second chapter; video/action
[The video feed turns on to show a close-up view of Eleanor's pale face; she's nearer to the Vine than she'd usually be, peering in. She waits for a moment, and then says with absolutely no preamble whatsoever in her soft British voice:]
Have you found what you're looking for? [...] The thing most important to you?
[She stares impassively into the mirror, waiting. Perhaps somewhere, deep down, she really wants to hear your answer, but whether that's true or not can't change how she soon enough wanders away. Once the scope of the mirror expands and more of the girl is visible, it becomes obvious that Eleanor is holding up one corner of her dress with one hand, making a depression that she's filled with breadcrumbs. Her empty birdcage is in the other hand, as usual.
She meanders about for a bit, tossing out the crumbs until there's none left. Then she sits down in the grass and becomes very, very still, watchful and waiting. If left undisturbed for a time, birds will begin to gather around her...but none of them red ones. Not yet.]
Have you found what you're looking for? [...] The thing most important to you?
[She stares impassively into the mirror, waiting. Perhaps somewhere, deep down, she really wants to hear your answer, but whether that's true or not can't change how she soon enough wanders away. Once the scope of the mirror expands and more of the girl is visible, it becomes obvious that Eleanor is holding up one corner of her dress with one hand, making a depression that she's filled with breadcrumbs. Her empty birdcage is in the other hand, as usual.
She meanders about for a bit, tossing out the crumbs until there's none left. Then she sits down in the grass and becomes very, very still, watchful and waiting. If left undisturbed for a time, birds will begin to gather around her...but none of them red ones. Not yet.]