Video/Action; pretend this was posted at a normal hour

[inafadingcrown]

[The video feed flips on, focusing (after a few seconds of jostling around) on Galadriel, sitting on the steps of the Initiative Hold, her sheathed sword beside her. Having just finished training, she’s attired appropriately, wearing a simple dress and with her hair braided and wound about her head- displaying those pointed ears quite prominently for those who might have missed them before.]

I grow weary of the constant grey here. It is overlong since I have heard a running stream or seen the sunlight filtered through the forest canopy.

Tell me, those of you who have journeyed outside this city: does greenery yet remain in this world? It would do my heart well even to hear of it.

Comments

[video]

[wolfmd]

[The man onscreen is twitchy, almost like an animal kept in a too-small cage that is feeling the urge to run and burn off energy. His hair is braided so that it falls over his ears, and the glasses might not hide the way his eyes shine when they catch the light at the right angle from elf eyes.]

There is some, but it's nothing like... like the forests of my home. There are animals and plantlife but this whole land feels sick.

[inafadingcrown]

[She watches him carefully, noting all the little oddities, but her tone remains unchanged.]

You feel it also.

[wolfmd]

Yes, and-- [He stops, because revealing his senses isn't a good idea.] It makes my skin crawl. Everything is wrong. What did these people do to their home?

[Even as he asks, he can guess, and it's both saddening and frustrating.]

[inafadingcrown]

War, I would wager, though of a different kind than of which I know. [And, of course, she's still watching him while she's speaking. Not Elven, certainly. But humans are not wont to notice such things.]

[wolfmd]

I have a feeling I do know. [He shudders visibly.] I never thought anyone would actually...

[He doesn't complete that sentence, looking troubled and suddenly lost in his thoughts.]

[inafadingcrown]

[Her voice grows softer] You need not speak of it, if you do not wish to.

[wolfmd]

[He nods at that, relieved.]

Thank you. It's not something I even want to think of. We might have to... but I hope not.

[inafadingcrown]

Might I ask your name? [She's curious. Curious about many things. But names are a good place to start.]

[wolfmd]

Isaac. Dr. Isaac Hunter. It's a pleasure to meet you... Ah, may I have yours?

[inafadingcrown]

The pleasure is mine, Dr. Hunter. I am the Lady Galadriel.

[wolfmd]

[He dips his head a little, not quite sure how to react to the Lady part.]

If you want to, I could show you the nearest wild place. It's not much, and it's far out, but if you miss nature, it might help to see it.

[inafadingcrown]

[A little smile] I would enjoy that. For the moment my attention is required here, but perhaps when things are more settled.

[wolfmd]

Probably for the best. Finding a clean enough spot will take more than one day, so it'll be an undertaking.

On foot at a walking pace, anyway.

[inafadingcrown]

Now that you speak of such things, it is somewhat strange that I have seen no horses in my time here- though I suppose I mark myself as "old fashioned" again with the thought.

[wolfmd]

You're right. I haven't seen any either.

[His brow furrows. Now that he's thinking about it, it does seem strange. He's used to cities being all cars and bikes and very few animals, but he's seen much less machine transport here than at home. Even out in the more sparsely populated places he's visited. Why haven't they gone back to riding animals instead?]

It didn't seem that strange at first, but there aren't many options for travel here so why would they not make up for the lack?

[The next thought follows naturally but disturbs him a lot.]

Maybe they don't have a choice because there aren't any.

[inafadingcrown]

A most disheartening thought; I will hope for all our sakes that you are wrong.

[wolfmd]

Me too.

[For a few moments he's quiet, with nothing else to say.]

Well, dwelling on what ifs isn't going to help.