milliways_bar | (no subject)

"Eska! I haven't seen you in ages - I thought I'd have to go and hang up a note at Unseen University soon!"

There's her co-librarian, looking very happy to see her.

Eska visibly winces.

"No godding on my world, please, Sooty. I've just been busy, that's all. How have things been in my absence?"

"Since when is hanging up a notice on the notice board tantamount to godding?" Asar-Suti grouses, not really angry.

"Well, several people were lost and came back alive - Svava went to the end of her world, and Doctor Lecter sat unmovingly for days in the chair you're in now, to pull her back by magic in the last moment. Tonks, Bernard's girlfriend, was abducted in the Wand World by the evil that is loose there; Gil told me a bit about how nasty things are there. Imagine, there are people there who would nail his head to the wall for a trophy, as the horns make im a not-person in their eyes. Later, Delia of Eldorne, Indy's girlfriend, died as well, but the rats have told Gil she's back, too - seems she walked out of ther Black God's Realm, which must be total horror, if I take what little Alex of Tirragen told me, back when. On the good side, Cynric has turned up again, the youngest descendant of both my line of Ihlini witches and Sorceres and their Cheysuli opponents both, being thoroughly fed up with being the Child of Prophesy, set apart by his lion lir and the immense expectations weighing him down; here, he can be just a person. Like everybody. He's already found a friend from a rather Cheysuli-like culture on a totally different world, whose companion is a white dragon even though he's not here yet - so there's no reason to be overawed by the lion. Cynric can use the library as well, of course; he had a key before. But Atreyu, the friend with the absent dragon, can't read yet, and I'm teaching him, because you don't have to as a buffalo hunter, but in Milliways, it's awkward not to be able to read the little notes the bar gives you, the notice board, the specials board and the tab board. Let alone all the books. Some new weirdness has broken out which is hopefully not connected to our Hellfly, and Richard has turned into a wild scot, painted blue and wearing nothing but a kilt, David told me. But spealking Greek, nothing but Greek, which is totally not Scottish, which is more like Erinnish and Ellasian. Greek is like Ephebian, from your world, I have found out - I've been researching it since then, because David asked me if there was a kind of magic by which somebody can learn a language in an instant, because Amadeo is furious that he can't speak to Richard any more. That's what I'm working on at the moment."

Eska just listens and blinks, blinks and listens, noticing that that's probably why her chiar is out of shape.

"Knowledge of a language in an instant? I wouldn't have thought so. Knowledge isn't generally that easy or simple. It can't really be magicked like that."

But if Eska's learned anything at Milliways, it's never to say anything's impossible, even if it seems to break natural and magical laws.

"What have you got so far?"

"Well, the translation spell in effect here which causes everybody to think they speak the same language, apart from Arithon? Is Landlording, which is even beyond godding. But I thought that a mental link might work, to make them understand what the other thinks, instead of what the other is saying out loud. But that's difficult, because language shapes what you can think. Greek is funny - it has one more of everything: not just active ad passive modes, but also a weirdness called aorist in between; not only singular and plural, but dual - and so on. There's a word that means both 'green' and 'white'. Taking that from somebody else's mind would be just as confusing."

Asar-Suti waves the Greek Grammar he had been reading.

"So by now, I'm trying to cram the language into my own head to then offload it into Amadeo's if he is there; or I might try something with a crystal it he stays in New Orleans and only David comes to get my results."

Eska shakes her head. "I don't think that's magic. I think that's mimetic coincidence. Ray, Barry and I have long known that English is equivalent to Morporkian, Uberwaldean to Russian, Genoan to French and so on. We established this when I was new.

"So you're trying to learn the knowledge yourself and pass it on?" she considers this. "I didn't know you could work mind magic. I guess that should have been obvious. That might work, but have you considered creating a translator? Train an imp in Greek, or enchant a crystal?"

Asar-Suti makes a face. "I am not ever going to have any dealings with imps again - the espresso demon who freed the Hellfly was an imp, according to Ray. And yes, I can do mind magic, only it's rather rude and disruptive as a rule, so I rarely use it. The abilities I had during the Hellfly time were much more natural and easy and non-invasive. A crystal, though - hmmm..."

Then, he registers what else Eska has been saying.

