The feeling of a sudden restriction, of new limitations isn't unfamiliar to her. After all, she'd been blind for a good few months prior to her falling through the Rift. And for a brief time before that, she'd manage to rupture her inner ear, making flight impossible. The drawback here was that she didn't have the loose collective of the Justice League. She missed them nearly as much as she missed her sisters.
She especially misses the ease of finding a sparring partner she can reliably measure her strengths against without fearing for each others safety. For now, in the early days of exploring where her strength is at, she practices off to the side with the training dummies. It looks a bit silly from an outside perspective, a woman punching a training dummy with a sharply focused look.
the library
Her time is split equally between the training grounds and the library. The library at least is simpler matter. There's others there frequently, surrounded by their own piles of books. Diana's not remotely above approaching her fellow patrons when the librarians seem busy.
"I beg your pardon, do you speak Orlesian?"
the ramparts
Then there is the matter of the lasso. It hangs from her waist most days, the only companion more constant are the silver bracelets at her wrists. She knows it's different, clearly as changed from its tumble through the rift as she herself. It's golden sheen remains, the glow fainter than usual. It doesn't pull so ruthlessly at the truth of any given matter, regardless of how small.
But it's there. Diana can feel the delicate golden thread of it, like a physical thing she can reach out and trace. She keeps her practice of meditation with it, finding a private alcove to sit and bind her arm. It requires bare skin and more concentration than it has in the past. And it leaves her drained, which is odd. Another thing to learn about. It distracts her enough that she won't notice another person's approach.
"No," comes the answer, on the heels of John closing the book in his hand with a soft snap. It's returned to the shelf, apparently discarded as John turns his attention to the conversation at hand.
"But we do have a handful of Orlesians in our company who might be of use, if they're in a generous mood."
All the Orlesians that come to mind off hand aren't exactly what John would deem as generous off hand, but who knows. One of them might be so inclined to be helpful if asked at the right moment.
"I'll have to ask more broadly. The only one I know at the moment is Serah Dalat and I would hate to interrupt his work more than I already have." She smiles warmly at him, tucking the book she'd been carrying under her arm. "But I believe I recognize your voice. Would you be John Silver?"
What John could say is that he knows almost all of Riftwatch to be more or less resigned to interruption. Disruptions come almost as a rule, and they all learn to take it in stride.
More or less. There's some margin of error given to the scale of disruption. But to the point—
"The very same," John answers. "Diana, I assume?"
There are only so many new Rifters at a time, and John's already met Naomi Nagata. It narrows options down enough to make a guess at her name without too much concern at offense.
"Indeed so." And she gives him a small bow. "Attempting to learn a bit about this world while I wait out my quarantine. I fear I'm starting to grow a bit restless with only reading and sparring. I've considered taking up wall climbing, but I fear that would leave a poor impression."
Which is the truth, but she hides it well. She is poised and pleasant, with only a small trace of the frustrated energy seeping through in the eagerness to have a conversation.
Vanadi is up here largely to avoid anyone he might know -- which makes this stranger perfectly safe. And also decidedly interesting, on top of it. Do humans Trance? He'd really thought that an elven thing.
He approaches with nearly silent footsteps, slowly to a silent stop some ten feet off. Close enough for a good look, not so close as to be creepy should she open her eyes at the wrong moment.
After he's had his moment of curious study he begins to make intentional noise, scuffing a step here, pausing for a moment on a heavy heel there, ostensibly to take in the view for a second or two. Announcing himself.
The noises (duller than they might have been in her world, but still present) pull her out of the meditation. The glow of the lasso fades as her concentration shifts outwards again and her eyes open.
"Ah, hello." A moment of disorientation and then she smiles and says with some humor, "Forgive me, I hope I'm not in your spot?" She begins to unwind the lasso from her arm as she speaks, fingers flexing a little as it loosens.
Is that rope part of it, then? The glowing one? He eyes it curiously, ambling a few steps nearer and into conversational range. The voice, he realizes, he does know. One of the new rifters.
"I don't see my name anywhere," he says mildly, "I suppose that means it's all yours. Don't let me disturb you."
She hooks the rope back to her belt, the movement automatic and the gesture a little clumsy on the unfamiliar fastening of the new belt. She's done her due diligence of obtaining proper clothes at least.
Diana stands in one graceful motion, brushing off her pants, "If that's the case, I'll have to remember to bring a pen up with me next time. I can hardly have someone else placing claim." And she in turn recognizes his voice, "We've spoken before, I believe?"
It is an odd mix, that move. It speaks of familiarity and newness at the same time. He watches her hands curiously, although of course his attention flicks back up again for conversation.
