This weapon has the ability to nullify any kind of magic, and the Bureau is very interested in getting their hands on it.

There's just one problem.

Listen here: [link]

[The podcast's intro plays -- it is a simple but slightly foreboding sounding melody]

[sound of a voice recorder clicking on] AARUSH: I uh... don’t know where to start, to be honest. From the beginning-- but I don’t even know where that is, I mean– okay. Deep breaths.

[Aarush takes a breath and breathes out.]

AARUSH: This is Agent Varma, reporting on the assignment to a new entity. The entity is a sentient nullification object, capable of completely disabling all forms of magic in an area. The Bureau has assigned it the name of ‘Fuse’. The ability of this entity is to completely nullify any magic in its area, the entity is sentient and alive, blah blah blah. If possible, bring it back to the Bureau for safe containment.

[Long pause. When Aarush speaks next, he sounds conflicted.]

AARUSH: Well. It seems like this . . . ‘Fuse’ is a character that can be communicated with? An animal? A sentient object, maybe? I remember that one world map–

[The voice recorder clicks off.]

~

[The scene has changed to a small coffee shop. Background noises include indistinct chatting and cutlery being used.]

AARUSH: (breathing out and muttering.) Okay. Green tea latte, large, less ice. Green tea latte, large, less ice. Green tea–

CASHIER: Hey, what can I get ya?

AARUSH: Green tea latte, lice, less arge. I mean-- less ice, large. Sorry. Can I just get that to-go? Thank you.

[He walks and sits at a booth with a clear view of the entrance of the coffeeshop. There is a rustle as he takes out the voice recorder and clicks it on.]

AARUSH: Current location, Blooms n’ Potions, a coffee shop that doubles as a flower shop. That cashier over there didn’t look too happy, but she’s working a shift at a café, so it doesn’t seem out of the ordinary.

AARUSH: This is also one of the known haunts of Fuse. I have a machine with me that'll tell me when an anomaly walks through that door. Hopefully it comes soon and I can avoid this place for the rest of my life... 

[The machine beeps while at the same time the bell over the door jingles.]

AARUSH: (fervently, but quietly) Shit. No one fucking told me Fuse was a person! Oh, shit... Okay. Okay, okay. Focus. Ugh I need to... yes.

[He gets up from his seat and walks into line behind Quinn.]

QUINN: Iced apple and mango tea, with a chocolate strawberry waffle. To go, please.

AARUSH: Hi, are you a regular here?

QUINN: (surprised and stuttering a little) S-sorry, a-are you talking to me?

AARUSH: Yeah! I’m new here, and there’s just a lot of choices... I was wondering which might be a good one?

QUINN: (to Aarush) Hold on.

QUINN: (to the cashier) Thanks for the drinks!

QUINN: (back to Aarush) Right, you’ll want to pick either the bagels or the cheesecake, I swear on my mother that both are positively divine.

AARUSH: Mm... not the cheesecake, I’m not a fan.

QUINN: (feigning shock) Not cheesecake!? Alright then, what about strawberry shortcake?

AARUSH: (to Quinn) Yeah, shortcake is fine.

[The bell over the door jingles as a new person enters the café and walks over into the line.]

AARUSH: (to cashier) A shortcake please. Ye– Yeah no, I’ll have it here.

???: Oh, goodness, Aarush, is that you?

AARUSH: (delighted) Candy! Goodness, it has been a while!

Candy: (curious) Quinn’s here too!

QUINN: (fond) Candy.

AARUSH: You two know each other? 

CANDY: Sort of.

AARUSH: Let me guess... Intern? No, law student? Wait, no, I got it-- coffee intern.

QUINN: (laughs) God, no. I wouldn’t be caught dead in the law industry. No, I’m one of her clients. Harleyquinn Argus. A pleasure to meet you. You may call me Quinn.

AARUSH: (incredulous) No way... Quinn? Like, Detective Argus?

QUINN: (flirtatious) Oh, you've heard of me?

AARUSH: (amused) Yeah, a friend of mine is a fan of yours.

CANDY: (embarrassed laugh) Uh-heh... ha... Sorry about that, Quinn.

QUINN: (teasing) Well, well. Want my autograph later, Candy?

CANDY: It is not like that, it’s just...

QUINN: (mock-knowingly) I know, I know. I must’ve charmed you away from Indigo finally. And now you've run to Aarush over here just to complain.

CANDY: (embarrassed and annoyed) Quinn!!

QUINN: (copying her tone of voice) Candy!!

AARUSH: Alright, alright. You must see a lot of cases, chasing down criminals and whatnot.

QUINN: Not really. Most of my time is spent working for a magazine. Ever heard of ‘Hush!’? I work for them as a writer; most of their pieces are written by me.

AARUSH: No, is that a tabloid or something?

QUINN: (vaguely affronted) I’m a little offended that you’d think I’d work for a tabloid.

CANDY: As much as I love to watch you two banter, we are holding up the queue.

