[Crystal] [Open]

[mal_adjusted]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Mal Draco
RECIPIENT: The Inquisition
WHAT: Some thoughts on phylacteries, blood magic, and magic.
WHEN: After the end of Phylactery Shenanigans
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Warnings for pro-Circle talk, child emotional abuse, and of course, blood magic.

[There's the slight tinkle of glass, and something thick being sloshed around in a tiny container. A deep, heartfelt sigh. Then Mal speaks softly.]

... this is the first and last piece of willing blood magic I have ever been part of. Everything else was, and still is, just scars on my soul and on my memory.

[She's silent for a moment.]

I'm from Nevarra. In Nevarra, mages are respected, given power and influence but they don't rule. There is - was - a Circle and it was ... amazing. Books and teachers willing to teach you just about anything about magic. I could go home whenever I wanted. The Templars there were strict, but respectful. It was ... competitive, for me. My mother was such a Nevarran institution - a Mortalitasi with a powerful reputation. I could never live up to her, her expectations. I thought excelling in the Circle would finally make her love me.

[Another tinkle of the glass.]

Instead, she just used me as a tool in her blood magic, and since she did that, I was the tool that stopped her. The scar is gone on my skin, but sometimes I trace over it, just to see if I can still feel the raised skin.

[Slosh, slosh.]

My mother was a terror. A monster who attempted to murder an innocent family because they didn't invite her to a baby's name day. The only way they stopped her was me, and finally, her phylactery. When I was taken to Ostwick, I was glad to see my vial wrapped up and packed away. I never wanted to be used as a tool for blood magic -- but I have always been, and and always will be, more afraid of what my desires will drive me to do.

I am my Mother's daughter, after all. Even if she never really wanted to admit that.

[A heavier sigh.]

I have always chosen to go back to a Circle, a safe place, after all this is over. One of our own making, where Carlos and I can feel secure again. Roof over our head, food in our stomachs ... and far, far away from the kind of people who would drag us back down into darkness. If nothing else, this has strengthened my belief of that. Mages, brothers and sisters of the Chantry, Templars and Seekers.... are all, in the end, just people, and people are weak. People will do what they have to, to survive. To move forward, to move up. People will do horrible things to other people, to get what they need, what they want.

[Fingers tighten around the glass object, before there's the sloshing sound of liquid being poured from one glass container to another. Yes, that might be liquor.]

So now, the Inquisition holds my leash after this whole thing and and ... I don't trust myself with it. I don't trust the Inquisition, or the Chantry either. So ... what do I do? Who do I give this to, who do I trust, to stop me when - if - I go too far?

[Tinkle of glass.]

Any ideas, Inquisition?s

Comments

[hearher]

I heard some of it. I honestly had to stop after a while. They really know how to talk down to us, don't they?

[mal_adjusted]

[She leaned back to look at him, raising one light eyebrow.]

You know ... it really doesn't matter who it is. Sooner or later as mages, we get talked down to.

[hearher]

Even by the ones who think they are doing what's for our 'own good,' yeah.

[After a moment, he admits] I think you handled that more diplomatically than you think. And you gave them more ground than I would.

I... I don't know if I agree with some of the stuff you said though. I don't think they should have the choice to be free. I don't think any of us should.

We should figure out how to stop the abuses, of course. But none of us should be allowed to wander around doing what we want without oversight. Even if it's other mages. We need to be checked.

At least I know that you'll do that for me.

[mal_adjusted]

[She rolls her eyes as she leans back. Huffs out a breath.]

Probably helped by the fact that I know Korrin is there, and she's a free mage. She's a friend and I don't want to insult everything she's given up to stay that way. I don't agree with it - she doesn't agree with me - but we respect one another.

[She goes silent for a moment, before covering his hand with hers.]

You know I will. I will put you down like you put me down. As for the other thing ... as much as I do not want mages like that asshole running around, I want him even less in my Circle. I want us to be safe, even from other mages.

[hearher]

[He offers her a small smile at that.]

That's actually a really good point.

[Then, after a moment] It's a shame he turned out to be such a jerk. I thought he was kind of funny when I first met him.

[mal_adjusted]

[She smirks at him, before her head tips.]

I thought he was just funny in the head. So there you go.

[hearher]

[He chuckles despite himself.]

You might be the better judge of character.