[Voice - Both courts]

[dragonring]

[This announcement comes to you thanks to a very nasal voice which seems to be doing it out of some kind of obligation. Don't judge much.]

Ah, about the machines in the Station: they have instructions in Drabbish now. Printed paper sheets that I stuck next to each device, you can't miss it. So it would be really, really great if breaking could be avoided from now on. Just saying.

[He's heard some stories, okay. He likes having a little piece of home, please take care of it!]

Oh, and the cakes outside? Those are for the fairies, and they can get a liiiiittle... [Annoying as hell?] ...frustrated if you steal them so... try the kitchen if you're really hungry?

[Yes, he's even whipped by tiny fae women. Details.]

[Locked to Eren]

Hey, I did find some tools. I can take a look at your gear now.

[Locked to Queen Anne]

Your Majesty? It's true, machines do work here. I have the music if you still want to listen to it.



((ooc: Feel free to say your character found the sheets or the cakes and messed with them!))

Comments

[dragonring]

Great! Now just let me...

[He puts the locket on the desk so he can record his hands, that are now showing his phone. It is obviously on, screen flashing with lights, and soon a song starts playing. (Don't mind his sappiness, he misses his girlfriend.)]

Is that ok or should I turn up the volume?

[souveraine]

[Anne leans forward as she watches the flashing lights, it's like magic when a song plays without instruments, just out of the air from the phone. It's nothing like the court music played at the palace in Spain or France.]

If you would turn up the volume a little, that would be wonderful.

[dragonring]

[His fingers touche the screen and do as she asks, but a "oh!" escapes him when he realizes something.]

Ah, I forgot this in English... can you understand it? I can probably find French music in the computers if you want.

[souveraine]

I cannot understand the words. Some of the words seem as if they would be familiar. [She looks thoughtful when he asked the question, she didn't speak English aside from a few words of greeting when she had greeted Charles and Henrietta.

She smiled at the mention of him finding French music for her, nodding.] I would love that, if it's not too much trouble.

[dragonring]

No, just give me a moment to search for something...

[The phone disappears from view as the music is stopped, and for some seconds the only thing that cab be seen is Dave's typing fingers (and he sure is a fast typer). He doesn't know anything about French music (he's not that greta at music either, let's be honest, his collection improved thanks to his girlfriend) so he chooses an option that looks nice and catchy, not too weird (can't scare the Queen with hard rock after all).

When he finds it, he moves the locket to show the video on the screen. He stays silent at first, but after some more images of the surroundings, he realizes something.]

Ah, that's not-- Ok, the singer is French but what you see there is New York. Where I live in America. I guess it's still useful, that's more or less how big cities look like nowadays.

[souveraine]

[Anne definitely enjoys that song, taking in the unfamiliar sight of New York with wonder. It's definitely more catchy than some of the music in the French court. She'll have to show this to Athos later, somehow as well.]

So very different than any city in Spain or France. [Her eyes are bright with excitement before she hesitates a moment before asking him another question.]

Would you happen to have a song from Spain, in Spanish? If it's not too much trouble.

[dragonring]

Trust me, Spain and France also look a loooooot like that nowadays. [His fingers are already typing as soon as he hears the question.] Sure, that's actually easier.

[Since he studied some Spanish in high school, unlike French, he can put one or two sentences together at least and the esl mun has an excuse to drop some music in here.]

What about-- no, wait, that's Latinamerica, not Spain... ah, here. [Soon a new song starts playing.] Is this good?

[souveraine]

[Anne's laughter is happy and she can't help but dance a little to the music, it's been so long since she's heard her native language, even if she's not familiar with the modern references.]

It is truly wonderful. I have not heard very much Spanish since I was younger.

[dragonring]

Ah, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. By natives, anyway. Third, if I remember correctly, by not natives. I... [A vague gesture of his hand, unsure if he should add the rest because why if she actually asks? Oh well.] ...I studied a bit of it in high school but I'm nooo fluent at it.

[souveraine]

Perhaps you would speak a little for me?

[Anne prompted warmly, not to hear him flounder but because she was surprised that he had studied her native language.]

