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[dirth]

Who: Solas and you!
Broadcast: Text; universal
Action: On the Pathstone
When: Early morning of the 20th

I am looking for drawing tools. Charcoal, parchment, paints, anything of the like. I have credits I am willing to trade, but I find myself running low on my personal supplies.

[ Having left, his limited supplies of paints had been left to the Pathstone and Cole. Now he needs something to do with his hands and he feels almost... Twitchy with too much time on his hand. ]

Otherwise, I may offer artwork itself in trade. Any visitors to the Pathstone will have seen examples. Thank you.

Comments

[theshabbiestofmen]

I can transfigure you some things, if you'll give me specifications. Though you'll need to give up something in return.

[Wait, that could be taken the wrong way--]

Simply meaning: I can't conjure something from nothing.

[dirth]

[ Solas is amused. At least that doesn't come through via text particularly well. ]

Interesting. What things would work for you?

[theshabbiestofmen]

For charcoal, pencils, parchment, things like that-- anything, honestly, since that's fairly simple. But paints I'd need something close to the substance-- oil for oil, that kind of thing. I don't know much about art, I'll be honest, so you'd have to guide me a bit on that, but.

[dirth]

I think, perhaps, I will be able to manage. It would be no trouble...?

[theshabbiestofmen]

None at all. I can come over now, if you're free.

[dirth]

That would be very generous of you, and I would appreciate it.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Of course.

[At least he doesn't get lost on the way there this time, so-- progress! Remus is murmuring the spell under his breath as he arrives, but it's a simple matter of transfiguration-- he'll be fine. And secretly, he's quite pleased-- not only to be giving something to someone, but so he has a chance to look at those illustrations again.]

Solas?

[dirth]

[ Solas is quick to move down and meet Remus, meeting him with a small smile and a nod of his head. A wave of his hand urges him to move to follow - and Solas knows that the other man will enjoy the halls outside and around his room all the more than the docking station. There the wolves prowl free, decorated with all the tools that Solas had before he was sent home. ]

You are kind to do this for me. If there is something I can draw in return...

[theshabbiestofmen]

Oh, that's all right. I just-- it's difficult, being without your hobbies. I'm going stir crazy without a proper library nearby; the least I can do is help someone else out of that predicament.

[He answers steadily enough, but his attention is drawn to the halls-- the wolves, the style with which all of this is drawn, the colors and attention to detail . . . he's glad, Remus thinks, that he's doing this. Glad to simply help this kind of artistry continue.]

[dirth]

[ He smiles, bowing his head in a slow, gentle nod. ]

Then your generosity is incredible indeed.

[ When they reach his door he nods, opening the door with a flex of his hand - magical protection for no reason other than because he can. ]

After you.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[It's really not, he wants to protest, except that would be pushing it-- and anyway, he's distracted. He'd be a fool not to notice that magical barrier, nor the easy way Solas dispersed it.]

You can do magic as well!

[Oh, and he looks positively delighted as he enters his room.]

Although I assume not transfiguration-- or are you just not skilled in it?

[dirth]

[ Solas pauses, his smile softening into something a little more calm. This he can talk about - this is comfortable. ]

Yes, I am a mage. My skills lie in dreams and the tie between my world and another - transfiguration is not something that I am entirely capable of.

[ Magic in Thedas doesn't work in that way, he thinks, even as he moves to gather the things Remus wanted. The room itself is covered in drawings and artwork, no spot untouched, with a small bright sparkle in the corner - glittering paint that Solas had used without remark. It's obvious why he might need more tools. ]

Make yourself comfortable.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[He does, thank you, sitting on the floor, curling his legs under him as he glances around. Parchment will be first, then, because it's so clearly needed.]

What do you mean, dreams? Interpreting them, or--?

[dirth]

Entering them. Living them.

[ He puts all the things he's gathered in front of Remus before he sits opposite him, making himself comfortable. ]

Sometimes when I walk dreams I see memories in places that I sleep. That is how I learn about the world and the history of Thedas itself.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[He whistles softly.]

