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

[midvalley]

NEW OPEN RP POST

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[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.

[animated]

I'm a good deal shorter than a lot of people.

[ And after a bit more rummaging, Charlie emerges with a black plastic trash bag in hand, which he then proceeds to rummage through some more. He offers Dorian a plain v-neck t-shirt and a pair of jeans. ]

These belonged to an ex-boyfriend. I think he was about your size.

If nothing else, then we can go out and get you something more to your tastes without causing a stir.

[cultivations]

[ Ah. The clothing is far more plain than Dorian is used to, but it looks the right length, the right size.

Drab, though. Terribly drab.

He purses his lips a moment ("ex-boyfriend," did he say? How strange to admit it so freely), but he lets the comment go for the moment. ]

Surprising to find such kindness from a stranger, if you don't mind my saying. I'm grateful, of course, but I should repay your hospitality in kind.

[animated]

It's fine, really. I'm not the one dimensionally displaced, here.

[ he frowns a little ] You'll uh. Probably have to sleep on the couch, though. I don't have a spare bed.

[cultivations]

[ Dorian puts a hand to his throat, gasping. ]

Me? Sleep on a couch? Oh, I've truly fallen into a strange land. Alas, the indignity of it all.

[animated]

You poor, poor thing.

I can make other arrangements if I have to, but I have to figure out how long it's going to take me to get you back home.

[cultivations]

I'm hoping with the aid of my expertise, it shouldn't take longer than a day.

[animated]

As much as I'd like to agree, it's going to take some work. Getting from one point to another in the same dimension is easy, if a bit involved. Getting to another dimension entirely is tricky.

[cultivations]

[ He spreads his hands. ]

Perhaps a fresh perspective is needed. A combining of two very different schools of magic might yield the desired results. To my knowledge, it's never been done.

This could very well be revolutionary -- even more so than all my previous work, which is saying quite a lot.

[animated]

You do this kind of thing often? Revolutionize stuff, I mean.

[cultivations]

I once had a hand in the discovery of time magic.

It's application went about as swimmingly as one would expect it to. Needless to say, further research has since been abandoned.

[animated]

Time magic? Like, stopping time? Making it go faster? Time traveling? That kind of thing.

[cultivations]

Slowing it down, moving backwards and forwards-- [ he gestures, as if to say it's so very uninteresting. ]

All good and well when written down on paper, to be sure, but introduce man and all his follies and you have yourself an unmitigated mess. I don't recommend pursuing that research, by the way. The temptation to utilize it will eventually become too much.

[animated]

Yeah I can't... I can't even imagine the sheer levels of havoc.

No worries, I'm fine with my lot as an Animator. I've got no desire to become Doctor Who.