video | CALL | un: wardenka

[boundinblood]

[At first, the wrong camera turns on, showing the book Katherine has laid out on the table, pages bathed in sunlight from a nearby window. It's nonfiction - biology, in fact, and its target audience likely in the young teens crowd. The open page displays a labeled diagram of a strand of DNA and a Punnett square with an explanation in small print, courtesy of a cartoonish character sitting on its corner, clearly drawn by an adult attempting to appeal to a younger crowd they only superficially understand. The normal-sized text at its side explains hereditary traits, with a side of how DNA determines everything about a person's appearance. It's helpfully colloquial.]

Well, I can't say I completely understand all of this, but- oh, wait, I've got it the wrong way, haven't I?

[She switches to the front camera to show her face instead, bags under her eyes indicating a rather long self-imposed study session. She raises a mug of something no longer hot enough to require one to her lips and sets it down offscreen with a gentle thunk. The window beside her reveals the skybridges, flying cars, and gleaming metal towers of Tomorrow, from several stories up.]

There we are! Now, as I was saying, am I right in guessing this means the...the essence of who we are is in...all of us? Does that mean spells that require a bit of, say, hair, from the caster have worked on the same principles as blood magic all along?

Comments

[thygospelevity]

[She doesn't shout but she doesn't have to. The fear spikes in a way he wasn't expecting, causing a sharp inhale like the floor's dropped out on him. There's a sharp crack and a crunch as he snaps his eyeliner pencil to bits in his hand.]

Oh-oh. My sincerest apologies, sister Katherine.

[He didn't even think. Why must he be such a fool?

He opens his palm to inspect the damage and frowns. Stupid highblood strength. His eyeliner is ruined... He shoves it back in the bag and rubs his hand clean on his thigh. There's little pricks of indigo but that's alright.

He returns his focus to Katherine, starting to reach out, hesitating just a moment, then completing the motion of placing a hand on her.]

Be at ease, my sister, for you are safe here. I shall let none harm thee. [His frown deepens.] Why such response in thee, I wonder.

[boundinblood]

[For a moment, she's quiet, reassessing the surroundings. There is no danger, of course. No templars for anyone to run off and tell, and probably nobody who would run off and tell them in the first place. With a deep breath and a sigh, she looks up to acknowledge Kurloz's comforting gesture.]

Thank you. It's-... Where I come from, an accusation like that could be the death of me, if overheard by the wrong ears.

[thygospelevity]

[It is not that he doesn't think it is truth. Her fear confirms it as truth. Such intense fears don't occur often. But it's... it's wrong.]

I do not understand. This proclamation suggests a betrayal the likes of which have not been known. I have bore witness to the strange. I have played prophet to the un-mother-fuckin-believable. Yet I am to hear of those who would wish you harm?

[And, strangely, he feels not fear, nor simply sadness though that persists too. There is anger. The anger is entirely his own.]

What magics would inspire such cruelty? The mere administrations of blood to your wicked work and this is thought due? You are good and kind and righteous and unworthy of this savagery! This is mother fuckin unjust, my sister Katherine! Honk. Honk! With whom must I converse to clear this wretched ruling from being? I must appeal to this power at mother fuckin once! Honk.

[boundinblood]

Oh, they'd just think you're some kind of demon anyway, Kurloz.

[Katherine holds her head in a hand.]

It's not unjustified, you know. Blood magic is a dangerous path. Its reliance on draining away life can attract demons, and it offers temptation of its own, in the ability to control the thoughts of others. I'm only studying its theories for useful applications of it - not the magic itself.

[thygospelevity]

Oh... [He blinks. He appears as a demon? But he isn't. He doesn't look anything like a demon, last he checked. Not a feather in sight. But... he supposes he is rather alien by her standards.

He deflates. He listens.

It makes sense, he supposes. There were trolls out there with abilities... like Aranea. Like himself. One had to be careful not to push the line. That wasn't the way of their people. It was important to protect one another.

He straightens up. It is important to protect one another. He turns his focus back on her, face firm, not a smile in sight.] It is not justified, my sister. An ability and study is no proof of cruel act. The threat faced by they ought be that which is looked out for. You are good and your protection is just.

