interstellar5555 | walk beside me evermore

Entry tags:

walk beside me evermore

Who: ~~Riza~~ Elizabeth and anyone who wants to help (or needs help) with the whole technology thing
What: Not everyone is from a time and place with computers. Plus the library offers some great opportunities for research.
When: any day between 1/28 and 1/31
Where: the local library
Warnings:None

Open: Pity the tech challenged
[If she was going to get a decent job, one that would help not only pay the bills but put her closer to her goals, she was going to have to rely on her previous skill sets. Somehow she doubted anyone had a use for a sniper which meant updating her office skills.

There was only one way to do that which meant she was going to put in as many hours as possible using the city's library branches. She'll get it eventually, but any help from those not likely to judge would always be appreciated.]

Open: Information Gathering 101
[Not all of her time spent at the library is confined to the computers. Why waste a perfectly good resource of information?

The number of books was amazing, but those could be read at home. It's the magazines, both legit and tabloid varieties that have her attention most of the time.]

Do people actually believe this stuff?

[She's almost certain it's 90% fake, but who knows.]

Closed
[After several days, Riza's learned enough that it's easy enough to blend into the usual crowd of people doing their thing at the library without looking out of place. She still comes to practice, fill out job applications, and scour the internet for information regarding a certain missing individual. All perfectly normal things if the activities of the others around her are to be taken into account.

It's almost too easy to find things. Internet fan sites and general publicity meant she didn't have to look very far before getting more information than she could have hoped for. Also, who kidnaps and brainwashes a person but leaves them with their real name?

Of course, she's not going to act on any of that just yet. She had enough experience with this kind of thing to know better. Even without Silver and Gold's warning, Riza knew they weren't in any position to move forward. She'd stay away until the time was right.

Of course, the best-laid plans oft go awry.]

((ooc: feel free to swap to prose if wanted, I'll follow. also, PM or hit me up at

purkle if you want something specific. or just start it and I'll roll.))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A gracious shrug of one shoulder, apology duly noted and accepted.]

Mmmm, there may be a minute crumb, a kernel even, of the truth somewhere in there, in those items. However... the writers certainly know how to take those kernels and make them blossom into whole towering trees. [An amused smirk.]

I hope you don't mind my intruding, but I overheard your musing and...couldn't help remarking on it.

And that little truth gets buried in the more interesting details?

[That was going to annoy her to no end while she tried to hunt down any information on her target.]

Not at all. And thank you, it helps to have some confirmation that I shouldn't believe everything I read.

For the more, hmmm, flashy and colourful magazines, yes, but there are a few that are hold to more noble - and accurate - standards.

[He sets his book aside and rises, joining her by the magazine and newspaper racks. Running a hand along the titles for a moment, he moves in and selects a few general newspapers.]

Ahh, here we go. These generally present a more accurate picture of the general state of affairs. Once in a while, they might not be wholly accuarate, due to inadvertant misinformation, but they're generally quick to print a correction... It's my pleasure to help you.

[Riza had to wonder just how much of that was true. How many of the papers' sources were honest? How many of the stories, especially regarding the musicians, came from the record labels? The paper in Amestris was fed by the government, after all; it wouldn't take much to do that anywhere else.]

So I'm guessing there's less talk about who is dating what member of another band or the current state of fashionable accessories in these.

[She's read too many tabloids lately.]

Mmm! More of a tendency to discuss their performances and the inspiration behind their material, maybe some descriptions of the more striking stage costumes and settings, but more as a frank and informed artistic appraisal than, hmmm, the drooling of awestruck onlookers. [He might dare a Look at the tabloids, rolling his good eye at them.]

A better chance of getting the real stories behind things then?

[Useful.]

You seem to know a lot about this. Are you a writer? Fan?

[Congratuations on finding someone who has no idea who three-fourths of the popular bands are right now.]

[A mysterious, knowing smile, even a crinkling of his good eye.]

