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[the_queen_of_thieves]

[There's a young blonde on the screen, her hair painstakingly combed and braided to perfection, but the 18th century dress she wears, although equally painstakingly washed, is frayed and torn at the hems, with a few stains which couldn't be fully removed yet. She looks pale, her cheekbones a little too sharp, deep shadows still under her eyes. These signs of her recent captivity couldn't be washed away as quickly as the grime, or as she had demanded for a lady in the Welcome Center to teach her the proper use of this - still uncanny - device.

Eleanor may hate appearing in public looking less than perfectly poised, but every inquiry for suitable clothing got her pointed to Fayren, and she's not quite daring enough yet to brave a town everyone keeps telling her is full of real, actual magic. First things first then.

My name is Eleanor Guthrie, formerly of Nassau, New Providence Island. I'm not going to waste your time with complaints about being taken captive, as I'm sure you hear them from every new arrival. I'd rather sate my curiosity. I've been told a woman may own and rule equal to any man in your towns, even in Fayren, and that quite a few of the most powerful citizens are indeed women. Is this more than just the letter of the law?

[Old wives' tales come to life or not, Fayren is the only place that seems to hold any comforting familiarity in this bizarre, foreign world she has been thrust into, and she's not going to let sorcery or any kind of bizarre otherworldly creatures stand in the way to that.]

I also have another, more trivial question for you: Can we hope for it to get warmer yet? It's a little bit nippy for this time of the year, compared to what I'm used to. I'd hope Fayren, at least, is warmer; I'm planning to settle there if all goes according to plan.

Comments

[Video]

[legendaryoutlawstar_lord]

Well, yeah.

[Kind of a blunt reply, but he looks friendly enough while he gives it.]

Trust me, that's the last thing you've gotta worry about around here. You can even wear pants and stuff if you want.

[She looks a little dated, and given the question...he figures it's information worth giving her.]

Or whatever you want, long as that's not to go around killing people. Kinda frowned upon.

[That answer given, he smiles in something more like greeting.]

Peter Quill, otherwise known as Star-Lord. You know, I don't actually know if we're gonna get seasons. They got a weather report in the paper though, so you can check that if you want.

[the_queen_of_thieves]

[ Coming from a place where everyone of renown goes by a fanciful moniker, Eleanor just nods at being told he goes by Star-Lord. ]

I'll have to wait and see about the seasons then. As far as summer goes, this is disappointing.

[ She sizes him up, brows slightly arched. ]

I think I should be able to quell any sudden murderous impulses, I wouldn't want to be frowned upon, now would I?

[ Even if that's actually an issue with her, every now and then. But hey, it's not as if she even has henchmen in this place. Yet. ]

[legendaryoutlawstar_lord]

Well, if it helps you can actually change the temperature in the rooms. Warm it up while you're inside at least. Make it a little more homey.

[Most of the places around there anyway. He wasn't sure if Fayren had magical heaters or what.]

Definitely not when you're right in the middle of election season.

[the_queen_of_thieves]

[ Oh. Oh. Now this has her perking up. ]

Election session? Who are you electing? And on a related note, should I be concerned about the outcome?

[ Power is a delicate balance, if that balance is shaken things can become dangerous for everyone. Or so it's in Nassau, at least. ]

[legendaryoutlawstar_lord]

City Guardians. So it's not a political election, really, but...more one to figure out who's in charge of keeping everyone from, say, killing each other. Crime, public safety, all that stuff.

I wouldn't worry too much, and you can probably still check out the debates.

[Which he's in, but doesn't feel the need to share right now.]

[Video]

[swordprincess]

[Oh yes, Karla is all too familiar with the "men rule over women" culture that she's grown up with before she defied tradition and took up the sword for herself.]

Indeed, there are many powerful women here. Women can accomplish anything they put their minds to. Anyone who believes that men are superior to women in any way is a narrow-minded fool.

[Yeah, she's going to be blunt on that one.]

[the_queen_of_thieves]

[ There's something almost a smile on her face, though a little too sharp for it - and she, she still looks too weary to wear the sharpness well. ]

Oh, I know that women can rule just as well as a man can... it's just men who need to be regularly reminded of the fact. They are forgetful in such matters.

