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

[11calls]

Yep! A lot of us were, actually depending on the color of the flower that we opened. Different ones had different effects, and that's always the way with things like the parties they throw. Sometimes it's better to pay attention and see what happens to other people before you do something yourself.

[Even if it wasn't advice that Alex tended to stick to by any means.]

But if you were going to say that this place hardly ever sounds boring? Yeah, it's definitely not. Not by any stretch of the imagination. There's always something going on either here or on the other side of the wall or both.

[indigobird]

That's a complex enchantment there. And a powerful one at that. [It doesn't cross her mind that it could be anything else. Magic's the only thing she's ever known that could pull off such a feat.] But I'll take your warning to heart. [Unfortunately, Hawke hardly ever followed such advice either. whoops.]

Yes, and apparently I'll be venturing around outside it eventually. Somehow I wound up joining the Perimeter Guard. [She snorts.] Those people who greet you at the portal are sneaky ones. Half sure I got conned into it.

[11calls]

There's a lot of them, actually. This city kinda just runs on a combination of magic and advanced technology. You'd be surprised, but at least they always label the ones that are like... aphrodisiacs or something. Despite the whole kidnapping thing, they are actually fairly big on consent here, which is actually really refreshing.

[indigobird]

If nothing else, you can't say they don't warn you. [Especially given that this seems to be a reoccurring thing. There are worse things that could happen than accidentally being turned into a child for a time.] Overall, it sounds rather fascinating. Can't say I'm very inclined on anything technological [Another funny word. She'll be learning a slew of them in the days to come, she's sure.] but I do know magic. Though... I suspect what they use here isn't quite the same as what I know back home.

[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.

[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.]

[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]

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.]

[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.

[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.

[11calls]

Oh, I see. And yeah you will. Dorian is completely one of a kind, which I've probably already said, but I can't help it.

[There's a grin in her voice if nothing else.]

[indigobird]

[Varric would be glad he had such friends. Hawke remembers him mentioning that Dorian had exiled himself, effectively, from Tevinter, and thus just about everyone he had known. She knows a thing or two about how that feels.]

Well, you've certainly given me a lot to mull over. I appreciate your help and advice, Alex.

[11calls]

Sure! You know where to find me if you've got any more questions!