[video]

[paints_lanterns]

[When the screen clicks on it is covered by a small, pale thumb, with only bits of the Porter room visible around the edges of the digit. The bits appear to be moving though as the phone is swung about.]

That voice said people will talk to me through this, Pascal. Do you think Eugene will? Or maybe Mother? Although she's already mad at me and getting sent somewhere even further from home is just going to make her more angry...

[After a few seconds the phone is placed on a surface and the thumb disappears, only to be replaced by a featureless wall. For ten seconds there is nothing.]

...Nothing's happening. Do you think...

[A few seconds later the screen whirls as the phone is turned around, revealing the long haired Rapunzel with a tiny green chameleon on her shoulder. Rapunzel is bent over slightly, her hair tumbling down off the side of her head in waves, and the phone must be propped up on a desk. Girl and Chameleon both look very expectant, eager even, their eyes wide and hopeful, faces maybe two feet from the phone. And nothing happens, of course. Eventually Rapunzel frowns.]

Maybe I'm supposed to say something?

[This is whispered in an aside to the Chameleon, who just shrugs at her, and she turns back to the screen and holds up a hand, giving a little wave of her fingers.]

Hello? I'm Rapunzel. I just woke up here, but I don't know how. Or why. The voice in the ceiling was not very helpful. Uhm. Eugene, if you can hear this I didn't mean to leave the boat, and Mother if you can hear this...I don't know...I'm sorry? [And then in another aside to the chameleon.] Do you think that's enough?

Comments

[timejumps.livejournal.com]

Electricity is what you see in lightning. Or, have you ever been shocked when touching something metal? After walking on carpet? That's also electricity.

[paints_lanterns]

Oh. I've seen lightning! Out the window. But we didn't have a lot of metal in the tower...

Okay. Lightning is electricity. I always thought it was very pretty. And...a little scary.

[timejumps.livejournal.com]

And this communicator is powered by electricity. Much less than a lightning bolt though.

[paints_lanterns]

Oh.

[The screen shifts about and is suddenly moving rather rapidly as she examines it.]

How do they get a piece of lightning bolt inside it?

[timejumps.livejournal.com]

They can make it. Then they store it in a battery. It's a small device made specifically to hold electricity.

You really have none of this where you're from?

[paints_lanterns]

A battery.

[She's filing away the terms for later, at least.]

No, nothing. Well, we have flying lanterns, do those count?

[timejumps.livejournal.com]

I suppose that depends on how they fly.

[paints_lanterns]

Well, I only saw one up close. It's made of paper, and the top is sealed, and then there are these two bars underneath that cross.

[She is making hand gestures as she explains.]

And there was a fire in the middle of the bars so maybe the heat from the fire makes them go up? I always thought it was just magic, but...

[timejumps.livejournal.com]

I don't think those count. Just rising heat. No technology, no magic.

[paints_lanterns]

...Oh.

So, no, nothing like this, then.

[timejumps.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid not.

[paints_lanterns]

Is everything here like this 'communicator?'

[She learned that word from the girl who talked like a fish!]

[timejumps.livejournal.com]

A lot of it is.

You'll have to get used to them.

[ Have a short pause as she considers something. Herp derp, this girl is clueless about this sort of thing, so- ]

Also, don't walk onto the middle of the roads, or you'll get run over by a car.

[paints_lanterns]

Run over by a car.

[She's mad it to the door of the porter building now, and is peering out.]

Are those the big metal things?