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[doesherhomework]

There's a loud thump of hardcover books landing heavily on the table, winged carefully from across the room. They were contained in a drawstring satchel, but begin to fall out from the force of the landing: The Necronomicon slips out, followed by a battered copy of the King James Bible, the collected works of H.P. Lovecraft, and several small

Comments

[quicksilverelf]

He has no alcohol or meat products, but here's a beautiful young half-elf with a pot of tea. "I speak French," Anafiel offers. "Would you like some tea?"

[doesherhomework]

"Yeah?" Betty tips her hat back and looks at him-- she's not fazed by the unusual appearance, being used to seeing stranger things. "I usually prefer dictionaries but maybe you can help me with a phrase. You don't speak medieval French, do you?" And she shakes her head. "Only if it's got a shot in it. I'm up to my eyeballs in tea already."

[quicksilverelf]

"Medieval French?" Ani repeated, confused. "I'm familiar with several dialects. Explain 'medieval'."

[doesherhomework]

"Medieval French French. Like the kind they spoke in France during the middle ages. Paris specifically, I guess, though it could be-- I'm not sure, could be Provençal. Not French Canadian or Haitian French or anything like that."

[quicksilverelf]

Celebanthir was concerned. "I've never heard of any of those places. Perhaps if you showed me what you have, I'll see if I can read it."

[doesherhomework]

"Sorry-- if you've never heard of France, how do you speak French?"

[quicksilverelf]

"It's a bit confusing. My father is from Terre d'Ange, and he taught me D'Angeline. Before I came here, he explained to me that the people at the mansion are from all different worlds, and that many of them have different names for the same places. Terre d'Ange, he said, corresponds geopolitically with what most people will call 'France'. Does that make sense? It's possible he's mistaken, but I believe the language my father taught me is the same as the language you call French. I simply have no idea which one I speak, of the dialects you just mentioned."

[doesherhomework]

Betty raises an eyebrow. "For whatever similarities it might bear I seriously doubt it can be honestly called French if it's not based on the linguistics of the Romans who settled in Gaul, but you can give it a try if you want." She rummages in the bag and pulls out the court records of a 15th-century Provençal werewolf trial. It's both grim and very dense.

[quicksilverelf]

Celebanthir takes the document and looks over it for a moment. His typist's best guess for D'Angeline is approximately 16th-century French, and Cely is accustomed to reading and translating ancient texts. A cursory glance is more than enough. "You want it translated into English? Shall I make a written copy or just read it for you now?"

[doesherhomework]

"Why don't you try reading it?"

[quicksilverelf]

A quick nod and Ani begins reading. He's accustomed to doing translations for his father, and French is his second language, so he translates swiftly, pausing only occasionally before continuing. He makes no comment whatsoever on the content of the document.

[doesherhomework]

Betty quickly produces a pen and a piece of paper and writes down pertinent information: the names of specific towns and people involved, the names of the children and adults missing, and any activity unusual for a werewolf trial: mentions of foetal cannibalism or virgin violation, for instance, or pacts with the devil or other such supernatural influences.

[quicksilverelf]

Very obedient, Celebanthir continues reading, pausing only if she asks him to repeat something. He stops upon reaching the end, and looks up. "That's all it says. Is there anything else you'd like me to translate?"