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extramural) wrote2016-05-09 01:41 pm
extramural) wrote2016-05-09 01:41 pm
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I have been given permission to defend myself, if needed, but I would rather not have to stop otherwise mostly harmless civilians from making a poor choice.
[ But Korrin mentions whales, the sea, and the Outsider takes a step closer before realizing it. He takes another step forward when she reveals the charm, one pale finger reaching out to trace over it. ]
The whales in my world are different from these, [ he breathes, ] yet they are still whales, still of the sea.
[ But Korrin mentions whales, the sea, and the Outsider takes a step closer before realizing it. He takes another step forward when she reveals the charm, one pale finger reaching out to trace over it. ]
The whales in my world are different from these, [ he breathes, ] yet they are still whales, still of the sea.
"Perhaps the ship would go through a rift and return in your world, upon the open sea." Though it's more likely, considering where the rifts in Thedas open, to land him on top of Mount Doom or in a cave deep underground.
Still, they plan to see the sea. It is something to look forward to -- both for himself, for his own longing for the water, and for Thranduil. The Outsider wants, he finds, to introduce Thranduil to the ocean, to is wonders. Where the elf, his friend, has offered the Outsider kindness, compassion, the Outsider will offer knowledge. Perhaps it is not a fair trade, but it is something that he finds he wants, at least for the pair of them.
"They sing," he confirms, smile soft, a little sad, and perhaps the most relaxed and human he's ever looked. "The calf was young enough that they remained in the shallows, though I imagine they were moving to deeper waters soon after we saw them. They are different to the whales of my world, in appearance and song, but they are beautiful all the same -- are perhaps fated to a better end, when compared to those of my world."
Still, they plan to see the sea. It is something to look forward to -- both for himself, for his own longing for the water, and for Thranduil. The Outsider wants, he finds, to introduce Thranduil to the ocean, to is wonders. Where the elf, his friend, has offered the Outsider kindness, compassion, the Outsider will offer knowledge. Perhaps it is not a fair trade, but it is something that he finds he wants, at least for the pair of them.
"They sing," he confirms, smile soft, a little sad, and perhaps the most relaxed and human he's ever looked. "The calf was young enough that they remained in the shallows, though I imagine they were moving to deeper waters soon after we saw them. They are different to the whales of my world, in appearance and song, but they are beautiful all the same -- are perhaps fated to a better end, when compared to those of my world."
[Korrin smiles a little, nodding.]
There are still parallels across worlds, even if they don't match up exactly. Araceli already has a ton of sea-themed things, even aside from what I've given her. She doesn't need more in her collection, but you...well, I thought it wouldn't hurt.
There are still parallels across worlds, even if they don't match up exactly. Araceli already has a ton of sea-themed things, even aside from what I've given her. She doesn't need more in her collection, but you...well, I thought it wouldn't hurt.
It is fair- one might suppose the Outsider sharing knowledge weighed alongside his patience while being fitted for a wardrobe would balance neatly alongside Thranduil's attentions and-- very near-- fussing.
"How old was the calf? How large?" And he's hungry for this sort of information, to learn all he can about the sea, about the fish that live there, about tides and sailing and all these things formerly forbidden to him. He leans forward by degrees, enthralled.
"What do the whales of your world look like? A trader brought a book to my halls. It has the most intricate pictures of beasts not drawn by elven hands. Oliphaunts, which I had not seen, and whales. Crabs, a fish that was flat, as if it had been pressed." Thranduil had bought the book, of course, had looked through it. As had his Silvans. But books were not meant to last forever, and within five hundred years it was dust, though he had carefully scribed copies. He almost sounds... wistful.
"... what have the Men of your world done to them?"
(As if he needs to clarify first that it was mortals bringing doom down upon the world.)
"How old was the calf? How large?" And he's hungry for this sort of information, to learn all he can about the sea, about the fish that live there, about tides and sailing and all these things formerly forbidden to him. He leans forward by degrees, enthralled.
"What do the whales of your world look like? A trader brought a book to my halls. It has the most intricate pictures of beasts not drawn by elven hands. Oliphaunts, which I had not seen, and whales. Crabs, a fish that was flat, as if it had been pressed." Thranduil had bought the book, of course, had looked through it. As had his Silvans. But books were not meant to last forever, and within five hundred years it was dust, though he had carefully scribed copies. He almost sounds... wistful.
"... what have the Men of your world done to them?"
(As if he needs to clarify first that it was mortals bringing doom down upon the world.)
[ It is a gift. It takes him a moment and then he looks up at her, eyes a bit wider than usual. Then back down, his fingers carefully closing around the whale. ]
... Thank you.
