[Video]

[inquisitor_lavellan]

[ It's definitely a video. But at first, it's just of plate-shod boots stomping their way through the water in the Bay, the phone swinging with the person's gait, obviously being held face down in one hand.

That voice, though. It sounds like its owner gargled with hot ash and glass dust. And it's definitely cursing. ]

Min'etuna etunash sal?!

Pala'ga!

[ Though if you've never heard a Thedosian elf cursing... ]

Len'alas lath'din!

[ Man, good luck.

Stomp stomp stomp. Splash splash splash. ]

Comments

video;

[tevinteraltus]

[ They really did make these things moron-proof, Dorian is convinced. There's a button you touch labeled 'reply' when you want to do just that. Honestly, it's as though they let just about anyone use these things.

He smiles when the device alerts him it's transmitting. ]

Alleyanna! Colorful as ever, I see!

[ Or, as a normal person would say, "Thank the Maker you're here. I was actually starting to panic a little." ]

[inquisitor_lavellan]

[ Alley lifts the phone in her hand and stares at the screen. ]

...Dorian?

[tevinteraltus]

[ He inclines his head, his smile turning more fond. It really is good to see her. ]

Naturally. You don't think I'd let you have all the fun, do you?

[ He lets his smile falter somewhat, though, as he notices something. ]

You aren't surprised by this place.

[inquisitor_lavellan]

No, I'm not.

[ In fact, having hit dry land now, she just strides on past the hologram as it starts up, not paying it a bit of attention. Nor the pamphlets. ]

Lucky you, it looks like you're the winner this time. Cole was here with me before.

[ It's already obvious the spirit isn't here anymore. Yet, anyway. He may show up late, again. ]

[tevinteraltus]

Yay, me.

[ His tone is anything but excited. ]

You get the benefit of my charming company. Just what do I get out of this?

[inquisitor_lavellan]

[ Well you're not being stuck here alone, for a start, asshole. ]

My charming company, of course.

[ That tone could not be any drier. ]

How long have you been here now?

[tevinteraltus]

Such a treat. How could I have forgotten?

[ But the glint in his eye suggests he's teasing. Or stressed. Probably both. More of the latter. ]

Oh, it's been several hours, now. I was beginning to think you'd never show.

video;

[kobatonotdobato]

[Kobato just looks puzzled for the most part. What was even being said?]

Hello there... I don't understand you. I'm sorry.

video;

[needssouls]

Are you saying something naughty and that's why your speaking in another language?

[Because why not ask and sound like she is slightly amused at the potential thought.]

[Text]

[firstrose]

Wrong language selection.

[Always so helpful, Suigintou.]

[inquisitor_lavellan]

Well, you know how much I'd hate to keep you waiting.

[ Alleyana stops her determined march toward... somewhere. ]

Where are you, then?

[ Can't have gotten too far... there's not enough 'far' to go! This whole world is, what, maybe the size of the Hinterlands? If that? ]

[inquisitor_lavellan]

[ Alley cuts off her cursing in ancient Elvhen with a grunt. Only once she hits dry land, does she raise the phone in her armored hand to look at the screen.

She looks super thrilled. ]

I'd be pretty surprised if you could.

[ Most of her own people don't remember that much of the old tongue. One small benefit to having accidentally hung out with Fen'Harel for a while, she supposes. ]

[inquisitor_lavellan]

[ The camera stays pointed down at the water and her boots, though it's not out of bothering to hide, she just hasn't bothered to lift the phone into the usual video-chatting angle. ]

It doesn't translate into Common half so well.

[inquisitor_lavellan]

[ Alley doesn't read the text immediately, getting back onto dry land and striding past the hologram as it starts up, heedless of what it has to say. It can be heard fading into the background before she cuts off video and also switches to text.

Whelp. ]

You don't say.

[tevinteraltus]

The common space, I believe is what it's called. [ He smiles, but that perfect facade of flippant indifference of his is cracking at the edges. ]

I've had dinner with a pleasant German [ He says the word gently, as he's still unfamiliar with the Nationality. ] Giant, and was just thinking of going out in search of some swill to imbibe until I can't feel feelings anymore. Care to join me?

