crystal; why are any of you even here?

[catathymic]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Connor (catathymic)
RECIPIENT: Everyone
NOTES: None!

[ it's around midday when a hesitant, distinctly fereldan voice comes over everyone's crystals. ]

Grood day, Riftwatch. My name is Connor, I'm a... guest of your organization. I have a question for... well, anyone who will answer me.

You're all here to fight Corypheus and his cultists, but there are a number of organizations, institutions, even nations arrayed against him already. You could have joined an army, or been an agent of the Maker's divine will in the Exalted March. Why did you choose Riftwatch? What brought you here, specifically?

And... I know there are those who have to stay here. You with the anchor shards, like the Herald, Maker rest her, and... Rifters.

[ still not sure you all aren't demons, honestly, but if the chantry says you're not... ]

Would you leave, if you could? Join an army, or the March? Or even just... flee to the furthest reaches of Thedas and hope the war didn't find you?

[ a long, uncomfortable pause. ]

Also. If anyone has... odd jobs. Paying, that is. Or a line on a local business in need of a temporary employee. I would appreciate any leads to that effect.

[ awkwardly, ] Thank you.

Comments

[elegiaque]

Anyone who thinks a war that rips the fade through the sky is avoidable in a world that has the fade and the sky is an idiot. Our idiot population has largely taken care of itself over time.

[catathymic]

[ oh thank goodness, someone he knows—connor doesn't sound nearly so unsure, talking to gwen. ]

Well, yes. But I didn't want to put anyone off by saying so immediately. It's a genuine question, I want genuine answers, even from the idiots.

[elegiaque]

Well, you scoop them up, I’ll remember their names, ( dryly. )

[catathymic]

That sounds... dark, [ with mild concern. not for the idiots, but just, like, in general. ]

[elegiaque]

It’s funny how often things are in massive international wars.

[catathymic]

[ opens mouth, closes mouth. switching topics seems like the best thing to do here, actually. ]

You've been with Riftwatch quite a long time, haven't you? Since it was still part of the Inquisition.

[elegiaque]

I wasn’t a member that entire time, but yes— Trevelyan hadn’t been gone a year when I was sent to Skyhold.

[catathymic]

That's quite a while to remain with one organization. May I presume that means you find Riftwatch's approach to the threats we are under preferable to the other options available?

[elegiaque]

I have an anchor-shard, ( matter of fact, not sharp,) so there are no other options for the work that Riftwatch is doing, for me, and besides that none that are meaningfully equivalent to the specific work that we’re doing.

[catathymic]

So even if you could leave, you wouldn't? You find it so preferable to the alternatives?

I ask out of genuine interest, if it matters. In the past year or so I've come to realize how... singular Riftwatch is. I want to hear more about it from the perspective of those who have chosen to hitch their efforts to its star.

[elegiaque]

To what we’re particularly doing, I’m not really aware of any alternatives?

( it doesn’t sound like she’s trying to be difficult or play at ignorance; it seems a genuine disconnect, that she can’t intuitively leap to what he’s comparing it to. )

[thereneverwas]

Proper armies're overrated.

Can always use more hands in the training yard.

[catathymic]

Can you... expand on that thought?

[ barrow he hasn't held a sword since he was ten, you do NOT want him in the training yard. ]

[thereneverwas]

[A dry laugh:] odd jobs.

[catathymic]

[ okay but he meant about the armies thing— ]

I see. They would pay, these odd jobs? I am not in a position to do any work without pay, unfortunately.

[ guess who was pickpocketed of all of enchanter vivienne's generously-loaned money his first day in kirkwall. guess. ]

[thereneverwas]

Then you'll be thrilled to know joining up with Riftwatch comes with regular pay.

But I s'pose if you're not planning on staying long I can kick some coin your way, aye.

[catathymic]

Joining up also means leaving my post with the Enchanter's Académie, which I am unwilling to do. I'd be grateful for any work provided while I do remain, of course! Whom shall I approach in the yard for work?

[thereneverwas]

Oh. Uh... me. Barrow. 'm there in the mornings.

[extortionate]

I got a job for you. Courier work, nice and quick.

[catathymic]

Oh. Oh! Well, what would I be couri...ing?

[extortionate]

It's a box, but that's the thing — gotta be discreet. Can't look inside.

[catathymic]

[ hm. hmmmm. hmmmmmmmmm! ]

Unfortunately I will have to decline, [ genuinely a little disappointed, beggars can't be choosers you know, ] I can't guarantee I wouldn't peek.

[extortionate]

Even locked?

[catathymic]

I would have far too many questions about the nature of the job. Who is the box for? Why can you not take it yourself? If I take it, will I be taking the fall for a crime I had no awareness of?

I wouldn't be an effective runner. Too much curiosity.

[extortionate]

[ the laugh is wide and bluff – ]

Rules you outta most of them. No one paying likes lip.

[armd]

Wanna try saying the word 'rifters' with a little more positivity?

[catathymic]

Was my tone negative? I do apologize, that wasn't intentional. Are you a Rifter?

[ so carefully neutral—not positive nor negative, just neutral. ]

[armd]

Yeah. (Unlike him, she's blunt, edging into annoyance.)

And I wouldn't leave if I could.

[catathymic]

No? Aside from the anchor, what keeps you here? Friends, material comforts?

[ once again, SO neutral, he doesn't want to imply that he finds this last option exceedingly improbable (he does), ] The work?

[armd]

It's my home.

[altusimperius]

[silent happy weeping]

[portalling]

Sounds like a reverse job interview question. “Tell me, what do you like about working here and why do you stay at this company?”

[catathymic]

[ credit to stephen: he gets a small chuckle out of connor with that. ]

I suppose it does at that. That's not entirely my intention, though I can't deny your organization has unique merits to recommend it.

[portalling]

So what is the intention, if not fishing for reasons to join?