001, written

[keyandstar]

[ After having gotten over the shock of... Well, everything, and after having herself a good cry, Lirael examined the journal she'd found next to her neatly folded clothes.

It seemed like it had to be magical, and yet she could feel nothing from it. Was it dangerous? It didn't seem like it. Just strange.

Hence, after having read a few entries and come to the conclusion that this had to be some kind of communication device, she tentatively wrote: ]

Is this Ancelstierre?

Comments

[written]

[folklorist]

Oh that's good then, very good. If you need any assistance the Welcome Center in town is...very open towards helping new arrivals. As is mostly everyone here. But I'm sure whoever is coming to help you will give you more of the details.

[ A pause. ] I do hope you get settled alright. And I apologize. I haven't introduced myself. I'm Helios Sprensonne.

[thebellthatbinds]

Ah...you never knew yours either?

[The resemblance would be easier to see if Sabriel's hair hadn't been burnt and then cut short. Sabriel can't help but feel a pang of guilt when she compares her life in Wyverley to what Lirael has told her of her experience in the Glacier. Sabriel had many friends at school, and more importantly, her Father took the time to visit her in spirit every month since she had first enrolled when she was five. If he had known about Lirael he would have said something, or his visits would have been shorter or later, there would have been some sign but...there wasn't.

Lirael had been on her own, and without a proper parent at all...Sabriel can only imagine how hard that must have been.]

I'm so sorry. If I had known, I...

[But what could she have done, really? Taken care of an infant Lirael herself? She most certainly couldn't have left her at Wyverley and with her role as Abhorsen it would be dangerous taking such a young child around so many Dead. For the first time Sabriel has a strange appreciation of what her Father must have gone through when trying to decide what was best for her.

With a heavy sigh Sabriel shakes her head. She couldn't change Lirael's past even if she wanted to but...perhaps it would be for the best.]

I'm glad they were able to keep you safe.

[voice]

[keyandstar]

[ ... ]

[ Yeah, she should have caught that one. And now she just has to laugh, despite the circumstances she's in. ]

It's true. Maybe I should avoid this man, these are the only ones I have now.

[keyandstar]

That's true.

What would you like to know?

[written]

[keyandstar]

Thank you, you've been... unexpectedly kind.

I'm Lirael.

written;

[keyandstar]

Makes you wonder if it was always called that. There must have been a time when it wasn't old after all.

[voice]

[all7seas]

If you value your soles? Then that is excellent advice from yourself, darling. Otherwise who can tell what will happen, eh?

Hope you get yourself unlost and such. Welcome aboard. It'll make you stronger, or....


It's not so bad.

written;

[gleamed]

Maybe then they called it the...New Kingdom?

[written]

[folklorist]

It's really no trouble. There's...no need not to be when you're a new arrival in this place. And even then, we all have to stick together here. We're all in the same boat as the saying goes.

[ Helios smiles on his end though. ]

I'm Helios Sprensonne. It's been a pleasure speaking with you, Lirael.

[keyandstar]

I have a few very vague memories... but that isn't really like knowing someone, or having known them.

[ She looks Sabriel in the eyes now, because she feels that the other girl needs to know how earnest she is. ]

I'm sorry I'm... intruding.

[ On her life. On her family. It isn't enough that she's been a blight on the Clayr bloodline, now she's tainting the Abhorsen one too. Who'd want to deal with her? ]

[thebellthatbinds]

It's good to have something at the very least.

[When Lirael looks up she's a little taken aback. She seemed so nervous, anxious...sure, Sabriel was still a little in shock from it all but ultimately she was happy. Just so happy that she's not alone. Shaking her head earnestly she leans in a little, just as earnest.]

Lirael, you're not intruding at all, you're family. I just...I wish there was some way I could have known in my time so you wouldn't be so alone.

[removeimpurity]

Whatever you feel like sharing. If you'd like, I could tell you some about my world afterward.

[keyandstar]

[ It's such a shock to her, to be accepted so immediately. Not that she's ever been not accepted among the Clayr either but she hasn't belonged, and everyone's been aware.

She can't help it, her eyes start filling with tears. ]

I wish that too.

[ She wipes at her eyes with her sleeve. ]

Sorry, I just... I wasn't sure you'd feel that way.

[keyandstar]

I'd like that.

It's hard to know where to start. I come from a country called the Old Kingdom. It's separated from it's neighbor, Ancelstierre, by a wall. I've never been there but I've heard magic doesn't work when you come top far past the wall, and the Dead no longer rise.

written;

[keyandstar]

And then it was just the Kingdom, until it became old.

[ Not that she actually thinks so, but she'll allow herself some silliness. ]

[written]

[keyandstar]

And you, surprisingly enough. Exchanging pleasant messages wasn't what I was expecting to be doing right now.

Helios. It's a nice name.

[voice]

[keyandstar]

Thank you. Maybe we'll even meet one day, when I've managed to find myself a second pair of shoes.

[voice]

[all7seas]

One never knows in this place. Hopefully under happy circumstances, eh? Luck to you, lass.

[voice]

[keyandstar]

I'll try to be optimistic. [ She's never been good at it. ] Luck to you as well, pirate.

[removeimpurity]

The dead still hold life where you are from? That is interesting.

But it does sound troublesome.

[...] Right, then. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know about where I hail from?

[thebellthatbinds]

How could I feel any differently?

[Reaching out to cover what distance there was between their chairs, Sabriel tentatively takes Lirael's hand; the gesture a quiet reassurance that they weren't alone anymore, that Sabriel wasn't going anywhere, nor did she plan to abandon her sister.]

Do you have anywhere to stay?

[keyandstar]

It is. They can be very dangerous. They prey on the living.

Do you have magic in your world?

[keyandstar]

[ She holds that hand, probably too tightly, but she needs the physical connection right now to reassure herself that it's real. Of course the senses can be fooled, but she isn't really being all that rational right now. ]

No, not yet.

[removeimpurity]

Troublesome, indeed.

My people have our alchemy as opposed to more commonly known forms of magic, but I wager that the other countries in my world would have the more traditional sort.

[thebellthatbinds]

[It may take a little while for everything to sink in but they'll have time. With a smile she nods, giving Lirael's hand a gentle squeeze.]

We have plenty of rooms available here, and I know Rei and Ami would be happy to have you stay with us. I can show you around the village too if you like.