And in the sea that's painted black | OTA

[novokribirsk]

WHO: Zoya Nazyalensky, Nikolai Lantsov, and yOU
WHAT: Two new rifters arrive, shenanigans ensue.
WHEN: Nowish
WHERE: Gallows, Kirkwall
NOTES: N/A

Comments

[kantikoy]

She takes the chair across from him, stacking her books off to the side so that they're not between them and in the way.

"Have you spoken with Madame de Foncé, formerly Poppell? Her first name is Wysteria and she's with the Research Division," Adrasteia gestures between them as she speaks, "and she has some theories about what keeps some people here and sends some of them, presumably, back from whence they came. I don't know if they'd be of any comfort to you," because quite honestly, in her mind, the idea that some dream version of herself is living a life in another world is frankly terrifying on several levels, "but it might be of some interest.

I don't think anyone has left and then returned here and found that time passed in their homeland without them during the in-between, but I am no expert on the subject, believe me."

She's just. Read a lot of reports on the subject. And talked to/had her ear talked off by Wysteria at various points.

At his question she shakes her head. "The latter but it's quite alright. Adrasteia, Grey Warden and Morale Officer, at your service."

[rezni]

A name to remember: Wysteria de Foncé.

And this name: Adrasteia, toting two titles, one of which he has little context for.

"I intend to join the Research Division, so I will surely seek her out," he says, because his intention had always been to get a sense of the make up of this place and understand better the people working within it. Starting with those who hold some relevance to him makes sense, surely.

But, because it's only polite to introduce himself in kind—

"Nikolai Lantsov, King of Ravka," is said with some wry amusement. A title that carries no weight at all here, but that Nikolai cannot bring himself to leave aside. "You can imagine how grateful I am to hear of the possibility that no one might have noticed I've been gone when I return."

When. Not if.

[kantikoy]

"Oh, that'll be good then. She doesn't have a title within the division, I don't think," Adrasteia pauses, "and if she has please don't let on that I don't know what it is, but she is rather close to Provost Stark, who is in charge." Of Research, anyway; the man is strange, even for a Rifter, but she's not going to go around saying that to people who have just arrived.

At hearing Nikolai's title Adrasteia tilts her head in a little seated show of respect and deference; she's not getting all the way up to curtsey at the man, that just seems silly.

"I'm sure you're concerned about your people, your country." What ruler wouldn't be? "I wish I had more answers for you."

[rezni]

"It's my understanding no one has the answers."

Meant as a reassurance; he doesn't expect Adrasteia to unearth the solution to any one of his problems, or sate all his curiosity.

"But while I'm here, rather than dwell on what I can't change, I might as well set myself to solving some of what's gone wrong in this place."

Is it fortunate that he's displaced into a world seemingly just as broken as Ravka?

"I'm still getting a sense as to the full picture, but..."

A trailing shrug. It's a work in progress. He has every faith that problems will present themselves.

[kantikoy]

Adrasteia nods along. He's got a healthy viewpoint of the situation, as far as she can tell, so might as well be helpful instead of dwelling on the limitations.

"The full picture is rather complicated, as full pictures tend to be." What with history being both a living and an unraveling sort of process simultaneously. "Tell me what you've learned; perhaps I can fill in some of the gaps for you in the meantime?"