Always had a fear of being typical

[tevinteraltus]

who: Dorian + Iona (Closed) | Dorian + YOU
what: Some shopping (we gotta look GOOD for that Ball) + January Catch-All!
when: Throughout January
where: Various locations throughout the Quarantine | Library | OPEN
warnings: Nothing I can think of. If this changes, I'll update



Closed to Iona Lavellan | January 2nd | SHOPPING

If Dorian were honest, he was a little offended there was a formal ball in less than four days and he'd been given minimal time to prepare. That being said, December had given him something he'd learned not to expect and something for which he was very thankful: his closest and most dearest friend, Iona Lavellan. Though they hadn't spoken at length about the things she'd left behind, he suspected she was troubled about leaving Thedas to its own devices (and who wouldn't be?), but with the announcement of a formal ball at the end of this week, and the relative warming of the weather (thank the Maker), she needed a change in wardrobe (and so did he) as well as formal attire for a formal outing (because everyone had to look their level best)!

The communal beds were novel, but they also served to make retrieving your friends easy as he rapped on her bedpost while she sat at her desk. Still dressed for colder weather, but nothing as heavy as December's wardrobe, he smiles warmly when she turns.

"Ready for a day out on the town?"


January 9th - 14th (Early Evening) | Library | OPEN

Though Dorian has spent the better part of several months in the Quarantine, he's only recently become acclimated to the idea of staying. He's done his work at the Research Institute, he's spoken with others, he's gotten close to a few, but in the back of his mind, it had all been a hold over to returning to his own world, to delivering his people (quite a lofty goal) and generally just being in Thedas again.

Now, though, is a different story. Now, well, he's actually starting to grow fond of the place, which means knowing its history. He can be found in the early evenings, after work but before the library shuts down for the evening, sifting through titles in the history section, or browsing through tomes at a table near it. He looks up often, when someone's shadow touches the edge of his vision, as though he's rather used to being interrupted. He'll even nod invitingly if someone seems up for a chat. He can be personable like that.

ANYTIME JANUARY | ANYWHERE
Wildcard! Have a thread you'd like with Dorian? Drop me a PM here, or hit me up on vikael and I can throw up a starter below!

Comments

library

[deathkid]

Nico's never been one to read much. With his propensity towards Ancient Greek, anything else tends to swim on the page as his dyslexia acts up. But sometimes, Nico gets the urge because he's always been the type to find out as much as possible about things as he can. Asking the dead can only get him so far, so sometimes he's forced to go to the library. It's there that he spots a familiar figure, browsing the shelves and he pauses, considering stepping out of the shadows to make himself known. He usually prefers keeping to them, keeping himself cloaked in darkness so as not to draw attention to himself, but Dorian's an interesting man, one whom Nico is curious about.

So when Dorian draws close enough, Nico dispels the shadows around him with a wave of his hand and looks up into the familiar face.

"Working?" he asks, nodding at the shelves. In his hands is a book written in Greek, but he hasn't opened it yet and doubts it'll have any answers he seeks. It seems the library has a wealth of books in Greek, but few are of interest to Nico. Mostly because they're myths he knows by heart.

library

[tevinteraltus]

Shadows are something familiar to Dorian. Not that he hides in them so much as a mischievous but well-meaning spirit he happens to know rather well has a distinct propensity for simply appearing, or making others unaware of his presence until such time he'd like to be noticed. Thus, Nico's sudden appearance didn't really startle Dorian. That, and the mage was just going to bargain it off as him being oblivious in the face of knowledge. It wouldn't be the first time.

Still, he turns at Nico's address, smiling his usual, charming smile before rolling his shoulder in a shrug. "In a way, yes. I'm researching in an effort to better understand the Quarantine and the world that spawned it." He glances down at the book Nico is holding, which is in a language Dorian doesn't know, then back to him. "And you?"

[deathkid]

It's a little comforting that Dorian doesn't jump out of his skin like some people do when Nico steps out of the shadows. It means he hasn't scared the man, and that's always a good start. Dorian's charming smile is another, making Nico flush a little as he follows Dorian's gaze. It seems they're both after the same thing here, albeit taking different routes, and Nico's somewhat eager to hear what Dorian's heard so far.

