Voices from Heaven (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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driftfleet_ooc2017-09-02 11:55 am
thespaceopera) wrote in driftfleet_ooc2017-09-02 11:55 am
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SEPTEMBER TEST DRIVE
THE FALL TEST DRIVE MEME
(Or Spring Test Drive for you Southern Hemisphere folks!)
Got someone you want to try out before you app? Well this is the post for it! Feel free to use anything that fits in the setting of Drift Fleet! Want to play bumper shuttles? Want to go wild in a med bay? Play around with the current plot? Have at it!
Threads from the Test-Drive may be made game "canon" but DO NOT count toward AC!
FOR NEW PLAYERS: You DO NOT NEED an invite to participate in the TEST DRIVE! If you decide to APP into the game, ONLY THEN will you need an invite from a current player!
Helpful Info for Ideas!:
Test drives are posted SEASONALLY, so the next one will be in December!
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[Adalwolfe had watched the whole exchange from across the road, settled in his little pop tent on a pile of cushions. All for show, of course, but this fortune-telling business is definitely all show anyway. He can't sense an ounce of magical talent in most of the natives. Maybe it's all the weird tech they do their magic with, he's not sure, but the two readings he'd gotten on a lark had been so completely vague as to be laughable.
Not like this guy, who'd clearly been correct based on... what, a look?
And there's the fact that even from this distance Hawke can feel something off about the man. Something not quite... this-worldly, for lack of a better term. And it's ridiculously familiar, but missing something. The whole effect is the same as having a word just on the tip of his tongue. Maybe he'll figure it out after talking to the man.
Although, by the look of him, he might need some healing anyway. He's never seen a living face so gaunt outside of Darktown.]
Come here, have a seat, let's chat.
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Justice turns to look at the man he's speaking to, frowning a little deeper than normal as he takes in the tent and the cushions. A fortune-teller.] It is wrong to lie to people about their future.
[There's a clear scolding in his voice, but he approaches anyway and sits down on one of the cushions because, while he may glare and scold and nag, Justice is unwaveringly curious about mortals and their world. He'll talk to anyone to sate even a mite of that curiosity.]
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[And he does, sort of. It's like the shoes he'd given Cole, or how Cole knew what that derelict ship was--...
Oh Maker's balls he knows exactly what this feeling is.]
You're a spirit.
[He exhales slowly, trying to force his heart to stop beating so rapidly in his chest. He thinks he knows what spirit too, based on the feeling. And what's missing.
He clears his throat, trying to recenter himself from coming face to face with entirely too many complicated feelings. At least this being Justice explains the gauntness of the body.]
I, ah. I'm not lying so much as offering encouragement. If they ask something specific, I only give a vague answer, but you sort of... push in the right direction, you see. People are easily influenced.
[Anders had said Justice first inhabited a corpse. Kristoff. A Grey Warden, dead in the line of duty in the Black Marsh. Adalwolfe could easily use that knowledge to his advantage here, "prove" he has prophetic ability, but he'd rather be truthful there. That, and it might lead to all kinds of uncomfortable questions that Hawke would rather avoid.
Adalwolfe licks his lips and resettles on his cushions.]
People don't actually want to know the future, even if they think they do. Better to just reassure them that things will turn out.
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Although... the man seems disturbed by this revelation. Justice wishes that mortals wouldn't find him so unsettling, but he doesn't know how to fix it. He's sure that some of it is the way he behaves, since he doesn't try to pretend to be human, but he's also sure that the mortals' impressions of spirits and demons don't help either.]
How is it right to lie for the sake of reassurance? Wouldn't it be better to tell the truth, that the future is uncertain but they have a measure of control over where their lives will lead?
[There isn't any accusation in his tone. He has his ideas, but he wants to hear what the mortal thinks. In the Fade, perspectives are simple and lack nuance. A spirit of compassion is consumed by easing pain, a spirit of courage is consumed by showcasing bravery, and a spirit of justice is consumed by righting wrongs. Justice is slowly creeping towards the understanding that the simplicity of the Fade does not translate easily to the world of mortals.]
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It's something humans do for each other, considered a nicety. Everyone knows the future is uncertain, that's a given, but being told cryptically that, say, your date is going to turn out fine is going to make someone relax going into it and behave with less nerves during the event itself, making it potentially - probably - go more smoothly on their end. Just as an example.
[He eyes Justice for a moment. Might as well just ask, if the question occurs.]
Do spirits get nervous?
