third light ∞ video IN WHICH ELIKA IS VERY LONG-WINDED

[duty]

[Elika's writing diligently in neat but flowing handwriting, her eyes darting back and forth between what she's writing and the broadcast.]

Bear with me, I'm going to talk a lot in a moment. [whatever she was working on, she finishes and closes the notebook.]

So, I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to help me with a census. The names of everyone here, where they come from, what language they speak, what House they're in and with what power... More besides, if we wanted. There's no purpose to it except knowledge and curiosity. If there's anyone actively trying to find a way home, it would be available to them if they wish to look for patterns or whatever. [she waves a hand impatiently] I won't lie and say it's not for my own curiosity as well. I'd like to see what patterns there are, if any - and I wouldn't mind just keep tracking of how many people are here in general and how we've been disbursed among the Houses.

[there's a smirk and a dry tone as she adds:] The biggest problem with a census is tracking those not willing to participate. Though I'm perfectly willing to just have a margin of error and not really worry about it, considering this, again, doesn't have much purpose besides killing a few cats.

Of course, there could be more practical applications - finding out who has any medical or healing knowledge or ability. I know Sigyn has an actual healing power and there's the hospital as well, but I think it would be useful to know if there's anyone nearby in the case of an emergency, so that immediate medical attention can be given until the injured person in question can be moved to the hospital or a Sigyn healer can arrive. Zen has a small clinic set up in the Heimdall House, and I think it might not hurt to have similar setups in the other Houses.

I'll probably also like to make packages of information for easy reference for newcomers, with addendums for those who arrive from special circumstances. [she spreads her hands, a smirk drawing across her features] I definitely would have appreciated one on "electricity" when I arrived, so I figured I should make it a little easier for anyone else like me who didn't have this kind of technology.

I'd appreciate any suggestions or recommendations. Help, too, if you're interested.

Comments

[duty]

Nakama. [the language is strange to her, but it's a nice sound nonetheless] I like it.

Actually, we'd probably want as much detail as possible. Depending on how culture grows in this city, there's no knowing what information will be useful.

1/2

[whatagoodgirl]

Oh - um, thank you. Sometimes, in Japanese, you can take the first two syllables of the family name and the first of the given name and make a word of it, and that can make a nickname. Like 'Naka' from Nakarai and 'Ma' from Mako makes Nakama, which is its own word. Or my friend Kodaka Masaru, who became Kodama, a forest spirit.

2/2

[whatagoodgirl]

[And then she's blushing, Elika probably didn't want a lecture on the nicknaming practices of her country.]

Sorry.

Well... I can talk about day-to-day life, stuff like that.

[duty]

[SO MUCH SMILING]

Don't be sorry! I love hearing about different cultures and languages.

[whatagoodgirl]

Oh. [She smiles back just a little, shyly.] Well, 'Nakama' is an important concept in Japanese - it means your closest friends... or allies, really. Sort of like a second family.

[duty]

Then it doesn't just have a nice sound, but a nice meaning as well.

[whatagoodgirl]

Yeah. [Softly.] I like it. That's the first thing a friend ever gave me - that nickname.

[duty]

So there's a whole story to it?

[whatagoodgirl]

It's not very long. I just went to this Nature School last summer... it's a bit like a camp, except with assignments and homework and such... like an extra-curricular class crossed with a summer camp. And when we got there, the teacher suggested that we give each other nicknames as a sort of bonding thing.

[If you read between the lines, that means she got her first gift from a friend one summer ago. Which may seem a bit sad.]

[duty]

[so many words are weird to her but Elika more or less gets the idea]

They were kind to give you such a nice one, and not one you could be teased for.

[whatagoodgirl]

[She doesn't mention that the name itself was probably a subtle jab at her, just nods.]

The teacher didn't let us use any mean names. It was supposed to be a positive thing, like a bonding experience.