→ o1. [video]

[aperfectthird]

[The feed opens quite abruptly on a young man looking into the device with a combination of consternation and confusion. A finger appears and taps on the screen, then the view promptly swings around to a pair of perfectly polished dress shoes. The view shakes for a moment before coming back to Percy's face, brow still furrowed.]

Oh, I think it's one of those communication devices - felly - no - telly - telephones? Is it on?

[He speaks loudly now.]

Hello?! Can anyone hear me?

[Beat. He looks worried, biting his lip, then squares his jaw, thinks for a moment, and continues. His tone is firm and authoritative, though those who know him well might be able to spot a very fine thread of fear running through it.]

If anyone can hear me, then I demand safe passage back to England immediately. I am employed by the British government and I guarantee that the Minister will not be pleased to find I have been taken.

I await your response.

Now how do I turn this off?

Comments

[video.]

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

[Oh, this one's really something. She can't help but giggle a little.]

Having a little trouble there?

[video.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

[He's figured out this isn't actually a tiny Floo, but it's still a shock when someone's face pops up.]

Somewhat, yes.

[video.]

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

Tough break. Sorry to say, but I wouldn't place my bets on getting back to England any time soon. This is gonna sound weird, but this place doesn't exactly... let people leave all that often.

[video.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

I'm beginning to realize that. It's true, then, that this 'City' is beyond anyone's reach?

[video.]

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

Seems like it. I mean, I haven't been here long, but apparently it's a "No one out or in unless the City says so" kind of thing.

So, no telephones where you come from?

[video.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

No, there are telephones, I've just not had much opportunity or reason to use one.

[video.]

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

Really? [Well, that's a new one. Who doesn't use telephones?] Are you Amish?

[video.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

...I'm British. What's 'Amish?'

[video.]

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

A religious sect -- they don't believe in modern technology. [She shrugs.] Only people I could think of that don't use phones.

[video.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Ah. No, I'm afraid I'm not that. I just don't have much use for them in my daily life.

[video.]

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

Right. Okay. [This is a puzzle, and she can't seem to work it out.] Would I be prying if I asked what kind of daily life that is, exactly?

[video.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Not at all. As I said, I work in the British government. I'm a bureaucrat.

[video.]

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

A Bureaucrat who doesn't use phones. Do you prefer to send messages by Morse code or something? [It's a joke. But hey, as far as she's concerned, it's a good a guess as any at this point.]

[video.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Morse ... code? I'm presuming no; we mostly communicate by memo or F -

[ - not Floo, of course not - ]

- face to face.

[video.]

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

Right...

[And now she thinks she might have an idea of what's going on here. If he's hiding something, maybe she can shock it out of him.]

I'm Jessica, by the way. My boyfriend hunts monsters and ghosts for a living.

[video.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

[There is a moment of shock, quickly controlled and pushed down, though his brows remain furrowed.]

Hello, Jessica. That sounds like a very - dangerous line of work.

[video.]

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

It is, yeah. In a roundabout way, it's how I died.

Even he uses phones, though.

[video.]

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

How you -

[A sharp intake of breath.]

- how you died?

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

That's right. Not everyone here is alive and kicking, as it happens. I still have the kicking part going for me, at least.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

But that's impossible.

[He's sounding less and less sure of this fact, though.]

The dead can't come back to life.

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

That's what I thought, too. Turns out it's not even the strangest thing that happens around here.

[She's going out on a limb, but she kind of figures she might have earned herself some honesty for that one.]

So, you were saying about your line of work...

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

I -

[Sorry, Jessica, but he's still pretty 'gfkdgkjcf' over here.]

- I told you, I'm a bureaucrat in the British government. That is true.

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it is. But I'm guessing that's the light version.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

I work directly under the Minister, if that's what you're asking.

[dontcrashnburn.livejournal.com]

The prime minister? Of England?