sirenspull | voice;

Entry tags:

voice;

[When the NV turns on, there's some faint noise in the background. There are a few people talking, too far away from the device to be heard properly, and there's the sound of a piano somewhere.]

When I worked in investigations back home, the worst I ever had to worry about was paperwork. The system was meticulous - overly so - and everything had to be done perfectly. Actual crime was low and the perpetrators were always caught and dealt with in one way or another. No one remembered criminals, either. Their names and ID numbers would disappear off the grid, smothered into silence. In retrospect, it was as efficient as it was suspicious.

[There's a hushed voice near the NV and Re-l thanks someone briefly.]

I've said it before, when I first arrived here, that this system is so much more corrupt and lacking...and yet it's also similar to my home. It's not the police and it's not the politicians, necessarily, that are the trouble. It's the people. They're so full of hate and stupidity, and they lash out at anything that's different. No one can be critiqued, especially not by a Newcomer.

[A bottle is opened and she pauses to pour herself a glass. She drinks it down quickly.]

They hate us enough to treat us like animals and hunt us. The best part of it is that no one wants to admit that it happens and no one is safe. Not official citizens, not cops, no one. Charming, isn't it?

[She leans back in her chair, the wood creaking. She's silent for a few moments, and though she wants to say something helpful...she just can't. Not over the network.]

If you have information about the people who were caught or those involved in the destruction of the hunting grounds, I suggest you go to the authorities immediately. Fill out a report, make sure you get a follow-up call, and cooperate with the detectives. If you come into the station ready to throw chairs or threaten officers, you will be thrown out or locked up. Don't piss them off.

...And one more thing. [She sets the bottle down with an audible thump.] Behave yourselves and stop getting your names on my desk, goddammit.

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[She pokes her head up from the file she's reading when she hears the door, and she stands to let him in. She gives him a faint smile.]

Hi. Come on in and have a seat.

[There's a short couch to one side of her desk, doubtlessly used for the nights when she stays there, and two chairs in front. She takes her seat once more and grabs the small stack of files and sets them on the ground beside a bottle of some sort of liquor.]

[He takes a seat in one of the two chairs, fumbling with the contents of his pouch before pulling out his letter - folded and placed in an envelope neatly - and a small tar grenade, wrapped for safety. The officers had asked him to leave his sword at the front, but they did not confiscate this for blah blah blah reasons.

He placed them both on her desk.]

I wanted to thank you.

[She looks at both items curiously, though the larger one gets a bit more scrutiny. After a moment, she leans over to take both and pull them closer for further inspection. The letter is opened first and she reads it.

There's two different sets of handwriting she realizes, though she doesn't comment on it. A smile tugs its way onto her lips.]

You didn't have to do that. I'm no good with furniture and I knew I'd be useless to help you when you and your roommates asked for assistance.

[She looks at the letter again, chuckling quietly.]

I appreciate it. Thank you.

[And then she taps the point of the paper to the grenade itself.]

...But what is this, exactly?

[He's relieved she seems to accept his gratitude without much prodding. Explaining his feelings is never his strong suit. It always leaves him feeling vulnerable, and a vulnerable Fenris is a cranky, angry Fenris.]

Whether I had to or not, I wanted to. It is only right, I feel, to thank you the best way I can.

[He shifts in his seat out of habit. he never really could sit still.]

It is a tar bomb. It's been useful in my travels, and it is my hope that it will be useful in yours. It immobilizes any enemy for an amount of time.

[A tar bomb. Now that's a gift she's never received before. She picks it up and turns it over in her hand, admiring the make of it. Her smile widens into something of a smirk.]

Oh, I think it'll definitely come in handy. Thank you.

[She turns her gaze to him.]

The chair was all right, wasn't it? If it's uncomfortable, I can get it exchanged.

I've never sat in nicer.

[He gives a small but genuine smile. He's slept in it every night, really. It's more comfortable to him in a way. He feels more alert, more ready to hop up at a moment's notice. He's tested the beds, and he didn't like them. Their springs and foam were simply too luxurious.]

You-- did not have to.

[But he won't insult her choice by giving it back or slipping coin on her desk or anything.]

[Others might have let that comment slide. Re-l, though, ever curious, does not.]

No? That's saying something.

[But she does not recognize that he's flattered or even uncomfortable, choosing to take the moment to lean back in her chair and look at him squarely. She shakes her head.]

I was new here once too. It was lonely, aggravating, and tiring. At first, any surface that was soft was adequate for me. But I still remember wishing I had help, even advice, no matter how small.

I didn't have to give it to you. I wanted to.

[She smiles slightly, that ghosting expression barely there on her lips.]

You left an impression on me and you're a good man. There was no reason for me not to lend a hand.

And now you are an influential figure, an authority to be recognized.

[It's not that he likes authority in particular, but he likes the good they can do to protect a society. Particularly mages, but women like Re-l and Aveline did not need to stop at just mages. It is noble and so very, very necessary. As long as he gets to keep doing things like hole up in abandoned mansions and stick his hand down magisters' chests.]

And just as you've offered your hand, allow me to offer mine.

