Lyrium-laced Slavery

champ-of-kirkwall:

“Yeah, sure, she’s different.” Hawke stopped messing with the door and looked over to Fenris. She looked a bit upset, “She’s also not around anymore.” She huffed, sending a bit of loose black hair into the air. It fell messily in front of her face. Her bright blue eyes seemed to gloss over for a second, before her attention snapped back to the elf. Hawke smiled sadly.

A brighter smile soon spread across her face, “Mad? Or just more fun than the rest of them? It’s not my fault they can’t go out drinking and end up dancing at a tavern.” Hawke laughed, and placed a gauntlet covered hand on the elf’s shoulder, “What’s life without a little fun?” Hawke winked and laughed again. “I bet everything here does,” she let go of the elf’s shoulder. Nothing seems to be like the stuff in Kirkwall at all!”

“Ah… yes… …,my apologies for bringing the subject up, Hawke.” The elf immediately felt awkward, unsure of how he should feel about the sudden turn of the conversation. Fenris was never really quite good at understanding what loss was like, so all he could do was console the girl… a little bit.

However, this girl was rather adept at changing her mood so quickly as if nothing had happened. He gave a small shrug and muttered a little. “This world is already too complicated for my liking.” Just wait until he saw what a television was, that would absolutely blow his mind.

accursed-fate:

- “Now you are the one jumping to conclusions. I never said I was comforted by this place, did I? I merely stated that getting angry will not help you. It will just make things worse, preventing you from thinking about the situation.

I am a being that enjoys freedom - to be locked is such a place is distasteful, but this does not imply that I am happy being here. I, just like you or even more, want to escape. I have somewhere I need to be, things I need to accomplish.”

[Although his words were harsh, he spoke the truth. Not a single tint of anger could be felt, just brutal honesty.]

- “I am merely stating the facts. You are trapped, there is nothing that you can do about it but fight, gather information and think of a way to escape this place. I cannot say that everyone thinks the same, since people treats this place as a kind of “unexpected trip”, which is extremely incorrect. If you want to get out of here, rather than spouting nonsense and curses from your mouth, use your brain. It is the safest and quickest way out of here - though not guaranteed, whoever trapped us are stronger than we think.”  

Fenris remained quiet, emotion sliding over his face with the words that the other male had spoke. He was right, being angry would not do too much to help his cause, but he couldn’t control it. He gave a small ‘hmph’ before walking over to a wall and leaning against it, gesturing to him. “Have you tried to escape this… odd place yet? It would be best if I were to learn about previous failed attempts so I do not try to repeat them.”

“And everybody has a weakness, as hard as that is to believe. I am sure that if we are able to gather enough power, we can overwhelm the dominating force that is containing us here. I do not have time to waste, such as yourself, so it would be best if we begin working on our goal now instead of wasting time.”

It was nothing short of amazing that Fenris was actually pretty calm right now.

accursed-fate:

- “Mindless displays of rage won’t get you out of here.”

[Although harsh, the king was only saying the truth. As stated before, he was observing the newcomers and their habits, in order to find something related to the people who brought them here - but they all acted so differently, some of them didn’t even care if they were in a completely oppressing environment, while others… well… you can take Fenris as an example.

He seemed extremely angry about something, and undying curiosity led him into questioning the man and calming him down by giving the elf other things to think about rather than his current situation.]

- “Does the thought of being ‘caged’ torment you that much?” 

His attention averted the voice that had addressed him, his anger still lingering on his face, a testament to how much he was tortured by the thought that he was caged like an animal once more. He glared at him, not enjoying the fact that this male felt compelled to say such cruel words without knowing the elf’s background.

“Yes, it does. It should bother every single one of the ‘experiments’ that are kept here. You are a fool to be comforted by a place as disgusting as this.” He gestured around him before shaking his head. “You do not know of my history so why do you pass judgment so easily? Do you get a thrill out of mocking other’s personal hell for being trapped here?” Fenris seethed, anger spilling out of him.

embraced-by-wild-roses:

The question was regarded with a small nod and a placing of her delicate fingertips to her lips. Why was she willing to help a complete stranger? Perhaps because in her lifetime, a complete stranger had helped her, had saved her from a curse, and to this day, that same man who had been unknown to her — had become her husband. A smile pressed against her touch and she released a faint chuckle, curling both of her hands soon into the skirts of her dress just prior  to speaking aloud her thoughts.

