(no subject)

[andrastian]

Who| Sebastian Vael and You!
What| A welcome of sorts to the Capitol!
Where| The Capitol, District 4 Suites
When| Current
WARNINGS| None Yet!



Streets Of The Capitol

Large and ornate cities were not Sebastian's usual favorite places to hang about. He didn't MIND them, by any means; he was too used to them for that, but wandering about gawking at things with no real purpose in mind did strike him as particularly ridiculous. Still, better to get the lay of the land than hiding in the Tribute housing, he had reasoned. He might as well get to know this prison in order to prepare for the worse one he was told was coming. An Arena and a death match...Well. Maybe he'd learn something here that could b of any use.

And maybe he could locate food as well. The sausage roll he'd bolted down last night in between meetings and practice with his archers had been a long time ago, and his stomach had been growling since before his "welcoming party" had left him on his own, but the cold box of food in the Suites, and the things to cook it with had been particularly intimidating. He'd seen some of the foods before, and knew how they ought to taste, but besides that, he had no idea of what to do with them. A chantry brother had no need to know those things after all, and a prince had even less.

A pub or tavern ought to suit just find though, he decided, turning a corner, and looking for someone who seemed to belong to all of this, . "Excuse me!" He called spotting someone turning a corner, his brogue particularly strong today, in light of the new circumstances and his frustration at trying to find a way around this place. "Can I trouble you for some information?"


District 4 Suites

Sebastian had returned at last, after his day of wandering, and settled himself in the living room, on a sofa that was more comfortable than it had looked. At the moment, he was starring at the moving things on the screen, at this moment, a contest show that seemed to feature disturbing looking clothing designs. He blinked, very hard, as the screen shifted to show a young woman who seemed to be wrapped in only glittering bandages, then found himself relieved as the door to the suite opened.

"Do you mean too tell me people call these clothing?"

Other: (Make up your own Scenario or PM for specifics.)

Comments

Streets

[contrarianlibrarian]

Though her black pantsuit was somewhat more muted than the clothing of other Capitolites, the vividly colored tattoos snaking around her bare arms and the comfortable way she strode through the city likely marked her as a native.

China usually loathed being troubled while she was minding her own business--that was why she had tended toward the lifestyle of a hermit for a while. But those days were behind her and she was now, nominally, a figure in the public eye. Impoliteness just wouldn't do.

Slowly, she turned toward the voice, smiling placidly. "Certainly. What is it you need?"

Re: Streets

[andrastian]

Tattoos, and rather a lot of them. The only people that Sebastian had seen with this many of them at once were, well, one person, actually. It made him think of Fenris, a little, and he found himself wondering if, by chance, anyone else from Thedas had come here. It was something to look into later. For now, food was a bit more important.

He tore his gaze away from those tattoos to look into his helper's eyes, instead, his cheeks coloring a bit at the thought he had been starring. They'd sent him into a brief reverie but that was mostly all it had been. There was surely nothing wrong with this good woman who had answered his request for help, after all.

"Ah yes." He answered, ducking his head a bit, and smiling in return. "I was wondering if you might recommend somewhere to eat outside of the center. I have never cooked before, and I would hate to make a mess of things before I've even met my brothers in arms."

Being a new arrival might cause enough strange things for those in the District 4 suites for a few days. He hardly wanted to compound that any further.

[contrarianlibrarian]

She watched his face redden, trying to make her smile seem more kindly in response. Blushing and staring were things she always looked for.

"I could certainly recommend quite a few places." She didn't mention that they'd all be on the pricier end, considering her tastes. That was just a given, wasn't it?

She decided to cut him a bit of slack, though. Her tasks were supposed to include helping out the new arrivals after all, even if they weren't her own. "Cooking isn't your job at all--we'd hardly expect you all to come here with culinary experience. The Avoxes here are perfectly capable of cooking anything you like; that may be a more convenient option for you."

[andrastian]

The pricier end of things would be somewhat of a shock to Sebastian, given how he understood his position here, of course, but he had grown up accustomed to such things, so he could certainly re-adjust his thinking and at least knew how to behave in somewhere that did not resemble, well, The Hanged Man.

He did relax a bit when she mentioned the next bit. "Ah good. I'd wondered if they were for us, or the Tower itself." Personally, the silent servants were somehow a bit unnerving and he'd not gotten close enough to know anything about them beyond the fact that they were there.

"That does help quite a lot."

[contrarianlibrarian]

She tilted her head to the side as she considered his statement. "Both would be the best way to think about it. They will fulfill nearly any task you may need while you're here, as well as general functions around the Tower. They really are quite useful."

She smiled brightly. "I am happy to help. I understand the transition may be a bit jarring, but you really have no need to worry. Many of us here can assist you. And will."