[ His hand opens again so that he can look at the charm. ]
What would those in this world do with it?
... Thank you.
[ His hand opens again so that he can look at the charm. ]
What would those in this world do with it?
You're welcome.
[She flashes a grin, then glances down at it when he does.]
It's a charm, something to put on your belt or attach it to a weapon hilt, or pack if you want. Wherever you like, as long as it fits.
[She flashes a grin, then glances down at it when he does.]
It's a charm, something to put on your belt or attach it to a weapon hilt, or pack if you want. Wherever you like, as long as it fits.
"It is difficult to tell, due to the differences between worlds. I would guess either very young or several months old and ready to leave the bay. It was larger than even the largest horse, though; perhaps more akin to the creatures called 'brontos' in this world."
They're big, Thranduil. Really big.
"Oliphaunts? The rest are familiar, even the flat fish." Learning, yay! "The whales of my world have pointed faces, with the eyes and mouth low. They have barbels before their main fins, something it seems whales of this world do not have. And they produce something that humans call whale oil -- a bright blue, combustive substance used for a variety of technologies."
He closes his eyes, just for a moment.
"Men hunt them for it. They believe whales to be no more than mindless, violent beasts, and they capture them and drag them upon their ships -- if the whale is not able to destroy the ship in self-defense. They do not kill the whales at first; they bring them back to the slaughterhouses. The whale oil is harvested while the whale is still alive, while it is in pain, to obtain more of it. Eventually the whale either dies or it runs dry and is killed. Then they harvest the meat and throw away the bones."
It is wasteful, arrogant, and cruel. It is dooming the world. He imagines even the seamstress may feel a pang of pity for the great beasts of his world.
"More than one butcher has been driven to insanity by the echoing, sad songs of a tortured whale. Deep inside, some humans understand, eventually. But it is not enough."
They're big, Thranduil. Really big.
"Oliphaunts? The rest are familiar, even the flat fish." Learning, yay! "The whales of my world have pointed faces, with the eyes and mouth low. They have barbels before their main fins, something it seems whales of this world do not have. And they produce something that humans call whale oil -- a bright blue, combustive substance used for a variety of technologies."
He closes his eyes, just for a moment.
"Men hunt them for it. They believe whales to be no more than mindless, violent beasts, and they capture them and drag them upon their ships -- if the whale is not able to destroy the ship in self-defense. They do not kill the whales at first; they bring them back to the slaughterhouses. The whale oil is harvested while the whale is still alive, while it is in pain, to obtain more of it. Eventually the whale either dies or it runs dry and is killed. Then they harvest the meat and throw away the bones."
It is wasteful, arrogant, and cruel. It is dooming the world. He imagines even the seamstress may feel a pang of pity for the great beasts of his world.
"More than one butcher has been driven to insanity by the echoing, sad songs of a tortured whale. Deep inside, some humans understand, eventually. But it is not enough."
I do not have many possessions. I never have. But I will find something for this.
[ More for displaying the charm itself than for having the thing it is on. ]
[ More for displaying the charm itself than for having the thing it is on. ]
Try the undercroft, maybe? That place is always overflowing with materials. There's always far more than anyone is ever going to use.
[He's Inquisition, he's entitled to whatever he needs from there.]
[He's Inquisition, he's entitled to whatever he needs from there.]
[ Technically he's not Inquisition at all, he's just a weird rifter who shoves himself into things. ]
Hm. Perhaps. Yet I would still need to decide what to put it on.
[ help him korrin-wan kenobi ]
Hm. Perhaps. Yet I would still need to decide what to put it on.
[ help him korrin-wan kenobi ]
He's seen illustrations of brontos in the nature books in the library, and is far more determined now to see them in person. If the sea is safe- and they are gentle creatures, even if he is a mute elf here, unable to speak with them-- perhaps he might swim with them? They breathe as elves do.
(That's not a longing sigh, Outsider. You totally didn't hear that.)
"Large grey beasts, larger than two horses atop one another, larger than a bronto. They use their noses like hands, and have long teeth from their mouth that are prized in carving. They do not come so far north as my kingdom, but I have heard that they are ridden as beast of war." He owns carven ivory, though not much.
His expression turns from pleasured reminiscence to anger-- that subtle, cold anger, a chill about him and his lips thin and tight.
(The seamstress is-- doing her best to ignore the conversation. Things are happening here to which she shouldn't be a party, and she knows.
A moment, and Thranduil remembers her, and quietly glamours away their conversation to a buzzing she'll forget.)
"Someone." Softly. "Should do something about that."
Why not you, Duinenor?
