[video]

[scootch]

[The journal clicks to life - shaky at first, then clearing up to show Ellie's excited face.]

Oh man- is this what used to happen during Christmas? The whole surprise-gifts-under-the-tree or whatever... it's kind of late, and yeah, there's no tree, but--!!

[She turns the journal around to show her sparsely-decorated apartment at first, and then, when she fixes it, a big, box-style arcade machine, the game title of "The Turning" splashed across the front in faded letters. It looks kind of beaten up, but not in too terrible a condition.]

Does anybody know about this game? It's supposed to be so cool, I heard all about it from a friend back home. I can't get it to work, though... they're supposed to be plugged in, right? It's in the middle of the room, so the cord won't reach anything.

Can somebody strong come over and help me move it? I wanna give it a try! ...And if it doesn't work, would anybody know how to fix this kind of thing?

Comments

[Voice]

[scootch]

Heart building, room 7! Just knock and let me know it's you, and I'll let you in.

[scootch]

I don't know if I'm much of a designer, but it might be fun. I'll look into it, thanks.

[scootch]

[Well maybe certain idiotic boys should come to the freaking door instead of lurking outside a young lady's apartment...!

But whatever, it's the weirdest thing she's seen in a while, so she manages to get up and open the window for him, pulling him in before she feels tempted to shove him off the ledge or something.]

What the hell, Henry! Don't people use doors where you come from? How did you even do that!?

[Action]

[scootch]

Well...

[She heads over to the nearest wall she'd found with a plug. She'd managed to shove some of the lighter furniture around to make space for it, but the big metal clunker had been too much weight for her.]

There's a plug here, so if we can get it close enough to the wall to plug it in, that'd be great. Then at least we'll know if it works.

[video]

[scootch]

Whaaat? That's stupid. Anyway, if it's broken, someone here'll be able to fix it!

[Gosh, everyone here's so cynical.]

[scootch]

Heart building, room 7. Just knock first.

[And don't fly up to her window and give her heart attack like some people around here.]

[theboywiththebook]

[HE WANTED TO SHOW OFF JUST A BIT! IS THAT SO WRONG!?

And then yanked right inside and now she's getting angry at him. Look at this face, Ellie. It's like an injured puppy.

But, yeah he does feel a bit bad for scaring her.]

Sorry, flying just seemed faster and you wanted to play that so badly I thought it was for the best.

[To her other question all he can offer is pulling out a bottle of glowing dust.]

I used pixie dust. You know, like from Peter Pan.

[Voice]

[rutagraveolens]

Okay! I can't wait! Let me know when it's working!

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

You're welcome. I'm Ginia, sorry I didn't introduce myself sooner.

[risingwinds]

[Thankfully, Ven's got enough foresight not to head to the window, especially in light of what happened with the mistletoe. So, while his Pegaslick drops him off at the building, he opts to enter it by himself and, in due time, he'll go ahead and knock on Ellie's door.]

[Action]

[wildbluevagner]

[He takes a look down at the outlet as if investigating it with a trained eye.]

Yeah, that looks like your standard plug alright. [And he gets up, snapping his fingers together with a confident smirk.] Alright! Now, get ready to watch the magic happen!

[He steps forward, hugs the front of the arcade... and then there's bamf. Kurt and the arcade, in a cloud of smoke, are now right in the blank space by the plug.]

Voila! [He's ready to take a bow, now.]

[video]

[disastergirl]

It's not stupid! I'm just being a realist about this!

[She refused to believe that the Malnosso was capable of good things.]

[video] --> [action]

[painfully]

All right. I'll be over soon.

[Action]

[And a short time later there's a knock on her door.]

[scootch]

[IT'S TOTALLY WRONG but fine, whatever. He gets an odd look for the reference, though.]

Peter Pan? Pixie dust? I don't know that one.

[Oh god, though, why is it glowing?]

[scootch]

[Aaaand opening! He gets a smile and a wave inside, where she gestures at the big arcade, as if to emphasize that hey! It's kind of big! So hopefully gravi-whatever will help with that, because his skinny little arms sure won't.]

Hey! So this is home. And this is the game. What do you think?

[video]

[scootch]

No, you're being a killjoy.

[It'll totally work and be awesome then you'll feel silly, won't you?]

[Action]

[scootch]

[Aaaand she's gawking because what.]

Holy shit!! You- you just- holy shit!

[scootch]

No worries. I'm Ellie, nice to meet you. How come you're writing everything?

[Voice]

[scootch]

[Aaaaand a few hours later because Ellie has good luck for once-]

Rue! Hey, Rue! Oh my god, you've gotta try this!

[action]

[scootch]

[And she's already regretting giving her address out to a bunch of people she hardly knows, but okay, whatever, she's eager. But she's also wearing a concealed gun and a switchblade when she looks through the peephole at him and then opens the door.]

...Hey. Peeta?

[whiskytraitorfirefight]

Nice to meet you too. And I'm mute.

[Voice]

[rutagraveolens]

[A response comes ten, fifteen minutes later:]

You got it working?

[Action]

[wildbluevagner]

[Now he wags a finger, mock-scoldingly.]

Tut tut tut. You must watch your language, young lady. Still, was that the coolest thing you ever saw or what?

[theboywiththebook]

You've never read it?

[Gosh, where did you come from to not know that story, Ellie?]

It's basically about a boy who lives on an island where he never grows up with his friends called the Lost boys. And they fight pirates and have adventures and use pixie dust to fly.

[He's quick to add:]

But, don't believe it. The real Peter Pan isn't good.

[video]

[disastergirl]

[Well yes but why do you have to point it out ellie??]

No I'm not! What are you going to do if you end up getting your hopes up for nothing, huh?