Goldie: Meep! Meep! Meep!
Matthew: Uhhh —
Heather After: Are you… okay? Hnnggh-- Are you seriously a talking bird?
Matthew: Talking bird?! I’m a raven! The raven! But you can call me Matthew.
Heather After: What about that?
Matthew: Goldie? She’s a gargoyle.
Heather After: Gargoyles come in cute plushie sizes?
Matthew: It’s a baby gargoyle, for Chrissakes! For a wizard, you’re a little dense…
Heather After: S-sorry. I’m not feeling like myself–
Matthew: Now what’s going on? Are those minor Unseeliez?!
Heather After: I th-think so.
Matthew: What did you do?!
Heather After: I pissed off a faerie. In my defence, it was for a good cause.
Matthew: And you summoned me and the lizard to do what exactly?!
Heather After: I don’t know! Protect me! I thought you’d be bigger! Listen, can you fly across town to my apartment? There’s a protection amulet in my living room that I could really use right now–
Matthew: What’s in it for me?
Heather After: Your good deed for the day?
Matthew: I don’t do good deeds. I do favours. What does this amulet look like?
Heather After: Trust me, you’ll know it when you see it–
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Ruin: How am I supposed to find him? The boy? The dreamer? Now that I’m here, it seems impossible–
Jophiel: This is it. This is what exile is. I’m being tested.
Ruin: I guess I could just start walking.
Jophiel: I blame myself, really. I’ve become yielding and sentimental in my old age.
Ruin: Or look at pictures? I could look at pictures. Don’t they have some kind of book faces?
Jophiel: What now?
Todd: Hi. Uh–hi.
Jophiel: You’re the one called Todd.
Todd: Yeah, yeah, I’m the one called Todd, Heather’s boyfriend. Have you seen her? She disappeared last night and she’s not at her apartment–
Jophiel: Well, she’s not here.
Todd: I’m starting to freak out. It’s not like her to just take off without saying anything.
Jophiel: Fine. Let’s go.
Todd: Go where?
Jophiel: To find your girlfriend you ambulatory protein shake. Ruin! Put your shoes on, we’re going for a walk!
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Jophiel: Hmm. There is a residue here. A frayed edge between worlds… When she left this place, something followed her… Something that had been here before and knew where to find her…
Ruin: Puck. It must be. My fault, as usual … If only she’d left some kind of clue–
Matthew: Out of the way! I’m on a mission and I got no time for small talk!
Ruin: Matthew?! What are you doing here?
Matthew: What am I doing here? What are you doing here?
Ruin: I haven’t run away this time if that’s what you’re thinking. I have permission from Lord Dream.
Matthew: It’s a bad business letting a nightmare loose in the waking world. Even a nice nightmare. This’ll all end in tears.
Ruin: Are you just here to be mean, or do you actually have something to do?
Matthew: I was summoned by a sorceress who has sent me to bring her protection amulet. Which, believe it or not, is the least weird part of my day so far.
Todd: You’ve seen her? Where is she? What’s going on?
Matthew: Relax, big guy. She’s alive. She’s in a hospital. Apparently, she got into it with some faerie who sliced up her arm. Now if you’d just get out of my way, I’ve gotta find an amulet-
Ruin: Could it be this?
Matthew: Where did you get that? Where did she get that? I’m not touching that thing!
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Azar: Hello? Anybody home? I know it’s early, but I’m here from the medical centre–hello? Sorry, this is kind of an emergency–
Jophiel: Oh good, someone else at the door now. Yes? … Oh dear. This is inconvenient.
Ruin: Wh-what’s wrong with her?
Jophiel: Nothing’s wrong with her, you dolt. She has true sight. She sees us as we really are— or as her people see us. She must have a prophet or two in her family tree.
Todd: Did you say you’re here from the hospital? Does that mean you’ve seen Heather? How bad is it?
Azar: That’s… That’s an angel. And th-that thing is one of the hidden people…
Todd: They look like two okay dudes to me.
Jophiel: True sight is something you will never have to worry about, Todd.
Todd: Please tell me what’s going on. The only lead I have so far is from a talking bird.
Azar: I–I came to pick up Heather’s daily meds and to find someone to go and sit with her. For reasons the hospital won’t supply her regular medication, and I worry about her being alone—
Todd: Right. I’ll grab them and we’ll go now–
Matthew: What about me? I’m not carrying that thing.
