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[chromosomes]

[ John is in a stranger position than he's usually in when he makes broadcasts. Sprawled out on his stomach on the floor, locket in front of his face, he looks- not relaxed, but at the very least less active than he usually is. On his back rests the head and front paws of his female saber-fanged cave lion, her toes flexing every once in a while as if she's kneading his back.

There's a loud sigh. ]

God damn, but this place makes me feel old sometimes. I'm in my thirties and here we all get triple the lifespan -- I'm way too young for this. Don't know how you elves and other long-lived people do it.

[ Granted, with his enhancements, John may very well be long-lived even without the lifespan boost of the Drabwurld... but that's not the point. ]

Of course, this could be part of what happens when you join the military at seventeen and see several lifetimes of war stretch out in front of you. Not that I assume the life expectancy for most shardbearers is that high...

[ And he's being morbid. He grimaces- and then swears again. ]

Buttercup, watch your claws!

Comments

[chromosomes]

No. That sort of thing eats you up.

[ He's not that old, but he's at least aware of that fact. ]

[muscovy]

Maybe they should forget if they cannot move on otherwise.

[...actually speaking of that, he wonders if it would be an option. For Maglor, at least - but then there are a lot of elves around that remember him too and would remind him, so they all would have to forget...]

[chromosomes]

It's not so easy to forget. And then they might just make the same mistakes.

[ History doomed to repeat itself and all that. ]

[muscovy]

They make the same mistakes again anyway.

[At least going by the histories and stories that he has heard. The same mistakes, over and over again, even though nobody can reasonably claim that they don't know that it will end badly.]

And then a lot of bad things happen and they don't learn. [And that is terribly frustrating. At least humans have the excuse that it were their grandparents who made that last terrible mistake.]

[chromosomes]

[ Elves. Why do they like them, again?

John sighs. ]

They're stubborn.

[muscovy]

[Who even knows. Maybe it is the pretty hair?

And stubborn. He nods slowly, but a bit unsurely.]

One of Greece's people who came up to my place said that stubbornness, when it continues for too long, becomes principle, but he also said that all principles that aren't about his god are a sin. [He's not entirely sure about any of this - Christianity is still a bit new and other beliefs have much deeper roots within him- but he knows that sins are Very Bad.]

[chromosomes]

Where's your place?

[ Since at least he knows where Greece is. ]

... I think that guy maybe has the first part right, but the second part could use some work.

[muscovy]

East of Poland's and southeast of Lithuania's, and west of Mongolia's.

My lord says that his god is good and it is very bad to not believe in him. [He's ...getting there. Really.]

[chromosomes]

That's a lot of... place.

[ Several countries worth of place. ]

Yeah? And why does he say that is?

[muscovy]

...Mongolia is very big. [Really, if he should be exact, he would have to describe himself as a part of Tartar's place, but he likes to think of himself as west of Mongolia instead, because ...there is nobody here to stop him from calling himself independent. No consequences.]

Because he wants to be friends with other people. Most people in Europe are Christian these days, yes? [That one, at least, is pretty easy to answer. And a bit silly a question, Muscovy thinks.]

[chromosomes]

What's your definition of "these days"?

[ Because really, that makes all the difference. ]

[muscovy]

[He has a short moment of panic because he really cannot give a year, and he knows that he should be able to. Right? Christians can do that, ...right? so he should be able to... Venturing an approximate guess. He knows that they're in the century that starts with 13.]

In the year of our Lord 1380.

[chromosomes]

[ Well typically most people can do that, Muscovy. But you're forgiven because now John's just going to stare at the locket like he can't possibly have heard correctly.

That's... one of the earlier years he's heard. ]

It's 2046 when I'm from.

[muscovy]

[...oh.

And he knows that he should not ask, but he is really curious now...]

...Is there a kingdom between Lithuania and Poland and Mongolia?

[Please tell him that he has managed to become big and strong in the future.]

[chromosomes]

There are a couple, yeah. Russia, mostly.

[ AND THAT'S HOW JOHN GRIMM BROKE THE PAST ]

[muscovy]

[...oh.]

So big sis becomes very strong.

[Which is nice, but makes him worry a bit for himself. His sister wouldn't want him to disappear, but... And who else but the Kievan Rus would "Russia" be? Assuming that it isn't Sweden, but nobody calls him Rus anymore these days.

His next words are almost hesitant.] ...What other kingdoms are there?

[chromosomes]

Uh. The Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus...

[muscovy]

[A smile crosses his expression at the mention of Belarus - his little sister will still be around, too! but then he asks almost reluctantly:] ...Does Moscow still stand?

[He gets the feeling that it will be his centre, and he can usually trust such feelings.]

[chromosomes]

Moscow? Yeah, it's the capital of Russia.

[ do not ask me how many times I've had to double check a map for this thread because it's incredibly embarrassing ]

[muscovy]

[RP teaches us all kinds of things]

...the capital?

[Does that mean - but no, why would he be called Russia... but...] ...And Russia is strong?

[chromosomes]

Yeah. And Russia's strong and huge.

[ Just don't ask him about the politics because he is from the future and they did not cover it in the movie or novel, okay. ]

[muscovy]

Then Russia must have lots of friends.

[SUPER EXCITED if that Russia is really him he'll really make it!]

...But you aren't from Russia?

[chromosomes]

[ Well it definitely has countries that trade with it... ]

No, I'm not. I might have ancestors that were, but I'm from the United States.

[muscovy]

The united states of what?

[chromosomes]

America.

In... North America.

[ uh. ]

It hasn't been discovered by Europeans, when you're from.