faderift | ( open )

Entry tags:

( open )

WHO: maia & ota
WHAT: what the heck, so this is what it's like to be able to run around and do what you want..
WHEN: throughout the second half of kingsway.
WHERE: skyhold
NOTES: probably nothing weird here. i mean, maia's pretty harmless. if anyone wants a more specific prompt to work with, hit me on plurk and i'm happy to put something up!

[ maia has never had this much freedom, and to be frank, he isn't entirely certain what to do with it. on one hand, he's incredibly worried about how things are at home. he doesn't want his nohecharei blamed for his disappearance, and he hates the thought of idra being forced into a position he has no desire for and certainly isn't ready for. not to mention csethiro, who would be in limbo-- neither precisely drazhada--as she and maia aren't married yet--nor belonging to her own house any longer.

on the other hand, there is absolutely nothing he can do about any of it at the moment, and he really needs to focus on where he is and what he can do here. .. it isn't much, to be entirely honest with himself. his practical skills are limited, at best, given his unhappy upbringing and current rank at home. still! he's willing to learn, so that should count for something, shouldn't it?

throughout the last two weeks of the month, he can be found in several places around skyhold. he probably makes for a somewhat startling sight, given his small size and gray skin. he also tends to wear clothing that's entirely white, which makes him stand out all the more in a sea of coloured fabric. (a rifter, for certain, then-- at least it's obvious with him.)

in the library, he might be found tucked neatly into a sunny nook with a series of books surrounding him (treatises on trade agreements, histories of nations, research papers about the fade and the veil), or perhaps by a bookshelf struggling to reach something on the top shelf.

the garden finds him quietly people-watching from beneath the gazebo, or perhaps crouched neatly by one of the plants, peering at it in interest, or even watching one of the gardeners from a short distance away, ears drooping a little and expression wistful.

occasionally, he can be seen in the valley below, mostly familiarizing himself with it and trying to avoid anyone who seems clearly hostile.. to greater or lesser effect at times. he doesn't handle aggressiveness or belligerence well, and.. might occasionally need to be rescued from a particularly sticky situation.

when he's especially overwhelmed and homesick, he makes for a lonely little figure on some far point of the battlements, curled in on himself and staring out into the mountains. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Definitely a Rifter. It's a nice break to not be recognized, and Anders relaxes a bit more against the wall, smiling faintly now.]

I'm pleased as well, Maia. And, [the smile widens for a moment as he looks down,] for the exercise, for curiosity, for the sake of being able to do it better. When I was younger I was quite the escape artist, but it's been over a decade. They're skills that I hope don't wind up being needed in the future, but considering the way my luck and life goes...

[A shrug.]

What brings you up here?

[ he rises again, but only to seat himself neatly on one of the low sections of the battlements, brushing his robes down as if self-conscious of wrinkles only he can see. he crosses his ankles, hands curling together in his lap as he peers down at the human man in interest. ]

Your life sounds very exciting. We've never done anything like that. [ he turns a little to peer down what seems like a sheer stone wall, ears flattening back again, before turning wide eyes on the other man once more. ] You're very brave. We hope very sincerely that you won't need such skills, as well.

[ he falls silent for a few moments, then, glance dropping to his knees, toes curling in his slippers a little uncomfortably. he feels badly talking about the reason he's up here-- it's not precisely a pleasant subject, and he doesn't want to bring the mood down. but.. ] Well.. we were.. worrying, we suppose. [ his fingers uncurl, then twist the oath-band on his thumb. ] We wish for our household to be safe while we are trapped here, and for our people to be cared for. We know that there is nothing that we can do from here, but we cannot help but fear. [ a beat, then he sighs a little sadly. ] .. Forgive us, it is not a very happy topic, we suppose.

[He's very proper. Very careful. Anders watches the elf move, definitely intrigued by the ear movements as well as everything else.]

My people haven't always had the freedom to come and go as we pleased. There's no bravery to it; I simply couldn't take the walls and casual cruelties.

[The latter of which Maia might well wind up having to deal with before long. Anders wonders if anyone has explained how rough some people could be on elves yet, but decides the answer is probably not considering how he'd chosen to sit above Anders and fear may have put him lower.]

