faderift | Cloudreach 9:44 Rifter Arrival

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Cloudreach 9:44 Rifter Arrival

WHO: New rifters & their rescuers.
WHAT: Welcome to Thedas.
WHEN: Cloudreach 10, 9:44
WHERE: Amaranthine
NOTES: This is the arrival log for all new rifters, open also to current characters who would participate in their recovery. New players can also assume everyone survives and arrives back in Kirkwall within a couple of days, but please note there will be a brief quarantine period when they won't be permitted to leave the Gallows, to get them up to speed while ensuring they're not diseased or otherwise going to kill anyone, before they're set loose on the city.

You were asleep—whether deeply or fitfully, falling unconscious for the last time in a pool of blood or just resting your eyes for a moment—and then you were not. And wherever you were was not, anymore, replaced by nothing but the sensation of falling into endless, bottomless nothing. If this were still a dream, you would wake before you hit the ground. You can't die in a dream, they say. In some worlds.

In this world, bathed in the light of a flare of too-bright, greenish light you will find yourself hitting mossy cobblestones with an unforgiving smack. You're alive, and you're fine, except for the narrow splinter of light the same sickly green as whatever brought you here that now glows out of the palm of your left hand. It aches, a bone-deep pain that gnaws even through all the distractions.

Above you is a shifting, crystalline tear in reality; beyond that, gray clouds and a sea breeze, framed by the high walls surrounding the city you've landed in. There are people on the walls, some of them armored and armed, all of them briefly and collectively paralyzed by the sight below.

Don't let their terror go to your head. It's not you that has them intimidated, nor is it any of the humans (or Qunari) who are sprawled out on the ground around you, nor is it the assortment of unfamiliar—to them, not to you, perhaps to you it's very familiar—junk that's spilled out as well, most notably some flaming metallic debris and a giant wooden cross.

It's the beings that are coming out after you, almost as if in pursuit. Two are drifting, spindly things with six spidery limbs in addition to grasping skeletal arms, eager to grab hold of anyone who comes too close and fill their field of vision with swirling darkness and corner-of-the-eye glimpses of whatever frightens them. Several more most closely resemble trees, perhaps, with half-melted squids for heads—which might not sound particularly scary, fine, but their ability to dive into the ground and resurface anywhere with rasping screams helps on that front.

All of these things would like to kill you, and the people around you, and the people on the walls, and perhaps the other people screaming and scurrying into taverns and shops for cover. But you're not alone. Out of those same taverns and shops come people who do seem to know what they're doing; many are wearing a symbol that looks a bit like a hairy eyeball being pieced through by a sword, and at least a couple of them seem to know what they're doing. Almost like they've been waiting for you. In fact, exactly like they've been waiting for you.

AFTERWARDS, the grateful citizens of the City of Amarenthine might provide a drink, a meal, or a place to tend to wounds before everyone sets back toward Kirkwall. It's not a long trip, but one that requires boarding a ship to cross a narrow sea. It will be a rough, stormy journey, but there won't be any demons.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not Dougal. Newt can recognize that immediately in the appearance of the Demiguise. Too small, for one thing. And too young, for another. But still. The sight of a familiar creature from home, in addition to Tina, is a very welcome one. Though, he must admit, if he'd known they'd both been caught up in battling demons, he would have tried to rush them off to safety.

"Did you just...arrive?" He asks, looking her up and down, as if trying to determine that it's really her; that she's really here with him.

"She?" He repeats, blinking. And then he realizes. Of course. A female Demiguise. But if a Demiguise came to Thedas with Tina, that means she was dreaming about the Demiguise. And if she was dreaming about the Demiguise, she was likely dreaming about the rest of his creatures and...

He flushes a bit but derails that particular train of thought before it can continue on its path.

"How's your magic?" He asks, wondering if she even has her wand on her as he watches her carefully.

Tina frowned-- of course she does with they day they had. Of course she does with the way Newt phrased that particular question. As if he'd already been there. Her eyes flashed while she glanced down at her partner, the creature has yet to let go of her skirt leg.

