[handmaiden of unsheathed swords] audio posted:

[darkeststars]

[ There's a businesslike voice on the network that only some of you will recognize -- clearly filtered through the translator, and fortunately not interrupted by too many moans. ]

So I imagine I probably know the answer to this, but hope springs eternal: Did anyone else come here with technology?

Not all of my things are useful at the moment, but they do appear to be working. We should continue to keep proper tabs on our collective supplies.

Comments

[soulsrob]

Isn’t it a little exciting? It’s not every day I get kidnapped to a totally different world from my own, and possibly a totally different time! I mean, once the panic and all wore off, it’s really very interesting!

[She pauses a moment, thoughtful] Can they monitor over this? I wouldn’t think anyone would be that interested in looking in. I suppose we could all go to corresponding through letters and secret meeting rooms, but few of us can write in the same language...

[oh, right, names though!] I’m Winnifred Prismall. But please, just call me ‘Winnie’! What’s yours’?

[darkeststars]

[ his voice is still a low drawl ]

Darth Imperius. But please, just call me Archeval. Don't think 'exciting' is the word I would use, but I suppose there's something to be said for enjoying the ride. [ when life hands you freezing, deadly, zombie-infested lemons and all that. He definitely sounds a little amused. ]

And I don't know that the enemy is paying attention, but I do know these things aren't private. Better safe than sorry. [ Case in point, the nosy fellow kidnappee who Arche still knows nothing about besides his number name, some vague allusions about time travel, and the outsize chip on his shoulder. ] Seems to me that some of us picking up a few language skills very soon may well be in everyone's best interest.

[soulsrob]

It's either enjoy the ride or wallow in misery, really. I'd much rather prefer to try and find something fun and good in it than to mope around uselessly. [She shrugs, even if he can't see it, and laughs softly.] Besides, this place offers so many opportunities I wouldn't have had at home. I can't be blamed for wanting to taking advantage of that, can I?

But I hadn't thought of people being able to listen in, truthfully. We don't have communication devices like this where I'm from, but thankfully, I'm quite good at learning languages!

[darkeststars]

I suppose I could say the same -- a necessity back home. If you've had it on your mind already, by any chance have you happened to turn up resources on the local languages at all? [ typically with a tech level like this you look up things in... uh... books? Right? That have, uh, paper??? in them? He feels like he's seen a holo like that. ]

I'm absolutely fascinated as to what opportunities you might see in a hole like this, though. [ his voice is bone-dry. ]

[soulsrob]

[She shakes her head sadly.] Not quite yet. There’s not even a library to peruse through; but there are merchants selling books. I’m sure there must be simple ones for children that one could use as a sort of starting point.

[Winnie blinks slowly and regards the gem with a cool air. It’s a good thing he can’t actually see her expression, and even better still perhaps that Winnie can’t find the question as silly as she might have normally.]

Well, for one, I’m able to actually leave the House of Dew and walk around. I wasn’t considered a person back home, and I wasn’t allowed to even walk the grounds right outside without a chaperone of some kind. I’m allowed to think of myself and speak with people. I can wear clothes I’d like, I’m able to make my own decisions...

In a lot of ways, I’m a lot freer than I ever could be back home. I can learn things I never would be allowed the opportunity to learn.

And besides that, I never would’ve met so many different people from different worlds and times if I hadn’t been brought here! I think exposure to all sorts of new ideas is good for the soul.

[Haha she’s so funny]

[darkeststars]

[ blink ]

You were........... a slave...?

[ look, he's a cosmopolitan space man but his personal frame of reference is only so big okay. He's spent a lot of time reading about evil space wizard history and less about... uhh most other things. ]

Well then that's really all you had to say. Don't think anyone can argue with it.

But, hm, I suppose I will see if I can personally get my hands on anything. Would you like me to share notes? I could probably see my way through coming around with whatever I grab. These things go faster with more hands.

[soulsrob]

I won't pretend my circumstances were on par with an actual servant or slave. I was quite pampered. It was a gilded cage of sorts, but I was quite trapped and limited.

Still, I've been able to use it to my advantage. Less so here, apparently, but it's been a good challenge to adapt to!

[She sees nothing wrong with sharing what they find though and she smiles, even if it's only audio.] Yes, of course! And I'll help however I can. If I find anything useful, I'll certainly bring it you. I haven't seen anything in the way of formal schooling around here either, but perhaps they send their children elsewhere to learn...

[Which wouldn't be all that surprising to her or anything.]

[darkeststars]

Hmm. Well, I will be in touch.

[ He's quiet for a bit after Winnie has elaborated on her situation. Just some kind of very sheltered young noble, then? The concept of women as the "weaker sex" is one that's utterly foreign to him, so the finer points go over his head a bit, but of course sometimes the very rich or highly-ranked do strange things with their heirs. Ugh, nobility. ]

If you'd grown up a rich noble where I come from, you probably would've ended up an officer in the army. Better or worse than being locked up with three squares a day? [ he inquires this with some sort of grim amusement. ]

[soulsrob]

I think in my world I'd be branded some kind of heretic and burned alive at the stake like poor Joan of Arc if I tried to actually fight in the army. If I expressed interest in joining, I'd likely be locked up in an asylum and never see the light of day again.

[She's only...slightly exaggerating.]

Does the freedom lessen just because there's hard work involved? Why should I have to choose one or the other? I think I'd rather be free to do what I like and think who I like and make my own decisions about my life, and still get three meals a day!

[darkeststars]

[ there's a pause ]

Then I think you and I will get along just fine, Ms. Winnie.

Honestly it wouldn't be remiss for us to study one another's languages as well. Were the local translation tech to give out on us all at the worst possible moment, we could truly be in a bind. [ sigh ] So much to do, so little time...