(no subject)

[no_love_potions]

[Just outside of every entrance to the Bay, new arrivals might find a magazine stand stacked with fliers, each one with a sign overhead saying "READ ME." On the flier itself is a message.]


DON'T PANIC
If you're reading this you've probably just woken up in a strange place and are very confused.
Welcome to the club.

What I can tell you is that you're safe, this isn't a trick, and, no, we don't know any way back yet. The packet you woke up with should give you more information and include some cash and an apartment key.

If you need help, give me a call on that communicator you got. Or you can come by my office in Everglade.



- Harry Dresden, Wizard.
Lost items found
Paranormal investigations
Consulting
Advice
Reasonable rates
No love potions, endless purses
Or other entertainment.

Comments

[Audio/Video]

[short_n_sweet]

[As per Raye's request, Jaune punches the number for this supposed wizard into his video phone, letting it ring.]

A wizard, huh? Wonder if he's like Ms. Goodwitch at all...

[Audio/Video]

[no_love_potions]

[Harry is nothing at all like Ms. Goodwitch. Honestly, she'd probably hate his guts.]

[But, wow, he's popular today. Maybe his fliers were finally working. He answers after a couple of rings.]

Dresden.

Re: [Audio/Video]

[short_n_sweet]

Dresden? What's that-- Oh, that's your name. Haha, of course that's your name!

[That's right, people spoke English around here.]

Uh, hey, a girl named Raye said I should talk to you because I'm new here. I just woke up in some cocoon thing and got my shoes all wet walking through the Bay to get to this city...

[He looks around.] Genessia? Looks normal enough... Anyway, uh... Where do I even start? This is all kinda nuts...

[no_love_potions]

[They sure do, Jaune, they sure do.]

Yeah, whoever designed the Bay had a great sense of humor.

[He grunts a little.]

Aside from getting new shoes, the best place to start is probably finding your apartment. Got the address handy?

[short_n_sweet]

Oh, yeah, it was all laughs walking through there. I can't wait to do it again sometime. [Oh my, what sass.]

My... apartment? I don't remember the pamphlet saying anything about an apartment. I've got my necklace and my money and this neat phone...

[Oh God, did he get a key and drop it in the Bay? Please... please no.] ... Am I missing something?

Actually, I may have goofed up on the apartment thing. Whoops.

[no_love_potions]

[Oooh, nice sass, kid. Harry approves.]

No big deal, most of the places are pretty much empty anyway. We'll get you set up somewhere.

[Cause apparently that's what he does around here now.]

Re: Actually, I may have goofed up on the apartment thing. Whoops.

[short_n_sweet]

Really? Awesome! Well then, I just kinda parted ways with my friend for a bit so we could figure that out. I'm just at the entrance to the city, you know, just got in from the Bay. Not that I was afraid of getting lost or anything, but man this place seems big.

... And quiet.

[no_love_potions]

[Quiet? He's had three whole conversations today, he's not sure how much more of this racket he can put up with.]

You get used to it, but if you're bored there's usually some kind of action going on in the other cities.

[And then at the mention of a friend....]

Is this friend of yours a little girl in a red cape?

[short_n_sweet]

[Jaune was listening, but not listening that intently... at least until Harry mentions the red cape.] Yeah! That's Ruby! So... you met her, huh? Man, you get around quick!

[no_love_potions]

[Listen up, son, this is important now!]

Yeah. [He grunts.] I'm starting to think I should change my ad to include "unofficial welcome wagon."

[short_n_sweet]

Heheh! Uh... [Oh, maybe he shouldn't be laughing.] Well! Um... If you showed her around, then you know a place I can get set up? Because I'd be all for four walls and a roof.

[no_love_potions]

[It's okay. He's a funny guy, and mostly kidding about the welcome wagon thing.]

I can help you with that. What kind of place are you thinking about?

[short_n_sweet]

Well, I...

[Bah, there was something he just couldn't get off his mind.] Well... I was wondering what Ruby was going to do. If I could I'd wanna get a place closer to her because... Well because she's the only person I really know around here! But I guess anywhere is better than nothing. I'm on my own so I don't need much.

[no_love_potions]

[Jeez, man.]

I helped her get set up, I can point you towards the same building.

[At least he's not talking about sharing an apartment.]

Need a lift?

