A Breton Amongst Dremora
Lord Dagon gave her a piercing look. "I do not require thanks for doing that which only makes sense. Mortals use such courtesies, I realize, because almost everything they do for each either is regarded as either an investment of time and resources, or it is seen as ungrateful to not say so. We do these things because we are the Kyn, and there is support for one another." He left it at that, but Dianne got the impression that he was saying that mortals attached way too much importance amongst themselves to the concepts of gratitude and reciprocity, whereas Dremora shared openly and without regard for such things, because they were all family. It went without saying that things, both tangible and intangible, would be given. As for the situation at hand, it didn't quite apply, but essentially, she grasped he was telling her "It is no discourtesy to not thank one of us for something that is merely a logical course of action."
Not for the first time, Dianne wondered at how Dremora culture and ways could make so much more snese than those of mortals. She sipped more of her drink.
"From where, exactly, do you hail?" he asked her abruptly.
There was no sense in playing it off. dianne took a deep breath. "Everyone has assumed, my lord, due to my size and appearance, that I am a Breton. So I have presented as such. I'm not from Tmariel. I've only ever been there a handful of times. My world... I guess you'd say it's in another dimension. All just humans there. No magic, no Daedra, no animals except th normal, every day, boring stuff. It's a pretty boring place. I guess it can be really pretty, especially in the wilderness, but overall, it just sucks."
He raised a brow and his lips quirked slighly at her assessment. "How did you come to be here?"
"In truth, I'm still not one hundred percent sure. I was at a really low point in my life. I wanted to die... but somehow, I kept finding the strength to lug myself through one day after the other after the other. I went for a walk, found this weird portal thingy, and just went through. In honesty, my lord, I figured one of two thing would happen. Either I'd die, and be free of a miserable life, or I'd end up somewhere better, and again, free of a miserable life."
He ndoded to her. "Very well. And how do you find being here/"
"Far better than my life stuck on shi-- boring, dreadful Earth was." She wasn't sure if swearing in front of the mightiest of all Daedra Princes was a good idea. "It's fascinating. For the first time ever, I feel like my presence is wanted. Not everyone thinks I'm wonderful, some people are still pretty suspicious of me, I think, but mostly, I've been treated like anyone else but still expected to prove myself, not just treated like a goddess in a bad fanfiction story."
"hmm." He mulled over her words. "It's good to know that you feel others have been fair and reasonable with you. Whom do you think still regards you with suspicion?"
"Well, your Markynaz seems highly doubtful of me, but I guess I can't blame him. some of the older, higher-ranked Dremora in Prince Daeinde's realm, though again, it just makes sense. I think if I were an ageless entity, and my liege were suddenly treating this little mortal girl like she was one of them, I might be grumpy, too. I was thinking of High Librarian Gothraz, for one. He always gives me the stink-eye and talks to me like I was just spawned."
Prince Daeinde chuckled. "to be fair, he talks with everyone below Kynreeve rank like that. His books are his life, and he defends them accordingly."
Lord Dagon smiled. "then it seems that all is in line with what I would expect. You are not being mistreated nor unduly elevated." He studied her a moment in silence. "I suggest learning more of Tamriel. Get out there, learn all you can. Visit some of our shrines. Prince Daeinde's, as well as mine. Learn the mortal perspectives, as well as our own. I do not say this idly. Seeing things from both sides will give you a strong sense of who you are, and who you might be."
"How so, my lord?"
"You are full of questions. In this situation, that is not displeasing. You obviously have a brain, despite what mortals where you are from may have taught you. Do as I command. Travel, and learn. Your experiences and reactions will provide more understanding in this situation. If there is someone willing to go with you, take them along. I will order it so, if need be, as you should nto go alone."
"Yes, my lord. Are there places you would wish me to see in particular?" She finished her drink.
"I hear that Morrowind is lovely this time of year. I would start there." He nodded to Prince Daeinde, indicating that the meeting was over." Prince Daeinde stood up, and Dianne did the same. They paid their respects, then were seen out.
She gave Daeinde an uncertain look. "I'm... not sure how that went."
"You've been given a quest, Dianne," Prince Daeine said to her. "And you're still alive. He even smiled. I'd say you did very well."