They appear in midair, visible out of a few thirtieth-floor apartments.
One starts to fall. The other catches her by the arm, flings out - wing-shapes of light - and slows her, spiraling down until they're at street level.
"We're interested in different things than - I don't know what to call you-and-humans. Flesh people? We're interested in different things than flesh people at least until we've spent a lot of time around flesh people. It wouldn't have occurred to me to try to meet other elementals or find out who spoke the languages I knew on my own for a very long time."
"We could encourage people to think of this as - some kind of natural phenomenon, rather than as strange people appearing, but obviously thinking of you as less people-like has been awful for you also. What would be the best way for people to treat new elementals, ignore them or..."
"Is it a good idea to explain to them rules that we have in the city or will that just make them - more flesh-people-like?"
"So going to meet ones who are not seeking us out seems unfair, but if they arrive and are curious explaining city rules is okay?"
"Uh huh. Thank you. Will any of them come up with - wanting to hurt flesh people - if we don't horribly mistreat elementals like humans did?"
"It's more that the Amentan concept of people includes 'is obliged to obey the laws' and 'needs permission to cross national borders' and so on."
"No one's trying to propose credits for elementals who coalesce. But the concept that the law applies to all people is harder to shake off."
"- I can see if that will make everyone feel more comfortable and if it does then we can arrange it. Thank you."
"Okay. Thank you."
How does everyone feel about some kind of international elemental governing authority that resolves problems with wild elementals, since they're not very suited to Amentans doing it.