justice_is_blond | Inbox for Fade Rift

[If this were any other topic or day he might laugh, but this is too serious for that.]

I've no idea what Hebrew texts are. Phylacteries are Chantry-sanctioned blood magic where they take your blood and enchant it so they can track and locate someone from any distance. They've been used on mages for centuries, and it's unfortunately little surprise that they're being considered for Rifters.

[A short beat.]

And you're not annoying, Chloe.

Thanks.

[ The rest of that, though, gets a fairly lengthy silence, like maybe she might have just left it at gratitude for the reassurance and/or explanation and have that be that. After some experiences back home, being monitored is literally the WORST THING to propose. ]

Cool. I'll fuck up anyone who tries to touch my blood, especially for some bullshit reason like that.

As you should. And you will not stand alone.

[Now his voice is cold.]

There is still time to speak out against it, perhaps there is time to find a way to stop it. It is unacceptable that they are seeking to create more phylacteries.

I won't shut the fuck up about it if that's what it takes to get the message through. I -- I can handle a lot of the crap I've been put through since I got here because I get how freaked out people must be by the rifts but... but some things just aren't justifiable.

They are not. Treating people like they're criminals when all they've done is be pulled from their homes is unconscionable. You did not ask to be here. I...

[He sighs.]

I don't know what we can do beyond talking loudly, but I will absolutely help with that. Them having my phylactery destroyed my life. I don't want to see that happen to anyone else.

I haven't even done anything like I did back home. I've been on pretty good behavior for the most part. I think.

I'd say I'd be happy to also do talking with my fists, but I'm like... a hundred percent sure that that probably wouldn't help me out in the long run. [ Not that that'll stop her if this goes forward, but hey. ]

[He chuckles humorlessly.]

They didn't wait for mages to do anything either. ...Granted, I did set fire to the barn first thing, but that was an accident, the way I discovered I'd magic, and I helped put it out too.

The point is that the Rifters are not alone, but more importantly you are not, Chloe. And punching and hurting back, as satisfying as it can feel in the short term, often brings about more restrictions. If you need to work anger out, or someone to yell at, you know where to find me by now, I think. Rolling bandages in the Darktown Clinic has always helped me calm down a little, as has working with potions. I could even teach you how to make a new one.

[ There's a snort at the idea of a barn getting lit up by a newly magical Anders. ] My ... ex-girlfriend back home accidentally set a park on fire once. During a drought. So I mean, it could've been way worse. [ There's something about her tone that probably suggests Rachel hadn't helped put it out, either. ]

Mm. A new potion might be a good distraction. I've also been trying to do what you said - help advance things here with knowledge I have from back home. It's slow going, but it's given me something to do with my hands, at least. Hammering stuff sounds like a pretty good outlet.

There could have been more destruction, you're right.

[Worse is relative. It had gotten him taken away... but that's a whole can of worms they don't need to open.]

Come on down. I can send Paedric, my runner, to walk with you if you'd be coming through Darktown alone. The gangs know to leave him alone if they want to be healed from their next clash. And we can talk about advancing, too. I'd like to hear about ways this world is improving.

[ That's a distinct clarification she didn't miss. At least she's good enough to not push. It's not like Chloe's particularly open about her past, after all. ]

Sure. I dunno that I've really been to Darktown before anyway so it'll be good to have someone next to me who knows where they're going. [ She's had to outrun enough trouble to be confident if she had a route memorized, but n o p e. ] I can't say I'm all that successful, but hopefully I'll surprise the both of us in the end.

[There's a quiet murmur and a young male voice asking "blue?" before Anders is speaking back into the crystal.]

It wouldn't due to be lost down here. Beyond the gangs there's rats, pits, tunnels, puddles of substances you really don't want to wander into, and so on. Paedric is on his way to the Gallows now, young man, a little gangly, blond hair, freckles, in a green tunic over brown pants.

And I have to say, it would be nice to have a pleasant surprise. Thedas is... not particularly good at providing those.

So I'm starting to notice. I'll see you soon, Anders.

[ And it wasn't too long she had to wait for Paedric. She was quiet most of the walk, which wasn't typical for her, but a part of her was trying to both sort through her own bullshit while simultaneously taking in her surroundings. She wanted to get to know the streets she was walking, even if she wasn't sure she'd ever come to Darktown alone anyway. Maybe not until she learned how to fight better, too, anyway.

When she came into the clinic, she looked around the tables, the waiting area, and the desks until she found Anders, going to walk up beside him, hands clasped behind her back. ]

You weren't kidding about this place. Those puddles smell gross as fuck.

[He smiles as she approaches, smile getting a little sad as she talks.]

This is where everything runs down to, and where people come who have nothing else. It's not pretty. Which is why I've the Clinic here. Hightown's always been able to afford Chantry rates for renting out mages, Lowtown has access to herbs, at least, but Darktown has nothing. Had.

[He takes a breath and then gestures at the table.]

So what would you like to learn? I've everything on hand for a few things, but most needed are a potion that helps with... loose bowels, one that helps someone get to sleep more easily, and one that can be poured on feet to help prevent infections due to cold and wet and muck. They're not glamorous, but they're what we're low on at the moment.

[ She frowns slightly at the thought; it's more like things she's seen in pictures from other countries than anything she's ever seen back home, even with the poorest people in Arcadia Bay.

Still, the loose bowels comment is enough to get her to pull a face; there's a reason she never went into any kind of medicine, clearly. ]

Preventing infections definitely sounds pretty important. Why don't you teach me to make that one first.

[The face gets a snicker from him.]

Sorry, healing is rarely glamorous. ...But after the infection potion, we could make something that makes one's tongue tingle for about an hour. Harmless, but it's a good prank.

[He might as well be merciful. She's young, and he has the time to make the rest of what they need down here later. Anders taps a list on parchment before giving her a curious look.]

Can you read this? It's not a problem if you can't, it would simply make retrieving the needed herbs from their pouches on the shelves faster.

[He nods to the shelves on either side of the desk, filled with carefully labeled pouches. A few are upside-down.]

That sounds kinda fun. [ Pranking people was something that she did definitely get a kick out of. She wondered whether or not she could manage to sneak some of that into Prompto's drink some time. Hmmm. ] I don't mind the unglamorous stuff, though. I want to help. That's what's most important.

[ It was probably one of the more selfless things to ever come out of her mouth, anyway.

Leaning in, she looked at the paper to be sure it wasn't in some language she hadn't been trying to study while she was here, and gives a nod, reaching for the list. ] Yeah. I can read it. I'll ask if I get a little lost.

[The smile he gives her goes from amused to something that could be considered proud. Being here to help is entirely why he founded the Clinic, and her willingness to help despite what many Thedosians think of her is heartwarming. That the ignorant could consider her a demon...

Anders nods, mentally shrugging off that trail of thought.]

All right. Pull them off the shelf and lay them on the desk while I get the stabilizer liquids measured out. I can teach you how to make them another day if you'd like, but they're tedious and time-consuming.

[He's lining up vials as he speaks, five per column, two sets of three rows each.]

One will be using faster-acting stabilizers so it'll be ready to use by day's end, the other will be slower but stronger. That takes closer to a week, but it's worth it. How are you... How is Thedas treating you, aside from the name-calling and threats of phylacteries?

Inbox for Fade Rift

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crystal > action!

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