[andrastian]

"Oh good, that is rather more helpful." At least, so far to Sebastian's understanding of The Capitol, this was something he knew how to work with. A sort of Known Quantity, if you would.

"A little jarring, yes." He wondered if he ought to admit to that, or if it sounded too much like complaining, but honesty won out in the end. "But that helps quite a lot. If everyone here is like you, that should make it considerably easier." The concept of what was happening here was, after all, probably not the fault of the average person on the street, he reminded himself. He didn't wish to become another Anders, determined to see unkindness and injustice around every corner when the reality of the situation was far more complex.

[contrarianlibrarian]

"Everyone? I only wish." She could think of a few off the top of her head who weren't likely to be much help at all. But that wasn't a good thing to chat about openly on the street, so she smiled as if she were only joking.

"We do our best to be hospitable. I will warn you that some of the citizens may seem a little... rambunctious, but only because they're excited to get to know you."

Streets

[conifer]

Emily freezes up when she hears someone address her - when she's pinpointed in the middle of the street like this, it's usually a fan wanting to talk about her Games, her least favourite subject, but one she'd been unable to avoid since returning to the Capitol even in her downtime. She takes a deep breath and turns, bracing herself for whatever question he might have. "Yes?"

Re: Streets

[andrastian]

"Pardon me, of course, Milady." The expression still falls out of Sebastian's lips easily, even if he's seen, or heard, that others here do not exactly use the same types of address that he is used to.

"I was hoping someone who had been here longer might be able to suggest an inn or restaurant outside of our training center. I'd like to learn more about everything here, but I do need somewhere to start." He added, smiling.

[conifer]

She's a little amused at the way he chooses to address her, feeling that it's far more suited for a Capitol socialite than a lowly Districter like herself, though she tries not to let it show much more than her smile becoming a little more pronounced. "There are lots of restaurants around, it all depends on the sort of food you're after." The amount of choice had overwhelmed her when she first came to the Capitol. "And how much you're willing to spend, too - I know the new Tributes don't come in with too much assi."

[andrastian]

Perhaps, but to Sebastian, so far, all of the people who live here seem to be a bit higher on the so called totem pole and citizenship requires a degree of respect. Besides that, she is a woman, and therefore rather deserving of respect so far as he has learned it.

"Not very much of it, no." He agreed. "I've heard I might earn more through the arenas." And he didn't add his feelings on that front yet. He wasn't sure he'd even properly processed them.

"I suppose ah....I do not know much of food that is popular here. Cheap may be the best way to go."

[conifer]

Emily didn't eat out too much, partly due to the lack of spare time that went with being a Mentor, partly knowing she'd be a fellow customer with plenty of Capitolites who liked to romanticise her time in the Arena, something she found entirely distasteful, and also just due to her own introversion - she was far more at ease in the quiet of her rooms or the rooftop garden than out in the city. It takes her a while, then, to think of a place that's affordable, close by, and serves food that she'd recommend. Finally she begins down a side street toward a small place that served simple fare closer to the hearty food she'd grown up with in Seven than the fancy delicacies of the Capitol.

"My name's Emily, by the way. I serve as Mentor for District Seven. Did they tell you which District you're assigned to?"

[andrastian]

"Four. Something about fishing and Finnick Odair was what I've managed to actually learn." Apparently said District hero had died during a horrible plague of some kind or other that he hadn't been able to learn many of the details of just yet.

A mentor. That meant she had gotten through one of those things, most likely back before they'd played the game of reviving people post death. That certainly made him look at her with new eyes and Sebastian had to wonder, though he didn't ask yet, if those who had gone before this looked at the off-worlders in a different light. He was almost sure he might have, given their positions being reversed.

"And Emily. A pleasure to meet you. Mine is Sebastian." Everything else, he kept from mentioning right now, seeing as it hardly minded yet. "I appreciate the help here, truly."

streets!

[revocation]

Cullen had become accustomed to the people from Thedas being here, for the most part. He knew it was possible for more to be brought in, of course, and for others to leave, having experienced both, but things among their group seemed to have... stabilized, for lack of a better term.

Needless to say, spotting the Prince of Starkhaven on the streets of the Capitol was a bit of a shock. He had nothing against the man, personally, but as a walking reminder of everything he'd been, everything he'd said and done in Kirkwall, Sebastian Vael wasn't exactly someone Cullen was eager to meet again.

But, he was of Thedas, and if he was here, then it was inevitable that they meet eventually. "Your Highness," he said, politely, because at the very least he owed the man some civility. "I feel like I should express my regret at seeing you here." This wasn't, after all, a place he particularly wanted more people to show up in.

Re: streets!

