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

[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."

[tevinteraltus]

"And I may not. I may have worked with a group of ordinary men and women to fell a god." He shrugs, still smirking. "My name is Dorian, of House Pavus, most recently of Skyhold. And you, my dour friend, are entirely too serious."

He nodded at Tieria's brief description. He'd learned the same, of course, his colleagues at the research institute had verified it. "Yes, I've heard of the ruins outside the Quarantine, difficult not to really. Personally, I've had bad experiences with ancient, unknown ruins. They tend to be populated with spiders of dubious size and demons...or worse."

[vedaandme]

Tieria quirked an eyebrow at the serious comment, and then looked mildly amused.

"It is not the first time I have been called that," he said.

"I would not recommend exploring the ruins alone, that is for certain," he said. "For many of us, this is a strange place, and we are unfamiliar with everything that lies outside these walls. It is merely a smarter thing to do to explore in groups."

[tevinteraltus]

He places a hand over his heart melodramatically, looking shocked. "You? Never!" But he smiling, chuckling so this overly-dour man might better understand the joke at his expense.

"Still, as I said, I've had poor experiences in ancient, as-yet-undisturbed ruins. I'm not a moron. I'd never go alone. It's better to bring those with shields and bits of sharpened metal along on such excursions, wouldn't you agree?"

[vedaandme]

Tieria quirked an eyebrow, but understood. He took it in stride this time.

"I would even go so far as to choose a projectile rather than a piece of sharpened metal," Tieria offered. "Where I am from, we are beyond swords and spears."

[tevinteraltus]

"Projectiles are all well and good, unless the creature you're facing can disappear and reappear at will, wouldn't you say? Besides, we mages have ways to safeguard against an arrow. I'd never be able to move in plate, though. Alls the better for someone with a sword."

Dorian, of course, was woefully unaware of the disparity between their two worlds in regards to technological advancement.

[vedaandme]

"What I use is far more advanced than an arrow," Tieria said. "However, if an enemy is capable of teleportation or shielding, there is a chance that my weapon would not work either." Tieria actually did have his gun with him. However, he wasn't exactly wearing it openly. He rarely did. It helped to blend in if he wasn't visibly armed, which was part of his purpose... to blend in and observe when appropriate and necessary.

"But I do not discount swords, either. They have their place still among useful weapons." If they didn't then Setsuna's Gundams wouldn't have had bladed weapons, after all. The rest of them were all distance fighters in their Gundams, but the Exia and other suits in that line had all been melee for a reason.

[tevinteraltus]

Dorian nodded, of course. He would never consider himself an expert on warfare, preferring to focus on more academic pursuits unless the need for combat arose. He never balked at displaying his prowess with magic, and the energy of the battlefield effected him as much as it did anyone else, but if he were ever given the choice, he would always choose to stay in his library.

That being said, some people were better off dead than alive, and he had no qualms aiding them in the process.

"Precisely. Dispelling barriers is something of a specialty of mine. Or rather, dispelling in general. If yours is the only magic viable on the battlefield, there's far less to contend with."

[vedaandme]

"We do not have magic where I am from," Tieria said. "How does it work for you? I believe I have come across several types here since I have arrived." He was curious.

[tevinteraltus]

Dorian had many sources of pride: his appearance, his (in his opinion) vastly superior intelligence, and his spell-crafting ability. In short order, the Altus mage of Tevinter puffed himself up at the question, smiling a confident, if slightly conceded, half-smile.

"I beg or pardon? How does it 'work'?" He chuckled, shaking his head, sliding the book he'd been perusing closed to give the conversation his full attention. "Magic is the stuff of dreams, mages are capable of pulling that energy across the Veil between the world of emotion and the physical and give it form, bend it to our will. Like all things, it follows rules, equations, theorems, methods. We train for years to learn 'how it works'. It isn't so simply answered."

[vedaandme]

Tieria looked mildly amused at the response.

"My apologies. I did not mean to reduce your skill to a mere comment," he remarked. "I was just curious about the basics and what might make it unique compared to the magic I have heard of from other worlds.

"You say it comes from dreams?" he continued. "And that there is a scientific method to its use? Does this mean that anyone can learn to use it or is there some sort of innate ability needed to channel that energy?"

