ataraxion | video

[sophie is holding the comm too close to her face, so it isn't all visible at once--it's a pair of pale eyes, a mass of dark hair, the sort of sharp cheekbones acquired from poor diet. the camera wobbles and then settles into place just far enough away to get her entire face, and the glimpse of a dark room behind her. the only light in the room is coming entirely from the comm. when she speaks, her accent is lilting and her voice is low.]

So I have discovered that the light comes from lightning channeled through metal wires in the walls. [that might explain the darkness around her.] Which is quite clever, truly. But it doesn't answer my question of how technology differs from sorcery, except in that people seem to believe in one or the other. Is technology simply an aspect of sorcery that has not yet been discovered where I am from? While difficult to believe, I suppose even my father could not have known everything.

[a pause, and she pushes her hair back from her face. it's clearly a nervous gesture.]

Also, how many of you have come here alone? It seems many are in familiar company with others from their homes, but I believe I have arrived unaccompanied. Not that this is an unusual situation, but still...

...Groeneveldts?

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Ah- be careful, if you do?

[He frowns a bit.]

You shouldn't go too far alone.

[it's kind of...sweet, that he's worried about her. sophie can't really recall a time that someone was genuinely concerned for her safety, not since she was fifteen and manfred found the devil upon her.]

I don't exactly have a company to run with. But I won't be foolish. Dying here would be less than ideal.

I'm joining the Security team.

[Pointedly.]

If you plan on going too far, let me know and I'll accompany you.

[there's a moment, just a tiny one, where she looks surprised. but then it's gone, and she offers another little smile.]

Very well. I shall let you know when so we may go together.

[sophie is, at least, fairly confident that she'll be able to protect him if it turns out he needs protecting. one never does know with these things.]

That would put me at ease, thank you.

[He smiles easy, offering her a slight nod.]

They generally recommend teams of four... but you don't strike me as the type of person who enjoys grouping up.

[she's really just humoring him (watch that ego, sophie), but the easy smile makes her give one in return. his next comment widens it a fraction.]

You're quite observant. I've become rather used to running alone.

Running from what?

[Gentle, curious. He's not stupid and he's added up enough to know that direct questioning isn't going to be well received. So he just asks in a way that can be deferred, interested but not interrogating.]

I could give you some romantic answer, like 'many things, each more dangerous than the last'...

[which is not, technically, entirely untrue, but it sounds ridiculous.]

...but really, no. Just...in general. I've lived alone, hunted alone, fought alone...that sort of thing. Proprevalles isn't the safest forest to make one's home, but I've managed all right.

I'd prefer to avoid cryptic answers.

[He's dealt too much with mages and outlaws and Orlesian nobles in his time to really have the patients for people not saying what they really mean. Still, Cullen says it with a smile, appreciating the fact that she'd clarified without prompting.]

You lived in a forest?