Joint video with ~makeovers~

[whatisright]

Who: Justice, Anders, Riona, and YOU
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Caprine
When: Backdated before they get to the planet

[The video opens to what appears to be only Riona and Anders, standing shoulder to shoulder. Someone paying attention might notice someone else behind them, purposefully hidden.

Riona and Anders look a bit excited, and quite pleased. She glances over her shoulder briefly at someone, but her head still blocks most of the shot. When she turns back, she’s grinning.]

Ladies and gentlemen of the fleet, there’s someone we’d like you to meet. Or, maybe reintroduce for some of you.

[Anders steps aside, giving a grand wave to the person behind them and finally revealing him their captive audience.

It’s an unfamiliar and very attractive man with swept back hair and piercing blue eyes. (The shade of which may be familiar to anyone who might have known Anders back when he had a glowing problem.) The man in question has a seemingly perpetual frown on his face, standing stiffly without actually moving. He’s so still that it’s almost like he’s not breathing. (And those who know him, even if they don’t recognize him, might pick up on the note of vague confusion in the furrow of his brow. He does not know why this has become such a production, but it’s past the point when it’s worth the effort to restrain his friends.)

Anders’ grin could light up a room. It’s clear the two Wardens are very pleased with themselves.]

Please give a warm welcome to Justice: new and improved. For those of you who know him, Riona and I decided it was time for a bit of a makeover; something to improve over ‘dead and decaying.’ Those of you that might not have met him yet, you should! He’s really very nice.

[And now a 100% more approachable.

Justice, for his part, glances at Anders with slightly narrowed eyes. Anders, are you trying to make friends for him? He’s pretty sure you’re trying to make friends for him. Oh well. He dips his head towards the camera, and when he speaks, it’s the same deep rumble as before.] Greetings. If you did not know what to call me prior, I was the spirit who appeared to be dead.

[Riona nods, and wryly adds:] You may remember him as looking like a walking corpse who doesn't blink. We didn't want people to be putoff by his appearance anymore. Hard to get to know people and mingle with mortals when everyone thinks you're an undead shambler.

So say hello and chat him up. Or just ogle him. [She gives a wink and a wave.]

Comments

[samahl]

Well, I happen to be a connoisseur of handsome men and I can tell you from what I can see your form is very pleasing.

I would have to see it in person to solidify that opinion though.

Either way, what is more important is that you are comfortable in it. That is 'fits right' so to say.

[whatisright]

[...Huh. Justice squints off camera towards Anders and Riona. Yes, he's sure they did that on purpose.]

I have taken many forms stranger than this. It looks like no particular mortal and it does not make others uneasy. That is all that I wished.

If you wish to see it in person, you are welcome to.

[samahl]

That's comforting to hear.

Do you have any plans for a celebration? New beginnings often are, after all.

[whatisright]

It did not occur to me to plan one. Riona and Anders gave me minimal warning before we began to change my form.

[Which is to say that they ambushed him.]

[samahl]

Then we should plan something! At least drinks.

[whatisright]

I do not drink anything, but if you believe this warrants celebration, then you are welcome to do so. I confess I have little experience with celebrations outside of the Fade.

[samahl]

And now I'm curious about celebrations inside of the Fade. Do you mind sharing? How do spirits celebrate?

[whatisright]

We do not. At least, not how you think of it. We do not come together to arrange events where we may socialize and commemorate things.

Mortal celebrations leave imprints, however. Memories and dreams of them linger in the Fade, and they are versatile enough that all spirits may find cause to visit one eventually. Spirits like Joy are most likely to remain in these spaces, but I have had occasion to fulfill my purpose in them before.

[samahl]

I... I would love to meet a spirit of Joy. They probably have an uplifting presence.

[whatisright]

I suppose mortals would enjoy their company. I find that Justice and Joy rarely have much to speak about.

[Which is to say that he finds most spirits of joy annoying at best, with the rare exception.]

[samahl]

And yet I could see Compassion getting along with both of you.

[whatisright]

At times yes, and at other times no. Joy can be kind, but it does not have to be in order to fulfill its virtue. A cruel spirit of joy would have difficulty getting along with Compassion.

