4th Mistake; video

[moralperil]

[Good morning, transports! Mahdi is still in his matched pajamas in lavender flannel, printed with a design of bright blue and purple owls. A glimpse of silver jewelry can be seen beneath the pajamas' unruly folds. His long, dark hair is loose and bed-tangled, a rare glimpse of it not pulled back. He looks a bit nervous and confused, and points to an adorable mini snowman on his nightstand.]

Um, someone was in my room?

Maybe it was Santa? I'm a little bit fuzzy on the Santa thing. I'm not sure I've been good enough to warrant a visit from such a big celebrity.

Anyway, it's a really cute snowperson. I think I'll name hir Snowball.

So thanks, I guess.

[Mahdi sucks in a deep breath. He doesn't mean to be rude...] But please don't come in my room when I'm sleeping, okay?!

Comments

[ofthegrey]

Demons. Wait. [He looks thoughtful.] Forgive me. I've spoken to many from Earth who say there are no demons there. However, it also seems there may be many versions of that place, for lack of a better way to put it. Interesting.

Hmm. Well, from what I've seen, we're not the only ones to have received something in our rooms. Perhaps there's something to all of this. It doesn't seem like something the Initiative would do.

[moralperil]

The ones I call demons travel Earth's realm freely without being seen unless they want to be. It allows them to do their work in the most efficient way possible. So most humans don't know about them, not unless a demon wants to do a deal with them.

But really, the idea of demons is something humans created. Anything that could remove, destroy or damage the soul is called a demon, right? Which means in a general way, any kind of person could be a demon.

So even if someone says there aren't demons, I think there probably are.

[Mahdi notices how pointedly serious he's gotten. All of the rather childish enthusiasm that normally tilts his words upward is gone. He smiles a little.]

Heh. I get a little bit serious when it comes to that kinda thing, sorry! And if you're a human, I'm not even supposed to discuss it with you. If my bosses ever show up here I'm in big trouble.

[ofthegrey]

They sound somewhat different from the demons of my world, at least as we understand them.

[However, the idea of something moving through the world unseen unless it wants to be is nothing odd to him. He could easily see this being the case for reasons people don't know about them.]

No need to apologize. It's not a light subject. I am human. I'm not from Earth, though. What sort of work is it that you do?

[moralperil]

I protect souls, however I can. Humans are beautiful creatures, and they don't understand the true value of their souls - or what happens when they choose to sell their soul to a demon. The work I do out there is to try and even out the odds and fix the damage demons are doing.

It's, hm, what people might call a battle uphill? But I'm happy to do it.

Do you have a job? I don't think I caught your name.

[ofthegrey]

[He's not entirely sure of all of this talk of souls, if it's the same for his world as wherever this person comes from. He knows the cost of dealing with demons in Thedas is possession, conversion to a twisted, horrible thing capable of great destruction. What that has to do with soul or spirit is for people more inclined toward theology than he.]

Battling demons is no small undertaking.

[That much he does know and can say without ambivalence.]

Ah, my name is Duncan. My job back home was complicated. Boiled down to its essence we protected our world from mindless evil creatures known as darkspawn.

[moralperil]

No. It isn't easy. [But that's as far as Mahdi's willing to describe it. He's far more interested in Duncan's story. His eyes grow wide.] Mindless evil... that's pretty scary. Especially with a name like darkspawn. I'm trembling just thinking about it! [Says the young man who fights demons. Well, it's all about perspective.]

You must be really brave, Duncan!

[ofthegrey]

Oh, it sounds to me as though you face your own set of difficult challenges.

[The few demons he has encountered have been encounters he would not want to repeat.]

I'll be honest with you. They frighten me. They always did, but dealing with them is my charge and duty. Being afraid isn't a good enough excuse to turn aside.

[moralperil]

[Mahdi nods firmly.]

I think I know what you mean.

[Then his seriousness seems to fade away, and he smiles warmly.]

You still seem like a pretty cool guy.

[ofthegrey]

Cool?

[A brow lifts. He's fairly sure he's not understanding the word as it's being presented.]

I'm afraid many of the idioms here don't translate very well. I assume it's a good thing?

[moralperil]

Um, um... It means you're really admirable! Someone other people should look up to. Someone I can look up to!