Oh, I'm a bit of a step up from that: I'm an artist, a musician and songwriter, though I recently got signed on to a band as their new lead singer.

[A hint of well-placed pride, though he might dart a Look toward the publications with the more highly-coloured stories.]

[Did that make him one of their intended targets? No one had mentioned whether or not all the musicians were stolen from other places. Although, it was probably safe to assume so knowing what she did.]

Forgive me, I never had much interest in music until recently, so I'm still catching up on all the important news.

[She caught that look.]

Which band? The very least I can do is listen to it since you've been kind enough to help me out.

[One pale eyebrow raised in interest: oooh, someone newly into music? colour him interest.]

Ahhh, new to the city, then? Welcome to Vista City, if that's the case.

My bandmates and I would be honoured if you did: I'm the lead singer of the gothic band Court of Thorns, or should I say, the newly minted lead singer. I'm Sariel MacLeod.

[A bit of an oddity she's sure, but she had a cover story ready for that in case she needed it.]

Elizabeth Falke. It's a pleasure, Mr. MacLeod.

Any particular warnings I should heed or a favorite song I should be aware of before listening for the first time?

[He bows his head and shoulders to her.]

The pleasure is mutual, I can assure you, Miss Falke.

Hmmm! One or two songs in particular that I'd recommend from my back catalog, which I've brought with me to my new home "Blood of Angels" and "Children of Heaven. The one is a near-invocation of the Watcher Angels of lore, while the latter tells the story of one Watcher Angel who left heaven to dwell on earth with her earthly lover. They...both mean a good deal to me: I took my stage name 'Sariel' from "Blood of Angels", while the latter... may not tell my story, but a fable that my life mirrors in some ways.

I'll be sure to check them out. Especially as they sound like they follow a different idea than most of the music I've discovered.

[Although that last one isn't too different. Romanace seemed to be a running theme no matter what genere.]

Mmm, they're rather darkly poetic, and I'm quite proud of how well they turned out. They might be tricky to find on CD, but I've seen people posting them on WhooTube, unless the label has interfered and taken the videos down.

[He sounds as though he's not thrilled with these draconian tactics, but not so much that it rankles him.]

[A curious attitude, Riza would have thought a happier disposition with their label would be one thing installed into any of the musicians. But then that might make things look odd to anyone on the outside.]

I suppose they just want to make sure the artists are getting their proper payment for their work. But I can see how it might work out better if the fans were to get enough so they'd pay for more.

Mmm, I do draw the line at people selling bootlegged CDs or hacked downloads: that takes away far too much in revenues from everyone involved in the production. But an uploaded video from a concert helps broaden the audience.

Well, I might know a few people who are better at finding things on the internet than I am. I'll have to see if they can help me.

[Most people she knows are better at the internet than she is, but she's getting there.]

Sounds as though you have helpful friends: I hope they can help you find what you need.

So, are you a student of some sort working on some sort of social communications project? You seem very intrigued by the news coverage on celebrities.

No, nothing like that. It just seemed the best way to catch up on everything so I don't seem like a complete idiot when talking to others.

[So very, very true.]

And knowing which things are more than likely to be true will help with that.

Ahhh, I see: well, you've hit on a mother lode of conversation starters. People certainly love to chatter about their favourite celebrities and what they might be up to. [A small smirk] When in fact, aside from some trappings of privilege, we're humans like everyone else.

People like to talk in general. When they have a connection to the subject it's even more obvious. Of course, they always forget that famous people weren't always so.

[Or in the case of most of the musicians, they never were until they arrived here.]

It's nice to know that there are those who aren't so famous that they couldn't help someone else, however. Thank you again.

[He'll bow deeply, in a courtly way to her.]

It was my pleasure and honour to lend what help I can. And I hope my career never gets in the way of my ability to help people.

[Ironic, considering he was a physician before his capture...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

walk beside me evermore

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject