[Open Moons Mingle Log]

[serpentis]

Who: Anyone and Everyone!
Broadcast: Maybe!
Action: Abeo, Accendo, Adsum
When: 2/3-2/7

[WELCOME TO THE MOONS ENJOY YOUR STAY DON'T GET ARRESTED.]

Comments

accendo, pretty much anytime post-shuffle

[noherald]

[If there's anything Arhen has learned during his time as Inquisitor, it's how to accept the things he can't get out of. He doesn't have to like it, or be pleased with it-- he just needs to tolerate it as best he can until he's finally done and can leave it behind him. In the meantime... there's plenty to do, isn't there?

More importantly, there's plenty to keep his mind off of things, and so there'll be a short, redheaded elf investigating one of the bars before long.

The first order of business is finding a spot where he won't be noticeably alone, and thus noticeably empty-handed; Arhen quickly finds a likely-looking spot and settles in, turning to the nearest person as though they're an acquaintance he recognizes rather than a complete stranger.]

You don't happen to have any recommendations, do you? Can't say I'm familiar with this place yet.

[parricida]

[There are so many elves here, goodness. Their delightful ears are such a treat to look at, along with the tattoos-- he enjoys the sight of this young man just as much as he did the woman.]

Their wine is a delight, though a bit sweet for my tastes.

[noherald]

[Creators, Dorian really hadn't been joking about different sorts of people. Arhen is fairly sure there's nothing like him in Thedas--

-no, no, there are the dragons. He sort of reminds him of a dragon, actually, annnd now Arhen is trying very hard not to think about how humans and dragons would mix in the first place.]

It might suit mine, then, I tend to prefer it that way.

[He's staring curiously even as he answers, though, and he can't quite stop himself from asking-]

I'm sorry, but what are you?

[parricida]

[He laughs softly, amused by the bluntness.]

A Cardassian, though I suspect the word means nothing to you. My name, however, is Garak.

[noherald]

You're right, it doesn't.

[He offers him an apologetic little smile.]

But it's still a pleasure, Garak. My name is Arhen Lavellan- elven, I'm not sure if you're familiar. [He's noticed at least one other around, after all. It's a definite possibility.]

If I can ask- you're not related to dragons, are you?

[REASONABLE QUESTION, okay.]

[parricida]

[He chuckles again, delighted.]

No, not so far as I know. But genealogy has never been my strong suit-- so who knows? I'm certainly more reptilian based than most humans.

[noherald]

[A possibility, then- but on the other hand, Qunari had horns and they certainly weren't related. It'll just have to remain a mystery.

He rests his chin in his palm, still watching Garak a little too intently to really be polite.]

I haven't seen anyone else like you-- but in all fairness, I've only recently left Thedas as well. Have you been here long?

[parricida]

Two months.

[He smiles over at him, his eyes fixed on those pretty ears-- it's an intent stare, unblinking, further cementing the dragonic association.]

Need a guide for more than wine selection?

[noherald]

If you're offering, I wouldn't say no! This is... all very unlike what I'm used to, at home.

[Which makes it interesting, of course- but still all the more alien for it.]

The stars were a lot more distant, for one.

dun dun dunnnn

[dawnwillcome]

[When she leaves Dorian, there's absolutely fire behind wanting to find this second Inquisitor. It's all tied up in thoughts of how dare he and not at all focused, but by the time Jove does actually find Arhen much of her anger has cooled.

No one is to blame for this, least of all a newcomer who likely hasn't even come to grips with where he is yet. She's been in this strange situation for a week and it still makes little sense, so finding the man and demanding answers will only make his culture shock worse.

She knows. After all, Cassandra had done the same thing to her, hadn't she?

He's unmistakable, once she does find him. The simplest form of Mythal's vallaslin etched over his cheekbones (and doesn't that make her want to laugh, to cry, to find a way home right this second), the pointed ears, the way he tries to hide. They even have the same hairstyle, though in different shades. When she approaches, she tries to keep her face clear and her tone light.]

Arhen?

[noherald]

[He glances up with a start when he hears his name, eyes fixing warily on her-- Arhen relaxes slightly when he realizes she's also Dalish, another of his own kind, but not entirely. She obviously knows who he is and he can't say the same of her... which, of course, just brings Dorian right back to mind.

Is this how he'd felt?]

Yes, that's me, but- I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, here.

[dawnwillcome]

Jove. Of clan Lavellan. Just one of the things I've learned we have in common.

[There's still very negative feelings burning under the surface of this, but she's struggling to keep them to herself. Don't blame this man, she tells herself again. Don't blame him.

She puts her hand on the back of the chair nearest him, pulls it out a little.]

May I sit?

[noherald]

[Oh. Oh, this is going to be that kind of night. Arhen's not at all surprised she's come to find him, though he'd sort of hoped he would have more time to sort out his own thoughts before he had to confront any of this mess again.

He's silent for a moment, staring at her uncertainly- but he finally nods, gestures for her to go ahead.]

Please.

[Actually seeing her is even stranger than simply hearing that someone else had been in his place, in Dorian's own time. There's an odd familiarity about her (though the differences are soothing, in their own way. It would be too jarring if they could actually be twins.)]

He spoke with you, then?

[dawnwillcome]

[She couldn't wait though, not with Dorian in the state he was in. She can't leave him this way for any longer than she to, she just can't let him suffer the way he was. Even before this strange new Inquisitor showed up he was hurting, wanting exactly what Arhen turned out to be. Someone to love and be loved by, unflinching acceptance.

It's cruel, in a way. That is exactly why it can't go longer than it has to, it's why she sits and doesn't bother with pleasantries. After the mess with Dorian is handled, they can compare Inquisitor notes.]