[He puts a smile back on, a softer one, and reaches out for that hand so he can take it between both of his, give a gentle pat.] I shall protect thee, sister.

[boundinblood]

Thank you, but I don't intend to go far enough to need it. If you knew what blood magic has done to my world, to people I once called my friends, you might not say that. A blood mage can have good intentions, but... [she gestures vaguely at the air around them.]

...a demon could be lurking. Waiting for a host. They play tricks of the mind, and the strongest of them are the most clever at it. It's easy to keep moving the line you won't cross inch by inch for what seems like the greater good. Until you're killing someone when they don't need to die. I've seen it.

[thygospelevity]

[That is wrong. So much of that is wrong. People shouldn't be killing one another. But neither should people be afraid of those who are most in danger.]

No disrespect meant, sister Katherine, but I protest that there is no need for protection. [He doesn't buy it, not after what she's said.] Thine preach laid tell, if you did not have to. I can scry an implication of unrighteous incident. I need no prophecy discern possibility. Although one hosts ability to harm, this does not determine they shall. Thou ought not fear that thy might be mistaken for the unrighteous by mere means of protecting thine own. And thusly, with those respects, I shall keep word of protection all the mother fuckin same.

[He pauses, falling quiet. Then he bows his head.] I am sorry for misspeaking in such ways as to summon your fear and possible dangers, sister. I am of loose tongue and ill thought.

Oh Messiahs, let not my step slip that others fall to harm. Protect all from my carelessness. Keep steady my self that your word may be spoken clear.

[boundinblood]

You couldn't have known.

[She heaves a sigh.]

You couldn't have. It's all right. There's no danger here, it's only that I've seen so much pain and suffering come of it, no matter how good the intent. I lost a friend to it. We were so close he might as well have been my brother.

[thygospelevity]

[It's not often he's at a loss for words. Beforus has death, of course, it was a dangerous planet and... and one always heard about the vast lengths of time the higherbloods had to watch the lower die. But he's never seen any of that. And this is different.

She uses brother funny, like it's what she means but also not what she means. Like it's something more and less all at once.]

The gates of the dark carnival close not eternal. They are open, waiting for the people to behold the wonders within. I believe one day your brother can be mirthfully met once mother fuckin more, if so it was wished.

[He then moves to wrap his arms around Katherine in a hug, made awkward by the angle.]

[boundinblood]

[Was Jowan even dead? She had no idea. Either way, he was certainly gone, if not dead then stripped of all emotion, no longer anything like the man he used to be. She hadn't seen or heard anything about him when she returned to the Circle in her search for Morrigan. She doesn't move as the lanky boy attempts to comfort her, staring down at the open book before her that the Chantry might warn against for the very reason she lost Jowan.]

...I certainly hope so. There was too much left unsaid.

[thygospelevity]

[A tighter squeeze is bestowed-- not too tight, for he wouldn't wish to hurt her, but all the same. He releases her, mentally searching for an idea as for what he can do. Then feels foolish he did not think of it sooner.]

My sister Katherine, I say to thee true, all which is unspoken shall some day be voiced. [He smiles.] In the mother fuckin mean time, I know just what it is which you do so require. [He finds and lifts up that little bag of rolled nip and gives it a little shake.] Shall we?

[boundinblood]

[Katherine looks at the herbs in the bag and takes one out for herself, unrolling it to see what it is. She finds a side of a leaf relatively intact, lifts it up, sniffs it.

There's no mistaking it. She loves animals, and her best friend among her Warden recruits owned a cat he doted on. She knows her way around common flora to recognize what she's got in her hands.]

Kurloz...is this catnip?

[thygospelevity]

[He's taken one out for himself and is already going to light it with a small white lighter. There's a soft sizzle as it starts on up, then the sound of sucking break as he puts it between his lips like a goddamn pro.]

Church, sister. The finest nip in bluewash a clown can get his mother fuckin grasp-digits upon. Smooth as the paint of the Capricious Minstrels themselves.

[Only then does he glance over at how she's dissected.] Aw, sister Katherine, you have gotten about it incorrectly entire. I had unrighteously presumed thee familiar. Allow this brother to assist.

