[He doesn't seem bothered at all by the shift in location, in part because this one was on the way-- and knowing all the faces of his colleagues means identifying a new one is instant.]
Ness, [he repeats, making a note of it,] and you can call me Benedict. Or Artemaeus, whichever you prefer.
[ people pleaser instincts don't like choices why have you done this to herβ ]
Yes, thank you! I've been trying to familiarize myself with the layout of everything, and I think there's a library I want to look at? I want to study the history here, it seems like a good place to start.
[ gotta figure out which nations hate each other and why so she doesn't put her foot in her mouth at any point, ey. ]
[He gives a little smile at her enthusiasm, straightening.]
The library is upstairs of the centr-- the tower, [oops,] and we've gathered quite a few resources over the years. If you can't find what you're looking for, you may be able to just ask someone. Just,
[there's a strange, frenetic look in his eyes-- don't fuck it up--]
be mindful of what you say on the network. Elves in particular have a complicated history, and I... would advise against calling anything a fairy tale.
[ fairy tale? elves have a complicated history? what?? many confused faces. although that does bring up, since ness by now has had an opportunity to notice she has experienced some, uh, changes— ]
Ah, on the subject of elves—I won't say anything about fairy tales, I swear—I... Well, this is going to sound ridiculous, but I seem to have... lost my ears?
[ she tucks her hair behind her very much existent ears, showing them off—them and their very rounded, blunt, human tips. ]
My father where I'm from is an elf, and my mother is a half-elf. This isn't the normal shape of my ears, [ and she is being very, very cool about it, she thinks, ] and I was wondering, does that... happen often?
[He looks at her ears, then at her face, like he isn't quite sure what to say. Usually elves rift in as elves-- what an insane thing to think, how many different kinds of elves can there be-- never mind,]
I'm, [he hedges,] not sure. [He tosses his shiny hair, perhaps a grounding motion.]
I do know that people with mixed elf and human blood generally don't have the, ah, [he makes a pinching gesture,] points.
[ my dude half-elves are a whole ass thing, they've got the points, they've got the magic, what on the great fucking wheel are you talking about. ]
Perhaps that is a difference between your plane and mine, [ she allows eventually, rather than call this polite but nervous-seeming man an idiot to his face. ] It's, I mean, I'm not injured in any way, and it's not as though the points serve any, any function.
[ other than mark a physical marker of her ancestry and past and hoo boy we're not getting bogged down in being capital a Alone in an unfamiliar plane, nope. blowing right past that emotional turmoil, onto something that surely can't be worse! ]
[He opens his mouth as if to answer her next question, and, realizing where he's put himself, has a full thought process first. Then:]
One of... significant loss, and subjugation. I'm not really the right person to tell you about it. [on account of not being an elf, mostly, but there are Other Reasons]
--I'd be glad to introduce you to someone who could do a better job of it, though.
[ what the hells kind of topsy turvy world is this, even, elves subjugated?? much reading and research to be done, goodness. ]
I would be very glad for the introduction, then. So, we've covered elves and fairy tales—is there anything else I need to know with immediacy, to avoid making an arse of myself?
we were recently attacked. As you may have noticed by our facilities being in some state of... disrepair. It's fair to say we're all still rather sore about that.
[FAIR]
You don't seem the type to joke lightly about misfortunes, so I imagine you'll be all right.
Not intentionally. Rifters arrive out of sorts, in a new place, grasping for some kind of familiarity. People say things without thinking first, on both sides.
[such is life]
But I don't imagine that'll be a problem on your end. Do you have any other questions to get you settled in?
Many, [ questions, ] but they can probably all wait, I'm sure you have more important things to do than answer a few hundred questions about your home. I can fend for myself otherwise.
[ she gives what is hopefully a reassuring and grateful smile, but then, a thought: ]
Oh, for sleeping arrangements, is there... I've seen tents, do I get one?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Ness, [he repeats, making a note of it,] and you can call me Benedict. Or Artemaeus, whichever you prefer.
How are you finding it here? Settling in?
no subject
[ people pleaser instincts don't like choices why have you done this to herβ ]
Yes, thank you! I've been trying to familiarize myself with the layout of everything, and I think there's a library I want to look at? I want to study the history here, it seems like a good place to start.