"We have," he says with an easy smile. "I believe I neglected to introduce myself. Vanadi, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
He used to add a family name -- how natural it's become to leave it off. He leans comfortable against the edge of the parapet, forearms braced against the stone.
"I'm a fellow rifter, as well. I'm sure I don't need to say anything like, quite the change, hmm?"
"You could, but I do appreciate your discretion in not," she says, all good humored as she holds out her hand, "I imagine I'll have plenty of time to prefect my idle small talk in this world. Circumstances aside, it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Vanadi."
He'd noticed this straight away, of course, but as he takes her hand it once again strikes him just how beautiful this woman is. That's most of the motivation when he sweeps her hand up to kiss the air just above her fingers, splayed over his, as demanded by the courtly manners he's used to.
"Well met," he says, because of course he does. He releases her hand and drops back into his lean. "I must confess that lately I find myself happy to skip over small talk. I'd much prefer to be useful, if I could. From one foreigner to another, do you have any questions I might try my hand at?"
It's not the first time she's been given such a greeting. It's a little silly, but he carries the gesture off with more elegance than she's come to expect. She allows it to pass unremarked, aside from a regal bow in return. Diana echoes his greeting automatically, "And to you, sir."
When she straightens and finds her hand free, she settles it on her hip and tips him a smile. "I admit, I've been doing so much reading since I've arrived, I can't begin to fathom what to ask someone whose circumstances match mine. Have you had any trouble with the locals?"
"Yes," he says easily, in the same tone one might say not at all. "But it seems that's largely on account of the ears. If you keep that shard of yours to yourself, I'm sure you'll do quite fine."
She nods, some of her levity slipping. "That has been part of my reading as well, though rather frustratingly sparse. It seems the powerful are as inclined to paint over their cruelties in this world as any other. Unsurprising and yet I still am a bit disappointed."
Edgard isn't in the library so much to read as he is to hide, deep in the stacks. Most of the time, no one will bother him here and he prefers that at the moment. But, the more you don't want someone to talk to you, the more likely someone will make it their business to.
"Oui." He responds and then, "yes." just in case she doesn't speak any at all.
This woman's voice seems familiar, but her presence not at all.
The word has a familiar sound to it, but not one she can place in any language she knows. Not surprising considering it's an entierly different dimension, but still, it would have been nice if it was just a matter of conjugating a few verbs differently.
She smiles at the man and gestures to the open book she balances in one hand, "I hate to ask, but would you mind pronouncing a few of these words for me? I believe I'm starting to get the hang of it, but I'm afraid I haven't a clue what it'll all sound like."
She shifts slightly to give herself a little more space, a little bemused. She lets him close the book though, showing him it's a collection of Orlesian folk tales.
"For children I believe," she clarifies with a slight laugh, "I'm very early in my learning still and Serrah Dalat is indulging me. And thank you, it makes it much easier if I can hear the words." But she's heard enough of his voice now for recognition to strike, "Have we spoken before? Forgive me, your voice sounds familiar."
"I'm just glad I have that much in common. It's difficult to find yourself in a world where you don't speak any of the languages."
And she shares his laugh, hers a soft amused acknowledgment. It seemed this world didn't have a particular abundance of very tall and very muscular women.
"It's good to meet you, Edgard. And thank you for your encouragement. My name is Diana."
That's an easy enough question to answer and she does so with a smile, "I find it helpful in getting to know other people. And for emergencies, of course, since it seems Riftwatch is something of an international organization. It is nice we all seem to share a common knowledge, but I've been in situations where that isn't the case."
"The first. I didn't speak any of the common languages of my world when I first set out from home, so I know from experience. It can be rather nerve-wracking to not know what others are saying."
And she's gonna slide right past his second comment, since that sounds a bit like flirtation.
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Open
training yard
The feeling of a sudden restriction, of new limitations isn't unfamiliar to her. After all, she'd been blind for a good few months prior to her falling through the Rift. And for a brief time before that, she'd manage to rupture her inner ear, making flight impossible. The drawback here was that she didn't have the loose collective of the Justice League. She missed them nearly as much as she missed her sisters.
She especially misses the ease of finding a sparring partner she can reliably measure her strengths against without fearing for each others safety. For now, in the early days of exploring where her strength is at, she practices off to the side with the training dummies. It looks a bit silly from an outside perspective, a woman punching a training dummy with a sharply focused look.
the library
Her time is split equally between the training grounds and the library. The library at least is simpler matter. There's others there frequently, surrounded by their own piles of books. Diana's not remotely above approaching her fellow patrons when the librarians seem busy.
