[audio]

[70ftandcounting]

Is...is it over?

[A soft, quiet noise. Not a whimper, not a cry - but maybe the tiniest of sniffles]

Is he gone?

[Bartimaeus was RIGHT.]

Comments

[drinkuntilidie.livejournal.com]

[Kevas steps inside, doing his best not to limp in front of her.]

So what be goin' on? Been sometime since I seen jah.

[Though that was his own fault entirely.]

[70ftandcounting]

[She's...fussing, don't mind her.]

It's -- everything is fine, are you alright? Do you--

[She lowers her voice, eyes wide.]

Do you need my hair?

[drinkuntilidie.livejournal.com]

[Kevas just gives her another smile.]

I be havin' plenty of hair don'tchu worry.

[No he knows what she's talking about but he's not going to let her push herself on his account. This is all his own fault after all.]

[lightwithin]

An octopus.

They live in the ocean. They have eight legs.

[icnfly.livejournal.com]

*Jacob is sitting on his bed, still looking through the journal when she arrives. He looks up, smiles and waves.*

Rapunzel. Hi.

[likesfootnotes]

[There is a loooong pause before he responds. Meet'n'greets are not typically good things, you see. Poof into existence, meet a brand new magician, get stuck doing something inane, like retrieving the gold-plated soother of Alexander the Great.]

If you insist. When and where?

[70ftandcounting]

[Sheesh, she's wondering if she said something wrong!]

Well, how about now? I can...I can come to you, if you like!

[likesfootnotes]

[Not you, just the hundreds of humans that came before you!]

Let's keep it neutral.

[Where there will be no summoning circles or discoveries of where he resides.]

I'll meet you at the inner gates. But be careful, the New Year's Baby can be twice as mean.

[70ftandcounting]

I've...never seen the ocean before.

[70ftandcounting]

[She fixes him with a look.]

That isn't what I meant, Kevas.

[70ftandcounting]

O-oh...alright! I'll be there in just a moment!

[Barty you are not scaring her with that crap anymore. B|]

[drinkuntilidie.livejournal.com]

[Looks like she doesn't find that as funny as he does.

Kevas shakes his head.]

Sunshine, I ain't gonna force joo to do joor magic hair...t'ing.

[70ftandcounting]

[She beams at him, clutching her parcel close to her.]

Hi, Jacob! [She's so glad to see him alive. Talking is one thing, but seeing is a whole different story.]

[icnfly.livejournal.com]

*Jacob puts the book down and stands up.*

Merry late Christmas.

[likesfootnotes]

[audio-->commentlog]

[And, wouldn't you know it, but Bartimaeus considered making his appearance as terrible New Year's Baby - just to test that disembodied resolve.

But, there's a time for everything and he'll save the baby for a better time.

Instead, have one strapping young Egyptian waiting at the rendezvous point.]

[70ftandcounting]

[And here's a Rapunzel, holding a little parcel as she paces there, waiting for hi,.

She waves.]

Bartimaeus?

[likesfootnotes]

[Warning: Expressions are not quite as facetious as icons make it appear.

Bartimaeues approaches her, but not before making making a point to study the ground for signs of wayward pentacles.

As it appears clear, he quirks a self-assured smile.]

Of Uruk, no less!

And you are my staunchest supporter against the evils of the Claus?

[70ftandcounting]

Where's Uruk...?

[Looks incredibly puzzled.]

I--I am! Yes! Rapunzel. IT's so nice to meet you in person!

[likesfootnotes]

Elsewhere, according to Deior - but he, like every magician beore him, likes to be overdramatic about such things.

[Bartimaeus waves the comment away - he will inspire awe with his age and experiences later. Maybe a whole five minutes from now? Such a terribly long time to wait, he knows.]

In terribly aching essence, at least. But, it's good to see a fellow crusader that has survived the holiday season, as loathsome as it can be.

[lightwithin]

Oh.

[She had a feeling she had known that.]

Well, it's like the lake. But with waves. And less grass.

[needsnobottle]

Government secrets or something. I dunno. Just don't tell your Furby any secrets and you should be hunky dory.

[And in the background you can hear Tammy's Furby whistle and say "I don't want people to hear me talking to myself."

...thanks, you furry little parrot.]

[70ftandcounting]

[Rapunzel sighed.]

Kevas, it...it isn't forcing me at all.

[70ftandcounting]

O-oh. good idea.

[Between ALL OF YOU, Rapunzel is going to be paranoid of everyone ever forever.]

...Talking to yourself?

[70ftandcounting]

Oh.

[Elsewhere. It's not like she'd know much about it anyway -- all things considered. She was fairly sheltered.]

I...did. It's never been...this awful before. I mean, this time of year with Mother was always pretty quiet -- nothing bad ever happened. Not like it does here.

[70ftandcounting]

Merry late Christmas!

[She beamed, and pushed a little package at him.]

Here.