driftfleet | Sixth Blight

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's quite an assessment of me, from someone who has never seen me in action. I may prove quite terrible at it, for all you know.

You are too compassionate to be a terrible ruler, Riona.

Truly? I have often heard one shouldn't be too compassionate when ruling. Empathizing too much with one's subjects tends to blind them to reason.

That, my lady, is why you have advisors who can do the less compassionate parts for you. Who will point out when a stronger hand is needed. That way you do not need to sacrifice a tender heart.

[Her nose scrunches.]

I do have a few of those, and I'm sure they'd be more than willing to do as such. [She doesn't sound entirely pleased.]

[He looked at her, tipping her head.]

That, or you make the decisions on your own. That is a choice in itself. Are you willing to make the hard choices, Riona?

[She sighs deeply.]

It doesn't really matter. We're going to have advisors whether or not I want them. Alistair does, due to his inexperience, and frankly I'm not terribly well-versed in ruling a country, either. My father taught me how to run the teyrn, and that applies, but... well, one's a tad bit bigger than the other.

Having advisors doesn't bother me all that terribly, to be honest. It's just... one or two that I have that I don't particularly like but am stuck with.

[Tyrion arched an eyebrow at her, before tipping his head to the side.]

Riona, you are the Queen. Since you are the Queen, you and Alistair can choose whomever you want to council you. That is one of the pleasures of the crown.

That's not the issue. It's that Alistair does want one of them. And that one... his powers of diplomacy and politics are considerable. I respect him for that. It is just aspects of his character that I truly do not like. [She shrugs.] Like I said: essentially I am stuck with him. Alistair trusts him and wants him as an advisor, and I really have no grounds to argue otherwise.

... By the Seven, he must be a slippery bastard, then. You like me and I am one of the most devious people I know.

It's not his deviousness or anything. [Her expression darkens.] It's more his willingness to overlook - and at times partake - in the mistreatment of helpless children who were under his care.

[And now, Tyrion's expression darkens.] Then you shouldn't let him have any part of the council. Not if he abuses children.

...It might be better if I explain the whole thing.

[She takes a breath.]

When Alistair was born, Eamon took care of him as his mother, who was a maid at his castle, had died and his father, King Maric... well. [She sneers.] I suppose he couldn't be bothered. For the first few years, everything seemed well, from what Alistair tells me.

Then Eamon married an Orlesian cunt by the name of Isolde. [There aren't enough words for Riona's hatred of this woman.] There was a rumor that Alistair was Eamon's bastard. A rumor I can understand, and I suppose I can't entirely blame her for wondering if it was true. But what I do blame her for is the way she acted on it. She was horrible to Alistair. Belittled him, derided him, and eventually forced him to sleep in the stables. And Eamon did nothing to stop it. It continued until their son, Connor, was born. That's when Alistair got shipped off to the nearest Chantry.

[To be educated and to become a templar, or so Alistair tells her. Truthfully, Riona just sees it as them sending him away to be forgotten about.] Alistair's more or less put the whole thing behind him, and he respects and thanks Eamon for "taking care of him". I, however, am not so moved by his so-called generosity.

[Tyrion's eyes widened as she continued her story, and then he felt a faint stab in his gut of sympathy. He sighed softly, tapping his fingers against his leg briefly, before he answered soberly.] To be a bastard is a terrible thing - especially one that is treated like they are less than a person. Alistair has my admiration, for taking that weakness and turning it into a strength.

[He paused, then added a little more gently.] Would you not have thought less of him, if he had not had the courage, the strength, to forgive Eamon? Even if the man didn't deserve it.

I...

[That certainly makes her step back and consider it.]

I wouldn't have blamed him for not doing so, as I cannot bring myself to ever want to forgive him for doing as such to him. And yet, I suppose it would have been unlike him to not forgive him. Alistair is the type of man to look forward and not dwell much on the past.

If we were only all so blessed, eh?

[Tyrion smiled with a touch of bitterness to his lips, before he lifted his shoulders up in a shrug.]

I do not know if I could ever be man enough to forgive my enemies... but blessed be they who can actually let go of hatred and just focus on ... the better things in life.

Sixth Blight - video

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