riverview | 1 [@necromantica:video]

[Letha's confusion over this new technology is clear from the first moment of the video. She's turned on the camera facing away from her, showing her desk full of neatly organized piles of paper, all forms with neat cursive scrawled across them. The angle is skewed, camera shaky, and she keeps moving it as she tries to figure out the device.]

There's absolutely nothing like this in my world...

[Sure, she'd tried very hard to follow the orientation instructions, but she's handling it much like a grandmother with her first smartphone. She finally gets it turned around, but that just gives viewers a worm's eye view of her shocked face as she sees the unflattering angle and turns it back around to her desk.]

If only I could write on these, it would be so much simpler. Well, anyway. Can anyone hear me? I thought it might be prudent to contact this 'network'... and see if anyone who understands these... inventions better than me could lend me a hand.

[Go easy on her, she's never even seen a telephone or typewriter before.]

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[The implication fortunately misses Roy by some distance, leaving him arching an eyebrow in confusion at what is, for him, a question completely devoid of context.]

Uh, no? My name is Roy Greenhilt, and I'm an adventurer, and incidentally a perimeter guard here.

Oh! Forgive me, that was improper to assume.

[Back in her world, she's only seen a handful of people with darker skintones, and they were always helping traders with the heavy lifting. She's always just sort of assumed it was a tan from working outside.

She clears her throat and moves past it awkwardly.]

My name is Letha Regis, I was a housewife back in my world. I've taken a job as a clerk here.

[Which she's pretty sure puts her at a lower ranking than him... and that has her clearly embarrassed at her mistake.]

[Oh, Roy doesn't think his skintone is anything special. It runs in his family, after all.]

[Ba-dum-tish.]

I'd noticed you a couple of times. If you'll forgive me for saying so, you seem -- less inclined to a life of some hardship than many of us who've come here. [He hopes he's putting that delicately enough to not be offensive. He isn't trying to be by any means.] Not that you're the only one in that camp, but... Well, I did want to make certain you were adjusting.

Oh. Yes. I was a noblewoman back in my world.

[It's sort of obvious from her own skintone... she's probably spent a total of seven minutes in direct sunlight throughout her whole life.]

Honestly, I'm somewhat grateful to be expecting when I came to this world. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to put on a corset without the aid of my maids.

[A noblewoman who identifies as a housewife? That's interesting, at least in Roy's experience. Actually reasonably humble for the position. It speaks well of her, in his opinion.]

[Although... he frowns slightly, running a finger of his chin in thought.] It might scandalize you, but I have the impression that corsets are not necessarily fashion mandates here.

I had noticed that...

[She tips her head to the side as she considers the ups and downs of this.]

I suppose I'm not one to argue if it's become fashionable to breathe in public. Although... women here do look a bit more... full-bodied.

Their looks work no worse for them than yours does for you. [Still going for those very diplomatic answers. But honestly, there's room enough for all types here.] I think we have bigger concerns than fashion at the moment, though. Those storms recently were pretty severe.

Indeed...

[She's about to make yet another thoughtless remark, about how it might be fruitful to collect any corpses left by the storm, but she manages to bite her tongue and take a better approach. For once.]

I don't suppose there's anything I could do to aid with the recovery. I can't think of any skills that would be of use. [At least, not without outcasting her. She's already had enough negative reactions for blurting out her necromancy skills.]

[Yes, we may need to wait on that revelation just a bit.]

[Roy raises his free hand to wave off her offer. Not that it isn't appreciated, but...] The city needs clerks to run the same way it needs people to watch the walls. So long as you do your part, you're contributing.

What I was getting at, and I certainly don't mean to imply that you're in any way incapable of taking care of yourself, but in regards to your condition I wanted to make sure you were well-taken care of. Proper nutrition and so forth.

Well.. I won't lie, I have little experience with living on my own. I'm not above accepting aid if you're offering it.. [She hesitates briefly.] I'm eating for two, if you understand, and I would hate to go hungry.

Yes, that's -- what I was worried about. [This is awkward. Navigating the minefield of sincere concern without being disrespectful is difficult.]

[Still very necessary, though.] I'd be very happy to help, honestly. I have a sister about your age, and if she ever ended up in a situation like this, I'd want to know someone was looking out for her if she needed it.

[And hell, Julia might actually even need it. Not for precisely the same reasons, but his little sister is... hmm, more like their father than Roy is, in a sort of 'entirely unprepared for a normal life' sort of way. And not ready to adventure seriously quite yet.]

I'm sure my husband would like to know I was well taken care of, as well.

[Even if he'd never admit it, hard-shelled hooligan that he is.]

I'm sure I seem sheltered to everyone here... my maids were in charge of bathing me, dressing me, making my bed and making my meals. The communal halls here have quite advanced baths, but caring for myself.. is an adjustment.

It isn't fair of anyone to expect you to know what you have no reason to know. [Roy certainly doesn't know how to cook, for example, and that isn't even a skill he had no reason to pick up.] If you were whining and telling us all that such duties are beneath you, then people would have cause to complain -- but you're willing to work and learn, and that's what counts.

A lady never complains.

[She holds her head high at this - she's had it veritably beaten into her head that no one really cares if she's upset over something she can fix. Or something she can't.]

I've tried keeping my bed tidy and I can dress myself fine, but I'm still not sure exactly how one gets food without requesting it from a maid. The entire concept is a bit above my head.

[Food just kind of... happens. She's never had to worry about what happens before it ends up on her plate.]

I have no idea to cook either... I always hit up taverns or eat rations out on the trail. But given that we have communal living, it would be pretty easy to see if someone else will cook for you, I think? [He can't imagine any reasonable person saying no.]

I'd hate to impose... I'm not a noble here and I can't think of any reason they would have to feed me.

Basic human decency.

[Roy has seen good and bad in the world in great measure. Maybe more bad than good, but he still believes in good, and in people's capacity to live up to its standards.]

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask... even if I don't believe decency is a basic skill.

[At least, she doesn't know many people who are very good at it.]

If you assume decency in everyone, you'll often be disappointed. But if you don't assume decency, you'll often make that assumption self-fulfilling.

[And you know, personal beliefs and morality and so forth.]

1 [@necromantica:video]

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