"You mean we actually do speak the same language when I think I'm using the 'common language' of my world, Boromir that of his, Atreyu that of his, you speak Morporkian and Ray, Barry or Gil speak English? That's just absurd! Convergent evolution is all nice and fine, but that is beyond coincidence. That is as if - as if all our stories had been told in the same language? Apart from Arithon's, of course."

"They are natural," Eska agrees, glad to have them back, "and a crystal would be my bet. You could train it to understand the meaning of what someone's trying to say. Like a crystal ball designed for the non magical user. Shouldn't be too complicated."

She nods. "You didn't realise this? One of the first conversations Barry and I had was about common language, and we exchanged written languages from our worlds. You've been to other worlds: I've been to Earth. You didn't notice that your common language worked there as well?"

"I thought I just..."

Asar-Suti staaaaares.

"As if the spell extended from here to wherever I went. Arithon, on the other hand, said he had to especially learn English, unlike everybody else. Think of people like Svava, or those that come from Japan! We understand them as well."

He thinks a bit.

"But then, by rights, the spell should extend to Richard's sudden Greek phase..."

"I've never met anyone called Svava," Eska says patiently, "and I've nevr even heard of Japan. But I do know Morporkian - English - isn't Meg's native language, for one.

"We attributed it to meme transmission between universes. The memes corresponding to language travel between worlds at certain points."

"Svava. The Valkyrie. Because of whom Doctor Lecter sat in that chair for many days without ever moving?" Asar-Suti supplies.

"And we can speak to Meg, no problem, and I don't think she'd consent the speaking English - she is very patriotic about Frenchland or what her country's called. But we speak to her without any problem. So we're not really speaking the same language."

Thinking for a moment how to explain Japan, Asar-Suti settles for, "Japan is a bunch of islands where Tokyo is, where Loki and Yamino live. The lady Ako, and Ryo-oh-ki, and Inuyasha are from there as well, and Windows 95 is, too, if I remember rightly. They're very magical there, and put extensions on names, like '-san' and '-chan' and '-sama'."

"I know," Eska says, with the same steady patience. "You said. But I haven't actually met her, so I don't know what language she speaks. And Meg occasionally slips into her native French. You've never noticed? She's not speaking her native language when she talks to us.

"I remember a Yamino. The world snake? I didn't talk to him long enough to establish if he was talking his own language or not, but if they're adding words on to the ends of names, wouldn't that suggest they're holding on to linguistic customs while talking someone else's language? A magical translation wouldn't retain those customs."

"Hmmm, you are probably right - Meg calls people 'salad' or something like that if she really doesn't like them. But that might be just a speciality that the spell doesn't catch and leaves as it is? Like the Japanese name extensions, and perhaps the white/green word in Greek, if it came to that?" Asar-Suti suggests.

Esk regards Sooty carefully.

"You know, you're coming up with a lot of caveats to your 'translation spell' theory. Isn't it simpler to assume we're all speaking the same language?"

"On the surface, yes. But what about Svava who comes from a mythical time far in Earth's past? Mordred and Lancelot, or Serena - the same! Languages change with time, and simply beause they're from earlier, they can't speak the same language," Asar-Suti insist. "To say nothing of the Japanese. And if they were all speaking the same language - wouldn't Meg have a French accent? Like Blais has an Erinnish accent when he speaks our Common Tongue to me?"

Eska frowns. "Meg does have an accent," she points out. "So does Serena. I don't think English is her native tongue, either.

"The thing is, this spell, if it exists, must extend to written language as well, and it doesn't explain why I still can't read Uberwaldean or Epheban texts, which somehow look remarkably similar to the Earth Russian or Greek."

"Why should it extend to written texts - spoken language is quite different to written one, and quite another mental process," Asar-Suti protests. "And as this is the bar at the end of the universe, anybody should be able to come here, but not everybody speaks English or Morporkian or whatever you call it. Apart from Arithon, who had to learn it, it came naturally to everybody. I am sure there is some magic involved that at least gives people the command of the English language, if it doesn't translate outright."

Changing your argument around a bit is, of course, the sure sign of a losing one.

It really is.

"Because," Eska points out, "I can read your rune texts, Gil's books on transfiguration, and Ray's books on particle physics, but I can't read Klatchian, or Russian, or French. Ask Meg how she knows English, I'm sure it won't be because she just magically discovered she could."

"I am so going to pounce her the next time I see her," Asar-Suti says. "And anybody from the Japanese contingent. I mean, all the speculation is in vain - we simply have to ask people, and then we see whether everybody does speak the same language, or whether some kind of language spell is in effect. I'm sure that'll give me new ideas about how to make Amadeo understand Greek, too."