“Though I am certain escaping this place on your own would no doubt be quite the feat, one needs help whether from another or a group to accomplish such things, wouldn’t you agree?”

Though this man before her appeared to be the one who preferred to be alone, judging by his mannerisms thus far — still, even those of that caliber needed aid every now and again. She thought this whilst sparing a glance to the horizon, delicately tilting her head in a curious manner as a question of her very own popped into the forefront of her mind.

“Perhaps you and I are of different personalities yes, but in a place as wide and as confusing as this..kingdom, if you will — a helping hand can go a long way, Fenris.”

His brain fumbled on her words for a moment, take in the answer before letting out a soft sigh followed by a nod. She had explained it in the most simple way, but yet, the words were very effective on Fenris. His muscles relaxed, tension falling off of them as if he were wearing it as a jacket. 

“Then I must thank you for offering your hand to me if I need your help. Your kindness will not be forgotten, I do promise that. In return, if you are need of assistance, just say the word and I’ll be by your side to help.” His head nodded lightly before looking away. “Thank you… again, for everything. I best be off now, but remember what I said as well. Goodbye.”

And with that, he left the girl, a smile playing lightly on his lips even though he did his best try attempt to stop it from spreading. It felt nice to not be alone.

champ-of-kirkwall:

While Hawke was messing with the door, she looked over to Fenris, “You know Bethany’s a mage and she’s nice…” she said before her attention went back to the door. The woman was getting strange looks but she could care less, she was having too much fun.

Hawke looked over to her companion, “Or maybe, ” Hawke spoke in a hushed tone and wiggled her fingers, to emphasize her next words, “It’s something beyond our knowledge..!” Hawke laughed, “Well, I’ll probably know when it’s angry. It will probably attack and cut me in half.” she said, nonchalantly. “And as to my fascination, I can’t help it. I just have to go around and mess with new things. Usually they attack me for getting close, but you never know until you try.” the warrior was hardly paying attention to what she was saying, all she cared about was the magically moving door.

“…Bethany is different.” He didn’t really have an excuse to back up the fact that Bethany was indeed a much nicer girl than most mages. Fenris didn’t thought to give it much more thought, deciding it was best to stop talking about mages. He didn’t need to anger Hawke while she was… having fun.

“And you aren’t at all a little worried that someone may find you to be absolutely mad?” The elf lifted a brow. “I’m rather envious of how you seem to find so much fun in the small things… even though this door is rather odd. I wonder what other objects are here that act abnormally compared to those of Kirkwall?”

impactdriver:

Makoto’s eyes widened as she snatched the nut from the man’s hands. “Yes! This is it! That must mean there’s more somewhere around here!”

Her head twitched back and forth, eyes wide in a manic search for more nuts. Finally, something caught her eye and she ran off without another word.

Well that was kind of weird.

“Odd girl.” He muttered, watching her run away before walking over to a tree, looking up at it and noticing various acorns that littered the branches. He didn’t really want to initiate another conversation with the loon, but maybe he should request the help of others to get him back home.

Even if that meant befriending a girl as… odd as she.

“There’s more in this tree it seems.” Did she hear him? She did have bigger ears than that of a human, did she not?

crossfalkhanna:

“That’s a really cool name. Fenris like the giant wolf that was supposed to eat the world or the moon or whatever in Norse mythology? Or wait, was that Fenrir—? I uh, don’t actually remember, sorry—”

“And I don’t think my clothes are that odd! To me yours seem pretty weird actually, but that’s cause the people here are all from different worlds. You must be new in the city, right? Tell me if you need anything, then, I’d be happy to help!”

The elf shrugged a bit. “I was not given that name by a loving parent, mind you.” He scoffed a bit angrily at the retort but didn’t say much more than that, his fists clenching and unclenching in an uncommon attempt to control his mood.

“I am grateful for your help.” He said, his eyes grazing over the vast city before him before looking back at the male. “Now, did you just say that people come here from other worlds? That sounds untrue but to be rather honest, I do not know what is real and what is fiction anymore.”

brandedwindsage:

“The feeling is mutual,” he bitterly spat. It was honestly a strange encounter, to meet someone who behaved, moderately, as he did. Most he’d encountered tried to be helpful or were at least more friendly; he’d only butted heads with one other person in Hive City.

