nexmosnonlucror | 4 [Video]

[Tom is standing on a street in Adstringendum -- or, well, perhaps the better word would be floating. He looks relatively unbothered by the massive amounts of water and various sea-life surrounding him, but if one looks carefully, they will notice that Tom doesn't have gills. Or fins. Or anything resembling the fish and creatures that are investigating him with a careful distance.

That would be because Tom Riddle is unaffected -- but, luckily for Tom, he is skilled with various types of magic, and a Bubble Head Charm is woefully simple to complete. Add that with a quick water-proofing spell to his clothes and Tom is free to explore without much hindrance.

When he does speak, his voice sounds slightly muffled, but it can be made out rather well, and the PCD floats in the water in front of him.]

I appear to have been skipped over in the Animus' need to make all of us look utterly ridiculous -- though I have seen a great many sea creatures that I don't think were here before, along with the giant squid that usually inhabits the lake.

[Tom inclines his head towards the PCD, faintly amused.]

I do hope everyone knows how to swim.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

But it's not about what you're able to do, they can't think that simply. There might be other wizards that are changed out in the water. It's not just skill, but personality, ability to adapt, home worlds, the reactions, and a little humor, I wager.

[Because her change seems to be a bit of a joke as well, as handy as it's been.]

It just proved that the best delivery was none at all for you. You are not only able to handle this yourself, but you said you'd prefer it.

I doubt, very much, they did this to cater to my preferences.

Not catering to them, exactly... It's hard to explain, because they're hard to explain.

Like some of them figured that it'd be better to shove stubbornness and preference to the situation on some people and see what happens.

Hnnn.

[It's an interesting theory, anyway, Tom can admit that much.]

It's entirely possible. They do seem to look at us as experiments ourselves -- from what I've heard, anyway.

[It can be surprising, the theories she can come up with.]

It's what you hear simply because that's how it feels like to everyone. Some of the entities in the Animus probably do see us like that. Some would see us like toys, and I'm positive that there should be some who want to be friends.

You are extraordinarily rational for the situation, Miss Botan.

It's not like there's a reason for me not to be. I don't see the Animus as being a group of horrible nonsensical beings.

Horrible, perhaps not, but nonsensical -- I think it would depend on when you speak with them -- or even with whom you speak.

It does require a bit of an open mind, to look at things in different perspectives, but you can get a conversation out of them usually.

It might take some patience, though!

I have yet to speak with them as a whole and receive an entire coherent conversation.

It'll be hard if your expectations for an entirely 'coherent' conversation is set too high. You can only get so much when talking to such a large group at once. Think of it like a puzzle, and it'll make sense in it's own way!

[A soft hum of appreciation.]

Puzzles are more designed for the mind of a Ravenclaw, but I believe I'm up to the challenge.

There you go! Though I don't know what Ravenclaw have to do with it, I do understand that it's probably specific to your world. It sounds like... a clan of some sort?

It's a house within the school of Hogwarts.

Oh! I see. So it's just what determines your classes and where you stay.

[She thinks she gets it, at least. Maybe]

Essentially, though your House grows to be your family while you stay there.

[Smiles, almost nostalgically. Which is strange considering the expression is from someone that looks younger than Tom.]

That certainly does happen when you live with a group of people long enough, doesn't it?