RO > call me out; a forever open RP post, version 2

[midvalley]

NEW OPEN RP POST

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[cultivations]

... Tell me you're joking.

[animated]

Not in the slightest.

[cultivations]

But why keep it secret? I should think magic would be a gift to be shared, not hidden and squandered away like some tome of smutty literature.

[animated]

Religion? Politics? The Salem witch trials? I don't really know when or why it was kept secret in the first place, but at this point, it's probably for the best.

[cultivations]

Salem witch trials?

Maker above, what sort of backwater land have I dropped into?

[animated]

[ flatly: ] Hah.

Not so where you're from, then?

[cultivations]

Depends on the area. Back home, mages rule the land. Literally. There's a caste system in place -- coming from a long line of powerful mages tends to get you places, so long as you can stand the rampant backstabbing and political intrigue.

Other places, mages are herded into little towers and clumped together for the good of the people, their abilities feared as much as they're needed.

And other places still, mages are bound, gagged, and leashed, subdued and unleashed on unsuspecting foes like warhounds.

[ He sighs wistfully. ]

Ah, how I miss Thedas already.

[animated]

Jesus Christ.

No offense, but I almost prefer to stay under the radar. [ though that first one... hits oddly close to home. ] It simplifies things.

[cultivations]

[ Dorian waves a hand. ]

I am, of course, simplifying things as well. Things are getting better in some places. Sweeping reforms, quite a bit of kicking and screaming, a fair bit of bluster and political posturing, but-- well. At least we haven't got to hide.

[animated]

I'm not hiding. I own a business, I pay rent. The girl at the coffee shop by my store knows my name and what I like to order. But as far as they know, magic is a thing of fiction, and I don't bother to tell them otherwise.

[cultivations]

[ Insistently, ] But think of the people you could help. If a man has a gift for numbers, should he hide that gift? If a woman has a knack for mixing healing poultices, should she conceal it? Why should it be the same if someone were able to conjure a bit of ice of lightning from their fingertips?

[animated]

Look, I get the sentiment, I do, but you have no idea how this world works, so don't presume to tell me what I should or should not be doing with my magic.

[cultivations]

[ He gives a lazy wave his hand as he leans back. ]

Then make me understand.

I come from a place where magic, while frowned upon in some less civilized places, need not be sequestered away like a shameful family secret. If I am to be here any longer than a day, I would certainly like to know why it is that my gift -- and I should say it is quite the gift -- should be feared.

Small, petty minds, perhaps? Religious reasons? Did a mage set a man's coattails on fire, perhaps, eons ago, and since then the populace has been out for magical blood?

[animated]

... [ the fact that he's so flippant kind of pisses Charlie off. ]

They would not be scared of us, Dorian. I've seen people die over a lot less than magic.

[cultivations]

[ He notes the anger with a silent quirk of his brow, then turns to him, fingers steepled together, elbows resting on his knees. ]

Then endeavor to explain, my dear Charlie, and I shall endeavor to listen. I am, as they say in the south, all ears.

[animated]

Are you really, or are you just going to look down your nose at me some more because you've already decided how it should be?

[cultivations]

[ Another wave of his hand -- dismissive, this time. ]

There are worse noses to find oneself below, you must admit.

But, no, I'll be on my best behavior. This is, after all, your home, and your area of expertise.

[animated]

[ Charlie doesn't deign to respond to that. True, Dorian is almost criminally attractive, but right now he's finding his attitude insufferable at best.

He leans back in his seat. ] I guess you could say it's a combination of things. Wizards are selfish, they don't like to share, and maybe that's where the fault lies, I'm willing to admit that. But in this day and age? It's far too late to come out and start throwing our magic around and have everyone be okay with that.

If you can imagine for a moment, a world without magic. A world where everyone is mundane, normal people, living mundane normal lives, and then one day some guy shows up and says that the world is not as mundane as you think, and starts flinging spells around. Suddenly there are people out there with unknown kinds of power that do not follow the laws of reality as you've come to know them.

People are going to panic. Governments are going to want to know if this is something they can use. Scientists are going to want to know how it works, and if they can duplicate it through artificial means. Mothers are going to wonder just how many more of them are out there, and will they set my children on fire? And we, who want to live normal lives, will not be able to because of the things we can do.

Maybe two thousand years ago, coexistence could have happened, but I wasn't around back then, and I don't know why it didn't. Maybe someone tried and it went badly, or maybe they didn't try at all, but the fact of the matter is, we've been a secret for too long.

So I'm sorry, but you're going to have to forget the notion that- respected, feared or leashed- mages are something that is a normal part of life, because here? We're only stories.

[cultivations]

[ Dorian stays silent as he lets those words sink in. True, in a world ignorant of magic, the sudden discovery of it would, in fact, turn quite a few heads. How odd to think that one must hide one's talents, though. How odd that one be born with a gift and keep it secret, lest they be persecuted or feared.

It hits a bit close to home, truth to tell. It leaves a sort of metallic, better taste in his mouth.

At length, Dorian presses his lips together and nods. ]

I see. I shall do my best to avoid drawing attention -- at least, attention to your secret world of magic. You have, after all, been more than hospitable, and it would be unworthy if I should not play by your wizards' rules.

Still, I tend to draw quite enough attention simply by existing. My statuesque features, I'm afraid, I am less keen to disguise.

[animated]

[ When Dorian relents, Charlie relaxes a bit. He really didn't want to have this argument anymore. ]

I appreciate it.

And I--- am going to have to find you some clothes.

[cultivations]

[ At that Dorian wrinkles his nose. ]

Ah, yes, I suppose this does mean I'll have to submit to the fashions of your world.

[ Without enthusiasm, ]How exciting.

[animated]

You'll survive, I'm sure.

[ he purses his lips a little, looking Dorian over. ]

I might have some things to get you started.

[cultivations]

[ Dorian takes another appraising look at Charlie's clothing, a hand going to his chin as he considers.

Then, ]

I think I had better take a look at-- whatever it is you're trying to put me in.

[animated]

Come on, then. [ and he motions for Dorian to follow, and he moves to the bedroom, where he slides open the closet door and begins rummaging around for something ]

[cultivations]

[ Dorian follows after, taking a moment to examine the place even further.

How curious, all of this is. He'll have to ask further about what all of these devices do -- some time after he asks the wizard if he can apply his knowledge of portals to send Dorian back home.

There are things to be done, after all, and he simply can't leave the Inquisition's sartorial choices to Vivienne. ]

Forgive my glibness, but-- I wonder if you and I have the same measurements. You are, after all, a good deal shorter than I am.