[video] Nowadays it is only the unreadable that occurs

[depicted]

[Dorian posts from his Fire Sector suite, a transcription of some pages of books he found in the Emperor's library in hand. The transcription is, of course, in the local language, and that is why he speaks]

In the interest of actually being able to read anything useful we might come across, rather than puzzling over it like it's the Voynich manuscript, I thought it might be prudent to attempt to gather together the work of those of us who have been trying to crack the language. I know there are at least a few—if there are resources to be shared, then we may all make a bit more progress. [He has been working on this for some time, and it is audible in every stubborn syllable.] At the very least, it can't possibly hurt.

Comments

[video]

[poeticverses]

You will have my assistance, Monsieur Gray.

[video]

[depicted]

I appreciate it, and please, you can call me Dorian. Only people I don't like or people who don't like me address me by my family name. [Alan.]

[video]

[poeticverses]

[Jehan smiles, blushing softly]

Then please, call me Jehan. Or Jean, as that is my Christian name as much as I prefer Jehan.

[He's known you for a month, true, but if Dorian wants Jehan to use his first name Jehan can at least return the courtesy]

[virginprice]

I do not know how much assistance I will be, but I will contribute what I can.

[depicted]

Knowledge tends to accumulate faster the more people are involved. It's why my world has the Wikipedia. [Errors and all.] Does the language bear any similarities to any you know from your world?

[virginprice]

Nothing concrete that I have seen, which leaves me at a loss. I have noted the characters that appear most often, which may provide some insight.

[cynisme]

I'll give whatever you have a look, if you need an extra pair of eyes for grammar comprehension.

[From his wood sector suite, he looks bored. His wounds are almost healed, but not quite, so he hasn't left. He's going stir crazy, Dorian.]

[depicted]

[Dorian immediately recognizes how bored Grantaire must be. It's why he started at it himself—boredom and curiosity—and now he continues simply because he's stubborn and he doesn't want to give up.]

You're welcome to it. And you're also welcome to drop by to share drinks, if you're in that sort of mood. [By which Dorian means that if Grantaire is bored, he can come get into trouble with Dorian (and Toby).]

[cynisme]

[He should stay put. He should let the stitches heal completely so that Combeferre can remove them and he, like the rest, can have scars where entrance wounds to death once sat. He should, but of course when he has ever done what he should?

If he had done what he should he may still be alive, painting still lives or whatever would pay to sell his soul to academy, or what was left of it anyway.]

Let it be known that I am always in that sort of mood, give or take the few times when I'm being chastised by our great leader and his second in command. Then I would say it varies between wanting to drink less and wanting to drink much more.

[a pause, but only really for effect. He already knows the answer, even if his stitches may suffer for it.]

Tell me where I'm going and have something to drink ready. Light some candles, whatever it is you 1890s gents do.

action;

[monstrous]

You're positive it can't hurt? [because right now Dorian is making it sound very painful]

[depicted]

[Dorian turns around, eyebrows raising.] Do you object?

[monstrous]

I just wanted to make sure you weren't misleading some poor innocent souls out there with these claims, that's all. [HE IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD]

audio;

[demon_brat]

... maybe.

audio

[depicted]

[Damian might not be able to see the eyebrows raised, but maybe he can hear that questioning.] Maybe—you'll join us blind as we lead each other through?

audio

[demon_brat]

[The expected reaction, thank you.]

Some here have had more progress with reading than a situation of blind leading the blind.

Maybe I shall consider assisting you as you stumble along.

[epigrammatical]

[At some point the next afternoon (well after midday) a kedan courier arrives and with no more than a polite greeting, leaves a small book of the local poetry in its native language, with facing pages of an English translation. It's frankly not very good poetry, or perhaps the translation is bad. Still, there may be use in it. There is no note. Maybe it got lost on the way.]

[depicted]

[There and gone, the courier robs Dorian of any chance to ask the provenance. Just awoken from his daysleeping, Dorian turns the book over in hands before cracking it open. His wondering about who fades away as he questions why. Recognizing the usefulness of such a text in furthering his study of the language, he believes he has solved the why—and, satisfied with that solution, he forgets that there is a question left unanswered.]

[Harry's protege wasn't immortalized for his stunning intellect.]

[epigrammatical]

[Well...

“Your mysterious young friend, whose name you have never told me, but whose picture really fascinates me, never thinks. I feel quite sure of that. He is some brainless beautiful creature who should be always here in winter when we have no flowers to look at, and always here in summer when we want something to chill our intelligence”]

video

[shootingshields]

I've been studying it for almost the entirety of my time here, with semblance of progress. Have you a knack for languages yourself?

video

[depicted]

[Sorry, Peggy, but there is an instant where, on seeing her, Dorian can't help but grin. It's merely that he has heard her praises sung. But he makes himself focus on what she actually asked, rather than what she may or may not have done to a candidate's nose immediately after introducing herself.]

Ah—yeah, I do. A little rough in conversation sometimes, but I learn quickly.

video

[shootingshields]

[She catches that moment, that pause, and that grin, and for her own moment, there's a slightly pinched expression; it returns to neutrality soon enough.]

What do you speak? [For curiosity, before anything else.]

[Video]

[superoverachiever]

I'll help.

I haven't been here long, but I think I'm starting to pick up a kind of sense for what we might be looking for.

[Video]

[depicted]

[He smiles] Working out what we need to look for will be a pretty big help.

video forever;

[usavatar]

I see Peggy's already offered her assistance. I'm afraid the best I can do is say 'good luck'.

[depicted]

Not the languages sort? In all honesty, I'm a little surprised. [He smiles.] Thank you.