one . video

[misconceived]

WHO Chris Halliwell
BROADCAST Network unfiltered video.
ACTION The SS Huntress.
WHEN Shortly after the Shuffle.

Again?

[ This is a young man circling around as he's transported to his new ship, the SS Huntress. He's mostly talking to his new crewmates but there's that unknowing broadcast going out, too. ]

Moved around twice in twenty-four hours, and this one is not nearly as nice as the first one. We're supposed to stay here while we play this stupid game? [ Psht. ] Which, by the way, I didn't sign up for. Did anyone? Because I was in the middle of something, you know, important.

Comments

[merchantprince]

You might be a beanpole, but you sound fourteen. I just figured your balls hadn't dropped yet.

[He shrugs and turns around to watch the nearest screen.]

I know people who've made alcohol in their bathtubs. The beer wasn't bad. The smell, though...

[misconceived]

[ Ugh. Chris glares and crosses his arms and ugh. Unfortunately he's heard all that shit before because his life is pain. ]

That's just my voice.

[ Take the warning and drop it there, Varric. ]

Yeah, and what would we make it with out here? Stardust? Ship rust?

[merchantprince]

[Varric drops it, since making fun of people for stuff they can't help is sort of mean. That is, after all, his life-- he's short, he's always gonna be short, and he's always gonna be a weirdo of a dwarf. But he's happy with who he is... if not some of his choices.]

We could probably make something out of those food squares. All you need is sugar and something starchy. And time. [He leans on the console, gloved fingers squeezing the edge.] I hate to break it to you, but we're going to be here a while.

[misconceived]

[ Chris pinches the bridge of his nose. ]

And the one thing I don't have anymore? Is time. Great. You think they've even got any of that much here? I mean... who knows what that stuff actually is.

[merchantprince]

Won't know until you try. It beats bashing your head against the wall.

[He scratches his chin.]

Why the big hurry? You got a hot date back home?

[misconceived]

That was more like Plan D than Plan B.

[ He scoffs, rolls his eyes. ]

No, something a little more important than that. I was just... getting really close to a deadline of mine.

[merchantprince]

Good to know that's still an option, then. Save it for later. We might need it.

[Varric lets that answer sit in the air for a moment, then he tries something different. To lighten the mood.]

Tell me about it. I've got a couple popular serials going right now, and there's a new chapter due next week. Somehow I don't think I'm going to make it.

[He straightens a bit.]

What's your name?

[misconceived]

Right. You're a writer. That's not exactly what I was talking about.

[ Yes, Chris, that is what the dwarven man was implying. He raises his brows at the question, noting the other isn't offering his name first. ]

Chris. And you are...?

[merchantprince]

Yes, I know that's not what you were talking about, but I was trying to defuse the situation since I have no idea to tell you.

[He is a little sullen, but that's basically the theme of this thread.]

Varric Tethras. Here's to hoping this is a short detour for all of us.

[misconceived]

You're doing a bang-up job there. [ Beat. ] What kind of stuff do you write?

Short would be nice. Already over would be better.

[merchantprince]

Yeah, I think I lost a little inspiration. Sorry. [A pause.] I write lots of things. I've got a tale about adventure, a gritty crime series, a romance serial... I don't really pick what to write. It just happens.

[Sometimes literally. Like the book about Hawke.]

Yep. Our luck is crap.

[misconceived]

So you're not one of those authors who just sticks to one thing all the time.

[ Sigh. ]

Tell me about it. At least the ship seems to work like it should. I mean, I guess. [ how do spaceship? ]

[merchantprince]

I have a pretty short attention span.

[Varric holds his hands up in a gesture of 'do not want'.]

Don't look at me. I don't even know how half this shit works.

[misconceived]

Probably to fit the rest of you.

[ he's getting you back for the crack about his voice okay ]

What, the computers? They don't look too bad.

[merchantprince]

[WOW. LOW BLOW. ... wait that's a short joke too.]

Keep talking like that, messere, and you can stay a soprano for the rest of your life.

[He snorts.]

The computers, the lights. Everything. You want a night-light? Candles. If you're not poor, you turn up an oil lamp.

It's nuts.

[misconceived]

[ It's like you're just built for them or something! ]

If that happens, you might have to get used to being oh... about a head shorter than usual.

[ Chris looks a bit amused by the reaction to technology. ]

Candles burn down and oil's not exactly going to last forever. This? Renewable, sustainable. Convenient.

[merchantprince]

[Varric sneers.]

How cute. You're too tall to argue with daggers in your kneecaps, kid.

Well, yeah, I get that-- but how the hell does it work?

[MAGNETS HOW DO THEY WORK]

[misconceived]

Can you even reach my kneecaps?

[ Chris stares for a moment, then shakes his head. ]

It's like, middle school science. Electricity. You know lightning and all that? [ He raises a palm, face up, where small arcs of lightning crackle over it before disappearing as soon as they came. ] Turns out it packs a hell of a punch.

[merchantprince]

Ha ha, very funny. Isn't it a bit past your bedtime, human?

[... First off, what the hell is middle school? Secondly-- that is magic. Again. That is magic closer to what he's used to, and he respectfully takes a step back.]

Okay. Electricity or lightning magic I get, but does the ship come with a chance of demonic possession?

[misconceived]

Didn't we just go over this? I've got a name.

[ Mention of demonic possession gets Chris to snap his hand closed and look almost offended. Electricity is not demonic, sir. Get out. ]

No! What? What the hell does that have to do with possession? We're not on a ghost ship.

[merchantprince]

And I've got more to me than just being a dwarf! Funny how that works.

[Varric looks up from where he'd been adjusting his gloves. That's an interesting reaction, and he actually pays attention now.]

You mean that your world's mages don't have demons trying to possess them all the time?

[misconceived]

Your sparkling personality, for example.

[ Chris brings his hand back down and crosses his arms instead. ]

Hell no. Demons trying to kill witches maybe, but possessions are pretty rare.

[merchantprince]

Why thank you.

[He does have a sparkling personality, so he's ignoring that sarcasm.]

The only Witch I know is the Witch of the Wilds, and she can turn into a dragon. A demon is chump change compared to that. But, if people who can use magic aren't being hounded by demons every time they sleep, then... shit. That's great.

[misconceived]

[ He rolls his eyes. Opens his mouth to continue the magic debate, then pauses. Continues on after a moment of thought. ]

Mages are called witches where I'm from. And no, yeah, that's reserved for the really special ones. [ That's sarcasm. Just so you know, Varric. ] Doesn't mean it isn't dangerous, but... why don't you explain your side first.

[merchantprince]

Oh. What about... guys? Not much of a gender-neutral term, if you ask me.

[He looks unsure about this whole witch thing, but...]

Okay, tiny disclaimer: dwarves can't be mages, so this is all stuff I've seen or heard. I have some friends who are mages, though.

[His expression settles into something nearly mournful.]

Mages are closer to the Fade than normal people-- something about being able to pop in and out whenever they want-- and the Fade itself is full of demons and spirits. You get a demon possessing a mage, you get an ugly, fleshy abomination that wants to wreck shit and eat every soul in sight. They'll jump into corpses, too.