genessia | Action | Bay and Exterior

Entry tags:

Action | Bay and Exterior

[Disorientation was not unknown to Fenris. He’d experienced it several times in his past, but never quite in such a way. Uncertain what the pamphlet suggested aside from images of the device included in the box, he grumbled and shoved the pamphlet, the red papers included, along with the phone, into a pouch at his waist and strode through the water without hesitation. He’d faced demons and worse before, and while he was alone, he certainly wasn’t going to allow the weakness of fear show, and the spiked armor and large sword lashed to his back went a long way to help the image along.

When he approached the stand on which Weiss’ Transmission played, he glared at it but did not balk. Magic, then. Of course. He’d never heard of this Genessia, but at least the necklace was familiar. So, their kidnappers have pretty chains, then. It didn’t change what they were and he grimaced at the thought. This was all a grand deception, to be sure, even for a former slave as valuable as himself, so he had no reason to doubt the image witch’s integrity.

Still, as much as it pained him to do so, he needed more information than her repeating message supplied. Surely he wasn’t alone in this place, for this witch would not have seen fit to spend the energy to place this message here for only his benefit, and so he took up a spot leaning against the side of the map booth and would address anyone who happened past.]

You, there. I...require assistance, if you've the mind.

[He’ll not force anyone, but manners aren’t exactly his forte.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I am certainly not lost. Displaced, perhaps. But lost is something more specific." She had not missed the double meaning of the word.

"You mean Weiss?" It wasn't really a question. "She is a bit of a fool to think that a welcoming message will ease the fears of newcomers. She is as trapped as any of us."

Sakuya seemed to relax a hair. Fenris wasn't as angry as most of the newly awakened people. And she didn't immediately hate him... which was a good start.

"My name is Sakuya Izayoi, by the by. The Devil's Maid." That was quite the title. She gave him a formal nod. Not quite a bow.

"Taken, then, unless you mean to be here." He still doesn't know much about this place, but Fenris assumes no one would come here by choice. Besides, he was starting to feel...something about Kirkwall, perhaps a sense of belonging. It wasn't one he'd ever encountered before and wasn't keen on leaving it behind. He...missed people. Another foreign feeling.

His large elven eyes turn toward the dais on which Weiss begins to speak again. "Is that her intention? To...alleviate fear?"

This Sakuya's title sounded like some sort of imagined moniker from a tale, but he wasn't going to judge. He knew of no demons referred to as 'Devil' in a proper sense as she stated it.

He blinked curiously, though. "Fenris." To simply state his own name, the only one he knows and also a title of sorts. "That is a strange title."

"Taken I suppose is a good word for it."

She was visibly relaxing somewhat. Fenris wasn't being as overtly hostile as a lot of other people who end up in Genessia. He did have a strong presence about him though. Be it power or just his personality and attitude Sakuya wasn't entirely sure.

"In theory, yes. To be honest I am not sure how effecive it is. You're not the first one to assume showing up here is her fault." She gestured to the hologram. "Her intentions, at least, are good. She strives to help those who've ended up here. And that is admirable in and of itself."

Sakuya smirked a little at the comment. Standing out had been its intended effect after all. "A title I worked very hard to earn. When one lives among beings as powerful as My Lady, impressing is no small feat." To say she was proud of it was an understatement.

There was another moment of quiet, the maid looking Fenris up and down once more, her eyes lingering on some of the tattoos. "If you don't mind me asking: I have met all manner of peoples and creatures since coming here. Though I have not met someone like you. What are you and where are you from?"

He shook his head at her observation. "I didn't. She's trapped here as well but wants to help people. It's...rare." At least in his own experience. If what the woman in the projection said was true, it was almost admirable, if not naive.

Fenris had been tortured, forced to serve his sadistic master and his guests, put on display, forced to fight in arenas, to murder without reason. Being trapped here, if with no visible means of escape at least with his mind intact, was something he could work with.

"I suppose that's your choice." It's not one he would choose. He would rather be free from the oppressive powers of others. He blinked at her question. Until this moment, it had never occurred to him that anyone wouldn't know what an elf was. "I'm an elf from...Thedas. I'm told I'm from the island of Seheron, in the Tevinter Imperium. I have no memory of my past, but they had no reason to lie." He paused for a moment. "Why?"

"Rare and better than the alternative." She seemed to agree. "There have been far too many people showing up and declaring themselves ruler. They always end up shoved to one side by the many powerful beings here."

Sakuya could probably empathize in a way. She went through hell before being taken in. And even then...

"It was and was not. I owe a life debt. But I've never been caged. I'm respected for my diligence and ability and I show respect in kind." She was a bound servant, after all. Not a slave.

His answer though left her thoughtful. "Hmm... I've heard of elves but I've never met one. Not even in the hundreds of creatures and peoples I've seen in Gensokyo. So I was simply more curious than anything else. All I can see for certain is you carry yourself with discipline and confidence as a warrior does."

