brainiest | ic contact.

Oh... No, that makes sense. You're a spirit, so you can probably see and sense things that I have no hope of being able to pick up on. If people do or touching things a lot then it should be rational that they leave some kind of... Imprint behind, spiritually.

[ Which she's not entirely comfortable with, and it shows on her face, the tightness of her features. She's come a long way from her utter hatred and disbelief of Divination and everything it means but that doesn't allow for her to be completely understanding. As much as she tries, it all just sounds a little bit too close to nonsense for her liking.

At least his questions distract her, and she smiles. ]

Sometimes. It depends on the planet and what the people are like, but most of the time there's something.

[She's uncomfortable, but that's okay, because Justice makes many people uncomfortable. It comes part in parcel with being a spirit. She'll get used to it if they spend time together.

She seems to prefer discussing books, and he can do that.]

That is good. [This library clearly needs more books. Justice will keep this in mind next time the opportunity to get more presents itself.] And they are all in languages we can understand?

[ It isn't the first time she's been uncomfortable around something unfamiliar; she had felt that way with Gilgamesh for a long time, and even some of her other friends had been strange and unusual, even by her standards. She grew, however, and she's sure she'll grow to care for Justice, too.

At least books is easier. ]

I think the Atroma might do something to help us read things, even if we don't speak the language. I've never had a problem reading anything that I've found on the planets before.

The magic this place commands continues to amaze me. [Maybe it should be alarming, but he hasn't sensed so much as a whiff of blood magic, so he's not disturbed. Powerful magic is not necessarily evil.]

And you recognize the kinds of magic the books describe? They were practiced where you learned as well? [It occurs to Justice that he doesn't know if Hermione is a Circle mage or not. She doesn't feel like one--her magic is too free and she's too comfortable sharing power with a spirit--but her magic is also far too refined for someone self-taught.]

I suppose it wouldn't be very entertaining for the viewers if we were all speaking foreign languages and couldn't communicate with each other. [ It's not a bad thing, but it does show the level of involvement the Atroma have in their existence, and sometimes that's a rather discomforting feeling.

At least talking about magic is easy and familiar, and she can nod along when Justice questions her. ] My home world had magic in it, yes. I was something called a witch.

[No one has adequately explained the concept of a reality TV show to Justice, so he's still under the impression that creatures are watching from the Fade. And they have the ability to exert their magic here? Or someone cares enough about their enjoyment to perform magic for them?] Why does their enjoyment matter? Are they the ones performing the magic?

[Justice cocks his head when she talks about magic, listening intently.] Where I come from, 'witch' is usually just used for female hedge mages, and it's often meant as an insult. Are you self-taught, or are you from a Circle?

[ 'Circle'... Finally, the things click into place, and Hermione's expression softens a little. If he's talking about spirits and a Circle then, surely, he must be from Thedas - like Nasrin, and Anders and Hawke. ]

Well, no, I think the Atroma are, but if they don't understand what we're saying then the Atroma can't do whatever thing it is they're doing with us, I think. It would just be a disaster and no one would want to sponsor us or give credits.

[ At least the rest of the conversation is easy. ] I went to a school - a bit like the Circle, but freer, and there was no shame or hatred and only teachers to keep us in line. Once we graduated we were free to go and live our lives with our magical control taught to us.

So the observers exchange currency for entertainment? [Justice still does not understand this system or why they're here. This seems weird.

Justice listens to her description of her schooling, nodding alone as he frowns in thought.] That seems like a civilized system. [When mages are old enough to manifest magic, take them to a school where they can learn how to not set things on fire by accident, and then let them live their lives at the education's conclusion. It deals with the danger of untrained magic without treating mages like wild animals.] If you do not have demons where you come from, do you not have Templars either?

[Justice can acknowledge that Templars serve a purpose, though he thinks the system of the Circles is in dire need of reform. A mage is in unique danger when it comes to demons, and without a Templar, an abomination can kill untold numbers of people before average blades can take it down.]

Something like that, yes. The more entertaining we are the more money we're given. [ And her account has been up and down even as she attempts to pretend she's not watching and wondering what gave her what.

It's a good reminder of home, though, and that eases some of her worry likes, her scar stretching out over her face. ] It was civilised, mostly. It's not the best place in the world, but we were doing what we could to make some changes, to do some good in the world. That's what I remember most. [ It's been almost four years since she was back home and the memories of the Fleet and the Drabwurld are far heavier and thicker than her memories of home, even if there are things she could never possibly forget.

At least she knows what a Templar is. ] We had wizarding law, of course, but nothing like the Templars that I've been told about. I met one who was incredibly kind and honourable, though, and I know most of them are nothing like he was.

[Atroma still makes no sense, and Justice still doesn't quite grasp how this works, but he's more interested in hearing about her world.] What were the things you wished to change? How long have you been away from home?

[Justice dips his head at her mention of Templars.] I cannot say that I have experience with them. The only time I met Templars, it was because we were on opposite sides of a battle. [So, not a lot of time to chat. Also, not the best first impression. That said, from what Justice knows about the Circles, he finds the entire system morally outrageous. Depriving innocents of freedom and putting them in the care of those taught to fear them is not just no matter the circumstances.]

There was some issues with prejudice in my world. It's been almost five years since I was back there, so it feels like a very long time ago. I was in another world that 'kidnapped' me before I was brought here by the Atroma. I just wanted to stop the prejudice from happening.