Eska beams. "Let me know what you find," she says, with confidence.

"Oh, I definitely will," Asar-Suti answers, with as much confidence.

Barry heads into the Bar, sees Eska, and heads over.

"Good morning. How's it going?"

"Morning, Barry," Eska smiles at him. "It's going well. No magical accidents in the past day, I think that's a good start. How are you?"

He grins back. "I would agree. Though careful what you say around here." He sits.

"I'm...calm. I miss Sara, but sometimes a little time to one's self just lets all the things that have been eating at you fade away into the mists."

Eska laughs. "Right. Because the man at the next table along in here could easily have no irises in his black eyes, and that is someone you don't want to tempt," she says, light heartedly.

"I'm glad you're not worrying too much, although I'm sure you miss Sara. Have you spoken to Stephanie since yesterday?"

Bary wonders if she means something by "man with no irises" and then decides to let sleeping dogs lie for once.

"No sign of Stephanie yesterday. But I wasn't looking too hard. It was holiday back on my world, so I just took it easy. Seemed right for some reason. I'm sure she'll find me beofre long though."

Eska nods. "Fair enough. What was the holiday?"

"My nation's independence day. Back home, it's a day that traditionally includes picnics, barbecues, and fireworks displays. You might have seen the fireworks out back last night? That was to mark the occasion. Though I think Ace was doing them, whihc is a little funny, since my nation declared independence from hers. But that was long before either of us were born." He then thinks for a moment.

"Funny. I'd forgotten. It was the anniversary of my first date with Iris. We went to Central City's big picnic in the park. We used to go every year after that. Guess things have changed," he says with a touch of nostalgia.

"Maybe in Ace's country they celebrate being rid of you?" Eska asks, smirking softly. "I wasn't around much last night, so I missed the fireworks. Sounds fun though. It would have been nice to go."

She smiles a little at his nostalgia, unsure exactly of what to say.

"Things have certainly changed," she supplies, finally.

He considers whether he feels like thinking or talkinga bout about the old days, about Iris. He doesn't. And he realizes that as long as he's happy, the rest can stay merely a series of cherished memories.

"The relationship between the United States - my country - and Britain - Ace's - is complicated. By my time, over 300 years of history. But as Ace is pretty straightforward, and likes to blow things up, I suspect she didn't give the history much thought."

"And it probably served as a distraction. She's probably quite worried about Tim."

"Of course she is," Eska says, thoughtfully. "How about him? Have you spoken to him? You can get into the office, right?"

He grins sheepishly.

"I can. And I should. But I guess I just don't know what to say. Or how he'll take it.

"But if we're going to get this resolved, someone has got to talk him into at least letting himself out of the cells. And I know he does tend to listen to me."

Eska nods. "He does. Quite a few people here do. I'd suggest you give it a try, at least."

"Are you implying I'm some sort of elder statesman?" he says with a smirk. But he's flattered.

"I'll head up there this afternoon. Maybe I can find Alanna and we can tag-team him till he sees reason."

"I don't know what you mean by 'statesman'," Eska points out, "I just meant that Tim's read all your comics, you've taken half the young hero contingent of the bar under your wing, and nearly all the academic types turn to you for advice and as a sounding board.

"People listen to you. Talking to Tim isn't a bad idea if you think he should let himself out."

He smiles, a little self-conscious, a little proud.

"I was just a teasing, a bit. But when I think about the voice I have here...

"It still surprises me. It probably always will. But then, one of the disadvantages of the mask was that it muted my voice. Or rather, the effect of my voice. People respected the Flash, but at a distance. Without that mask, I can make a difference I couldn't before."

Eska smiles, wrinkling her nose slightly as she does so.

"It's good to see you discover the voice. When I forst met you you were worrying about your ability to talk to Violet and Bart and now you've taken on the deputy chief of Security, and the personification of magic.

"It's all in the way you talk to people, almost like witchcraft, you know."

He thinks for a moment.

"I never did figure out how to talk to Violet. And I haven't seen her in a long while. I think she appreciated that I wanted to help, but she wasn't ready.

"Which might be the other key - knowing when to say something as much as how to say it. There's an old saying on Earth - 'timing is everything.' I think my timing a lot better now.

"As would suit a speedster, of course."