un: sieglindesullivan / video

[grunehexe]

[If you've ever seen an illegal cam recording from the back row of a theater, you are familiar with the style of this broadcast.

Observe, (as best you can), the players upon the stage. The stage being the cave in which many of them have taken shelter from the storm outside, specifically a large, flat rock, at which two fine male specimens you may recognize as Achilles, son of Peleus, and a certain McCree, locked in the midst of a fierce... arm wrestling battle.

Bare arm muscles flexing, beads of sweat dripping, jaws gritting, knuckles white and shaking, eyes narrowed in concentration and competition, testosterone veritably sparking in the air... as two very fit grown men have it out in a no holds barred thirst-fanning battle of the bulges. Arm muscle bulges.

You might catch glimpse of the lovely referee, (blond, very appropriately serious about judging this contest, thanks, Riza), and hear snatches of people rooting for a particular candidate, (the broadcaster herself seems to favor Achilles, if "steel yourself for victory, Achilles!" is any indication), but mostly this is about enjoying a good man on man test of strength.

Until, that is, a voice can be heard.]

- Are you recording that?

[The video sadly? and promptly goes black as the magitek jewelry is clutched to a bosom in scandalous retort.]

Is it not a sight worth sharing? For posterity, you see-

[And apparently she thought it best to post... for posterty. What? Any lady or inclined fella unfortunate enough to not see it go down surely wouldn't want to miss the show... ?]

Comments

[strikingtwice]

Only women?

[It seems strange, the kind of thing heard more in stories while he was growing up, about strange witches far south in distant Ferelden. Not something that really happened anywhere.]

What about male children? Or if someone wanted to marry and have a family?

[grunehexe]

Only women- all the descendants themselves of witches who fled persecution generations ago.

[She can say them in a way that sound true, because she'd believed it most all her life. It almost seems like it's still true.]

No men are allowed- none of my women marry, and we bear no male heirs. Only women can continue the line.

[strikingtwice]

They didn't persecute any men for having magic? Why not?

[These strange issues with women in other worlds are starting to sound concerning the more he hears about them. How many worlds have these strange ideas?]

But what happens to male children born into the village? Surely you don't kill them?

[grunehexe]

Men do not usually manifest the same abilities as witches... there are far few warlocks in our region.

[The fun that comes of a melting pot team...]

We bear no male children- there are ways to assure the child is female.

[strikingtwice]

I suppose that's good at least. [Because he doesn't much like the idea of children being harmed for how they were born.]

So... do you mean there are men with magic as well, but it's different? How?

[grunehexe]

I cannot say for sure, I was only told it was different- I had never met one, before coming here.

I had never left my village.

[strikingtwice]

I see. That must be difficult for you then, coming here after you've been used to your village your whole life. Having everything taken from you and finding yourself in a situation like this, where everything is different and strange...

I can be hard to adapt to.

[grunehexe]

I suppose it is hard for most people to adapt to...

[Maybe. Especially for her, but. She likes to think maybe others have similar problems, if only for comfort.]