video | 01

[pharmaka]

[ For a brief moment after the camera flickers on, Circe appears uncertain, and then her expression at once resolves into a calm, unstirred facade, cool as a plane of water. She has unglamorous auburn hair set back in a tousled braid, eyes of an odd, subtly gold sheen, and a plain, even voice. ]

Well. I do not know whether it is for the better that most of the plants and animals and the like are familiar to me here. It would surely be a better preoccupation than what I was assigned, to acquaint myself with the local wildlife, so perhaps I will do it nonetheless. It has been made clear to me that there is an almost impossibly large amount of land to be seen.

Given I am unfamiliar with travel and with this country, I thought I would seek suggestions. In particular... [ a short pause ] I find I miss the sea. I had heard of deserts, but they are not so lovely a place to live as they are to hear tales of. And the same can be said of cities of men.

[ That is it. She says nothing about the confusion, the mingled hope and fear, that all this freedom and newness has set about in her. She is quite possibly the only divine being here. It is impossible to tell. Is that her father, keeping eye on her in the sky? If it is, she doubts he is about to say hello. In some respects she is as alone as she ever was.

In others... There are more people, more mortals, and more land than she has ever given thought to in her long life. It is thrilling and terrifying at the same time, and Circe dares to betray as little of it as she can manage. ]

Comments

[pharmaka]

Which I suppose takes more travel. I suspect I will get there eventually. I had not imagined my assigned residence to be somewhere so... loud.

[codeofiron]

[He nods. He likes the noise, more often than not, but not everyone will. And what was that she had said at first? "Cities of men"? Hmm.]

They always put us in cities. But you should be able to go anywhere in the country.

[pharmaka]

Ah-- what freedom. How improbable that seems to me. Is there not a war?

[codeofiron]

[Well, in theory. He lifts one shoulder in a shrug.] Nothing's happened this year.

[Though-] There are certain countries we can't go to.

[pharmaka]

No battles in a whole year? Is this a war of pride rather than of swords?

[ It seems only natural there are places they are not welcome. No one is welcome everywhere. ]

[codeofiron]

[That's...not a bad way of putting it. There was war a few years ago, he's learned, but everything he's seen since his arrival indicates a quiet rivalry. At least currently. There's something similar back home.

He shrugs, adding a nod.]

More or less.

[pharmaka]

[ Circe makes a scornful, dismissive noise, more of an exhale of breath. ]

I fear I will never understand such posturing. It speaks of a terrible ignorance for those lives that are trampled under their pride.

[codeofiron]

[He's still for a few moments, thoughtful.]

At least it's just posturing, now.

[pharmaka]

And has been for some time, you said? Should we expect that to continue?

[codeofiron]

I don't know. [The war's a bit strange to follow, maybe because it's mostly in retrospect.]

There are other problems.

[pharmaka]

Of what kind? It seems wise to know my dangers in advance.

[codeofiron]

[He considers. But really, there's one that matters the most.] There's a group called the OTO. They've been mounting attacks against imPorts.

[pharmaka]

What dispute do they have with us?

[codeofiron]

Our presence here. [That's clear from their actions this year. Though-] Because of the powers, I think.

[pharmaka]

Lachesis does not make herself known, and I have heard of no other gods in this place, [ Circe muses. ] I suppose that would make mortals much afraid and unfamiliar with unearthly powers.

[codeofiron]

...You're used to gods?

[He looks slightly alarmed. Brandon's adjusted, to some extent at least, to the higher levels of technology here and in the universes some other imPorts come from. Magic and the mythological, though, are still harder to understand. ("Mortals" - she doesn't count herself as one, then?)]

[pharmaka]

I should think so. I am one.

[ Circe says this comfortably, as an unremarkable fact. Already she has grown used to the freedom with which she can say that here. Not to say she doesn't get reactions, but nothing has indicated she should try to hide even if that were feasible. Which it isn't -- she keeps getting recognized. ]

[codeofiron]

[Oh. Well, she's not the first. But it's not something you really anticipate.]

From where?

[She seems different from Cassandra and Woden, at least. Much less...modern.]

[pharmaka]

[ Definitely less modern. ]

From the island of Aiaia, primarily, but most here seem to interpret me as 'ancient Greek'. [ It doesn't seem accurate to her, but it makes people less confused about her origins, so that's good enough. ]

[codeofiron]

[That...actually explains a lot of the post, doesn't it?

He's thoughtful for a few moments.]

You might want to talk to Petyr Baelish.

[pharmaka]

For what reason would I speak with them?

[codeofiron]

He's from a world with less technology. [Not ancient Greece, of course. But it might be easier, to get explanations from someone whose world is a little closer in those terms.]

[pharmaka]

So we... may commiserate? Is that the thinking?

[ She's not scornful, Circe's more bemused someone would think to suggest it to her. She's been a hermit far too long. ]

[codeofiron]

He could explain things better.

[pharmaka]

Ah, that does make sense. You think he would be receptive to being such a guide? I fear it may be tedious.