video; un: polaris

[anbaric]

[ asriel has been described as an imposing figure, and the harsh lighting in this place does nothing to dispel that. it's a spacious room, and what light there is seems swallowed by the darkness of the shadows. the lamp on the desk beside him provides most of what there is, and it also illuminates the mess of books and papers he did not bother to tidy before making this.

his snow leopard daemon sits calm and still at his side, all except for her tail sweeping back and forth. there are the sounds of ravens chattering nearby unseen, but as the cat seems more attentive to asriel, they don't seem to be the cause of her anticipation. ]

I am Lord Asriel Belacqua. Few of you will know me, as I only recently found myself in this world, which is why I am here now.

For various reasons, I am interested in the pthumerians, but my research will take time and is more limited in some areas than I would like. I would rather hear it from the rest of you since the people alive here right now are more relevant than the opinions of authors who may no longer be with us. Do you consider them friends or foes? What role does their presence play in your lives? Do you approve of their influence on you? Consider me taking a neutral stance, so all sides have value; if it is worth mentioning, I would hear of it.

[ it's intended to be some encouragement to those who might wonder if their information isn't important enough (because it is), but asriel being asriel means it comes out sounding more like a command. ]

You needn't answer all the questions either, just whatever you like.

[ yes, the snow leopard talks too, but stelmaria's manner manages to be gentler, at least. ]

Given the implications of the illness problem, now seems an appropriate time for an exchange of information, don't you think?

Comments

text | un: boneadept

[necrosaint]

[ after some consideration, Harrow seems to have decided she'll say something but not show her full hand--it is likely what Gideon the First would have done, and what Anastasia would have done, too. and so it is what she does. but much as she will not show her hand, she won't show her face. ]


I am sure it is a pleasure, Lord Belacqua. My name is Lady Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the House of the Ninth.

Never Mind and I have become friends, of a sort, and I am working to find a way to assuage his ... condition. I cannot speak to most of the others, though I have yet to find that any of them need be defined specifically as foe.

[ Mariana probably thinks Harrow is foe, but Harrow doesn't reciprocate! ]

Private | un: Athena

[slightlytaller]

Hi, boneadept. Reverend Daughter Harrowhark Nonagesimus.

He's sleeping right now, but I have a note to pass forward from Lord El Melloi II:

'Duty has suggested that we collaborate regarding his research. Apologies for not touching base beforehand. You're welcome to any and all data collected on this matter.'

You're a hard person to get a hold of, but he's not good at reaching out, either.

infiniprivate~

[necrosaint]

Oh This is acceptable to me, yes. I will certainly share my annotations.

One could say I am poor at reaching out as well, and would be correct. Have no concern.

infiniprivate~

[slightlytaller]

Oh, I'm not concerned.

Call me Alexandria. I'm just putting together the connections that the Lord Professor over thinks about. Given the patterns, I don't expect to be here long.

It'll be enough to just put the time I've got to good use.

Did you want to keep using that drop off by the lake that you suggested before, or have you changed your location again?

[anbaric]

That sounds like impressive credentials, Lady Nonagesimus, but you'll forgive me if I am unfamiliar with the institution.

[ this would be his first encounter with anyone necromancy-adjacent.

the ravens somewhere out of frame get louder. they probably know what's up. asriel's work used to require him to secret himself away beyond the reach of the law, but here he is content with the state of things in Gaze. ]

Never Mind's condition concerns me and motivates me to learn what I can as quickly as I can. The loss of so much knowledge would be a disaster from which I do not think this world would recover.

[ so maybe that's admitting his bias, but whatever Never Mind is, what the pthumerian represents is too important to him. ]

private

[necroprince]

Does our Necrolord know you've apparently replaced him with an oversized pigeon?