[open] the elf and the smoking toaster

[arlathansgrace]

Date & Time: November 27th, Midday
Location: Outside the transport housing
Characters: Merrill and YOU
Summary: Merrill lights a toaster on fire and has generally terrible luck with technology.
Warnings: Depends on whatchu bring yo



[Having decided she will do her best to fit in, Merrill is taking action. She's not going to do something as crazy and wearing shoes, that's just ludicrous and hardly comfortable, but technology is something she's willing to tackle. If she can figure out how to live in a human city, surely human technology can't be so bad.

She is, of course, quite terribly wrong, and her being so wrong is the primary reason she stands outside transport housing staring at the still smoking toaster on the pavement in front of her.

It belches a lick of flame, clearly to torment her a little more. With a distressed sound, she paces in a circle around it.]

I'm sorry, but I don't know how to fix you.

[Genuine distress laces her voice.]

You're not like the Eluvian, oh, this is a disaster. I should have stuck with building fire pits, oh-- [She makes another nervous circuit of the toaster, and something inside it makes a grinding noise. Shrieking, she jumps back, summoning her magic at the same time. A stone fist punches upward from the ground beneath the toaster, shooting the offending bit of technology some feet into the air. It crashes to the ground and bounces twice.

Defiantly, it continues smoking.]

Comments

[shelkethetransparent]

It will protect a full range, but only for someone my size. [She concentrates and the shield spell reappears as a ball around her body, though she has to duck faintly.]

It doesn't last quite as long. I guess everything has to have a downside.

[She frowns.]

...Why would it be frowned upon?

[deathwalker]

[So Lance doesn't know much about toasters and their mystical ways but he's pretty sure that's not how you use one.]

Did you try asking someone to help you with that rather than mauling it?

[arlathansgrace]

Ooh, that's lovely. I'd like to be able to do a spell like that.

[Merrill shrugs at her question. And speaks matter of factly.]

The Fade is full of spirits, spirits possess mages, mages go on rampages. It probably wouldn't happen as much as it does if more Circles were less strict and didn't threaten their mages with Tranquility.

[shelkethetransparent]

It is the only materia I brought with me. [And therefore, the only spell she knows, sadly.]

Magic doesn't have any particular downside on Gaia. I suppose mako poisoning could be an indirect one, but you wouldn't get it from casting spells.

[arlathansgrace]

[Merrill looks up, wide eyed and uncertain.]

Um.

No?

My roommate doesn't know how to use one either. I don't think. So I tried on my own, but I'm afraid I killed it.

[arlathansgrace]

There are... many dangers to magic in Thedas. [Her expression droops.] Many fear it, and it has been used for ill so many times in our history...

[She perks up.]

It makes me glad to know there are places where it's not the same.

[shelkethetransparent]

[Shelke isn't really certain what to say to that, honestly. Instead she just nods, and then turns her attention to Merill's previous focus.]

What were you trying to do to that toaster?

[celestial_wizard]

If you like I can show you to one of the stores that sells them. I have to get some things anyway.

[ Besides, she's a little concerned that Merrill might get lost if she up and wanders. She seemed a little...strange. But she offers a hand with a smile. ]

I'm Lucy.

[arlathansgrace]

Make something to eat. A snack for my falon. Roommate, I think? Maybe not falon. But it didn't like the leaves I put inside it. [A gusty sigh escapes her.]

[arlathansgrace]

Oh, that would be lovely!

[Merrill beams at Lucy, her excitement barely contained.] Merrill. Oh, do I shake it? [She takes Lucy's hand tentatively.] Like this?

[celestial_wizard]

[ Lucy grins, Merrill's excitement infectuous. ]

Ah - yes, that's right. [ She gives Merrill's hand a gentle shake. ]

Come on, the store isn't far. [ Beckoning with a hand - though the thought occurs to her. ]

How do you greet people where you're from?

[shelkethetransparent]

...Why would you put leaves in it?

[deathwalker]

[He looks at Merrill then eyes the smoking toaster before shrugging a bit.]

Points for trying I suppose. I don't think you can kill it though. It looks mechanical.

[charming_jerk]

They already tend to be ready-to-eat. Ya know. Bein' like 99% sugar. Ya put 'em on sticks and roast 'em over a fire.

[unlikelyrebel]

[Rats? Bear? Poor Rinoa just can't get over this. She is a city girl down at her core after all.]

Never thought I'd say this, but maybe we should get you some normal food to try... like hot dogs.

[Zell would be so proud if he could only hear her now.]

Elves? Is that what you are? We don't have anyone like you where I'm from.

What? No! [Oh Merril if you only knew.] I thought I could have once, but that was a long time ago now and I've moved on! [Well now, that's much more interesting than talking about Seifer.] Why would you say that? Sure you can't use a toaster, but I'm sure you have loads of good qualities to make up for it.

[bloodyantivan]

[Zevran just laughs, and pats her on the shoulder.] It is big enough, friend, and it will have what we need.

[It's a fair-sized market-place, bustling with people. The smell of cooked meat wafts on the air to entice coins out of pockets, and Zevran must admit it makes him salivate a little. He hasn't eaten since breakfast.]

Now, that over there - it is nigh unrecognizable, whatever they are cooking, and yet I would still bet a sovereign it is more delicious than rat in elfroot.

[sacrificar]

[This just weirder and weirder.]

What were you trying to make?

[arlathansgrace]

Oh, not with handshakes. That's rude. You never know what someone's hiding in their hands.

[She holds up her own, wiggling her wrists as if to say "See, no hidden knives."]

Most people just bow. The People do. And we say andaran atish'an. It means hello.

[arlathansgrace]

Why wouldn't you?

[She's genuinely baffled.]

You need to soak the leaves in a sort of broth. And then you wrap them around rats, on a stick. It's a lovely treat.

[arlathansgrace]

Oh, and you can't kill machines, yes. You're right. How silly. [She taps her nose with a finger.] I hope it's not a problem that it's dead, though. I don't know where to replace it.

[arlathansgrace]

[She considers this for a minute.]

Very well, that sounds acceptable. Where can we find marshmallows and will you show me how to roast them? Maybe I can add them to another elvhenan treat.

[shelkethetransparent]

[Shelke has eaten some awful things, and that still sounds terrible.]

You realize there are alternatives to that here. I don't believe you need to eat rats.

[alwaysforhim]

[He was going to answer that question, but oh my lord, look at that magic. He stares, fascinated and a bit taken aback all at once.]

They're-- er-- a bit unpleasant. I don't know that I k-- I've ever seen such magic, though. And we get by. We simply don't rely on it.

[nonedible]

I've never head of Dalish elves. In fact, I've never heard of elves before coming here. I don't think we have them back home.

[A pause as she stops herself from possibly rambling on about the lack of elves back home.] It's a pleasure to meet you Merrill.

[arlathansgrace]

Have you? Really? That's lovely. [A wan smile crosses her face.] No, he's much more interested in someone else. And that's fine, I don't mind. I'm used to being second. Sometimes third. Or even further down the list.

[Her brows crease.]

Why would you eat a dog?