[swordprincess]

[Karla flashes a smile of her own.]

Sometimes. But there are just as many powerful men here as well, so I wouldn't underestimate them either.

[the_queen_of_thieves]

Of course. Never underestimate anyone.

[ Her face turns more somber at this, eyes far away, though she quickly shoves it away. ]

I'm not seeking to make enemies here, neither male nor female.

[swordprincess]

[Karla continues her usual amiable smile.]

That's good to know. If you're an honest, law-abiding citizen, you shouldn't have that worry for the most part.

[pretty_handy]

[Eleanor's post catches Ildikó in her break and she can be seen outside a building with a sign that reads 'Mokona's Magical Cafe'. She's braiding her hair with 3 hands while the other holds up the communicator, and Idikó feels a little envious of Eleanor's much neater braid. Her hair was always too unruly for a decent one but that doesn't stop Ildikó from trying to comb it.]

I'd pity the man who told a woman what she can or can not do. [Warm, brown eyes glint with mirth and a smile appears on Ildiko's lips.] I'd also kick him in the loins for good measure. As long as you don't don't injure people or steal, you can pretty much do whatever you feel like here.

[The woman's looks are far too familiar to Ildikó. She's never been in Eleanor's situation but some of the other Atheris, her mercenary group, had a similar difficult past. And there is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women.]

You look like you could use a drink and a hot meal, why don't you come over the cafe? It's on me. And the cafe is in Fayren.

[the_queen_of_thieves]

[ Forgive her for staring but... she is staring. A lot.

They've given her the spiel about non-humans at the Welcome Center, and maybe there had been a few odd-looking fellows on the streets, but this is the first time... What do you even say about that? Probably best to say nothing, and act as if she isn't thoroughly disturbed. She may have to admit to her ignorance, but that doesn't mean having to admit that she is unsettled by it. ]

I could use both, and I'd like to have a destination in mind for my first visit to Fayren.

[ It'll also force her into action instead of postponing that necessary step. That's a good thing. ]

I'd also like to talk to a local, since I've been told it is the town I'll feel most at home in. [ Such as, find a polite way to ask if all the women there have four arms. That'd make getting a job much harder for Eleanor. ]

[pretty_handy]

See anything you like?

[Nah, it's cool. Ildikó knows she's pretty....oh, wait. It's probably because of the 4 arms, right? She's used to getting stares for that too. Ildikó is 100% human, though, extra arms notwithstanding.]

I'll send you the exact address then. I'm Ildikó Odala, nice to meet you. [She will be at the cafe all afternoon, so they're in no rush.] I'm still fairly new myself but if you have questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability. The locals here aren't the most talkative individuals. They're not rude but they're very...bland. Maybe it's because they don't have a necklace, I'm not sure. That said, you will find plenty of locals at the cafe.

[She shifts the communicator so it's angled towards the inside of the cafe. There's a variety of people n the and all of them have just 2 arms each.]

[the_queen_of_thieves]

[ She takes note of the number of arms, and feels a little better about her chances in the service industry.

Oh, Ildikó is pretty, for sure, and if she weren't so caught up in other distinct features of hers, Eleanor would certainly appreciate the sight. Maybe when they meet in person. ]

It's a pleasure to meet you. I'll be over at some point this afternoon; as I understand it, it'll take me a while to get to Fayren. To the archway. [ Which she still can't comprehend, but, okay. ] Finding the Cafe can't be too hard, I'll ask around if I must. I'm sure you'll be able to answer my questions. I just want answers from someone who isn't paid to make it all sound pleasant.

[ The Welcome Center people have been very helpful, but... They're paid for saying everything is great here. ]

I'll see you soon then?

[pretty_handy]

[Around here people is very open minded. Even if Eleanor had the wrong number of arm, like Ildikó does, she wouldn't have all that many trouble finding a decent job.

Eleanor isn't bad looking herself and Ildikó is appreciating the sight already. Is not the reason why she wants to help the woman, of course, but a pretty face around is always pleasant to see.]

Take your time. The cities are big and I imagine you must be quite overwhelmed. I'm still trying to find a decent horse so I can move around. Other people has those metal boxed with heels, they call them cars, but I don't know how to drive them.

[Ildikó nods, understanding why she would want such thing.]

Very well. See you soon and feel free to call if you need anything or you get lost.

[filchedfruit]

Welcome. I'm Joruk of the Halgal clan. I'm from [ gives the 19th Century name for his part of Central Asia.], or Kazakhstan.

Yeah.

A lot of people come from the future, and/or places with powers. They've moved beyond a lot of the sexist bullshit of the past.

[ He's a nomad from the 19th Century, but he's lived in Genessia long enough to get past the views of his own culture. ]

Women are generally seen as people with valuable opinions, and plenty of them could easily beat the crap out of me.

You call this nippy? It got really freaking hot in the afternoon.

[the_queen_of_thieves]

I come from the Caribbean, it's far too cold by my standards. It'll take a while getting used to it.

[ She flashes him a rather sharp, though amused smile. ]

I could beat the crap out of you, and I know how to use a musket. But I'm not going to do that unless someone asks for it.

[filchedfruit]

I'm from just south of Russia around mountains.

[ grins back]

I don't doubt that. I'm more used to a bow and arrows. Guns kinda freak me out.

[the_queen_of_thieves]

They don't frighten me, but they're awfully clumsy to use, and I'd rather not shoot people. I heard you can get in trouble for that around here.

[ Not so back home, but she would rather avoid trouble till she has figured out how to get out of it. ]

[filchedfruit]

They're noisy, the powder smells, they can blow up in your face, the ones I've seen were made in Russia.

Future models are sleeker, though. There's a lot of future tech in Genessia. Nova City makes Genessia look primitive.

Yeah, shooting people is frowned upon around here.

video;

[whiteas]

I gets ludicrously hot once summer really gets rolling. Nova City tends to be the hottest, and Everglade tends to be cooler since it's almost always foggy. Everywhere else tends to be somewhere in the middle. In my personal opinion, Fayren is most beautiful in winter though. [ Snow over all the trees and mountains. It's gorgeous to her. But, you know, her last name literally means snow and she grew up on a continent that's white on the map from how often it's covered in ice. ]

And yes, as a woman in charge by election going into my fourth term, it's more than just pretty words. I take it you're from one of the worlds where that's uncommon? [ Not that she doesn't understand. Her family is.. rather patriarchal. ]

[the_queen_of_thieves]

I look forward to Fayren in winter then... though I'm hoping it won't snow. I would rather not deal with that.

[ Sorry, not a fan of cold weather here. ]

Where I'm from well-behaved women don't involve themselves in the business of men... and of the misbehaving ones, only a few do so successfully. [ Eleanor smiles sharply. ] I've never been a well-behaved woman. If people won't see your worth on their own you have to keep beating it into them till they see.

[whiteas]

[ She just rolls her eyes. ] I have no idea why people have such an aversion to snow. [ Says the person whose last name literally means "snow." ]

My world isn't like that, fortunately. [ Just her family, but sharing with complete strangers beyond delicately phrased statements or tonal changes aren't common for her, at least now that she's gotten a little more used to the situation here. It's a better balance now that she's calmed down the instinct to try to run constantly, even if his mayorship is starting to pipe it up again. ] I hope you manage to make everyone see you so well they couldn't look away if they want to.

[the_queen_of_thieves]

[ Eleanor barks a laugh, her eyes gleam with determination. ]

Trust me, that's exactly what I have done all my life, and what I'm going to do here as well. I can't fall back on my family's name or wealth, or any magic skills, but I'm going to show people what you can achieve with a will stronger than the wills of those around you.

[whiteas]

[ She's fairly certain Eleanor doesn't know her well enough for that to be a dig at her, but she still feels a little uncomfortable from it. There's just a little bit of huff in her voice, but she doesn't take any digs at her. She knows that's her own situation and not Eleanor's words. ]

Any particular plans yet, then?