[ gotta figure out which nations hate each other and why so she doesn't put her foot in her mouth at any point, ey. ]
no subject
The library is upstairs of the centr-- the tower, [oops,] and we've gathered quite a few resources over the years. If you can't find what you're looking for, you may be able to just ask someone. Just,
[there's a strange, frenetic look in his eyes-- don't fuck it up--]
be mindful of what you say on the network. Elves in particular have a complicated history, and I... would advise against calling anything a fairy tale.
no subject
[ fairy tale? elves have a complicated history? what?? many confused faces. although that does bring up, since ness by now has had an opportunity to notice she has experienced some, uh, changes— ]
Ah, on the subject of elves—I won't say anything about fairy tales, I swear—I... Well, this is going to sound ridiculous, but I seem to have... lost my ears?
[ she tucks her hair behind her very much existent ears, showing them off—them and their very rounded, blunt, human tips. ]
My father where I'm from is an elf, and my mother is a half-elf. This isn't the normal shape of my ears, [ and she is being very, very cool about it, she thinks, ] and I was wondering, does that... happen often?
no subject
[He looks at her ears, then at her face, like he isn't quite sure what to say. Usually elves rift in as elves-- what an insane thing to think, how many different kinds of elves can there be-- never mind,]
I'm, [he hedges,] not sure. [He tosses his shiny hair, perhaps a grounding motion.]
I do know that people with mixed elf and human blood generally don't have the, ah, [he makes a pinching gesture,] points.
no subject
[ um. ] I... wasn't aware that was the case.
[ my dude half-elves are a whole ass thing, they've got the points, they've got the magic, what on the great fucking wheel are you talking about. ]
Perhaps that is a difference between your plane and mine, [ she allows eventually, rather than call this polite but nervous-seeming man an idiot to his face. ] It's, I mean, I'm not injured in any way, and it's not as though the points serve any, any function.
[ other than mark a physical marker of her ancestry and past and hoo boy we're not getting bogged down in being capital a Alone in an unfamiliar plane, nope. blowing right past that emotional turmoil, onto something that surely can't be worse! ]
A, erm. A complicated history, you said?
no subject
Perhaps, [he says weakly, quickly adding,] I'm glad you're not injured.
[He opens his mouth as if to answer her next question, and, realizing where he's put himself, has a full thought process first. Then:]
One of... significant loss, and subjugation. I'm not really the right person to tell you about it. [on account of not being an elf, mostly, but there are Other Reasons]
--I'd be glad to introduce you to someone who could do a better job of it, though.
no subject
[ what the hells kind of topsy turvy world is this, even, elves subjugated?? much reading and research to be done, goodness. ]
I would be very glad for the introduction, then. So, we've covered elves and fairy tales—is there anything else I need to know with immediacy, to avoid making an arse of myself?
no subject
[he thinks,]
we were recently attacked. As you may have noticed by our facilities being in some state of... disrepair. It's fair to say we're all still rather sore about that.
[FAIR]
You don't seem the type to joke lightly about misfortunes, so I imagine you'll be all right.
no subject
—ah. [ taken aback, ] No, I didn't plan on making light of your collective tragedy.
[ she might have wondered if this was a purposeful aesthetic, but she wouldn't have asked.
probably. ]
Have people done that? Made light of the destruction of your home?
no subject
[such is life]
But I don't imagine that'll be a problem on your end. Do you have any other questions to get you settled in?
no subject
Many, [ questions, ] but they can probably all wait, I'm sure you have more important things to do than answer a few hundred questions about your home. I can fend for myself otherwise.
[ she gives what is hopefully a reassuring and grateful smile, but then, a thought: ]
Oh, for sleeping arrangements, is there... I've seen tents, do I get one?
no subject
[Her question about the tents gives him pause, and he falls silent a moment, thinking it over.]
You'll probably be placed in an empty spot, since we haven't got enough for everyone to be alone. You might... want to ask if anyone's got space.
no subject
[ hmm. she's not averse outright to bunking with a stranger, but... perhaps before that she can see what other options she has.
regardless, she aims a smile and a little wave at benedict, happy to free him to get back to wherever else he must be needed. ]
I'll look into that. Thank you for the welcome, Messere Benedict.
no subject
[a little wave back,]
Good luck settling in. Shout if you need anything.