"If I hadn't I would have already found you to help her," She said after a moment, brow arched. The phrasing deliberate, asking without words if he' already been there. A boggling concept given the fact that it wasn't even a full twelve-hours ago that she saw him off on the docks (maybe that was why it was to blame that of all things she could dream of it was rescuing creatures and taking them to him).

Tina has enough control not to flush herself when Newt catches onto what a demiguise being with her might mean. And she has enough pride in her not to elaborate. She's glad when the distraction of his next questioned comes and the confusion and fear she'd been facing that day appeared.

Her hand went to her pocket where the thin wand that had been her companion for half of her life lay. It hadn't betrayed her, she thinks, and Newt's question proves it in a way."From the sounds," She answered after a moment, upset in her voice, "you already know that answer."

Guilt settles in his expression, though Newt can't quite explain why it's really there. After all, he didn't ask to suddenly be stranded here, instead of on his way back to England.

"Right, of course," he nods. "Silly question, of course." He's glad, at least, that Tina and the Demiguise did not arrive with him, trapped out in the Sunless Lands with dwindling resources as the days went on.

"Yes, I do," he nods, pulling out his own wand in answer. "I get exhausted doing even the most simple of charms. I've been trying to find a place to eat, actually, so I can recharge."

"Care to join me?" He offers, a hopeful expression dangling on his face.

Tina nodded. Her expression was hard, but she'd hope Newt would understand it wasn't directed at him. If anything her shoulders slipped from their tense posture in his presence, but the rest of her was on edge as ever. Relaxing wasn't anywhere on the agenda any time soon.

Not when he confirmed her own issues and she scowled deeper. Why would their magic be acting so terribly? It's enough of a concern to almost distract her entirely from his question-- Almost. She paused in surprise, features softening for the first time in hours as she ducked her head.

A breath. "I couldn't possibly eat," She answered after a moment, already hearing her sister's voice in her head. You have to eat, Teenie or maybe it's something more like You know you want to, Teen. She shoved her hands into the pockets of the skirt, eyes trained on the demiguise who hadn't left her side even in Newt's presence. Its eyes felt as scornful as her sister's might. Another sigh.

"But I wouldn't mind joining you," She amended, trying for a tight smile as she looked up at him, "and I imagine you can tell me something better for her to eat than bread. I can't imagine that's proper demiguise diet."

Newt understands the hardened look in Tina's expression; he's worn it himself, a fair few times, now. Ever since coming to Thedas. There's so much Tina will have to adjust to, besides finding herself in an entirely new world. The medieval technology, for one. The medieval attitudes, for another.

He agrees, too, as her mouth shifts to form a scowl, a visible representation of how he's felt about his magic not working properly.

"Well, at least let me buy you a drink," Newt offers. He can't force Tina to eat, but he'll make sure to order enough food so that he might convince her to share it. She ought to eat, after expending so much energy fighting demons.

"Indeed," his face twitches for a moment, lips curving upwards. "Though bread's not the worst that you could feed her."

She wasn't going to relax anytime soon. This much was a fact she knew too well, just as much as she knew she should be eating. Her mind felt overloaded with the situation at hand and wasn't helped by the sudden appearance of one Newt Scamander.

Her fingers went to comb through a strand of hair, careful to tuck it behind her ear. The woman's gaze had flickered back to her feet-- or maybe she could say to the demiguise. "Suppose I can't say no to a drink," She agreed, it'd be stupid to get dehydrated. She gave a small laugh though, glancing up from beneath a cloud of hair.

"It did seem the safest bet," Tina answered, her lips quickly forming a thin line, "but I'm not exactly sure what should be done with her." If he'd been around before he would know she wasn't just going to leave it or allow others to harm it.

"I know this is all very strange," he explains. "But I promise, it isn't all terrible." He meets Tina's gaze with his own, hoping she can recognize the empathy and offer of support in it. He knows this is all difficult; it's hard to imagine what Tina, a girl born and bred in New York City, makes of their new environment. But still. She ought to know she isn't alone, and anything he can do to help her on that front, he will.

