First Barrel § Video

[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ The video opens in a way that one could consider sudden. There is a feel that nothing planned nor expected about the feed that opens, given that the face that appears rears back in shock at its appearance and the resulting recoil has the screen waggling about at strange and dizzying angles. For a moment there's an awkward silence as the scruffy fellow shown to be making use of his bracelet for the first time stares in wonder — before he breaks into a grin that spreads quite nearly ear to ear. ]

It truly is magic!

[ He moves backwards and the screen naturally follows, earning a raise of eyebrows... before he feints sharply to the right, then to the left, laughing joyously as it manages to keep up. ]

Even Gandalf could not create something so fantastical as this! And the maid, she has told me that this speaks to all the residents of this strange city?

[ He's already poking at the buttons surrounding his screen as he speaks, naturally at random; he doesn't have the hang of this bizarre written word at all and probably wouldn't bother to read any of it even if he could. At one point the video blacks out and becomes audio-only, then video again, then zooms in close, then back out. Satisfied that he has clearly mastered this mystical contraption, the young dwarf finally puffs up his chest and raises his chin with a smirk. ]

Kili, at your service.

[ His fists clench together, the smirk pulling wide into a cocky grin. ]

While it comes to no surprise to me that a son of the line of Durin has been called upon to serve beneath the banner of the gods themselves, it is truly an honor to stand amongst what I expect to be the greatest warriors of our worlds and to fight alongside one another as—

[ The dramatic clench of his hands does in the rest of whatever he'd planned to go on about; fists come down to table, bracelet strikes corner and the video is unceremoniously ended. Hello, Asgard. Your new village idiot has arrived. ]

Comments

[Video]

[madcuriosity]

Hello Mr. Kili! My name is Alice! It's very nice- [Alice giggles.]

I was told it isn't magic, but technology. [She doesn't see much of the difference yet.]

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Well. That... doesn't look a whole lot like a warrior at all, let alone a great one. Still, who is he to judge? Maybe they do things differently here. Maybe they do things weird. ]

Well met, Miss Alice.

[ And then his brows furrow, his confusion clear. ]

"Technology"? Is that different from a wizard's magics?

[ Oh shit that's not like necromancy stuff is it he will be in so much trouble if he's playing with that. ]

[verybigpheasants]

[ ... :I

Ah, well. So much for the impassioned speech. Still perfectly colourful, to be sure. Only now it has the added bonus of being highly amusing. Win-win! And Fili will be pleased as anything to come across this, if Gwaine got the right impression from their conversation the other day.

He wonders if all dwarves are like this. Because the place could do with a few, if that's the case. Cheerful greeting for a cheerful greeting. ]

Happy to have you alongside, then. I'm sure the rest of what you had to say was very moving.

[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Now that's what he's talking about. That's a warrior, right there. And he doesn't need a stupid beard to prove it. Kili seems to actually puff up even more now to look as impressive as possible, apparently not put off by his own blunder earlier because he's just too busy thinking that this is just so freaking awesome he doesn't even. ]

It was, as a matter of fact! And it would have been seen if this flimsy piece weren't so... flimsy.

[ He examines the bracelet with a frown. Clearly not of dwarven make, this little trinket. Still, the cheer returns a moment later as his gaze snaps back up to his speaking companion with an almost predatory glee. ]

What can you tell me of this place and its troubles? Is this a war that we face? Are we on the forefront of battle?

[ Man this is just too cool. ]

[video]

[suppressthedark]

You shut your bracelet off in the middle of your speech, you know.

[ICHIGO KUROSAKI, SECRETLY CAPTAIN OBVIOUS.]

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Wow thank you he totally didn't notice that at all thanks. His chin lifts and his face scrunches in irritation, that attempt at a prince's regal bearing officially shot to hell. ]

It shut itself off, a fact you clearly did not take note of.

[ He was trying to make cool dramatic gestures. ]

[Video]

[5thchild]

Hello, Kili. [ he smiles softly ]

I'm sorry, but I'm not a warrior.

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ He might appear just a wee bit disappointed. ]

Oh. Well, I suppose that it can't be all warriors here, some must be trained. From where do you hail? I had thought most humans were trained for battle upon entering manhood just as we are, but I know little of your culture beyond what little I learned of them in the Blue Mountains.

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[unhappymeal]

...It's a pleasure to meet you, Kili.

[But really, why are so many of the people brought here so geared up for bloodshed?]

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ And geared up he is, his smile cocky and bright. Who couldn't be geared up for battle? For honor? For glory? Also being a dumb teenager sure does help. ]

Well met! There are many humans here, it would seem — scarcely a dwarf in sight! Must get rather dull, your celebrations are no match for ours, I've heard tell.