[andrastian]

Cullen was a reminder for Sebastian too, but not only of the dark days in Kirkwall,though his face was familiar enough for that. Sebastian also remembered how stupid he had been then, and the ways his silent support of the circle system as it was had hurt others through the years.

Mostly, he was reminded of the Gallows, and walking in there to deliver news. Or rather, to stand behind Hawke as he delivered the news. Sebastian had not had many things of his own to report to anyone. Occasionally, he'd run messages there when he'd been younger, but things had been different then.

The familiar reminder of Cullen's face should have made him more secure, but instead, it was a reminder that things here were different. If they could manage to kidnap a warrior like Cullen... Well, the Capitol was powerful indeed. He swallowed back a wave of nausea at the thought, and returned the nod.

"Commander." He answered in turn. "I take it things aren't so good as our hosts have made it seem. What a surprise." He added, tones turning towards sardonic.

"My advisors will be pleased by all of this, at least." He added, wryly. "We were due for a meeting and they hate having me about. It would appear I fidget. I don't suppose our captors are the sort to take a ransom either." He added, sighing, really.

This was...he wasn't certain that he knew the words to say about the entire ugly situation. All that said, he supposed this was a reality he must become used to, and it seemed that Cullen might have more of an idea of what was going on.

"You have been here long, then? You seem...acclimated to this somehow."

[revocation]

"They want no ransom," Cullen said quietly. "They only want bodies to fight in their barbaric arenas. I've been here a few months now. Be careful what you say. These people have technologies we can't even dream of in Thedas, and they're always watching. They have the ability to bring us back from the dead, but they don't always use it."

If nothing else, he deserves a warning.

[andrastian]

It sounded a bit like the last days of Kirkwall, amplified rather a great deal. In principle, there, one had had to watch who they were friends with, what they were heard saying, but nothing like what Cullen was suggesting here.

"Then the only way out is to..." Kill, actually. "...to fight." Sebastian shook his head, the gesture making him rather resemble a horse for the moment. It was not surprising, from his tone, but he still disliked it immensely.

"Well, he said, nodding to show that he understood Cullen's warning, and did not intend to ignore it in a place so public. "I suppose our tasks are clear enough. It should be...riveting." he settled on the word, his tone as dry as anything could be.

Brought back from the dead. That was more horrifying than anything else, and he'd winced as Cullen said it, but schooled his expression quickly in order to continue. Now that there was a pause though, he allowed himself to be privately upset by the idea. No one should hold another's life in their hands so directly. That power belonged to the Maker alone. This was right. It was the furthest thing from right besides trying to kill each other, which lacked any justice too. He did not know what he might do when the time came, but for now, he nodded grimly for a moment longer, then, realizing what he might do, placed a hand on Cullen's shoulder, stepped in closer and began chanting under his breath, making the section of the chant a prayer for both of them just now.

"Maker, though the darkness comes upon me,
I shall embrace the light. I shall weather the storm.
I shall endure.."

He paused a moment, after speaking, meeting Cullen's eyes with a serious gaze. "Perhaps that is all we might hope for, but I find it something we might work toward."

[revocation]

Cullen nodded a bit. It was about as bad as all that, really. Maker knew he was in prayer almost daily, here. Especially after that last arena.

"There are a number of us here from Thedas," he explained to the other man. "Some from - well, slightly different times, and even versions of events. You'll see when you talk to them. Hawke is here, I believe."

[andrastian]

The mention of Hawke should probably, if Sebastian were in a sensible frame of mind to remember the last several months, have put him somewhere further on the scale toward worry than relief, but all the same, when Cullen said that much, he did let out a breath, or rather more like an exhale.

"Hawke." He repeated the name like it was some sort of a lifeline, tossed out to a drowning man. He knew it wasn't quite fair of him to expect the man to work more miracles than he had done in Kirkwall, but all the same, it made one thing perfectly clear.

"Then we have a chance. We might endure." It was a known factor, at least, that Hawke's instinct for surviving could get them...well, perhaps no further than Cullen seemed to be suggesting they already were, but it could keep them there, for now. Sweeping victories were not so easily gained as to pin everything on one man, but still, he did feel better all the same. As much as one could, when it came to this. Although what he'd said just before garnered a blink.

"Different times and versions?" He repeated, frowning slightly as he tried to put that to mind. "Such as what might have happened had Hawke been a woman, or Anders stopped? Or from a point before certain events...perhaps I've said too much of the latter."

It was just...a curious concept that nothing had prepared him to consider, honestly.

make your move. | capitol streets.

[wardenings]

"I'm getting too old for all of this."

Of course, those were the first words out of the mouth of the ex-Templar, current Warden. Rolling his shoulders back, Alistair had just hoped to take a quick trip to this cold, metallic, strange city to get some intelligence for his and Tabris's benefits and head back, but it seemed that that was not what the Maker had in mind for him today.

