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[lyriumscribed]

[ the image appears shaky at first - a sure result of complete ignorance on how to actually handle the blighted device - before it is moving to show an elf eying it with suspicious distaste. ]

I've questions. For those who've been here longer than I. [ he shifts, a subtle frown over his otherwise unreadably solemn expression; his tone is level and steeled, albeit sharp. ] What does this - Initiative expect us to do?

Fight their battles? I do not know what manner of magic - [ there's a twist to his lip that can only mark disgust. ] - they posses that was used to trap us here but -

They cannot win this war of their on their own without forcefully involving others. Yet some of you are quick enough to trust them, to think they will send us all back. Why? [ He sighs, bright olive eyes narrow, harden. ] They seek nothing but power to further their own gains. A situation I have seen far too often where I am from.

What have they made all of you do in your time here, I wonder?

[ There is a pause, then. A break. If he knew how to make a filter - if he knew what that was- he'd be making it right now.

A new expression passes his brows now - reminiscent of pain, though it appears as a flinch. his hand curls into a fist on the table he is sitting at. ] Hawke. I need to speak with you.

[ because pride stops him from openly asking for help he secretly may need. ]

Comments

voice;

[deathwarder]

[ Holy italics, Batman, let's not get our panties in a bunch already. In contrast to the quivering snap of Fenris' tone, Prestor's is smooth, measured, and perfectly calm. ]

At ease. We'll be winning no wars with that sort of attitude.

And who is this Hawke person, might I ask?

[ Because nosy dragon of doom is nosy. ]

voice;

[lyriumscribed]

[ Oh, there's certainly a hardness to the elf's voice. A pinch of annoyance can also be heard over the feed.

However, if Fenris was good at something, it was showing only those emotions he wished to show. Hey, at least he wasn't tearing this place apart. He certainly wanted to. ]

I see no point in being foolishly optimistic either.

[ A beat. ]

Someone I know. [ vague elf is vague. ]

video

[arlathansgrace]

[Fenris you cannot escape Merrill. She is everywhere.]

Hello, again, Fenris! [She waves.] Are you going to help fight? You're a very good fighter. I think I might help, too, but I don't know if they have lyrium potions here.

I think if we help them, they'll send us home. But here we don't live in alienages, don't you think that's better?

video

[lyriumscribed]

[ damnit merrill! stop being nice to him :( ]

Why should we help them fight?

[ brows draw together. ] No, I don't think this is better.

They need power. Even you cannot be so naive as to think we are anything more than tools to them. Slaves. A means to an end, and nothing more.

Video;

[studieswaitressing]

It's more technology than magic, actually.

Video;

[lyriumscribed]

A concept not well-known in my world. And closely linked to magic.

[ you're getting major side-eyeing, Raven. ] Yet you say it as if it is not the case here?

VIDEO

[redemptio]

[the first thing she noticed was the tone of disgust he used when he mentioned magic]

Do you not like magic?

VIDEO; i should apologize for him in advance...

[lyriumscribed]

[ and there is far more where that came from.

his lip - very briefly - twitches into something of a scowl before settling for simply grim. ]

No. I do not like magic.

[ which is putting it lightly, though he supposes he should attempt at biting his tongue. ] It corrupts just as any sickness.

video

[stoning]

[YOU WERE GRUMPY TO HER SO OBVIOUSLY SHE MUST HARASS YOU.]

That wasn't magic that brought us here, dude.

video

[lyriumscribed]

[ WITCH. GET OUT. ]

No? Science then? An experiment, perhaps? [ A hardened glare. ]

Where I am from, magic and 'science' are all too intimately linked.

video;

[ladyspitfire]

They do not make us do anything beyond fight. If we are to follow further instructions, then it is to behoove us, like when they told us to go underground during an attack. Beyond that, I agree with you entirely.

[She's been wary of the Initiative for months. Every new conflict brings up more doubts than answers.]

But it is not magic. They call it technology. I know very little of how it works...but it is not magic.

video;

[lyriumscribed]

[ finally someone who outright says they agree. ]

But we are still nothing more than a means to an end.

[ He takes a short pause, considering. ] Neither do I. Another has mentioned technology before, but I - do knot know it.

[ A beat. Mild suspicion; is she another mage? Since they've yet to acknowledge they come from the same place, the question is warranted: ] Your world has magic, as well?

voice

[gevurah]

I haven't been here long, but going back is a possibility. A potentially difficult and long awaited one, though.

voice

[lyriumscribed]

A pity there is no assurance in returning.

Only maybes and possibilities. Perhaps I should have expected as such.

[voice]

[acemedium]

You don't really have to do it if you don't want to!

[voice]

[lyriumscribed]

Do what? Fight?

Sitting idle is no good choice either.

[onemoredeath]

[ So much ridiculous people on the network the past few days. Takegami checks a sigh before speaking. ]

You are free to do whatever you wish in this place. You do not have to fight for them - while they may hustle you to the past, you can sit in the camp or make paper chains and not fight if that is what you wish. All they ask of us is to fight in the past in order to disrupt the control of the United Earth. That is it. If you are looking for becoming a slave, I would suggest you speak to the United Earth directly. It seems that they prefer people to not have minds of their own.

[lyriumscribed]

[ Well that pinged a slight nerve.

Yet again, most things do, for Fenris. ]

Free to do whatever I wish except leave. [ A growled sigh. ] And are we not slaves to this Initiative? [ though truly, the question rings weak. This is confinement, of a sort, but not slavery; he knows. He's lived slavery before. And yet. ]

Perhaps they wish for 'good intentions', but they cannot seem to win an internal war on their own. Such a thing inspires little confidence.

[Voice]

[uncalled_for]

[HMN she's got some opinions for you, but lets try and stay neutral for at least the first hello.]

So what would you suggest as an alternative then?

[Voice]

[lyriumscribed]

I have no alternatives, yet.

[ A beat. ] They simply seem quick to involve others, without attempting an effort at resolving their problems on their own.

Such a thing does not inspire much confidence.

[Audio]

[asskickersunite]

I've just kept myself busy. I'm not sure if I'll end up going along with these Initiative guys, but there are people stuck here just like you and I. They need protection, or maybe they want something to make their stay here a little easier.

So I've been going around and picking up jobs, giving folks here something to make it a little easier to go forward.

[Audio]

[lyriumscribed]

Defend for the sake of our survival and not the Initiative's cause?

A fair point.

[video]

[perfectionisms]

[ Finally, someone who hates this situation. ]

They will tell you, that after they have made an effort to abduct us from our own worlds, that we are free to choose what we do here. They are also free to subject us to psychological experiments, whisk us away to various places in various points of time and leave us to fend for ourselves during monster attacks. All without even a prior warning.

They've presented us the "freedom" to choose: we could either be their soldier, their servant or just another casualty to the war.

[video]

[lyriumscribed]

[ oh does he ever. and he is glad that someone sees the same. ]

And such a generous choice we have.

We are mere tools then. So much so that their actions do not warrant a warning?

And they hope for success in this...Initiative of theirs? [ A scoff. ] Pathetic.

text.

[asinine]

the initiative can't tie their own shoes without help

that's where you come in

(failed) text. also hi dear, sorry for the delay!

[lyriumscribed]

whatschildajha.;

.ryoumalke;

[ no, this is not working. which is why the response is coming in voice. ]

You make them sound like nothing more than children.

[a_million_blossoms]

Who said we trusted them?

[lyriumscribed]

Some seem to have some form of faith in these captors of ours. An unwise choice.