[boundinblood]

Well, I-... [She glances over at Kurloz. Well that's one way to inhale the essence of something...] ...um, think herbs work better in teas, for one...

[She glances around - the other occupants are already staring at them, clearly disapproving.]

...And for another, I don't think it's polite to do that here.

[thygospelevity]

Tea, sister Katherine? Laughing lauded, no! Not these ones, my sister. [Damn, she really is new to this if she didn't expect to smoke. How strange.

However, when she points out politeness, he too starts to notice the looks of disapproval.]

Oh. [He pouts a little at the smoke. There's nowhere what to put it out either. He'll have to pinch the end. Still, he whines as he does.] This is prescription.

[boundinblood]

[Or smoking anything other than a small handful of things seems really strange to her.]

Even if it's on a healer's orders... [She looks around at the others in wordless apology and stands, motioning for Kurloz to follow.]

...It's best you do this outside, where the smoke won't linger in the air as long.

[thygospelevity]

[He nods a solemn and mournful nod. Outside it is. But then she rises to stand.]

You are willing to join me? [He grins both surprised and delighted. He swings himself up and follows, though has to turn back to pack his makeup back up. He runs past her to make up for lost time.] Sister, you are the mother fuckin ninja's righteous tits.

[boundinblood]

You did come to talk to me, at least.

[Not going to smoke it with him though. She knows it's a sedative for humans, but when she experimented with making it into a tea she wound up with some pretty nasty cramps. Best to let the cats keep it, as far as she's concerned.

Or trolls, as the case may be.]

I'm not going to deny you company because of this.

[thygospelevity]

Very kind are you, sister.

[It really is a simple thing. But to him, it matters. It means she enjoys his company. He would never admit it, but he's far more familiar with the looks he's receiving now.

Even if he has broken more makeup in this excursion than used any.]

I fear only that I have brought you not even moiety of rest.

[boundinblood]

It's nothing to worry about. I can sleep when I need to.

[She's still calm as as she walks along behind him, her pace quick, though not his initial dash.]

This isn't the first time I've chosen study above it, after all.

[thygospelevity]

[She says it like it's so easy and simple. He tilts his head up at her with a hum. Is he jealous? A little, but mostly he thinks it good a friend is well. Sort of. He wonders if she's got a moirail and if they would see her better to those sweet z's.]


Mmm, Okay. But you ought to take care, my sister. My moirail warns me often of such faltering as I do him with he in his long tourneys of recorded broadcast playing devices.

[boundinblood]

[What she says and what she is capable of are two different things. She's well-versed in spending sleepless nights of study, and she does, in fact, sleep when she must. She did not say sleep came easily - but then, nothing Kurloz would do could change that. When there's a nightmare of some form lurking behind almost every dream, sleep is something resorted to, not embraced. At least here in Tomorrow, her dreams have been more stable.]

Recorded broadcast-...like the videos on our CALL devices?

[thygospelevity]

[He could understand that, truth be told, but it's far easier to care for a friend than himself.

He falters on her words, trying to figure out how to explain.]

Not unlike entire, I would mother fuckin think. But typical of these amusements, a directing play device is had! Though use of this, the player may then direct a character as appears within these virtual fictions to affect the outcome of their narrative with the completion of many an entertaining endeavor! My moirail is an expert gamer, as is his matesprit. I have dabbled with play myself, but none so well as he. Perhaps I may bring such a thing to show it to you!

[boundinblood]

So...it's...

[She falls silent, trying and failing to come up with something that accurately describes it. She hasn't discovered the "movies" section of the app store yet, so not even that aids her lacking frame of reference.

She just gives up eventually.]

...I don't understand at all. I'd love to see one for myself.

[thygospelevity]

[He is patient as she tries working it out in her mind, but he's not entirely surprised when she fails.]

I shall show it to you posthaste! Or, well, once I have acquired the device to be played here. Should take hardly a time at all.

[And then he adds his assessment.] I had supposed you a time further back from mine. There has been much technological advancement upon my planet. Sometimes the outer colonies are of different mother fuckin pace.