zerotohiro | I'll be the watcher of the eternal flame [Eachdraidh IC Contact]

[The Elf in the locket looks mostly curious as she is addressing.]

Hiro Hamada? I am Nerdanel. It was suggested to me by the baroness Ariadne that you might be able to help me with a project she requested involving the security of her spire. I have some ideas already, and would be happy to discuss them.

[Network he's been checking. Personal messages...eh. It's been touch and go and when he finally gets back to it he realizes he has a missed message. He's never met Nerdanel before and his response is just as curious. It seems as though the keyword here is "Ariadne."

So, he calls back only a few days after the initial call.]

Hey, sorry! I...kinda got distracted with some stuff...anyway, hi. Ariadne sent you to me? [Forgive him if he sounds a little pleased with that.] I'd talked to her earlier this month about securing the spire, too. What kind of ideas are you thinking?

Not to worry. We are speaking now. But yes, she did.

After the attack, before the Ride, she was most concerned with ways to unveil hidden enemies. I had the idea of perhaps using a form of what my people call sanwe-latye--the Thought-Opening--imbued into a framework of sorts to alert if there is someone whose motives are... questionable. But that would take more strength that I have at the moment.

So basically it's like a lie detector built into the entrances of the spire. That's not a bad idea. [Give him a moment to pause and grab a spare notebook to start writing this down.] How does this Thought-Opening thing really work? Through magic?

[Really, he wants to ask who her people are but that might be kinda rude. He's working on not being totally rude to strangers.]

It is... not magic as I have seen it here. When I was asking for memories in creating my commission, I used it often. It was most commonly described by those who worked willingly with me as a sort of telepathy.

All Eldar have the ability, but it is also a skill to be honed. It is a way to communicate without spoken word. To read the thoughts and emotions and motives of another. To understand them in ways more subtle than most. It works well not only with other people, but with Ainur and beasts and even plants, wind, water, to a degree. If there is something that can be heard, being open through sanwe-latye can allow you to hear it.

To use it in a system would be to unveil plots of treachery while they are yet thoughts and not actions.

Kinda sounds like what Harry did when we were starting to rebuild our castle. He asked people for good memories that he could extract to fortify the walls. You did something similar, too?

[That is interesting. It's interesting that other people have similar types of magic and yet the longer Nerdanel speaks, the more Hiro can draw on the differences.] The sanwe-latye is a way of pinpointing things before their point of inception. Something that works even with the things that're intangible. [And knowing what he knows about the cult, that's also not a terrible idea.]

It sounds like a good idea if we can make it work. There's no way to detect when it's in action, is there?

Yes, I have worked with Harry before. I am sure he can tell you of it.

It... can be used for that, to a degree. I will admit, the system is not perfect. Whether or not I can be detected depends on the person. Other Eldar expect it of each other, and it comes as no surprise. With non-Eldar, I have always done my best to be clear of my intentions. And there are ways to shield against it, hide things in shadow and silence.

Perhaps it would be easier for me to demonstrate with you firsthand? I only use what I am able to see and hear to understand others better. I have no wish to harm anyone, and secrets are not mine to tell.

If I talk to him anytime soon, I'll have to ask him.

I think...our focus needs to be on keeping it hidden. We don't know what sort of detection magic and other strengths our enemies have and even if they aren't expecting it, we shouldn't give them a reason to even think about it.

A demonstration would be pretty sweet. I've got some time to spare over the next couple of days. When are you free?

Indeed, tipping our hand would defeat the purpose of such a system.

Truly, as long as Alice does not need me to mind the children, I can see you at any time. Only my art occupies me otherwise.

Oh. You know Alice. [It's an idle comment, though it just kind of helps him slot pieces together and figure out where Nerdanel really sits inside the court and who she knows among his own friends and other acquaintances.] Okay, awesome! Um...[There's the sound of him rustling through some papers.] I can probably figure something out for one of the afternoons? Like tomorrow or the next day, maybe.

[Time management is still something he's learning, but he's trying. He's also still learning how to say "no", but that's a much, much slower lesson apparently.]

There is no rush beyond how urgent the leaders think the need for it is. Tell me where to meet you.

Call me an hour before you'd like to meet and I can meet you at Caer Scima. It's usually where I'm at but sometimes I'm out doing other stuff. The castle's probably for the best though.

Of course. I do not mind the castle. My commission is there. It will be good to see my family again.

Wait, your family's at the castle? [Somehow he's lost the thread of conversation, but that's something of note.]

...in a manner of speaking. You have seen the art there? Of the fallen Unseelie? My husband and three eldest are among those depicted. Their faces will appear when I am near them. The art itself was made using a great deal of my abilities. Perhaps they will serve as inspiration.

I think so. [Truthfully, he's only been back at the castle for just under two months and he spends most of his time outside working on things or in his room.] That sounds kinda cool though...I'll have to give it a second look.

Come by the castle when you're ready. I'll make time. Promise.

I'll be the watcher of the eternal flame [Eachdraidh IC Contact]

Locket, mid-to-late-June-ish

Locket, later June

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