entrancelogs | Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket

Entry tags:

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket | OPEN

Who: EVERYONE and all the stars in the sky
Where: Mostly on the grounds, though some have crashed through windows and walls.
When: 2/29 → 3/6
Rating: PG-13, label it if you're gonna go higher.
Summary: Shooting stars have fallen in Wonderland, and they're bringing with them glimmers of Wonderyears past! A catch all log for the fallen star holograms.
The Story:

Each glittering, golden star brings the woosh of a sonic boom and there are impacts that shake the whole world. They crash hard into the snow, the trees, and even break through a few windows. None of them leave behind meteors or space debris, but instead just a glimmering cloud at each point of impact. In each gold light is a projection, a scene lit by starlight and moondust, a memory of years ago. Even if someone were to be struck by one, it would simply pass through them.

These are just the first stars to fall. More will come the next night, and the night after that, and perhaps even more. When budding astronomers look upward, they will notice fewer and fewer constellations dot the night sky with each passing day.

All memories are semi-opaque, and will play in a loop in one spot the whole time. Most stars will have landed somewhere on the grounds, but some might have crashed through a window, playing their memory inside the mansion. Characters can listen to and watch the scenes as many times as they like, but they will be unable to influence or interact with the memories in any way.

You can make a top level comment with all the scenes people will get to see. Please include who is in your memory and where it can be found somewhere in your top level. Either prose or [action brackets] are welcome! And finally, check out our plotting post for reminders on what everyone's doing, or ideas for the finishing touches on your memories or the most recent event announcement for more on the falling stars.

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[ But it's usually such an effective tactic, Alistair. ]

If it comes to that, I will. I wouldn't make such a decision without consulting Dorian first. [ And potentially Cullen, even though the Commander isn't as familiar with Brennan as Brennan is with him. ] I'd never hear the end of it, for one thing.

[He knows, he uses it all the time. That's why it's not going to work on him.]

Well, good. [So long as that's sorted and Brennan isn't going to do something stupid and rash if his hand does start misbehaving. Then they can move onto hopefully more pleasant subjects.] ...Nags does he?

[Like finding things to use against Brennan should he need them.]

[ Brennan just laughs. ]

I'm not answering that question. I know when to avoid implicating myself in something that will land me in trouble later.

Oh come on! I promise I won't tell him if you say yes!

[He might tell someone else but not Dorian. He is a man of his word.]

Fine then. [If he's not getting any blackmail material then-] Can I ask you something?

[ He's not buying the innocent act either, Alistair.

He just grins crookedly and shrugs at the question. ]

Of course. What would you like to know?

[Well that's just not fair.]

Ah- [Now that he's got permission he feels kind of weird asking it, but after talking about Leliana and Cullen earlier he's too curious not to.] Did you know who I was before we met here? And not from talking to Robyn? Your Commander recognised me so I was... wondering if you did too.

[ Brennan hesitates for the briefest of moments before inclining his head. ]

Yes. We met, once. And exchanged a few letters. Or we will. Possibly. I'm afraid it's rather up in the air which of our paths will actually intertwine and when, given how diverse all our memories happen to be.

The leader of the Inquisition could be my penpal? I can live with that.

[No, that's not what Brennan meant but he's not that interested in the details. Just in confirming that his survival after the Blight seems to be a constant fact no matter who he's talking to.

Turning back to the images he smirks and nods at the group.]

So. Qunari, dwarves, Tevinter magisters, crazy ex-sisters, a templar and you. Who's the normal one in the group?

We tackled Orlesian politics together at that.

[ Brennan laughs, then leans back in his chair as he follows Alistair's gaze and grins, counting off the other options on his fingers. ]

I'm pretty sure I'm the normal one of the bunch, but there's also the crazy elven Red Jenny whose idea of fun is pranking everyone in the castle. The Grey Warden who in fact wasn't a Grey Warden at all. A spirit of Compassion from the Fade who manifested in a human body on this side of the Veil to help people. A Seeker with a fondness for terrible romance novels. An elven apostate who may or may not be an ancient god, and an Orlesian Circle mage who is quite possibly the most terrifying woman I will ever meet.

....Oh, and Morrigan. She came to help us for a while as well.

You better not be saying you stabbed me in the back or I'm going to be hurt.

[That's how Orlesian politics works, isn't it? Everyone puts on a mask and then they stab each other in the back.]

....Wow. And I thought the people I met during the Blight were a weird bunch. I think you've outdone us. [And they all sounded like they'd be worth getting to know, except for-] Morrigan's still alive in your time? [His tone and expression make it clear he'd be much happier if the answer was 'no'.