But it also means I understand a little bit of worrying for those you can't help. There's nothing to forgive, especially as there's no comfort to be found for it. I'm sorry. You didn't ask to be hauled out here, and...

[Anders shakes his head.]

Would talking about home help? Or would you prefer another topic altogether?

.. Your people? [ there's a slightly puzzled, concerned glance, flicking briefly to anders' ears before returning to his face. it seems to dawn a moment later, then, and he offers, cautiously: ] Do you mean mages..? [ he's been doing his homework, and he knows that elves and mages are the two most oppressed groups in this part of thedas. he's still working his way through the rest of it.

his mouth twitches down into a small frown, ears lowering before he can catch them. when he realizes he's done it, he forces them back up, and then forces his shoulders to straighten properly. (goodness, he's really gotten lax with his manners.) ] We must admit that we find it very strange, the.. fear that many seem to have of magic here. There is much that we still do not understand, we will of course admit, but.. [ his glance flicks back up to anders again. ] Well. Magic is very different at home. One chooses to join the Athmaz'are, and one chooses to leave it if one wishes.

[ he can't imagine being afraid of cala or kiru. they're as much his family as his nephew and nieces are.

his small smile returns at the question, grateful and a little flustered. ] You are very kind. We would be happy to speak of any topic you like. We cannot promise to be a brilliant conversationalist, though.

I mean mages, yes. And... [he trails off, shaking his head.] I can't imagine having the option of being a mage. I'd not give it up, despite everything, but if it was a choice things would be so very different.

[He's guessing at Athmaz'are being related to magic, based on the context. It seems to make sense despite how he's never heard of someone choosing magic before. Even mages from Hermione's world seem to have it inborn.]

I can't promise to be a brilliant conversationalist either, so this way neither of us can be overly disappointed in each other.

[Maia gets a flash of a warmer smile.

Would you mind talking about the... Athma... Forgive me. What sounds like it might be your mage organization?

Athmaz'are, [ he corrects gently, speaking it slowly enough to allow anders to hear the pronunciation. ] And we would be happy to tell you what we know about it. There is still much that we are learning, ourself. [ given that he's been on the throne just over a year now. ] .. Perhaps it would be best to begin with the fact that.. one cannot choose whether one is born with the capability for maz--magic. We, for instance, have no aptitude for it at all, we are somewhat sorry to say. We thought once to become a maza. [ he trails off for a moment, then clears his throat. right. the guild. ]

Sometimes, of course, one knows that one has the ability, and sometimes one must be tested for it. The Athmaz'are is the.. guild of mazei, or mages. It is a very respected profession in the Ethuveraz, and has a seat on the.. [ hmm.. how to translate.. ] .. council? The council that assists the emperor. [ that sounds as accurate as he can make it.

he falls silent for a few moments as he considers what else to say, lifting a hand to brush at one of his earrings, setting it to chiming softly. ] Mazei.. choose to become mazei, choose to.. develop their magical abilities. If they choose to do so, they are required to attend.. training? A.. school? Forgive us, we cannot explain it well. It is the Mazen'theileian, where they are taught and live. Afterward, many remain behind there, teaching and studying and furthering their arts. Some leave. Some go on to use their abilities in other ways. There are two that remain at the emperor's side, one and then the other, at all times.

[ goodness, he's done a lot of talking. he's feeling a little flustered about it, actually. ] Ah.. we hope that answered some of the questions you might have..?

Athmaz'are, [he echoes quietly, fitting the word to his tongue, before listening to the rest. Anders' expression is thoughtful and attentive - training is of course important, but just as important is that it's a choice to stay or to go. How many worlds have gotten it right, while Thedas still fails to grasp such a basic thing as equal rights?

The chimes have him reaching up to touch his one hoop earring, wondering if he needs an upgrade. It's a pretty sound, at the very least. Maia gets a dip of the head once he's done speaking.]

You have, thank you. Every world that has magic I like to see how they treat their mages, mazei, just to see what could be incorporated as we try to find permanent freedom for the mages here. Though it's...

[Anders shakes his head.]

Is it all elves in your world? Because the elves here tend to treat their mages like people.