He did. You've thrown him for quite the loop, and you must know how difficult this is for him if you were... that close. What that kind of commitment would mean for him.

[And she pauses there, frowning lightly as her hand reaches on its own to touch Arhen's hand. That's entirely inappropriate, so she pulls the gesture back just in time, tapping her fingers against the table absently instead. She wants to comfort him if she can because as hard as it is for Dorian to allow a romance to take hold, it isn't easy for a Dalish elf to commit to a relationship with a human either. It's a big leap, and to arrive here and see that completely undone...]

And... are you alright? I know this is a lot all at once.

[noherald]

[He wants to be open to this, wants to listen, but as soon as she mentions how hard this is on Dorian there's a subtle shift in his demeanor; his gaze is sharper, and even though she doesn't actually try to touch his hand after all, he still pulls it back.]

It wouldn't be so difficult for him if you hadn't told him, I know he wouldn't have understood otherwise. Or did he learn elvish on his own?

[Arhen sounds more sullen than actually angry, but the tone and the tension in his shoulders still leaves the impression of something cornered and lashing out. He's unaware that his own language gets translated-- why would it be, when not even all elves can speak it?-- and so the only reasonable explanation is that Jove told him what those words meant.]

I didn't intend for him to know, how could I? He doesn't even know me, he's not-- [Right there, despite the apparent force behind the words (or perhaps because of it), his voice falters.] He's not my Dorian, is he.

[Which sort of answers her question, really.]

[dawnwillcome]

[Her fingers go right on tapping, lips pursed as she considers this reaction. He reminds her of a halla, in a way. Afraid and untrusting and yet not sure yet whether it wants to bolt.]

He's still the same man you know. He still has the same beliefs and the same goals, his personality hasn't changed. If you wish to think of it as yours or mine then I won't stop you, but I think that does him a disservice. He's more than which Inquisitor he happened to spend his time with.

And anything Dorian knows, he figured it out himself. One of the things this place does is translate some languages, to make communication easier. Our language is one he knows, now.

[noherald]

[He calms, at least, when she gives him a reasonable enough answer rather than letting him bait her into snapping right back-- the tension hasn't quite eased, but he averts his eyes, brow furrowed slightly in thought.

...at least, until she explains the translation. His attention snaps right back to her, open disbelief in his expression.]

Vishante kaffas.

[He has definitely spent far too much time around Dorian. There's just something much more satisfying about the sound of certain Tevene curses.]

Then he knew the entire time. I told him myself and I had no idea of it. [That changes things. The whole time they spoke-- what must Dorian have been thinking? And he hadn't even dared to speak a word of it to Arhen. He huffs out a sigh, shakes his head.] I'm sorry, I am far too sober for this.

[merchantprince]

[Don't ask why Varric is here. It's better not to ask. He does, however, stop and stare at the elf for a moment. It's not that he's never seen a fucking elf before, but they seem to be multiplying and they're all Dalish or something.]

Uh. The bar two blocks south of here has pretty good food for a vegetarian place.

Just don't eat anything with mushrooms in it. You'll wake up in the alley with your pants on your head.

[noherald]

I don't know, that sounds like it could make for an interesting night- if I could remember it, after.

[That lack of recognition is still strange the second time around, but at least he's had a run-in with it already, and some forewarning that the people he recognizes are unlikely to be familiar with him. The grin Arhen flashes him seems to come easily enough, though he might look a bit preoccupied.]

How much would I regret testing that, on a scale of 'mild embarrassment' to 'the morning after Qunari alcohol'?

[merchantprince]

[Varric looks the elf up and down.]

It's definitely up there with post-Qunari alcohol. I don't recommend it unless you're a Qunari. I mean, you could be a Qunari, and I've met an elf who was a convert-- but something tells me you're not like her.

[noherald]

I'm willing to bet she wasn't Dalish, for starters.

[It's said lightly enough, but there's no denying the hint of an edge there. No self-respecting Dalish elf would have converted, he's sure.]

But no, I'm not one of theirs. Too fond of things like talking, they really wouldn't have cared much for me.

[merchantprince]

She wasn't. [Don't think he misses that Dalish pride. He's met you guys, he knows how it goes. Merrill's pride almost got her killed-- it got her Keeper killed, for sure.]

There sure are a lot of Dalish popping up lately. I'd better watch my back-- I bet it's surface dwarves next, and they'll know I haven't gone to the meetings.

[noherald]

Surface dwarves have meetings?

[His head tilts, one brow quirked. The Dalish do it, so... yes, he's taking that completely seriously, despite the fact that this is Varric he's talking to.]

I'm sure you could get around it, though, there is that- strangeness with time. As far as anyone has to know, you just haven't gone yet.

[merchantprince]

Surface dwarves-- if they've got any hope of living past a week, they join up with the Merchant's Guild. You walk into a city and see a dwarf selling anything, I guarantee they're affiliated somehow.

[The corner of his lip hitches upward.]

Eh. I've been skipping for a decade. It's nothing I'm not used to dealing with, though.

Varric Tethras, by the way. Nice to meet you.

[faithfulwisdom]

[Another elf. He probably shouldn't be pleased, but, if you ask him, this is a decided improvement from when he and Nel were the only elves in the place. There's no logical reason why humans should be in the majority, after all, and it always seemed strange to him- and he's fond of humans, as a rule.

One just... misses one's own kind. And while these new elven arrivals might not be precisely that, they are close enough to be accounted kin of a sort, at least in his mind.]

The wine is your best bet, in my opinion. [A welcoming smile comes with the recommendation.]