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[Justice doesn't understand, but he's not dismissing the concept out of hand. He knows that he doesn't understand the fiddly bits of the mortal experience, and those fiddly bits are sometimes crucial for moral judgment on particular issues.
At the question, Justice tilts his head to the side, considering for a moment. One could be forgiven for assuming he just wasn't going to answer, with how long he glares at nothing.]
To be nervous implies uncertainty. There is little uncertainty in the Fade for a spirit true to its purpose. [He remembers Aura. He remembers how horrible he felt when he realized he was in her husband's body, when he told her her husband was dead and his corpse desecrated through Kristoff's mouth. He remembers how it felt like Kristoff's stomach was tying itself into knots as they searched Amaranthine for her, how even after talking to her, he had to ask the Warden Commander if he had done the right thing. He's not used to not knowing what the right thing is.] But there can be uncertainty in the mortal world. We are capable of such a feeling, but we have rare occasion to feel it unless we enter your world.
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[He remembers the Fade. He doesn't remember being certain at all, but he does remember that crushing sense of what is that the Nightmare tried to impress upon them all. Nothing you did ever mattered....
He clamps firmly down on the thought before it can fully manifest, reaffirming to himself that he will not think of it. The Nightmare is done, gone. He's free of that thing, at least in his waking hours. Actually in his sleeping ones too, here in the Fleet, where the distance from the Fade seems even further. He dreams of nothing - or rather, dreams like non-mages must. No demons whispering in his ears, no real recollection of it when he wakes. It's a comfort on some level.]
Well, it's an unpleasant feeling, and mortals are uncertain about a lot of things. A comforting half-truth that things will work out is easier for most people to hear than being told to just suck it up.
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Obviously, you should have just brought Justice.In seriousness, Justice is simply used to the Fade and its machinations in a way mortals aren't. The demons and environment shifts and scraps of memories laying around, while cause for a lot of uncertainty in mortals, is just normal for him. He's comfortable there. He's not comfortable in the mortal world.Justice keeps frowning at Adalwolfe, considering what he's said.] This sounds like a rationalization for lying about what you sell to people.
[Even now, while there's an accusation in his words, there isn't an accusation in his tone. He doesn't understand why, if lying about the future is so kind, one can't just do it for free unless it's really about the money.]
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[He leans back a bit, feeling judged. But then again he always felt judged around Justice. And maybe that was all in his head, or maybe had more to do with mortal justice being one thing and the entire concept of Justice sometimes being quite another.]
Even reassurance. And mortals have to eat you know, even if spirits don't.
[Marker he wishes Anders was here to deal with this and not him. It's uncomfortable enough knowing Justice is from before they'd ever met, judging by the body he's in. He had a hard enough time talking to the spirit before...
Oh Andraste's favorite smallclothes, did Anders even know Justice was here? Or the other way around? Excuse him if he looks a bit deer in the torchlight for a moment at the thought.]
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[And that does add another dimension to moral considerations, though he's not sure exactly how to navigate accounting for it. In the Fade, it's easier to be pure of purpose. There is very little nuance, and there is very little to a spirit's life outside of their virtue. In the mortal world, however, there are many practical considerations that may force a mortal's hand away from virtue. Is that an acceptable state of affairs, or are practical considerations excuses at best? Justice does not know, because Justice is not mortal and he does not know what it's like to be mortal.
While Justice ponders the implication of practical need and the moral flexibility it may or may not introduce, he notices the mortal getting more obviously uncomfortable.]
I unsettle you. I apologize. [He unsettles everyone, but that doesn't mean he likes it.] I mean you no harm. I only wish to understand.
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[What does he say? He doesn't want to reveal too much, make things all too confusing. Justice will find out that Anders is here sooner or later though, and that Adalwolfe is important to him. At least, Wolfe hopes that's a thing that Justice finds out considering he's been with Anders for eight years now, and he has no illusions about keeping the spirit separate from his love. They're friends of old, before Hawke, and it would be wrong to interfere even if he's incredibly tempted. He doesn't like Justice's influence on Anders, doesn't like what the spirit made him do, but did that all start when Anders let Justice in or was it before? He doesn't know. He certainly doesn't feel influenced right now personally, but it could be that's how it starts, that you don't know a spirit is doing it until its done.
There are too many things to consider and Justice is looking at him maybe not with expectation but that's the feeling Wolfe has about it. He decides to tell him at least what's present and not anything that's past for him and future for the spirit. It's not like he enjoys rehashing the events that lead to a war and the loss of the life he'd worked for for his family.]
