raianet | video @nina

[ You can make VIDEOS ON THIS THING.

Now that Nina knows this, no one is safe. Well, okay, not true, because she's still got to get the hang of it. You, the viewer, are once again treated to a vision of... the Aid Station wall.

Nina: "Where's the camera again?"
John, her long-suffering patient who isn't suffering as much as he is laughing at her: "On the corner, there."
Nina: "But that means I have to hold my wrist like--" Abruptly, the picture changes and now Nina's squarely in view, "--oh yes, you're right. That's a better idea."
John: "...so are you gonna say something or?"
Nina: "Oh Saints, is it recording already? Blast--"

Bright smile is go! ]

Hello, everyone! If we haven't met yet, I'm Nina Zenik.

There are so many of us here from so many different places. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two months, and now more of us are coming. I’m not used to making announcements like this [ some noise from beside her, Nina looks toward John and corrects: ] -- or, posts? Apparently they’re called posts. -- but even some the Adament crew I’ve spoken to are interested in my questions, so they’ve assured me they don’t mind if I - post - with this.

So tell us - what’s it like where you’re from? What are the legends that are most popular? What are the courtship practices? [ She’s absolutely not crafting this whole post because she’s searching for ideas on this, nope. ] Are you one of those of us have been fighting a war -- excuse the question if it’s rude, there just do seem to be a lot of us. I’d ask you to talk about your favorite foods instead, but that might be more depressing than helpful. Oh - here’s one: If you’re from an Earth, how do you know it’s a different Earth than all the other Earths? And if not, does your planet have a name or is mine the only one that doesn't?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Uh... yes? Kind of? I am Ravkan and I am also a Grisha. Other Grisha are born to different countries, and I would consider them my people, but... there's messy war nonsense.

Why? Would you consider yourself an expert?

Not at all. I'd say I've been rather unlucky in love. Some vices are never meant to be pursued.

Well, makes sense. It's the end of every story, whether we like it or not.

（ it's heavy, though. ）

You should come up with your own. Something a little less macabre.

[ Love is a monster, a ravenous, multi-headed thing, that crashes into your life and devours everything you held dear to make room for itself. Uninvited, it is equally impossible to get it to leave.

Nina is doing her best with this unexpected visitor, but while it's not without its benefits, she's also aware of its teeth. She won't make fun of this. ]

Perhaps not.

Though like most vices, perhaps it is not as much a matter of pursuit as it is an indulgence.

[ She shrugs a little. ]

I'm Ravkan.

[ It's said as if this is a sufficient explanation, and perhaps it would be if you were, you know, from the same planet. ]

I doubt anything I come up with would end any differently, unless I was making up a dream.

[ Or a lie. ]

There is some truth in it.

After all, love is inherently selfish, and can easily slip into obsession. Even if it doesn't deserve such a name.

While obsessions may be dangerous, what's wrong with being a little selfish?

It's unkind. Easy to forget what made you vulnerable in the first place to someone else.

Pardon the question, and you may demur if you wish. Are you in love?

Some kind of mermaid.

They sound powerful and fascinating.

You know what's interesting? I've not met a single person who didn't have some understanding in their world of what a dragon is. I wonder if the same could be said of mermaids.

[ What common thread brings them all here? This could be... something, could be nothing. ]

[ Whoever this total stranger was has latched on to this idea from the beginning. It's a curious thing -- and such a question, 'you may demur if you wish' -- aristocratic, that. ]

Is it? I suppose that depends. It is difficult to deal with such generalizations.

What's your interest? If you're asking if I'm available, I have to say this is certainly the strangest way I've been propositioned. I don't even know your name, and we are not even truly speaking.

I wouldn't be surprised.
The words might differ somewhat, but it seems that some of the fundamentals remain largely unchanged.

Technically, it's my bloodline that makes me a target. The work just adds insult to injury for the people who'd want to end it, since we've protected a lot of people and animals they hate more from us.

[ Balthier makes the rounds at the Aid Station before going to see Nina. He's getting better at judging how strong of a cure spell someone needs, and what his magick will help versus what needs an actual doctor. Largely, he's helpful for pain and stamina.

He finds Nina with a patient, both glued to her device with big grins. ]

Fancy seeing you here.

I can understand that across countries, but against entirely different planets? I never would have imagined that.

[ If she'd ever bothered thinking about it in the first place. ]

That sounds very complicated, and like too long a story for these type of notes! Would you mind meeting up at some point and telling me more about what you mean? 🙋‍♀️

[ Nina waves. ] Why hello! It's he of the voice like a thunderstorm.

[ John, proving that he has been doing more than his share of network surfing, corrects: A voice like a thunderstorm seducing you.

Nina adjusts with a gracious slant of her head. ] A seductive thunderstorm.

[ And you came to the Aid Station for this? ]

It is remarkable.
Certainly something that would keep any philosopher busy for some time.

[ She never thought she'd share anything with a philosopher - but she's willing to chase down any threads she can to understand what's going on here. Somehow she doesn't think it has anything to do with a dead dragon. The dead are dead. ]

Yes. I'm certainly no philosopher. Hopefully we'll be able to uncover something a bit more solid at some point.

( there's some elegant metaphor to be found, somewhere, for whatever is happening to them. something like the many branches of a tree, or its vast and sprawling root system.

but he's thinking about mermaids and dragons and the fact that if they aren't careful they'll be stuck here right alongside the adamant and its crew. )

Yes.

( the wreckage seems as good a place to start as any. however, he knows enough about the technology here, now, to realize how difficult it would be to decipher anything he found.

this is a problem, though not an insurmountable one. )

Perhaps the thessyx will have some insight to offer.

Can't be a pirate without being swoonworthy.

[ He crosses his arms, leaning against the support beam, winking seductively. This act has gotten him information, free drinks, and other favors countless times from tiny sand taverns to noble's private soirees. ]

I was going to walk you back to camp, but I fear this strapping and helpful man has beaten me to your schedule. Should I return later?

[ He's learned how to use the communication device, but it doesn't keep him distracted the way talking to a real person does, and Nina is easy to talk to. ]

Girl you thirsty like these mermaids. link

[ Tina brought her ECHODevice with her. It has close to a terrabyte of local storage that she has mostly filled with EchoNet nonsense. She is now the pop culture god of this planet. Or at least she has decided she is. ]

[ Somehow, he's more confused than when he started. ]

So... it's more like an order? An organization?

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seems we're getting toward an end?

absolutely cool with wrapping this here/soon

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