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[littlemother]

[ Porenn isn’t at all familiar with this kind of technology at all -- they’ve nothing like it back in her world -- but after a succinct explanation courtesy of the kedan and a bit of fiddling with it, she rather thinks she’s got the hang of it. Staring back at the terminal screen is a tiny, bright-eyed blonde woman in her thirties, dressed all in mourning black, with a curious light in her eyes. ]

My goodness -- well, isn’t this interesting? The kedan say it’s not sorcery, but unfortunately, they neglected to explain how it works, exactly -- only how to use it.

[ A wry smile. She’d very much like to see how it’s put together. ]

At any rate, I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Porenn, and I’ve only just arrived here to this...rather charming place. My quarters are in the Earth Sector -- I don’t suppose any of you who’ve been here longer would mind showing me the neighborhood, so to speak? Oh, I’m sure I could explore the city on my own, but it would be nice to have some company.

[ She doesn’t mention where she’s from, or more importantly, that she’s royalty. It’s not as if anyone here really needs to know, and that sort of thing might only hinder her in the future. She speaks with a smile on her face, but her fingers are doing something else entirely: to most it may only look like she’s gesturing as she speaks, but she’s actually leaving a secret message for anyone who might be able to detect it: If you can read this, contact me immediately. And let’s keep things discreet, shall we? ]

Comments

[manofiron]

[ She wants company and she wants to know how a piece of tech works. Tony would have to be dead not to respond to this. ]

I could help you out there. With the whole everything.

[littlemother]

[ Porenn's eyebrows raise delicately. She has to admit, she wasn't expecting to find anyone quite so eager. ]

That's a bold claim to make, wouldn't you say?

[ Still, she smiles at him, and the light in her eyes certainly isn't lacking for interest. As keen as she is on learning about the strange technology she's using with apparent ease, she's just as keen for the company. It's an excellent distraction from vast strangeness of the circumstances. ]

I certainly wouldn't mind the company. You're familiar with these devices, I take it?

[manofiron]

Bold claims are what I do best. Mainly because I can make good on them.

[ Humility is something that happens to other people. People who need it. People who aren't, in fact, as good as they say they are.

He smiles back, confident and easy. ]

You bet. They're kind of antiquated now, where I come from anyway, but I was building stuff like this when I was a kid. These run a little differently, source of power's not the same, but the principle hasn't really changed much.

[littlemother]

[ His manner is somewhat familiar, with the unapologetic swagger -- in a way she rather likes, actually. His assertion makes Porenn laugh, lightly, but it's what he has to say next that most catches her attention. Her eyes widen in keenly interested surprise. ]

The power source...hm, well it would have to be quite small, wouldn't it? How curious. You must be quite a learned man, if you have such detailed knowledge. Perhaps you'd be so generous as to explain some of it to me? I'm afraid I can't promise I can keep up, but I would so like to hear it.

[ She's rather understating herself, of course, but that's just her way. She is rather excited to meet this man and hear the things he has to say on quite a few levels, but the only outward sign of her interest is the bright, almost girlish smile on her face. ]

And perhaps you'll give me your name somewhere along the way, as well.

[manofiron]

[ A name would be good, wouldn’t it? His mouth quirks in a rueful half-smile, his version of apologetic. He’s still not used to people not recognizing him. ]

Tony Stark. I’m sort of a technological genius. It’s a thing.

[ He tips his chin toward the screen, the gesture meant to encompass the console as a whole. ]

And this thing is… Well, as far as I know, it doesn’t have a name. People call it a console. It looks kind of like the computers back home. Those run on electricity. Plug it into the wall, electricity flows, violà. This one runs on some as yet undefined source. But you’re exactly right. The components that make it work are very small.

What’s the tech situation where you’re from? You mentioned sorcery. Is that what you use? Are you from Asgard?

[bacondivination]

If we had a proper web of internets, it would be simple to illustrate the workings of the technology for you. They are not so very advanced in that respect.

[littlemother]

[ What a charming young man. It's a shame that what he says makes absolutely no sense to Porenn whatsoever. Internets? She can't even begin to imagine what that means. Still, that only sharpens her curiosity all the more. She gives him a patient smile, her eyebrows raising inquisitively. ]

I'm afraid I must not be terribly advanced, either. I've never chanced to hear the term -- internets, you said? Could you elaborate?