"They have decent food and drink here," he assures her. "And places to rest. We can talk easier once we're sitting."

"I can take her, if you'd like," Newt says, though, judging from the way the Demiguise clings to Tina, he isn't sure he feels comfortable separating the two of them. "I have a room, back in the Gallows. She can stay with me."

Her frown remained even with the man's attempted reassurances. She didn't like chance and less so she didn't like lacking control. Her teeth caught her bottom lip, giving a rise and fall of her shoulders but deciding not to say anything on it.

"Then I'll rely on you," She answered after a moment, gaze flickering to him-- uncertainty remaining on her features, "I suppose it's your turn to return the favor." Given he stayed with them for a week in New York-- At his suggestion Tina glanced down at the creature.

"That would be be better for her," Tina agreed.

"I suppose it is," Newt agrees, fighting back the urge to stare at the way Tina's teeth catch on her lip, warmth flooding through him at such a sight. His stomach feels like it's about to fall over some sort of precipice. So he moves on in his thoughts, as quickly as he can. It won't do to get distracted, here, even with the demons gone and the rift finally closed.

He considers the woman with him another moment. The room he's staying in feels more like a small flat, with room enough for two people in it. It seems a waste to keep it all to himself. (Not to mention, with the numbers of the Inquisition increasing constantly, he doesn't know how long he'll keep it to himself. And if he has the option of choosing his own roommate, well.)

"You could stay with us too, you know," he offers quietly. "It's a room meant for more than one person."

It almost feels like they're meeting for the first time again with the uncertainty that lingered in the air-- Almost. Except this time he's not pushed against a wall outside a bank and it was arguably a far more amicable affair. Her eyes found her feet while she considered the fact. The demiguise belonged with Newt and it seemed he was more comfortable here-- a comfort she enviously wished she shared. Or one she might ever.

She blinked in surprise when his question processed, glancing up with something that could be called confusion. Or maybe it was amusement. It was both when she cocked her head just to the side, considering as if maybe she hadn't heard him properly. Then she gave a short life, one of nervous disbelief.

"That wouldn't be very proper, would it?" Tina joked, casting him another look, "it might be even more improper here." Given it looked several hundred years in the past. She might not care too much about what people said about her, but that didn't mean she was totally unaware of social graces.

Tina looks both confused and amused all at once, a combination that seems to especially suit her, he thinks. It was an impulsive question to ask on his part; he's actually more surprised that her response is as mild as it is. She would every reason to think him absurd, given that they really have only spent so much time together.

"Not at all, I don't think," he agrees with a smile that comes off much more nervous than he intends it to.

"But then, when have we ever been truly proper?"

"Speak for yourself, Mister Scamander," Tina returned somewhat haughtily. It's still a perplexing suggestion to have been given. The creature belonged with Newt, that was something she felt most keenly. She didn't necessarily want to feel alone here, but living with a man was... Definitely not something she'd particularly considered. Even if it was Newt. No, especially if it was Newt.

She frowned to herself, not yet agreeing to it. "She needs to stay with you," Tina finally said after a moment, dark eyes turning to the creature. It was his companion already, she'd decided the moment he'd appeared. It was more fitting. A breath.

"I don't know, Newt," the woman added, "is it really such a good idea?"

"Of course," he replies, though, given the twinkle still in his eyes, it's clear that he still thinks Tina is capable of improper behavior herself; he remembers, as though it'd happened yesterday, (and with the way time might pass while they're in this world, it may as well have been) that she'd helped him defy the orders of MACUSA. He remembers that even she didn't want to have to Obliviate Jacob, in the end.

His expression grows serious as she expresses her concerns.

"I think the rooms available will soon fill up," he says. "And we'll all have flat mates, as it were. I'd prefer it if I already knew mine."

"But, if it would help, we could set up a barrier in the room," he adds. "There are separate beds; we could still have our privacy."

