Sixth Blight - video

[bryces_pup]

Who: Riona and you!
Broadcast: Yus
Action: On the Blue Fish, if you'd like!
When: Now?

[There's the distinct sound of a canine sniffing nearby when the feed turns on. Anyone with an acute ear may also hear a different kind of sound, something akin to snuffling. The animal causing it is revealed a moment later. To those not from Thedas, it looks like a pink, hairless mole. But any Thedosian would know that it's a nug.

The camera pans over to Riona, who's feeding said nug while Kiter cautiously sniffs at the other animal. She shakes her head.]

A favor for a favor, I suppose. Sister Nightingale has fallen into one of those comas. For the time being, Schmooples here is in my care. If you were expecting to see her in the interfaith center, I'm afraid it'll have to wait. [She looks over at her puppy, smiling conspiratorially.] You and I will be brainstorming what to draw on her face. Tit for tat, too.

[When she looks back at the camera, her smile falters, and pronounced concern sets in its place.]

Also, Dr. Beverly Crusher seems to be missing. Normally I'd suspect she's gone home, but her things are still here and her name still shows up on the communication device. Something is amiss. If anyone has seen her the past few days, please do let me or any of the crew on the Blue Fish know.

[Her disappearance puzzles her, along with her obvious worry. It's not like Beverly to do that, and with them having left the planet, there are only so many places she could be.]

Those matters aside, we've now returned to the dull void of space and to confinement in our ships until we make land again. There's only so much to entertain in the fleet, especially when you've been here awhile. Recently, I returned home for a few months. Here only a handful of days passed, but it felt much longer. I find myself feeling a bit homesick. So, I have a request.

[She pauses, uncertainty flitting across her face. For a moment she glances down, and finds herself fiddling with her wedding ring, which she's recently gone back to wearing on her hand. She clasps her hands together and looks back at the camera.]

But first, I suppose I should introduce myself to those who don't know me. My name is Riona Cousland [And here there's the slightest pause, a moment of hesitation. She swallows the trepidation back.] Theirin. I've been here nearly eight months.

[Whatever caused her hesitation seems to have passed. She relaxes, and continues:]

In my time, I've heard quite a few things about people's worlds. Comparing them to Thedas - where I am from - always interests me. I love hearing stories, and I'm always happy to share ones from my world, in particular the ones of my home country.

So. Let's do an exchange. A tale for a tale. It can be anything you experienced, or perhaps a legend or fable from your world that you're fond of. And I will tell you one in return. Simple enough, and a good way to pass the evening, no?

[She smiles, wiggling her fingers in good-bye before shutting off the feed.]

Comments

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[takingkarabusiness]

Is there a particular genre you're in the mood for?

[ ok all of the sleeping people is concerning. she'll get to that in a bit ]

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[bryces_pup]

Not in particular. I'm open to hearing most things. [A pause.] Though, nothing terribly depressing, if you don't mind.

[takingkarabusiness]

Okay, I'll try to think of something... Probably not from my actual home world, then. I don't remember the stories as well as I should.

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[noprophecies]

I cannot say I am fond of any of the legends from my world, but I know a few. What manner of story would you like to hear?

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[bryces_pup]

No? Ah, that's a shame. Legends are hardly as fun if they're not enjoyable. But I would like to hear any, I am not terribly particular. Though perhaps nothing too terribly heartbreaking?

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[noprophecies]

I imagine they are enjoyable for other people. But once you hear them a number of times, told all different ways, they do not entertain as much anymore.

[she considers for a moment] I told another who asked about two Elvish brothers - it is not one of my people, but my cousin's. It is not heartbreaking?

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[wolfehawke]

[The background of Hawke's video seems to be not his bunk or some other location on the First Breath but instead a med bay, the one on the Three Twins if Riona is familiar with it. If not, it's still recognizable as a med bay at least.]

A lot of comas going around, it seems. Anders is out too, now.

[He sounds like he's making a joke of it, but there's something off there. He's worried.]

I'm afraid I don't have much of any epic stories for you that you wouldn't have heard, being from the same world, but I do have a rather embarrassing one about a friend of mine trying to court her now husband, if you'd like.

[He smiles, worn around the eyes but damn is he trying hard to not be awkward with her, to gain a bit of traction. Aren't they waiting for the same thing? Or... nearly the same thing. He knows Leliana isn't to her what Anders is to him - that was Alistair - but still loved ones in any case, and Anders cares for Riona. He owes it to Anders to trust he wouldn't misplace his respect.]

I will leave out names to protect the painfully innocent, of course.

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[bryces_pup]

[She finds it odd that he's in a med bay, at least until he mentions Anders.]

He is, too? Damn. I was wondering why he hadn't responded.

[It wasn't that she hadn't wondered about that, or meant to follow up. But Beverly's disappearance especially overtook everything, given the strange circumstances.]

Thank you for telling me.

[She also hadn't realized he knew Anders, but she holds off on that line of questioning for now.]

