I have come to believe whoever assigns these names may be better off on the front lines.
This is your first mission then? You must be delighted. The sergeant, Chiron. We only encounter him in person on the base. He is half-man and half-horse, a combination that looks as awkward as it sounds, and apparently very long-lived.
I'm guessing it's going to be one of those 'see to believe' situations, yeah? I mean the last time I was taking orders from anyone, the guy kinda had the face of a bulldog.
That might have just been an unfortunate genetic situation though.
You say that, but you know of someplace where people aren't dicking each other over at every opportunity? Because I've seen a lot of worlds in the universe, but not that many.
You've seen one war, you've kind of seem them all. They're just various levels of 'how much does this suck and how much are they gonna owe me for this one'.
Answer to both is usually 'enough', if you're lucky. But it can vary.
Unlike you, apparently, I never traveled between worlds before COST. There is something to be said for never having an enemy here that is not human flesh and blood; men are trying but often predictable. The only enjoyable part about being in a world without magic is taking people by surprise with it, and I tire of trying to preserve a world that means nothing to me.
Did you volunteer for this supposed greater good? I doubt anyone will end up feeling they owe you much for your participation.
[ Magic? Alright, all of this has been pretty fantastical, the time-travel and wacky hijinks therein, but magic outright? That's of interest. He's going to prod at that later. ]
Eh. It's honestly not that hard to get me to help out in a fight. You just pay me what I'm worth. I'm good at what I do, still in my prime, and what's life without work? I'm easy, believe me.
Of course, normally this sort of shit would cost a fortune, and I'll be honest. Pay could be better. But the way I see it? We're touching time itself. All these influential battles, people who shaped the history of the world, and they owe us.
I woke up in a tent in Jerusalem to a quick explanation and a blanket acknowledgment that something had gone wrong, leaving some of us with no memory of our recruitment.
A few months ago we captured a Regency spy. We woke in the night to screaming in her tent and saw her slowly removed by something unseen, part by part. Bloodless but seemingly no less painful. We are led to believe it is the Regency's doing, of course. COST does at times seem disorganized, but I have no reason to assume they are incapable of what I saw. I want to return to my own life, preferably with the knowledge that what happened to that spy cannot happen to me.
[ Currency and fame matter little as long as she is not stuck on any particular world. Perhaps if Earth had a lick of magic she would have more material desires. ]
It is not uncommon but often frowned upon. Some do hide their power. Mages in my part of the world are often hunted down and herded together, their talents directed into certain branches of magic and watched closely for deviation from the chantry-prescribed path.
Well yeah. Because most people will use that power over someone else quick as thinking, just because they can.
If you -- and here I'm speaking in the metaphorical 'you' -- knew you you'd do something awful the second you were able to, someone else even having the option is terrifying. Doesn't matter what they'd actually want to to do with it, or what kind of person they are. We all expect someone else to be exactly the kind of asshole we would be.
I am accustomed to suspicion, but I have yet to see a desire to go out of one's way to do good for others magically make someone a more tolerable person. Often not even a more tolerant person.
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un: @basicwitch
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I'm gonna go ahead and guess they don't have 'Felix the Cat' where you're from.
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I know no such name. Is it supposed to be an actual animal?
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Kind of a dated reference, but every now and then someone thinks it's cute to bring up. Like I've never heard it before.
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I assume you only share a name then, but after taking orders from a horse man one must wonder.
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Okay one, that's super weird and you're gonna have to give me details on that.
Two, ding ding! Give the lady a prize. 100% flesh-and-blood human, thank you very much.
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This is your first mission then? You must be delighted. The sergeant, Chiron. We only encounter him in person on the base. He is half-man and half-horse, a combination that looks as awkward as it sounds, and apparently very long-lived.
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I'm guessing it's going to be one of those 'see to believe' situations, yeah? I mean the last time I was taking orders from anyone, the guy kinda had the face of a bulldog.
That might have just been an unfortunate genetic situation though.
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And yet the horse man is quite real. I, for one, would like to see him in combat.
Are you from Earth?
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You?
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Many of our number seem to call it home. My own is called Thedas. What is yours?
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You've seen one war, you've kind of seem them all. They're just various levels of 'how much does this suck and how much are they gonna owe me for this one'.
Answer to both is usually 'enough', if you're lucky. But it can vary.
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Did you volunteer for this supposed greater good? I doubt anyone will end up feeling they owe you much for your participation.
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For the greater good? Why, did you?
I volunteered, but sure as Hell not for that.
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I have no memory of agreeing to any of this at all.
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Of course, normally this sort of shit would cost a fortune, and I'll be honest. Pay could be better. But the way I see it? We're touching time itself. All these influential battles, people who shaped the history of the world, and they owe us.
Can't say that about every job.
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Is that knowledge satisfying enough, or do you expect to somehow collect this debt?
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Hope you're getting something out of this.
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What I get out of this remains to be seen.
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A few months ago we captured a Regency spy. We woke in the night to screaming in her tent and saw her slowly removed by something unseen, part by part. Bloodless but seemingly no less painful. We are led to believe it is the Regency's doing, of course. COST does at times seem disorganized, but I have no reason to assume they are incapable of what I saw. I want to return to my own life, preferably with the knowledge that what happened to that spy cannot happen to me.
[ Currency and fame matter little as long as she is not stuck on any particular world. Perhaps if Earth had a lick of magic she would have more material desires. ]
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But coming away with just that? Come on. Dream a little bigger. If you could get anything out of this, seeing what you've seen is possible.
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I could enjoy taking home the ability to travel into my world's past or future, but my trust in COST's technology is questionable.
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Which is also a possibility, let's be real here.
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Y'know, on second thought, maybe they have an HR department. You could launch a formal complaint! See how far that goes.
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What is hr?
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Not familiar with that, either, I take it.
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You said you've got magic. That in large supply where you're from, or do you hide it, all Britsh boarding-school style?
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I am told some go willingly.
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Same bullshit as anywhere else. Maybe not with magic, but power in general?
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People fear what they cannot control. A widespread truth, I suppose.
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If you -- and here I'm speaking in the metaphorical 'you' -- knew you you'd do something awful the second you were able to, someone else even having the option is terrifying. Doesn't matter what they'd actually want to to do with it, or what kind of person they are. We all expect someone else to be exactly the kind of asshole we would be.
Human nature.
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Or worse.
And what kind of asshole are you?
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You?
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Unless my life or the fate of world is at stake I have little interest in going out of my way for anyone else.
[ She sees little to fault in that, but she has learned that others do not feel the same. ]
And I am more interested in useful like-minded allies than friendships.
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That's a whole different breed of asshole. They don't tend to like people like you and me, much.
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I am accustomed to suspicion, but I have yet to see a desire to go out of one's way to do good for others magically make someone a more tolerable person. Often not even a more tolerant person.
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I'm guessing it just doesn't happen that way. What a shock. This is me, so surprised right now.
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You'll have to go on without me.
I know, I know. It's gonna be a struggle. But you can do it. I believe in you.
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In fact, I should soldier on this very minute. If I have further pressing questions I will be sure to let you know.