futurology | 001 [voice] @SERENE

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001 [voice] @SERENE

[Serene has never tried making these posts before and thus she's as formal as if she's making a speech, keeping her voice well-modulated and calm. She's matter of fact, unembarrassed by the subject she's raising]

Good afternoon. I hope that someone can help me in an urgent matter, but I fear this is a long shot.

I am looking for the wombsbane herb and I was wondering: are any of you cultivating a patch in private? Back home it grows as free as a weed but I have trekked through the gardens and forest here and have not seen as much as a seedling.

If not, are there any herbs from other worlds here that will lighten my menstruation and will render my womb barren? Womanhood is a burden I like to minimise as much as possible.

I thank you in advance for your time.

OOC: replies will come tomorrow!

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I haven't been looking, but I could see if I could find if there's any witherstalk anywhere. I'm afraid wombsbane isn't something from my world, so I wouldn't know it if I'd seen it, but maybe looking for other herbs as well will turn up something that will work for you?

[That wins him a bright smile from her]

Oh yes, would you? If my world's plant isn't here I can at least hope yours is instead.

Are you a herbalist, or do you just have experience with this plant in particular?

It's worth a shot anyway. And no, no personal experience exactly. My clan would harvest it for that and other uses though. More often to sell than to use ourselves but... sometimes there's a need.

Oh? And what other uses does it have?

[There's a smile in her voice as she continues]

You will have to tell me about your clan one day. I am sure the differences between us will be fascinating.

If dried and prepared well it can be used as a warming draught as well, good for colder weather or those more sensitive to chill. The sap of the green plant can be used to make potions for what you're after.

[The idea of talking to others about his clan clearly surprises him; few in Skyhold had time for or interest in Dalish life beyond a few simple questions, and he'd gotten used to not talking much about it with most people. He'd just assumed that it was similar here and hadn't thought that someone might actually want to know more.]

I think I'd like that. [He says after a long moment.] Thank you.

Why of course, for how am I to truly understand you if I do not understand your people and the philosophy of your culture? This fragment of reality is teaching me that my assumptions about even the seemingly most simple mindsets are nothing but dust.

[Whatever his people are, she's definitely warming up to them based simply on their pharmaceutical cleverness]

You are elves, not elfs? Am I remembering correctly?

I think you're one of the only humans- sorry, humen? [It feels like a strange way to say it but he tries to remember.] -who's ever shown interest in learning. While I have human friends in Thedas, they don't usually show more than a passing interest in other cultures, a question or two about the Dalish, that sort of thing. It's strange not to hear someone ask about our ways and immediately use it to talk about how much better theirs are.

[There'd been more than a couple of times he'd had to remember the way shemlen thought in the Inquisition and try not to take offence at their words or actions, so it's odd not to have to brace for that here as well.]

And yes, it's elves. We also call ourselves Elvhen, or the People, but those are usually more Dalish terms.

[She laughs lightly.]

I think every species has a word they use that means 'the People' rather than those others. Dalish... [She tries that term out on her tongue before continuing] I think those humans are missing out with their lack of curiosity; my favourite part of history is reading about interspecies relations. Do your people have allies or enemies among the other species? I assume that humans must be friendly to your race,

[Meallan can't help a bitter little laugh that escapes him at the casual assumption that elves and humans get along more than grudgingly. Yes, he's gotten used to it and doesn't resent the individuals he knows for the treatment of his people, but there's been more than a few times where it's been clear how they think about his people and their culture.]

Not exactly. [He says, pausing as he considers how to phrase his answer. Then he recalls her own dismissal of humans and being separate from them as well and decides to just come out with it.]

Humans have made my people little more than servants and slaves, and destroyed much of our culture. The elves that live in human cities are bound to slums and whatever work they can get, while we Dalish are often chased away from villages and towns for fear that we'll steal supplies, or suspicious stories of clans that blight crops and steal children away to use in magic rituals.

So no, not particularly friendly.

Ahh... [That sobers her abruptly. She inclines her head to him] I already strongly disagree with the opinions of the humans I have spoken to from other worlds. In this regard too I am certain that they are equally mistaken. I will judge you by your actions, not by their fears.

[Though now she's looking thoughtful, imagining for a moment what a catman would say when explaining how they're treated by the humen. She hums] Besides... if they let you live among them then you cannot truly be committing a mortal crime. There are real childsnatchers in my world, who steal those small enough to be carried to devour their flesh, and we do not let them near our furthest borders, let alone within our towns our towns.

I don't know if it counts as living. [Despite her efforts to likely defuse the situation, Meallan can't help the bitter anger, ingrained from centuries of conflict, that taints his voice and outlook.]

The Alienages are slums, places no one else would ever want to life and that elves can't leave. And there's been instances in the past of Alienages getting 'cleansed' if the humans think it necessary. Even my own clan was targeted by shemlen and likely would have been killed if I hadn't been able to intercede.

[Feeling the old fear and anger there starting to push at him, Meallan takes a breath and lets it out slowly, trying to remind himself that it doesn't matter here. He's the only one from Thedas, to his knowledge, and none of the humans here have harmed his clan.]

Sorry. I know that everyone here, or at least all I've met so far, they're much the same and care more about my actions than my ears. But Thedas is different. If not for the Inquisition, all any humans would see is a Dalish savage.

[She holds up the hand not wearing her bracelet in a soothing, calming gesture]

That is all any of us can judge each other on: our actions, not our resemblances to beings from other worlds. Peace, my friend, you do not need to return to that place.

[He sighs, aware he's likely overreacting and resolving not to let it get to him as much, or that perhaps it would be easier to avoid discussing the matter at all in the future.]

No. I have to return to Thedas as soon as I can. But I'll keep in mind that my troubles there don't apply here.

[Meallan straightens and inclines his head in a bow to her image. His tone is more formal as he continues, falling back on what he'd learned of court and the polite distance that masked anything that might be used against him or others.]

I apologise for distracting you from your reasons for addressing the network, Lady. I'll take my leave and look into what I can find out about your request for supplies.

[She bows her head in return]

Thank you, but please, call me Serene when we next meet. I would like to consider you a friend.

[And with that she ends the call]

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001 [voice] @SERENE

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