driftfleet | Seventh Blight

Who: Riona and you
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Anywhere on the Iskaulit
When: Tonight

[It hadn't struck Riona right away, what today was. In the morning, she'd gone about her usual business, just like any other day. In fact, she may never have realized it at all, if she hadn't just idly thought about it. It hit her rather hard, leaving her almost breathless for a moment.

Today marks one year since she arrived in the fleet.

A lot of emotions come with it, ones she struggles with throughout the rest of the day. It's what eventually drives her to the Iskaulit, fighting with her thoughts as Kiter meanders alongside of her, enjoying the exercise. Riona finally decides to maybe try the network and get her thoughts out that way, rather than just mulling over them.]

I find myself observing the one year mark of my arrival to the fleet. [She falls quiet a moment, lips quirked to one side.] It's been quite a year. To those who have observed this anniversary for themselves: did you find yourselves feeling rather mixed about the whole thing? Personally, I can't quite figure out how I feel about it, quite honestly.

Maybe I should simply accept that, that there aren't going to be much in the way of words. [A huff.] Maybe what I need more than anything is a distraction. I've spent the better part of the day chewing it all over in my mind. If anyone has an idea for such, I welcome suggestions. Alternatively, if company is wanted, I'm walking with my dog around the Iskaulit.

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[It's not that hard for Anders to find Riona and her hound. He comes complete with Warden-Cat and a colorful flower in hand, a flower that he over-dramatically presents to Riona.]

An anniversary present. It came from the garden on the Twins, so it's really for viewing only.

[The playfulness drops away and leaves a Concerned Friend instead.]
Do you want to talk about it?

[Kiter lets out a little woof, trotting up to greet Anders and Pounce. Riona smiles, playing along and dramatically clutching her chest.]

Why, thank you! It's the loveliest - well, second loveliest flower I've ever received!

[Her smile falters a little at his question.]

I... well, I suppose I should. It's just hard to find the words, you know?

[Once she's taken the flower, he moves to her side, ready to keep walking if she wanted or simply keep her company. Pounce he puts down on the ground to let the two animals sniff each other.]

I understand. You don't have to, if you'd rather not, I'll be just as happy to distract you as I am to listen.

[As Kiter gives Pounce a tentative sniff, Riona tucks the flower into her hair.]

I appreciate that. A lot of thoughts are floating about and I can't quite pin them. How can something be so good and yet so awful at the same time? How does one reconcile all the good that's happened here with all the bad?

[Pounce lets him sniff before moving to rub his back up against Kiter's shoulder, his tail licking the dog in he nose as he went. Dogs were not his favorite creatures, but Drools had gotten him used to them.

For his part, Anders has to bite back a bitter laugh. Didn't that just sound like Kirkwall? All the terrible things that happened and the pain and heartbreak that had come in that city, constantly ignored while he tried desperately for a peaceful solution to the mage's problems for years...but then there's been Varric and Isabela and Hawke and there'd been so much good too, at least for him personally.

But it was different too, this place wasn't somewhere they'd chosen to go.]

I suppose it depends on if the bad matches or outweighs to good for you personally. What's good or bad to me, might not be what's good or bad to you.

Spell it out for me a bit, maybe? Tell me what's been good and what's been bad.

[Kiter snorted, his nose tickled at the gesture.

Riona turns, considering for a long moment his suggestion. It's a year's worth of memories to sort through, after all, and some were not so easily lumped under "good" or "bad".]

Well, meeting so many people here has been good. My crew, and so many others... And there's been a lot of fun had here. I've learned a lot here as well.

[She smiles sadly.]

But this place is difficult. Never knowing where we're going next, what will happen next... Missing loved ones. Or... seeing loved ones and them not recognizing you. Knowing of things that will happen and being powerless to stop them, only trying to brace yourself for what's to come.

[Anders' eyes ran over a nearby wall absently, his mind both here and in Thedas at the same time.]

I understand what you mean. I've made friends here I could never hope to make back home...and yet. [He shrugged. And yet there was still a cause he could be helping with, or even just a life to be settling into. If a door opened now and told him he could go home and either watch the mages be free under 'Divine Leliana' or settle down with Hawke in their little Orlisian country town...Anders couldn't see himself hesitating for long.]

I only wish we could know if what we've experienced here will remain with us when we go back. I can't imagine whoever's arranged this would allow it, but I know something would be missing if it was all taken away as well.

[More so than it even was now with Justice gone. Justice being gone was something he ultimately perceived as good, if that were to be erased...

He offered her a smile.]

It certainly is a complicated thing. I suppose, the best way to look at it is that we can enjoy what adventures we'll have and rest easy in knowing what we miss from home won't be gone forever either.

I remembered nothing of my time here when I went into that coma months ago. It was like nothing ever happened. While Atroma remains in control, they won't allow us to take any of this back with us.

[All the more reason to find a way to break away from Atroma.]

Like some long, extended dream. But much crazier and not so easily escapable.

[He nodded. It had been the same for him. Ten years and he'd already met Adalwolfe Hawke without even realizing it until he'd woken back up here, so much older and tainted for his time. There had to be another hand involved in this and what they took back with them for him to forget Hawke of all people.]

I hadn't much thought of it, but perhaps there's something to escaping Atroma's grasp and maintaining what we've gained here.

[Of course, there was that part of him that wasn't even certain he wanted to leave. 'But the mages' was often an argument in his mind, 'but that village in Orlais' was another, sometimes louder, argument.

More and more he was finding, all he really wanted, was that quiet life in the country.]

If there is, I can hardly guess how. The augments, I think, are the starting point.

[Riona's not nearly educated enough in the science and technology of this place to know with any certainty, but the augments seem to be the key. Atroma can play with memories, and the augments are in their heads already, feeding them information. So it stands that they must be what makes them forget when they return home.]

[He gave a wry smile, practically reading her mind with that thought.]

You're probably right, in which case, we'll need to rely on more scientific minds than ours to solve that problem. I don't even know if any spells exist that could help us.

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