calling_net | [CALL] Video; UN: wardenka

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kurloz makara

[CALL] Video; UN: wardenka

[It was an odd device. A tiny seam down the middle was the only indication it was manmade at all, it seemed so alien. Flawlessly smooth black material that, alarmingly, she didn't recognize, a glossy panel on the front that lit up and showed her things when she touched it. Spoke with a voice she couldn't speak to and showed her visions without once reaching into the Fade.

It introduced itself, in a way. A "CALL device", a means to communicate with places unimaginable. A means to go places unimaginable, if that label marked "TRANSPORT" did what it said it did. Song without singers or instruments, music captured somehow. Portraits straight from reality, with no painter's bias. Visions with no warping, events preserved exactly as they happened, a journal of sight and sound. Speech and writing across distances unreachable.

Somehow.

She touched the screen as instructed, opened a video post. If she understood right, it would be the closest to in-person interaction. She didn't want to hit that button just yet. She'd sensed no disturbance in the Veil (and Alistair would have sensed it before he left if she hadn't), so she doubted it was a demon's work. But all the same, what if something went wrong? She wanted to test first.]

[The camera looks up on a woman clothed in crimson, curious eyes searching the frame. A huge brown mastiff looms over her shoulder (showing her to be seated on the ground), watching the recording with equally inquisitive eyes - equally discerning.]

...Have I done it right?

[The dog whines curiously.]

I might as well, at worst nobody hears me. Um... [She clears her throat.] This is Warden-Commander Katherine Amell of Ferelden. This device said it could be used to communicate with others who had another one. Oh, like a tiny eluvian... [she murmurs in sudden realization, before remembering herself and focusing on the screen again.] ...Anyway, is anyone hearing this? ...I see myself on the screen, is anyone seeing the same?

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[Slowly, ever so slowly with all the grace of one dipping toes and more into unpleasant waters, Kurloz's smile slips away. It is not yet replaced by a frown with its lack of will to leave but it is an inevitable step.]

Crude? [He says slightly appalled. It is tempered with disbelief.] But surely it is not mother fuckin so! With conviction of the righteous I preach thusly. How could word of such holy passions be deemed of disgrace?

[He composes himself, chin high.] I must speak as befits the heart, Sister Katherine. The most shameful of all things is only to be untrue. Not all make use of word in ways deemed fit of all, but all must deem illest fit of one's mother fuckin own, yo. [He smiles at her.] Agree, thou assuredly must!

[This conversation is, if nothing else, a stretch of the linguistic imagination. She doesn't respond for a while, clearly deciphering that last couple sentences.

"Places unimaginable", indeed. Why is she even trying to tell him this, he's only a child! And one apparently raised in this religion from the very start, at that. It must be a zealous one, to call everyone "brother" or "sister" regardless of their affiliations.]

"Words only have the meaning you give to them", is that it? I'm not trying to offend you... It's only strange to hear.

[She tries to smile without it looking too awkward, attempting to be as diplomatic as she can. Being Circle-raised, and thus having the Chantry a constant presence in her life, herself, she knows the best way to defuse a situation like this with a child is to give him the opportunity to show how well he's learned his teachings.]

So your religion holds truth to oneself above everything else?

[He doesn't mind. He is patient (or at least can feign patience). Not everyone can be so quick of phrase as his brother best and his dear kittybitch.]

Church! [So he says with his hands coming together like in prayer. It becomes a sharp clap in his eagerness.

Her awkwardness is... at least a little evident. Enough he can tell she is trying. He finds no fault. He will make a friend yet, he is sure.

He falls for the bait happily, the pious noise spilling.]

Mother fuck yes, my sister! Though there is much more to be learned, for that is only one piece! There are many miracles extant as ought be heartily embraced! And how varied are they! The creative and calamitous alike! Beauty may be found in mother fuckin all! By will of the Messiahs two so it is to be! We of the family sing their praises! We who paint upon ourselves our true souls, our true mother fuckin countenance of being! We who know fear and seek salvation of the world and a righteous binding of the holy ties among us one and mother fuckin all!

[She thinks she's getting the hang of understanding it all - it helps there aren't more words she doesn't know this time. In fact, it sounds a lot here like he's at least partially quoting from an older text rather than paraphrasing for himself - those random "mother fuck"'s for emphasis aside.

It actually sounds like a fairly nice religion. Beauty in everything, ties between everyone. A kid being raised in this is probably going to turn out all right.

But then, it's absolutely possible for a religion to preach one thing and do another... (And religions that have nothing to do with Thedas intrigue her, now that she's thinking about it. It could be that absolutely nothing is as familiar as it sounds, in the end.)]

The two Messiahs? What did they save you from?

[Sister looks to be happier, which is good, wonderful even.

If also secondary to getting to speak of the Messiahs. ]

With holy writ, our Lord and Lady doth save the people! With Shangri-La, the Mirthful may preserve! Paradise shall rise by Minstrels call and the chosen shall know their glory! Say I, Sister, each mother fuckin instance of existence is owed in whole to the holy! We are indebted, and lo, forever loyal amongst the family.

[His preaching slows so that he may smile genuinely.]

What might thee conjure of reflection more miraculous than family?

[Like Meulin and Mituna and...]

With purpose and union I am lifted of all what prior ailed! I am a servent to the almighty and so I am saved.