[short_n_sweet]

[Of course he's not going to share an apartment with Ruby! He's a man! An independent, seventeen-year-old not-really-an-adult-technically man. He could handle himself! Though he worried for her because she was a little clumsy sometimes, and only fifteen.]

Sure! I'm on... wait a sec'.

[He walks a short ways until he finds a corner.] 14th and... Laurel Avenue. Right by the Bay.

[no_love_potions]

[Aw, man, that's almost cute considering Ruby was worried about him looking after himself. Harry barely remembers being that young himself.]

Be there in a few minutes.

[And sometime later, Harry's beaten up old truck comes rolling down the street toward Jaune.

Dresden Chauffeurs, at your service, Mr. Arc.]

[short_n_sweet]

Cool! Alright!

[So he waited. Where was the magic? He expected the wizard to just teleport to him, to poof out of thin air... then maybe pull a rabbit out of a hat? How the heck did wizards really work anyway?

Instead, there was a beat-up truck, and inside it... a really, really big guy who looked like he belonged in one of those hard-broiled detective flicks. When Harry stopped in front of him, Jaune stepped up to the truck and looked inside curiously.]

... So you're Harry? Uh, nice to meet you. I'm Jaune. [Was he supposed to feel this terrified?] Let me just...

[He opened the passenger side door and tried to climb in, where the sheath of his sword promptly struck the side of the seat.] Oh, uh... [He tried again, twisting his body to try to accommodate the sheath, but to no avail. So, he just took it off his belt instead, because that was smarter.

... But when he sat down in the seat, the sheath sudden SPRUNG into its shield state in the boy's face.] GWAH! Oh, come on!

[no_love_potions]

[Jaune, you have a lot to learn about magic. Harry doesn't even want to think about the amount of time and energy a teleportation spell would cost. Nope, Jaune's getting the truck.]

Wizard Welcome Wagon. [He confirms. Wow, this kid looks kind of skittish. Harry just sits by while Jaune struggles with his sword for a few seconds.]

Maybe you should-- yeah, that.

[AND THEN HE GETS A FACE FULL OF SHIELD. Right in the jaw!]

HELL'S BELLS!

Actio- Oh my god. D:

[short_n_sweet]

AHH! Oh, jeez, oh man, sorry! Way sorry! [It takes Jaune all of 1.36 seconds to retract the shield and rest the sheath in his lap with one hand - his other hand is raised ready to block an incoming fist or fireball pitifully.] Pleeeeease don't turn me into a newt or something! It was an accident!

[Inner screaming intensifies.]

[no_love_potions]

[Holy crap, what was that thing loaded with? Harry was pretty sure his jaw had suffered worse, but right now he couldn't remember when.]

[While Jaune's apologizing, he's rubbing his jaw and flexing it a few times.]

I'm not going to... [just... you know what? Barely even worth it.] just toss that thing in the back while I'm driving.

[short_n_sweet]

[Great, great. Amazing first impression Jaune.]

[Jaune did as was asked, turning to put his sword and shield in the back. He then sat back down, bucked up, and was pretty quiet... Understandable, right? He just clocked some poor guy in the face by accident.]

Uh... heheh... so! You... sure can take a hit pretty well...!

[Heh... Heh... H'oh boy.]

... How long have you been here?

[no_love_potions]

[It was a great first impression. Unfortunately, when most people are talking about making a strong first impression, they don't mean make it in the side of the other person's face.]

[The comment about his ability to take a hit just gets a slow, sideways LOOK in response. Never speak of it again, Jaune.]

Awhile.

[short_n_sweet]

A while? Huh... that sucks. [Guess that means he better settle in for "a while" too. His mind quickly scrambled to try and rationalize why being stuck in Genessia isn't such a bad thing... but unfortunately, he couldn't. Seriously, people could have been looking for him back at Beacon right this second!]

... Do you stop worrying after a while?

[no_love_potions]

Nope.

[Okay, Harry, cut the kid some slack. It isn't like he never did anything stupid at that age, and not everyone had the luxury of knowing that people back home weren't worried about them.]

But you're asking the wrong guy about that, kid. I'm always worrying about something.

[short_n_sweet]

[Jaune looked defeated, but then... he looked defeated a lot of the time.] Oh, well... Well I'm sure everyone's fine. [One affirmative nod, and he'd focus more on where he was going.]

[It was a pretty quiet ride all the way to the building. Once there though, he waited until Harry made a move to step out of the truck before he followed suit.] Hey, not bad! Ruby lives here too? Sweet.