[text]

[freezerburned]

uh

you might want to tone it down a bit

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ It takes a good ten minutes of staring for Kili to figure out this damned weird writing system. Then another six for him to figure out the keyboard himself because clearly that's what you're supposed to do, right? Finally he manages a highly eloquent text response: ]

why

[ Nailed it. ]

[video]

[superissues]

... yeah, all residents of Asgard with a bracelet of their own.

You don't want to do that if you don't want to end up talking to yourself.

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Yeah okay he gets that. His hand rubs the bracelet with a look of annoyance. ]

If it were of dwarven make, this bracelet would not be so... tiny.

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[twicelikeabarnowl]

[ Now here he's been, worried sick sad and alone very put out concerned and looking for Kili's beardless ass, only to find his brother making a fool of himself...

And the sight of the younger is one of the greater rushes of relief that he's felt in his lifetime (not the greatest, but it's up there), something that he makes no effort to hide in his expression. Because, well, why should he? ]

Well said, brother. Perhaps the next time we'll be so blessed as to hear it in its entirety. [ He teases lightly. ]

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Kili brightens immediately. Though it's been but hours since he arrived he was already feeling the absence of his brother, an anxiety that comes with not knowing precisely where the other may be. ]

It would hardly be a problem if they hadn't given us a woman's trinket to hold the spell!

[ He leans in to the screen then, tilting his head this way and that to try and have a good look at what he can make of Fili's surroundings. ]

These are curious things, aren't they? And to think, us, summoned by gods! Where are you now? In which house where you placed?

[bestestfurrend]

Oooh, you must be the one that Fili was looking for! Hi! He'll be very happy to see you here!

[oncelikeabrownowl]

Ah, so you've already met my—

[ And then that processing speed catches up and he really looks at the... whatever is on the other end. ]

You, ah... From what land do you hail?

[ The fuck sort of thing are you. 8| ]

[video]

[oldconjurer]

[Do you hear an indignant huff, Kili? Because there is one. And it is directed right at you.]

I have found my time better spent in more practical pursuits than in fashioning flashy baubles for your amusement, young Kili.

[...All blustering aside, he's actually pleased to see you.]

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

Gandalf!

[ He's too pleased to look properly abashed in regards to his little comment earlier. Of course they would summon a wizard for a battle such as this! Truly this must be grand indeed! His grin is wide and excited — but suddenly drops to a confused squint as he realizes that their wizard looks a bit... well... off. After a long stare and a whole lot of reasonably slow processing, he finally asks: ]

Gandalf... Why are you white?

[Video]

[comeonthensexy]

[ This is amusing. ]

And here comes the brother. Welcome to Asgard.

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ People here dress very strangely, don't they? Still, he looks pleased that someone else knows of his brother and puffs up proudly, eager to seem just as impressive. ]

Good day to you! I assume then you're acquainted with Fili?

audio

[occulthymns]

Who is Durin? [That seems like a good question for someone as proud as this guy.]

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Ah yes, that earns an even bigger puffing of his chest, the pride positively oozing from his words. He speaks the way one tells a story heard a thousand times. ]

Durin the Deathless was the first of the Seven Fathers of the dwarven people, and the one from which I and my kin descend. He founded the city of Moria, fathered the clan from which we hail, and lived more than ten times as long as any dwarf has to this day! Were it not for him we would never have risen to the great race that the dwarves are today, of that you can be sure!

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[fairytaled]

[ Just this face because that introduction was definitely needing that cut-off. ]

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Well hellooo, nurse. If that face is supposed to show him just how much of an idiot he's being Miss Pretty Redhead, ha-ha, you have no idea how immune he is to it after being on the receiving end of endless variations for the last 77 years. Instead he offers her his most charming of smiles with a little raise of his eyebrows. She's beardless, true, but aside from that not bad at all. ]

The maid spoke of battle and glory, but she said not a word of beautiful maidens in our midst as well — not that mere words could do you justice, milady.

Video;

[eggsterminate]

And I thought I had a problem with talking too fast and occasionally rambling. I appreciate your ability to make me seem much more like a normal person, unintentional as the favor was.

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Was that an insult? He gets the feeling that was a backhanded insult in the best of circumstances. But hey, he'll let that slide on account of the fact that despite her unfortunate lack of a beard she's quite the looker. He offers a winning smile. ]

Well, I suppose then were you to offer me your name and a kind word from the lovely vision that is your lips, we could consider your debt repaid.

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[brokennotmad]

[Annie's eyebrows furrow as she thinks. His name, it sounds really familiar.]