[These "Messiahs" were a couple? She has to wonder, is that what he meant by "descendant of the grandest high"? That's...interesting to think about. What would her world's predominant religion be like if Andraste's descendants were known and celebrated, and had been a part of it for its entire existence? ...At least, that's the only real thought she has on this, because it seems to be a very disconnected, if passionate, response.]

Are you training to give sermons? It certainly sounds like you could.

[Thunder barks in agreement - he understood even less; hyper-intelligent he may be, but he is still a dog and thinks on a dog's terms. That includes, at least, an instinctual understanding of tone, and the troll-child gives off a vibe very similar to a preaching Mother.]

[She comes oh so very close while simultaneously missing the mark completely. But Kurloz doesn't know, and anyway, he's far too excited to find fault.

Especially upon hearing that.]

Yes! It is great dream of mine to one day lead the faithful family to salvation!

[He pauses to think.]

Upon such a day the Dark Carnival shall rejoice, but only once thespian desires have been slaked.

[He nods falsely solemn.]

I'm not...sure I understand that last part.

[She gets the general idea he may not fully understand it, either, at his young age, but at this point she's curious. She absorbed all she had to learn on the Dalish beliefs when she encountered them, even if she didn't believe in them, and has respected other religions' altars in her travels - at the very least, their "gods" could be spirits bound to or watching the altars, after all, and she would like to avoid starting unnecessary fights.]

[He gasps in horror. Is it over-dramatized? Maybe so. But it is nevertheless deserving after such a response. Even the hand over his chest. That too is necessary.]

Has thou never known the wonder of the thespian arts hitherto? The delicacy of drama? The wicked mother fuckin righteous wonder of the theater? This blasphemy shall not transpire no more as it is within my power to enact its revision! Preach, I had meant to, that true preaching as vocation shall follow only this, but now an issue far more dire has surfaced!

Edited 2016-09-21 04:07 (UTC)

Wait, wh- we have plays!

[For a moment, she is completely caught off guard. She couldn't imagine anyone would be so ready to interpret what she said as not knowing what "thespian" meant at all. But then again, if it's so entwined in this religion of his...]

They're just...not seen as something the Maker would wait for us to finish when he returns.

[Or maybe he would? If there's any such return coming at all, that is.]

Oh! [He blinks surprised, then settles, a slight nervous laugh tinged with relief slipping out.] Miracles.

[No being should have to go without theater.

Yet as she continues, he looks a little guilty.] A maker is not known to me. Messiahs, I presume thou must mean. The Messiahs take great pleasure in that which brings mirth. Comedy and tragedy joined together harmonious speak to the duality of our Lord and Lady!

[But...]

Procured of pan an idea that I might preform as the greatest have done, before pledging eternal to the work of the church. I am to persist vital for a fair mother fuckin age and so imbecilic I saw not the treachery. [His hands fold together and his eyes close and his head bows.] I have proven weak, irresolute. Oh Messiahs, may thy holy powers purge me of this corruption that I may serve thee forever free of sin. Rain down the righteous unmercies that I may learn from split and spill. I shalt not disgrace the blood of the family.

[It takes her a few seconds more to try to figure out what, exactly, he's saying. Yet again.]

...Isn't asking for punishment for a simple misunderstanding extreme?

[...Maybe this other religion isn't as nice as it seemed at first.]

[His head whips up. His curls bounce.] Nay, says I, for this pimp serves with deepest devotion!

[But then he hesitates.] ...Of others, it is little consequence. To them I offer only the open arms fit of the family. However, this mother fucker must prove myself worthy, for I am descendant to the Grandest and have been chosen by Messiahs to receive the messages of the age.

Even people chosen by destiny make mistakes.

[Thunder barks agreement beside her. She glances over at him with a wry, mock-deadpan:] Thanks.

[He barks again, oblivious, and she turns back to the device.]

Sorry - anyway, as I was saying, I doubt they're expecting you to be perfect. Nobody is. Nobody mortal, anyway.

[The barkbeast who speaks with her, though not at all pale as should be, can be nothing else but a lusus. Seeing their communion like this only proves it to him.

That distraction ends fast though, for she continues and he finds her assessment difficult to swallow. Perfect, of course he's not perfect, but...]

But... is it not a dire mother fuckin negligence to strive for anything but the best?

["Even the Empress is mortal," His ancestor had said once and her words call upon that. It's hard to squirm away from the weight on it. What if his only way of achieving a mere good is through aiming for perfection?]

[Who's going to break it to the kid that he's really just a hyper-intelligent dog?]

Of course you should strive to be the best. But wishing punishment on yourself for every failure isn't the same as acknowledging you need to do better.

In magical studies, that kind of thinking usually just makes your next attempt worse.

[A very good question indeed.]

...Oh.

[It is less than eloquent a response, but he truly had not consider that he might be making things worse.]

... I should proceed then only with most legit intentions to correct and improve.

You are wise, Sister Katherine.

There's no better teacher than experience. [She gives an absolutely unguarded grin for a moment. For all his weirdness and random non-vulgar vulgarity, he's kind of a cute kid.]

It took burning my eyebrows off with my own fire three times before I accepted there were some things I couldn't let myself get dragged down by.

[He laughs in surprise, covers his mouth to stop it, then surrenders, letting his hands fall so that he may laugh some more.]

I presume thee to be one of great skill then in the drawing of eyebrows.

...Thank you, sister Katherine.

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[CALL] Video; UN: wardenka

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sorry for all these exposition prompts...

lmao it's cool, I love reading it

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