voice.

[tagential]

[There's not much to hear in the background when Edwon starts recording. It's quiet, deliberately so, making him easy to hear. And when he speaks, it's with an imperial British accent.]

I've recently arrived, and I have a couple of questions. First: Are there really no stars?

Normally I'd be able to sense them - I'm Miraluka, so I don't have eyes - but here there's nothing. And I can feel the heat from a local sun, but as far as I can tell, it's not actually in the sky.

[He sounds really confused, though he's been doing enough digging to both know that the sun is in its rightful place, and to have some idea as to why he can't sense it. He just wants to know how people react to this.]

And so far I've only run into Humans. Are there really no other species here?

Comments

[adamantlyardent]

In my defense, when one says "I don't have eyes," it's hard to know whether to take that literally or metaphorically here. There are a lot of oddities that go unspoken...some of them attributed to humans, so those who aren't don't stand out as much as you would think. I can't count how many times I've been mistaken for human, and considering the curve of your ears? You'll probably get a lot of that, too.

[tagential]

I like to think that metaphorically, my eyes are better than most.

[Is he teasing? Definitely. Does that translate well over text? No, and he doesn't care.]

Humans often don't pay much attention to other species, so I'm not surprised. Though it can be a problem once they do notice.

[ooc: also his post was audio only so she wouldn't have noticed his ears but no worries!!]

[adamantlyardent]

[WELP REDACT THAT]

You keep bouncing back and forth between saying you DO or DON'T have eyes. Which is it?

[tagential]

[REDACTED]

Physically I don't have eyes.

[adamantlyardent]

So they're eyes of the mind, then?

[tagential]

Something like that. Call it a superpower, if you prefer.

[adamantlyardent]

The term leaves a poor taste in my mouth; it makes a novelty out of inherent traits and newly-born abilities alike.

[tagential]

It implies that there's a baseline when it comes to physical capabilities and senses, one that should remain constant across all species. And of course, Humanity is used to create that baseline. I can see why you wouldn't like it.

[adamantlyardent]

Honestly, I kind of expected to be rebuked for being pedantic -- that seems to be the way most like to respond to my thoughts. I appreciate the thoughtfulness.

[tagential]

It's not pedantic if you're right. The rhetoric surrounding imPorts doesn't seem to benefit actual imPorts at all.

[adamantlyardent]

[give her a moment to revel in someone telling her she's right without a drop of insincerity.

at least, she hopes it's sincere.

gods please let it be sincere.]

In that case, how would you categorize the abilities inherent or acquired by the strangers to this world?

[tagential]

[Almost entirely sincere, which is the best anyone can hope for with him, no matter what the topic is, so!]

If they're inherent, then they're just abilities. If there's nothing else those abilities have in common, you might be better off categorizing by species. If they're acquired, then categorize them by how they're acquired, such as mutations, or nanite powers.

[adamantlyardent]

[after a (smaller) delay:] Would that the Porter saw fit to bring more people with sensibilities like yours...this place would be a touch more palatable.

[tagential]

[he's pretty sure his sensibilities would horrify most people, but -]

Then I apologize for arriving so late.

[adamantlyardent]

[he's eloquent and has a brain and has typed in proper sentences: THE BAR IS VERY LOW TO IMPRESS HER RIGHT NOW.]

Forgiven.
What may I address you as? Simply the name the Network has you listed as?

[tagential]

[Technically he's talking in proper sentences. Voice-to-text, so he can't even take credit for the spelling.]

Call me Edwon. And what's your name?

[adamantlyardent]

Cecelia.
A pleasure.

[tagential]

The pleasure is all mine, Cecilia.

[adamantlyardent]

[polite...conversation...it's been so long!!!]

How kind. Civility devoid of cynicism is in such short supply on this network, to the point I nearly regret any instance I merely LOOK at it. How glad I am I bothered today.

[tagential]

[Being accused of a lack of cynicism... It's funny to him, even if she has no reason to think otherwise.]

Now that won't do. I'll do my best to provide better conversation from now on. What kinds of opinions do people usually end up sharing?

[adamantlyardent]

I admit to not frequenting enough to know the trends outside of my own postings. I typically get jeered or accused of being a nitpick, which doesn't really make for much by way of conversation, does it? Even when I'm attempting to be helpful, my flaws seem to become the prime topic. If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not find myself back on the same path here.
Perhaps there's something else worthwhile I can answer. Ask away.

[tagential]

[That's fine, he can always go back and read what she's been talking about on the network... Which he's the kind of guy to do anyway. He's curious!]

Then I won't bring it up. The last thing I'd want is to remind you of something unpleasant.

How long have you been here?

[adamantlyardent]

[after a delay:] A year and a half, give or take some days. It was a chilly, winter season when I arrived, and this is the second summer I'm living through here.

[tagential]

That's a long time. Has it been difficult to adapt?

[adamantlyardent]

Yes.
But I historically make things difficult for myself, so I won't tell you that it'll be such a trial for you; you may be much more comfortable with the noise and pollution levels, for one thing.