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

[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?

[killedwithlove]

He was my friend. I'm still his friend, but he wouldn't call me friend anymore.

He was a spirit medium. He can call us across the Veil from the Fade, though he doesn't, spirits don't want to be in the real world. But he can talk to them through the veil.

[invigorates]

[ she has no idea what the veil is, or the fade, but she feels like she's already asked way too many questions, and gotten too many complicated answers.

so she just nods. ]

I see. And is that how you two met? He spoke with you through the veil, or...?

[killedwithlove]

No.

I came through. Spirits aren't meant to be able to, but I did. And I got lost. And Rhys found me.

[That... isn't really the half of it, but it's an easy way to put it.]

[invigorates]

So he was... your rescuer, of sorts? 'Tis good that you had someone to help you, then.

[killedwithlove]

Yes. He helped me. He could see me and no one else could.

But, I hurt him. Without meaning to. So I don't think he'd call me a friend anymore.

[invigorates]

[ oh. that hits a little too close to home, and lioriley can't quite help the way her lines flicker. ]

If you did so accidentally, I am certain he would forgive you, should he truly be your friend.

[killedwithlove]

I haven't seen him since.

[His head tilts.]

Are those lyrium? They look like lyrium. But lyrium shouldn't be in people like that.

[invigorates]

That does not mean you will not see him again.

[ she stares at the screen, confused, before she realizes what he might be hinting at. ]

I... I am afraid I do not know what Lyrium is. But if you are speaking of the leylines on my skin, they are a means of controlling the magic in my body. [ that might make things more confusing. sorry. ]

[killedwithlove]

Lyrium. It's... lyrium.

Yes! It channels magic!

[It's not the same... but it's close enough that Cole will probably not realise there's a difference.]

[invigorates]

Oh? Perhaps my leylines share similar qualities to this Lyrium of yours, if that is the case. [ she has no idea, but let's just roll with it. ]

You said that Lyrium is not meant to be inside people, though. This - [ she motions vaguely, indicating the glowing lines. ] Is what keeps me alive, were it not inside me, I would not be speaking to you right now.

[killedwithlove]

Oh.

... not like lyrium.

[That doesn't seem to bother him too much. It's like lyrium, but not.]

What sort of mage are you?