Todd: Then I will.
Matthew: Fine I’m going home. And I’m telling Dream that the amulet is here-- make sure Goldie’s okay!
Ruin: Goldie? What does any of this have to do with Goldie?
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Heather After: (IM) There’s nothing I hate more than feeling helpless. I have to remind myself that the magic doesn’t come from my tools, from some chalk scribbles on the floor. It comes from me. And I will get through this by myself. Which is why I seal the door.
Goldie: Meep?
Heather After: Yup, just us chickens, I’m afraid. This way no civilians will wander in here and get the shock of their lives. Aah! Damn it! We’re running out of time. I need you to do something for a second.
Goldie: Meep?
Heather After: Yeah, I know. This is all really scary. But you’re linked to another world. I can use you as a focal point. Like fishing for paper clips with a magnet.
Heather After: (IM) This is my last shot. The only thing standing between me and death. The point between before and after.
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Todd: Heather! Hnnggh! It won’t open!
Azar: That’s impossible. These doors can’t be locked from the inside, for safety reasons–
Todd: Heather! It’s me! I need to know you’re okay!
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Goldie: …Meep?
Heather After: …Yes. I agree.
Auberon: Well that was unexpected. Who are you?
Heather After: …You’re him. You’re Auberon. The faerie king.
Auberon: I would be, wouldn’t I? I am unaware of any others.
Heather After: Wow. We did good Goldie.
Goldie: Meep.
Auberon: This room is filthy with Unseelie. Someone must have tracked them in on their shoes.
Heather After: It was me. I’ve been cursed by one of your people.
Auberon: Who?
Heather After: It was Puck.
Auberon: Ouch. He is a nasty little canker. There. That’s these Unseelie gone, but they will return unless the curse itself is lifted. I assume that’s why you summoned me.
Heather After: You assume correctly.
Auberon: Then I have bad news. Auberon I may be, but I am no longer king of the fair folk. I have been…undone. Dethroned stripped of my titles and my authority by a perfidious traitor… Yet even dethroned as I am, my help comes at a cost.
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Todd: We met on a dating app. I guess we must’ve both swiped right. I didn’t think it’d go anywhere. I thought we were too different. Like I was too boring for her, and she was…not like anybody I’ve ever known before. But soon we were texting each other all day. When we finally met in person, she seemed really nervous. We met at this sports bar I go to, and some people were staring. It…never even occurred to me that maybe this bar was not the best choice. She kept checking her phone like she was planning her escape. I realized she was afraid. Of me. Afraid I’d taken her somewhere unsafe. Afraid I might hurt her, or get up and leave. So I asked her if she wanted to get out of there and have dinner somewhere nice, and she smiled this smile I will never forget. I think…I think she thinks she’s hard to love. But loving her is the easiest thing I’ve ever done. And now she won’t let me in…She won’t let me help…
Azar: She’s resilient. I could see that right away. We have to believe she’ll pull through…
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Heather After: You want me to help you get your throne back? How?
Auberon: How is not my problem. I merely expect your services in return for mine.
Heather After: I was told never to make deals with faeries. It’s always a bad idea.
Auberon: Well, you’re free to walk away. I’m sure you could summon some other king of the faeries who could raise your curse.
Heather After: How bad is it? I mean what is it gonna take? To defeat this… traitor?
Auberon: I will tell you the story… It began with one of my wife’s handmaidens, Nuala. I admit Titania was not as kind to Nuala as she might have been, but— It does not excuse Nuala’s treachery. When Titania confronted her, she revealed a secret: She knew Titania’s true name. And with that, she toppled us both from our thrones, Titania is Nuala’s hand-maiden now, and I live as a hapless vagabond.
Heather After: (IM) Here’s the other thing about magic: Sometimes the way into a mess is also the way out.
Heather After: Did you say true name? …Okay. I’ll do it.
Auberon: We have a deal, then. Hold on. This might pinch.
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Azar: What was that?!
Todd: Nothing good— Heather! If you’re in there, say something — I brought your eyeball necklace.
Heather After: Awww! That’s so sweet! Did the raven find you?
Todd: Yeah, the bird! And Azar brought your meds from home.
Heather After: Wow. Thanks, you didn’t have to do that.
Azar: Just doing my job … sort of.
Heather After: (IM) Magic is timing. Magic is the small victories. The seen and the unforeseen. Carrying you forward in ways you never expected.
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