[ for a few moments, he considers the differences in his world and this one, mouth turning down into a small, thoughtful frown once more. ] Well.. [ he begins at last, cautious, ] .. there are still things that we would like to change. Our empire is not perfect by any means. Class inequality and racism is still something that occupies our thoughts a great deal, as well as rights for women.

[ he hesitates, expression taking on a weary note. ] We have a great deal of work ahead of us if we wish to improve the lives of all of our people. We have centuries of bad policies to change or remove.

[ well, he supposes he wasn't precisely making a secret of his rank at this point, anyway, and it's.. kind of nice being able to talk to someone who's technically on the outside of maia's problem-set. at home, everyone has an opinion because they're part of it. he can't blame them, of course, but it's exhausting at times.

the question earns a small shake of his head, and he touches fingers to his chest lightly. ]

We are half-blooded, ourself. Our mother was a goblin. There are also other races that are related to elves and to goblins, but.. [ he glances back up, ears lifting, mouth quirking a little. ] We must admit that humans are not one of them. We had never seen a people with such small, round ears before we arrived here.

[Rights for women. He blinks at that, tries to imagine someone treating Aveline like a lesser citizen and for a moment he's amused. Then it fades. He could see her ending up a lot like Adelaide - accepting the cage because everyone said it was right, not knowing how much more they could be or do. Not being given the chance to be or do more.

The ear comment brings a smile back to Anders' face and he runs a finger over the top of his rounded ear.]

I've not heard of goblins before, I don't think.

[There are a lot of rifters, it's possible, but he thinks he'd remember that.]

Every world has its differences. And then there are the things that are similar. Class inequality and racism are rampant here, too. A few worlds sound like they're free from hatred and division at such extremes, but they may make up half of the worlds represented here. I...

[Anders sighs.]

I wish I knew what it was that made acceptance work in the other worlds. That made seizing power at the expense of others not as appealing or common or whatever it was.

They seem to be native to our world alone. [ at least, thus far. he hesitates, then makes a gesture to his face. ] Our goblin heritage is where our gray skin and dark hair come from. The elves of our empire are white-skinned and -haired.

[ he falls silent as anders continues, though, ears flicking up, then back in thought. ]

We wish that we knew. It would make our work much easier if we could know the minds of those that would harm others for the sake of their own advantage. [ a tiny frown follows that, and he sighs. ] .. And we would advise them that such power is no gift that one should wish for. It is a beautifully-gilded prison, but it is still a prison. [ .. he's been too frank, and he realizes that as soon as it leaves his mouth. flushing, he glances away, fingers curling in his robes. ] Please forget that we've said that. We should not have.

[That has to be lonely, he realizes. Anders looks down. There are no other goblins here, half or full, and no one else even knows what they are.]

I'm sorry,

[he says quietly before Maia is continuing again. The way the man talks about it seems personal, especially as he's flushing.]

I'll forget it if you're sure. I don't know why you shouldn't have. Though no one with that power has ever seemed held captive by it. They seem to hold others captive. Mages, elves, there's even been some talk about Rifters being dangerous, even if it's eased off some.

[ he shakes his head, gently dismissing the apology. it's no one's fault, really-- save perhaps corypheus, for opening the breach and causing all of this in the first place.

after a few moments, he slides from the stone, easing himself to sit beside anders, neat and prim as he folds his legs to the side and laces his hands together in his lap. ]

Anyone with.. that sort of power-- anyone that understands and appreciates and respects it as they should.. should understand that it is not a gift. [ he glances down at his hands, at the crest- and oath-rings, brushing his thumb over the raised design of the crest. ] It is a duty, a charge to care for and protect and-- and listen to one's subjects, from the greatest lord to the quietest and weakest voice.

[He tilts his head, considering, watching the brush of thumb over crest. The mazei symbol, perhaps?]

It's both. Gift and duty. Without it, I'd be a farmer, raising cows, likely uncaring about the world around me. The larger issues wouldn't have had any bearing upon me, simply cows. Being a mage is not...

[Anders huffs, shaking his head.]

It's no walk in a park. But I'd not trade what I am, what I've learned, and what my responsibility now is.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( open )

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject