Video // un; E.A Poe

[quotetheraven]

[The video feed cuts to a rather pensive looking man, somewhere in his forties. He could be heard mumbling about odd machines, and something about not really expecting the afterlife to look like this. Quite a few people should instantly recognize him.

And without any warning he starts mutter a poem to himself.]

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow —
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand —
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep — while I weep!
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

Bah, whatever. Greetings to all of... whatever you all are. I am Edgar Allan Poe. Here to join you all in this fever dream.

Comments

video; un: lilmonix3

[peninhand]

Edgar Allan Poe?

[ Wait, what? Really? After Beowulf they get a legendary poet? ]

The Edgar Allan Poe? Oh my gosh...!

[quotetheraven]

[Gasp! Even more people recognize him! Oh what a happy day it is to be a Poe!]

Indeed, I am The Great Edgar Allan Poe.

[Great, he says.... But excuse him as he dips his head a little.]

I must admit, I'm quite thrilled to know just how many young people here are well read enough to know me.

[peninhand]

[ That felt so surreal! She'd known Avalon sometimes brought historical figure, but even so... ]

Um, ahaha..! I was President of a Literature Club back home and I host a Literature channel here. [Wait, did that mean she could theoretically invite Edgar Allan Poe as a guest on her "youtube" channel? Gosh, the click-bait title wrote itself!] It's a real honor to speak to someone of your talent and skill.

[quotetheraven]

[She could make a whole series on it. Maybe like a mystery murder game or whatever.]

A literature club? Ha, how wonderful; and to continue it here. To think I've met yet another love of the written word. [She's totally hitting all the right notes!]

I would certainly say that the honor is all mine, young lady. Tell me, is there anything that you'd wish to ask of me?

[peninhand]

Oh gosh...! I think it would be easier to list what I don't want to ask, ahaha!

[ Maybe she really should invite. Not so much for the clickbait, she didn't care that much about that. But because she would be able to properly prepare questions. It would be more polite than wasting his time with her fangirling bouts. ]

Um, would you like to come on my show sometimes? [He goes nothing!] Its aim is to introduce literature to a whole new audience and explore the different genres and format. I can't think of anything better for that than a Q&A with a true legend of literature.

[quotetheraven]

[It was more like he was wasting his own time right now. He didn't have much to do beyond be bored and drink.]

A show? [Excuse him though, he still doesn't know much about the internet, and is forty. It's going to take him a hot minute to get used to it all.]

Well I most certainly wouldn't mind. Not with that stated intent and goal. Much less when the request comes from a young lady and fan.

[peninhand]

Ah, basically I post three videos a week. I analyze literary genres, recommend books and read poems from my viewers. I also read books for people who can't read or don't have time. We call those "audio books."

[ She could have the audio book be one of his books on the week he's invited... With his permission, of course! ]

I'm honored! I would personally love to discuss poetry with you, but with Halloween on the horizon I feel horror would be far more appropriate, ahaha~!

[quotetheraven]

Videos.. such as the one we're doing right now?

[Oh gosh, she's unrelenting in mentioning audible and youtube. But you know what, he loves it all. It really reminded him of the fairly recent (for him) innovations into electrical telegraphy.]

Oh? Well I certainly wouldn't say no to a chance to make myself known here.

[peninhand]

Mhm-mm! I record it ahead of time, edit it to make the watching session pleasant and then post it on a specific site where people can watch it anytime. [Wait, she hadn't explained what a site was, had she?] I can imagine my audience being very excited to see you in a video!

[ She paused as she realized that was probably... A lot for him. He'd lived in the early 19th century, hadn't he? Gosh. She ought to slow down. ]

Sorry, I realize it must all be very new to you. [She smiled apologetically.] I can you give you an introduction in modern technologies if you'd like, when we'll meet for my video. I think you may really love everything technology has to offer.

[quotetheraven]

Truly? Well it excites me to no end to know that I've become as widely known as I have.

[Even across the multiverse apparently! Now if only he was that famous while alive... and better paid.

Hey, he's catching on super quick! But, well, there's a lot of things that we're tossed his way all at once. It's going to take a bit for him to process it all!]

That would be quite welcome, I've gotten a base understanding of the mechanisms, which I found myself surrounded. Though a more guided approach would help things.

[peninhand]

Oh gosh, you have no idea. Most people consider you the father of gothic literature. Jules Vernes and HG Wells, two very famous writers, also credited you for creating science fiction.

[ Being an amazing writer was a thing. Influencing the course of literary history? That was on another scale altogether. Just a shame that most of the money earned from his works happened after his death. ]

I guess, seeing you to me is kind of like, um... If you were to suddenly see Shakespeare, ahaha! [Hopefully he wasn't one of those people who believed Shakespeare was a fraud!] And you'll see, that technology is super handy. Who knows, maybe you'll even become a social media influencer too! [Mostly because:] It pays pretty well.

[quotetheraven]

Jules Verne?

[He looks a bit startled for a moment but shakes it off. Verne... So, perhaps the detective figured it out after all? He gives her a smile, like nothing was wrong and he didn't see a ghost.]

Ha, is that so? Certainly wish Longfellow could hear that.

But, what is a... influencer mean here?

[peninhand]

Mhm! Do your know him, sir?

[ That was a bit of a strange reaction. Admittedly she wasn't a specialist in 19th century literature, so perhaps she was wrong. But the dates made it unlikely for the two to have ever met... Right? Well, regardless she answered her question: ]

Influencers are people who post on social media channels. They have an audience who follows their content and respect their views— Hence the term influencer. There's no real rule on who can become one... It helps if you have entertainment skills, a field or expertise or charisma though! Just because you get the influencer license doesn't mean anyone will want to watch you, let alone respect your opinions unless people enjoy watching your content. [She chuckled.] In my case, it'd be literature. And I'm just beginning, so my audience is still small. It may take months if not years to really become a respected figure.

[quotetheraven]

I've heard of him, once. A young Frenchman and up and coming novelist, if I remember correctly.

[That was a name that he really didn't think he'd hear again. Not so much that he's gotten to read any of Verne's works. But he's heard of him... unfortunately.]

A commentator then, with more of an entertainment sense. [To him it sounds like a mix between a critic, an actor, and someone that writes adverts for newspapers.] Well I might argue that you are far more charming a person than I. If our short conversation is anything to go by. Though perhaps I might give it a try in the future. At length I certainly won't say no to joining you in your... show.

[peninhand]

Mm-hm. And later in his life, he became one of the greatest figures in literature to have ever lived.

[ He'd heard of him, huh... Well, it was possible there were differences between their homeworlds. Or more likely, history hadn't recorded every last details about their lives. A good thing, really. She'd hate for people to know every last details of her own life. ]

That's an apt description. [She nodded.] Ahaha, thank you for the compliment! But I think you're selling yourself short. I would subscribe to your channel within a split second if you had done. In the meantime, I shall be looking forward to your presence on my show then~!

[quotetheraven]

Hm, I'll have to keep an eye out in case any of his works show up here.

[In fact he'll probably end up actively looking for them. All to see a sign of a clue as to how things might have ended back home. Granted that it sounds like the said author had lived a long life. Which was a good sign.]

Oh, but I will await your invitation eagerly as well, young lady.