Video 01

[killedwithlove]

Who: Cole and anyone
Broadcast: Fleet-wide
Action: Marvisa
When: Now until the next shuffle?

[Cole doesn't usually sleep, so waking up is very unfamiliar. He doesn't usually feel the cold or heat much, so the deep coldness in his bones is alien.

He jerks upright with a gasp, hands scrabbling at the back of his neck and then he vanishes in a puff of black-green smoke and reappears in the corner of the room, pressing himself back into it, staring around with wide eyes.]

Whispering, watchful, wakeful, wondering, where?

[He then spends a while patting things around him like the floor and wall, whispering under his breath.

In all honesty, he'll stay in that room until someone convinces him to leave and go elsewhere. It's not like he has to leave for any reason.]

Comments

[invigorates]

I should hope that you will not need your knives, either way.

[ she watches him, lips curving upward into a bright smile. how. cute. ]

'Tis quite the impressive hat. Is it a sentimental piece?

[killedwithlove]

I feel safer with knives. Mother taught Cole how to fight with a knife and I learned from him, like I learn from Personnel Augment.

[Cole's going to have an interesting relationship with his augment, clearly]

It's my hat. I like it.

[invigorates]

Cole? Is that a friend of yours? [ you are going to have to explain, child. in that... weird way that you explain things. ]

I see. Then I am glad you have it with you.

[killedwithlove]

No. Not a friend. Cole was a mage, an apostate, and then he was dying, and it took so long and he suffered so much, he needed to not be alone, so I came to him and when he went, it was...

I'm Cole now. I remember being Cole, but I know I'm not only Cole.

[invigorates]

[ she cocks her head to the side, curious; intrigued. ]

Then what are you, other than Cole?

[killedwithlove]

Compassion. Before I was Cole as well, I was Compassion. I think, maybe, I was nearly Despair. That scares me. Now, Command calls me Compassion, but maybe I am also Mercy.

[invigorates]

[ is he just... saying emotions? ] Forgive me, I am not entirely certain I follow, ser. What do you mean you were Compassion?

[killedwithlove]

I was Compassion. A spirit of Compassion.

[invigorates]

[ cole just said a magic word. lioriley's eyes go wide, her lines suddenly brightening when he says the word 'spirit.' ]

You - You were a spirit? And you have inhabited the body of that mage - of Cole? [ this is the most excited she has ever looked in her entire life. LOOK AT HER. ] Incredible! You must have so many stories to tell!

[killedwithlove]

No. I'm not inhabiting a body! That's wrong, that's how spirits become demons.

I just made myself come over to this side. To help Cole.

Varric tells better stories than I do.

[invigorates]

So you are... sharing it? Borrowing? [ look she's not judging. ]

Ah, so you know Varric! I do not doubt his storytelling capabilities, but I would still like to hear of your experiences nonetheless. That is... if you are willing to share them - I did not mean to demand anything of you, I just... never spoke with a spirit before.

[killedwithlove]

No! It's mine. Me. It's my body. I needed it to exist on this side.

[He's getting increasingly distressed at the idea that he's got a body that isn't his.]

I'm not an abomination, it's just me in here. There was never anyone but me.

[invigorates]

Oh. Forgive me, I did not mean to imply you were an abomination. [ not that she has any idea what exactly that implies, aside from the standard meaning of the word. ]

I believe I understand now. [ a beat. ] I have not offended you with my inquiries , have I?

[killedwithlove]

It's just me in here. Always been just me. There's no mortal here.

[He was quiet and moment and then shook his head.]

No. I just don't want you to think I'm an abomination.

[invigorates]

Dear boy, I would never think you an abomination.

[ she's still pretty excited, but it slowly begins to wane as she realizes something -- ]

Ah - I was so quick to ask questions of you, I did not even introduce myself properly. [ she bows her head, ] I am Lioriley.

[killedwithlove]

Lioriley. Lioriley.

[It's not like any Thedan name he knows.]

I'm Cole. Not Compassion anymore. People names aren't like spirit names. They don't tell you who you're talking to.

[invigorates]

Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Cole. [ she smiles softly, the lines across her skin flickering faintly. ] I cannot say I would know from experience. As I said, I have never spoken directly to a spirit before. The ones we call such back home... do not speak to us.

[killedwithlove]

Most spirits don't talk. Or can't talk. Not to mortals. Words aren't a thing spirits use. or need.

[invigorates]

I suppose that makes sense. [ still a little disheartening, but she'll get over it. ]

You mentioned Varric earlier. Are you friends?

[killedwithlove]

Yes. Varric is a friend of mine. He calls me 'kid' and tells me stories and lets me read the ones he hasn't written yet so long as I don't tell.

[invigorates]

[ she chuckles softly. ] Oh? Well, I am glad to hear that you have a friend here with you. Familiar faces are always comforting.

[killedwithlove]

I know a few people here. I know Cullen, and Varric, and Solas, and I don't know Jove, but she knows me, and Dorian. I know Dorian too.

[invigorates]

I am afraid Varric is the only name I recognize, but perhaps I will have the honor of meeting the others soon as well.

[killedwithlove]

Solas can answer lots of questions about spirits. He knows more than anyone I've ever heard of.

He knows more than Rhys.

[This is clearly high praise.]

[invigorates]

I will keep that in mind.

[ she's silent for a moment, and after an internal debate decides to ask: ] Who is Rhys?