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[lastofthebog]

Good afternoon, my fellow imPorts. I've been here for a month now, and I believe it's time for a proper introduction. I was rather overwhelmed on my arrival, as I'm sure we all are, and overlooked doing so then. So, I will begin again, and I will try to answer the questions that I know you will have for me.

I am Galla, and I come from a world that is nothing like this one. I'll save you all time and explain that my world is several hundred years behind this one when it comes to technology. Electricity is unheard of. The industrial revolution has yet to happen, although we do have one or two cities that are quite advanced for our era. One has even begun trying to develop an airship, but I am not sure how the progress on that has gone.

Magic is quite prevalent as well. All of my "powers" are either my own magic, or magic that was gifted to me by my patron Goddess, The Pale Maiden. And yes, Gods and Goddesses are very real, and they will frequently descend to walk among us or offer guidance if we are devoted enough and request it.

The Pale Maiden is a Goddess of...shall way say the natural cycle of life and death? She does not wish for death or an end, but oversees the natural course of things. She is the promise that after tragedy or loss, something new will arise. It is that promise that I am devoted to, and the reason she accepted me.

I was also a leader in my world, but the title and rank I held have no meaning here. Here, I am a Multi Cultural Events Coordinator, and I would like to begin by focusing on the wide array of different cultures that we, as imPorts, come from. So, to begin, I have a question for all of you:

What has been the greatest difference from your home world that you've experienced since coming here? What change has been impossible to ignore?

I have many more questions I would love to ask, but I believe this will make for a fine start.

Comments

[lastofthebog]

Your own enjoyment and satisfaction should be of importance to you.

[d33tached]

[Like he's never heard that one before-- Well, actually. Not nearly as much as he probably should have.]

It's not as if I have some aversion to enjoying myself, but I hardly find doing so necessary to my survival.

[Though, honestly, ask anyone who knows D33 and they would probably say that he definitely has some aversion to enjoying himself.]

[lastofthebog]

It is certainly not necessary at all, but do you find that it impairs your survival to enjoy yourself?

[d33tached]

I suppose that would depend largely on circumstance.

[Underground, for example, showing that he was enjoying himself even a little bit? That could have very certainly meant death if R01 were in the right mood.]

[lastofthebog]

You could begin with considering your circumstances in this moment. Would it cause any problems if you decided to have some fun?

[ Galla, to be honest, can't quite fathom the idea of being so averse to enjoyment. Even growing up in the deadly swamps of her homeland, they'd always found some way to have some fun or find some enjoyment with each other. ]

[d33tached]

It was not my intention to imply that I do not occasionally take part in leisure activities at this juncture, only that I do not use my powers to do so.

[lastofthebog]

Well, that is a relief. You just speak so...clinically about having fun that I did wonder.

[d33tached]

[He doesn't like the word "fun", really.]

I have been told that I speak clinically in regard to most everything. Truly, this is the only manner in which I have ever spoken.

[lastofthebog]

Even among your friends?

[ He wasn't the first person Galla had met to keep up such a formal way of speaking all the time, but it never failed to take her by surprise. Galla herself reverts to much more casual and colloquial speech when she's around good friends. Or when she was mad enough to forget herself. ]

[d33tached]

["Friends". Another word D33's not terribly fond of.]

As I've said, this is truly the only way which I've ever spoken. Honestly, it doesn't seem all that odd to me.

[lastofthebog]

If you say it is, then it is. I suppose that it just always catches me by surprise to find someone who speaks like this both in private and public.

I was raised in a swamp myself, and we're a much cruder lot than this. It took me a great deal of time to hone this style of speaking.

[d33tached]

I have no interest in speaking crudely. Such a thing certainly isn't unheard of where I come from, but I have always found speaking so to be unintelligent if anything.

In this world, I have found it rather refreshing to find others who speak with care. Such a way of speaking suggests a certain level of respect, don't you think?

[lastofthebog]

The way someone speaks has little to do with their intelligence, in my experience. There's a flowery spoken idiot for every shit-tongued fool.

Respect, though... I suppose that depends on the situation. Certainly it would be disrespectful if I spoke crudely to you now that I know your preference, or to someone I just met. But my own people would be offended if I didn't speaks in the common, course tongue of our swamps.

One must know their audience.

[d33tached]

I find it rather strange that any one might find themselves offended by the way that you are speaking now, if you don't mind my saying so.

[And in saying so, he is making a concerted effort to be as polite as possible, because what he's really thinking is, "Your people sound like imbeciles that aren't worth your time".]

It's nothing less than polite, as far as I can tell.

[lastofthebog]

It is polite, but also especially refined.

My people like to talk more casually, like this. Spending all that time thinking about the fanciest way to say something gets fucking exhausting if you haven't spent over a third of your life practicing. And reminding yourself that everyone from the great cities is just going to look at you like a smear of raptor shit for having the fucking gall to swear, so don't swear! And Regulus save me if I forget to hide my God damned accent.

The way in which one chooses to speak shapes so much more than just being able to sound polite. I speak in this manner to ensure that I am taken seriously here. It does not mean that it is my preferred language, and to speak it to my people would set me apart from them in a way that would sting deeply. They need to know I still think myself their equal, and I would be loathe to let them think I am not. They are my heart above all else.

[d33tached]

I see.

[He doesn't, really, and the crudeness that he's just read is disappointing if not a bit disgusting, in his opinion, but he supposes he can at least begin to understand the logic behind what she's saying if he tries hard enough.]

These people that you speak of would feel as though you look down upon them if you speak in a way that is reminiscent of those that do.

Is that correct?

[That, at least, he can wrap his mind around. After all, there are certainly patterns of speech that he himself would react badly to for similar reasons, cursing being one of them.]

[lastofthebog]

That is precisely it. It is a careful balance, holding true to my people and still appearing refined enough to be held in equal regard by our fellow nations.

[d33tached]

I suppose that must be a rather difficult balance to uphold.

[lastofthebog]

It is, but it has been necessary to make the progress for my people that I have.

[d33tached]

You are rather dedicated to these people of yours.

I suppose to some such a thing might appear rather admirable.

[Not that it is to him. He probably should take Galla's advice on learning how to speak to others with actual respect, though, because he certainly doesn't sound like he has any for her right now. What it really comes down to is this - he doesn't trust anyone who claims to lead others.

[Even so, he is rather taken with you, Galla, for whatever reason. Perhaps he'll learn yet that not all leaders are malevolent.]

[lastofthebog]

I did say that they are my heart, did I not? I do not say such things lightly.

Only to some? Is devotion not an admirable quality in your opinion?

[ The lack of respect is difficult to miss, and it's more than a little regretful. She'd enjoyed talking with him before the issue of Gods had come up and changed the nature of their relationship, but she'll just have to work with it, she supposes. ]

[d33tached]

Devotion is a word that covers a multitude of sins.

For some, you see.

[Though he might not admit it, he really doesn't want to think of this woman that way. But, then again, old grudges die hard.]

[lastofthebog]

If I have sinned against my people, then I would hope they strike me down and replace me with someone worthy of them.

However, they have not, nor have they ever tried to.

[ Not to her own people, at least. ]

[d33tached]

Do you suppose they would have the ability to do so if they saw fit?

[Sometimes striking down those in power simply isn't an option - at least, D33 had never truly considered it one. But he'd always been selfish in that way, only thinking of his own liberty with no regard for the other Numbers.]

[lastofthebog]

Absolutely. I am only one woman, and they are a nation.

[ The response comes through almost immediately; no hesitation. ]