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."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
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