entranceway | ➶ three (video)

-land's influence on you. [ Good morning from the tired and faintly exasperated countenance of Robyn, who hastily replaces a wayward braid behind her ear before actually attending to the broadcast. She smiles wearily, clearing her throat before addressing the mansion. ]

Hello, Wonderland. In case we've yet to meet, my name is Robyn Cousland of the Gr- [ She cuts off momentarily to glance away, frowning, and speaks to someone or something off-camera. ] Stop. Sit.

[ There's a low whine, but she returns to the device with a satisfied, short sigh. ]

When I arrived, I... found, if it can be called that, a mabari - a Ferelden hound - in the wardrobe of my room. He isn't nearly as well-behaved as my own, unfortunately; he seems much younger, though I've just been thinking it might be because of the way that this place seems to affect us all. Though, luckily, we haven't all been taking little things from other people and hiding them away.

[ TALKING ABOUT YOU, OREN THE DOG. ]

Which... brings me to my point, which is that the dog has apparently been taking things that don't belong to him. Some of them have names written in them, some books, but most of these things have been difficult to return. I know for a fact that he confiscated possessions of an Emily Bennett, Evelyn O'Connell, and Cullen Rutherford. Also... [ At this, the Warden sifts through the pile as she speaks: ] Several boots, gloves, and gauntlets, mostly leather. A... necklace, I think, made of bone, a clay flower pot, some kind of- [ Maker's breath. She looks momentarily pained and spots of pink rise into the apples of her cheeks. ] Something... called Busty Asian Beauties, and several other things I've yet to identify.

[ The picture on the cover of that particular piece of reading material is overwhelmingly embarrassing and she hastens to end the broadcast. ]

Andraste's grace. Please stop by room thirty on the first floor if you've been missing something, or just tell me what you've lost and I will return it once I've made some sense of this mess.

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[ Sorry, Dorian; the idea of her mabari trying to bring an entire person back to her room has her laugh in earnest. ]

Oh, Dorian- I'm so sorry. [ It must have been a funny sight and she's sad that she missed it. ] He must miss you!

[ If possible, her dog may like the mage better than his master. ]

I'll find it, I promise. Everything will be clean when I return them.

Miss me?

[As though they're Friends? But seeing Robyn laugh makes it difficult not to smile in turn, and he offers a long-suffering sigh in reply, shaking his head.]

I suppose if you can't, they can be replaced. Strange, though, isn't it, this recent run of thefts-- I wonder what's gotten into him.

I think he's bored and restless. And... trying to earn my approval, bringing me things. Calen used to do that, in Ferelden, though it was only when I asked.

[ He was older, though, and much better trained. Not that she doesn't love Oren in his own way! ]

And yes, he misses you. He seems to pine after the affections he can't have.

I suppose I can't blame him. He's not the first one to pine after me.

[He knows he's dashing.]

How many people have reported things missing thusfar?

He does seem to be drawn to the modest ones.

[ c: ]

There haven't been many reports, but I've found almost all the owners of his little prizes. It's a relief, to be honest; I thought I'd have to track them all down myself. This 'network' makes things so much easier, doesn't it?

Indeed, though it did take some getting used to. I put a great deal of time into learning how to use it properly early on, though even I still have the occasional fumble.

[Don't tell, Robyn. He's only admitting to it because you're such close friends.]

Imagine what we could have managed with this sort of thing back home.

We wouldn't have such a need for ravens. [ Nobody could shoot one of these messages out of the sky, either. ] I think so much could be avoided, with information as quickly available as with these... if only there were a way for us to remember the technology, so that someone might replicate it at home. Or, better yet, if we could take them back with us.

[ Sigh. ]

Replicating might be the a more practical option, if we could remember. I wouldn't mind taking one of these apart and seeing exactly what makes it work-- but I imagine Wonderland's own magic has a great deal to do with that.

[Which is why the idea of simply bringing them back home has the potential to be a dud.]

Quieter than ravens, too. As a regular visitor to Skyhold's library, I can say that listening to Leliana's ravens up in the loft got awfully tiresome after awhile.

[Three days, to be precise.]

I think it would be worth the experiment. You can always get a new one, can't you? And if it was magic all along, the worst that happens is your theory is confirmed.

[ Always look on the bright side, right? ]

I can imagine. [ They didn't have a flock of ravens in camp, but she knows enough of birds, as most people do, to be able to accurately guess their clamor. ] It's too bad that they were so close to the library. I'm sure it made for difficult reading.

Fair enough. No doubt the closets would supply another.

[No, she's not imagining the note of distaste as he says that. He's still rather insulted by the closets very existence, thank you.]

At times, yes, though at least they had the good sense to remain in their roost rather than come down to visit. Thankfully, there were other places to retreat if I needed more quiet than the library itself could offer.

I wonder. I've not heard of someone breaking their own in the same of an experiment, but...

[ As she'd said, it's worth a try. ]

Did you lock yourself away elsewhere with stacks of books? [ Somehow, it's easy to imagine the mage in a room by himself with towers of tomes all around him in a small fortress. ] Buried under papers where no one could find you?

No doubt it's happened by accident. Whatever the reason for the break, the closets do seem content enough to offer replacements for just about anything you can think of.

[He smiles indulgently-- she has him pegged, that's for certain.]

I wouldn't say buried. For all that I enjoy a bit of peace and quiet, I wouldn't want to make myself impossible to find. Deny others the chance to look upon my handsome face? I think not.

Not exactly. [ She muses, glancing to Oren. He isn't a replacement, but he also isn't Calen, who she still misses (of course). ] They do work well enough for most things, though.

[ If only they could produce people. ]

I know Brennan would protest. [ She all but whistles innocently. ] I hear he's a little fond of you.

[ Comes the intentional, understated joke. ]

Well, no, not things from home, if you're particular about specifics.

[At least she'd managed to get a Mabari? He grins broadly.]

You know, I've heard that rumor as well. Do you think it's true? Oh, I hope so.

Some things from home. [ She supplies, also thinking of the war hound. ]

Oh, I know it's true. But, I won't give away his secrets.

[ Not that she would know them any better than Dorian. They're only teasing each other, after all. ]

You're very lucky to have each other.

Some things, yes, but your hound isn't the same one you took charge of back in Ferelden, is it?

[His thoughts drift to Oren as well-- certainly, if he tried, he could get something from Thedas through the closets, or some kind of imitation, but if he tried to get ahold of one of Alexius' journals or something else more specific, he would have been out of luck without a trip to the vendors.]

You're keeping secrets between the two of you, now? I almost feel left out. [His smile softens all the same.] I am rather fond of him.

Oh, no. Calen was my mabari from when I was a girl. [ She explains, smiling almost sadly in memory of the dog she'd left behind. ] Oren came... from the closet, actually, and I named him for my brother's son.

[ Rest in piece. He and Oriana both. ]

Secrets? No, not at all! You're both very... forthright. [ Her conversation with Brennan about the, ah... questionable magazine had been an example. ] But, lovably so.

➶ three (video)

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[Video] *NAME dammit my fingers

[Video] I will never forgive you or your fingers.

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