eachdraidh | video; open to both courts

[Though she cannot tell who may be listening, Élise remains calm and composed she she speaks. She will not let any fear or anger show; she's been taught better than that.]

My name is Élise de la Serre and I don't believe in magic. But I don't believe in being lured away from everything I know by creatures either, and here I am. And so, I've been told, here are you.

[She shakes her head.]

For now, I think it's best to stop clinging to what I do and don't believe in. Either all of this is real, or I've gone swiftly mad.

[And she doesn't feel mad. But if she were, would she?

Some questions are best saved for quiet times when she's alone with her thoughts.]

I'd be grateful for information any of you know to be important. I've heard what our hosts have said and I'm making my own inquiries elsewhere, of course, but there is always more, things we must learn that others overlook. I'm sure that all of you who have been here for some time can think of things you wish you had known.

[She pauses a moment, then just nods.]

In return, you'd have my gratitude and an owed favor. And I'm not without enough skill to pay it back.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well. Hmmm.

The station is great if you want modern things--like pumpkin spice lattes or peppermint mocha, or somewhere to charge your laptop, if you know what that is? And the music room is two floors up from the banquet hall.

[ No, that's what you find more important. Kelsi wrinkles her nose at her own behaviour, and tries again: ] The training grounds is where you can get a lot of, uhm. Battle stuff down if you want. These lockets are really handy but I find most of the gossip if you want to talk to people that aren't shardbearers? That comes from the kitchens. That's how I learned about the whole anti-Shardbearer thing.

Um... Otherwise, the fairies are your friends. Not everyone from the other court is bad--in fact, most of them are very, very nice!

[Well...she doesn't know what those things are, not entirely. A latte is fairly obvious, but what does a spiced pumpkin have to do with coffee? Still, she tries to follow along.]

My friends tend not to drag me off to foreign lands without explanation.

[Some of them have done worse, though.]

Not all of the citizenry appreciates our presence? I wouldn't have guessed it from the welcome they presented.

In the castle, it's great! But sometimes...

[ Hmm. how to put this? She purses her lips. ] I think it's because we get special treatment. We're supposed to be heroes, but a lot of us... We aren't. Does that make sense? And if we get all of the good stuff just because we have shards, what about everyone else?

I think that's why, anyway. The castle's fine--I, uh. I stay here, mostly. [ She flashes a smile. ] Here and the station. Does that help at all? I don't know what your world's like, so I'm not sure what direction to point you in.

It does. Thank you. Put that way, I can understand the resentment. Heroes are meant to be exceptional, aren't they? And this many people couldn't be.

[Assuming heroes even exist outside of stories. Sometimes Élise wonders.]

I was taken from a city called Paris, in the country of France. Until quite recently I wouldn't have dreamed others might not know of it.

Paris?!

Ooooh, my gosh, you're so lucky. I mean that explains the accent, I guess--um, but where I'm from? Paris is really romantic and beautiful and full of gorgeous things like the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles, and a bunch of really good opera and a few really nifty musicals-- [ Kelsi, stop rambling. Stop. ] I've always wanted to go there. I'm from the United States, it's a lot less glamourous. Have you heard about the US in your world?

[ Can never be too sure. ]

[That's a much more idealized picture of her homeland than Élise can even imagine. She almost doesn't want to puncture her naivete.]

It's not all that glamorous at the moment. I have heard of the United States of America—you're from the former British colonies, then?

[It's still such a young country.]

Yeah! New Mexico, but--actually, I moved to New York, and there's a huge statue that the French gave us as a a goodwill gesture. I think I have a picture of it somewhere, but--oh, you're not probably interested.

[ Kelsi please stop rambling. She clears her throat. ] Basically, um. Yes. I'm Kelsi, it's nice to meet you, Miss Serre.

[Uh.

She knows of New York, but not about anything else the girl just described. Especially not a statue, what in the world?]

What was the date in your homeland before you were led here?

Oh--gosh, sorry, way ahead of your time, I think. 2008. We're pretty independent, and, uh, kinda mean about it sometimes now.

[ She winces. ] I'm not really good at the whole, uh, welcoming wagon thing, am I? Sorry.

My god. That's centuries.

[Immediately, Élise wants to know about the future, but she bites back any specific questions. This girl can't tell her what she really wants to know.]

It's all right. There's no preparing for this manner of circumstance.

I took a french class once?

[ ....This is way too awkward for her why do pretty, self-assured girls send her back into being an awkward grade nine girl instead of the Julliard student? Try again, Kelsi. ]

What are you skilled at? Earlier, I mean, you said you weren't without enough skill.

[...

For a moment, Élise is just speechless. Luckily, the girl's question shakes her out of her somewhat stunned reverie.]

Oh—I'm skilled with a sword and I've assisted my family with certain diplomatic affairs for some years now. [Sort of.] You could call me resourceful.

[And in a situation like this, she considers such a quality to be more important than most others.]

Oh, gosh, you know what? You'd fit right in with the court. They're perfect for diplomats and people who know how to fight!

Perhaps I would. [Perhaps they'd be an excellent source of information.] Are you well acquainted with this land's courtiers?

Sure! I know pretty much everyone, even if they don't know me. [ She leans in, like the latest gossip has just arrived: ] That's the great thing about being a bard here, I think.

[Élise smiles, all the more interested now if this girl has connections.]

A bard? That sounds rather intriguing. Are you a teller of tales?

Yeah! I mean--in song, usually, but I hear a lot about things for inspiration. It's just a little different in this world than my own.

Are you interested?

Very much so. I'd love to hear your songs.

[And her information.]

Sure! Maybe we could do it, like, over tea? I'm always in the music room, but sometimes I help out in the kitchens because I can get the sweets when they're still warm.

That is an excellent strategy. I would love to join you for music, though I wouldn't turn down a sweet.

Then it's settled! Mosey on over whenever you want--ummm, or just hit me up on the lockets?

Certainly. We shall speak again soon.

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