001 || video || ota

[sirenspell]

[ There’s a soft click as Esmeralda switches the communicator on, and a few moments of silence as she contemplates it wonderingly - and admiringly! She has never seen technology like this before, but she is completely fascinated. ]

If the light is on, you can see me and hear my voice, right?

[ She examines the device, murmuring to herself sotto

Comments

[video]

[obviousroyal]

[...Princess isn't sure if she likes that smile. All the same...]

I would be more than happy to help. Where do you need to go?

[video]

[sirenspell]

[ She smiles gratefully, fleetingly, as her original question is addressed, before her expression turns thoughtful ]

Oh, anywhere, I suppose. I am completely new and completely unfamiliar...with just about everything, really.

What's the one thing every new person ought to know?

[video]

[obviousroyal]

Probably that the headmaster has an awful sense of humor.

[...She's not kidding.] If I were you, I'd worry more about useless drills and inexplicable magic than anything else.

Also, the ice patch in the middle of the quad. Avoid that.

[video]

[sirenspell]

That is actually incredibly helpful, thank you.

[ She pauses, wondering why the Academy would have drills that were useless, but inwardly marvels that this is the second time someone has brought up magic - real magic, presumably]

That sounds like it has a story behind it. Probably an interesting one, too.

[video]

[obviousroyal]

You are more than welcome.

[No one deserves to freeze in the middle of the night without warning. No one.]

...It is slippery. [And that is ALL she's explaining on that one.]

[video]

[sirenspell]

[Ah. Well. There you have it. Avoid ice that is slippery. It's as good advice as any, really. Esme smoothly moves on to the next question, filing away the provided information for future use. ]

What about the useless drills and inexplicable magic? If it's completely inexplicable, I'll understand, but is there any story behind that?

[video]

[obviousroyal]

The drills make no sense; they have use evacuate out into the quad. When there is real danger, they instruct us to stay inside; if it is really bad, there are bunkers underground they will take us into.

As far as the magic goes, I have only seen it affect other people. [She shrugs a bit.] I am afraid I do not know or understand where the source of it is.

[video]

[sirenspell]

You're right, that doesn't make sense. Unless they find it amusing to watch everyone scramble outside.

Oh, that's all right - really, you've been very helpful, thank you. I feel I have a better idea of what to expect, now. And I haven't even introduced myself yet - I'm Esmeralda.

[video]

[obviousroyal]

I would not put that past the headmaster.

Welcome to the Academy, Esmeralda. I am Jasmine. And good luck with getting situated; I have a feeling you will need it.

[video]

[sirenspell]

[Oh dear. And here she was congratulating herself on adapting so well. Her lips curve into a strange little half-smile.]

It's that obvious, isn't it?

[Well, it's true: she still isn't entirely sure what she's doing, but she'll keep doing it until the pieces connect. And she feels certain that the other girl means well.]

Merci bien, Jasmine.

[video]

[obviousroyal]

A little bit, yes.

[Oh, Jasmine does mean well. She's just... sometimes takes a while to warm up. She's sort of like scented oil, in that sense and scents.]

Er... You are welcome...? [French isn't one of the languages she learned in her time in the Palace; the languages of the Seven Deserts (and English for relations with the western world) took precedence, followed by the other languages of the Middle Kingdom. She's only guessing at this point, and is frankly hoping she guessed right.]

[video]

[sirenspell]

[She could switch languages but all of them are Latin-based? Except English, which is so French-influenced it practically feels like a Romance language.]

Ah...it's a way of politely expressing gratitude in French. De rien means you're welcome.

Do you speak any other languages?

Re: [video]

[obviousroyal]

[English is a Germanic language. The French hate the Germans; hence why there's no hard sounds in French. Alas, those Brits are too cool for school, so they stole words from the French and implemented them.]

Yes; Arabic, Aztec, some Spanish, and some Chinese. It comes with having a future in politics, no matter how much I would rather not.

[video]

[sirenspell]

[It is indeed. But one can't help but notice how many cognate words there are. Thanks, Norman invasion.]

Ah, ¡que buena suerte! We do have a language in common, then. I would like to learn Arabic someday.

[She's a bit awed by the last statement; it's evident in her voice.]

You have a future in politics? [Oh, thou blessed woman, the opportunity and power that is yours...!] How very fortunate you are, then. [How could you not want that?]

Re: [video]

[obviousroyal]

Sí, pero sólo sé un poquito. El Agrabah... er... comercia con España. [Her accent is broken, pronunciation a little off. But hey, it's pretty good for someone who doesn't speak it regularly. Her tutors learned her real good.]

More like sitting on the sideline of politics while my future husband makes all the decisions. But it was part of my tutoring growing up. [Women? Have a say in the law in Agrabah? HA. HA. YOU'RE FUNNY.]

[video]

[sirenspell]

[Oh...oh. This, she understands. A double-sided blessing. Education without the means to apply it. Privilege without power.

She's really sorry for you, but she doesn't want to assume closer confidence with you than she actually has, and she doesn't want you to think she's patronizing you. So she simply says, in a heartfelt tone -]

I am sorry, Jasmine.