(That's not a longing sigh, Outsider. You totally didn't hear that.)
"Large grey beasts, larger than two horses atop one another, larger than a bronto. They use their noses like hands, and have long teeth from their mouth that are prized in carving. They do not come so far north as my kingdom, but I have heard that they are ridden as beast of war." He owns carven ivory, though not much.
His expression turns from pleasured reminiscence to anger-- that subtle, cold anger, a chill about him and his lips thin and tight.
(The seamstress is-- doing her best to ignore the conversation. Things are happening here to which she shouldn't be a party, and she knows.
A moment, and Thranduil remembers her, and quietly glamours away their conversation to a buzzing she'll forget.)
"Someone." Softly. "Should do something about that."
Why not you, Duinenor?
I'd say a loop on a belt, unless you want to turn it into a big-ass pendant hanging from your neck. That might get in the way during combat, so I wouldn't recommend that unless you really don't care. It could be attached to a hilt, if that doesn't upset the balance. But personally, I'd go with the belt or backpack. Or maybe Araceli will have a better idea how to display it properly. If there's anyone who knows how to put everything in the best light, it's her."
[ Araceli is a fashionista, it's true. ]
I will have to see what clothing I have. Thranduil had some tailored for me when he found out I only had the one set. But a belt... that may work, yes.
I will have to see what clothing I have. Thranduil had some tailored for me when he found out I only had the one set. But a belt... that may work, yes.
The Outsider, at least, would certainly recommend swimming with whales. Oliphaunts, though, they sound- somewhat familiar, at least.
"I believe we may have something like that, in Pandyssia. Have you never wanted to bring some north yourself, or do you fear they would not do well in the climate?"
Thranduil is thoughtful about such things. Men of his world would not be, are not be. Elves, though, at least of Thranduil's ilk, he imagines would be. (Also, he has a hard time imagining Thranduil riding one to war. Perhaps because he would be distant enough that he couldn't see his hair.
"Some have tried. Laughed out of the Academy, but it shows- at least some promise. There is a new Empress now, a young girl. Her mother was killed by one of my Marked, and her father is another of my Marked. He restored her to the throne. She is curious, has now seen many things that other royalty have not seen. Perhaps it will be under her that things change."
That the suggestion is for him to do something doesn't even occur to him.
"I believe we may have something like that, in Pandyssia. Have you never wanted to bring some north yourself, or do you fear they would not do well in the climate?"
Thranduil is thoughtful about such things. Men of his world would not be, are not be. Elves, though, at least of Thranduil's ilk, he imagines would be. (Also, he has a hard time imagining Thranduil riding one to war. Perhaps because he would be distant enough that he couldn't see his hair.
"Some have tried. Laughed out of the Academy, but it shows- at least some promise. There is a new Empress now, a young girl. Her mother was killed by one of my Marked, and her father is another of my Marked. He restored her to the throne. She is curious, has now seen many things that other royalty have not seen. Perhaps it will be under her that things change."
That the suggestion is for him to do something doesn't even occur to him.
"It is not my choice if they come north. Were a- herd? I suppose a herd- to wander north, I would do my best to accommodate them, assuming they wished to have such an arrangement with my elves, as the elk and birds do, but otherwise- I would not move them from where they are happy." It's nearly incomprehensible. If he wishes to see an oliphaunt, he will go to them, or read his books. But he could not leave his people- he is the Elvenking, and there is a distinction there that the Outsider might appreciate.
The seamstress makes a few more marks in chalk, then begins to unbutton all the little buttons up the front, ducking under the Outsider's arm to do so, single minded in her task as she starts to undress him. Thranduil uncrosses his leg and drums his fingers on his thigh for a moment, the sensation of pins and needles odd and wholly unwelcome.
"My goodness, my friend. Your fingers are in every pie." He's all tangled up in the mortal world, but won't help the whales. "You have not considered offering her advice? Though perhaps, considering the murder of her mother, she might be less inclined."
The seamstress makes a few more marks in chalk, then begins to unbutton all the little buttons up the front, ducking under the Outsider's arm to do so, single minded in her task as she starts to undress him. Thranduil uncrosses his leg and drums his fingers on his thigh for a moment, the sensation of pins and needles odd and wholly unwelcome.
"My goodness, my friend. Your fingers are in every pie." He's all tangled up in the mortal world, but won't help the whales. "You have not considered offering her advice? Though perhaps, considering the murder of her mother, she might be less inclined."
How long will your Corvo live?
That rather depends on whether he gets himself killed or not.
But likely not longer than one hundred years, if that.
But likely not longer than one hundred years, if that.
