any way the wind blows

❛ from everywhere she'd ever been, she was no stranger to the world, no stranger to the wind ❜ / OFRAH SELASSIE. 34. THE EPIGRAPHIST.

[thepigraphist]

anthony / gcldengod​

@thepigraphist​

“Ofrah!” There a smile on his face, though a little more sober than he’d like. Goodwin and his tallies were going to kill him—he hadn’t learned to live moderately and he wasn’t going to start now. “Did you find the transport already, or am I hoping for a miracle at this point?”

“anthony,” the brunette replied, perhaps not as ecstatically as her counterpart but still genuinely pleased to see him. he was one of the few people in the crew whose company she actually enjoyed. “the transport? ah, yes, the transport. the transport for the crew, the transport specifically chosen to carry the crew, the crew’s transport... that transport?”

    then, she sighed, her head shaking ever so slightly. “the real answer depends. how fit are you currently to receive disappointing news?” 

[thepigraphist]

* RAMSES / @ramsessamir​

​“how does that saying go? ‘beggars... can’t be choosers’?” ofrah frowned, disbelief coloring every inch of her disposition. “i know that there no longer are many options to our disposition, but we don’t necessarily have to end up as the beggars. look at--” she turned away from the crew working on the ferry, shielding herself and ramses so they wouldn’t hear “-- look at the ferry, ramses. that thing won’t stand the two of us, let alone the crew. and i’m not sure i’d place my life on those men’s hands.” 

[thepigraphist]

hal / dreamsmapped​.

“ Uh,  no.  Just something I picked up from the library to keep me occupied. ”  It was a fantasy novel he had picked up at a bookstore he had found. Something short enough to finish before the trip began and that he hadn’t read before, which was enough to keep him occupied. He doesn’t expect the straight forwardness of her question, and he stumbles for a moment before saying,  “ Well, I had heard there was a little bit of a disagreement. Just wanted to make sure everything’s alright now. ”

.

“oh,” her lips curled into a faint smile, “do you uh... like jules verne?” she didn’t know why she asked. maybe she did so out of mere formality... ironic. or, perhaps she was actually curious. what the europeans’ literary tastes were like was still somewhat unfamiliar to her. the short-lived delay before he spoke again cause the grin on her face to linger, even if the topic previously touched on concerned her and the medic’s quarrel. “ah, so that’s it. well, i appreciate the concern, mr. berl. i just struggle to see how dr. alkan’s input means to help the mission. did edith say anything else about the... disagreement? as the leader of the mission, maybe we could benefit from her judgement.”

[thepigraphist]

ramses / ramsessamir​.

Ramses snorted somewhat indelicately and ran a hand through his hair. “All good things, I hope,” he said wryly. “It’s nice to meet you, Ofrah.”

“Hieroglyphs,” he echoed curiously, tilting his head, eyes sharpening the way they did when he latched onto something he was truly curious about. “Someone has to know how to read them, I guess. They seem confusing.”

His expression flattened once again into the familiar smile when the conversation turned back to his job, to the familiar.

“Can’t say I’ve been on an trip like this, but I’ve been on my share of adventures,” Ramses admitted. “Usually it’s just thrill-seeking tourists. This time it’s thrill-seeking tourists with a mission,” he added dryly.

.

“i wouldn’t admit to it if they were bad things, mr. samir,” she conceded, smiling as her head tilted slightly. then she nodded, as a way of saying the pleasure was mutual.

   “sometimes they are. in this expedition, the key is not mistaking them for each other. can you imagine where that would lead us? one inaccurate translation and we’d be sent around walking in circles ---- or worse.” ofrah shrugged, the words perhaps a bit too nonchalant for what they implied. but she trusted her abilities too fervently to be afraid at this point.

   “there is a first time for everything, isn’t there? people say that all the time. this can just be another adventure to add to your record, no?” her eyes widened ever so slightly. “ah, i see you’ve pegged us all for tourists. you’re not too far off. do you expect this ‘mission’ to go as smoothly as your usual trips?”

[thepigraphist]

ramses / ramsessamir​.

