entranceway | first. ( text. )

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What a strange place this is. There's so much magic here, and like none I've ever seen before. And this network! It's a wonderful little invention. Though not as wonderful as these closets. They gave me the most delightful pair of shoes when I asked. A bit unfashionable, but nothing that can't be changed.

It's a shame there doesn't seem to be an exit. It makes this quite the gilded cage, does it not? And one does wonder how all the magic is powered. Even with blood magic and lyrium both, this is quite the feat.

[ which, in her experience, means it's probably something terrible that will kill everyone or worse. which is what has her frowning at her device even as she makes a somewhat cheerful-sounding post. bless written missives and their ability to appear blase when leliana is too annoyed to mask her feelings entirely. ]

At the very least, I suspect this will make for an interesting story someday, no?

— L

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[Talking about blood magic and lyrium? Yeah, Alistair's pretty sure he can guess where this 'L' is from. And with that in mind, the whole tone of the message actually kind of reminds him of someone. Which would be a nice change from everyone from Thedas knowing him while he has no idea who they are, but he's not about to place any bets on it being the case this one time. Still, it is always nice to meet new people who don't think he's weird for expecting to see demons around.]

It'll make for an interesting story if you don't mind people thinking you're crazy. Although you might already be crazy if your first thought was to get new shoes. Just something to think about.

There was a good reason I asked for shoes. But you are not the first to think I may be crazy.

Good sign you might actually be crazy? If lots of people think you are. Just a thought.

[He's just a fountain of useful advice.]

So what was the not-crazy reason for needing new shoes?

And if the people who said I'm crazy eventually changed their minds and became dear friends? Does that still count as a sign then?

The ones I came here in had blood on them.

It could. They might have lost their minds too and now you're both crazy.

Whose blood?

[Presumably not 'L's if they're being so calm about it. But then, potentially crazy so who knows?]

Oh, I am sure he would be thrilled to hear that.

My enemies'. I was in a battle in the Arbor Wilds before I found myself here.

You can tell him from me.

The Arbor Wilds? So you're Orlesian?

Fereldan, actually. Though I was there as part of the Inquisition.

Oh you're one of them. Can I get a name?

Leliana.

[Writing with the little box is too much effort when he's excited so after a moment of fumbling the screen lights up to show Alistair peering excitedly down at it.]

Leliana?

[Although he's going to feel pretty dumb if it's just someone with the same name.]

[ it takes her a moment of fumbling to turn on her own video function--both because she's shocked at the sight of a young alistair and because she's unfamiliar with the technology--but then she gives him a smile. ]

Alistair! That's twice now you've called me crazy to my face, you know.

[Her face comes as a surprise to him as well, so much so that he almost drops his magic box. It's been one thing talking to people from the Inquisition and hearing that they live years in the future for him but in a way it hasn't been real. Now, seeing her face still familiar and yet so different from how he remembers her, it's suddenly very real. Years have passed for her since the Blight, there's no escaping it.]

Leliana? You look- [Older. Maybe not the first thing he should say to her. Not after he's already called her crazy.] Different...

[And speaking of calling her crazy-] Maybe if you stopped acting crazy I'd stop saying it.

[Probably not though.]

[ her smile twists, turning wry and knowing. different. right. way to hide the fact that you were about to call her old, alistair. ]

That doesn't say very good things about you, then. You still seem to like me even though I'm crazy.

[ she pauses for a moment, looking up at something off-camera, clearly thinking. ]

Come see me? You look very small on this... thing. [ and she isn't sure she likes the device, for all that it's useful. ] I'm on the ninth floor right now.

[Look, it's not his fault she got old.

But Alistair is more than happy to oblige. Speaking in person is always better than using the magic boxes and, old or not, he'd like to see her again.]

Sure! I'll be right up.

[True to his word he jams the device in his pocket and sets out immediately. Forgetting to switch the thing off first. So Leliana is treated to a wonderful view of the inside of said pocket accompanied by the sound of him clattering up stairs in the meantime.

When he arrives on the ninth floor he pauses, looking around hopefully as he calls out-]

Leliana?

Edited 2016-03-30 23:15 (UTC)

[ leliana is leaning against the wall a few doors down from her own room when alistair makes his way upstairs. she's shucked most of her bloodied armor, but she still has her hood on, covering her hair and her face. at least until she hears alistair. then she pulls it down and gives him a smile. ]

Your box is still sending out messages.

[ as she says that, she gives him a once-over. seeing his younger face in this box was one thing. seeing it in person makes it sink in that, yes, she is now more than a decade older than he is.

that's kind of horrible. ]

Maker, I haven't seen you look like this in years. Is the Blight even over for you yet?

[He stops as soon as he sees her face, expression wavering between happiness and surprise. It really is Leliana. In the flesh. But older than he's ever seen her. Years have passed for her since last he saw her back in Ferelden. That sort of thing really is possible, it's not just people saying as much. It's the strangest realisation.

