driftfleet | 001 || video;

Entry tags:

001 || video;

Who: Leliana
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: now!

[It took some fiddling, but Leliana managed to make the video broadcast work. For a moment, she doesn't speak, not realizing it was on. When it dawns on her, the surprise is there before her expression relaxes.]

My apologies, the technologies of this place are lost on me. I suppose this is the best course of action if I want information, no? I am looking for comrades of mine - Cullen, Josephine, and Inquisitor Trevelyn. I do not know if they are here but it is my understanding from what I have managed to glean from this... device - that they could very well be newly arrived, the same as I.

[Which is something that troubles her. They were all very much needed back home in Thedas not here - wherever here was.]

Those wishing to aid me in finding my people may address me as Sister Nightingale. I thank you very much in advance.

[With that, she ends the video feed. A polite and succinct post, yes, but internally she was already assessing her situation, analyzing the threat she might very well be under.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Amaranthine.....?

[But then- was she still searching for a way to stop the Calling? But no, Riona was younger here. She might not know yet of the things to come.]

I see.

[It's on the tip of her tongue to tell her what she knows, but she also doesn't want to overload her friend with things that may not have even happened for her yet.]

What of Alistair? Have the two of you been separated? You said others were here but is he with you as well?

[She can't imagine how much that must pain her friend, if it is true.]

Yes. The darkspawn have not retreated from Ferelden as they should. In fact, there were reports of increased activity. I was on my way to Vigil's Keep to meet with some Orlesian Wardens who had come to assist us.

[And she has no idea what she's about to walk into there.

She winces slightly at Leliana's question about Alistair. And that's when she sets this conversation to private. This is not something to be talked about in the open.]

...Alistair. He's here.

[She smiles, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes.]

But he's... not the Alistair you and I know, specifically.

[And here comes the weird part.]

Atroma, on top of pulling people from different worlds and times, can also bring people from different... versions of the same world. Parallel universes, they're called. The world is generally similar, but some events may have played out differently, and the people involved may not be the same from world to world.

Alistair is not from our Thedas. I... either am dead in his world or never existed. Duncan never recruited me as a Warden. Alistair and I never met. When he came here, I was a stranger to him.

[A shaky sigh. She's gotten... somewhat used to this reality, but spelling it all out, especially for Leliana, who truly knows the impact this would have on Riona, is harder than she anticipated. It's a battle to hold back tears.]

[She sees the hurt in her friend's face, hears it in her voice, and it makes her wish that she could reach out to her then. For a moment, she bows her head, a hand pressed to her chest as her lips move in a silent prayer. The Maker worked in mysterious ways - they both knew that. Perhaps this was a test of Riona's resolve and she had been rewarded with Leliana's presence herself, where she might need her the most.]

But you are not a stranger to me. The Maker saw fit to bring you and Alistair together, despite this, and me to you.

[Because who else could pull the both of them from darkness but one another? She wanted so badly to just lay her grief bare, to tell her of what had happened to Justinia - but she refrains, holding her grief into herself for another time. This was not the moment. Riona needed her and that in itself meant her work was not done.]

No, I'm not. You know me. I still cannot believe it. But I think the shock will wear off soon.

[Does the Maker exist this far out here? Or did His reach end with Thedas? An interesting discussion, for another time.]

When I saw you on here, I was convinced you would not know me. I braced myself for the sting. Atroma likely got a kick out of seeing me caught off guard again, but this time I hardly care. But now you understand my reaction?

Yes, I do now. This Atroma - what they do to people here, what they have put you through - it isn't right! There has to be something that can be done.

[And for that purpose, she would gladly put a blade in its heart, for hurting her loved one. For torturing her emotions by giving her but the face of her King, her husband, only to spit back at her with the deception of it.]

It isn't. I have suffered. So has Alistair and so many others. I hope there is a way. So far they have their tracks covered well. The places we have docked at so far have not heard of them or their show.

['Tis very suspicious.]

But it is not all terrible. There are many good people here, people I'd have never met if I had not come here.

