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

[notacrow]

That's my guess. Magic here ain't really the same as it is back home. Kinda frustrating, but having human skin ain't the worse thing in the world. I just miss my wings sometimes.

[shri]

If you need to adjust, by all means. I am happy to assist.

[ she clears her throat though. There is one question she has... ]

Though, if I could ask you a question of my own?

[notacrow]

I'd appreciate it. I'm not used to humans so much.

[ A pause as Lakshmi clears her throat. ]

Sure! Whatcha got?

[shri]

... I am not very used to creatures like you, at least those that are not trying to kill me.

[it's not that she dislikes her, but what did that mean? Lycans had turned many a person she loved a great deal more. ]

What are you?

[notacrow]

I've never tried to kill no one in my life. I mean, I've eaten carrion but I never killed nobody myself...

[ Myira sounds almost indignant! The next question seems to bring her around, though. ]

Oh! I'm jus' a raven. Nothin' fancy.

[shri]

Ravens are only ever ravens, they seldom become people at whim.

[ ahem. ]

I know of men who turn into beasts, wolf like particularly. We call them Lycans.

[notacrow]

Welllll if y'wanna get all specific about it, I'm also a witch.

[ Myira's voice is a lazy drawl. ]

But what raven worth her feathers don't know at least some of the magic? My grandmother taught me to change my skin, said it might be useful someday. An' to talk to the Clouds an' the Winds to call up storms or quiet them, to seek glimpses of the future in still water, an' other sorts of things.

Never expected t'get stuck wearing this skin, though. Also I never heard of wolves turning into men or th' other way around.

[shri]

[ There's a heavy breath, made thin through her lips as she evens out the words to what she knows, to what she has to understand about this place. About the people here. You green spirits like the stories your father told you of the asuras. What else could be possible? ]

I confess to not much knowledge of such things. [ Outside of legends, she supposed. ] I am glad to know you are not... acquainted with what I am more familiar with. I suspect a half-breed would not be any more merciful.

[notacrow]

A half-breed? A half-breed of what?

[ Myira is chipper and curious and just... never seems phased by what other people say. ]

If you teach me more about bein' human, I'll teach you about what it means to be a raven. How 'bout that? Grandmothers'd pluck me bare if they were here an' I gave away secrets but they aren't here so I figure I can do as I like.

[shri]

Ah - a halfbreed is one who is bitten by a pureblooded lycan. The condition, turning into a lycan, becoming a wolf, going mad with the inevitable bloodlust, infects them, I suppose you could so. But they are... diminished compared to the purebloods that... father them.

So they are not quite all the horror of a pureblood, but nor are they men anymore. A halfbreed.

[ She does a very good job, being at arm's length of it. To not let it seep into her tone and words. Of just what all of that has meant. ]

Naturally. Well, the first thing I suppose. Would you mind if I come to your quarters? See what I may, and what I might help you with.

[notacrow]

Oooh. That don't sound good, no...

[ Myira actually sounds sympathetic when Lakshmi explains what exactly she's talking about. ]

Sounds like some bad magic, it does.

Oh! Yeah! I'm in one o' the rooms in the Templar tower, I think? Lemme see... Yeah, first door on th' left on the fifth floor.

[shri]

I'll be along shortly.

[ And there is a knock on the door, not so much longer later. Three sharp raps of her knuckles on wood. ]

[notacrow]

A'right!

[ The door opens to a rather empty room. It's meant to be shared by a couple people and Myira is so far, the only occupant. She's slender and dark-haired and in appearance she might even come from Lakshmi's own country judging by the shade of her skin. She is dressed in a long cloak that is wrapped about her shoulders made of dark, jet black feathers. She grins toothily at Lakshmi. ]

H'lo! Good t'see you again.

[ A pause. ]

You're not as tall as I remember.

[shri]

[ That makes her laugh. A deep, soft sound. ] And you a great deal bigger.

[ her own smile is quick to return. Leaning up to check over her that she was in good health. A hand that braces to the side of her cheek. Sure of this body as it was. How odd, how simple such a thing could be. ]

[notacrow]

[ Myira laughs along with Lakshmi, unable to contain her own mirth. ] Well, that's true enough.

[ Myira blinks, getting a little flushed in embarrassment as Lakshmi starts to fuss over her. If she had any actual feathers, she'd probably ruffle them. It's embarrassing, but it's a little pleasing to know someone is worried about her all the same. Beneath the cloak, she's wearing little else--this whole clothing and human thing is still new to her, after all. ]

Are you doin' alright since we got here? Things been busy...

