[Open]

[spellcollect]

[ Frieren's mind opens up; as before, on the surface it's a calm, smooth pond. She's not quite used to this, so the connection (at first) is a touch tentative and then as she feels her way forward it opens more until she thinks she's finally ready. ]

I have a question for all of you. And you may consider it a simple matter of curiosity; I won't take offense at being ignored.

[ There's a pause, as if she's collecting her thoughts. ]

How many of you are long-lived species? Or long-lived by virtue of who you are? My kind are rare, even in my world, so I can't assume others will be particularly more common here, at the end of the universe.

[ It's an open question. ]

Comments

𝖕𝖗𝖎𝖛𝖆𝖙𝖊

[tattooism]

"Your kind"?

It's a bit rude to ask questions of the rest of us without first spilling your own guts, isn't it?

It makes it seem as if you might be collecting information for nefarious purpose...

private;

[spellcollect]

I apologize; that wasn't my intention.

[ How curious. ]

I am an elf; I have lived for a thousand years and unless I'm killed, I'll probably live for much longer.

[tattooism]

An elf, hmm? I have heard of your kind… though only in fantasy novels and movies, I am afraid.

My world has our own brands.

What a long life you have, though. Thousands more await?

[spellcollect]

Interesting that we appear in stories but aren't there ourselves.

[ It is curious, but something to think about later. ]

In theory. I know of at least one elf older than I am.

[tattooism]

"At least one"?

That implies a certain rarity. For you? Or your kind?

[spellcollect]

My kind in general and myself as well. I've only met a few other elves over the last few hundred years.

[tattooism]

How bizarre.

It's like you're an endangered species. Were you hunted, hmm... ? Or have elves simply always been so very rare a thing?

[spellcollect]

I don't believe we've ever been a populous race and the demons destroyed quite a few of us. So it's possible we're simply dying out.

[ She seems pretty chill with that. ]

[tattooism]

Demons, hmm? What sort of those do you have?

[spellcollect]

The usual sort. Predatory, grasping creatures who know nothing but conquest and exploiting others.

[tattooism]

The "usual sort", hmm?

I suppose people say that of the demons in my world, too.

[spellcollect]

Are they the same where you're from?

[tattooism]

No, I would not say so. The ones of my world are a far more nuanced breed... and there are so many kinds, after all. I would not expect from a hellhound the same I expect of a succubus... and so on and so on.

As people, as well, of course. One can only stereotype so much.

[spellcollect]

Do they still prey on humans? Unable to co-exist? Or are they different?

[tattooism]

Some do. Some do, but only if you loosen the definition of "prey". And some do not.

Some co-exist. And some do not.

[spellcollect]

They sound different from the ones I know. They only speak long enough to get what they want.

[tattooism]

Now... if we are talking about "selfishness"...

Maybe they are not so different.

[spellcollect]

That's a little disappointing. If not unexpected.

[tattooism]

Oh?

Your world is lacking in supremely selfish humans... ?

[spellcollect]

Mmm, I wouldn't say that.

But demons are universally so.

[tattooism]

How comfortable that must be for some. A world of black and white. Why, you needn't worry about deception at all, in that case.

[spellcollect]

They try. But their nature is to prey on others and it always emerges.

[tattooism]

Hopefully the humans of your world have learned better... ?

Or is that privilege reserved for elves?

[spellcollect]

I think they have, for the most part. But there are always exceptions.

[tattooism]

There are always fools, you mean?

Yes, yes.

That is true. No matter how long one lives.