Elspeth tucks some of her hair behind her ear and smiles.

He eyes her rather as though he is afraid she might eat him.

"I won't hurt you."

"That... makes good hearing," he says cautiously. "Um. My name is Sandalon."

"And you already know who I am," replies Elspeth.

Which apparently leaves him at something of a conversational loss.

"I can just go try telling Sarion that you won't mess up her world if given the chance, and see if it comes out all sparkly-true," says Elspeth, "but that's more likely to produce conclusive results if you give me some information to work with. I can only produce sourceless truth on an unreliable basis."

"Um," says Sandalon. "I... don't know what to tell you."

Elspeth taps her chin. "Not asking elves questions is hard," she comments.

"It comes easier with practice," he murmurs.

"Probably. I haven't had much. Isibel doesn't mind being asked questions and she doesn't bring any of her elf friends to parties."

"I have never," he says, "met Isibel Sarion."

"Well, people are allowed to ask her questions. And she has interesting friends from other worlds. And she considers this entire world to be her responsibility and she will be embarrassed in front of all her interesting otherworldly friends if one of its population acquires a minted dragon and does anything destructive to or with her before she can put a stop to it."

"I do not want a dragon, in mint or any other flavour," Sandalon says plaintively. "I want to live by myself and make beautiful things and not be especially remembered by history."

"She doesn't seem to want you very much, either, and we aren't positive that you'd Bond if you met anyway, but we've seen copies of you three times before and copies of her three times before and they always show up together."

"Then—if it is a matter of fate—" He bites his lip, then bursts out, "It would be good to know of your courtesy what you expect me to do about any of it!"

"I'm here to learn enough to have a better chance of saying accurately whether it'll be okay or not," says Elspeth. "If you don't have any idea then you can't tell me, I suppose, maybe Sarion will just have to disappoint the dragon." She hmmms. "I could," she says, "invite one of you here in case that would be any help."

"...I don't think I want to meet a one of me who is—unsuitable for dragons," Sandalon says quickly.

"No, the one I'd invite is the one who works for Sarion's alt," says Elspeth, shaking her head.

"Well... that might be all right," he says cautiously.

"Okay." Elspeth taps her Janegem.

[Hey Sandy! Elspeth is trying to talk to an elf of you! She is having trouble and wants help. She can explain the details way faster than I can if you want me to just drop you there.]

[Uh... sure!] says Sandy.

Yoink!