Distantly he hears her comment about his device, as unimportant as it seems.]

It is?

[Not even bothering to look at the thing he steps closer, reaching out to touch her and prove to himself that, yes, she's real. She's actually here, this isn't another illusion of Wonderland's. As he does he blinks down at her and shakes his head.]

No, it's still- Still happening... Wow. This is really weird.

[ she catches his hand with her own and gives it a squeeze. weird doesn't really seem to encompass this whole situation, but she doesn't have a better word for it. but at the same time it's kind of--nice. to see him young again. not as tired as he gets as he ages. ]

Oh. [ as she looks him over, she can't help but spot even more differences. her free hand raises and ghosts over his left cheek. ] You haven't gotten a scar here yet.

[ her nose crinkles as she shakes her head. ]

This is very strange. But it's good to see you all the same, Alistair.

[Solid and warm and real. It's a relief, no matter how strange the sudden age difference between them is.]

No, I guess I don't. [He tilts his head so Leliana can see better, a small smile on his face.] Don't tell me my dashing good looks are going to get ruined in a few years?

[Or sooner, with the worst part of stopping the Blight yet to come. But if a few scars are the worst he has to worry about he won't complain.

Chuckling, Alistair nods in agreement.] You too. Even if you're old now. [He had to say it eventually, ducking his head and grinning playfully as he does.] It's nice to finally meet someone who knows me that I actually remember. I was beginning to think I was going to spend all my time here surrounded by strangers.

It's a small one. I'd say it enhances those dashing good looks instead of ruining them.

[ and she regrets saying that the second he calls her old. scowling at him, she lightly slaps him on the arm. ]

Hasn't anyone ever told you never to call a woman old? I know you have some trouble, but you should know that much.

[ but, now that they've both mentioned knowing each other, and he says that i actually remember she can't help but ask-- ] You don't remember Robyn?

['Some trouble'? What is that supposed to mean? Some trouble with what? Women? The elderly? Elderly women? He's just offended on principle now. Whatever that means it was entirely uncalled for.

Pouting, Alistair rubs at his arm, about to ask just what 'trouble' she thinks he has. Before he can though, Leliana asks him about Robyn, effectively distracting him from his wounded pride.]

Nnno. I don't. [But she clearly does. Even if the two have already spoken since Leliana's arrival she wouldn't be talking about the Warden so familiarly if she knew someone else in Robyn's place.] You do? You're from her Ferelden?

[ elderly? call her elderly to her face, alistair, and she'll show you elderly. ]

Oh.

[ on the one hand, that's kind of wonderful. it means that, should the warden and alistair's lives post-blight ever come up, leliana won't have to tell alistair that his lady love died killing the archdemon. on that other hand, that's really kind of terrible. poor robyn. poor alistair, too. ]

I'm sorry. That must have been very strange for you. [ which is also probably the understatement of the century.

Come. [ she takes one of alistair's hands and tugs him along as she steps backwards. ] Let's move out of the hallway, shall we? In case someone else needs to get by.

[He's not suicidal thanks]

Strange is one way of putting it.

[Just as it's strange knowing that Leliana isn't the same woman he knows. She looks the same - or the same as the one he knows will given time - and acts and sounds the same but she's not. He's been trying to avoid thinking about the him that Robyn knows but when he does he can't think of them as being the same person. They're just not, no matter how much they might have in common. But it's hard to think of Leliana as someone else - the physical differences help but it's still difficult not to look at her and see the person he knows.

Maybe he'll figure out a way to keep them separate. It doesn't seem like it's going to impact their friendship too much at least. If he's lucky he'll be able to avoid thinking about it altogether and avoid the problem entirely.

As he thinks it over, Alistair nods and follows after her, smiling faintly once again.]

I don't take up that much space do I? [But the hallway isn't the best place to catch up with new/old friends.] Fine, I'm coming.

Do you want me to answer that question truthfully?

[ she's kidding. alistair totally does not take up that much space. but in the years since the blight and the battle in the arbor wilds, leliana has become a little... cautious. reunions and discussions are not things for public places where anyone could happen upon them. thus the dragging alistair off to her newly acquired room. ]

Sit, sit! [ she gestures at wherever there is a place to sit in the room, then sits herself. she folds her hands in her lap and smiles at alistair. ] Now, tell me how you have been. How long has it been since you arrived here?

Oh, ow! Guess I should cut back on the cheese then.

[Not likely. Or needed. But he'll pout and pat at his belly all the same as she leads him into what must be her room. Dropping down into the nearest seat he grins back, happy to see her no matter how strange it is.]

It's been a few months for me. Long enough to get used to the place - as much as you can. [He shrugs.] Like I said, you're the first person from home that I really know. I mean, there's Isabela from the Pearl in Denerim but she wasn't exactly a friend.

[And it turns out he's met Cullen before too but that's also not the same.]

There's lots of us here though. And most seem to come from after the Blight which is weird. Good but weird.

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