01.

[shri]

FORM: Sending crystal.
SENDER: Lakshmi Bai
RECIPIENT: Anyone and everyone.
WHAT: Polite requests.
WHEN: After the recent group of rifters arrives back.
WHERE: The Gallows.
NOTES: Tired Queen is tired.

[ There's a little laugh of wonder and then - ] To think I spent all my time hungering after Tesla's machines... [ Clears her throat with the end of that wistful sigh, no time for what-ifs, and she adopts a far more even a tone. Dry, clipped and careful to not muddle her words. Not Tesla's machines, no, but she has heard plenty of poor announcements across radios, to want to make sure that she doesn't do the same. ]

Greetings. I am... Rani Lakshmibai, the, ah.. widower of the King, Maharaja, of Jhansi. [ There's a hesitation, unsure. But like the titles she just gave, she brushes over it quickly. ] I have a request for an individual, who would spend a few hours telling me of this place and its manners, so I might be a better guest of this... Inquisition. I have no more than what I am to receive you, but I can provide honest company in return for yours.

[ pause, and then a moment later. ] And where may I exchange jewels and gold for coin, find a decent cloth merchant and tailor, and whether the weapons the armies here supply are worth the metal they're made from. I prefer a shamsher or talwar, by preference, but any long, heavy blade suffices if its decent enough quality.

Comments

DOUBLR NEGATIVES ARE THE TRUE DOWNFALL OF THE MODERN WORLD

[shri]

[ there's a draw of breath, like she might just put on the show for it.

Then it cuts off, no, nope, she can't do it. ]

Spare me that grave of my own idiocy, my father was too honest a man for me ever disrespect him in such a way.

[rathercommon]

What - is it disrespect?

[shri]

He was a ordinary, poor man, who served others all his life. He raised his daughter the same.

[it hurts, it still hurts. To know for all he had given her, she could not even cut him down from the tree they hung him from. ]

I have nothing left but his memory, now.

[rathercommon]

Oh.

[ That subdues her, a little. She goes quiet a moment, then says - ]

Um - there's a lady - Petrana. She's really helpful. A rifter, too, who knows a lot about what's going on and is awfully kind.

[shri]

You step for a Queen's aide again, child, if you keep this up I will owe you for even more than my life.

[ an easy divergence. ]

[rathercommon]

What?

[ A little flustered - ]

No, erm - you don't owe me anything. Why would you owe me? I mean - she just - Petrana, she just talked a bit about passing on kindnesses, so I'm - passing them on, you know.

[shri]

You jumped in front of a, well, a bullet for what it's outcome would have been.

[ it's ventured slowly, honestly, did she think she would forget? ]

I do more than owe you, my girl.

[rathercommon]

Oh - well -

[ Even more flustered. ]

It wasn't a bullet to me. [ Then, with a slightly forced laugh - ] Not that I mind being owed or anything, of course.

[shri]

[ sweet as that is, she let's her be flustered for only a moment more. Then she turns her tone direct, firm as the hand she put on her shoulder in the heat of all that running and fighting. She won't accept less over something like this. ]

You used your strength to be kind. I will never forget that. Should something a rise where a queen or a soldier might suit you, ask for me. I will come.

[rathercommon]

[ WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ]

Oh, I can't - I mean - that's really, really sweet. But it really wasn't anything special, you know? So, I mean, if you're going to offer that, then I guess - I'll make the same offer back to you.

[shri]

[YOU HELPED A STRANGER AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A MURDER QUEEN, IT'S TOO LATE NOW. ]

As you insist.

[rathercommon]

There you are, then.

[ She sounds a bit more comfortable with this. ]

Not that I'm a queen. Or a soldier. Or anything exciting like that. But still, there you are.

[shri]

Brave. That is more than enough to know I can call on.

[ Is the firm word. Oh no, Kitty, you aren't getting away from her appreciation. ]

But this... Petrana, you said her name is?

[rathercommon]

Mm-hm. She told me rather a lot about...what rifters are. All of that.

[shri]

Thank you, I will remember it.