(no subject)

[dunnage]

I have heard the Arguments that Time has stopped at Home, and while the Idea brings me slight Peace, I do not believe I can rest here without Consequence.

Inaction is as much of a Crime as active Treachery, and I wish to Help in any Fashion I may. I am able bodied, well used to working in open Seas and under Orders. You shall find my Complaints very few in number, under Condition that any Action asked of me is given fairly, and does not impugn on the Rights of God’s Creatures or against Country.

If I may also inquire, I am still hopeful to locate a dear Friend of mine, a Dragon by the name of Temeraire— or perhaps Lung Tien Xiang. He is of black coloring with blue markings, in the Heavy Weight class and distinguishable by a unique facial ruff and tendrils. If he is occupied, or perhaps if I am gone when He arrives, let Him know that He is missed, that He must take care of Himself, and that William Laurence asks only for Him to be happy, even if He is not near.

Cpt. Wllm Lrnce

Comments

[video]

[poeticverses]

[Jehan's English isn't the best, but he recognizes the names. There is about to be one terribly happy, giant dragon. Now, to tell the captain that his dragon is here, or to let Temeraire handle it...]

Ah, you might wish to use the recording options, Captain. Not everyone here reads English and unlike speech it is not translated.

video;

[dunnage]

[ bluh Laurence you ponce. He flounders for a moment as he figures out how to switch it over to 'recording'; it flicks from text to audio before finally landing on video. Laurence looks rather rigid, if a touch sheepish. Gawd, technology. ]

I did not mean to assume English was the lingua franca— it would be no trouble for me to repeat my text verbatim, if you would find it helpful.

video;

[poeticverses]

No, no, I understood it well enough.

[Oh, Jehan's in a good mood and is terrible at keeping secrets. It's not as if Temeraire's likely to use the devices once he sees his captain's here. Might as well prepare him for dragon cuddles.]

Temeraire is here, captain. He has been here for a...month, perhaps.

audio;

[amonfire]

I apologize, but my English is only rudimentary. 'Temeraire' is a familiar name; I've had the pleasure of working with our mutual friend if we're speaking of the same Temeraire- the dragon?

audio;

[dunnage]

[ social niceties like long ass apologies for writing out TLDR go out the window when the Moon of your Life is mentioned ]

I apologize, it was imprudent of me to assume English was a shared tongue. [ but come on, even the French speak it ]

Temeraire is rather distinct; there would be no mistaking him for any other. I do not mean to be overtly direct— he has worked with you, here?

audio;

[amonfire]

It is the dominant tongue. [ Terse but not condemning- even it was awfully annoying to be accosted with so many foreign languages at once when you only ever knew once existed. ]

Temeraire is certainly a unique presence, and now I must apologise; I should have clarified. We've worked together for just under a month, but mostly in an academic capacity. We share a mother tongue and were eager to confer over shared cultures.

video;

[cravats]

I am pleased to be able to inform you that Temeraire is here, sir. He was well and content, the last that I knew. You may rest easy on that score.

video;

[dunnage]

Thank you, sir.

[ first Englishman he's met so far, score! ]

It is in my nature to worry, even when it is unnecessary. It is an unfortunate habit, but your words have otherwise calmed my spirits.

video;

[cravats]

[The French-to-English balance evens out a little more!]

I am sure he will greet you himself at the first possible opportunity.

video;

[philosophe]

[Through much patient study of the text posts on the network, he has become more accustomed to reading English, and 'Temeraire' is certainly an easy enough name to identify.]

Temeraire? [Have a cheery looking young Frenchman, then, giving you a smile, Laurence.] Am I to take it you are his captain, then? He is most certainly here.

video;

[dunnage]

[ screaming why are you so happy Combeferre. Laurence pauses for a moment, wondering how to take... this overtly cheery reply while answering the rather up in the air question about whether he is still truly a Captain. ]

Captain, yes. It may be a rank I no longer hold, but it is a relationship none can take away from me.

video;

[philosophe]

[Because he has had an excellent weekend, thank you, Laurence -- and he's pleased to be doing something helpful again -- and, of course, pleased for Temeraire as well.]

It is a pleasure to meet you, in that case. I am Combeferre, lately of Paris, and my friends and I have become quite close with Temeraire in his time here.

1/3

[dracobin]

[Temeraire, for his part, has been out all day, helping to harvest the bumper crop of fish and fruit that Tu Vishan has swum into, and as such it is a little while before he sees the new post on the console.

He reads it once.

Then he reads it again.

Then, very carefully, he opens up a window to respond. But his claws are shaking, a little, and he hits the wrong buttons, and--]

2/3 video;

[dracobin]

Laur--!

[A flash of black scales, a burst of static, and a series of faint scrabbling noises: the console is tricky enough to work with his claws when he is not overexcited, and it is so very difficult to stay calm now--]

3/3 video;

[dracobin]

[--and that is the correct button, and then he is staring wide-eyed into the camera, whiskers quivering, nearly pressed up against the screen in his excitement.]

Laurence! Laurence, pray do not worry, I am here, where are you?

text;

[xenocide]

Time has stopped at home? Where did you hear these arguments?

text;

[dunnage]

From the Natives, when I first arrived. They were uneager to Answer my Questions, but Persistence yielded the answers I required.

video;

[chiot]

[ guess who can read none of this text? Gavroche. Guess who can pick out one name? ]

Temeraire! Temeraire, huh? What are your intentions with Temeraire?

video;

[dunnage]

[ HE IS SO UTTERLY TAKEN ABOUT BY THIS VERY FORWARD CHILD ]

Merely to find him, to make sure he is safe.

You are Gavroche, I presume?

text, french;

[inseine]

M. le Capitaine Laurence,

My English skills are not the best, but I doubt I missed much of your meaning. Your dragon is here and comfortable enough. This should not come as a surprise. I notice he discovered you already.

Your luck is low with seafaring work, as we are swimming on the back of a titan turtle rather than a frigate. My guess is you will find a kindred spirit in your countryman, Admiral Norrington. In the meanwhile, you must find simpler work to keep you busy.

Send Temeraire my regards. I suspect he fears he offended me. I am not that easily bothered.

- Javert

text, french;

[dunnage]

[ quietly screaming into the night at the fact this guy answered him in French. Why are there so many French??? Laurence's French is not as fluent as Temeraire's, but it is decent enough. A bit more chunky and direct than he would like, but he supposes Javert blunt words made it okay for directness in return. ]

I shall seek out Admiral Norrington, and while I thank you for the direction, I believe I have misstated my intentions. I do not wish to return to seafaring: I meant only to state I have experience in it and things related.

And what offense does he believe was given, if I may ask?

Wllm Lrnce

[virginprice]

[Having puzzled out the text- his English reading is getting better- Alcuin responds with video, because he doesn't want to look like an idiot in writing.]

I think it is somewhat like a dream, sir. A great deal of time may seem to pass, yet you will wake within hours of setting your head down on your pillow. I do not believe there is any need to be concerned over time.

[dunnage]

It is a rather unusual dream, if it is so.

[ mostly because he can't even imagine what Freud would say about all the French people in his dream. ]

I would like to lend my assistance here, even if just to better pass the time while dreaming.

text;

[cynisme]

[Now, his English may not be as good as Javerts or Combeferre's, but he can make out the general gist of some sentences (but not the whole thing to be fair). Still, Grantaire's gonna Grantaire.]

français français français si-l-vous plait monsieur le capitan d'anglais. Vous n'êtes pas seul sur la monde.

text, french;

[dunnage]

pardon me,

I had not expected language to be such a problem. Would it help if I translated?

Wllm Lrnce