I do enjoy the awkward courting stories. Please do tell. [This ought to be entertaining, if nothing else.]

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[wolfehawke]

[He smiles again at her thanks, that same way that tugs at his eyes and makes him look far too old even for his 30 plus years. At her telling him to go ahead with the story, his smile turns impish, the age sliding off of him into a boyish glee.]

Well, she was a widow, but it had been more than four years since her husband had been taken in the Blight and she knew it was time to move on, mostly because a young guardsman had caught her eye. He was the stoic type, much like her, and handsome, filling out his armor quite well if you know what I mean.

Of course, having been out of the game of courting for so long, my friend had no idea how to approach this man she wanted, but she tried. First she sent me with a gift. A metal plate, emblazoned with marigolds. She didn't tell me why nor him who from, just hounded me for his reaction afterwards.

Which, as you can imagine, was confusion.

So she tried again, pulling strings to change the guard assignments so he would have an easy route. Not the brigands of Darktown or the coterie thugs that sometimes wander Lowtown. Of course this went over about as well as the incomprehensible metal plate. The other guards just wondered who's ass he was kissing to get a cushy job, and he was put out that his route would see no criminals arrested for the good of the city.

By this time, of course, the rest of her friends and I had figured out exactly what she was trying to do, so we offered to help. Told him to meet up with a group in a neutral location - a bar down in Lowtown. Of course, the plan was to have him meet with her alone, the rest of us drifting off to give them that time.

Instead, she never showed, and I spent a miserable two and a half hours paying for entirely too much terrible ale and trying to talk her up to him awkwardly. He ended up just thinking that I had feelings for her, called me pathetic for needing a go-between, and sodded off for the night!

[He pauses here for appropriate laughter and commentary.]

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[alwayscomeback]

[OH THANK THE SPIRITS SHE'S OKAY!!!! He'll grin happily to see she's not dead or injured or anything TERRIBLE like that.]

Welcome back.

[But still, one crewmate up, two down. What the hell. ]

I haven't seen Bev at all, it's really weird for her to just vanish without telling any of us.

...Sorry about Leliana.

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[bryces_pup]

Why thank you.

[She's been awake for a bit, but she's been... busy.]

I'm not terribly worried about Leliana. At least I know where she is. [She woke up, so Leliana will, too, in time. But Bev...]

Something has happened. It isn't like her at all. I'm just afraid of what it is.

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[experiencepoints]

[Okay, that gets her to pause. She wasn't planning on replying, but one part of this gets her attention.]

Hold on. I've done what now?

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[bryces_pup]

Er, nothing? I'm not sure what you're referring to, madam.

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[fuga]

[ There's a long, quiet pause before Lauralae speaks, leaning forward so her hair isn't in her face quite so much. ]

Perhaps a tale about the Gods?

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[bryces_pup]

If you would like! I'd be very interested in hearing about your gods.

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[pain_train]

[What, Beverly's missing? Oh shit. This is incredibly upsetting.] I saw Beverly like... a couple days ago for my scheduled checkup. None of you saw anything at all?

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[bryces_pup]

Not at all. We've checked our logs, everywhere on the ship... it's like she just vanished. The Iskaulit has not been thoroughly searched, but...

[She just doesn't know where else to look or what to suggest.]

But she has not left the fleet. Her things remain and messages can still be sent to her.

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[kingofbadlifechoices]

[Riona's quarters are quite close to his, still he answers her through the communicator.]

Lady Beverly is missing? [A worried look crosses his face. The news is quite new to him, but then again, he has been living his life in a blur here, failing to pay attention to the other crew members only to focus on that of himself and his siblings.]

Gods...I...I have not heard of that. Since when? [And suddenly he feels ashamed for being so negligent towards the others on this ship.]

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[bryces_pup]

At least a few days, from what I can tell. [Her worry matches his. It matches everyone's, she suspects.] I, at least, just hoped she was elsewhere. But now that it's been some time and we've heard nothing, the worry is starting to set in.

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[partialities]

I told you so many tales, have I not?

[ she smiles a little ]

Of Highgarden, my house's seat. What shall you hear of today, sweetling? Of the great Tyrell warriors or mayhaps princesses riding dragons?

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[bryces_pup]

One can never hear enough stories!

[She greedily slurps them up like a parched man would water.]

Whatever suits your fancy, my lady. I am quite open to anything.

[intelligently]

Are you wanting a real tale or a myth?

[bryces_pup]

Either or. Whichever one you'd prefer to tell. I am not so discerning.

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[tallasaking]

Oh, you know how much I love a good story. What kind would you like, fair lady?

[Yes, Tyrion delights in stories, what are you talking about.

...and then ... ]

Beverly is missing?

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[bryces_pup]

She is, I'm afraid. There's been no sign of her. But her things remain and she can still be sent messages.

[Which means she should still be in the fleet somewhere.]

Oh, whatever story suits your fancy. Though I will add that Margaery has already told me the story of Aegon the Conqueror. [She points it out for the sake of avoiding duplicate stories.]