That sounds fantastic.

[What a way to learn history. Remus allows himself a moment to imagine that, and then focuses on the materials before him. Parchment, and his mouth tightens as he focuses. But this kind of thing is fairly simple transfiguration-- and so soon Remus sits before a sheaf of parchment, dry but most certainly manageable.]

[dirth]

It is beautiful.

[ But Solas is far more interested in what Remus is doing with his magic than anything else. He's never seen magecraft like this before, and he softens before he smiles, obviously impressed. ]

That is very well done.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Ah-- thank you.

[He grins, terribly pleased by the praise.]

I'm not half so good at it as my friend James, but things like this-- basic transfiguration-- I can do. We did things like this in our first year-- needles into matchsticks, bark into paper, that kind of thing.

[Another sheaf of paper, then-- it won't do for Remus to have to keep coming back here.]

[dirth]

[ Solas isn't the type of person to offer praise where it's not due, proof enough of just how remarkable he considers Remus' talents. It's magic unlike anything he's seen in Thedas and he would rather like to learn more about it, perhaps dabble in some personal experience. ]

It sounds fascinating. There are schools for magic, then, in your world?

[ Solas raises his brows, absolutely curious about the answer to this question. Were the schools like the Circle, high towers where mages were kept and chained, leashed like servants? Or were they more like the schools young children attended to learn, the kind he had seen in dreams and memories? ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

Oh, yes. You're assigned to one at birth if you've got the talent for it-- but you can transfer, obviously, if you want. The one for my country is Hogwarts-- it's around a thousand years old, I think? Founded by four witches and wizards, and we're divided into houses based on what they valued.

[He chatters on cheerfully enough, pleased to be talking about this. James and the others have long since shut him down whenever he tries to talk about Hogwarts, A History, which is honestly a shame.]

My friends and I were in Gryffindor, which places value on courage, chivalry, and determination. The others are Hufflepuff, with a value on dedication, loyalty, fairness, and patience; Ravenclaw, with a value of wit, cleverness, and wisdom; and Slytherin, with a value on ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. You get sorted, but you can ask to be put into a house-- I waved between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw for a bit before going into the former.

[dirth]

I see. There are many schools, then, and you are assigned the most local one in order for you to be trained in magic.

[ The idea of being divided on personal values seems somewhat foolish for Solas, especially considering the nature of the elves in Thedas- with slave markings on their faces and devotion to Gods that would have them as pets, as toys... There is discomfort there, even if he does not vocalise it particularly well.

His arms cross over his chest and it's obvious he's in thought before he huffs a small laugh. ]

Perhaps I would be in Ravenclaw.

[ No. He would be in Slytherin, and there's no denying it. ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

They're all good houses, honestly.

[--he says it dutifully, though it's not entirely honest. He has less derision for Hufflepuff than, say, Sirius does-- but Slytherin will forever be a worrying house for him. It's bias, honestly, but so many of their current enemies have come from Slytherin-- not to mention the Black family, and all their pureblood rot.

Anyway. He aims a smile up at him.]

So, yes: a school. Best seven years of my life, honestly.

[dirth]

I'm certain of it.

[ Solas isn't a fool, and he can see the touch of something that Remus isn't saying. Whatever it is is likely unimportant, but it's still something to consider for later dates - plus, it's clear that he might not be the best liar in the entire world.

Solas just smiles, nodding. ]

It certainly sounds far better than the Circle.

[theshabbiestofmen]

The Circle?

[Now time for charcoal. This is a little trickier, not least of which because he doesn't know all that much about charcoal. Remus studies the little bits and pieces Solas has gathered for him, biting on his bottom lip.]

[dirth]

The Circle of Magi. Supposedly the height of all learning for mages across Thedas, but, in reality, simply a way to imprison most mages with knightly supervision.

[ It's obvious that Solas isn't entirely thrilled with the idea. ]