"Same," he says, shifting his book so Dorian can see the title. "Ancient Greek is the language. I'm better at it than the common language spoken here. I have dyslexia."

[tevinteraltus]

Raising an eyebrow at the title, completely unintelligible to him, he looked back to Nico after only a moment. "I've never heard of Greek, but that's hardly surprising."

The sickness he mentioned suffering from was also unknown to him, and his brows knitted in slight confusion. "Dyslexia?"

[deathkid]

"It's a language in my world," Nico said with a shrug. Then, taking the book back, Nico turned and gestured at the books behind him.

"I could try reading all these books, and I can read, but dyslexia is basically where the words swim on a page. It makes it difficult to decipher things and make sense of what I'm reading."

[tevinteraltus]

"Ah." Dorian nodded, then. It wasn't something unheard of to him. He'd simply never had the condition referred to in such a way.

"I understand. And have you found any histories worthwhile in this Greek of yours? If so, I could use a translator."

[deathkid]

"Not many," Nico replied, replacing the book on the shelf. The fact of the matter was that there didn't seem to be many books on the moon's history. That was usually why he preferred talking to the dead.

"I find the best way to get the history of this place is to talk to the people who've been there, if you know what I mean."

library

[vedaandme]

"History?"

Tieria didn't walk away when he was noticed in Dorian's vicinity. He was holding three books as well, two of which were fiction, but historical fiction, based in facts of Riverview's past. He enjoyed that sort of thing. It made for entertaining learning. The third was for legitimate research of his own, a factual book on Quarantine's founding.

"Do you have a particular topic you're looking at or are you just learning what you can?"

It was a genuine question with real curiosity behind it. His tone was just somewhat flat, as Tieria rarely emoted to unfamiliar people.

library

[tevinteraltus]

Dorian had been in the Quarantine for a number of months now and he still wasn't completely accustomed to not receiving seemingly random sneers if disgust at his general presence, but he supposed that was to be expected after how many he received back home. Still, he wasn't adverse to answering questions, and this was a new face to top it off. He looked over, first to the speaker, then to the book he carried. Historical fiction. Well, at times that could be accepted, and at others, it was more fiction than fact. Counterproductive to Dorian's point, though fiction had its place and he enjoyed it thoroughly...when he wasn't trying to learn something. To each their own, of course.

He nodded at the question, taking a book on the history of portal theory before turning to give Tieria his full attention. "Yes, learning." He made a motion with his free hand. "It seems this is our home now. It would be best we understood it, wouldn't you agree?" He moved the tome he'd claimed to his other arm, offering a hand. "Dorian Pavus."

[vedaandme]

"Yes. That is a good point."

Tieria shifted the books in his arms to free up his own hand now in order to shake Dorian's in return.

"I am Tieria Erde." He glanced at his own books. "I have been doing some research as well, but I do enjoy some recreational reading now and again to break the monotony."

[tevinteraltus]

Moving gracefully to the research table, Dorian set the tome he'd acquired atop it and crossed his arms, regarding this Tieria Erde critically. At times, the Senior Enchanter could be a bit judgmental, particularly when it came to fellow scholars, but he could admit he might have been hasty. He was still adjusting to not judging others by Thedosian standards.

"I've never known research to be monotonous." He smirks playfully. "Perhaps you should find a new chronicler. "He rolls his shoulder in a shrug. "Or your libraries need better archivists." He shrugs. "Or nothing of note happened in the periods you were researching. That being said, fiction has a place, certainly, though I've found their subject matter seems to be more impactful when you know the history of the setting. For instance, if I told you there's a fine series of mysteries set in the undercity of Minrathous, dealing with corrupt Magisters and Magekillers, would you understand?" He makes a motion with his hand. "It is riveting reading, though most Magisters cast it off as trite propaganda. I can't imagine why."

[vedaandme]

"It never used to be," Tieria said. "However, I have come to realize that research is not everything, and sometimes one requires an occasional break to be more effective." He seemed somewhat non-chalant about it, though he wasn't quite sure how to take Dorian's comments. He understood the point, but it was the delivery that baffled him, so he decided to go for unaffected neutrality on it. That seemed the smarter idea. He hoped he was right and that he shouldn't be insulted on behalf of human historians.