[dragonring]

[And she indeed ends up asking. Why does he always open his mouth, just why. After some hesitation, he nods. This is kinda embarrassing.

Some clearing of his throat and...] Hola, ¿cómo está usted?

[souveraine]

I am doing well thank you, and yourself? [Anne's Spanish is formal, the Spanish spoken in the royal court so most likely not too different than the textbook Spanish learned in high school.]

Your Spanish is very good.

[dragonring]

Yo estoy bien, gracias.

[Hers isn't an accent he knows, but it is understandable and that's all that matters. The compliment has him shaking his head again, a hand soon joining the same movement.]

It's just the basics, it's not that much.

[souveraine]

Do not underestimate even the smallest of efforts. I know all too well the difficulties of learning a language which is not your own. For years I struggled with learning French when I first married.

[It's a well known fact, Anne had wanted to cling a little to her home court so French hadn't come very easy to her until she had reached her 20's.]

[dragonring]

You-- you got married without even speaking his language? [He forgets for a second how things used to be, his mouth always good at making comments out of place.]

[souveraine]

[Anne doesn't take offense though, nodding.]

We had not yet met before our betrothal, I was in Spain and he was in France. I admit I also preferred speaking Spanish or German when I was young, I believed French very difficult.

[dragonring]

...oh, right. Arranged marriages. [He doesn't sound very approving of it. He'd love to be less rude but he's an awful liar, why even bother pretending.] Ah, but- you speak German too? I thought that was the most difficult one. You know all those languages... that's pretty impressive too.

[souveraine]

Yes, it improved relations between Spain, Austria, and France. [Anne doesn't blame him though, she hasn't been the big fan of the husband she's been married to since 14.]

I must admit it was my mother's influence, she is of Austria and wanted me to be well educated and never forget my Austrian blood even though I was to become Queen of France.

[dragonring]

[He probably should know that, he realizes. But History isn't his best subject, and he only remembers the basics, the important stuff like the passing of eras. Not kings and marriages.]

Don't forget where you come from... someone was talking about that the other day. Telling us how we must remember home even here.

[He doesn't know where he was going with this.]

Maybe you can find someone that can speak German with you?

[souveraine]

That is very wise advice. Where we are from is a part of us and something that must never be forgotten. I hope everyone here can share a bit of home with each other as well, I believe it will only bring us closer.

[Anne smiled and nodded, touched by his suggestion.]

I shall endeavor to do so, if it all possible.

[dragonring]

Eh, I'm not forgetting anything soon. In fact I'm kinda homesick... Never thought that would happen.

[He mumbles a bit to himself before going on.] The shardbearers seem to be pretty close anyway? That's what I have, ah, noticed so far. I thought it would be worse with war and all...

[souveraine]

It's only natural. You've been taken away from everything and everyone you've known before, it's understandable to miss that.

[She gives him a reassuring smile before nodding.] But I'm pleased to see people coming together instead of letting the war divide them, even if they may come from such different worlds.

[dragonring]

Ah, yeah, I know that, it's just... one always thinks about how it would be like to be transported to a whole new, magical world, away from everyday life and... I guess this isn't exactly very adventurous.

[Tabletop lied to him! But okay, the smile is nice to see. He smiles goofily and looks away, feeling a bit sheepish all of a sudden. Geez, pretty ladies aren't supposed to be so nice to him, that's not how nerd life works.]

What- oh yesyesyes, totally! I mean, I wasn't criticizing the fact, I was just... surprised. If we can really avoid what those monarchs wants us to do then - count me in.

[souveraine]

I must confess I've had similar thoughts. [This is something she's never said to anyone- she's the Queen of France and so to dream of running away from her duties is a huge thing for her to admit] I've always dreamed of going on adventures and...freedom. Though, I am not quite sure I am making the most of this as I should. It's not quite what I imagined.

[dragonring]

[Having thoughts about other worlds is a common thing for a nerd like Dave, but hearing the same idea coming from a queen is... different. Still very welcome though - comforting.]

No, I don't think it is what any of use imagine but... well, you should get started then. Try coming to the Station some time, see the machines, read about the history of our world.