01 🐦 (video; un: hawke)

[indigobird]

[Hawke's been thrown her fair share of curveballs by life, but this? This is... different. Okay, that's putting it delicately: this shit's weird, as Varric would probably say. And as someone who's seen a LOT of weird shit, that's saying something. It's a lot to take in, but Relm, despite being rattled, doesn't let it show. Her usual snark hides the nervousness she's feeling at being in a new place and far away from the familiar.

At least there's a way to get back... though Maker knows how long it'll take. And honestly? She's not in much of a rush. If it weren't for Carver and her friends, scattered as they are, she probably wouldn't be inclined to go back at all. Not that she'll admit it.

With a little introduction and instructions, some money and a pat on the back to send her on her way, Relm finds herself wandering the city. Sure, she could go to her new place (ugh, communal living) but instead she winds up sitting in some grass in a quiet location, just trying to get her thoughts together. And it's then she remembers the little... phone, they called it? She could talk to a bunch of people at once with it. They even showed her how to use it.

A big mistake, as they'll all discover.

Well, if she's going to be here for Maker knows how long, might as well introduce herself and get a feel for the others here.]

Oh I do love it when life keeps reminding me that it's capable of surprising me. You'd think by now I'd have learned my lesson, but oh no. Foolish, foolish me.

[It's all said in a joking, almost laughing tone.]

Riverview. Quaint name. Not so quaint city. The ridiculously high buildings are going to take some getting used to. It's all so... clean. A laughable complaint, maybe, but well, I'm going to complain anyway.

The oh so lovely people at the gate gave me the basics, but there are a few horrendously pressing questions I do have for you lot:

One, where are the best places to drink? Two, what's the general view about mages and magic here? And three, where does one acquire... let's say art supplies? Paper or parchment, ink or charcoal, and the like? Maybe even paint if I feel so inclined.

[She almost goes to end it there, but, well, her mother didn't raise a complete barbarian.]

Oh, yes, introductions. My name is Hawke. Hopefully my reputation didn't precede me here.

Comments

[indigobird]

Thanks. I'll be sure to drop by sometime, see this place for myself and how a DJ works.

[devilstongue]

What?!

[ Fuck, don't mess with his age, don't mess with his age! Fuck, he can't do that, he's Mollymauk Tealeaf, he is a member of the Mighty Nein, he's a person, he's a real person, he's not empty, he doesn't want that again!

'Scuse the nervous breakdown. ]

[11calls]

Well, I mean, I expect that magic probably has some similarities across universes if nothing else. And I know that the school will definitely have some ideas there. My friend Dorian works there, studying magic as energy as a matter of fact! So I'm sure he has some ideas.

[Little does she know...]

But yeah, they definitely warn you, a lot of the time things are good and like make you get out your inner feelings or make you feel the light of happiness. But sometimes, they're a right pain in the ass.

[tevinteraltus]

Ah, yes.

[ So many had died, but when you're fighting a war for the soul of a world, he supposed some casualties were inevitable. It didn't make their blows any less keen, of course. ]

Still, he was a good man and remained uncorrupted in the end. More than anyone can say for his fellows.

[ But on to the topic of timeline discrepancy. It was far more fascinating some would say disquieting, but not Dorian. ]

Possibly. Well, most certainly, rather. You see, all that business at Adamant Fortress occurred two years ago, by my reckoning.

[happiertimes]

[Cullen is rather serious, true, but this is a difficult situation. And much more muddled than even the events at the Conclave at Haven.

He rattles off the directions to the barracks from the station nearest the middle of the city.

And when she finally arrives, he's ready to really face this again.]

You're late. It hardly takes forty-five minutes to reach the barracks with the directions I gave you.

[mistyday]

Yeah! Gramarye! I work there, takin' care of the animals!

[indigobird]

[Welp. This, uh, took a turn.]

It happens if you consume something that causes it, or so I was told. My source said they label those sort of things, so you shouldn't have it sprung on you without your knowing.

[She hopes that helps?? Please don't freak out new friend????]

[indigobird]

[Dorian, she says?]

I'll definitely have to ask. When you say Dorian, you don't happen to mean Dorian Pavus, do you? Dark hair, impeccable mustache, air of refinement and Tevinter snobbery to him?

[Bless Dorian but he can absolutely be a snob.]

Suppose I'll see for myself in time, then. How very intriguing this all sounds. [And mildly worrisome. "Get out your inner feelings" isn't quite something she finds to be a good thing, but she'll, well, keep that to herself.]

