( video )

[sidequestings]

[ the feed begins with the lower half of a pale, tattooed face. the narrow shoulders also visible in the frame are pulled taut, giving the figure the look of someone maybe a perpetual half-second away from bolting. there's a moment, then a hand lifts to adjust the communicator, revealing the rest of the face-- and some fairly pointy ears. an elf, then, and one from thedas given the tattoos. he stares for a few wary moments, then takes a bracing breath and forces his shoulders to straighten. ]

Good evening. I-- [ right. this isn't even as bad as addressing the court in halamshiral, mahanon. you've got this. you were first of your clan. you're the inquisitor. you've physically walked in the fade and time-traveled and drank from an ancient well of knowledge left by one of your gods. this is nothing, right? .. ugh. ] My name is Mahanon Lavellan, lately of the Inquisition if that means anything to anyone. I'm looking for anyone who might also be from Thedas.

[ a beat, head tilting, and his glance slides away from the camera. he appears to be in a park, or at least somewhere with trees, and apparently there are other people around if the background noise is any indication. he hesitates, then glances back to the camera again. ]

.. Am I the only elf here? I.. haven't seen sign of alienages in this city, and I didn't think to ask before. [ because it's never occurred to him that his people might not exist in other worlds. why would they not? humans seem to be everywhere, after all. he's been getting second and even third looks, of course, but no one's challenged his right to go anywhere, and no one's called him a knife-ear. everything about this experience thus far has been surreal. (and he'd thought the inquisitor business was mad.)

there's another brief pause, then a slightly helpless, bewildered glance. ] And I suppose I should ask if there's any sort of.. more helpful.. book? [ he reaches up, tapping the communicator. ] This was explained to me, which I'm grateful for, but there's a great deal about this world that's extremely new for me. The currency, for one thing. [ a small, tired laugh. ] My list of things to ask about is getting quite long, actually.

Comments

[leonized]

[Elves ... huh. He hadn't seen a lot of other people with pointed ears, though his are currently concealed underneath his hat.]

Lemme guess, you aren't used to the paper currency?

[That had been kind of weird to him at first, too.]

[sidequestings]

[ his mouth quirks, good-humoured and a little wry. ] I'm afraid not. Honestly, it seems a little silly to me, though I suppose it's much easier to carry around paper than a satchel of coins.

[leonized]

[He nods a little, mostly to himself.]

Yeah, the paper's actually a lot easier to handle most of the time. I just had coins where I came from, too, though.

video;

[manofmanylegends]

Can't say I've met any elves around here, but I've weathered ages of time before arriving here. [On screen is an oddly-dressed red-haired North American viking.] The name's Norman. Maybe I can help you out with some things, like getting settled.

[sidequestings]

'Many' or 'any'? [ because honestly, he hasn't seen a single one so far. it's been kind of uncomfortable. ] It's nice to meet you, Norman. [ but wait just a second: ] .. Ah.. I'm sorry, though, but what do you mean by 'ages'?

[manofmanylegends]

...I guess I meant "any" until just replying to you on this device. So that's probably "many" now. Anyway, I'm ten thousand years old. [More than that at this point, but that's not really important.] So I have a pretty good idea of the changes a world like this has been through.

[Even if it's not exactly like his home world.]

permatext

[deadtective]

Just missed them, sorry. All the elves beamed back up to the mothership last month.

[because alienage, get it...this is a horrible joke made all the worse because Hazel's actively hoping he won't understand so she can talk bullshit circles around him. sorry, Mahanon.]

[sidequestings]

[ hazel: a menace.

that earns a puzzled blink, bc what. ]

The what. [ look, elves aren't generally seafarers??? i mean you have the odd pirate, or maybe one who's joined the qun, but.. ]

[deadtective]

[you'd think someone would have started putting the parent locks on her comm by now, but no.]

The mothership, you know? Didn't say why, just fucking packed up and left.

video;

[rideme]

[Well. Shit. All right then. Lavellan, Inquisition. That draws a lot of lines and connects a lot of dots. Hooo boy. Part of him wants to get angry - curse and deck something. But...]

[But that's not this Inquisitor's fault. Not even a little. So, that anger is shelved. For later. For privacy. Something to be dealt with another time. Because it's no one's fault.]

[So when he clicks on the video feed, there's nothing but his usual wicked, teasing grin on his face.]

Not the only elf. But, shit, if you want to stand out, boss, you probably should sprout a pair of horns. People are loving this crap.

