extramural | CONTACT ;; faderift

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.

[ That was a lot more words than he had been expecting, information and things he hadn't even known. Briefly, it occurs to him--The Outsider has told others in this world more about himself than he ever told Corvo. He supposes it makes sense, really. It's not like Corvo ever stuck around in the Void for tea and a chat.

He'll unpack everything said in a minute--or maybe longer, who knows. There's one thing that needs to be addressed, first. ]

You were human?

[ You asked now, Corvo. Maybe indirectly, but you asked. ]

Yes. I was not much older than Emily when I was- made into what I am.

[ Of all the things that could happen to Emily, that was one thing that had never even occurred to Corvo to fear. Until now, anyway. But he gives this news the thought it deserves, face grim. It had never occurred to him to wonder what the Outsider was, how he had become such a thing. He simply was, had been long before Corvo, and presumably would continue to be long after him.

He stares at the other man for a long moment, trying to picture him as another human, like himself. ]

I had no idea. That's...terrible.

I'm sorry.

[ He's not sure what he's apologizing for, exactly. But it feels appropriate. ]

It was a long time ago.

[ Yet he pauses, for a moment. ]

But thank you.

[ He pauses for a moment, then clasps his hands behind his back, staring up at the sky thoughtfully. ]

And being here, outside of the void. It makes you...more human?

Yes.

[ There is his own pause. Corvo is asking, but he does not know the questions to ask, necessarily. The Outsider can, he supposes, assist. ]

You know as well as any that the Void and its magic can break the minds of others, sometimes with only the influence of a charm or a rune. I have existed inside of it for thousands of years; I have seen horrible things, glimpses of what may be and what has been, things that no mortal should ever see or comprehend.

I cannot forget what has happened. But here, it is not pressing upon me at all times. Here, I am not alone. There are even a few others, Rifters from other worlds, who have lived longer than I; ones who know what it is to see mortals wither and die while you remain unchanging.

[ He thinks on that for a time, silent. It's odd, how many things about the Outsider had never occurred to him. Of course, he knew that his life was but a passing moment in what the Outsider had seen and will see. But he'd never considered it from the Outsider's point of view, what it must be like, being stuck there.

It's an unpleasant thought. ]

...You have an impressive resilience, to have survived what you have. With your mind intact. [ There's a small pause, and because Corvo is a little shit: ] More or less, at least.

Still. I'm glad Thedas is suiting you so well. Ah--This brings me rather neatly to my next question. Should I keep calling you The Outsider?

[ He glances sidelong at the other, rolling his shoulders somewhat awkwardly. It's an odd question, odd to even imagine it, but--Well. Corvo figures he owes him that much. ]

Others call you different names. I assume they wouldn't do so if you disapproved. And--they're right, I suppose. You aren't really an outsider here, not in the same way as you were in the Isles. You said as much yourself.

[ Be glad you've never had to linger for long, Corvo. ]

I wonder, vaguely, if staying in this world will make me something else again. If my eyes will return to the color they once were, if I will lose my magic -- all of it. But I do not have the answer, and only wondering will drive me mad.

[ But he thinks, if it's a possibility, it's one Corvo should know about. It's one he would have to deal with, too. ]

As for what you call me- it does not bother me. The name my mother gave me, long ago, is a name for an orphaned human boy. I am not him any more, so I do not claim it. 'The Outsider' works for me as well as any -- though a boy here did begin to call me 'Raven', at one point.

[ Raven. Like a corvid. Like Corvo. Heh. ]

CONTACT ;; faderift

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