AARUSH: Uh, I have a table over there. Candy, care to join us, or is today an off-duty day?

CANDY: I’ll come over once my drink is done.

[Aarush and Quinn walk over and sit at the booth.]

QUINN: So, you still never told me what you actually work as. You’re a civil servant, but are you one of those black suits, or...?

AARUSH: Uhh, I work with the public...

[Quinn makes a sound of sympathy.]

AARUSH: (chuckling) It’s not that bad once you get used to the fact that most people suddenly don’t want to cooperate when they realize you’re part of the government.

QUINN: Ugh, I hear you. Every time they hear I’m a detective it's all “Ooh! Can you tell where I’ve been these past few hours? Or can you deduce my entire backstory?” I’m a detective, not Sherlock Holmes.

AARUSH: Well, can you?

QUINN: That’s not a trick I reveal on the first meeting.

AARUSH: So not a one-trick pony then?

QUINN: Master of many, actually.

CANDY: You two getting along?

AARUSH: Like a house on fire.

QUINN: Absolutely smashing.

CANDY: Well I’m not sure I like the sound of those metaphors... What’s the issue this time, Aarush?

AARUSH: Nothing much, just some new interns acting up and making use of the loopholes. And today’s a peaceful day, surprisingly. It’s been a whole four hours since I clocked in, and there hasn’t been a call for me yet.

CANDY: I keep telling you that you have to be stricter with them! They always treat you as the nice senior. One day, I tell you! One day!

AARUSH: (jokingly) But if I’m not the nice senior, then who will be? Not Jacques; they’re far too intense for that. Not you either, since you’re basically a consultant.

CANDY: Ooh, harsh. Unlike the two other members on my team, I actually have a job.

QUINN: Speaking of, there is something I want to ask you about, Candy. I’ve been working on a case recently, and I need some news about the laws on blackmail.

AARUSH: Blackmail?

QUINN: (clicks his tongue) Don’t you worry your pretty little head.

AARUSH: Is this just another thing that detectives have to research, or...?

CANDY: (laughs) You wouldn’t believe what he’s asked me about. For some reason, he keeps the same god-awful hours as me, so sometimes I’ll get a text at like, two o’clock in the morning asking for help with some obscure law that even I’m unfamiliar with. I keep telling him to read up by himself, but–

QUINN: That’s because I want an excuse to spend time with you, Candy. I need to endear myself to you so if Indigo ever tries to attack me, I can crash with you.

CANDY: Aww, Indigo wouldn’t do that. She hates you, but my partner would never stoop to murder. She’d just examine your past and find a way to convict you for life.

QUINN: (dryly) And that is so much better.

AARUSH: Jesus, Quinn! What did you do to Candy’s partner for her to hate you that much? It takes a lot for Indigo to really show that she dislikes you.

QUINN: Who knows? She’s professional, though. Never brings it up when I ask her something related to the law. But all bets are off when we stop talking shop.

[a phone notification sound chimes.]

CANDY: Well, It’s been lovely chatting, but I really have to go now. This was just a short coffee break anyway, so—

QUINN: The lawyer’s responsibilities strike again.

CANDY: I’ll send those files over to you later, Quinn. Aarush, later!

[Candy leaves and the bells over the door jingle again. Awkward silence ensues.]

QUINN: So. 

AARUSH: Uh So. Um. Anything interesting happen lately?

QUINN: (teasing) Wow. You're really not a fan of silence, are you?

AARUSH: No, no I . . . I suppose not. 

QUINN: (sighs) Anything interesting... hmm? Well, someone I know offered to read my future, and I accepted. Thinking about it now... I think you're supposed to be my Fool.

AARUSH: (disbelievingly) Excuse me?

QUINN: My future card was the Fool. I looked it up, and apparently it meant new beginnings. So I guess you're my new beginning?

AARUSH: That... is an incredibly cheesy mindset, oh my god–

QUINN: (embarrassed) Yeah I realized how it sounded when I said it out loud.

AARUSH: (cheekily) So... Is this how you usually talk your suspects into telling you things? Or am I just special?

QUINN: (covering his face with his hands) Ulgh, please. Let's stop talking now.

[The voice recorder clicks off.]

~

[The scene has changed to a small apartment. Background noises include ambient room sounds. The voice recorder clicks on.]

AARUSH: After chatting with Quinn, I really can’t connect the idea of a weapon of mass destruction with him. He just seems like a guy with a dry sense of humor. (sighs) This is wrong. We’re treating him as a thing to be used, but–

[The phone rings. Aarush lets it ring out and the call goes to voicemail.]

VOICEMAIL: At the end of your message, press 1. (beep)

AUTOMATED VOICE: Agent Varma, I know you’re there. Answer the call. 

[Aarush walks and picks up his phone. He redials the number.]

AARUSH: Hello?

???: (the voice is clearly distorted and disguised) Mr. Varma, are you ready for the consequences that this will bring upon Ochens?

