driftfleet | Starships were meant to fly

[ Leilani has been hovering for a little while, now, but she quickly recognises the person that Carl had told her about - Maggie, the person from home that was important to him. That has her pushing herself up and away from the quiet corner she'd tucked herself into, walking over and hovering awkwardly to one side before she speaks. ]

Andaran atish’an.

[Maggie knew all about finding a quiet corner to tuck herself into and was happy to have one more person join her in her attempt to be a little more open and outgoing with the people in the Fleet (and the natives if they wanted). However... that was definitely a language she wasn't familiar with.]

Oh. Uh... hi. Nice to meet you?

[She really would try to repeat what she's said but somehow she knows she'll butcher it.]

[ There's a moment where her lips twitch, just a little - because she knows how humans feel when she speaks elven and they don't quite know what she means, but there's no way for her to get rid of a lifetime of habit. She just beams at Maggie instead. ]

It's nice to meet you, too. [ Shifting, she stands up properly. ] You're Carl's friend?

I am. Are you one of his crewmates?

[Maggie is still curious about that other language but she's learned by now not to question things like that when they all come from such diverse places.]

I was, once, but I transferred. [ It was a choice between Dorian and Carl, and unfortunately Dorian won out. ] And you are his friend. He mentioned you before.

Ah. [Maggie nods, understanding. When she'd returned to the fleet on a different ship and away from the crew she'd become so familiar with, she had transferred after about a week or so.]

Hopefully he said all nice things? [Maggie smiles, not really concerned. ]

Carl and I are family. We come from the same place. You got anyone like that here?

[ She needed to be near Dorian; it was difficult to be far away from him, especially when they were a long way from home. ]

Only nice things. You have my word.

[ Nodding her head, Leilani crosses her arms over her chest. ]

I do. A friend from home and - there's a man with the same clan as me. We're the same person, technically.

Good. It's easier, I think. When you have people around you who are familiar. I wouldn't wish this place on any of my family, but it's nice not to feel like you're off on an island all alone with your experiences.

[Even with new shared experiences. She's glad to be back here for Carl. She's glad to be where she's needed.]

The same... person? How's that work?

I understand that. Feeling alone is the most dangerous of feelings - isolation does terrible things for people.

[ And Leilani is glad that Carl has someone. That he has another person to watch over him.

The Lavellan situation, however... ]

We're from different worlds, where we did the same thing. He is a male counterpart, perhaps.

I guess it's a good thing so many of us can share experiences now, once we've been here long enough.

[Maggie looks thoughtful for a moment.]

Thank you for looking out for Carl. He's a good kid and nothing in his life has exactly been easy. I'm glad he has at least one friend if I ever go disappearing again.

[As for her doppelganger -]

What's that like? I haven't met anyone from some place like where Carl and I are from, let alone someone who's more like a doppelganger. Do you look a like too?

It seems as though there is no end to the knowledge here.

[ The thanks don't surprise her, really; people are glad to have those they love taken care of. She knows that. ]

I will take care of him. He is my da'len - he is a good student, and a good friend, too.

[ Alas, they must speak of Cyril, and she smiles. ]

We are both elven, but I doubt you would consider us related if you looked at us. He is kind, and funny, and charming, too.

Hm. Well, I'm not sure what a "da len" is... but I'm glad he's in good hands.

[She's not used to the new language or how to pronounce things properly just yet. She imagines Carl having the same difficulties, minus the thick accent.]

If I meet him, I'll be happy to ask him all kinds of questions too. It's been a while since I talked about myself with other people. It's just been me, Carl, and our family for a long time.

It means something like... A younger sibling, or a kind of small child.

[ She hums, though, crossing her arms. ]

Please, do. It'll be interesting to see how he reacts to an interrogation.

Ah. Well that does fit Carl to a 'T'. I wouldn't say he's a small child though. Or really much of a child at all.

[But she understands wanting to protect him and make sure he's safe.]

Ha. Well I'll keep you posted on that. In the meantime - has Carl told you anything about our world? While we're on the topic of questions and all that.

No, he's far older than he seems. We've talked a great deal about it.

[ She and Carl share a lot of experiences, she thinks, and not always for the best. ]

I've heard a little bit, but not too many details. It doesn't seem to be something that is easy to talk about.

Yeah. And being here by himself? I feel a bit bad for it, but it's better knowing he didn't spend his time bothered by it. He had friends.

[It's what she would expect of Carl. It had been so hard for the adults to trust others, but for someone like Carl the world was more open. He really tried to live by his promise to his mother. She admired him for it.]

I won't bore you with details but all of this? Having stuff? Food, clothes, certainty... we didn't have that back home. Being here, I think, is better for Carl in the long run because he doesn't have to wonder where we get stuff for a while.

Starships were meant to fly

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