shatterverse | (no subject)

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A week ago, there was a flash somewhere in America, and Radiant Jen Zi was snatched from the temple at Dirge, with Death's Hand in tow, and deposited in the Shatterverse. There was confusion, anger and some degree of fascination.

They've been travelling, following Death's Hand's vague sense of a cluster of people, and are now just about approaching the Cooper farmstead.

"Our first priority is to find somebody who knows what's going on. Try not to scare them." Jen Zi remarks to Death's Hand as they approach, who just looks ominous and looming in response.

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...what.

What.

WHAT.

Also, what.

O_o

Blink. Blink.

This is not the first time Jen Zi has encountered a double of herself. The last time, though, it was the physical manifestation of a formless and unspeakable abomination from some far off dimension, and that just doesn't seem to apply here.

Death's Hand ... The mask makes it difficult to tell, but he's not reeling in shock, at least.

WTFWTF.

Okay, time to try out her rudimentary English skills!

"You... human," she says, gesturing to Jen Zi. "But me. But... not... me. Not Solid." The word somehow has the feel of a title.

"What...?"

There was going to be a question after that, but she lets it sit, lacking the vocabulary to express her astonishment.

Jen Zi blinks again. Turns to Death's Hand. He doesn't respond.

"I am sorry. I do not speak the language of the Mysterious East." Slowly, with lots of gesturing.

(Of course, she's speaking ancient Chinese.)

...First Light, not another language barrier.

Johri throws up her hands in clear defeat and shakes her head.

Jen Zi looks sympathetic. It's time to put those Spirit Monk powers to the test, she supposes.

She raises one hand, approaching, slowly. Better not to scare Johri away.

Johri goes !?, but doesn't move away.

It's a technique that, like most Spirit Monk abilities, was designed for use in shepherding the dead - It's easier to calm a spirit if you aren't talking in a foreign tongue, after all. Still, the effect is much the same on the living.

One hand is laid against Johri's forehead, and there's a momentary flicker of light as Jen Zi observes and mimics the language she was just speaking. It takes another moment for this knowledge to be passed over to Death's Hand through their bond.

"Greetings." Slowly.

Bzuh.

"Hello," she says, in the same careful clearly-foreign English as before. "I am Johriel. You are...?"

"Radiant Jen Zi." Carefully. "This is Death's Hand."

"A delightful name, and entirely suitable," she snarks in Isshiiri.

Back to English: "Pleasant to meet you."

Jen Zi may not be able to figure out what she's saying, but she can tell that there is snarking going on. She gets a flat look.

Mildly: "And you too. Where is this place?"

"It... here is? --Is here?"

Helpless flaily hands.

"I am not skilled in English yet."

Jen Zi mutters something in Tho Fan.

"Who is here?" Pause. "What people?"

"Is Jack here. Is pirate Jack. Friend." Frustrated noise. "Teach... English me." Scowl. "Is many other also. Ish, with grey like me, but not Solid. And more. Eights more-- tens? Many people."

This is deeply confusing on several levels.

"Huh."

"Work your strange not-song with a language I actually speak," suggests a frustrated Johri. "I know much about this place, but I cannot tell you an eighth part of it with the knowledge of English that I have."

There may be a long suffering sigh from Jen Zi, but she gets the picture. There's a hand to Johri's forehead again.

"Right. Now tell me?"

Nod.

"There are many people at this farm. Perhaps four eights and four. I know Jack, who is a pirate, and teaches me English. It is the language spoken by most here. I know Ish, who is without colour like me, but is different. There is also Mel, who has hair of many bright colours and organizes things, though she does not own the land. I do not know who does."

"I see. You do not speak the language of the Empire or its surrounding countries. The language you were speaking before sounded like that of the Mysterious East, though - Do you know where we are? Where do you come from?"

"I am from... elsewhere. I have no way to describe my home in terms of this place, nor the other way around. They are different worlds."

"I see." That's slightly troubling news.

Helpfully: "I have heard this land referred to as 'Kansas'."

"I will keep this in mind."

Nod.

It's weird looking at someone who's so much like her!

Jen Zi nods back, gravely.

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