OPEN

[anti_nonsense]

Who: Rita and YOU!
When: Day 28-29
Where: Around Rita's trailer.
What: Someone left catnip at Rita's trailer, cuteness commences, also general in-between-event stuff for anyone who wants it!

[home videos / open]

Passing through the trailer yard, one might find Rita crouched outside Trailer 19. Her wings seem to be missing several feathers, but beyond that, she appears to be unharmed and in good health despite all the recent chaos.

In fact, she's actually... having... fun?

The space just outside the trailer door appears to be heavily sprinkled with catnip and mint, and her Litten, Francis, purrs up a storm as he rolls around in it. Rita appears to be filming his adorable antics with a handheld video camera, grinning all the while. She doesn't immediately notice if someone else happens to be nearby.

[wildcard!]

Alternatively, Rita might be seen around the carnival, reading a book she picked up in Wismuth, putting the finishing touches on a thick manuscript she's been writing, or just hanging around the training grounds, trailer park, or cookhouse. If you want to do something else with Rita, feel free to tag with a different starter, or hit me up on plurk (pzue) to plot!

Comments

[anti_nonsense]

Rita nods at that first question. She understands the gravity of it all, and even for her, there are times that it doesn't seem real, throwing everything away and rebuilding it all from scratch...

"Well... I'd better start at the beginning. Where I'm from, humans can't use magic naturally. We rely on blastia... magic devices that draw energy from the environment and convert it into magical power that we can use." She brings a hand up to the red-jeweled collar on her neck. "This here is a type of blastia that enhances a person's combat abilities and makes it possible to cast spells."

Rita seems to visibly relax as she begins talking about the blastia. For a technology she just declared obsolete, she's still happy to talk about it at length.

[dirthena]

Lavellan nods, following her so far. "In my world, we can inscribe runes on weapons to give them magical properties. My staff," and she gestures to the thing strapped on her back, "has one that allows for spells used against the undead, demons, and Darkspawn to do more damage." So that much she understands.

But something Rita says catches her interest more. "You say 'possible to cast spells.' So one only needs to have a blastia to perform magic -- it isn't inherent in anything else?" Which was... different, to say the least. "I can't imagine a world were simply anyone could pick up a book and perform magic."

[anti_nonsense]

Right... Lavellan did mention before that magical potential was something people were born with, where she's from. "It's not easy to learn, but yeah, anyone with the right knowledge can use magic with blastia," Rita confirms with a nod, then continues explaining.

"The problem is with the energy it consumes. We call it aer. It's found all around us, but it's invisible at low densities. When people use blastia too much, or they use high-output formulas, they create an imbalance in the aer that has a negative effect on the environment. Plants might grow out of control... or they might stop growing at all, turning forests and grasslands to wastelands. Monsters become aggressive, people get sick... and if things continue, the eventual result is mass extinction."

[dirthena]

That would drive nearly everyone in Thedas insane, Lavellan thinks, with an amused grin. The templars would be beside themselves. But then Rita continues, and a dawning look of horror comes over her face. Magic in Thedas was a birthright to her, yes, but it was also only separated from the world by an artificial construct. That magic could be killing a world seemed horrific to her.

"Magic could kill off your world," she repeats, as if it will seem any less fantastical if she does so. "I take it that using blastia is common enough that it is a very... present problem?"

[anti_nonsense]

That's... accurate, but probably not Rita's favorite way to put it. She loves magic, and has always been the first to insist that magic can't be evil, blastia can't be evil, the only problems are the ways people use them...

Accepting the inherent harm of using blastia was a tough pill for her to swallow.

"Yeah... we use blastia for everything. They give us lighting, heat, clean water, protection from monsters... Asking people to give up blastia means asking them to give up their entire way of life. Some people will probably even die."

[dirthena]

That is a lot more than magic is used for in Thedas, although she wonders if that was what it used to be like. She would have to ask Solas about that, next time she saw him. Her expression is serious as she listens to Rita, nodding slightly. "And you hope to replace this by using spirits?" Would it work?

It wouldn't be the same, she can tell that right now. Not when so much of their livelihood depended upon it.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita nods, knowing full well how unlikely her plan sounds. "As much as possible, anyway. Unfortunately, there won't be much of a transition period... The creation of spirits requires blastia cores." She lifts her fingers once again, indicating the red jewel set in her choker as one such core. "And I'll be converting all of them at once."

