one ; he's a transponster!

[yourdistraction]

Who: Merrill & Fenris
Broadcast: {video} Fleet-Wide
Action: Anywhere on the Marsiva (they may split up we'll see).
When: January 14th

{VIDEO} ;

[ The video switches on to reveal— well okay it's an arm, covered in leather, chainmail and white fur, but only because the communicator's taking a moment to get pulled back, and only because there's more than one person trying to use it.

Or more than one elf, with pointed ears and both faces intricately covered in tattoos as the biggest clue. Merrill's markings are as dark as her short, braided hair and Fenris's are as light as his (there might even be a glow). Contrarily, perhaps, she looks much more cheerful in her greeting, but there is still a level of heightened stress to her tone. ]

Yes, hello! It seems we landed in the wrong time. World, actually! Now you promised, since the war's over. Can we speak to somebody in the Initiative? Where are our— Um—

[Merrill doesn't get to finish her sentence, as Fenris wrests control of the communicator from her. He looks decidedly less friendly, in fact, he looks just about ready to punch someone in the face. Hard.]

Our weapons. They are missing. [He jabs an annoyed thumb in Merrill's direction, whose irritated sigh can be heard off-camera.] I understand she likely disrupted the transporter. Just open up another one and send us back to Kirkwall. Now. I have no intention of staying on your blighted moon again. [A pause, a disdainful look around.] Or wherever this is...

[Actually, this looks distinctly non-Initiative. And it's definitely not United Earth, either, he remembers their holding pens, and this is not them. Where the heck ARE they? He doesn't have long to ponder or even let someone answer before there's another sound from Merrill off-camera; a gasp.]

There's something on you! Hold still.

What? What is- NO! Don't you touch me. [He may tolerate you existing in his life now, Merrill, but that doesn't mean you're allowed to touch him with your magey hands. He turns around a couple of times, trying to find...whatever it is on him, his hands tapping around his back until...oh he has a thing on his neck. WHY DOES HE HAVE A THING ON HIS NECK??

His fingers close on it, and he tries to yank it off. If you ever wondered what would happen if you tried to take your Augment off, wonder no more. Fenris gives a pained, frightened yelp, then curls into a horrible, shuddering ball on the floor, muttering horribly in Tevene. He's somewhere in the horrible recesses of his own broken mind right now, don't mind him.

Off-camera: ]

All right, I won't touch you.

Comments

video;

[merchantprince]

[Whatever joy or relief he's feeling at seeing Fenris and Merrill alive and well disappears when one of them just fucking falls over. That looks bad. Fenris doesn't show pain a lot, he's the cool stoic broody type, so this-- this is bad.

Varric knocks over a chair in his mad dash to get closer to the screen.]

Shit, shit! Daisy, what's going on? Is he bleeding out?

[God damn it YOU HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN HERE LIKE TEN SECONDS AND YOU'RE ALREADY TRYING TO KILL YOURSELVES.]

[wolfuncaged]

[Oh hey, it's Varric. Either that or this thing in his neck finally broke what was left of his sanity and now he's hearing voices. Could be that. Fenris takes a calming breath and sits up a little.]

I am...fine. [Probably. He winces and rubs a hand on his head, avoiding that...whatever it is.] It was brief, at least.

[He pinches the bridge of his nose, before focusing on the camera again. Yep. Definitely Varric. Can't mistake that chest hair anywhere.]

What are you doing here, Dwarf? You were not pulled in by the Initiative.

[merchantprince]

[Don't look so sad to see him, Fenris.]

Well, now you know. Don't pull on the neck-thing. You might die.

[Now that he's sure Fenris isn't about to keel over and basically get Hawke to kill him, he straightens the chair and fwumps down in it.]

Hold on, what's the Initiative? This is ran by 'Atroma', whatever that is.

[wolfuncaged]

Yes. I worked that one out, thank you.

[He really has missed you, you jackass.]

Atroma? I have...not heard of them. Merrill and I have been held captive by a group called the Initiative for some months, forced to fight in a war. It had been won, though. We were supposed to go home.

[merchantprince]

[He missed you too, you broody asshole.] Maker's breath! You both disappeared? [And Varric didn't notice?] Now that-- that's something I would've heard about. This just isn't adding up.

[He rubs at his temple.]

This isn't home. Obviously. This is... the world's longest, most boring play, except we're the actors and we can't spit on the audience. Someone told me it's like "TV"-- whatever that is.