Oh! I think someone was looking for you earlier on here.

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ His face lights up in the way only a younger brother's could, positively bursting with pride. ]

You've seen my brother, then! A pity that, there's no recovering from a face such as his. He was lost without me even for only a day!

[Voice]

[caduuceus]

"A pleasUre, sir Kili! Be it technology or magic, it is remarkable how often the two coincide."

[..She may have been indulging in one too many movies lately.]

"Welcome to Asgard, my fine fellow! Please, if yoU have any qUestions, I woUld be happy to assist. Durin is not a name of a hoUse that I recall, what patron deity are yoU serving Under?"

voice;

[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Yeah, that whole "technology" thing. He still hasn't got the beginnings of a grip on what it means —and he's still got some concerns with it being dark magic or worse. ]

Well met, and I thank you for your generosity. Durin is not a house of which this land is familiar, from what I can tell; he was the first Father of my people and one which I and my brother call kin. The god I have been so graciously selected to serve beneath is one known as Thor.

[ A worried beat, and then: ]

What of this "technology?" It is not the work of... necromancy, is it?

[ That sounds sorta-kinda-maybe alike, it's a valid concern. ]

[Video]

[canttakemysky]

[He's sympathetic. Really, he is. Even if his world has technology far beyond what this one possesses, it's significantly less finicky and magical in nature.]

...The bracelet takes some getting used to, as I'm sure you've already noticed.

[What with those... keen powers of perception..., he doesn't say out loud.]

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

I rather expect it does.

[ He eyes the flimsy piece on his wrist as though it were a dead rat strapped there in its stead. The side is given a flick. Yes, this strapping young lad is just keen all the way through. ]

Could the gods in all their wisdom not made them so... small?

[ And stupid-looking? ]

[Video]

[upholsteredvelvet]

Are you trying to give everyone on the network motion sickness? Honestly!

[Waver likes to think he's hiding the queasiness well, but really, he isn't at all.]

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Bad news: that queasiness is really obvious and Kili is totally noticing it. ]

Motion sickness, you say?

[ And, yep, this is then Kili dipping and dodging and leaning every which-way to swing the screen about as wildly as he can possibly manage. Even without his new gift of speed he's a particularly zippy fellow; that screen is moving pretty damn jerkily. ]

permatext; anonymous

[deduce]

it's not magic. magic doesn't exist.

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ He's had trouble enough trying to maintain one conversation with this strange writing, he rather doubts he can manage two — particularly with such an absurd question. He snorts a laugh outright. ]

Does it not? And how then does a wizard call the mighty eagles to his aid? From where does the fiery breath of the dragon billow into life? With what unholy power did the vile Sauron forge the ring that nearly spelt the end of Middle Earth? I fear you have spent too great a time in this place, stranger. It has spoiled your mind.

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[withouthope]

[Thorin's been recovering in silence, both from the wounds he arrived with and the harsh blow this entire business has been--and here, on this magic bracelet, he finds his nephew. Both of them, in fact, celebrating their very imprisonment with all of their short-sighted youth.

He clenches his jaw and sighs through his nose at the feed of Kili embarrassing himself, composing himself before he finds the button to respond. Of course, 'composing' doesn't necessarily imply hiding his displeasure. That rings through clearly in the arch of his brow, the way he sits back in his chair with his arms crossed and shoulders squared.]

I am certain, Kili, that we were already on a quest. Or does the reclamation of our homeland not offer enough glory for you?

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[oncelikeabrownowl]

[ Can we get an "oh shit" ladies and gentlemen?

Kili isn't even looking at the screen at first when he receives the reply, just swatting at buttons that hover mid-air whilst looking over his shoulder at something in his room — but that voice has him stopped cold with wide eyes that finally turn forward to take in the very disappointed and decidedly cowing look that his uncle is giving him through the feed. All the color drains from his face, his mouth running dry. When did Uncle Thorin get here and why did no one tell him. ]

Thorin—! I hadn't, ah, it's not, no one had told me that you— When did you arrive here? I had no idea, otherwise I would have— [ Nope nope okay try again from the top with less desperate verbal flailing ] The people here, the ones we've spoken to — they say that if we were to not help in this strange city, our own world could be in peril. We'd thought that the best thing we could do was to assist them in their plight?

[ Did Fili know about this? Did he set him up? He is going to steal his food for a week if he set him up. ]

video;

[roust]

(Well that was....good while it lasted. Aurora has gotten only slightly better at communicating via the bracelet since she arrived, and it's a few minutes of fussing with it before her face finally comes across. Eyes sparkling with amusement, and a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth)

I see that you and your brother are not so very different.