001: Video

[bestkindofcrazy]

[The video feed is shot through with static and frequently fizzles out for a couple of seconds, but what you can see of the picture is a tall, tired-looking man in his mid thirties. His face is peppered with relatively fresh wounds, and there are dark circles under his eyes. He's also scowling like somebody just shot his puppy]

Oh I am so not in the

Comments

[video]

[notniteowl]

Well, it's already lasted five minutes. [Someone's amused.]

I could take a look at it, if you really want.

Re: [video]

[bestkindofcrazy]

That sounds like a kssshhhkkkood idea, if I can figure out how to fissss you. It's gotta be pretty sturdily built to have lakssssssshhhhhssskkkis long.

[video, private]

[notniteowl]

Uhhh. Tell me where you are? I could plug your coordinates in and find you that way, it's probably easier. Unless you don't want me to show up in a big giant blue airship.

Re: [video, private]

[bestkindofcrazy]

Uh. I'm...ksssssh...somewhere. I just got out of this weird glowy place and now I'm just, uh, stanksssshkkkkg on the sidewalk. I don't know, I'm not sssskkkkew Yorker.

[video, private]

[notniteowl]

[Siiigh.] Okay, I'm pretty sure I can find you, then. Want me there quick or less quick? I can do either.

...Oh, I'm Ted, by the way, hi.

[video, private]

[bestkindofcrazy]

Harry. Harry Dresden.

I'm in no hurry. I can wait as long as this [extended burst of static and the picture fizzles out for several seconds]

Uh. Yeah.

[video, private to action!]

[notniteowl]

Ted Kord.

Right, I'll bring my toolbox. See you in a few. [And a short while later, hey look, Harry, there's a dude with blue cricket wings gliding down and landing in front of you with a grin.]

Don't shoot, I come in peace.

[bestkindofcrazy]

[He thought he'd misheard the Ted Kord, what with his terrible reception and everything]

[Apparently not]

[And the most intelligent thing he can think of to say?]

Stars above, I named my car after you.

[notniteowl]

[Ted will just be laughing.]

Seriously? I don't know if I'm honored or if I'm hoping your car never got shot in the head.

Um. Nice to meet you, Harry.

[bestkindofcrazy]

[Laughs] Oh man, you have no idea.

[Which is kind of a pang because that car went through hell and you might laugh, but losing it was like losing a part of himself]

[Oh well, extending a hand]

Big fan. Guess you can tell.

[Come out, little boy inside Harry!]

[notniteowl]

[He shakes the offered hand and grins.]

Kinda figured. Don't freak out if you see Booster, he's around, too. [That grin is turning into something a little more approaching a pleased smile.]

So what's the problem? Just -- static and stuff?

[bestkindofcrazy]

[Don't mind Harry, he's just silently fanboying for a moment here]

[...]

[...ok, done, right, business!]

[Bluntly] This is gonna blow a fuse at best in less than an hour. Magic and technology? Don't mix.

[notniteowl]

Okaaaay, well, I can maybe do a quick repair job. [This is Ted's thoughtful face.]

Dunno if I can stop it from happening again, though, you might need another magic user for that. Zee doesn't seem to have this problem.

[bestkindofcrazy]

That'd be a start. [Shakes it] It's pretty tough. Far as I can make out it only started glitching when I. Uh. Panicked on arrival and threw a couple of spells around.

[notniteowl]

Oh, well, maybe it messed with the frequencies somehow. Can I see?

[A little abstractedly:] I think the British wizards have this problem too, sometimes, I dunno.

[bestkindofcrazy]

Sure, no problem.

[Throws it to him]

British wizards, huh? I'd ask, but from what I've seen so far the name Potter's probably gonna come up, and there's only room for one wizard Harry in my head right now.