Fourth Brew | Video | June 4, just after midnight

[vintage_magic]

[When the video starts, there’s only a view of the dimly lit Kishin Chamber’s ceiling and the sound of a Texas twang that’s rarely heard over the network. The voice is a bit distant, as if the speaker is talking to herself rather than the device, and colored by a level of level of exasperation usually reserved for a certain nerdy nuisance of a sorcerer.]

Jiminy Cricket! Not this place again! That cotton-pickin’ contraption always picks the worst times!

[ Really, couldn’t it just leave a witchy person to brew in peace, solve the occasional murder, and fix a supernatural problem once in a while? The voice trails off into a frustrated sigh and less intelligible mutterings. Something about a date? And a soul trapped in a mirror…]

[But the mumblings stop a few moments later when Lily notices the communicator lying on the floor. Dag nab it! Is that smartphone thing on, too? Is that what she dropped when she landed sprawled on the ground?]

[Finally, Lily’s face comes into view as she leans over the communicator, red lipstick slightly smudged and the curl coming out of her 1920s style Marcel waved hair as several brown locks escape from a chignon at the nape of her neck. There’s a bit of a bare shoulder visible for a second before she draws back and only her face can be seen again, expression uncertain as she addresses whoever might be listening. She doesn't like these gadgets but she needs help.]

Um, could someone tell me what day it is? [It had been weeks by her reckoning but she knows how BREW likes to muck with time.]

And I need help with a clothes problem. A woman would probably be better. I can’t go back to my apartment like this…

[Then, she recalls the last thing she remembers about this place being tossing her keys on the kitchen counter after getting back from grocery shopping.]

Dag nab it. I don’t think I have my keys either...

[is there some person in charge of the apartment buildings with spare keys who could let her in? Or does she need to call a locksmith after she gets out of this place?]

Comments

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[gonext]

[If Karina wasn't on a mission to help Lily with her footwear problem, she would have immediately stopped and gushed at the gorgeous vintage outfit she was wearing! But no. And besides that, she didn't know Lily all that well yet, so no getting excited over the dress. Instead, she goes right up to her with a smile, the flipflops in one hand.]

Hi Lily! I've brought you a change of shoes.

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[vintage_magic]

Hi, Karina. I really appreciate it! [She smiles, grateful that she won't have to spend the night at the school, holding out her free hand to accept the flipflops.]

I'm sorry for putting you through the trouble, especially at this hour. I didn't realize how late it was. [With the lack of windows in the Kishin Chamber, she'd no idea it was past midnight until she talked to Steve.]

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[gonext]

That's alright. I've been up for a while since I've been busy thinking about what to play for my first performance at Dorsia.

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[vintage_magic]

What to play? You're a musician then?

[She puts the sandals on, wiggling her toes a bit to get her stockings out of the way. Now, to get out of this creepy room!]

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[gonext]

Yes! [Karina beams. It always makes her light up to talk about music.]

I play the piano and sing.

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[vintage_magic]

Sounds like you really enjoy it. Did you also play professionally back home? Or was it just a hobby?

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[gonext]

I played the piano in public every now and then, but my real job back home was being a pop star.

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[vintage_magic]

[There's a little blink of surprise. And she had just been thinking that maybe Karina also played at restaurants or clubs where she came from.]

A pop star? You mean you made records and were famous and everything?

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[gonext]

Yeah. Although people only knew me by my stage name there.

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[vintage_magic]

Your stage name? I've met a movie star before but not a pop star.

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[gonext]

[She laughs a bit at that.]

They called me "Blue Rose" back home. And I had a completely different look for when I needed to perform as her.

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[vintage_magic]

Blue Rose... That's a pretty name. I take it this different look included roses of that color?

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[gonext]

Not really. I had ice-blue hair. But my costume did have thorns.

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[vintage_magic]

Ice-blue hair? You dyed it whenever you performed? [And thorns?] Doesn't sound like it was the most comfortable costume.

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[gonext]

Well... yeah. In a way. [She laughs again.] And no, the costume really wasn't comfortable. Actually, I arrived here in it, and it was really awkward.

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[vintage_magic]

[Lily's not really sure why Karina laughs about the hair dye but she just shrugs it off.] Awkward? Was it just the really flashy type of costume that would look strange anywhere but onstage?

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[gonext]

Yeah, it was really flashy.

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[vintage_magic]

[Maybe, it was covered with sequins or something.] I see. Are you planning to wear it for your performance here?

[Ah, finally outside! Now, for all those stairs...]

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[gonext]

[Not quite...]

Honestly, I don't think it's appropriate for anything outside of a really big showy performance...

[Maybe except if she was working at the Bare It All Strip Club or performing on a massive stage like a big-time pop star.]

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[vintage_magic]

[A lot of sequins and rhinestones? Maybe, some sort of glitzy headdress?]

I see. Do you have something else picked out then? What's this Dorsia place like? [She's never been there.]

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[gonext]

[More like... skin. A lot of skin. But yes, there is a glitzy headdress!]

Yes. I found a nice black dress that would work well. Dorsia's a high-class restaurant in the Financial District. I don't think a lot of guests visit it, sadly.

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[vintage_magic]

Ah. I rarely visit that part of town. Only when I need to go to the bank for shop business. [Hmm... Maybe, as a thank you for helping her out with her shoe problem...] Do you like vintage clothes at all?

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[gonext]

[Karina seems to suddenly sparkle at those words.]

I do! Absolutely!

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[vintage_magic]

[Lily smiles. Looks like she found a potential customer!]

You should come visit my shop sometime. I deal in vintage clothes and I'll let you pick out a little something for free as thanks for helping me out.

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[gonext]

Alright, then. What's the name of your shop and where is it?

[She's all bouncy with happiness!]