Video

[apurrstate]

Who: Anders, a kitten and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Planetside. Probably among the trees.
When: A couple days after this post. That's right, this means war.

[Anders has something very important to say. Terribly important.]

It's been brought to my attention that the fleet has been suffering under a loss of fuzzy animals, although that's quickly being fixed with all these fuzzy slugs. But more importantly, there's one fuzzy animal that deserves appreciation, something my dear friend, Lady Cousland reminded me of.

[The camera tilts down to show a small tabby-orange kitten playing in the grass and leaves on the forest floor, stalking some bug or another, but never drifting too far from Anders' side.]

This is Ser-Pounce-A-Lot, the cutest kitten in the world. Aren't you the cutest kitten in the world? No mean dog is better than you, isn't that right, Ser Pounce?

[Completely unashamed of the baby-talk he just dissolved into, Anders puts his hand out for Pounce to jump onto his arm and up to his shoulder, purring and rubbing his head against Anders' chin.]

He's also incredibly intelligent and he knows it.

[He holds up a hand up to the camera.]

Please, hold your applause, I know this sad fleet has been kitten-starved. You're welcome.

[Is he serious?

You bet your ass he is. Right down to the baby-talking a kitten. Shame? He doesn't know the meaning of the word.]

Comments

[brainiest]

Of course!

[ Anders: New Best Friend, Confirmed. ]

It's essentially a like for like transformation - you need to have the same amount of something to turn it into something else. You can't really turn a match into a chair, for example - there's just not enough materials. You need to think about bodyweight, viscousness, wand power, your concentration and a few other variables depending on what it is you're actually transfiguring.

[ She transforms it back into a hairpin, slotting it into the man of her hair slowly. ]

There's a little bit of leeway, of course, but it helps if they're the same size, or the same material or likeness. You can transfigure parts of the human body, too, but if you turn into an animal then legally you have to report it.

[apurrstate]

[He nods, eating up every scrap of information she had to give. Nothing fascinated him quite like the gift they shared.]

That makes perfect sense.

[The whole thing about animals and having to report it is strange to him, however.]

Report it to who? The Chantry, or whatever like you have of it? I can't imagine they'd be too happy about it. Is shapeshifting common in your world? It takes a lot of practice and can be dangerous in mine and most Circles frown upon it anyway. I've always thought it'd be amazing to try.

[brainiest]

[ And Hermione was practically brimming with excitement, nodding. ]

The Ministry of Magic - like the magical government, really. They keep a register of all the people in the world that can transform into animals at will so that they can't abuse their power - not everyone does it, of course, and that can end up with them getting into serious trouble. It's highly illegal to be an animagus and not tell them.

[ Which is another reason why going home would be awkward for her - she's not really an animagus, but she can transform. It would be... Odd. ]

My transformation isn't the same as the ones that happen at home, since it was a gifted power, but I think I'd still have to report it if I went home.

[apurrstate]

[It's mind-boggling, he can only imagine what she's describing as it might apply back home and he's not sure if that's actually feasible or even more terrifying than what mages had to deal with already. Would it be easier if there was just a whole government dedicated to magic or would it just be another Tevinter? There was no way of knowing without seeing it himself.

But here, he supposed, it didn't matter. Here he could ask her to demonstrate her magic and demonstrate his own all without fear and that was good enough.]

That's fascinating. I've always considered trying to learn how to shapeshift, but I never really had time to study it. You said your transformation was a gift? From Atroma or from...elsewhere?

[Kitty had said she'd been elsewhere before the fleet and it really wouldn't surprise him to learn others had gone through something similar.]

[brainiest]

It was from the world I was in before this one, a place called the Drabwurld. The Queen of the Court I was in, Solais, gave me the ability to transform into a lioness as a boon for my services to the Seelie. I can turn into a white lioness with wings whenever I like, but it's not my magic. It's something different.

[ She pauses to consider, her nose wrinkling a little, before she shakes her head. ]

I suppose I could become an animagus as well, if I wanted, but other than curiosity there's no real point. I can already become an animal when I want - there's no need for me to have a second one.

[apurrstate]

Amazing. [And it's clear from his voice, he's not just saying that. Magic of any kind was worth admiring.

Her comment, however, receives a shrug.]

Mages back home who take up shapeshifting do so for the use of it. A dog in a town barely turns an eye, a mouse can squeeze into places a dog cannot and a bird can soar higher and travel farther than either of the other two. [A smirk.] And giant spiders are terrifying and very strong.

I suppose, as a winged lion, you have the power, travel and speed covered. That's certainly a very useful and versatile form.