OPEN - But here I dreamt I was an architect

[loversinverted]

WHO: Diabhall Minett and YOU!
WHAT: Still another elf falling from the sky - and then his time spent studying in quarantine.
WHEN: Arrival backdated to mid-August - quarantine backdated to the weeks that follow up until the present.
WHERE: The Planasene Forest, and then all over the Gallows.
NOTES: CWs: Body horror, blood, and death in the dream sequence. If you want to skip it, start reading after the italics!

Otherwise I will update this space. If you want something particular with him let me know!

Info over here!

Prompts in comments below!

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[loversinverted]

The voice is a surprise - but the elf doesn't jump, merely flicking his vibrant gaze up to the stranger. His expression is stoic, voice smooth and placid when he replies.

"I am, yes. Finding the similarities and the differences." Gesturing with his left hand, anchor shard glowing away within the pale skin, he indicates a nearby chair, should the man wish to join him.

"It's the latter. I only just arrived here. Working to get my bearings."

[arkitect]

Not very easily startled, evidently. He doesn't entirely disapprove-- but he does wave off that gesture. No thanks, he's fine where he is; he's comfortable enough here, in fact, to pick up one of the books that's not currently in use to take a look at it, skimming through as he remains perched on the table and speaking without actually looking back up.

"Well, the good news is that you will have plenty of time in which to do so... which is, I suppose, also the bad news for some." He shrugs his shoulders at that. Clearly not a concern for him, personally. "So long as you do not balk at the differences you find, you ought to have little enough trouble with the place itself-- but that's the easy part."

[loversinverted]

That only gets a shrug - do as you will - face unchanged as the other Rifter flips through a book and muses aloud. If he didn't know any better, he would think this fellow is trying to alarm him. Barking up the wrong tree, there, if so.

"Quite the contrary, I'm taking it as a challenge." His tone is chilly, but not pointed. Simply unmoved. "But clearly you have something more to say. What do you believe to be the hard part, then?"

[arkitect]

"The adjustment to the situation as a whole, of course. Being somehow torn from whence you came, finding yourself here in the first place-- which you do seem to be taking remarkably in stride."

He glances back up, there, a brow slightly arched, taking in that impassive face. A curious thing, but not a completely unfamiliar one, either.

[loversinverted]

"Ah. Is that all?"

A placid blink - he marks his book, shutting it in a gesture of respect for the conversation. He's full of these little habits, ways to compensate for the unnatural composure that has a hold of him.

"To be frank, planar travel isn't completely alien to me. This situation is peculiar, I will grant, but I have grown up on stories of people being spirited away to other realms anyhow. For it to happen to me is unexpected, but...I don't mind being divorced from the burdens of my previous reputation."

[arkitect]

"There is quite the difference between open travel betwixt planes, worlds, what have you, and a matter such as this. I suppose it must have been quite the reputation, then, for this to come as something of a reprieve..."

All as casual as his tone has been this entire time, despite the topic. It's all hardly alien to Emet-Selch, either, and after a moment or two he adds:

"But neither are you the only one I've spoken with to say so."

[loversinverted]

"Who's to say I meant open travel? The Fae are quick to take a life and never return it." Rolling his shoulders to stretch them, he simply observes the other man as he speaks. He wonders if there is a point to any of this, or an intended introduction attached to the interruption of his study.

But if he's even mildly put off, it certainly doesn't reflect in his face.

"Indeed it was. Expectation since the day I was born, a high-profile name, a high-profile career I gained - if the population is to be believed - through privilege...this is an opportunity to come by it once more on my own merits alone."

He nods at the second part of the man's words.

"Precisely. I am nothing special. I am certain others have come from worse, and still others from better."

[arkitect]

There's a faint, thoughtful hum at those last words. Truly nothing special, he wonders, or simply desirous of being seen as such-- or, well, there's always the possibility of a regular lack of esteem. Maybe just a purely pragmatic way of seeing things. He doesn't make any overt guesses at it, though, his tone almost idle as he says, "Then I expect it will be something different, to have fewer eyes upon you. Such are the burdens of that sort of life; ever being observed, ever aware of the possible consequences from it."

But while they're on the subject:

"Now, if you wouldn't mind sharing just what that name is...? Unless you've no intent to use it here, in which case we will still have to have something to call you by."

[loversinverted]

"Indeed. If I am watched here, it is likely out of suspicion or novelty."

As he is questioned, he hums a little affirmation, as if realizing his lapse of manners. Gracefully, he sticks out a hand, though he half expects this man not to accept it. Either way, the courtesy has been extended.

"Forgive me. I have been processing quite a bit of information in very little time.

Diabhall Minett. And yours?"

[arkitect]

He does accept that offered hand, in fact. "Consider yourself forgiven," he says as he takes it, seemingly ignoring the fact that he's the one who struck up this conversation without an introduction to begin with.

"Emet-Selch. Research. I have not been here too much longer, but enough to know more or less which way is up or down."

[loversinverted]

It is not the first time Diabhall has dealt with someone opting to absolve themselves of the thing that they themselves chose to do. Ah, well.

"Research? Well, I look forward to working with you, then. Or at least, I will, once I have been absolved of quarantine." It's a natural fit, really. He folds his hands on the table in front of him once the handshaking is done.

"Do you have a specialization, Mister Emet-Selch?"

[arkitect]

"Oh, one or two."

That comes with an idle wave of one hand, before he continues: "Under normal circumstances, creation magic, though it is something of a work in progress here. Lost forms of magic in general, corruptive magical influences, history, sorcery, artifacts and construction... if you are in need of additional eyes to inspect something magical in nature, you could certainly do worse than to ask me, though much of my specialization is still best applied to my own home's form of magical theory."

[loversinverted]

Calmly, the elf nods his way through all of this, taking mental notes of what to call upon this man for in the future - although something does catch his attention more than the rest, and he tilts his head lightly to one side.

"Construction?"

One hand gestures faintly at the stack of books on materials. "I am actually an architect by trade, with emphasis in enchanting materials and structures. It sounds as though some of our work may overlap."

[arkitect]

"Is that so...? Then you may well be correct. I've seen my share of magical structures created, in my time."

That earns Diabhall a bit more interest, a little more focus.

"I've little interest in working on them, mind you. Too much physical labor by far. But when it comes to theory and design, I do consider myself to have some expertise in the matter."

[loversinverted]

Admittedly, Diabhall has a moment where he questions the other man's age...but then, he himself is older than he looks. It's irrelevant.

"I dabble a bit in both. Primarily the design, theory, and enchantment, but on occasion when I have had the time, I have periodically found reward in rolling up my own sleeves." Still, no judgement if Emet prefers to keep clean. He understands.

"It is good to know who I might turn towards for a second set of trained eyes."

[arkitect]

Honestly, it's always valid to question Emet-Selch-- he shrugs at that answer, though.

"I will leave that particular sort of reward to your capable hands, then," he answers in turn. "But if you've a need for my opinion in the future, you may have it."

[loversinverted]

Emet-Selch is, so far in the elf's view, another in a very long line of arrogant 'artistes' in his field, ready to delegate and boast, but last in line to touch a brick. It isn't to say that people like those have work that is lesser in any way...it's just that the relative lack of field experience tends to make them blow more smoke than they do make fire.

Still, he is polite when he nods, expression remaining as neutral as ever.

"I appreciate that. Perhaps I can return the favor."