002.

[glandival]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Sabine
RECIPIENT: All
NOTES: cw: Sabine

Hallo.

[ A husky-toned feminine voice, Orlesian, deeply dry. ]

Welcome to Thedas, all the new rifters. Perhaps it is a bit different to places you knew? Perhaps you're wondering about all the new differences there are. Perhaps you are a shemlen who has come from a world only of shemlens—pardon, that is the Elvhen word for 'human'. I think the true translation is something like 'well-endowed tall ones'.

But perhaps you are an elf, and you are wondering what it is to be an elf in Thedas. Perhaps we can talk about it publicly. I think that would be a fun way to spend some time.

My name is Sabine, what's yours.

Comments

[earpiest]

Can “well-endowed” refer to amazing hair, or?

[glandival]

I will consult my ancestors through mystical tree magic.

[illithidnapped]

Astarion.

[One very not Orlesian scoff lives here. Haughty, of course.]

What's there to talk about? You're treated miserably, paid less if at all, taken for granted and— well, everything else under the conceivable sun, really.

Doesn't exactly seem like the most thrilling of topics.

...unless you're a masochist, maybe.

[glandival]

Ah, you have taken away my punchline. All that set up, and for what?

[ She does not actually sound put out. ]

How long have you been here, monsieur?

[armd]

Abby.

I'm not an elf, but I still wonder what it's like to be an elf in Thedas anyway. D'you ever smack those big ears on things by accident?

feel free to ignore obvs

[earpiest]

Oh my God.

[glandival]

Go fuck yourself.

[ —it's not a friendly delivery, just frank. ]

private.

[elegiaque]

In Thedas, when a human talks about an elf getting hurt by accident, what they usually mean is grabbing the elf by the hair and bashing their head into something while laughing about how stupid the elf is for hitting their head.

It's morally neutral to kill Chevaliers on sight. For the record. Politically difficult, but at worst morally neutral.

[illithidnapped]

Oof.

That's going to sting.

[elegiaque]

You know, I did miss you when you were gone.

( it's the little things that bring it back. terrorism, namely. )

[glandival]

Et toi. And this place. It's easy.

[voidtransport]

Talk about it publicly why?

[>skeptical]

[glandival]

It is how things are done, here. Have you not seen?

[notathreat]

No elves where I’m from. Don’t worry, people made up plenty of other stupid reasons to be bigoted fuckwads.

[glandival]

Like having a cunt. I think I have heard that.

[kantikoy]

You've got an interesting idea of fun, Mademoiselle Sabine.

[glandival]

I am having a good time.

[loversinverted]

Diabhall Minett. Newly minted Rifter, and convert from a rather different sort of elf. Quite the culture shock, all of this.

A pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[glandival]

A different sort?

[ Rich? Tall? It has to be one of those. ]

[untiltheyarent]

[Quietly, politely:]

Welcome back.

[A pause, then:]

If that is the true translation, it has failed all of us, but especially them.

[glandival]

Mostly them. How embarrassing.

[rowancrowned]

Sabine, ( warmly- and a pause, because what else needs to be said? )

[glandival]

Big Elf.

[ —not not warmly. ]

You have such company now, eh?

[bouchonne]

I think the seneschal should start a calendar. Each put-upon populace gets a week to air their grievances. We'll rotate.

[ His voice is wry, but he's feeling a little wary. Because, fuck, if he's going to have to also worry about coming up with the pretty words to reassure the elven faction they're being attended to, he might sit down and have a proper cry. ]

[glandival]

Ah bon, how generous. A whole week! What will your week be, Ambassadeur?

[sparklequeen]

Hi, Sabine! I'm Glimmer.

[glandival]

Oh?

[ That's a name, she supposes. ]

And a rifter as well, then.