[ It's a little bit of an awkward situation, she thinks. There are people that have also been to other worlds before here, and she realises that - it's strange and, yet, familiar to them. ]

I met a Templar called Cullen Rutherford in the Drabwurld. He was really very sweet, and an honourable man, but I know they're not all like that. He told me enough, and I've heard things from other people. [ Like the Lavellan she had known. Shifting, she makes herself comfortable - and there might well be a glimpse of her Dalish tattoos on the top of her arms. ]

Just like any other people, right?

[Five years? That is longer than even Riona has been gone from home. He does not imagine that it is easy to be away from what is familiar for so long.] Do those without magic fear those with it? Is that the prejudice you fight?

[He just assumes that it is, because that's how it is in his world.

He notices the tattoos on her arms, and he wonders at them. He is far from an expert on Dalish custom, but he has fought alongside Velanna for a while now and he has trouble imagining anyone in her clan giving those tattoos to a human. But how would she have them if a Dalish elf didn't give them to her?] What is this Drabwurld?

[He keeps the tattoos in mind. She is being patient about answering his questions, though he's only gaining more.]

[ It's been difficult, but she's adjusted - and she's learned to make the best of what she's been given. It's not always the easiest thing in the world, but she's stronger for it, in the end. ] Not exactly. Most people without magic aren't told that witches and wizards are real. It's the people with 'pure' blood that were the problem. A lot of them thought that anyone who had parents without magic were dirty, somehow, or had stolen their magic from someone.

[ And as one of those people... Clearly she took issue with it.

At least the Drabwurld is a slightly easier topic, and she focusses on that. ]

I was told it was a lot like Thedas when I was there. It's a world with magic and very little technology, completely different from the fleet, and people were brought there to try and save their own worlds as two sides fought in a war.

[There is so much to unpack there.] How do non-mage mortals not notice magic? And why would a mage's parents matter? [While he thinks it's wrong, he can at least understand the premise of the prejudice against mages in Thedas. Mages, after all, are particularly vulnerable to possession and the average mortal has no hope of defending themselves against one. He has no idea where prejudice based on parentage would come from.

The Drabwurld sounds more familiar to him, though. Still weird, though, like something from the Fade.] It certainly sounds closer to Thedas. Why would they kidnap people to fight their war? [That seems like a bad war strategy. Also, most importantly, completely morally wrong.]

They've been brought up not to believe in it, so they don't really expect it to be there. Any magic they see can be shrugged off as a trick or something pretend. But for some people... [ Hermione shakes her head. ] They think their blood is "purer" because they're from all-magical families. It's not rational, not really, and it's not anywhere near true, but...

[ It doesn't really make sense, but she was raised by muggles. She knows that her heritage is just and her power is hers and no one else's, but they're blinded.

At least she can focus on something a little less heavy. ] We all had Shards inside ourselves, a little piece of a huge gem that once belonged in that world. When it was split it created all our other worlds, so we were brought there to help in the war.

[Justice is pretty sure blood doesn't work that way, and Hermione seems to confirm his suspicions. He still doesn't quite understand why this prejudice is a thing, but the mage herself has admitted that it is not rational, so perhaps he's not meant to understand it.

The mortal is kind to indulge his questions so much. He recognizes that not all mortals are ready to do it.]

So Thedas and your world came from this Drabwurld? [That doesn't sound right to him, for some reason, but perhaps the Templar this mage encountered is from another Thedas than Justice is. After all, there are multiple versions of it.]

That's what the monarchs told us. They said that the Gem was once whole, but when it broke all the shards went out and created our worlds. That's what made it possible for us to be brought there.

[ Hermione doesn't mind answering questions, because at least they're being asked out of interest rather than malice. Justice is curious, and she has a healthy respect for that; she can still remember just how she had been when she was at school, desperate to know everything she could. ]

And from there I was brought here from the Atroma.

[Justice isn't sure he believes that the monarchs were truthful, but there's no way to gauge that from the mage. She is saying what she was told, and she is saying it honestly.

He considers for a moment. Going to one unfamiliar world, and then being whisked off to another... he has an inkling of how that feels.

He doesn't need to ask her if she misses her home. He has a feeling he knows the answer.

So he doesn't ask that. He asks something else that's been nagging him.]

Did you receive your tattoos here, or elsewhere?

They remind me of Dalish tattoos in Thedas.

[ She thinks it's what they believed, at least, and it's something. Hermione had fought for her friends and, eventually, for Solais herself, though her faith in the monarchs had been broken and shattered over time. Eventually she only rose up to defend the people she cared about and the innocents, to try and undo all the bad she had done in her time.

It's hard, being far from all the places she knew as home, but she's been here almost two years now. It gets easier.

At least the question gives her something to focus on. ]

Oh - my tattoos! I was given them by a friend, Nasrin Lavellan, in the Drabwurld. She was Dalish.

I am surprised a Dalish gave you tattoos. They usually guard their culture very closely. [Even Justice, who is ~~friends~~ companions with a Dalish elf and who happens to be completely removed from the painful history between humans and elves, is only allowed to witness piecemeal parts of Dalish culture, let alone participate in it. And he's one of the few who actually gets along with Velanna (mostly).] What do they represent?

[He knows that much. The tattoos are there to honor gods, he believes.]

I don't think they're particularly symbolic. They're designed in the Dalish way, but they're not one particular tattoo. [ Hermione was aware of how important the tattoos had been to Nasrin; she wasn't quite as foolish as some people thought, and she had learned a lot about her friend's home and culture. Understanding the importance of these tattoos had been paramount. ]

They're to show that I'm a friend, and anyone with tattoos similar is also a friend.

ic contact.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject