The Magic of Ides

[saving_sound]

[Video]

Excuse me, but--

[Hibiki pauses as a small owl swoops past her, startling the girl. But in just a moment, she's back again, trying to finish her message.]

Does anyone - eek! Umm... Does anyone know what Sh... Shakespeare? I think it was Shakespeare... Ah, does anyone know which of his plays was about the ides of March? I was talking to some people and-

[Another squeak as the owl buzzes her again. With a deep breath, she tries to get the rest of it out as quickly as she can.]

--We think it might be important so any information you could have would be very helpful thank you!

[Her message delivered, she scrambles to shut off the feed while ducking away from that very same owl. It seems she's attracted the attention of this owl in particular somehow.]

Comments

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

Julius Caesar.

[video]

[saving_sound]

[It takes her a moment before she can get back to his message. There is now an owl on her head.]

Julius Caesar...?

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

The name of the play.

Are you all right, Miss Hibiki?

[video]

[saving_sound]

Does it mean anything?

And yes, I'm fine.

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

The Ides were a method of time-keeping employed by the Ancient Romans. It occurs about the middle of the month.

Julius Caesar was warned by a sooth-sayer to 'beware the Ides of March.' Dismissing the warning he was stabbed to death by a group of senators, fearful of the power that Caesar had amassed. Included among them was his best friend, Brutus.

You met the old man then, Hibiki?

[video]

[saving_sound]

[...Judging by her confused expression, a lot of that goes over her head. Well, all of it except--]

Stabbed to death-?!

[Oh gosh that does not sound good at all.]

...I did. I didn't understand a lot of what he was saying, though.

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

If we're talking about the same gentleman, and I suspect we are, then his message was simply to beware a 'great betrayal' presumably happening on the Ides of March.

[video]

[saving_sound]

But who would betray us...? I don't think I upset anyone here, but...

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

That, my dear, is a mystery.

[video]

[saving_sound]

I hope it doesn't come true. I don't want anyone here to be stabbed to death, no matter what.

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

That's quite a leap. The elderly gentleman warned of betrayal, not death.

[video]

[saving_sound]

But... you said it was from a story where that happened, didn't you?

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

'Beware the Ides of March' is a quote from the play, yes. But given that none of us are Roman emperors with hordes of jealous senators watching our every move, I think there's a danger in taking too literal an interpretation.

[video]

[saving_sound]

Oh...

...So then what did he mean? Is it just a betrayal?

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

If I knew anymore than you did, I'd be letting the whole city know. I wonder if the grey people would be familiar at all with the elderly gentleman?

[video]

[saving_sound]

Maybe... do you think asking them would do anything?

[video]

[the_good_doctor]

[Amused.] Mere speculation isn't going to get us any further.

voice;

[aggrievance]

"Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue shriller than all the music
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.

Beware the ides of March.

What man is that?

A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March."

voice;

[saving_sound]

[There's a moment before she finally responds. Unfortunately, her response is very short and confused.]

...Huh?

voice;

[aggrievance]

[That's okay; Rose was mainly just doing it to amuse herself.]

The Ides of March.

[video]

[saving_sound]

...Heheh! I suppose I will have to go ask, then!

[As she speaks, her head begins leaning to the side - not because of her own volition, but more due to the shifting of the owl on her head. The weight reminds her:]

--And maybe I should ask about the owls, too.

voice;

[saving_sound]

So... that's from the play?

voice;

[aggrievance]

Yes; Julius Caesar, as the man above has so kindly informed you. A soothsayer warns our titular hero to "beware the Ides of March", which he ignores, culminating in his unfortunate assassination.

Under normal circumstances, I would write this mysterious man travelling through Asgard as nothing more than simply mentally unhinged, but we aren't quite under normal circumstances, are we?

voice;

[saving_sound]

Right. That's why I'm so worried...

voice;

[aggrievance]

In that case, the best idea is to take his warnings to heart, yes?