[wolfuncaged]

Apparently, time stood still, back home. [His tone is dismissive, it was all too close to MAGIC for his liking.] I did not know if that was true or not.

...Oh.

We had television on Exsilium...that was the Initiative's...base, I suppose. It...was not pleasant. The description is apt.

[Then, because this is more important:] Are you somewhere safe? [Practicalities first, sentimentality after.]

[merchantprince]

Time stood still? If it were anyone but you telling me this, I'd ask if you'd been eating questionable food in Darktown. As it is... that explains a lot. Without explaining anything. How the hell...

[He's just gonna-- stop thinking about it.]

No need to worry about me, elf. I'm on the SS Huntress-- it's one of the smaller ships floating around the big one you're on. The crew's like one-third my age, but I'm managing.

Whenever they get you sorted, we should catch up. I've got a pretty good thing going in the waystation; I'll buy you a drink and some semi-edible food. I don't suppose you have some cards on you?

[wolfuncaged]

It gets worse. That is just the beginning of the insanity I have learned of our world.

[That gets the hint of a smile.] Being surrounded by youngsters are making you feel your ages, Dwarf?

I don't, I'm afraid. [He did, but he's pretty sure Isabella swiped them.] But I would like that. It has been far too long, old friend.

[Maybe it's been long enough for Varric to forget Fenris still owes him money. An elf can dream.]

[merchantprince]

I've aged gracefully! Like an elf. Even though I'm getting too old for this shit.

[Varric hasn't forgotten about the money he's owed, but it's been like two years. He figures he won't get paid back ever-- even if Fenris acquired money somehow (probably from Hawke).]

Oh, well. It was worth a shot.

[wolfuncaged]

Of course you have. Just like one. [Was that sarcasm? Probably.

Nope. That money is gone now. Might as well have been eaten by a dragon.]

I am sure we can procure a deck from somewhere.

[merchantprince]

At least I'm not going gray. [OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH--]

I'll ask around and see what I can come up with.

[wolfuncaged]

[Oh no you DIDN'T!!!] If I have told you once, I have told you a hundred times. It's white, not gray.

I am sure if anyone can manage such a thing, it's you.

[merchantprince]

Good news on that front: you can probably dye it fun colors with whatever crap they're making us drink.

video;

[yourdistraction]

No, he's—

[ !

!!! ]

Varric, you're here! Or are you here? Are you there? Where is there?

[merchantprince]

[He rubs his face.]

I'm on one of the smaller ships, Daisy. But it's good to see you, too.

[yourdistraction]

It has been a long time! Do you know how long?

[merchantprince]

Two and a half years? Sorry about not sending you a letter recently, by the way. Something big came up.

[yourdistraction]

Um— No! It's been almost a year. Oh, but if you were pulled in from a different time—

Why haven't you seen me for two and a half years?! Have you been here for that long?

[merchantprince]

Whoa there, Daisy. Slow down. What's this about being 'pulled from a different time'?

And no, I've been here two weeks or something. Not nearly that long.

[yourdistraction]

Then why—

Well, time travel is very fickle! Even when managed by humans, it isn't easily controlled. I suppose the same could be said for traveling realms, if this is any indication.

[ The FADE is easier to navigate thank you goodbye. ]

Fenris and I were in a place, a time, called Exsilium. It would be a very long story, but one I think you'll want to hear! Do we really have to wait to see the real you?

[merchantprince]

Sounds like Fade bullshit all over again.

-- Yeah, I can't exactly drop everything and come visit. I'd love to, but... [He scratches the back of his head.] You have to wait a couple days until they kick you onto another ship. Then you'll have access to a shuttle.

The food is nasty, by the way. I've been hanging out on one of the stations.

[yourdistraction]

[ WELL THAT'S JUST STUPID. If she has to try and hijack a shuttle... She watched Han Solo do it, how hard can it be? ]

Have you ever eaten snake-in-a-can, Varric?

[merchantprince]

[Varric looks one part intrigued and two parts disgusted.]

You know, can't say I have. Unless they put that in the stew at the Hanged Man. Which is totally possible.

[yourdistraction]

Oh trust me, there's nothing like it at the Hanged Man! You haven't eaten terrible food until you've been forced to eat snake-in-a-can.

[merchantprince]

I am... so sorry, Daisy. If it's any consolation, I haven't actually seen anything canned like that yet.