In the time Alcuin had been in the hotel, he had come to accept in a general sense his current situation. However, he still felt lost, and there were still times when his grief threatened to overwhelm him. Though he had become better at controlling it, letting it come out at night when he was alone in his (large, empty) bed, and not when he was meeting new people. For the most part.

And so, he was trying to come out of his room more. As confusing as this world seemed to him, he also knew that he could not stand to be so lonely for long. D'Angelines were not built for loneliness.

He had found paper and something to write with in the hotel gift shop, and he was documenting new knowledge he gained, questions he had, things he did not understand. The extent to his ignorance about the world bothered him a great deal.

Today he lounged in the lobby, the same place he'd arrived (though it seemed that someone, at some point, had cleaned his blood off the floor, now as if he'd never been there). He sat in a large chair, writing in the notebook. And when he looked up and saw someone standing nearby, something about them sparked another question for him.

"Pardon me," he said politely. "May I ask you something?" He had, at least, after several embarrassing encounters, mostly trained himself out of referring to people as 'my lord' or 'my lady.'

The woman was beautiful, reminding Alcuin of some of the great beauties of the Night Court. But that was not what he wished to ask her about.

He nodded to the item at her hip, the metal device that also glimmered with jewels.

"What is that?" he asked her.

Alcuin realized now that this must be something very obvious, and once again felt foolish in his ignorance. But then, he would never learn if he did not ask.

"I am afraid I do not know what that is," he confessed.

"I... assume you do not mean religious canon," said Alcuin after a beat. "Long range? Like a bow and arrow?"

Alcuin regarded her with even politeness.

"You arm yourself," he said, and nodded to the daggers. "And there are even more that I cannot see." He had been taught to spot that well enough, though her clothing was strange and he was fairly certain he could not say where they all were. "Is this a place where you expect trouble?"

"But you haven't found it here?" Alcuin asked, genuinely wanting to know.

"I am glad to hear that," said Alcuin. Thinking in part how reluctant he was to raise a sword again.

Then, hoping his interruption with questions was not rude, he added, "And thank you for answering. My name is Alcuin."

Alcuin smiled at the well dressed man. Then he held up the book he'd been reading, the one he had found in a drawer in his room. The Holy Bible.

"This book," he said. "Is it considered fiction, or religious doctrine?"

Alcuin considered this thoughtfully for a moment and then nodded in understanding.

"You are familiar with this story, then?" he asked. "Of the son of the One God who bled on the cross?"

"Well, I have read the entire thing," Alcuin admitted. "Some is familiar. But what I am wondering is... have you heard of Elua?"