Riddle
6:20pm, October 09, 2017
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[Delete] | It was an immensely famous backdrop set for a talkshow. Its host accounted as one of the richest beings in the world, who would be making television history. She was going to interview the gods and she smiled as an aide raised a hand. Three... Two....One. And action.
"Welcome to the show today, I'm Oprah and today we're going to meet some very special guest stars. Please welcome Miss Melody Singer and Mr. Harry Dresden!" The audience clapped together and out of the sides, the two stepped out. Harry clad in his usual work gear, staff in hand. He looked distinctly uncomfortable and a camera briefly had trouble, leading to him wincing as he knew the reason why.
Uncomfortable was an understatement. She was assured by her publicist that she needed to 'get in front of this' When she heard it was with Dresden she agreed - never expecting it to be on a national talk show!
Subconsciously, Melody tweaked the acoustics of the room to make them perfect. It gave her something for her mind to do other than focus on how nervous she was.
Leading them both to seats, Oprah welcomed them warmly individually before seating them herself. Taking her own seat, she looked to the camera with her trademark smile. "Magic. Its a word that conjurs up many images, magicians and dragons, spells and monsters. Its such a part of our culture and yet, a new wave is coming when people are returning to the old ways. All over the world and many in our own USA. Wicca, once the perview of witches is now one of the most popular religions trending, as are Norse, Celtic and even Egyptian and Greek Pantheons with all the solemnity of the Vatican. Our guests today are famous, not simply for the events surrounding them but also for their identities in the world. Mr. Dresden is listed in the phone book as an actual wizard, his name connected with investigations of murder, corruption and more. Miss Singer, the violinist and dancer has a cult following regarding her as an actual Muse. Mr. Dresden, Miss Singer have you any sort of comment on this?"
Harry grimaced and spoke. "I am a wizard. Its not my entire identity however, my true life calling is that of a private investigator."
"What, no lead into gold? You'd think wizards could be rich if they wanted."
"They could, but there are prices that have nothing to do with magic that dictate the way we live. And not even a wizard can wave a wand and make everything better."
"And I stand on my talents and my genuine desire to make the world a better place. I won't deny it though I used to. I am the current incarnation of the Muse Euterpe." Melody knew after the incidents in New York, New Orleans and Berlin that there was plenty of unbiased photographic evidence proving her 'powers' and rather than hide or deny the truth - the best she could do is claim to be a wizard anyway - she continued to get in front of the issue.
"Could we have a demonstration?"
Harry waved his hand as he intoned dramatically. "Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks." More normally he added. "Besides, magic tends to short out technology and I'd rather not add to my bill." Mild laughter filled the studio as Oprah laughed with them and spoke. "How about you Melody, could we see something?"
"You're already seeing it. Ask your sound crew if they've had to make even one adjustment to the levels since I stepped on stage. But... If you want a parlor trick... turn off your mic. I'll keep the levels perfect."
"Alright, lets see what you can do." Despite it and the subsequent applause, Oprah added. "Its really neat, but tell me- with all the technology we've accomplished nowadays, as well as the rise of the mutant gene, how do you know personally that you are the muse? Or that you Mr. Dresden are a wizard? There are certain mutants and Stark tech capable of doing the same thing. And the one time we've seen Mr. Dresden in action-."
"-Nobody believed it. Because nobody wants to believe it." Harry replied as he looked at her before continuing with a gesture. "You're talking about the loup-garou video."
"The dark, shaky and full of errors recording where purportedly, a giant wolf attacked?"
Harry's smile turned fixed. "Yes. It was dark because that's when most monsters come out."
"But the shaky footage-."
"-The person recording was terrified. It happens."
"-Surely though, the errors-"
"-Are rather similar to what I can cause if I relax, aren't they?"
A camera died and sparked and Oprah turned with a smile. "We'll be right back after this commercial break. Applause rang out and as intermission came, she turned to both and frowned.
"Really, interfering with my cameras Mr. Dresden?"
He spread his hands. "Wizard. You'll find no recordings of me around any of your equipment either."
"Listen, honestly? I wish I were a Mutant. Or even a wizard. I spent the first thirteen of my life wondering if that were the case, the next five finding out what I could do, and then it was revealed to me what I truly was. Which I spent three years denying. Mr. Dresden? If you can please make sure no random camera or cell is recording, I can show Miss Winfrey a glimpse - unless you advise against it?"