"But it's your choice," he adds quietly. "I won't force you into a situation that makes you uncomfortable."

She rolled her eyes at his clear disbelief. It was true she didn't necessarily act properly in regards to certain things, but she really wasn't completely unaware. It was a different connotation-- befriending someone you shouldn't be or living with a man you hardly knew. Normally, she wouldn't think of the latter--

--It was even still a hard consideration now as the man spoke. She would think perhaps he could have made friends and stayed with them, but she was all too aware that he found social interactions as difficult as she did at times. School was a long time ago, too, that really... She didn't look forward to the idea with dorming with multiple people.

"A barrier would be needed," She said after a moment, brow arching in partial amusement, "I'm well aware I'm not very feminine, but we are different genders." Though maybe he didn't look at her as female, she supposed, but she'd rather hoped not. But she'd want to be able to change in privacy-- even with her sister, some days.

"It's not the worst idea," Tina added in hastily, "I don't trust those around here." Even the Rifters who had just arrived with her. It was nice not to be alone, but you didn't live as an Auror or even under American wizarding government without some wariness of the situation. And she trusted Newt.

"I'm sure we can get creative," Newt says. "We ought to be able to establish something of a barrier, between the pair of us."

Newt might be shy socially a lot of the time but when it comes to dressing and undressing himself, he truly doesn't seem to pay much mind. But that he would be undressing and dressing in a room shared with Miss Goldstein, well. A barrier would be quite welcome, indeed. A flush creeps into his expression at the thought of Tina potentially walking in on him in the middle of changing. Or vice versa. Truthfully, there is a lot of potential disasters waiting to happen with this living situation. But Newt can't say he's overly daunted.

He nods. "It's a delicate balance," he says. "There is so much going on. Evil trying to take over the world, and all that."

"We'll see what we can do," Tina agreed simply, forcing an uneasy smile to her features.

Sharing space wasn't new to her-- She'd grown up in dorms and in a one-room apartment. All she ever wanted was a bed to sleep in and a place to read when she wanted to. She'd likely not be in there very much, as it were, but she wasn't going to tell Newt as much-- The demiguise being with the man was more important than either.

"That's not unusual," Tina responded quickly, brow furrowing, "it wasn't helping for the sake of helping, though. They get more out of the arrangement here than we do." After all, they were the ones at a disadvantage not them. Especially with their magic the way it was.

Newt nods, recognizing that Tina doesn't want to pursue the topic more closely. He can understand that. She's been through a lot as it is; no need to add to what worries she must be collecting like flies.

"They do," he agrees with a nod. "But there are some interesting sorts of people here. And good ones, too."

"Also they have dragons," he can't help but add with a bright grin, eyes shining. "And other magical creatures. So there's bits like home as well."

Tina raised a brow at his sparkling amusement and then scoffed something of a breath. "I'm not you, Newt," She offered mildly, a certain teasing to her tone, "I'm not immediately at home so long as there are creatures."

It's the truth, at any rate. She folded her arms across her chest, frowning in turn. "But I must imagine that's gotten you into a fair bit of trouble already."

"No...I know," Newt says, feeling sheepish and awkward once again, the stranger at dinner who wanted nothing more than to lose himself among the contents of his own plate. He offers Tina a sympathetic smile.

"But it does feel nice to have someone familiar here," he says, hoping the words sound as meaningful out loud as they do in his head.

"Well, people already think I'm strange, that's nothing new," he continues, his smile turning wry. "Except now they think I'm an actual demon on top of that, depending on who you talk to."

His expression grows serious, then. "I'm trying to avoid making trouble, I mean it," he says. "This world isn't always friendly to those with magic. Especially those who've fallen through rifts."

She can manage. She's always managed before, after all. Alone or with only her sister-- She'd work it out. Because the truth was she wasn't like Newt-- Not really. She was more used to being alone, without the aid of creatures. She'd done it so long before that it's odd hearing his earnest remark.

Her brow shot up while she tossed him a look. Someone familiar here, she knew she'd always be glad to see Newt again. Though the circumstances are different from what she imagined.