I'm familiar with you. Not as a spirit, but as an individual. I, ah... Anders and I are...
[Why does he keep hesitating?! Does he really care so much what a wayward spirit thinks?!]
Together.
[There. He said it.]
I mean, obviously if you haven't guessed already, I'm from Thedas.
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Good for you both.
[This is another moment where his tone could easily be mistaken for mocking with how even it is, but once again, he's being entirely sincere. Anders is given to sloth in his obligation to others, but he has a good heart and Justice would be pleased to see him happy with someone else. Justice isn't sure why Anders picked this one, but what does he know? He's a spirit. The most romantic experience he has is telling a woman that he's borrowing her husband's corpse for some avenging.]
I understand that time is unreliable here. I take it you know me from the future? [Justice just assumes that's what the man means. How else would he know him? Depending on how far in the future he is, it's very likely he's had to possess a new corpse by the time he's met this man. What a disturbing thought.] I am afraid that I have not met you yet.
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[There are a lot of things he could tell Justice right now but he's certainly not going to. He stands up, dusting off his clothes out of habit.]
You really think good for us both?
[He didn't really want to ask that, it just came out...]
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[Justice tilts his head to the side and one eyebrow arches, the only indications of his confusion.] Spirits do not have romantic relationships, but the man whose body I first possessed was married to a wonderful woman. They loved each other very much. The memory of what they shared is beautiful.
[He stands, more to mirror the other man than for anything else, still looking confused.] Anders has a good heart. If you treat each other well and care about one another, why wouldn't I think that is good?
[He even envies the love that mortals can have for each other, though he's only ever admitted that to the Warden Commander. He knows that envy is wrong, and he'd never try to take mortal love for himself, but he still can't help but see its beauty and wish it could be his as well.]
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[And maybe that's the difference, not that Justice got too wrapped up in the issue of the Circle and mistreated mages the second he touched Anders' mind. Maybe he just straight up dislikes Adalwolfe as a person when he goes to know him. The mage tries his best but his best is so often not good enough even for mortals, let alone an exacting spirit's standards...]
But yes, we do care about one another. And he does have a good heart.
[Adalwolfe smiles faintly.]
Better than most.
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[It occurs to Justice that this seems strange. Why does his opinion matter? It's not like he's the one dating the man.
Ha... ha... ha...]Is there a reason why my approval matters?
[Perhaps the man wants approval from those Anders cares for? Kristoff's memories say that that's not unusual. That's probably it. He seems to care about Anders, at least, and that's the most important thing. Probably. Justice thinks that's the most important thing, anyway.]
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[It's a quick, defensive return.]
Well no, sort of? I mean, I just want his friends to approve of me.
[That much is true. It's not that he'd change anything if they didn't - he'd still stuck by Anders when that whole confusing bit had been going on with Riona - but it does make things easier. He homes that's enough that he can exclude the other reasons why it's specifically the case with Justice.]
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And there's that word again. Friends. Is it so easy for mortals to use that word? Or maybe it becomes easier for Justice too in the future. He thinks he's friends with Anders, even if the idea is strange.]
He cares for you, and he is a decent judge of character. I am sure we will get along fine. [By Justice's standards anyway. He tends to get along well with most people who can tolerate him and don't egregiously violate his sense of morality. The issue is that people need to tolerate his nagging and moral debates.]
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Well I certainly hope so.
[Sort of. Maybe. Actually he had sort of hoped that he would never see Justice again but if wishes were fishes etc etc.]
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He's probably misjudging it. Probably. He'll ask the Warden Commander about it later. Or maybe Anders. He's not sure if he can ask Anders if his boyfriend is actually really weird or if it's just in Justice's head. That seems like the kind of question that might make Anders cranky.
After staring at Adalwolfe for perhaps a few moments too long--and honestly, that could be interpreted as anything, because Justice naturally doesn't blink and his expressions are subtle at the best of times--Justice dips his head.]
I am glad to have met you.
[This is entirely sincere. Anders is important to Justice, and therefore, those who are important to Anders are also important to Justice. (Even if they are a little weird.)
Justice still doesn't know the man's name. It doesn't occur to him to ask. Spirits don't use names. He doesn't even have one himself, only something that he allows mortals to call him for the sake of ease. What matters is that now he knows what the man's presence feels like, and he can identify it in a crowd.]
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