"Fiction has had a place in propaganda in the past where I am from, so I am not surprised to hear that someone who may be in power would look at it as such... especially if it casts their kind in a negative light." Tieria looked almost amused now. "After all, it can be powerful among the masses, and an effective channel through which to spread a particular message. Ruling regimes have been overthrown for less."

[tevinteraltus]

"You know, I read histories because I enjoy them, too. I find them to be entertaining. I enjoy comparing different accounts to find the truth in the middle." Does that mean he needs a break? Probably. He may not even recognize that.

"It was a joke, mostly." He rolls his shoulder in a shrug. "It can, but they've been cowed by centuries of oppression. It's going to take a miracle, or a revelation, to incite rebellion, and even then, they have little hope for success." There may be a note of sadness in his voice at that. It's a shame, really. "What have you learned so far?" He'd jumped subjects, he knew, but Tevinter was something he could speak on ad nauseam.

[vedaandme]

It probably did, but Tieria wasn't one to recognize those signs. He rarely took breaks of his own. He was also really bad at recognizing humor, so the idea of it being a joke was definitely lost on him. Sorry, Dorian.

"You might be surprised what kinds of odds people can overcome when they are properly motivated." Tieria had been that person... that small group of people initiating a rebellion and starting a wave of change. He knew exactly how steep that mountain was to climb.

"I have learned a bit about how Quarantine came to be," he said. "How they discovered interdimensional travel, how they were almost wiped out in the Great War, that this city here in and of itself is an attempt to rebuild their society." He looked towards the door, indicating the city outside. "This city itself had been destroyed in an epidemic that was brought through the portal several years ago." He gave Dorian a somewhat amused look. "That is just the tip. Apparently, there are a lot of ruins here that may be worth exploring to find more history that is not necessarily in this library."

shopping

[stumbledfromtheashes]

He would be right. Leaving Thedas bothered her. There was too much left to do, there. Corypheus was still free to do as he pleased. To sew chaos. She was needed. And although the not being attacked every time she turned around was nice... she didn’t quite know what to do with herself.

Still had a knack for finding trouble, though. Her shoulder was still healing; potions would be scarce until they could return home, so she drank enough to stop the immediate bleeding and let herself heal naturally from there.

She grinned back at him. “With you? Of course!” He was the only one here who could get her to spend a day out on the town. And he’d settled into the style of clothing here, too, so if there was anyone she would trust to help her acclimate on that front, it was Dorian.

shopping

[tevinteraltus]

Over the months he'd been a resident of the Quarantine, he'd slowly grown accustomed to the idea of staying. At first, it had bothered him, but he knew one day they'd return if they wanted to, and he also knew, now more than ever, they wouldn't be missed. He hadn't missed her, and she was from two years in his past. Yet, he remembered every moment they'd spent together. That meant something. Maybe he'd ramble it out at some point. Oh, he most likely would, but for now? No. For now, they finally got to enjoy a time of peace, and by the Maker, she was going to get it.

"Naturally. Who else?" Smiling, he offered her a hand. "Shall we? First, the train. A marvelous invention that allows for nearly instant travel. You'll never want to set foot in the Hinterlands again." Though he chuckled. "If you ever did, that is."

[stumbledfromtheashes]

Knowing that they wouldn’t be missed, that being a resident of the Quarantine didn’t mean that Corypheus would win, would be an immense relief to Iona. After Adamant, no matter knowing that they survived, that they won, it didn’t change the fact that they hadn’t yet. Not for her. And Adamant still weighed on her. Although being here made it easier to deal with. A little.

Didn’t stop the nightmares, though.

She took his hand with a soft, fond laugh. “Oh, it wasn’t that bad. At first. Although if this train is as marvellous as you claim I might wish it had such a thing.”

[tevinteraltus]

"Really? Did you miss all the Templars, rebel mages, demons, and bears vying for the first chance to rip your face off? I most certainly insist on the train."

He took her hand, guiding her to her feed. "Now then, it isn't quite like shopping in Orlais, but it suffices. What this city lacks in opulence it makes up for in variety."

[stumbledfromtheashes]

“After a certain point I did get used to them,” she teased, looking amused. “It feels strange to not have to worry about that.” Creators, she didn’t know what to do with herself. The job helped, but it wasn’t quite the same. Perhaps she could find someone to spar with.

She smirked at him. “Well, given the reaction I would garner shopping in Orlais, I suspect I will probably find this an improvement.” Certainly less insulting, and lacking the usual sorts of assumptions aimed at her people.

[tevinteraltus]

"Yes, I suppose it did all become a bit mundane after a fashion." He shook his head as he turned toward the door. "But I will never acclimate to the cold. The southerners are welcome to it."

He chuckles at that, continuing toward the door. "Yes, well, things will be much different, I suspect, but you're curious enough. I think you'll like it."

[stumbledfromtheashes]

“Oh look, someone is trying to kill me. Just another day with the Inquisition.” That it had become something normal for her was probably a bad thing. But it was their life. It was the Inquisition. Battling to save the world. “Believe me, I can do without the cold, too, thank you very much. I’ve had enough of that to last multiple lifetimes.”

She laughs softly. “Then I am in your hands.”

Library

[suckstobestrange]

For once, Stephen actually was feeling an itch to get out of the house for a bit. Sure, it wound up with him in the library, but it counted. He spent some time browsing the stacks, picking a variety of books that caught his attention. Once he had a good sized pile, it was time to find a table...

Huh. Looks like he wasn't the only one with the same idea, every last table had people at it. It was only once he'd gotten back to the history section that he spotted Dorian all by his lonesome at a table. When the man glanced up at his approach, he offered a small crooked smile, tilting his head towards the empty spot across from him.

"This seat taken?" He was getting to the point of just taking over an empty section of table if he had to continue hunting much longer, but he figured he'd at least try being personable first.

[tevinteraltus]

After spending the better part of two years with nothing much a small nook in a vast library to call his "personal space", Dorian was used to interruptions. He hazarded a glance at the stack of books Stephen had procured before approaching his table and smiled slightly, waving a hand at the other end of the table.

"I suppose it is now, and just when I was going to find some of those little miniatures and begin a riveting reenactment of the Great War. I thought I might try something different and let us win just this once." He moved the book he'd been reading slightly to open a notebook and take up a pen. "That is to say the table is yours. Do with it what you will."

library

[waffler]

Eleven has seen him in passing on the floor of communal housing that she lives on. She's watched him here and there, and even has started to trail along after him, but has generally left him alone. There's been some moments where she was observing and then ran off when he looked her way. That's almost what happens now as she runs into him on accident in the library, and ends up slinking along the shelves in order to watch and see what he's doing.

She's got a couple of children's books tucked under her arm, the only things she's reasonably capable of reading right now. Education wasn't a priority back in the lab, and Papa never would have let her know how to read even if it was. Words are a kind of power, Eleven is starting to realize. Therefore, she wants to learn as many as possible and how to use them. Since she's seen him around and knows his face at least, she starts to creep in closer toward him when she thinks he might be done browsing through the history books.

"Help?" She asks of him, head tipping to the side as she holds out both of her books in her hands.

[tevinteraltus]

Dorian wasn't particularly friendly when it wasn't necessary. Well, that was to say he didn't put much stock in making friend with everyone on the floor, until now, and he was often found either reading in the sitting room, his bed on the communal floor, or somewhere else about town. The library, though, was more of an objective than a hobby. If he was going to be here, remain here, then he was going to understand the place.

Words did have a power, Eleven was right there, and he turned when she spoke to him, eyebrows raised before a gentle smile touched his lips. He couldn't say he was good with children because that would suggest he'd spent a good amount of time around them and could make that assessment. He couldn't imagine why this one was so interested in his help particularly, either. He just wasn't used to random people approaching him, let alone children. Of course, most people back home avoided him simply because of his homeland. Ah, prejudice.

He looked down at the books the girl held, frowning slightly. He didn't know much about "modern" education, but they seemed rather...elementary for a girl her age.

Unless she was illiterate. Oh, dear.

"Help?" His voice was cultured, educated, and accented something like English, though with the odd cant on some of the vowels. "With what, precisely, dear?" He motioned to a chair near him at the same table. "Have a seat, then. And what is your name?" Maybe she was here with someone...?