maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

[ he laughs lightly. ] Honestly, I know it's terrible to say, but I probably wouldn't bother if I wasn't the Inquisitor. As it is, it's learn it or embarrass myself and the rest of the Inquisition.

[ after all, even if he'd eventually become keeper of his clan, it's not as if he'd spend much time among human nobility. most of them wouldn't ordinarily be caught dead among dalish. ]

--So your cousin and Gregor, are they Lords Vorpatril and Vorbarra respectively?

I want to know more about what that means, exactly.

[ But for now, since they're on this topic, he continues. ]

They're both special cases, alas. Gregor is Count Vorbarra, technically - but you'd best refer to him as Emperor.

[ oh, this might be getting into complicated territory, actually. ]

Emperor Gregor or Emperor Vorbarra? Or is it something else? [ after all, the empress of orlais is generally referred to by her given name, so it's probably better not to simply assume.

also, after a moment, a little horrified: ] That's terrifying. Does he have guards here? [ in a foreign world, it's probably not particularly likely that any of this ruler's enemies are around, but even so-- ]

[ Miles inclines his head at that. ]

You're looking at him. Emperor Vorbarra - [ answering his first question there ] - doesn't need much here, though. I make the majority of the trouble.

[ his lips part, then shut. he takes another sip of his wine. (maybe another sip.) he sets it down again, very carefully, before turning back to miles with a bemused arch of his brows. ]

I could imagine that. [ miles being the troublemaking one, that is. despite the dry tone, he's struggling not to smile a little. ] It's good that the two of you can be relaxed here, though. [ at least, that's what it sounds like. ]

[ Ha. Well, he can take a guess at what went through Mahanon's head just now. ]

You doubt my ability to guard him, Inquisitor?

Not even remotely. [ the truth. after all, size certainly doesn't matter where he's from, and he has no idea what gifts miles has. ] I was just surprised that he only has one. [ a brief glance to his mostly-empty glass, shifting to rest his elbow on the bar, chin on the backs of his fingers. ] But then I thought, maybe he only needs one in a place like this. Or maybe you have magic that means you can guard him from anywhere. .. There's a lot about this world and other worlds that I don't know.

Edited 2016-05-08 01:00 (UTC)

Forgiven, then.

[ He was more amused than offended to begin with, anyway. Another drink drains the last of the whiskey in his glass. ]

I'd have forgiven you anyway, though - I'm well aware of how very limited I am physically.

[ after a moment, he smiles, rolling his cheek lightly against his fingers. ] There is more to each of us than our physical shell. And anyway, I already told you about my people-- I'm the last person that should be judging anyone because they're not like me.

[ not that it stops some dalish from hating anything that isn't elvhen. some even hate city-elves. mahanon is lucky to have been mostly raised by the lavellan clan and its keeper, who encouraged understanding and cooperation. ]

I am a little curious, though.. Is it just safer here, or is he well-loved in general, or..? [ or does miles really have the capability to strike down anyone who attacks his emperor from anywhere? ]

[ A mage, right. Miles regards Mananon in a new light. Perhaps he shouldn't have made assumptions himself ... ]

Well, I am grateful to you for it. Even with that background it's no guaranteed.

As for Gregor, well ... We simply don't have the same enemies here. And again, I'm the one attracting the worst of them. Like the time I pissed off the literal devil ...

[ mahanon only looks a little puzzled, brows drawing together. ]

Devil? [ there's plenty of demons where he's from, but no devils. ]

The theist devil, yes. Embodiment of all evil, etc. Turns out even he can't murder anyone if he's six inches tall.

[ if anything, he looks even more confused. ]

The origin of all evil in your world is here? [ and then, apparently trying to make sense of it: ] .. Did he shrink..?

In other people's worlds, depending on their religion. Yes. [ A beat. ] And I did that to him. To the both of us, actually. He was very upset about having been kidnapped by the Russians.

[ this story is getting more complicated, now. what do russians have to do with it..? but maybe more importantly: ] You can shrink people? .. Can you do the opposite, too?

[ Miles brightens instantly - Mahanon might actually be the first one to ask him that straight off. ]

I've never actually tried it. But in theory? Yes, I think so.

[ mahanon brightens in turn, looking impressed. ] That would make fighting dragons a breeze. You should try it sometime. [ a beat. ] .. The size-changing, not the-- Not that there are dragons here. .. I think.

Edited (whoops) 2016-05-08 02:54 (UTC)

[ Aha. Well. As delightful as that mental image is ... ]

Alas, I'm very certain that kind of scale is impossible. It's wildly painful going up to a relatively normal height. Larger would probably grind my bones into dust.

Oh. [ that's disturbing, and also a little sad. but then, magic is pain, sometimes, isn't it? (he very carefully doesn't look at his left hand.) ] .. No, we certainly wouldn't want that. [ he sighs a little, chin resting more heavily against his hand. ] Honestly, thinking about it, it would probably be cheating anyway to fight a giant or a dragon as a giant.

[ There are complicating factors Miles hasn't mentioned - mostly in the form of his delicate, brittle bone structure. He snorts at that, amused at the suggestion. ]

Just so. I prefer to win with the hand I was dealt.

[ he gives him a slightly sideways glance, mouth quirking. ] I suppose that's best. .. Still, sometimes I really just want a simple, straightforward, easy battle. No darkspawn, no ancient evil magisters, no possessed dragons or titans.. I have absolutely earned the chance to just thwack someone over the head with my staff and call it done.

[ he's joking, mostly. not that he isn't tired of the constant fighting, but.. it could always, always be worse. ]

Anyway, I'm tallying up what I know about you so far, and I have to admit, it's all pretty intriguing. I'm still waiting to hear more about your world, though. [ and spaceships. ]

[ Another faintly amused noise at that. ]

The same goes for you, Inquisitor. Perhaps we could trade? I have a good mental image of dragon already, but darkspawn? Magisters? You must lead an exciting life.

It's certainly exciting lately, anyway. [ an impressed glance. ] You don't have darkspawn? [ he's a little jealous.

he shifts on his stool, lifting his chin from the back of his hand, attentive and interested. ] Certainly, though, a trade sounds fair. Where would you like to start?

[ Miles, in turn, retains his laser focused curiosity. Gentled, of course, by his usual overwhelming friendliness. He's determined to make a friend out of his fascinating man. ]

The darkspawn, if you don't mind. Since that seems convenient enough to start with.

[ darkspawn. not a particularly fun place to start, but he's the one who brought it up in the first place, anyway. ]

Darkspawn are.. monsters. [ there's just no way around it. ] They live underground, except when a Blight starts. Between Blights, sometimes they come aboveground for-- for raids, killing and kidnapping, that sort of thing. The only point to their existence seems to be to destroy everything. [ an uncertain pause. ] My people don't really have any kind of origin or explanation story for them, but I know the Chantry believes they were created when the Maker's holy city was corrupted. [ he'd cautiously agree with that, now, given corypheus. ]