"There was, erm, a period of time," Mado proceeds, with an uneasy-but-still-pleasant grimace, "when I was afraid to reveal myself for what I can do, here in Riftwatch. It was a bit upsetting for some, to find it out, to know that they had been interacting with me all the while without realizing the dog had a person's mind."
He scratches behind one ear with his fingers.
"It was unfair of me! I see that now. Nobody wants to feel tricked."
Dogs, and animals in general, were definitely treated differently. There were things the barn cats knew that nobody else did, to say nothing of the horses.
Ellie's face softens; some of the kindest, most sincere people she knows are also the ones most hurt, and it doesn't take a genius of social cues to see that he's carrying some shit around. That's all of Riftwatch, but some waters run deeper than others.
"I don't blame you for wanting to protect yourself."
"Everyone has," she answers quickly, and visibly settles herself down, evening out her tone. She's protective of her pain, but Mado clearly means well. Everyone always means well.
"I mean... especially in Riftwatch. It's not new. I don't think there's anybody here who isn't dragging a shitton of baggage."
"Sorry," Ellie mutters, almost on reflex. He doesn't seem hurt, but she's hurt people before, is wary of it. She considers him with a frown, puts her back against the stone of the wall, and sighs deeply.
"You'd think you'd get used to the constant sense of impending doom," she says, a little flippantly. "But it's almost shittier than a world already past the doom part."
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faderift2021-08-27 09:27 pm
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He scratches behind one ear with his fingers.
"It was unfair of me! I see that now. Nobody wants to feel tricked."
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Dogs, and animals in general, were definitely treated differently. There were things the barn cats knew that nobody else did, to say nothing of the horses.
"Sounds like you stopped that, though."
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His smile is a bit strained, but his gaze is sincere.
"To do magic, in Thedas, it's not always a positive thing. Come to think of it, living as a human is the same."
His brow knits poignantly, as if in response to some memory or another.
"There are times when it's better, to simply be a dog."
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Ellie's face softens; some of the kindest, most sincere people she knows are also the ones most hurt, and it doesn't take a genius of social cues to see that he's carrying some shit around. That's all of Riftwatch, but some waters run deeper than others.
"I don't blame you for wanting to protect yourself."
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"You have seen your share of sorrow," he observes, an invitation for her to share if she likes.
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"I mean... especially in Riftwatch. It's not new. I don't think there's anybody here who isn't dragging a shitton of baggage."
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"I don't think there's anybody in the world who isn't, when it comes down to it. They aren't easy times, that we're living in."
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"You'd think you'd get used to the constant sense of impending doom," she says, a little flippantly. "But it's almost shittier than a world already past the doom part."
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"But that is what life is about, is it not? Doom impending until it impends no longer?"
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"Better have a good time while we have the time."
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"I ought not keep you, Miss Ellie. Thank you for the conversation! I'll see you about soon, I'm certain."