→ 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

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes! You're just fine, thank you. These devices are really quite good about picking up voices when someone speaks to them. You can hear me all right as well, can't you?

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Yes, ma'am, I can. I apologize for earlier, then; I don't use these sorts of things often.

My name is Percy Weasley. It's nice to meet you, Miss ... ?

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

It's quite all right, believe me. I had to learn about them on my first day, too, and it's only through a great deal of practice that I've really gotten the hang of things.

And it's lovely to meet you, Percy! My name is Rosella.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

A pleasure, Miss Rosella. Have you been here long?

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid so--coming up on three and a half years now. But it's not so bad, really; one does rather get used to things after a while.

Oh, but if you'll pardon my asking, are you from London, in your England? I've had quite a few friends from there, and it seems like a rather popular place for people to arrive from.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Three and a half years?

- er -

[It takes him a second.]

Yes, I am from London. Are you as well?

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

It's rather a long time, isn't it? And there are a few people here who have been around even longer than me, though there aren't many anymore.

[Right, but moving on.]

And no, I'm afraid I'm not, but I've heard quite a lot about it, and it sounds lovely! All sorts of people seem to come from there, so I'm sure you won't have much trouble at all finding someone who's heard of it.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

But no one who can get me back to London.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

No, I'm afraid not. But if it helps, when you do go back, it'll be to the very moment you left, so it'll be as if you were never gone at all, really. People often come here in the middle of something important, so it's rather nice to know that they aren't missing it as time goes by.

[aperfectthird.livejournal.com]

Time - freezes back home whilst you're here? So even though you've been here for several years, when you go home, it'll be as though nothing happened?

How is that -

- nothing makes sense here.