“I attempt as well as I can to communicate with people, but I always end up regretting it, one way or another. I don’t know why I bother,” he scoffed. His frail arms mimicked those of the male in front of him as he raised an unamused eyebrow. ‘I’m certain he’s unaware that I could do this all day.’ Soren had been through two wars in his short lifetime. Stubbornly standing in front of an adversary (or so it seemed) would present no challenge to him.

“You really are a rather unimpressive twat, now aren’t you?” Fenris seethed. There truly was no reason for him to feel this angry, and yet he couldn’t help but let the obscenities flow from his mouth, feeling no need to filter his words. “I do not know why you feel that it is right to stare at me as if you have done nothing wrong!” … the other male, however, hasn’t done anything wrong, Fenris was just being a big baby about the whole… ordeal…?

His foot kicked the dirt, shaking his head. “Mark my words, if you ever choose to just stare at me again, I will not hold myself back.”

[sigh]

brandedwindsage:

“Everyone’s allowed mistakes,” he replied. He examined the taller male before him, taking particular note of the strange marks upon his neck. “I’m beginning to regret this one already.”

“I regretted it the moment you opened your mouth.” His eyebrows furrowed. He crossed his arms and looked away, curious about the mark on his forehead but not saying anything. The elf could tell that this man happened to be curious about his own lyrium-enduced markings as well. Not that he was willing to share.

So he stood, silent but not moving, letting the awkwardness of the moment really settle down between the two of them.

crossfalkhanna:

“Oh!! Oh, these. They’re—pfft, they’re glasses, dude. They help me see! Man, I thought everyone knew what glasses were, but you and that other guy both… Anyway, uh, nice to meet you! My name’s Hanna.”

Man, people here were so interesting.

Glasses? …maybe those… weird eye parts were made of glass or something. Fenris was having a hard time wrapping his head around this place, so many different weird technologies that don’t even exist on his planet, weird people, weird buildings… it was a lot to digest. He lightly poked the frame with the finger before letting his hand drop back to his side.

“…my name’s Fenris.” He muttered finally, looking at him. “You have odd clothing as well.” Manners? What manners?

impactdriver:

The push didn’t seem to bother the beastkin, who was still surveying the area. “Makoto,” she corrected, still looking over his shoulders. “Makoto Nanaya. Lieutenant Makoto Nanaya.” With a frown, she pushed past the man, trying to get a better view of whatever it was she was looking for. “Shoot. I coulda sworn…”

She hung her head and gave a shrug, looking back at the white-haired man. “Oh! Um, I’m looking for… Let’s just say I’m on the patrol for certain articled of interest. That’s my job, after all. Gathering intelligence and all that.” She turned away from him again, nose twitching in the air. “I can smell it, but…”

The elf remained quiet, quite unsettled why they would make someone so unbelievably distracted a lieutenant. He shook his head, sighing. “Well, go find it then.” 

Fenris was never one for manners, he basically had a strong disdain for most living creatures thanks to his time in slavery. His foot slid into dirt before a small round thing lingered on it. Curious, he kneeled down and grabbed the nut, looking at it. “…is this an acorn?”

champ-of-kirkwall:

“It’s always about mages to you isn’t it?” Hawke again placed her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes, “Well, after I woke up I did have a nasty headache… You know, I’m not really sure Fenris, but I have a feeling this is beyond magic.” Hawke looked over to the magically opening door, her eyes grew wide, “Maker’s breath….! That’s fascinating!” she walked over to the door, triggering it to open, “This is amazing!” The Champion seemed entranced with it. Taking a step back making the door close then stepping towards it, opening it again. She could probably do this until someone dragged her away.

Calm down Hawke, it’s just a door.

The elf huffed at the mage comment. Yes, it was always about mages, but he felt that he had good reason to cite them for blame… they have, after all, caused many problems and one group decided that it was necessary to start a slavery ring. With him included in the ring. He was about to comment on it but Hawke had run over to the door in utter amusement, her focus now entirely dedicated to the door. Fenris followed over leisurely, his back stooped over as it usually was.