Damn it.

Turning over his shoulder with a faux (albeit a bit convincing) surprise and curiosity, the swordsman greeted the other with a kind eye, arms crossing over his chest. "I'll do what I can, but I'm also a newcomer in these lands as well."

Now, why the hell did this fop look so familiar?

Re: make your move. | capitol streets.

[andrastian]

"I beg your pardon?" Sebastian asked, thinking, perhaps that the answer came from a case of mistaken identity, or perhaps several new tributes showed up asking for directions, often. As the case was, though, when the speaker turned, Sebastian realized that he recognized the man's face, though he'd last seen it rather briefly indeed.

"They really have brought everyone into the fold." He started, unable to keep the thought from remaining a silent one, and then he ducked his head, realizing he'd spoken out loud there.

"Ah...sorry." He managed, reaching up to scratch at his neck. "But your majesty of all people...."

[wardenings]

So, he's from one of the worlds in which Alistair is king? Cullen had been the first to bring that to his attention, and he did intend to have a long and detailed conversation with Tabris about this (maybe she can calm his rage? or maybe she knew just as much about it as he had... Alistair was in the dark on so much.)

"No, no, not 'your majesty'." He scratches the back of his head with a bit of an awkward chuckle. "But that does in fact confirm you are from Thedas."

He offers his hand to the man, smiling. "Alistair, of the Grey Wardens. But by your introduction, I suppose you already knew that much. Might I have your name? Your face looks familiar, as if I'd seen it once before, but I meet a lot of familiar faces on my travels."

[andrastian]

"Indeed?" That is rather an odd thought to consider "...but then, given that others from many worlds are here, perhaps it makes sense that those from other versions of Thedas would be here as well..." It's the sort of comment that Sebastian isn't aware he's making out loud, at first. When he catches that, he ducks his head.

"Ah sorry. I do not often try to think out loud. This is all so new to me, still. Warden Alistair, then." He corrects, and it's with the same measure of respect, given the man's role in helping to stop the blight back when he was young and in the Chantry, still.

He takes the offered hand, clasping it firmly. "Sebastian Vael, of Starkhaven. Prince of it, now." He adds, that last bit occurring to him as information he might as well share. "I've spent much of my life in Kirkwall, save for the last few years. You may have met a...version? of me there. I was a brother in the chantry and spent time with The Champion."

And was a relentless pain in the arse for many people, but...details, right?

[wardenings]

"Hawke, yes. I remember her well. I met her... once? Twice, perhaps. I will probably be seeing more of her face with what's going on in my home world."

"Or perhaps it was in the Chantry." Alistair crosses his arms over his chest, chin lifting as he examines this Sebastian character. "I grew up in the Chantry as a young boy-- the Arl of Redcliffe's wife put me there. I was there until I was.. ten? Yes, ten. Then, I was brought up by Duncan, in the Grey Wardens."

More details, more unnecessary introductions. He bet Anora didn't have to go through all of this all the time.

"Either way, you're here now and I know you, and for the most part, you know me. Prince of Starkhaven now, is it? Good on you, Sebastian. Or is it 'your majesty'?" Alistair's head shakes in dismissing his thoughts. "Every royalty has a different title now-a-days. Anyways. Directions, ser?"

[andrastian]

"Her?" That's set Sebastian to blinking surer than anything else might. It's another fact that's different from the world he has known, another new possibility of a world, or a lifetime that he may have had, a thousand incidents and choices that could have come out differently...or not been made at all. A Hawke to whom he didn't make, and keep, a promise that became a disaster when put into action, or a world where said promise wasn't necessary in the first place.

"We have another difference in homeworlds, then. But I can guess if you anticipate seeing Hawke, then someone's messed something important up and it needs to be set right." It was a reasonable educated guess, wasn't it? That was usually how it tended to go, so far as experience told him.

"Ah, the chantry." His tone was torn somewhere between ironic and fond. That was, he wasn't quite sure how to feel about it himself. Fond, because his time there had been good, but ironic because here was someone else who had been there for quite a time, whose destiny had suddenly been changed. "Another escapee! I only left myself two years ago. Though I was old and wild enough to be deserving of it when my parents sent me there. And it was the best thing that they might have done, but still. The lack of being able to come freely...It sets a precedent I still don't like." His gaze fell to his belt, where Andraste starred up at both of them. "I suppose she knows better what's going on than anybody else.

But so, the wardens. QUITE a leap if you don't mind me saying so. But just Sebastian here. You aren't someone who needs to earn my respect, King or not. And so we do. The Free Marches are stubborn...ah, independent that way."