002 - Looks like a discoball and tastes like strawberries and dreams

[wolfuncaged]

Who: Fenris and you!
Broadcast: Video: Fleetwide
Action: Tourist.
When: Today. SPONSOR DROP for all characters who have started a romance aboard the Fleet



[Fenris had a very unsettled night, sleep wasn't the cards after his run in with Cole. Eventually, he does leave his armory to find breakfast. He goes by way of the cargo hold (just to check the horrible little wretch isn't lurking there) but instead finds a gift basket with his name on. Fenris can't read the rest of what's on it, but the gift basket is full of condoms, lubes and other sundries that only naked people will really have use for. Emblazoned on everything is Madame Gertrude's Pleasure Barn. Not only has Fenris been given one, but any character who have decided to indulge in a little romance, up to and including flirting has been sent one. The Fleet has got itself a sponsor. For today, at least.

Fenris is well aware what these things are (thanks, Exisilium) so it's with a largely bemused expression that he turns on his communicator, pointing at the...gift. ]

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who has been given one of these today. I suppose Atroma expects us to be grateful? Though it is roughly as subtle as a brick to the face.

Comments

[wolfuncaged]

That sounds like Dorian.

[A pause. ] He's helping me with my reading. I think he enjoys tutoring, to be honest.

[It gives him a purpose, even Fenris can see that's important for the mage. ]

[realhumanbeing]

He's really good!

[Although, truthfully--]

Though he's the first teacher besides the Gems I've ever had. But still, I think he's pretty good, right?

[wolfuncaged]

[A soft smile. ] I certainly like him.

I assume he's helping you with your magic?

[realhumanbeing]

Yeah! We haven't started properly, but he's already talked about a lot of theories and junk I'd never heard of before!

[wolfuncaged]

He's well read in magical theory and...well, just about everything concerning the craft. [It's one of the main reasons Fenris feels safe around him, Dorian understands. ]

Magic can be very dangerous, understanding just how, and to prevent it from becoming so is more important than knowing how to wield it. He will teach you that.

[realhumanbeing]

Yeah.

[He wrinkles his nose, though, because that sounds boring, and he'd rather know how to, you know, blast fireballs.]

You, uh . . . you sound like you know a lot about magic.

[For someone who hasn't had a lot of positive reactions to it, that is.]

[wolfuncaged]

[And this is why Dorian needs to teach him. He pulls a face. ]

Dorian and I come from the same country, Tevinter. Magic is rife there, and most use it for corrupt reasons, to hurt and control others.

[realhumanbeing]

Oh.

[That earns a face as well, this one more concerned than the other.]

Aren't there-- I don't know-- magic guardians? People to help stop that kinda junk?

[wolfuncaged]

There are Templars, all across Thedas, but in Tevinter they may as well not be there at all. Magic rules absolutely.

[realhumanbeing]

[Admittedly, what he first imagines is something wondrous, because magic itself is still inherently wondrous. But it only takes a moment of thought before he realizes why such a thing could be terrible-- after all, isn't his own Homeworld filled with magic? And yet it's horrific enough that Lapis fled it, that he himself is fighting against it.

So the look he gives Fenris is all too understanding, really, even if he doesn't know the specifics of why Fenris hates it.]

I'm sorry. That sounds awful.

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris might feel a pang of regret, that Steven can have any understanding of this. That at his age anything like this would be known to him. But in Tevinter, children younger than him have been through such horrors. There's no such thing as an innocent childhood in Tevinter.]

It is awful. The most powerful mages are the magisters, who build their power upon the backs of the slaves they keep. The place would be best dealt with by razing it to the ground. It's the only way to deal with the rot.

[realhumanbeing]

They have slaves?

[It's more a rhetorical question than not, but still Steven's eyes widen and then fill with tears. He's not-- going to cry, maybe, but it's definitely on his mind.]

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris doesn't seem to notice. A+ childcare there, Fenris. ]

Yes. Many, they can do so legally there, and so they do it without restraint. I was one myself, before I escaped.

[realhumanbeing]

You--

[Now he's really tearing up. But escape! That's good!]

How did you escape?

[wolfuncaged]

[Oh, the kid looks like he's about to cry. Fenris pulls a face, before exhaling.]

My master made me into a living weapon, to kill whomever he so chose. One day, he ordered me to kill a group of... people who had helped me. After I did it, I realised I could not live that life any more and fled.

[It's a very short version of events, but Fenris is keeping most of it to himself to save a lot of explaining on his part, rather than for Steven's feelings. ]

[realhumanbeing]

[Yeah okay he's definitely crying now, but at least it's silent crying.]

I-- I guess that's good.

[wolfuncaged]

[He doesn't know how to stop the crying. This is not something he's learned yet. Childcare. ]

Sometimes, you have to face the worst of yourself to understand how to live a better life.

[That's what he tells himself, anyway. He sighs.]

Do you need a handkerchief or something?

[realhumanbeing]

Yeah . . .

[Though he shoves at his eyes with his wrist, trying to wipe the tears away. It's not your fault, Fenris. Steven cries at just about everything.]

What does that mean, about facing the worst of yourself?

[wolfuncaged]

There may be one...around?

[He doesn't know, gosh. ]

You see what you are truly capable of, the darkest things you can do, and you realise you do not wish to be that any more. To live a life where you consider that acceptable.

[realhumanbeing]

[No come over and give him one. Steven wipes his eyes and nose on his arm, sniffing as he does.]

And you succeeded?

[wolfuncaged]

[Ugh no, that's a lot of effort. ]

...I have been trying, and at least now the choices I make are my own, not another's.

[realhumanbeing]

Maybe you should have a coach. Like, somebody to bounce decisions off of.

[He wipes his eyes again, but his voice is bright, at least.]

A morality coach!

[wolfuncaged]

...I already have one of those. His name is Hawke.

[Actually, Hawke makes terrible life choices, he's the worst life coach. ]

[realhumanbeing]

Oh, good! You can always have more, though. I mean, Avaline sounds pretty good.

[wolfuncaged]

[That gets a soft huff of amusement.]

Yes. She's also someone I turn to for advice.