tushanshu | VIDEO;

[ 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? ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

[ 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.

[ 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?

Asgard? I'm afraid I've never heard of it -- I'm from a dreary little place called Drasnia.

[ She smiles wryly, a bit self-deprecatingly. ]

I don't use sorcery myself -- it's not really in my wheelhouse, so to speak. I've known a few sorcerers, but they didn't generally dabble in this sort of thing. [ She frowns in thought for a moment, then lets out a sort of helpless laugh. ] Our technology isn't anything like this. Honestly, I feel so backwards all of a sudden. Water that runs inside buildings? I'd heard rumors that an architect had accomplished something of the sort in Mallorea, but I'd certainly never seen anything like it myself until now. You mentioned electricity -- is that what powers these lights in the suites? Back home, we just hung torches on the wall. It all seems dreadfully quaint in comparison.

[ Drasnia. Mallorea. He files the names away for later consideration as she says them. In the moment, they don't mean anything to him and he doubts that they will later either. But it helps to remember. ]

Electricity's what powers them back home. Currents of energy, like lightning, that generated through other means than just standing around, waiting for a convenient thunderstorm.

[ It's strange for him to think of living without it. But for someone who's lived without it the entirety of one's life? Maybe not so strange at all. ]

Hey, listen. Don't feel so bad. We don't have sorcerers where I come from. We don't have magic at all. Finding out about it was as odd for me as indoor plumbing must be for you. But that's pretty easily explained too. Indoor plumbing. That's just pipes that carry water from place to place, usually using pumps powered by electricity.

[ His reassurance is appreciated, of course, but in truth Porenn is far more interested than she is embarrassed in any way. She gives him a slightly rueful smile all the same, shaking her head. ]

How on earth did you manage to do it? Harness such power, I mean. Isn't it rather dangerous?

Me personally or the people where I'm from?

[ It's an important distinction. His way is usually more efficient. ]

If you don't know what you're doing, yeah. It can pretty dangerous. But you do, it's no more dangerous than anything else you've ever done.

[ She looks quite thoughtful for a moment, then looks at him with bright, interested eyes. ]

Would it be terribly difficult to learn, do you think?

I don't think so.

[ That might not be a fair assessment though, and he knows it. Still, he smiles. ]

And if I'm the one doing the teacher, I know so.

[ She gives him a rather girlish smile, not quite mischievous, but it's nearly there. She puts a finger to her chin, raising her eyebrows. ]

And would you have a space in your presumably busy schedule for an earnest pupil?

For an earnest pupil, I've got all the time in the world.

[ He's smiling, though his tone is too sincere to be mistaken as a joke. He didn't do a lot of teaching back home, never really had the drive, but this isn't home and all the toys and distractions it held are absent here. Teaching doesn't seem like such a bad idea, really. At least to people who seek him out to learn. ]

When would you like to get started?

[ Porenn claps her hands together in delight, her smile widening. Oh, this is a valuable opportunity indeed. She has much to learn, she knows, but the sooner, the better. ]

I daresay I have little to occupy my time here, so at the risk of sounding overeager -- whenever you'll have me, I'd be delighted to attend a lesson or two. I'm sure you are a much busier man than I.

Tell you what. Give me... two days to get some things ready, and we'll start your lessons.

[ And by get things ready, he means clean up his suite so it doesn't look like the staging ground for the Frat Party Olympics. ]

I'm in Fire. Three-A.

[ A smart move, Tony. If Porenn saw your home in that state, there'd be no end to the mothering you over it. Porenn commits his address to memory and nods, smiling. ]

I'll see you in two days' time, then. I look forward to it.

Great. I'll see you then.

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