Good people who are all trapped in the same place, like some Circle tower or prison, I expect.

[It bothered her that she had to start from the bottom to find a solution to this. She liked doing her work efficiently but she now lacked the resources.]

And not a single lead for us to follow, Maker willing.

[How frustrating.]

[There's an anger in Leliana's words that Riona doesn't quite recall being there before. Sure, this situation is frustrating, and she didn't expect Leliana to be happy about it or anything. But something still seems off, something she can't quite place her finger on.

Too many factors that could be feeding into it, though, which is why she'll say nothing for the time being and just make a note of it.]

Look at it as a challenge. Or, I suppose, a break. Luckily, your absence isn't going to be noted while you're gone. From what I've been told, time.... does not pass back home while we're here. Once we go back, it'll be as nothing happened.

I see. That is good then. I thought it strange - another told me that Cullen had been here for months but we would have noted such an absence.

[Her voice is hushed as she speaks, looking down at her lap instead of the device she held in front of her.]

A lot has happened since the Archdemon and the Blight. I would tell you more, but I would be a terrible friend to ruin a happy reunion, no?

[She laughs a little at that. Riona could hardly be surprised that the world fell to chaos again. Such as these things went in Thedas. Where there was Darkspawn there would always be Wardens to fight them.]

Yes, you mentioned him. [And she heard that name, once. The chances of it being the same one are slim, but she has to ask.] He isn't by chance the one we found in the Circle, is it?

[She always wondered what had happened to that poor templar. He'd been such a mess when they'd left, angry and haunted.]

It wouldn't be Thedas if things remained quiet. [She smiles wryly.] A conversation about that is inevitable, I think. I'll admit to curiosity, but I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't hesitant. What little I've heard about Thedas in the future... worries me.

Still, you have a point. Perhaps now isn't the time. I'd like time to prepare myself for it, and you should focus on getting settled here. But, I guess I should ask... what year was it when you left?

He is, yes. He's gotten a little better off since then. He and Inquisitor Trevelyn are the talk of Skyhold. They're quite taken with one another.

[Of course that's the thing Leliana notes. She did like a bit of gossip. It made for entertaining moments she coudl use to tease Cullen with at the War Table.

Ah. The big question. What year it was would be a boon but also a blessing to Riona because on the one hand, she and Alistair have been together and happy for that long, on the other - this Alistair knew none of that happiness with her.]

Dragon 9:41 was the year, last I recall it. The Blight, the fighting with the darkspawn and the Archdemon occurred in 9:31.

[By the maker, has it really been that long?]

Edited 2016-04-10 21:55 (UTC)

Good. I am glad he's doing a little better.

[For now, she won't touch the bit about this... Inquisitor. Because that sounds like a barrel full of crazy she's not ready for.

Besides, she's way more focused on the number Leliana gives her. The former bard will be met with a long, drawn out stretch of silence, with wide eyes and a mouth slightly hung open as Riona tries to process that.

9:41 Dragon. That's ten years ahead. She figured it would be a few years at least, but ten?]

Maker's breath. A decade? That...

It really has been that long.

[She's definitely amused by the surprise. It surprises her too, at times. So much had changed since then - namely, the tensions between mages and templars becoming that much more unbearable.]

It still amazes me Schmooples lived as long as he did. It was hard trying to find a proper replacement nug.

[Riona is still reeling from it, trying to wrap her head around the idea... and what must have transpired in all that time. Now she's really afraid to ask.]

Oh, Schmooples. It pains me to hear that, though I suppose even he couldn't live forever.

I've thought about trying my hand at nug breeding. They're so cute I imagine they'd turn quite the profit! But that will be something to try for another time.

[Because you know... world ending and stuff.]

Just don't let Orzammar hear about it. The last thing you need is a bunch of angry Carta spies coming after you and your nugs.

[Oh, that's too good. Spies coming after a spy master. She just smiles over her steepled fingers.]

