it at first.

[All that capslock.]