[samahl]

I hadn't thought that, but it makes sense...

I wonder, is there a spirit of Loyalty?

[whatisright]

Yes, there are spirits of loyalty. They do not tend to be the strongest spirits in the Fade, but they are not particularly weak either.

[Whether Justice gets along with them or not depends very much on how they decide to fulfill their virtue. If they dedicate their loyalty to a wrongdoer, the conflict can get ugly.]

[samahl]

It would depend on what they attach themselves to, wouldn't it?

Ah, suddenly I'm imaging a Loyalty spirit loyal to someone like Command. [It's easy for Cyril to think of spirits as someones, and he says it without second guessing.]

That could possibly be dangerous. The Command spirit I met needed me to kill a demon to fulfill their Command before they could return to the Fade. That is something I would happily do in any circumstance, mind you, but if they had had a Loyalty spirit, Loyalty might try to take such a task themselves, wouldn't they? I'm glad we came across Command instead.

[Then he adds thoughtfully,] Though she was rather rude to Cole...

[whatisright]

[Justice doesn't miss the casual 'someones'. Brownie points, Cyril.]

You met Command? [Justice doesn't always have the most expressive voice, but the way he says 'Command' is the epitome of ugh. Justice is not a fan.]

If Loyalty dedicated itself to Command, its actions would depend on how it believed it could best fulfill its virtue. It may believe that the highest form of loyalty is obedience, and would follow Command's orders to the letter. Or it may believe that loyalty is about doing what is best for the one it is loyal to, so it would protect Command whether it was ordered to or not.

It does not surprise me to hear that it may have mistreated Compassion. Command has little patience for people who do not obey it.

[samahl]

Cole was trying to help, but Command did not have patience for him, I don't think. A shame. Sometimes Command could do with a bit more Compassion. I know I used it as I was leading.

The demon was rather massive too. It was for the best.

[whatisright]

Compassion is not a powerful spirit, but I find that it can be a good influence on others. Command does not always appreciate that. [Justice knows that sometimes Compassion's influence has helped him too. Justice isn't really true justice without some compassion mixed in, after all. That said, Compassion on its own can be far too forgiving for Justice's taste.]

How did you find yourself destroying a demon at Command's behest?

[samahl]

After the Breach there were all sorts of Rifts throughout Thedas. I did what I could to seal with all. One of them was in a lake near a village called Crestwood. During the Blight, the old Crestwood was folded. We had to drain the lake to get down to the Rift, and in doing so we uncovered the old village. Spirits of all types had come through the Rift over the lake.

Command was one of them.

[whatisright]

Of course it was.

[Mortals don't have a bad enough idea of spirits, no. Only the most obnoxious spirits should pop out of the Fade. All they need is for Valor to start chasing down mortals to challenge to duels and the mortals can have a true picture of spirit kind.]

Let me guess: it was trying to order some rocks into formation and was angry that they would not obey.

[That is literally the only thing Justice can imagine Command doing in the mortal world. He had had a hard enough time adjusting to a static plane that does not obey his will. He can't imagine how Command would respond.]

[samahl]

[Cyril can't help but chuckle at the description.]

That is exactly what they were doing! They were pretty frustrated that physical things would not bend to them.

[whatisright]

[Yeeeaaaaah that sounds like Command.]

It was frustrating enough for me to adjust to the mortal realm, and my virtue has nothing to do with the land bending to my will. I imagine Command found it infuriating.

[Justice shakes his head, like maybe Command will feel his exasperation from across the Veil.]

Do you know if it found its way back to the Fade? I do not believe Command would do well trapped in the mortal realm.

[samahl]

Yes. It returned after I killed the demon. Having someone to do their bidding seemed to be enough.

[A pause]

I'm sorry the world was frustrating for you. I hope it got better?

[whatisright]

It will always be frustrating on some level, but I no longer expect rocks to begin to float. It is progress.

[A world that can't be manipulated is easier for him to adjust to than spending time with creatures that don't have a singular virtue guiding them, but he likes this world, despite its frustrations.]

[samahl]

That's good.

Though, having some floating rocks would probably make the world a tad more interesting.