[ Beleth watches Kostos with a curious interest. She's no mage, and the Dalish rarely consort with spirits, so she hasn't had many dealings with this type of magic. The--that's a spirit, right? A wisp?? The wisp is also observed, as much as Beleth can watch it without moving.
Once he finishes his little party trick, Beleth looks genuinely impressed, and gives him whatever the Thedas equivalent of a golf clap is. The news that she's managed to make a rude hand gesture is greeted with surprise--she's never heard of that before. But then, shemlen hand gestures--especially foreign shemlen hand gestures--are not her expertise. ]
I apologize, I didn't intend to cause any offense. I'll make sure to avoid it in the future, if you'll be so kind to forgive me.
[ A nicer person would clarify that he'd been joking. Kostos doesn't. He folds his arms behind his back and gives the room another surveying look. ]
I'm a medium. There are not many of us. I can see what they see—the spirits—and they mind me better than most. It is the most useful thing I can offer, but it makes many people nervous. [ His mouth does something that isn't quite a smile.] Not you, of course. [ The statement almost sounds like a question, prompting. That's partly because he'd like an answer, but partly because telling people you know they're brave is the best way to have them agree that they are, just to keep from looking bad. After a beat, he suggests, in the same almost-a-question tone: ] I have heard Dalish are fearless.
[ Beleth does smile at that, gives a soft breath of a laugh, ducking her head down. Compliments like that work well on everyone, but particularly Beleth. She could probably forgive someone for stabbing her if they did it while telling her how nice her hair looked. ]
The Dalish do not fear magic, as long as it is used carefully, with proper restraint. [ I swear the blood magic thing is rare. ] But you seem to have the proper restraint, so far. I trust you'll continue to maintain that.
Few things make me nervous. [ That is a LIE, everything makes her nervous. Existing makes her nervous. ] I'm sure you won't give me any reason to add you to that list. Being a medium does sound fascinating, I haven't heard of them before. Are they like spirit healers?
[ Kostos thinks for a long moment. Unfortunately, that last line was all the charm he has. He's out now. So at the end of that long moment, he wobbles his head like sort of but not really and says, ]
No. Anyone can do that.
[ Which, shit, sounds condescending—
And it is. A little. Kostos has no idea why mages who can choose not to risk possession (more so than usual) and have the Templars breathe down their necks (more so than usual) and have to deal with spirits (more so than usual) would volunteer for it just to be able to reattach limbs or whatever.
—but, shit. ]
I mean, people learn to be healers. We [ he twitches a hand toward himself ] just happen. [ Unfortunately, says his tone. But after another pause, one long enough that it almost indicates he's done talking, he adds, ] Thank you.
[ An eyebrow slooowly rises at the condescending tone in his voice. And his words. The whole package is kind of condescending. But it's not Beleth's circus, nor her monkey, so she'll leave the bickering over magic to the mages. Not like it effects her.
So it's a little surprising that she feels a pang of sympathy over that whole we just happen bit. It's the tone that gets her, the tone of...'this is how I was born, whether or not I like it'.
So when she speaks, she does it with a small smile. ]
Well, I'm glad that you happened, then. And that you happened into my division. That is an incredible gift that you have, Kostos. I look forward to seeing what we can do together.
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arlathvhen) wrote2015-02-18 01:05 am
no subject
Once he finishes his little party trick, Beleth looks genuinely impressed, and gives him whatever the Thedas equivalent of a golf clap is. The news that she's managed to make a rude hand gesture is greeted with surprise--she's never heard of that before. But then, shemlen hand gestures--especially foreign shemlen hand gestures--are not her expertise. ]
I apologize, I didn't intend to cause any offense. I'll make sure to avoid it in the future, if you'll be so kind to forgive me.
Where are you from, again...?
no subject
[ A nicer person would clarify that he'd been joking. Kostos doesn't. He folds his arms behind his back and gives the room another surveying look. ]
I'm a medium. There are not many of us. I can see what they see—the spirits—and they mind me better than most. It is the most useful thing I can offer, but it makes many people nervous. [ His mouth does something that isn't quite a smile.] Not you, of course. [ The statement almost sounds like a question, prompting. That's partly because he'd like an answer, but partly because telling people you know they're brave is the best way to have them agree that they are, just to keep from looking bad. After a beat, he suggests, in the same almost-a-question tone: ] I have heard Dalish are fearless.
no subject
The Dalish do not fear magic, as long as it is used carefully, with proper restraint. [ I swear the blood magic thing is rare. ] But you seem to have the proper restraint, so far. I trust you'll continue to maintain that.
Few things make me nervous. [ That is a LIE, everything makes her nervous. Existing makes her nervous. ] I'm sure you won't give me any reason to add you to that list. Being a medium does sound fascinating, I haven't heard of them before. Are they like spirit healers?
no subject
No. Anyone can do that.
[ Which, shit, sounds condescending—
And it is. A little. Kostos has no idea why mages who can choose not to risk possession (more so than usual) and have the Templars breathe down their necks (more so than usual) and have to deal with spirits (more so than usual) would volunteer for it just to be able to reattach limbs or whatever.
—but, shit. ]
I mean, people learn to be healers. We [ he twitches a hand toward himself ] just happen. [ Unfortunately, says his tone. But after another pause, one long enough that it almost indicates he's done talking, he adds, ] Thank you.
[ For the proper restraint comment. Belatedly. ]
no subject
So it's a little surprising that she feels a pang of sympathy over that whole we just happen bit. It's the tone that gets her, the tone of...'this is how I was born, whether or not I like it'.
So when she speaks, she does it with a small smile. ]
Well, I'm glad that you happened, then. And that you happened into my division. That is an incredible gift that you have, Kostos. I look forward to seeing what we can do together.