Overt or Covert? That is the question!

Artizza

The Doctor sets the controls for a certain reality's London, 1898. . . . and soon enough we are on our way, if that odd grinding sound is any clue. Shall only take a few moments by our clock, whatever the case . . .

. . .

So many wonders in this wondrous ship, the TARDIS! Not to say that the non-Timelord "technology" (bah! 'Tis magicks plain and simple, and I must call them on this overused joke sometime soon), but the Doctor's people stands above them all. Outweighs even the fabled Atlantians, I shall wager! It almost overwhelms the mind, really.

However, superior magecraft that is all about me and my love or no, there still stands one very simple question. 'Tis a question that IF I was the leader of this troupe I wouldn't have hesitated to bring up (or perhaps just decide on my own, by virtue of being party leader): how best to proceed once we land in this alien place we shall be going?

I mean this world that we shall be going to sounds very . . . alien, to be honest. Much more so that what I and Fertal have experienced so far and while upon coming into our rightful forms (that of elves vice the human beings we'd been born as) . . . I'd be foolish to think that we can just go in "cold".

. . .

Well, we could, but not without risking making us look rather foolish. That and step on too many toes, as it were, offending local sensibilities and all that.

I, being only a Companion instead broach the subject as an interesting question, only asked in idle curiosity. 'Tis best method, I shall wager. Not only is it good to do it thusly to avoid bruised egos (haven't enough time to judge the Doctor and his friends to get a good feel on them to know on that matter), but shall also tell much on HOW they answer. If you follow my drift...

I mean, I'd like to know what this land's customs are, the place we are going. How provincial (or worldly) are they? Do they understand magic? Afraid of magic? Do they look down on elves and other non-humans (got that much at least in passing, this is at least a human dominated land)?

What should we expect? Do we have outfits that would allow us to blend in?

Things like that . . . I and Fertal would like to know.

If push comes to shove, how open (or not) should we be in trying to obtain this Corvite (or whatever)?

. . .

Elrondir

As the old Earth saying goes: "No flies on this one!" I say, nodding slightly in admiration.

So much like my old friend, E'eysha, back on Terra Prime. Shame that she'd gone back recently with Gilmuriel to raise a family, but that's her right. Can't really fault her that. If I and B'Elanna weren't so much space nomads at heart, if/when we ever get around to having children, we might have also opted on doing it dirtside.

But like I'd said (or implied, whatever) I and B'Elanna are still here and shall STAY here as Companions on the TARDIS with kids or no (as long as the Doctor will have us). Having and raising children here isn't as barbaric as it sounds, by the way. Hell, my sister Inquirer and the Doctor discussed whether or not THEY wanted to settle down back on Terra Prime long enough to raise children and let me tell you . . .

Oh, but that's aside and off the course of discussion!

I was saying that our red haired Dark Elf here is pretty bright, asking questions like that.

. . . .

Hm, just an oddball thought but I wonder if I and B'Elanna will have to have a task of convincing Artizza and Fertal about magicks and science not being the same thing? Had been so damn hard with Gilmuriel and E'eysha back when we'd first met in that Forest, but . . .

Well, that aside, that Cavorite . . .

Honestly, I'd like to just go in and TAKE the blasted stuff and Frell whoever objects (not like it'd be useful to them after the thing transmutes into what we're after AND Chi's sanity is a precious thing), but then I've always been known to be a bit hotheaded at times.

So much like her more "normal" Terra Prime elfin sister . . . when we'd first met. Wonder if it hadn't been for a twist of fate teleporting them to Terra Prime (ala the malfunctioning slipgate back then) would E'ysha's eye's become inky pools of blackness like Artizza's eyes? Would she have become a Dark Elf, my long time friend? Given what I'd heard from the other proto-Dark Elves of our clan . . . pretty sure that's what ol' 'Zilch had intended that . . .

Transformation or not, 'tis a fair question. Be sneaky or be like a bull in a China shop? We have magic and regular outfits to accomplish it (the TARDIS wardrobes of all the planet societies out there is just STAGGERING), but it would be . . . fun to see how the Victorians react to something outside their kin . . . like real elves and dragons . . .

Could sum it up thus: "To be or not to be. Overt or Covert? That is the question!"

Later

1. A mysterious blue box with a flashing light lands near Miss Rosa Coote's Correctional Academy for Warward Gentlewomen, in Edmonton, North London. The date's July 3rd, 1898, local calander...

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