Video

[dreadinquisitor]

[He wanted time to familiarize himself with this place. He needed to know if anyone else from the Inquisition had been brought across as well, and then to find them if they had. But first, he'd looked through the information they'd given him - the neat print on the strange white paper - and now, suddenly, Maxwell had a much more immediate, personal worry.

The video opens on his face; his expression a mixture of incredulity and concern.]

Hello. [It feels awkward, addressing nothing, but he pushes on.] My name is Maxwell and I have a question, and there doesn't seem to be anyone else to ask.

[The camera turns and fixes on a portion of the pages he'd been given. He points to a section, chases a sentence with his fingertip as he reads it aloud.] 'Bears will always find him.' [Then the feed swings back to him.]

Why would anyone want this? How many bears do you even have in this place, to hope to make this useful? And do they just-- roam about?[He glances away, as if one might have suddenly sneaked up on him, then back.] Are these abilities negotiable in any way?

Comments

[am_i_a_monster]

Conventional kind of goes out the window here. You might want to invest in some bear spray too, just in case.

[onlydoubts]

I've heard of stranger abilities. [ Sometimes getting 'gag' abilities seems to be a thing, Poe has that thing with his hair always being perfect. ] Anyways... is that all it says about it?

And why bears?

[viced]

Heh, well, the cages are pretty sturdy. So hopefully, you'll get around without having to deal with it.

Then again... if they will always find you...

You might be fucked -- and if I'm ever around, doubly fucked.

[fehus]

That makes more sense. Keep your options open.

[fehus]

Do you believe that?

[dreadinquisitor]

Sounds like it. Lying with style is practically their national sport.

[dreadinquisitor]

[He exhales a long breath, sighing through his nose, nodding vaguely.]

...Well, thank you for your help, serah. It helps, at least, to know a bit more.

[dreadinquisitor]

Always wise.

[But he smiles.]

Thank you, Magnus. The help is appreciated.

[dreadinquisitor]

[There's a long pause.]

...I've been to the Fade. Not just in my dreams, but physically. I've seen what remains of the Golden City with my own eyes... It exists, which means something must have created it. Whether that's the Maker, or the Old Gods of Tevinter, or the Gods of the Dalish, or....

I have learned enough to understand that I know very little.

[dreadinquisitor]

Me too.

It's something of a comfort knowing if I must be here against my will, at least they company can be good.

[dreadinquisitor]

[Another pause, then a boyish sort of grin. Almost sheepish.]

I'm afraid I don't really know what that is either.

[dreadinquisitor]

We have-- history, bears and I. A terrifying, angry, history.

So I assume someone thought it would be funny to see it continue.

[dreadinquisitor]

[A rough chuckle, and one of his eyebrows arches upward.]

You too?

How did they get you?

[am_i_a_monster]

Chemicals that you spray at bears. It hurts their eyes, makes it hard for them to breathe and gives you a chance to get away.

[fehus]

Sure. See you around, Maxwell.

[fehus]

[Magnus considers it]

Sounds like an other world to me. I have nine in mine, so I'm pretty good at detecting those.

[onlydoubts]

That seems cruel. [ And unhelpful. ]

Do you have other abilities or is it just bears hunting you down?

[ghoulking]

You are welcome. I don't mind answering all these questions.

[ but- ] What's "serah"?

[ridewithdestiny]

This place has a weird sense of humor from what others have told me. If there is the chance for an unfortunate or uncomfortable association, this world seems to latch onto it as either an ability or a job.

[viced]

Shit...

[ There's a half laugh, then. Bitter and slightly weary. ]

My, ah, supervillain could talk to animals. Add on the fact that they don't...like me... [ They attack him on sight ] And... Let's just say I've had a few unpleasant run-ins with bears. One bit my jetpack once.

[lightinside]

A nice way of looking at it. There are good people here, so that definitely helps too.

I'm Laurel by the way.

[marriedmedium]

At heart I'm an honest woman, but in a pinch, I think I could be a professional!

[dreadinquisitor]

Well, that sounds remarkably useful. [An understatement, if ever he'd made one.] And this spray is easy to come by?

[dreadinquisitor]

[It was such a force of habit, so common to hear and to say, he hadn't even realized he'd said it. And it took him a moment longer to understand what he was being asked.

Of course no one would know it here.

He shook his head, offered a sheepish sort of smile.]

Apologies, I didn't even think... 'Serah,' is a greeting where I'm from. A way to address someone of equal status respectfully.

[dreadinquisitor]

Nine? [Maxwell pulls back in surprise.] And you.... can you move between them?