@thepigraphist​

The setting sun filled the lounge with light, gilding everything from the furniture to the picture frames to the motes of dust floating through the air. It was quiet, with most of the company seeking out dinner—just Ramses and one other remained. Ofrah, he believed? He’d heard the name thrown around, but he hadn’t yet properly met her.

He stood and walked over with a broad smile. “Ramses Samir. I don’t believe we’ve met yet. I’ll be your guide for the trip. Do you have much experience with expeditions like this?”

.

it felt almost unbecoming not marvel at the scene, the outlines of the lounge’s furniture reverberating the golden glow of the dusk. as much as she attempted to disguise her gaiety, ofrah still felt stripped of her breath. no qualms remained for not joining the others at dinner, seeing as they’d be spending all of the upcoming days as a group starting soon. even when enjoying the calmness alone ( or so she thought ), it all felt at ease. 

    “ah, i’d heard of you, though i believe we hadn’t been acquainted,” ofrah returned the gesture, though offered a comparably more subdued grin. “i am ofrah, and i will be the one analyzing whichever hieroglyphs we come across -- not as fast-paced of a job as being the guide.” 

    “i, uh--” for a moment, she considered lying-- “no, not much. i’m familiar with the logistics in theory, but not in practice. you? how often do you guide groups of historians and archaeologists seeking old tombs?”  

[thepigraphist]

hal / dreamsmapped​.

@thepigraphist​

“  Evening. How are you, Ofrah ?  ”  he asks, having looked up from the novel he was reading and seeing who had entered the hotel lounge that had turned into a camp of sorts. Frankly, Harold would prefer not to get involved — considering he had heard some discussion of a conflict earlier in the day, details left out — but he was raised to be polite.

.

“evening to you too. what are you reading? does it have to do with the expedition?” ofrah replied, the greeting still carrying remainders of the frustration stirred by the interaction with the medic. eyes quickly glanced over at the novel, though she doubted it was information she would retain for later. “me? i am splendid,” she feigned a smile, though it lasted very little. then, she sighed gently. “do you really want to know, or is the inquiry just a formality?”

[thepigraphist]

meryem / healingmagic​.

@thepigraphist​

“ you would do well to stop getting under my feet. ”   meryem is not often harsh and is not so, even now, but the words are pointed.   back off.   “ i know what i need for this journey, i do not need you to hover. ”

.

“is that medical advice or a threat, doctor?” the brunette’s head tilted sideways, demeanor stern but for the most part emotionless. “i’m just not sure whether you are actually considering the length of the expedition, nor the potential unpredictability of the hardships that may arise if they do. i wouldn’t say i’m hovering -- i’m just making sure the person responsible for saving us, medically speaking, is aptly prepared.”

[losttombhq]

THE  EPIGRAPHIST

NAME: Ofrah Selassie 

AGE: 34 years old 

 GENDER: cis female 

PRONOUNS: she/her 

FC: Jurnee Smollett

WRITER: Ana

ABOUT

The Epigraphist is the resident hieroglyph expert. While some of the others on the team can read hieroglyphs, The Epigraphist is most familiar with the written language. They’ve practically read everything that’s ever been recovered. They have fully dedicated themselves to their work and will be extremely useless in decoding the inscriptions and carvings that the team comes across.

PERSONALITY:

dedicated, intelligent, diligent

petty, reclusive, jealous

CONNECTIONS

THE TRANSPORT & THE PROTECTOR - You are in constant awe that these two are still alive. You though that they would have been exterminated like dodos. They stand against your theory about survival of the smartest. Everything about them is threatening to you and you hate them, but can’t deny they have some redeeming qualities …physically. 

THE CLASSICIST , THE EGYPTOLOGIST & THE EPIDEMIOLOGIST -  You know you should see them as your allies and friends, but all you can see in your competition. The couple is renowned in their field and you resent the young apprentice for thinking they can come in and jump the spot in line that you deserve. You want what they have: name recognition. 

THE BENEFACTOR - You tend to stick to their side like glue. you are glad to have someone on the team who recognizes you and your contributions. Their flattery is appreciated and you can’t help but adore their swashbuckling charm. You can’t find any flaws in them, except that they aren’t as bright as you. But they have one very important thing that you don’t: money.