[He holds his out -- not for her to take but in demonstration. The lyrium glows bright. He doesn't wear his armor anymore, so his hands are bare, allowing the lines to be seen rather clearly.

Then he sticks it straight into the desk.]

If you require my help for anything at all, just say the word.

Not nearly so influential, I assure you.

[Not enough to make a difference. Not really. She'd keep trying so long as the job suited her. These days, she thinks about leaving the force if only to follow in an old friend's footsteps, even if she'll never put on a damn costume to do it.

She watches him lift his hand, his body brightly glowing. Her eyes widen as he shoves his hand into her desk. Every muscle in her body screams at her to move, that this is dangerous and he could very well hurt her...but, as she's always done, she stays perfectly still. She stares at his hand, her eyes traveling upwards to his face.]

You're-- How are you doing that?

[Her gaze runs along the lines in his skin, exposed to her sight.]

Is it those markings?

[He nods before retracting his hand, resting it on the chair's arm and de-glowing, acting as calm as if he didn't just stick his hand in someone's very solid desk with no damage done.]

These markings are made of lyrium, a magical substance in my world. I am not sure how they work exactly, but they allow me to-

[do the magical fisty thing?]

-well, I believe you could see for yourself.

[Magical substance. She wants to ask if there's any in the city, if it's addictive, and if he needs it to do what he does...but those are all quite personal and she has no room to ask. This isn't an interrogation, after all.

Re-l stands and goes to her door, glancing out to make sure no one saw him light up. She shutters the small window and goes back to her desk.]

You don't do that in public, do you? SERO would snatch you up if they saw the things you could do like that.

[She'd mention AGI but they've already spoken on that.]

Do you fight?

Luckily, I have experience evading those who hunt me.

[He means killing. But he is in the office of a police officer. He's learned that just throwing that word around isn't all that accepted in this city.]

I do. Your men have asked that I leave my weapon at the door.

You should still be careful. SERO has Voids, people who can nullify powers just by being nearby. AGI has a few as well but not nearly so many. The police force has quite a few of them too, as well as the tech.

[She even has one set of Void cuffs too, though it took her far too long to get them.]

What do you use?

Normally, two-handed weapons. But those usually bring unwanted attention, so I have taken to smaller swords.

[He's not so afraid of these modern versions of templars. He has his blade and his skill - they would not best him. They would not take him.]

[Swords. Oh boy, that's going to be fun to work with.]

You'll find there are still plenty of people who use them, small or otherwise. [She smiles crookedly.] I know someone personally who does.

[Granted, he also uses a myriad of weapons, but that was beside the point. Re-l sits back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face.]

I don't want to promise anything to you, Fenris. I can call on you for things, for your strength, but they might not be things you're used to doing. And it might not be for some time.

[She doesn't want to endanger people, even if they're strong enough.]

...But if you're willing, I would gladly accept any help you'd give me.

Whatever the reason, my blade is yours.

[He nods in affirmation, as if showing just how determined he was to return her gift with a favor. Besides, from their last conversation, it seems their interests aligned in some ways. He may be a bit less...lawful about it in thought. But it's not like he goes around killing slavers on sight. Even back in Kirkwall, it would have been difficult without Hawke's help.]

You have my word.

[She really isn't certain whether she should be flattered or concerned that he's willing to help. She'll take it, though, and nods in compliance.]

Thank you. And I mean it. I appreciate whatever you can do to help if and when I call.

[Re-l just hopes it won't be under dire circumstances.]

Have you found some kind of employment here?

Ah-

[Zevran mentioned that bounty hunters had aliases for good reason. But that was to protect them from the hunted, right? It wouldn't hurt if he told her.]

Yes, I have. It is not steady, but it pays well.

[When all else fails, be vague.]

[Not that it makes her suspicious or anything, really. But it's not her business and so she nods just the same.]

Fair enough.

[She needs to stop worrying about people, honestly.]

If you need any more help, anything at all, you can come to me. Connections aside, I can lend a hand if you need.

[Her smile widens just a little.]

Beyond just chairs, I mean.

You scratch my back, and I will scratch yours. That is how the saying goes, is it not?

[He shifts thoughtfully, his smile soft but genuine.]

It is good that if power should be had at all, even a little, that someone like you would possess it.

[She snorts softly.]

A chair isn't worth someone's arm.

[Or their life. But it's her turn to look surprised, though not necessarily uncomfortable.]

You barely even know me. You don't really believe you can trust that much power to a stranger.

You could say I have a good intuition.

[And he usually did. After all, the slavers and hunters never caught up with him. And in the end, he'd met Hawke.]

It hasn't failed me yet.

[That gets him a slight rise of one eyebrow. But then, she smiles.]

If that's the case, then I'll make sure not to prove you wrong.

You need not prove anything, but as you wish.

[He stands, now, having fulfilled his purpose.]

Perhaps we will speak again. Over- [He gestures vaguely] -the NVs.

[She shrugs and stands, showing him to the door.]

More than likely.

[When she opens the door, she turns back to him, thinking on something else.]

Or we could spar sometime, if you're free.

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