[ The Outsider is not a void entity that appears whenever Corvo loiters around a shrine to him, not anymore. But still, Corvo finds it oddly easy to locate him, when he needs him. So he shows up to bother the Outsider, wherever he may be. Yo. ]
I have questions for you, if you would answer them. A few simple, one or two--seeking advice.
[ He pauses, thinks for a moment, and then tacks on: ]
...Please.
[ And who said he didn't have manners. No one, that's who. ]
I have questions for you, if you would answer them. A few simple, one or two--seeking advice.
[ He pauses, thinks for a moment, and then tacks on: ]
...Please.
[ And who said he didn't have manners. No one, that's who. ]
You will be unbothered by his death when the time comes, I suppose.
Had you any sort of equal before you arrived here?
Had you any sort of equal before you arrived here?
[ If you find any shrines to him in Thedas, Corvo, let him know. He'll pop up.
The call is unexpected -- the "please" even more so. It's enough that he responds, curious. ]
Few from our world have ever asked for my advice. What would you wish to know, Corvo?
The call is unexpected -- the "please" even more so. It's enough that he responds, curious. ]
Few from our world have ever asked for my advice. What would you wish to know, Corvo?
I will miss having someone interesting to watch. It will depend on what happens in the time leading up to his death.
None at the same time. Others have had similar roles, in the past. Others will likely have it in the future.
[ There is a pause. ]
You have had other elves of your kind, in your own world. But there is only one other here now, is there not?
None at the same time. Others have had similar roles, in the past. Others will likely have it in the future.
[ There is a pause. ]
You have had other elves of your kind, in your own world. But there is only one other here now, is there not?
[ He'll commit that to memory. ]
From our world? Are the people here more forthcoming with questions? But--I digress.
[ It certainly feels odd, to be asking his advice. But he recognizes when he's out of his depth, and if nothing else, the Outsider has more experience in this world than he does. ]
I want to know how much you've told people here about yourself. And about your, ah. Gifts. What is known, and what you think I should keep to myself. Just to make sure that our stories are straight, should we be telling them.
From our world? Are the people here more forthcoming with questions? But--I digress.
[ It certainly feels odd, to be asking his advice. But he recognizes when he's out of his depth, and if nothing else, the Outsider has more experience in this world than he does. ]
I want to know how much you've told people here about yourself. And about your, ah. Gifts. What is known, and what you think I should keep to myself. Just to make sure that our stories are straight, should we be telling them.
Do try not to Fade, or whatever happens to those like you whilst I am around. It would be terribly disappointing.
[ he might be sad. maybe. ]
I have my cousin, yes. But you are as we are in many ways, you understand what it is to endure. We might speak of time in the same way.
These elves— they will be dust in a century. It is almost as if they are not here at all.
[ he might be sad. maybe. ]
I have my cousin, yes. But you are as we are in many ways, you understand what it is to endure. We might speak of time in the same way.
These elves— they will be dust in a century. It is almost as if they are not here at all.
I am hated and hunted by most in our world, am I not? And those I am not hunted by are either busy throwing themselves at my feet or allowing my presence because it is of use to them.
[ so no, no one asks him very much about his personal life ]
The truth, only. About yourself- I have not mentioned your name, though I have mentioned a man who wished to avenge his Empress and rescue her daughter. I have spoken of the Void, that it is a realm of magic, of dreams. I have said that those with magic in my world are killed, that the Abbey has power and abuses it readily.
I have told them that I was human, long ago, taken and given to the Void and made into what I am now. I have told them also that I am more human now in Thedas than I have been in these past several thousands of years. And I have told them that I will defend myself, should they see me as an abomination to be put down.
What you wish to tell them yourself is up to you, Corvo.
[ so no, no one asks him very much about his personal life ]
The truth, only. About yourself- I have not mentioned your name, though I have mentioned a man who wished to avenge his Empress and rescue her daughter. I have spoken of the Void, that it is a realm of magic, of dreams. I have said that those with magic in my world are killed, that the Abbey has power and abuses it readily.
I have told them that I was human, long ago, taken and given to the Void and made into what I am now. I have told them also that I am more human now in Thedas than I have been in these past several thousands of years. And I have told them that I will defend myself, should they see me as an abomination to be put down.
What you wish to tell them yourself is up to you, Corvo.
I will do my best, so long as you do the same.
[ That's the best he can promise no matter what. ]
Ah, time. Men say it is vast. But we know the truth, do we not?
Time is endless.
[ That's the best he can promise no matter what. ]
Ah, time. Men say it is vast. But we know the truth, do we not?
Time is endless.
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