[tevinteraltus]

"That's a drastic over simplification. It would be more accurate to say everyone save the dwarves as a connection to the fade, where energies shaped by thought dwell. People are born with varying degrees of ability with that connection. Mages can do so consciously and willingly and shape those energies into something physical on this side of the Veil. Anyone can use enchanted items, but only a mage may manifest a fireball with his mind."

He breaths a sigh, shaking his head. "Our bodies, that is to say mage bodies, naturally pool a certain amount of mana, the energy of the fade, and to various degrees. It's this power we use. We aren't constantly reaching across the veil. That would be madness." He takes a deep breath. "There are essays, theses, lectures, and dissertations on the topic enough to keep you busy for months. It's not as simple as 'it comes from dreams'."

[vedaandme]

"So it's almost a combination, then, of a learned skill and a natural ability," Tieria said, sounding curious. "You need some level of natural talent in order to learn the skills and study the techniques."

[tevinteraltus]

"Well, yes, and not all mages are created equal. Everyone is capable of more or less power, as hair colors vary." He rolled his shoulder in a shrug, turning to the man.

"And how does magic work in your world? Not the same, I take it?"

[vedaandme]

"There is no 'power' to it," Tieria said. "It's merely tricks. Slights of hand, smoke and mirrors, optical illusions, distractions. It's all for show."

[tevinteraltus]

Chuckling, Dorian turned then, finally giving Tieria his full attention. He meant to speak immediately, but his chuckle turned into a hearty laugh before he could rightly staunch it. Shaking his head, he gets himself under control fairly quickly.

"Well, then. The next time one of my fireballs melts something's face off, I'll be sure to tell it it was all for show."

[vedaandme]

Tieria managed a small smile, but his sense of humor was certainly lacking.

"We certainly don't have fireballs being shot from people's hands without some sort of trick to it," he said. "Flash paper and pyrotechnics are always done through some sort of technology, never mystical energy."

[tevinteraltus]

"Flash paper and pyrotechnics are relatively safe as well. I'm talking about an inferno, not a sparkler."

He shook his head, though. "You truly have no magic in your world? At all?"

[vedaandme]

"Truly," Tieria said. "Unless you believe in things that cannot be proven. For example, you can prove that a magical fireball is possible in your world. However, some people in our world claim to be able to read thoughts or see the future. Those are much harder to prove as there is no tangible proof such as a burn mark from a fireball. Beyond that..." He shook his head. "It is not something we have."

[tevinteraltus]

"And you know this to be true because you know everything that exists in your world." Dorian shakes his head, not meaning to come across as condescending, though he often does without intent. In this, though, he merely intends to make a point.

"It's possible, after all, those capable of magic in your world hide."

[vedaandme]

"That is possible, but would be extremely difficult in the type of world we now have," Tieria said. "Humanity is on the brink of another evolutionary step... the development of those called Innovators, who have abilities beyond what we have seen before. It would be very difficult to hide as new abilities begin to manifest."

[tevinteraltus]

Dorian shook his head at that. "Doubtful, if they've been hiding themselves in plain sight for eons. No one would think to look for them."

[vedaandme]

"Perhaps. However, until I have concrete proof something exists, I will not be holding my breath, so to speak." Tieria just smiled a little. He was definitely the more scientific type. He needed proof of something to believe it.

"I should be on my way, however. It was good talking with you." He inclined his head slightly.

[tevinteraltus]

He nodded. It was solid enough thinking. Dorian simply was inclined to hope, even without solid evidence. Granted, at least in his own world, he's seen enough that could be the truth of the matter to know not to question it.

"Fair enough." He nodded. "And so you choose not to believe until proven otherwise?"

[vedaandme]

"It is a valid scientific approach to not believe something until offered proof. It can be a theory, but it is not a solid truth until proven as such."

Tieria shrugged lightly. His thought process wasn't designed for the mystical arts. Tieria worked in absolutes. If he didn't have proof of something, then it couldn't be anything more than just a working theory. He preferred numbers and tangible things, plans, results, stuff he could measure over things that were more abstract and spiritual in nature. So, sure, those things could potentially exist back home for him, and there were still many in his world that believed they did, but nothing had convinced Tieria beyond a doubt that they did, so he shelved them.