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

[dreadinquisitor]

[An arched eyebrow.]

So they truly weren't kidding about using these powers for good, fighting crime, that whole thing?

[viced]

You don't have to, but a lot of people do.

Personally? I'm more likely to go about things administratively, more than with brute force. Some people, though, really like the brute force solution.

[dreadinquisitor]

[He smiles, just a little sadly, thinking suddenly of Josie. She'd have loved that.]

Kill them with kindness, or, if nothing else, bury them in paperwork.

[viced]

I don't know if I'd say it's quite that, but close enough.

More like changing the world by changing the way we operate, you know? Reform from the inside.

[dreadinquisitor]

[He does know, and he nods gently.]

And while change might not be easier, it's certainly more so than trying to rebuild from nothing.

Usually, at least.

[viced]

Exactly. And it has the added benefit of avoiding total anarchy. Which really is a good thing, if you ask me.

[dreadinquisitor]

Hard to help anyone if you're too busy trying to tell your ass from the hole in the ground.

[He nods again, understanding.]

So is that what you do here?

[viced]

[ A snort. ] That's true.

Anyway, I'm a Senator. So, if you believe the stories about politicians... one of the worst sorts out here.

[ It's said with no lack of humor. He knows how people feel about politicians, after all. ]

[dreadinquisitor]

[A low laugh.]

And here's the part where I confess that I could, loosely, be called a politician where I come from.

[Some would say more than just "loosely," but that's how Maxwell preferred to think it.]

So fear not, you're safe with me.

[viced]

[ A pause, and then a laugh. ]

Really? A politician that gets mauled by bears?

That sounds really goddamn familiar.

[ Hello new BFF ]

And what kind of...politicking do you do?

[dreadinquisitor]

Well, I'm not sure what a Senator would convert to exactly... but I did end a three-way civil war for the Empire by stopping an assassination attempt on the Empress, reuniting her with her lover, and revealing her cousin in a secondary plot against her.

[viced]

Well, shit. You're doing a hell of a lot better than me.

Although that's a lot of meddling with personal relationships. Maybe you're like a diplomat, then? That sounds about right -- and a good one.

[dreadinquisitor]

Don't sell yourself short. After all, good remains to be seen, technically. [Sure, it had worked out where it came to ending the war and defeating Corypheus, but in the lasting long-term....] I merely made a choice.

[viced]

That is all politics, honestly.

Choices might not be the right ones, but...it's still better than doing nothing, you know? Being crippled by indecision is worse than the wrong choice.

[dreadinquisitor]

At least a wrong choice can possibly be fixed. Nothing begets nothing because it's nothing.

Not to mention there's usually more understanding because at least you bothered to try.

[viced]

Yes. Ineffectiveness is just met with more derisiveness.

Not that I can blame anyone, honestly. This is... at least something.

[dreadinquisitor]

So I assume you're an - import? - as well?

How did you go about getting involved with the politics here?

[viced]

I am.

I've been lucky -- I've been here a long time already. I started as an ambassador, but I have...experience in being a politician. Both in my home world, and the last world we were in. It gives me a little bit of an edge -- and a hell of a lot of consistency compared to other imports.

[dreadinquisitor]

I'm actually a little surprised they'd allow it; the people here, that is. Considering how we've come to be here.

It's actually encouraging.

[And made his earlier conversation with Magnus all the more complicated.]

...Forgive me, if this considered rude to ask, but have you Registered?

[viced]

Well, I have the advantage of a Really electable face and experience in government. I'm the lucky one.

[ There's a pause, before: ]

It's not rude, and yes, I have. It's...not really out of place compared to where I come from.

[dreadinquisitor]

Oh? So did you feel obligated too, then?

[viced]

Depends on what you mean by that?

I was registered and coordinating with the NSA back home, so when they offered registration, it just seemed natural.

[ A shrug. ] I don't have anything to hide with my powers, anyway.

[dreadinquisitor]

Just that. That it was normal to you then, so it was also so now.

[There's a decent pause.]

The only thing of comparison I have in my world are the Circles, which mages are often forced into when their powers are revealed. Forced, often - again - regardless of their thoughts on the matter, or their family's, which they may never see again. There their lives are typically very regulated, and they are tracked at all times by their blood.

So I have... questions, about the process here.

[viced]

Ah.

That sounds...unpleasant. What do they do in these circles? Are they...tortured, or... what's it like?

I can try to answer any questions you have. It's kind of my job.

[dreadinquisitor]

Ostensibly, it was meant as a safe place for them to learn how to control their power and to learn how to resist the temptation of demons. In practicality... how much of a safe place it was varied.

The abuses committed against mages in some Circles led to the rebellion, which led to the mage-templar war, which-- [He breaks off with a breath.] It's a long story.

I suppose my most basic questions are: what happens if you register, and what happens if you don't?