She doesn't respond yet and her answer faltered when he continued, the frown tugging onto her features. Her job was protecting their kind and yet she couldn't and they were surrounded by people who hated them on principle.

"You are strange," She agreed mildly, the only hint of teasing she can give while she considered their options.

"I could already tell," Tina added, glancing at the demiguise, "but then people being afraid of magic isn't unusual." They lived it everyday, after all, even if Newt disregarded it.

Newt blinks at her remark, before realizing that she is, in fact, teasing him slightly. He grins, knowing very well that she also speaks the truth. Newt has been, and likely always will be, a strange creature, especially in comparison to his fellow humans. Here, in Thedas, his oddities are only further highlighted.

"Very," he agrees with a nod of his head. He's never really much concerned himself with how other people think, up until now. Until Tina, really. He flushes a bit, thinking of their last meeting.

"No, it isn't," he agrees. "But the people here especially seem to distrust it." He'll have to wait to tell her about the Circles, he decides. The way magic works here is a lot to take in on its own.

Tina was glad he took it for what it was than shying away. She'd be vexed with herself if she had said something where he'd be too nervous to speak to her-- But then, he was the one who just asked her to live with him. If anyone had that right, it'd be her--

Not that it was something she considered more than, her arms folding protectively against her chest. "Nothing new," She mumbled mildly. Learning American wizarding history taught her enough of that fear and hatred people had, but even more, dealing with Mary Lou Barebones hadn't helped. "And not being able to control it properly would just make them more afraid."

"Yes, quite," Newt nods. "There are a lot of similarities to home, you'll find." He tries to come across as comforting, but he knows only too well that many of those similarities are of the less than ideal circumstances they were facing back home: war, prejudice, fear of magic, etc. He would soften the blow for Tina if he could, but then, he suspects, she would much prefer honest truth.

"It's not easy," he admits. "You won't be allowed to venture to certain places unaccompanied, and there is a curfew for us rifters," he adds.

"I admit, it is...vexing," he says. "But I'm learning to make the best of it. I'm trying to think of it as a new adventure."

She was looking for similarities, desperately even. If there was something similar then there would be something she could find comfort in this place for-- But it seemed that all the similarities were the negative ones. The ones she fought against, it left for little comfort and even less hope.

Her fingers twisted into the familiar chain of her locket, glad at least for its presence. The locket, the wand, her clothes, and the book. The things that screamed most familiar. The demiguise, new but familiar and needing protecting.

And then there was Newt.

She frowned.

"I know something about adventure," Tina answered with something of a huff, hands shifting to the pockets of her skirt. Her brows furrowed as she considered what to add.

"This isn't an adventure," She managed, "it has the workings to try to be, but it's a forced presence. On both sides." They weren't wanted here and they didn't want to be. But instead it was clear that the would be treated just so and she wasn't exactly good at taking to that. How could she be? She protected and to be treated like she'd lash out or some such was laughable.

Never mind that she has before.

The circumstances there were different.

Newt bites back a smile as Tina huffs, unable to help himself. He's reminded of her expression when they first met, back when she was arresting him and taking him into MACUSA for questioning.

"Adventures work in all sorts of ways," he says with a shrug. "You have to take the bad with the good. And there's a lot to see in this place."

He finds that, much to his own surprise, he means it. As strange as it is to admit, the longer Newt remains in Thedas, the more he takes to it. Yes, it's a land backwards in time, as far as he can tell, from the technology (and lack thereof), with its own darkness and wars brewing. There is much to dislike and to fight against. And yet, there's also much to explore and discover; new creatures unlike any they have back home, and new lands similar to their own but different all the same.

"Besides all that, we can always make it one," Newt adds with a soft smile. "You and I rather good at adventures."

And by that, he means 'nearly dying,' which is likely obvious in the way his smile suddenly grows cheeky.

"It'll be okay, Tina," he tells her, growing more serious. "We have each other here, and that's not nothing."

Cloudreach 9:44 Rifter Arrival

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