[shri]

Adjusting, as well as any I suppose. But no more than that.

[ But sure for the moment her slightly bigger, but no less feathered companion was in good health, she let her hand drop. ]

Come, let's see how we can help you walk only on two legs. I'm told doing so is a tricky thing.

[notacrow]

I guess I'm doin' the same. People seem nice enough at least.

[ As far as Myira it's the least they can do. Being nice to someone after they fall out of the sky into your world is kind of a requirement, isn't it? ]

Oh yah, well. Come in I guess. Ain't much to the place, but it's a cozy nest.

[ Myira steps aside to let Lakshmi into the room. Taking a few steps, she plops down onto the bed she's designated as 'hers,' still looking up at Lakshmi. She purses her lips for a long moment, then asks the with a completely straight face: ]

...So how do I fit in with humans?

[shri]

Isn't that the question.

[ Comes the distracted answer as she looks around the room - though with nothing more than something frankly assessing to it. Not that there was much to begin with that they were given, but even so, where to start?

Well. The simple things. ]

How are you for clothes?

[notacrow]

Well, yeah...

[ Myira scratches idly behind one ear as she leans back on her bunk in a languid fashion. She peers up at Lakshmi, then gives a little shrug. ]

Um. I got my cloak. An' they gave me a couple dresses an' some other stuff but it's all simple.

[ Myira points a finger towards an unhappy pile of off-white linen sitting at the foot of her bed. ]

[shri]

Of course. Simple... how?

[ Oh please, don't let it be that someone had given her underclothes and she'd been mistaken in thinking that was all her clothes. ]

[notacrow]

[ Myira rolls over and starts sifting through the pile. She tosses a few things behind her--small clothes and under things, no doubt. When she finally sits up, she's holding a linen dress that's more of a shift than a proper garment in her hands. It would do but... it's not much. ]

I got two of these an' then all the other smaller stuff.

[shri]

[ She knows little of... this style of clothing particular. She'd never even bothered to seek dress like an English woman, even when it might have benefitted her to try and fit in. ( A continuing trend, she must admit. But she had the comfort here of not being illegal simply for existing, at least. )

But this remarkably like a underdress from the times she had helped the brothel girls ready themselves. She flicks it out, holding it up. Not so different to what she had been given. Those pieces sat in her room, unused. ]

They do not... dress in a way I prefer. [ Obviously. ] But we can manage something, I think. [ She flicks the dress out - with a clatter of bangles around her wrists. ] Was there anything else you were given? A corset? Petticoats, stockings? Or simply this?

[notacrow]

[ Myira is going in completely blind, herself. She nods her head at Lakshmi and points towards the chest at the foot of her bed. ]

Issat what those are? There's some like... longer tube things? Are those stockings? An' some shoes but I been going barefoot. Dunno what a corset is though.

[ She blinks, peers at the bangles on Lakshmi's wrist and her eyes light up. ]

Oh! Those are pretty! I like them.

[shri]

They're for your legs, and you'll want the shoes when the evenings turn cool and the ground turns to mud.

[ Hum, she fixes her mouth thoughtfully, ] - It's a particular undergarment some of the women here wear. I wouldn't suggest it if anyone offers it, it will drive you quite mad. [ She looks down at her wrist. A crow, she must remember, would steal the brightest pebbles out of the garden for who knows what purpose and she laughs. ]

Maybe after we have you dressed we can find you something. [ Her hand drops, folding the dress up in that practised way mothers do by second nature. Folding by halves, tucking by quarters until it's a neatly stacked pile at the foot of the bed. ] Alright, up you get. Let us show you how to sort this out.

[ She fishes for the pile she had thrown away. Small clothes and all. Looking for the socks in particular, and laying them out when she finds them. ]

[notacrow]

Eh, mud is just mud. It comes off with water. Besides mud don't get on trees so mu-- [ Trust a raven not to worry about mud and forget she has to walk like the rest of them now. Her face turns a little darker with an embarrassed blush. ]

Oh yeah. Well. I guess they'll be useful. [ The notion of having her own jewelery makes Myira happy again in an instant, though, and she beams like a small sun. ]

Oh, grand! I'd love to have something like that. [ She pops up to her feet, shedding her cloak as she goes. Tattooed across her upper back, shoulders, and even a little of triceps is a pair of feathered wings. If she had come by this tattoo by the usual means, it would have a been a long, detailed, painful thing with each feather picked out and almost looking as if might flutter or fluff with the breeze. She rolls her shoulders, then crosses her arms across her belly. She watches Lakshmi set out the socks with a curious, avian tilt of her head. ]

...Do stockings go on first?