"The alternative would at least be familiar." He frowned at her explanation, though. "Shoved aside by whom?"

He raised an eyebrow, slightly confused. "Then you are free to leave their service? You have their blessing?" For some reason, he felt that wasn't as simple as that.

Her observations served only to harden the line of his jaw, though, and his eyes narrowed at the commentary. "Yes, but that was beyond my choice."

"Shoved aside by the beings here more powerful than they. There are a few people here whose powers and abilities that rival those who live on the moon." Sakuya seemed a little irritated at the memory. "And they quickly and easily defeated even my mastery of time before striking down My Lady and the others we had with us."

That comment gave the maid pause. She frowned, thinking for a short time. "... Perhaps. I stand bound in service at this time by forces beyond my control. It allows me to know what My Lady needs more easily, even without words and regardless of distance. With certainty, if I expressed a genuine reason and desire for my freedom, I believe she would lift this binding."

"In my experience the greatest warriors have become such out of necessity or manipulation rather than choice." It had merely been an observation after all. "This world is a new opportunity."

"You're trying to say those in charge here are all-powerful." He's heard of being claiming similar before. It was possible whatever method they used to bring them here did something to them, made the people trapped here more vulnerable than they should be, or more naive. It was difficult to say, but he'd have to be wary if he was going to remain trapped here.

He scoffs sardonically at her response. Typical. "You believe she would lift a binding that wouldn't exist if you weren't a slave. Don't be naive."

It was possible this girl was like other slaves, born into the servitude, unable to see, to decide, to...live.

"You've met all warriors, then?"

"By others who have been brought here. The 'masters' of this place are immaterial spirits. Benevolent-seeming, short of kidnapping us anyway." Her voice was a little dry at that last part. It was fairly obvious Sakuya didn't like being here any more than Fenris did.

Her frowned deepened at his tone. "I am a servant. My Lady gives me both monetary compensation-" Not a LOT of money, but still! "-and the respect demanded of a servant of my position. I simply cannot leave service without permission because of a binding that I chose to allow."

There was also the whole re-stitching her fate thing on top of it to go along with the willing brainwashing. But Fenris didn't know that yet.

"Well, not all warriors. Some are scientists. Others entertainers. Some have special power, others do not. Some are human, monster, beast, automaton... And now an elf, I suppose."

"They seem benevolent, but they've kidnapped us." He shakes his head, simply accepting he'll never understand this one's motivations or her perspectives.

He rolls a shoulder in a shrug, dismissing the topic as unimportant. "Call it what you will. It isn't my concern."

That last bit caught his attention, though, and he tilted his head to the side in interest. "I am the only elf you know?"

"Well... They aren't the only spirits. And the ones who brought us here have expressed desire in protecting while the others..." She paused, shaking her head. "They are hostile. I am not the best person to speak on them though as I do not really understand them. Only that you do not want to let them grab you."

Sakuya looked thoughtful for a moment. "I believe so. There may have been others but I have not seen them. I recall seeing a minute dragon, a fairy, several constructs of varying style..." She furrowed her brow a little. "Hmm... indeed. While I do not pay perfect attention to who comes and goes, you are the first elf I've seen if memory serves."

"And these 'other' spirits, are they at odds with those who brought us here?" It seemed like a logical deduction to the elf, and from his expression, not one he was excited to learn. "We are trapped in the middle of a power struggle, then." It was a situation with which Fenris was all too familiar, and one he didn't anticipate or savor repeating.

He rolled his shoulder in a shrug at her comment. Having no memory of his years before his Master's service, he felt little kinship with his face. "Elf, human, or other doesn't matter. We're all trapped."

"Perhaps a power struggle. The brutish, hostile ones have yet to display any sort of intelligent behavior so I'm not sure it's the correct word. But I suppose the conveyed idea is correct." Sakuya looked thoughtful.

"I would have to agree with you entirely there. I do not appreciate feeling caged like this. But there is little anyone has been able to do about it due to the nature of this world. And we have tried." A bit of irritation crept into her voice.

"To make matters worse people do vanish from time to time. Not one has communicated that they were leaving beforehand. Some have even expressed a desire not to leave. It is likely people are spirited out of this world as quickly and as suddenly as they are spirited in."

All of this information was troubling to Fenris, and more than he wanted to let on. He wasn't sure what was going on here, he knew no one and had no means of escape. His former master hadn't found him in six years, but if what others were saying was true, he could easily arrive here, and where would that leave him? Simple. He would remain steadfast, stop running, turn and face the tiger.

The only problem was, he didn't know if he could do it alone.

"I see." He didn't look pleased, but who would, having learned this information? "I thank you for the information."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Action | Bay and Exterior

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject