Sixteen books on magic spells

[bookish_lioness]

WHO: Hermione Granger and rifters (or anyone who saw her note and wants to chat)
WHAT: Adelaide is having Hermione find out about magic in other worlds by interviewing rifters for SCIENCE.
WHEN: Mid-Drakonis and onwards. There's no deadline on acquiring knowledge!
WHERE: The default is Skyhold's library, otherwise note in the subject line if your character would have arranged to meet her somewhere else.
NOTES: Nothing comes to mind; will change if necessary.

Anyone frequenting the library has probably become used to the curly-haired young girl who's claimed a small alcove as her own. She can usually be found sitting in the corner, nose buried in a book as her brow furrows, attempting to bridge the gap between her worldview and that of Thedas'. It's not always an easy task, and sometimes names and dates get jumbled, which is why she can sometimes be found just a few steps away at the nearest table, books and journals and bits of parchment scattered about as she tries to make sense out of all the reading she's done.

Still, what at first glance appears to be a mess is actually rather organized, and for however engrossed she seems to be in her work, she's always been happy to talk to new people. After all, each conversation counts towards research, even if it isn't in the particular field she's been asked to study. Go ahead and ask around for her if you don't know where to find her; chances are she's hard to miss, and many will be able to point out the inquisitive rifter if she happens to be around.

Comments

[bookish_lioness]

"That's good," Hermione replied fondly, nodding in affirmation. "I hope she's still around even in my version of things, then."

Because it had become increasingly clear that the pair of them were more likely than not from different versions of the same place, rather than simply being from different time periods. Maybe they'll come across evidence to the contrary sometime, but she wouldn't be holding her breath until then.

[make_my_mark]

"With any luck, you'll get a chance to find out."

If the rifts could bring them all here, from not just different worlds, but alternate versions of the same world, surely there was a way to get back.

There had to be.

[bookish_lioness]

"... perhaps. People have gone back."

Or they've gone missing or have been killed without their bodies being recovered, and people would just rather be optimistic. But she preferred not to think about that if she could help it.

"In the mean time, I suppose we'll just have to acquaint ourselves with the local gossip and try to find it at least as entertaining." Though somehow, she doubted that would be entirely possible.

[make_my_mark]

Lara's expression shifted, a flash of sadness and worry, but she was quick to try and wipe it away. There was no sense in dwelling on it. It wouldn't help get her home any faster.

"...It's a little harder to follow," she admitted, a little wryly, trying to be light. "But fascinating. You could spend a lifetime just reading up on the courtly intrigues of Ferelden alone."

[bookish_lioness]

"I haven't heard much about their courtly intrigues," Hermione admitted. "I've read a bit about its politics in books, but mostly what people tell me revolves around their dogs. Mabari war hounds. Have you ever seen any of them? They're rather fierce in battle, but Jayne was a sweetheart once the fight was over and I was petting him."

At least animals were easy to understand, regardless of whatever world one might come from. Give them affection and food, and they couldn't care less if you were a Dalish mage or a Qunari spy.

[make_my_mark]

"I haven't, but I've seen sketches--" She turned in her chair, glancing over the shelf behind her. She thought she'd gotten from here-- yes. She reached and slipped a book out. "Have you read this one? It marks the exploits of the Hero of Ferelden. It was - recommended to me when I arrived."

If one could take Morrigan's sly humor as such.

"It's like reading Beowulf or Gilgamesh, except this, apparently, actually happened."

[bookish_lioness]

"I've heard of the Hero of Ferelden," Hermione replied, looking at the book curiously. "Someone mentioned the whole affair to me rather vaguely." She couldn't help wondering if Harry would come to be known as the Hero of the Wizarding World, or some such thing. Anything would be better than the Boy Who Lived.

"I take it you're not really used to heroic epics being based on actual facts," she wagered, glancing up at Lara again.

[make_my_mark]

"When they include demons and dragons and magic?" Lara replied, eyebrows cocking toward her dark hairline, mouth pulling in wry amusement. "Not typically. I--"

She set the book down, palm brushing over the cover, her head dipping.

"I still have a hard time believing the impossible things I've seen for myself. I'm not sure I'd even believe all this if I weren't living it."