[indigobird]

["He didn't deserve to die" she wants to say. It's true, but the Inquisitor made her choice. Stroud knew what he was doing, as did Hawke. One of them wasn't getting out of there alive. Though all the rationalization doesn't lessen the sting.]

He was. Let's hope it wasn't all in vain.

[The Wardens better not fuck it up, or Maker help them, she's coming back and setting the lot of them on fire.

But that train of thought goes out the window when he talks again, and Hawke finds herself staring rather stupidly at him for a moment.]

Er - come again?

[11calls]

[Okay, Alex is very amused, and she can't help but laughing easily.]

Yeah, that's him. I hope anyway! He's too delightful for there to be more than one of him.

[Alex likes him a lot, but she remembers when they went out drinking and the snobbery then.]

[indigobird]

"Turn at the store with the bright red lamppost outside" doesn't help much when you don't know a city, Cullen. Just as a bit of advice.

[There's a snappish tone to her snark, but she leaves it at that as she strolls inside.]

Besides, it was thirty-five minutes. Don't be so dramatic. Now: what's sooo important that I needed to meet you in person to discuss?

[indigobird]

A name, even better. And it has animals? This place sounds more delightful by the minute. Do tell me more.

[devilstongue]

Okay. Okay.

[ He can deal with that. ]

My apologies.

[indigobird]

It's fine. Don't enjoy the thought of accidentally being turned into a child?

[indigobird]

He's from the same world as me. And Maker, I don't think any one place can handle two of him. His "delight" will be the least of our concerns.

[Really, she has nothing against him. He stands for Tevinter's good qualities (and a handful of its bad). But he's also so easy to poke fun at.]

[devilstongue]

No. I was a horrible child.

[tevinteraltus]

[ The Tevinter mage smiles at that. It's a small comfort, yes, but a cleverly worded one, and so...he can look proud.

Besides, it's rare Dorian takes anything completely seriously for long. ]

It's been two years, Hawke. And yes, it was.

[11calls]

[Alex definitely gets the making fun of your friends thing, so she's not offended on his behalf. Instead she just laughs.]

Really? That sounds like a story.

[happiertimes]

[He doesn't rise to her bait because he gave her precise instructions on how to get there and he won't apologize to her. She'll have to get used to their surroundings soon enough if she plans on staying in the Quarantine.

When they're inside, he walks over to the table in the corner that he and Dorian use for their semi-weekly chess games and pulls out a bottle of whisky and a pair of glasses.]

Sit down. There's a lot to go over. [Two fingers of amber liquid the same color of his eyes go into each glass and he hands her one of them.]

Let's start with something small. Who rules Ferelden right now?

[mistyday]

Oh yeah! All sorts of creatures that I never thought I'd ever see! Like little fuzzy sprites and big dragons and scary dinosaur kinda bird things... most of them aren't evil though. I mean, they'll hurt you, can't be dumb about it, but this is their home too, they're just protectin' themselves. So sometimes I have to go deal with some poor thing that's gotten hurt in a fight with a person.

[indigobird]

Weren't we all? I distinctly remember being something of a terror myself.

[indigobird]

[It takes an awful lot for Hawke to be completely gobsmacked. She's seen so much over the course of her life that almost nothing surprises her anymore. But here she is, completely thrown and unsure as to what to say.]

I heard you. The words individually make sense. Just not together. What do you mean - how are you two years ahead of me? [And a cold, clammy feeling settles in her chest as she considers his last words.] Why was it in vain?

[indigobird]

Most of my knowledge of him comes from a mutual friend and the few interactions I had with him. I'm not the best person to ask, sadly. But if I'm here long enough, I imagine I'll gather enough of them in time.

[indigobird]

[Hawke's nodding along, up until the part when Misty mentions "dragons". And her mind immediately hones in on that, because it's Hawke and that's how she rolls.]

...did I hear you say dragons? They have those there?

[PLEASE LET IT BE SO]

[indigobird]

[Oh. Oh, he's cracking out alcohol. Normally she'd think nothing of it, but again, this is Cullen. If he's going straight for that, then this is going to be a bumpy ride.

So, she does as he says and takes a seat, taking the glass with him with a nod. As she swirls the liquid in the glass, she frowns at his question. What kind of...?]

King Alistair and Queen Riona, the Hero of Ferelden. [There's a snarky remark that begs to be said, something about him testing her common sense or something, but she bites back. He's going somewhere with this and her being sarcastic won't help them get there any faster.]