Kyeo is running his hand up and down Sarham's back, as though counting scars he can't feel, and then there is something, in the room, something enormous, and he sees his own face and Sarham's mirrored in an incoming oval and then -
- they aren't sitting on Kyeo's bed in Crane Mountain any more.
They seem to be in a park. It's a crisp spring day, a bit chilly, and there are several people around, at various distances, playing ball games in groups or reading or chatting. Some buildings are visible over the trees, maybe ten stories tall, their facades decorated strangely.
A few of the people have apparently noticed their sudden appearance and are staring at them with mild curiosity, but not approaching.
Sarham stands with him, squinting for signage anywhere which might indicate where they're at.
There doesn't seem to be any in the park at least, and if the buildings have some they're not visible from this distance.
"I guess odds are decent somebody has enough command of one of the languages." They walk toward the nearest knot of people.
Two of them split off and jog towards them - rather quickly, for a jog, but with an easy and casual air - once they notice the approach. One of them is unusually tall and muscular, especially for a woman, and the other has a less-discernable gender, with more of a swimmer's physique, but is still clearly quite fit.
They wave and say something incomprehensible.
They share a confused glance, then spend a moment looking at him.
" - Repeat that?" requests the shorter one.
" . . . Well, we do now?" They sound thoroughly confused and perhaps like they expect this should be obvious.
The shorter one seems at a loss for words. "We - why don't you have a word for - we, uh, 'copied' it," tries the taller.
"Kularan doesn't have a dedicated word for suddenly knowing how to speak a new language because we can't do that."
These people are so confused.
"Do you just all decide to do it the slow way, for - philosophical reasons, or . . . ?"
"That still wouldn't take years, would it? You'd still be faster than little babies who're working from nothing."
"Are you also slow at learning for philosophical reasons."
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