144.98750: PUBLIC CHANNEL, D90 (evening)

[whattaprick]

[ Hey, guess who has his voice back? Turns out traveling to Mainframe gives you plenty of voices to hear. But is he actually going to report back with anything useful? ]

"All of Man’s works, all his cities, all his empires, all his monuments will one day crumble to dust. Even the houses of my own dear readers must – though it be for just one day, one hour be ruined and become houses where the stones are mortared with moonlight, windowed with starlight and furnished with the dusty wind. It is said that in that day, in that hour, our houses become the possessions of the Raven King."

[ For once, his voice isn't carrying that edge of mocking, actually managing to sound solemn and thoughtful -- not that it lasts. There's the sound of a book being snapped shut, and Lambert resumes the rest of the radio post speaking in his normal tone of voice: just a touch insufferably smug. ]

Maybe Master Strange should consider becoming a poet, if he ever gets bored of being a magician.

[ And then, as an off-handed follow-up to that: ]

All scouts and nightrunners, report in. Let 'em know what they're in for.

Comments

[kingsroads]

But— [ 'but why would you ask for my book in the first place', no wait he can't say that ] I mean, that's— [ that's awfully nice of you but again, why my book. ] But back home I— [ I read that Norrell had vanished all my books in the first place, how could you obtain it?

Strange however isn't saying ANY of those sentences that are going through his head at rapid speed, instead stammering out half sentences which he starts then stops. There's a pause before he stops confusingly gawping and instead awkwardly asks, ]

Well, do you like it?

[whattaprick]

[ 'Because I felt like it' is probably the simplest answer to Strange's question, as well as being the most he'll get out of the witcher for the moment. He waits patiently though the sound of Strange eating his own words, and finally answers: ]

It's not very gentlemanly to fish for compliments.

[kingsroads]

I'm asking for an honest critique.

[ Strange, you're a nightrunner, actually do your goddamn report and stop talking about books. ]

[whattaprick]

[ He'll call that out once he stops finding this whole thing super funny, but-- ]

Well you heard part of it already. It's too long. If I needed more sleep than I do, I don't know how long it would have taken me to finish it.

It's a better read than Brother Adalbert's bestiary or Ghouls and Alghouls, I'll say that much. Better pictures, too.

[kingsroads]

[ it's time for EMOTIONS. When Strange speaks again, it's in an oddly gentle tone that's slightly nostalgic. ]

I'll agree with you on that. The pictures are the best part of the work. [ because Arabella made them and god how he misses her. ]

Would you mind lending me the book once you've finished? I'd like to look at them once more.

[whattaprick]

Mm. Some of them make you feel like you're right there -- if I ever end up on the king's roads, I'll know it. Definitely better than anatomical diagrams of ekimmara.

[ For better or worse, Lambert's not great at picking up them subtle emotions over the radio, so he continues on, blissfully oblivious: ]

Lend it? [ He laughs, short and disbelieving, like Strange has just told a funny joke. ] I was going to give it to you anyway, Strange. It's got some interesting stories, but I just don't need a book about magic.

[kingsroads]

[ Time for everybody's favorite game, Strange being mad confused. Why would Lambert ask for a book and then give it away? ]

If you weren't going to keep it, why ask for it in the first place?

[ option 1 that Strange isn't considering: he's pretty easy to tease. option 2 that Strange isn't considering: gifts exist, you moron. ]

[whattaprick]

I was curious what the fuss was about and I wanted to know what your book was like.

[ You can almost hear the shrug. ]

Give me any jewelry you pick up while we're here and we'll call it even, how about that?

[ Why be altruistic when you can get something out of it. ]

[kingsroads]

You have a deal. [ though why jewelry??? Ah well, who cares, he can't judge. ]

...thank you, by the way.

[whattaprick]

[ he had an explanation and everything ready, but since he hasn't been pressed on it, he'll leave it at that. yay not asking questions! ]

It's just a book, Strange.

[ Isn't it? He sounds just a touch confused, there. ]

[kingsroads]

Not for me, it isn't. Did you read the dedication?

[ dedicated to Arabella, b/c she is the best and also he thought she was dead when he wrote the book ]

[whattaprick]

I did. Very romantic. [ He pauses, taking a moment to review the conversation beyond 'man it sure is fun teasing Strange' and it actually occurs to him: ]

Wait, you don't have a copy of it already?

[ Because that had been part of the joke -- 'here Strange, have another copy of your book ya egomaniac.' ]

[kingsroads]

Not here I don't. I'm certain I have one back home, though...maybe.

[ SURPRISE he is not that much of an egomaniac, just an arrogant shit ]

[whattaprick]

How do you forget whether or not you have something that weighs as much as a small child?

[ Probably just by virtue of being Jonathan Strange, someone who would in fact be likely to forget a baby if he had one. ]

[kingsroads]

Lambert, I don't know how many times I must remind you that I was mad before it finally sinks in. That's explanation enough.

[ how do you forget you have something that thick? real fuckin easy, it turns out! ]

[whattaprick]

I knew you were seeing-things crazy, not forgetting-things crazy. The two don't necessarily go together. [ He's not your resident mental health expert, all right. ]

I'll drop it off at your trailer when I'm done. For now, why don't you fill us in-- [ 'cause this is a public channel, you know. ] --about what you've figured out so far?

[kingsroads]

I've been exploring the area where that Game Cube dropped. It looks awful, like a fire's burned straight through it. We should try and stay away from these 'Games' as much as possible--I wouldn't want any of us to get caught up in one.

Though, obviously, if someone does get caught up in one, do try to win the thing.

[whattaprick]

That's a given, Strange. [ Trying to win, that is. ]

Been trying to track down this 'Guardian' I've heard people talking about. Seems like the Game wouldn't have gone south so far with her around.

[kingsroads]

I'd offer to help, but this Mainframe's stubbornly resistant to my magic.

[ not that he's angry about it or anything, NO, HE'S PRETTY MIFFED ABOUT THIS, FUCK U POWER NERF ]

[whattaprick]

Your scrying doesn't work?

[kingsroads]

My magic as a whole doesn't work. This happened before, at the Matrix. I can only assume these worlds have no magic to begin with.

[whattaprick]

Great. [ He exhales. ] Some of my signs work, others don't. So it's not all magic.

[kingsroads]

Which signs work? [ because if it's something that Strange can replicate with his own magic, might as well give it a try. ]

[whattaprick]

From what I tried? Quen and Axii. They're a little ... different, though.

[ How do you describe hacking code and firewalls when both parties in the conversation have a very poor grasp of what computers are to begin with? Not very well, it turns out! ]

Weapons don't seem to change. You might wanna keep that dagger on you.

[kingsroads]

Trust me, I will. I'm already wary of this place because of the whole 'digital world' nonsense—even without my magic, I will be prepared.

[ we are not having something like the Matrix happen again, no sirree, STRANGE IS NOT GONNA GET SHOT THIS TIME. ]