This is... not really anything like a "ladies' retiring room." There's no couches to recline on, and, in fact, there's water an inch deep across the stone floor. In fact, it might be outside?
There's a raised podium in the center, near which an adult in vibrantly-colored Martian dress stands, looking through lecture notes. A number of younger people sit on the stone steps, chatting amongst themselves, waiting for the class to begin.
One seat is conspicuously empty. A ways away, out by the edge of the canal, stand one large man in loud, obnoxious colors and a head-wrapping, and one practically-dressed woman, both of whom also seem to be Martian.
[Lots of Martians, huh? He'll go over to the edge of the canal, greeting the man as Paloma taught him. He's not Martian, but maybe some of this can still be of use?]
Ah, hopefully that wasn't rude. I've been trying to learn some Martian if I can.
I may be young, but I'm a doctor, you see. I'd like to help as many as I can, regardless of who they may be. So with that said, is there anything I might be able to help you with today?
[ the woman speaks up, after crouching down by the side of the canal. ]
This isn't good; the water level's going down steadily. But the priest over there definitely won't let me try to do anything about it, and I've never worked on the canals in this section.
...if Raachna were here, maybe, but who knows where she went.
[ cheerfully: ] Well, I'm a known heretic! One of the maozooni specifically, and they hate us.
...Raachna's a daryaani same as him—[ she indicates the teacher ]—and also him—[ she indicates the man with her ]—but she's got a knack for understanding how these work, at least.
The canal-keeper religion? The daaryaani? My people, the maozooni, we don't have a caste system, and we let people choose their life paths, and I chose to be a canal-keeper, but they won't acknowledge me. They only barely acknowledge Raachna, who's one of their own but tries to go beyond just the standard teachings to try and fix things that have been forgotten.
[ you wander over to where the lecture is beginning; as before, there is one seat that remains conspicuously empty in the middle of the pack. it could be for you!
the instructor begins by going over the degrees of akoorna and hoorna. Leaving a switch on that should be off is "little hoorna," while murder is "big hoorna." he is, unfortunately, a bit dry, as an instructor. ]
Approaching the woman with a bow lower than what she'd give to a human, hoping that the sense of deference that comes from the action carries over. Somehow. ]
[ the woman looks faintly surprised; she does seem to recognize the gesture, and in return offers you what seems to be a greeting—both arms extended toward you, one palm up, one palm down. ]
Don't worry about it.
[ she glances up at the man. ]
The water level's going down. Slowly, but steadily.
Well, unless you happen to be a canal priest yourself, an engineer, or a hydrologist, perhaps the best you can do is create a diversion, if you think yourself equal to that task.
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THE LADIES' RETIRING ROOM?
This is... not really anything like a "ladies' retiring room." There's no couches to recline on, and, in fact, there's water an inch deep across the stone floor. In fact, it might be outside?
There's a raised podium in the center, near which an adult in vibrantly-colored Martian dress stands, looking through lecture notes. A number of younger people sit on the stone steps, chatting amongst themselves, waiting for the class to begin.
One seat is conspicuously empty. A ways away, out by the edge of the canal, stand one large man in loud, obnoxious colors and a head-wrapping, and one practically-dressed woman, both of whom also seem to be Martian.
In fact, there are no humans here at all.
From here you can go to the dining room or the kitchen.
CHANGES
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Can we assist you, young Terran?
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I may be young, but I'm a doctor, you see. I'd like to help as many as I can, regardless of who they may be. So with that said, is there anything I might be able to help you with today?
no subject
This isn't good; the water level's going down steadily. But the priest over there definitely won't let me try to do anything about it, and I've never worked on the canals in this section.
...if Raachna were here, maybe, but who knows where she went.
no subject
no subject
...Raachna's a daryaani same as him—[ she indicates the teacher ]—and also him—[ she indicates the man with her ]—but she's got a knack for understanding how these work, at least.
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[Hm.]
I'm sorry, my understanding of the language only goes so far since I'm a relatively new student... could you please explain a few?
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I'm sorry, I didn't realize... It seems I still have much to learn of your language and culture.
But if you think a doctor's word could be useful to you, I'm willing to give it.
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[ he gestures at the lecture that is shortly to begin. ]
...that would help quite a bit.
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[ALRIGHT LECTURER hope you're ready to be... lecture.]
fyi you may shortly be joined by yvette
the instructor begins by going over the degrees of akoorna and hoorna. Leaving a switch on that should be off is "little hoorna," while murder is "big hoorna." he is, unfortunately, a bit dry, as an instructor. ]
Re: THE LADIES' RETIRING ROOM?
Approaching the woman with a bow lower than what she'd give to a human, hoping that the sense of deference that comes from the action carries over. Somehow. ]
I am truly sorry for the intrusion.
Re: THE LADIES' RETIRING ROOM?
Don't worry about it.
[ she glances up at the man. ]
The water level's going down. Slowly, but steadily.
Re: THE LADIES' RETIRING ROOM?
Isn't that cause for concern?
Re: THE LADIES' RETIRING ROOM?
Not bad, not bad. And yes, that is, in fact, very bad!
[ she looks at the man again. ]
We can fix it, but... well.
Re: THE LADIES' RETIRING ROOM?
Is there anything I can do to help?
Re: THE LADIES' RETIRING ROOM?