Video -> Action

[inquisitor_lavellan]

Starting off with a bender, are we? Very well, I've done that a few times in this place.

I'll be there shortly.

[ And off she marches, cutting off the video on her end. ]

---

(( OOC: IDK about you but I vastly prefer prose for action. I'll switch back to brackets if you need me to. ))

---

And indeed, Inquisitor Alleyana Lavellan shows up at the Commons a short time later. Same busted-up face that looks like it's lost a few fights with a meat grinder and an entire war with a wall. Same dragonhide and dragonbone armor. That big spiky shield is still on her back; gryphon-winged mace at her hip.

It's all the same.

...Except for where a few inches under her left elbow, the dragonhide cinches closed around a flat, blackened, dragonbone metal bar. It's about as long as her arm would have been, if it was still there and she clenched her fist. Two holes have been drilled through the broad side of it, and there's enough scuffing and scratching around them to indicate there's a purpose to them.

So. That's a thing.

[kobatonotdobato]

[It probably would have surprised herself if she could also.]

I assume it would be something you won't say what you were saying right? So I will move on to saying hello instead.

[needssouls]

I guess not. But hey, we all can probably speak some language another might not understand. It's a great way to vent without people knowing what your saying.

Not that I do it personally.

[firstrose]

This hologram tends to get on people's nerves. They should seriously consider changing it.

So what was that?

Action

[tevinteraltus]

Abrupt as always. It was something he always appreciated about Levellan, even though the hardy elf oftentimes came off as bristled when she was simply direct. He could, he would admit only to himself, ramble at times, and Alleyana was gifted at keeping him on task. He hoped, of course, she wouldn't mind a bit of distraction at the moment, though.

She'd find him near the entrance to the Commons, leaning casually (to the casual observer), against the wall, arms crossed idly. His shoulders were tense and his brow was furrowed slightly, as though no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake some sense of foreboding, which he supposed was accurate. Moreover, he was trying to ignore a growing annoying sadness that seemed to be plaguing his chest.

He looked up from beneath brooding brows at her approach, taking stock of his dear friend. That growing sadness was becoming more difficult to ignore when he saw her fully, his olive eyes fixating on her augmented left arm before raising to her eyes.

"Alleyana." He stood from his recline against the wall. "What in Maker's name happened to you?" His usual flippant and arrogant tone, reserved normally for addressing anyone, was gone, replaced with concern for his dearest friend.

[inquisitor_lavellan]

Alley could indeed read all that as she approached, just as she'd been reading the signs on video. But she was in turn thrown off by that reaction to her arrival.

"You... don't know?" Of course he didn't know, he wouldn't ask if he did! Still, give her a moment, she hadn't quite anticipated this.

She knew people could arrive from times different than others; she'd seen that happen, herself, with Merrill not knowing about the Inquisition. And Hawke -- not even the one from Alleyana's iteration of Thedas! -- had known even less than Merrill did.

But this was clearly 'her' Dorian; he recognized her. That he might be from the same place but from a different time, hadn't occurred to her.

Not until this very moment, of course.

Well.

[inquisitor_lavellan]

It was just a lot of cursing. Mostly at whoever keeps dropping me here.

[ Look, she has shit to do. ]

...Hello.

[inquisitor_lavellan]

From what I remember of this place before, it's probably intention more than the actual language that's important.

[ The warrior finally lifts the phone so she can see the screen. Which means the camera can see her scarred-up, busted-nose, hatchet disaster of a face.

It matches the voice, at least? ]

Because I doubt we're all speaking the Common Thedosian trade-tongue, right now.

[inquisitor_lavellan]

Ancient Elvhenan.

[ Alley, too, can be very helpful. ]

I've heard it before, don't need a repeat.

[tevinteraltus]

"Yes, right, of course!" His tone, shocked exasperated, was belied by his expression, which was still concerned, slightly sad, and laced with an ever-increasing dread.

"That's why I'd make note of you missing an appendage! Because I remember it happened and enjoy your refreshed pain at recounting it."

He heaved a sigh, moving to stand before her, the creases of concern along his brow deepening. "I've missed something, haven't I?"