video; un: youradhere

[buildingcastles]

[Well, this is certainly bringing things full circle. The irony doesn't escape him, but this time Christian is actually making an effort to do his job. As much as can be expected from him, of course.

Which means the network gets a nice view of a man at a small desk, looking more like an assistant than a professional in his oversized sweater and jeans completing the look with tousled hair. He's organizing books on the surface as he addresses the network, with titles including How to Find Yourself, Practical Counseling, and The Pocket Manual for Technical Magic stacked on top of each other. He has the phone sitting on one such stack, propped up behind the others.]

So. [Wait, false start.] You ever feel like this place is just a little bit weird?

I mean, how many cities have portals that lead to other worlds and collect people? And hire Magic Counselors? Hi, I'm Christian, Magic Counselor if you ever need one. I'm not sure how many people here do the magic thing. Do you?

Comments

[buildingcastles]

Well, it might have been five. I don't know how time works here.

[Which is true. The workings of time between worlds is always vague. He does stop to give him a questioning look after the rest of what he says, though.]

Congratulations? You don't sound that excited.

[It would be conversation, except it sounds more like some painful obligation from Dodger's end, informing Christian of a loss rather than a birthday.]

Or wherever. Yeah, I was traveling, actually. It worked out for the most part.

[smokedout]

[It worked out for the most part. That bites, if only because Dodger doesn't like hearing that other people have lives outside of their drama with him.

He awkwardly crosses his arms and shrugs.]

You've seen what my life's like. No one wants another year of that.

[Especially Dodger, the last thing he wants is another year of chaotic attempts to make himself feel something. He just wants someone to take responsibility over him already.]

[buildingcastles]

I don't think anyone really wants a year of their life usually. But they'd be terrified to have it taken away.

[It's how most magic-touched lives go. And, he's finding out, normal lives as well. The world isn't quite as easy as some want to believe, that avoiding magic will make things simpler and better for them. Life is hard no matter what you do. Magic just makes it a little weirder.]

You work with what you get. Sometimes it doesn't go the way you want it to. I take it you're talking about things more than just a general "I hate my life" though?