[sidequestings]

[ if he looked stressed and worried before, the sight of bull makes all that drop away. his whole face lights up, beaming into the camera. ]

Bull! [ he leans in, a little too eager for a moment before he controls himself, ears going hot. ] I'm glad you're here. [ a beat, blinking once, before amending himself. ] No, that's not right. I wish neither of us were here, but.. I'm glad I'm not alone. --Are you all right? Have you seen the others?

[rideme]

[Well, good to know he hadn't pulled that conclusion out of his ass. Definitely the boss.]

Hey, how's it going? Weird technology crap aside.

[That grin gets wider.]

It's not so bad. Food's great. Car's are fucking great. And... well. That bit's sort of complicated.

[circulets]

[ The word Inquisition doesn't seem relevant to him, no... But, he can offer a helping hand. ]

Hello, Mahanon. My name is Mikleo. It's nice to meet you.

I've never heard of elfs before, but that doesn't mean that there aren't any in the city. As for books... I believe you're looking for actual literature, correct?

[sidequestings]

[ he smiles at the introduction. ] The pleasure is mine, Mikleo. Regarding books, mostly I'm just looking for a-- a better guide to.. [ he makes a vague gesture to take in the city. ] .. living here, I suppose. I was given some basics, but there's so much I don't understand about the.. technology and the like.

[circulets]

It's unfortunate, but there isn't any literature that covers how to live here. However, I can try to assist you to the best of my ability in regards to any questions you have.

[fourscores]

If you do not mind my asking, what exactly distinguishes an elf? You look rather normal to me.

[sidequestings]

[ that actually earns a pretty startled look, then a slight, suspicious narrowing of his eyes. is this a weird sort of joke, or has this person really never seen an elf..?

cautiously, he tilts his head to the side, cupping a hand behind one of his ears to bring attention to it. ]

Visually? Our ears are usually the quickest indicator. They're always fairly long and pointed. We're also generally smaller and slighter than humans.

video

[dendarii]

[ Here's a rather funny-looking human with a pink scar bisecting his face. ]

I've met two elves thus far, not including yourself. Though the latter would not call himself one, I think.

[sidequestings]

Two! [ a tiny number, but then, aren't his people always vastly outnumbered basically everywhere? ] That's certainly more than I've seen thus far, so I'll take it. [ a brief, bright grin. ] --But what do you mean that the one wouldn't call himself one? [ .. trying to fit in with humans? ]

voice;

[whathawksdo]

[ In this case, Hawke may have wanted to reconsider using audio-only, but! That will be something she learns. A bit later. That said, her accent is, at least, distinctly Fereldan. ]

Well, they don't typically have elves here. [ Hence no alienages. ] Lavellan? Really? Is that you? I know I recall you being Dalish, but-- [ Something's off. ] Did you change your hair? Grow it out a little? Add some new color?

[sidequestings]

[ the accent he knows. the voice? not so much. there's something weirdly familiar about it, though. and.. apparently, he should know it? she certainly seems to know him, at least, and he's embarrassed to say that he can't conjure up any memories of a face.

also: what about his hair??? ]

So I'm beginning to learn. [ a beat, then a little cautiously: ] I'm the only Lavellan currently with the Inquisition, anyway. I've grown my hair out a little, but the colour's basically what it's always been. I'm.. [ he manages to look both sheepish and apologetic at the same time. ] I'm very sorry, but have we.. met?

[voice]

[wizzardly]

...

...Quick question, are you one of those nature-loving, graceful-seeming elves, or one of the elves constantly trying to pierce the veil between worlds and enslave humanity?

[sidequestings]

[ he actually looks a little gobsmacked for a second there at the question. after a moment, though, cautiously: ] Well, I haven't had any urges to enslave humanity recently, and I don't often trip over myself, so I suppose I'm more the former than the latter.

[Video.]

[skyhiiigh]

Hello and hello again to you, fair citizen! I am Sky High!

[Have a wave from a strange-suited man. At least it kind of looked like armor or something.]

I think speaking with those with more experience from staying here would be in your best interests! They are quite helpful. Yes, helpful indeed. But if I can, I would be willing to answer any questions you may have.

[Video.]

[sidequestings]

[ what is that weird armor he's wearing.. and what's with that name? it's kind of avvar-ish, isn't it? ]

I-- [ a blink. where does he even start with this.. ] It's a pleasure to meet you, Sky High. [ he thinks?? the enthusiasm is sweet, anyway. ] I've been lucky enough that several people have been helping me with.. all of this. And I have Bull, of course. [ a beat, lifting a hand to circle his face, expression curious. ] .. May I ask why you're wearing armor? [ did he just come from a fight??? ]