[bookish_lioness]

Though she was still hesitant to really discuss magic with a British Muggle, Hermione eventually gave a slight shrug and commented, "Well, I suppose that's what makes it so easy for the 'impossible' to exist alongside the 'possible'."

Cracking a small smile, she added, "There's no risk of exposure if no one believes in what's being exposed."

[make_my_mark]

"It's all photoshop in real life," Lara joked, head bobbing with a soft, low laugh. "Clearly. Some elaborate prank for viral fame and glory. Like Balloon Boy."

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione blinked, wondering if Lara was suddenly speaking a completely different language. Viral fame? Balloon Boy? "Er... if that's some sort of reference or slang, I'm afraid it's a bit after my time."

[make_my_mark]

Lara blinked, then looked sheepish.

"Ah, yes, of course. Balloon Boy was a prank that happened in the State's in the early 2000's. It took the world by storm, with coverage all over the internet. The boy's family called authorities saying that their young son had climbed into a hot air balloon type device and it gotten loose and he was floating away. I guess they chased it for hours and then it finally crashed, and everyone feared the worst-- but it turned out he'd never been in it and it was all a grab for fame and cash."

She shrugged.

"Reality television and this idea of everyone getting five minutes of fame, and being famous for nothing, were really taking off at that point and I suppose they thought they'd get a television show or a movie deal or something to that effect."

[bookish_lioness]

It was Hermione's turn to blink. "Someone would say that their young son was in serious danger just for the media coverage?" she asked, genuinely perplexed. Granted, she'd seen the sort of things that end up on the front pages of magazines, but....

"But they were obvious frauds. I'm grateful they hadn't actually put a small boy in such a device and endangered his life for the sake of fame, but... why would anyone care that they'd filed a false police report for more than a few minutes of idle office chatter?"

It couldn't be possible that the world had grown even more self-absorbed, could it?

[make_my_mark]

"...If it helps, I don't they ever got anything out of it - or at least, if they did it hasn't crossed the pond."

Lara could only shake her head, shoulders rising and falling helplessly.

"But unfortunately, that is something of the environment, and why perhaps part of why people are so reluctant to believe. We've been taught not too. Or to expect some catch, or price."

[bookish_lioness]

"I'm well-acquainted with cynics," Hermione replied. "I was something of one during my first few days here, believing it to be part of some bizarre dream or spell or some such thing. But either this is the most elaborate hoax in the history of hoaxes, or I had to force myself to alter my usual beliefs for the sake of my sanity."

Thinking of that sort of process - torn between believing everything you see is a hoax or a sign that you need to reassess your views on reality - happening in a widespread sort of way in the future... it's just bizarre.

"I can only imagine," she murmured. "Someone finding a way back from Thedas and attempting to sell their story for a bit of publicity. The world would think him mad."

[make_my_mark]

Lara couldn't stop the low snort, thinking of the headlines scrawled over her own face when she'd tell them what had happened on Yamatai. How quickly elation over their rescue had turned to bile and cruelty.

Mad had among the kindest words they'd used.

"...And then some," she muttered.

[bookish_lioness]

It wasn't hard not to notice Lara's reaction, and Hermione looked at her curiously, wondering if she'd somehow struck a nerve.

"I take it you speak from some sort of experience?" she asked, though she'd hate to think of what sort of experience that might have been.

[make_my_mark]

"It's a long story," Lara sighed, eyes downcast, voice low. "But let's just say the apple didn't fall far from the Croft Family Tree according to the media."

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione looked at her for a few moments, piecing together what she'd said with the context of their earlier conversation. "I'm sorry," she said at last. "If it's any consolation, my parents had to constantly lie about my being a witch or else they'd likely have been carted away and I would have ended up as a ward of the court."

[make_my_mark]

Lara looked at her for a moment, then the corner of her mouth twitched gently.

"Knowing that another had to suffer isn't especially comforting, but it is nice to know that someone understands. I do appreciate that."

[bookish_lioness]

"Well, I never said it would be comforting," Hermione remarked, mirroring that not-quite-smile. "Just that it might make you feel better. I don't think any of us came from 'normal' backgrounds, really, magical or not." Shrugging a bit, she added, "After all, what is normal, anyway?"