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]

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.

[misconceived]

Common misconception. [ Says the male witch. He looks interested at the idea of dwarves being not magical, though. ]

All right, I think I've got it. Just explain what the Fade is. A plane of magic? Spiritual energy that people can tap into?

[merchantprince]

Right. Different worlds, different rules.

[We might have a mage in the form of Sandal, but Varric hasn't personally thought of that.]

It's a place, like another world on top of ours. Or something. Most people only see it when they sleep, I'm pretty sure, but screwing around with magic can knock you into the Fade too.

[misconceived]

Exactly.

[ Yeah, this is definitely interesting and most of the snark has completely disappeared by now. Learning about magic is always fascinating. ]

That sounds like a dream plane. It might be the combined powers of untapped dreams and thoughts manifest into demons and magic and people with a higher sensitivity to it can get into that power while awake. That's what you said, right? Mages are closer to the Fade?

[merchantprince]

[Varric's about as magical as a fucking stick. He doesn't claim to be an expert.]

That... sounds about right. You seem pretty interested in this stuff. Something similar where you're from?

[misconceived]

Sort of. More like I'm drawing parallels to the same things that work differently.

[ He tilts his head, considers. ]

Demons are more or less the same anywhere you go, though. Everything else sounds a little... wilder.