AARUSH: Who are you? This is a private line.

DEUCE: I am Deuce. I represent the Machine. (chuckles) I am also someone who is heavily invested in Quinn’s wellbeing. I will not tell you to stop your current path. But I will ask you this: If you had to choose between the world and Quinn, what is your choice?

AARUSH: You know of his powers, don’t you? The ‘Fuse’–

DEUCE: (sharply) He is more than his powers. Do not reduce him to a void.

AARUSH: (apologetic) Sorry.

DEUCE: But you are correct. Quinn is an essential cog in Ochens. He is the fuse, magic is the current, and I am Ochens’s engineer.

AARUSH: Is Quinn... important?

DEUCE: Beyond anything you could ever fathom. If he dies, Ochens dies with him. His existence itself is proof that the world exists.

AARUSH: Is that a part of his powers?

DEUCE: It's not a power. Quinn sees the world the way it wants to be seen.

AARUSH: (slightly strained) Cool. Great. So now you're telling me that the– what that the world is sentient? Self-aware? What, like it knows we’re listening?

DEUCE: Do you think otherwise?

AARUSH: (huffs disbelievingly) Come on.

DEUCE: You don’t have to believe me. But you must trust me. Your job to watch over Quinn is extremely important. You must listen to yourself, Aarush. Your ideals, your goals... (chuckles) You must remember yourself.

[The call ends, and the dial tone beeps.]

AARUSH: (sighs) End of report.

[voice recorder clicks off.]

[podcast outro music plays under the credits.]

Credits

This was World Fuse. It written by Lupin and Audio edited by Neutron, Ila Alexei, and Eli Schwarz.

The gorgeous album art is by Ila Alexei.

You've heard the lovely voices of Neutron as Aarush Varma, Ila Alexei as Harleyquinn Argus, Bailey Mertz-Symchyck as Candy, Eli Schwarz as Deuce, and Alexander Wolfe as additional voices.

Listen here: [link] [The podcast's intro plays -- it is a simple but slightly foreboding sounding melody]

[A CRT television switches on. A commercial starts playing. The audio sounds tinny and the speaker sounds chipper.]

TV: Welcome, welcome, one and all, to our humble little city! You've made the right decision, coming here. Ochens is a great holiday destination, and you’ll soon see why! We have a great many places to visit, and the locals are friendly and helpful as well!

[A door opens, and footsteps sound out.]

AARUSH: (sounding like he just woke up) Ugh... Shit. Did I leave the TV on last night?

[A phone rings. Aarush picks up by the third ring.]

QUINN: (teasingly exasperated) Finally Aarush! I was starting to think you weren't going to take my call!

AARUSH: Ah... Detective. Just so you know, I'm off duty right now.

QUINN: (chuckles) Sorry, I know you wake up late. But this is important. Moreso for you than for me.

AARUSH: Alright, Let's hear it, then.

QUINN: I've found a lead into what you asked me to investigate. You know. Cases of odd disappearances in apartment blocks. I’ve got a list of them, but I have my own thoughts on it...

AARUSH: Right.

QUINN: Have you got a pen and paper?

AARUSH: Hold on. Let me just . . . Alright.

QUINN: Central Street, Toby’s Trinkets. It’s like a little shop off the side of the road, you can’t miss it.

AARUSH: (writing a note) . . . got it. Anything else?

QUINN: I’ll text you a list of questions later.

AARUSH: (soft laughter) Yes, yes. I hear you, Quinn. I’ll check it out for you.

QUINN: Oh! And remember to bring an umbrella. It looks like rain.

TV: It does look a little like rain, but don’t fret! There are still things to do even if the rain comes down! For example, visiting the museum! Or perhaps...  (it fades out)

AARUSH: What the f-- How are you doing that?? Seriously, that time you were nearly in sync with the television!

QUINN: I watch a lot of it. Not much to do when you haven’t got cases, and I can only read the same books so many times...

AARUSH: (disbelieving) What, you watch weather channels too?

QUINN: (sarcastically) I find meteorological events thrilling. 

[Aarush and Quinn chuckle good-naturedly.]

AARUSH: Alright, I really do have to go now. I'll talk to you later.

QUINN: Ciao.

[The call ends, and the television fades back into focus.]

TV: It is of course truly a wonder to behold at night. And more importantly: A special brand of magic exists here.

Thrumming through the streets, curling around the buildings and present in every drop of water, every blade of grass. The city breathes magic.

It’s almost as though the city is a living thing, and you are simply a visitor, walking into the exposed organs of this towering superstructure.

(echoing slightly) Ochens welcomes you. 

[The TV clicks off and the podcast outro music plays]

Credits

World Fuse was created and written by Lupin.

Audio editing and Album art by Ila Alexei.

Featuring Neutron as Aarush Varma, Ila Alexei as Quinn Argus, and Alexander Wolfe as additional voices.