"I beg your pardon, do you speak Orlesian?"
the ramparts
Then there is the matter of the lasso. It hangs from her waist most days, the only companion more constant are the silver bracelets at her wrists. She knows it's different, clearly as changed from its tumble through the rift as she herself. It's golden sheen remains, the glow fainter than usual. It doesn't pull so ruthlessly at the truth of any given matter, regardless of how small.
But it's there. Diana can feel the delicate golden thread of it, like a physical thing she can reach out and trace. She keeps her practice of meditation with it, finding a private alcove to sit and bind her arm. It requires bare skin and more concentration than it has in the past. And it leaves her drained, which is odd. Another thing to learn about. It distracts her enough that she won't notice another person's approach.
the library.
"But we do have a handful of Orlesians in our company who might be of use, if they're in a generous mood."
All the Orlesians that come to mind off hand aren't exactly what John would deem as generous off hand, but who knows. One of them might be so inclined to be helpful if asked at the right moment.
no subject
no subject
More or less. There's some margin of error given to the scale of disruption. But to the point—
"The very same," John answers. "Diana, I assume?"
There are only so many new Rifters at a time, and John's already met Naomi Nagata. It narrows options down enough to make a guess at her name without too much concern at offense.
no subject
Which is the truth, but she hides it well. She is poised and pleasant, with only a small trace of the frustrated energy seeping through in the eagerness to have a conversation.
ramparts
He approaches with nearly silent footsteps, slowly to a silent stop some ten feet off. Close enough for a good look, not so close as to be creepy should she open her eyes at the wrong moment.
After he's had his moment of curious study he begins to make intentional noise, scuffing a step here, pausing for a moment on a heavy heel there, ostensibly to take in the view for a second or two. Announcing himself.
no subject
"Ah, hello." A moment of disorientation and then she smiles and says with some humor, "Forgive me, I hope I'm not in your spot?" She begins to unwind the lasso from her arm as she speaks, fingers flexing a little as it loosens.
no subject
"I don't see my name anywhere," he says mildly, "I suppose that means it's all yours. Don't let me disturb you."
no subject
Diana stands in one graceful motion, brushing off her pants, "If that's the case, I'll have to remember to bring a pen up with me next time. I can hardly have someone else placing claim." And she in turn recognizes his voice, "We've spoken before, I believe?"
no subject
"We have," he says with an easy smile. "I believe I neglected to introduce myself. Vanadi, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
He used to add a family name -- how natural it's become to leave it off. He leans comfortable against the edge of the parapet, forearms braced against the stone.
"I'm a fellow rifter, as well. I'm sure I don't need to say anything like, quite the change, hmm?"
no subject
no subject
"Well met," he says, because of course he does. He releases her hand and drops back into his lean. "I must confess that lately I find myself happy to skip over small talk. I'd much prefer to be useful, if I could. From one foreigner to another, do you have any questions I might try my hand at?"
no subject
When she straightens and finds her hand free, she settles it on her hip and tips him a smile. "I admit, I've been doing so much reading since I've arrived, I can't begin to fathom what to ask someone whose circumstances match mine. Have you had any trouble with the locals?"
no subject
no subject
the library
"Oui." He responds and then, "yes." just in case she doesn't speak any at all.
This woman's voice seems familiar, but her presence not at all.
no subject
She smiles at the man and gestures to the open book she balances in one hand, "I hate to ask, but would you mind pronouncing a few of these words for me? I believe I'm starting to get the hang of it, but I'm afraid I haven't a clue what it'll all sound like."
no subject
"comme l’eau sur le dos d’un canard" He reads aloud. "Is that what you wanted? What is this book?"
He starts to push it closed with his hands to see the title.
no subject
"For children I believe," she clarifies with a slight laugh, "I'm very early in my learning still and Serrah Dalat is indulging me. And thank you, it makes it much easier if I can hear the words." But she's heard enough of his voice now for recognition to strike, "Have we spoken before? Forgive me, your voice sounds familiar."
no subject
"It makes much more sense if this is for children. Good wait to start. Just trying to talk is better. 'S how I learned Trade."
At her second comment, he laughs and shakes his head vigorously. He motions to her presence with a flourish.
"I am certain I have never met you before. Edgard." He nods in greeting.
no subject
And she shares his laugh, hers a soft amused acknowledgment. It seemed this world didn't have a particular abundance of very tall and very muscular women.
"It's good to meet you, Edgard. And thank you for your encouragement. My name is Diana."
no subject
Edgard frowns a little, cocking his head to the side.
"Feel like I've barely used it since I've been here. Although a fair few of us speak it." He shrugs.
no subject
no subject
He smacks a hand on a chair lightly like she's made a good point. "Suppose you're right though, you speaking orlesian made us meet.
no subject
And she's gonna slide right past his second comment, since that sounds a bit like flirtation.