[dirthena]

Oh. Something in Lavellan goes still as she stares at Rita. And then, seriously: "And you are willing to take all of this on your shoulders?" She knows what it did to Solas, and Rita is far too young to do so; she knows the cost, but Lavellan won't have her committing herself to this path without having it questions. Perhaps there's another way, Lavellan thinks, with the sinking feeling that there isn't.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita meets that stare briefly, then glances away. "I know it'll make me a villain in a lot of people's eyes. One of my reasons for writing this book is so there's no ambiguity as to why I'm doing what I'm doing." Without it, there would probably be no shortage of people eager to fill in the blanks with whatever motives they'd like to ascribe to her. Especially if, after enough time passes, people become frustrated with their current way of life and start longing for the 'old ways'. Best to make sure those future generations will have the facts available to them.

"Besides... I'm not doing this alone, exactly. I'm working with friends, and the world's leaders seem to approve of our plan."

[dirthena]

"It will," Lavellan says, with surety. "Although making sure there is a record of your actions will help prevent people from painting you even worse. Knowing that you had to make a decision, a terrible one, to save everything because there was no other way -- it will help." Her fingers tap against the table as she considers how to best phrase what she says next, not to encourage or dissuade her. That is for Rita to decide, after all, and Lavellan would never try to take away that choice.

That she isn't doing it alone, well. "That's good, then. You all seem to be aware of the cost." Was Solas, when he put up the Veil? Lavellan truly wonders, sometimes, if he knew what would happen or if the scale was too big for even he to know. "I cannot offer much advice, even if you were seeking it. The man I know who did something much like this in my world believes he has no other course but to undo it. See that you do not allow yourself to do similarly."

[anti_nonsense]

A faint smile tugs at the corners of Rita's lips. "That's the other reason I wrote it. Spirit magic might prove to have its own problems, and if people start thinking about going back to the way things were... well, this'll outline the dangers."

She brings up that man again, and Rita can't help but think of what Lavellan said during their fight with the Void. Maybe she can ask about it now... see if she's willing to elaborate.

"That man... is he really... I mean, you were together?" It's hard to come up with the right phrasing for the question, as it's still hard to believe.

[dirthena]

"Then you've done all you can. I wish you and your friends the best of luck." And it's honestly meant, for she can't imagine having to make a decision like that herself. Closing the breach was simple, was required for saving the world and did no good at all. But something like Rita's talking about, or the Veil -- that was different. Desperate decisions made by desperate people who say no other way.

Ah. Lavellan doesn't flinch so much as her eyes are focused on a point past Rita's head, somewhere over her shoulder. She hasn't talked about this, not with anyone post losing her arm. It was strange to think of Solas within that context, while knowing that it really wasn't strange at all.

"Yes." She says, after a moment. "Before I knew who he was, what he was planning on doing. I don't think he ever expected to fall in love, Creators know I didn't." A pause, wondering how much the other woman really wanted to hear. "There isn't much else to say unless you've a vested interest in tragedy."

[anti_nonsense]

"Right..." Rita murmurs, not willing to push the subject any further. "I guess people really can't help who they fall in love with..."

Is she still talking about Lavellan? It's not clear, and she quickly moves on.

"A-anyway, feel free to take a look at the draft, and let me know if you notice any mistakes or unclear parts. I'm hoping to make a polished final copy by the end of the month."

[dirthena]

Not clear at all, and she raises a brow. "Oh?" It's... an invitation for Rita to continue her side, if she wishes. After all, Lavellan has practice in dealing with issues and drama raised by her inner circle -- why should that be any different here? But she doesn't press it further than that. Except for one thing. "I had the chance to meet my predecessor -- the Inquisitor before me. I didn't have as long as I'd liked to have with him, but he said one thing to me that's stuck with me. Take moments of happiness where you find them. The world will take the rest." Whatever might be plaguing Rita in that moment of questionable and brief vulnerability, Lavellan hopes it helps.

As for the book, she nods. "I will, thank you. Is there anything else I should know before reading it?" Just in case she thought there were mistakes when it was her own ignorance.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita's cheeks redden slightly and she averts her gaze at the attention given to her remark. "I didn't mean..."

But she kind of did. And Lavellan's right. If Rita's happy, and 9S is happy, then regardless of any complications that might arise in the future, she should hold on to this. That's what she wants to do, anyway.

She takes a deep breath and rises to her feet. "No. Most of it should be self-explanatory." Well, except for the one chapter where she delves into heavy, complex math while describing the intricacies of blastia formulas. But other than that, the book is indeed mostly accessible, even to those unfamiliar with blastia.

[dirthena]

Her brow stays raised when Rita blushes, although a smile sneaks over her face. She leaves it there -- seeing no reason why she should investigate further. She doesn't need to pry, not if Rita's unwilling to be more forthcoming. So she nods, taking the book gently and paging through it.

"I appreciate it. And I'll get back to you with anything I don't understand or might need clarification. Thank you," she adds, with a small smile. For trusting her with this, and for accepting her apology in the first place.