“If a mage isn’t doing it, then maybe a dwarf is controlling it from underneath the floorboards. You may be angering it, you know.” The door was pretty fascinating, well, it’s only fascinating if it wasn’t some sort of magic that was controlling it. Eyes looked at Hawke, and he was unable to control the smirk that once again appeared on his lips. “You have fascination that mimics a child, Hawke.”

brandedwindsage:

” …Oh, yes, that. I’m not quite too sure myself, now that I think about it,” he mused. “Perhaps it was a mistake.”

“Indeed.” Fenris eyed the male, unsure of what to make of him. He decided it would be best, as always, to remain cautious. “A rather odd mistake, if you ask me.”

crossfalkhanna:

“Wha—what do you mean, what am I wearing?”

Wasn’t he dressed normally? Or was this guy just from some other world entirely. Yeah, that was probably it.

Apparently the male had been in tune to what the elf was saying, which made a sigh of annoyance escape his lips before he voiced his thoughts. “Those. What are…those?” He pointed to the glasses, staring at them oddly.

“…Maker’s breath, what in the world is that man wearing?” Fenris had, never in his life, seen what glasses were, so he did not know what there purpose was. “Odd.”

embraced-by-wild-roses:

What an intriguing man. Not only was his appearance striking, but he even glowed — or had she imagined that somehow? It was evening already, so the sun couldn’t be shining off of him and his visage. Surely he had glowed just then! Though not entirely, perhaps the strange markings on his features had been what was glowing, but for what cause?

Briar was curious to the core about this mysterious action but tucked the questions away for when she knew this man better if the situation allowed. For now, she admired something else about him. He was not resigned to his fate, to this kingdom — he wished to escape,  to bring down those who had thrown her and him, and everyone else in here against their will, no doubt. That ideal reminded her of her passionate prince, thus, she admired such bravery in another. Of course, to the princess of roses, none could hold a candle to her husband.

“I truly respect such determination, Fenris. Others have simply deigned themselves unable to escape and taken to their life here. Whether it be due to cowardice or not — I admire you for wishing to fight back as most others would not.”

By no means was Briar a fighter, though she could have a fiery attitude here and there — as such could be remembered from a certain encounter with a witch that had cursed her — but usually she was deigned to be a proper and kind princess. There was a thought that struck her however, and she politely bowed her head in the other’s direction.

“I cannot do much, but if you ever require assistance, I will do what I can to help you.”

The elf watched her bow her head before nodding his in return. She wasn’t repulsed by his words, nor was she scared. She understood why he wished to escape and didn’t even question it. A wave of ease washed over him, grateful that he wouldn’t have to explain anything… however, that same frown remained on his lips even though he felt better. It wasn’t really in his nature to smile.

“I do not know if you would want to follow in my footsteps, but if I do need to request something, I’ll be sure to ask you. Why are you so willing to help me? I’m afraid I don’t understand.” It was hard for him to trust anybody, very hard. There were only a select few that he would lay down his life for, one of those people being his friend Hawke, but other than that…

kuruizaku-hime:

[Ah, he sounded like he would be one of those who would constantly try to find a way out of this city. Come to think of it, some of them must find a way out; there were a few she hadn’t seen in some time. Maybe in the end this man would find a way out as well- She would never know. She nodded to most of what he said, it all being true, letting out a soft low laugh.]

Ah, yes. The scientists seem to have made it a habit to bring new people in day to day. You wouldn’t be the first to be displeased about all this, and I’m certain not the last.

[Even with that, she wouldn’t try to leave, it meant her death again- That was something she wanted to avoid at all coast. So she would have to deal with living here and its odd habits.] Yes I have, I’ve been here for a few months now.

A word stuck to him that she mentioned, one that he had no idea what the definition was. He paused deep in thought and trying to make meaning of the word. “So you mean, that the people dressed in white are not mages?” He couldn’t wrap his brain around it. Mages were the cause for all the madness that existed on his world. …Well, that’s what he thought anyway.

He paced back and forth before stopping in his steps. “What do these ‘scientists’ do, exactly?” His face now looking back at her’s, giving a small nod to the mention of the amount of time she’s been stuck here. “And you haven’t figured a way to escape this place? I find all the gadgets here to be truly annoying.” Technology was still slowly developing from where he lived, so he had no idea that this was the norm for other planets… in fact, he was still unaware that he was in a different part of the universe.