[bacondivination]

[ He grins easily and shrugs. ]

It is a source of freely shared information and pictures of cats using similar means as this. Mortals constructed it not very long ago in my world.

[littlemother]

[ Pictures of cats sounds...esoteric, but it's the information bit that catches her attention. And, of course, the way he refers to mortals -- that she files away for later consideration. Priorities, after all. Her eyes light up with curiosity, although the patient, distantly interested smile on her face never quite disappears. She leans forward a bit, clasping her hands together. An unregulated mass of information, accessible by these strange devices? Well, it sounds rather...vague, and not altogether useful. ]

How does that work, exactly? I mean -- if all this information is traded freely, I can't imagine how anyone makes a profit off of it. Or how anyone would find it at all reliable.

[ Porenn isn't quite as ready to believe in the cynicism and absolute corruptibility of all men as some of her peers, but she is ever the realist, and she well understands the importance of incentive in getting reliable information. If no one's charging or paying anything for all this so-called information, what's keeping them honest about it? The whole notion seems awfully poorly thought out. ]

[bacondivination]

It is an entirely unreliable den of thieves and liars.

[ He can't help but sound at least a bit affectionate about that trait. ]

It can spread knowledge across the world without any difficulty. Those that profit find the truths within it, and create the best of tales.

It's very fun, you see.

[virginprice]

[Alcuin smiles, all friendly cheer.]

Welcome to Keeliai- and the Earth Quarter. I've been living here a little more than six months, and it would be my pleasure to show you about.

[littlemother]

[ So people have been here quite so long? Well, that's worrying. Still, Porenn only smiles back, just as warmly. ]

So we're neighbors, then? I'd be delighted for your company, sir -- if only you'd tell me your name, of course.

[virginprice]

Forgive me. [He looks a touch embarrassed.] My name is Alcuin nó Delaunay.

[littlemother]

[ Her smile is one of enduring patience, and she's clearly not bothered in the least. She waves him off with a little tinkle of a laugh. ]

You're quite forgiven, dear. It's a pleasure to meet you, Alcuin, and I'd be positively thrilled if you'd come along for a walk with me. It's quite the lively city, isn't it?

[virginprice]

It certainly is. When would you like to go? I am at your convenience, my lady.

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[zinthosmantra]

It's... the Emperor has said it's not magic, but it's not entirely technology either.

[littlemother]

[ Well, that's...curious. As far as Porenn knows, there's quite a clear line when sorcery's involved. ]

And did the Emperor say anything else?

[zinthosmantra]

Not as much as some people here have been hoping. She only holds audiences once a month and I haven't seen her anywhere in the city, escorted or otherwise, since I arrived.

[littlemother]

She seems to keep very much to herself.

[ Then she smiles. ]

She's a wise woman, I think.

[zinthosmantra]

Anything in particular you're basing that observation on?

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[dunhaming]

[ Oh this woman seems like fun. Olivia as a friendly, almost teasing grin on. ]

It might as well be sorcery, you know. It all just sort of happens and no one ever bothers to explain how. So don't worry, it's not just you.

[littlemother]

[ Porenn smiles right back, letting out a little laugh. ]

That is always the case, isn't it? It seems the locals aren't terribly forthcoming, but then, I can't blame them, either.

[dunhaming]

No, especially since we seem to keep falling in and out of favor with them. I wasn't here for that, but there was a spell of rationing and things were a little tense.

[littlemother]

[ The smile disappears from her face, and she looks quite grave, all of a sudden. ]

That sounds quite serious. Since the kedan are rather close-mouthed, would you mind filling me in on what happened?

[dunhaming]

[ Oh lord serious people. Olivia can do serious when she needs to for work, but this isn't work. She doesn't even know that many details either. She gives a bit of a shrug. ]

I don't know much, I wasn't here. I know that the turtle got sick so things weren't going so well and they had to start rationing. Things were a bit strained between us and them, but nothing actually happened as far as I can tell. It was a month or two back, I'm sure people who were around at the time could tell you more.