And if he agreed, she would look right at Oprah and let her eyes reflect the full presence of Euterpe - not a flashy showing, just a personal, one on one Revelation. Because, in her career, there was at least once where Euterpe had intervened in Oprah's favor - The Color Purple, for example.
Dresden glanced to the side as Oprah considered before speaking. "I interviewed Charles Xavier before. And I've entertained Jane Foster. Do you really believe what you have is divine and not simply a strange quirk?"
"I've been tested for the X-Gene. Negative. I've been told by more than one wizard that I have no wizard blood, of any variety. Mister Dresden can probably testify to that fact. And what was it that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote? 'When you eliminate the impossible, the improbable, however unlikely, must be the truth.' But tell me, you've interviewed every sort of paranormal. What type am I if not a Muse?"
She was speechless and thoughtful as Dresden chuckled. "We just shattered her world view Melody....And even then, not everyone will be convinced. Not even if you and I went eye to eye for them all."
"No, we won't. But I'm through hiding. Believe or don't, I am who I am. And I've heard about your eye to eye, Harry, and I think that would be quite a ride for both of us if we tried." She chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
She then settled in for the eventual return from commercial.
The return back had Oprah check on some variant messages before she returned her smile and continued. "So here we are back, and in between that break I've decided to ask a few things. Tell me you two, if magic is real- Why hadn't any of us heard about it?"
"Odds are you already have." Dresden replied as he spoke. "There is a lot I can tell you, but a lot I cannot either. Me and Melody are anomalies in the sense that we don't strive to hide our natures, we advertise it. I'm in the phonebook and Melody- I'm not entirely sure. But even as a wizard, I'm not one to disparage what we've done as a collective race."
"I denied it until the Berlin incident - just type my name and Berlin into YouTube if you're curious. But, since then, my publicist said to get in front of it. I'm sure I don't need to tell you, Oprah, how insistent publicists can be. Plus, it's cathartic for me. As of never hearing of it? Well, we call ourselves rational people, and why? We rationalize. See impossible things and find possible explanations for them. I still do it occasionally even as immersed in that world as I am. The things that are out there-" she sighed. "Let me put it this way. Everyone knows that the universe is infinite, right? Just ask Neil Degrasse Tyson or Bill Nye- " and for a moment she caused a short riff from Nye's show to play in the room. "...so, if the universe is infinite, and we are admittedly far from understanding how it works entirely... Everything must exist. Even magic."
She closed her eyes for a moment and, showman that she was, brought up a short part of Olivia Newton John's song, 'Magic'
"So by that logic, you believe in everything at all?"
"Why not? It seems big enough for everyone. And you got to remember as well." Dresden spoke up as he raised a hand. His expression turned serious. "For every Sauron there's a Frodo. For every Vader, there's a Skywalker. I won't lie, there is a lot of evil in the world. Evil, stupid but overall there are heroes too. Some of them will never show up, because that's what they're like. They're not in this for the money or the glory. They're here because we need them. And that's something capable of all of us, in one way or another."
He rose up, looked at the camera and continued. "So I'll do my bit and deliver what I was needed to do. To the Queen of Big Ben and the Minister of Magic?" He looked at the screen and smiled. "I am Harry Dresden, warden of the white council and I am calling you out. Chicago, midday of the first day of Winter. I'm in the book."
Melody's eyebrows raised. That sounded... Bad. And as she stood she said aloud "I don't believe in everything, but I don't actively disbelieve in anything, if that makes any sense."
As a subsound that only Dresden could hear "You going to need any help? Silence can be more than golden where magic is concerned."
He gave a subtle nod in return. An agreement to wait and after the show and the subsequent after party, Harry led her to a room which he warded with a wave of his hand. Turning to her, he spoke bluntly.
"I know of you, though I don't know you personally. Its enough to convince me to show you what's going on." His brow furrowed. "Right now, you and I just put ourselves up not only as mavericks for magic, but also that of folks who go against the grain. The Summer Solstice meeting ended in an ominous way and those of us who want to do something and not simply defend are gathering." He smirked and quoted.
"We come, we come with roll of drum: ta-runda runda runda rom!"
"Ents. It'd be cute if this weren't so serious. Either way, I'm in. And my publicist is so in trouble..."
TBC... |