I can't imagine they'd be able to do anything about it, what with my close ties as one of the advisors for the Inquisition. I suppose if they complain loud enough about it?

[And.... maybe becoming Divine?? There had been talks between her and Inquisitor Trevelyn on that front but nothing more. That was still up in the air as of yet.

Okay, so she'll let one thing spill about the future. It wasn't anything major, though surely Riona could gather the gist of what having an Inquisition might mean.]

Edited (random icon you failed me...) 2016-04-11 23:04 (UTC)

[A tempting bit of fruit dangling there. But Riona doesn't quite take the bait, not entirely.]

Most dwarves are stubborn enough to try. You do remember Oghren?

[It's not that she won't ask about it more... eventually. Right now, though, she's not quite ready. Leliana's arrival has caught her off guard enough as is. Between that, and things with Alistair recently, she's been a bit emotionally run dry. For now, she wants time to prepare.

So she'll stick to things she's comfortable with, that she knows.

Which, speaking of, now that the shock's wearing off-]

And oh! I didn't say anything before, but, none of that 'Your Grace' or 'Your Majesty' business from you. [She jabs a finger at her.]

Of course.

[Is she talking about Oghren or...?]

As you wish... Your Grace.

[Stifling a laugh. Definitely trying not to laugh. Sorry Riona not sorry.]

[She's gonna go with both. You don't simply forget Oghren.

Meanwhile, a huff is let out at the former bard's teasing. Real funny, Lels.]

Har har.

[Though she knows her friend is only teasing, her expression does take a turn for the serious a moment later.]

Joking aside... [She scrunches her nose at her.] Well, if you want to teasingly refer to me as such in private, then I can't stop you. But, around others... please don't mention it, or my being queen in general. Aside from Alistair, and now you, no one else in the fleet knows. Including my crew. And it should come from me, when the time comes.

Of course. I can understand that. I can't imagine it would be terribly easy to blend in with others when they're trying to stay on your good side just because you're a Queen, no? They shouldn't have to look at you differently.

[Ah, the Game. Even here it was a possibility. Then again, Leliana always had a gift for seeing knives in the darkness.]

I don't mind calling you Riona. And I can't imagine Alistair has quite wrapped his brain around all of this either.

[Especially the whole 'you're technically his wife' thing.]

[She makes a so-so gesture with her hand.]

Partly, yes. When I first came here, I did not know who all from Thedas also took residence here. Perhaps they were enemies of Ferelden. And it didn't seem like a wise thing to announce to a bunch of strangers. Then, it was so Alistair did not find out about my being his wife the wrong way.

And now... it's more or less because I've come to like being plain old Riona Cousland again. No titles or ceremony. Just me. But I know I cannot keep it up forever.

[At the mention of Alistair wrapping his head around it, Riona laughs dryly. It doesn't quite reach her eyes though.]

That man. He... took it well. Understood why I didn't tell him right away. He hasn't pushed me away, either.

[But she knows Alistair, and she knows he has a habit of keeping his hurts to himself and making light of them. She fears what he isn't telling her.]

I think I like you being just Riona Coulsand as well.

[It had a certain ring to it, being an Archdemon slayer, notwithstanding. If Riona wanted to be modest it wasn't to her to begrudge her that.]

Perhaps that too, is the Maker's doing. Only He knows His children best. I won't bring your hopes up but, perhaps even from another realm, Alistair cannot cut himself free of his ties to you.

[Maybe that was a philosophical way of going about it, but Riona and Alistair had shown her what love looked like. It was only a pity Alistair could not see the way he had looked at their Hero of Ferelden anymore.]

Thank you. It's... nice to be me again. I rather missed it.

[The thought of Alistair and her... No. She banishes it from her mind. It will not happen. He is not her husband, as much as her heart tells her otherwise.]

Mm, I dare say not. He is... betrothed to Anora in his Thedas. You know how Alistair is. He wouldn't break that promise lightly.

Anora?

[Wow. Just.... wow. Well isn't that interesting?]

That is.... different.

[Yeah, she's got nothing.]

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