maskormenace | 001. Video

[The feed clicks on, showing a slightly flustered looking man in his late thirties... A slightly flustered looking man who only just got a look at his own face when he turned the camera on and visibly shudders.] Merde... [A hand moves up, smoothing down his hair and adjusting his glasses while he tries to calm himself down. He takes a deep breath, releasing it through his nose only a moment later.]

It appears I have been drafted to become a part of this little experiment, a hero as it were. [His voice sounds even enough, his English more than up to standard even with the slight accent.] Normally I would consider this a major problem, however even I can see the scope for discovery here, and well... curiosity is already getting the better of me. [He shakes his head slowly.] It isn't a wise thing, I know this, everyone knows this- it killed the cat, after all.

[He lets out one long sigh.] I must say though, I wouldn't mind speaking with some of you who have been here for a more substantial time period. [He smiles encouragingly.] It would render the whole process a little easier to come to terms with, if there were those available who might answer my questions.

[He rubs a hand through his hair one last time.] I appear to be forgetting myself, however. My name is Doctor Eric Dufosset, I'm somewhat pleased to make all of your acquaintance, regardless of the otherwise unique situation. But as I said, I'd be very obliged with those who would be agreeable enough to speak with me about life here. [Cute man, he's looking for friends.]

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[A big pretentious psychopath. She was more offended by the pretention.]

I don't have much to do with either, but I can see the use of some forms of magic. I prefer doctors to mend wounds and set bones—things that are helpful.

[He sighs.] And wounds of the mind? You deem those unimportant? [Because Psychiatry was totally helpful excuse you.] If it helps my image at all in your esteem I can also mend wounds and set bones.

[It does, actually, but—]

If you speak of the poor souls confined to madhouses, I can't fault you for wanting to aid them, but I was brought here from the middle of a war. I don't think it's foolish to prioritize the truly injured over those who simply feel bad.

[He can't help but chuckle at that.] Well, not all planes are war zones. Sometimes the wars people wage within their own minds can be just as damaging.

I'm not sure you'd say that if you'd seen men torn apart battle.

[His eyes narrow.] How presumptuous of you. [His voice doesn't take a haunted quality at all, not with how well adjusted he is.] Especially when I've witnessed five centuries worth of war and witch hunts, seen my people torn asunder. [A beat.] From the age of thirteen.

[There's no change in her expression that indicates Maria is particularly impressed, but she does pause for a moment or two before speaking again.]

Is that so? You've aged remarkably well, if that's the case.

[He just ducks his head.]

Not all of it was in the physical realm. To become head of my coven I was forced to witness the memories of my line... through dreams. I assure you though, thanks to the magic involved it felt incredibly real. Psychic pain manifests as physical wounds in young witches. Especially young witches who are destined to becoming integral to the magical communities.

Ah.

These communities...they're accepted, where you're from? As part of normal life? I can't imagine that ever being the case in my homeland.

[Of course, she couldn't imagine magic being real before she came here. Part of her still expects him to break into a grin and admit he's teasing her.]

They are, yes. They weren't always though. My kind were hunted for centuries. Those hunts are illegal in modern times. Which isn't to say human on witch crime doesn't exist.

[It was a sad fact but it was true. And High Priests like Eric had to witness memories of those centuries so that they never forgot those who paved the paths to their lives today.]

I would certainly hope they're illegal. People are far too willing to strike out at others to cover their own fears. Assuming, of course, that your kind hasn't given them a reason to be afraid.

[Individuals may have, but that's human nature. A larger trend would be something else.]

[He becomes slightly guarded.] In the past we didn't. But we could only watch so many of our children die before we let it be known the kind of force they were seeking to destroy.

And so you fought back, supposedly proving they were right to worry and giving them a reason to push back harder, giving you even more cause to act, yes? Perhaps your world isn't so different from mine after all.

Not quite. We waged no war. [They didn't. The violence was limited and mostly in self defence. Which is why witches who used black magic were even more formidable. When they reacted violently, they made it look like nothing ever happened.] We simply showed them what our own strength might be, along with our allies. It was, visually speaking, an impressive display of force.

War comes in many forms. [It's not all campaigns and pitched battles. Though admittedly, she's most comfortable with that kind.] Did the conflict ever come to an end or do you still grapple with it to this day?

It came to an end of sorts. Of course nothing will ever let us stop the hatred between our kind and theirs, but we have laws and systems in place to stop it ever becoming more than that.

I'm not sure whether that's unnecessarily pessimistic or optimistic. For your sake I hope whatever force backs up these laws is a compelling one.

The majority of it is the concept of mutually assured destruction, it holds all forces in a sort of stand-off. It isn't perfect, but we're still in the early dawn of our world.

I suppose that's something. At least it should buy you time before you see its sunset.

[A sharp nod.] I'm personally hoping there won't be a sunset but rather a continued bright future.

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