Shaking his head to dislodge any unpleasant thoughts of the witch, Alistair turns his attention back to the other members of the Inquisition Brennan listed and the one of greatest interest to him personally.]

What do you mean by a Warden who wasn't a Warden?

Of course not! I helped clear up a mage problem for you and then I helped you word a letter so you wouldn't royally piss off the Empress.

[ Royally. Hah.

Also please, Alistair, that's no way to talk about your baby mama. Not that Brennan is bringing that up. At all. Ever. ]

Yes, Morrigan is still alive and well. She spends some time in Orlais herself before coming to offer her assistance to the Inquisition. Her knowledge was quite invaluable, in fact.

Ahh, that would be Blackwall. Or... not quite Blackwall. His name was Thom Rainier originally, an Orlesian soldier who was recruited by Warden Blackwall. However he had a bit of a shady past - which of course didn't matter to the Warden, but they were ambushed by darkspawn before Rainier could undergo his Joining and Blackwall was killed in the process. Rainier was worried the Wardens wouldn't believe he'd been recruited and would think he killed the man himself so instead he assumed his identity and went about his solitary journeys, sending on promising recruits to the Wardens as he found them until I sought him out, needing help contacting the Wardens myself. It didn't come out until much later what had happened.

The Empress of Orlais? ...Is it still Empress Celene?

[Whoever the ruler of Orlais is in Brennan's home, Alistair can see himself easily making a royal mess of dealing with them. But after finding those letters of Cailan's at Ostagar, he finds himself wondering why he would be writing her. Better not to think about it too much.

Or about Morrigan and the Inquisition. The most he has to say on the subject is a grunt and a-] Sure. Invaluable. Until she gets what she wants from you.

[Ugh. This Warden with the Inquisition is a far better topic.]

Blackwall.... Duncan told me about him.

[He'd had good things to say about the man too. Although, as he listens to Brennan explain how someone can be a Warden and not, that becomes less relevant. But the actual Blackwall had thought this man was worth recruiting. That counts for something. And Rainier had wanted to be a Warden enough to impersonate one. Alistair isn't thrilled with the idea of someone falsely claiming to be a Warden but if the man had done good work whilst doing so that was what mattered. There was one issue though.]

I don't think I've ever heard of someone impersonating a Warden. Not for long anyway. It's really not a good idea if you don't want to end up corrupted.

[Rainier was just lucky he hadn't been asked to deal with any darkspawn. His career as a 'Warden' could have ended badly for him.]

It is. You know her?

[ Now Brennan looks a little surprised, because he'd been under the impression otherwise, from the assistance Alistair had asked. Or maybe it was just the formal setting he'd needed the aid in.

He chuckles slightly at the Warden's comments. ] Not a fan of Morrigan, I take it. I think Robyn warned me of such. She can be a bit.... bracing, can't she?

To be fair, there's been almost no darkspawn activity above ground since you and the Warden ended the Blight. When I found him, he was training a few villagers in how to defend their homes and families from bandits while he was passing through the area.

I know about her. We've never met. But she was willing to offer aid during the Blight.

[Which at least makes her smart enough to recognise when something is more important than old disagreements between two nations and act like a decent person. Unlike some people.]

She's an evil bitch.

[Brennan can try and be polite all he likes but Alistair so doesn't care to make the effort. Even if the Inquisitor declared himself to be best friends with the witch that opinion would not change. Though he really hopes the man has better taste in friends than that.]

Right. There won't be many around after that, will there? [Just like there hadn't been many darkspawn seen on the surface for centuries after the Fourth Blight.] He sounds like a good man, Warden or not.

[ Brennan absorbs that information for a moment. He'd wanted to like Celene, he really had. But in the end, she'd proved just as underhanded and manipulative as the others contending for her throne. ] That sounds like her. After all, Orlais would have been next, had Ferelden fallen to the Blight.

[ Alistair's blunt statement gets a sputtered laugh from Brennan as he glances over at the Warden. ] Well, that's vehement of you. That wasn't quite the impression I got, but I'm sure you have your reasons for thinking such. She does tend to rub people in the worst way possible, doesn't she? [ He'd seen it with his advisers and with Solas, after all. ]

Rainier? I found him to be so. [ The betrayal had come as a hard shock, but Brennan couldn't fault the man for his efforts, no matter how much he'd wanted to. ] He did his best to make a difference, no matter how he ended up where he did.

[Well, she is Orlesian. She can't help it.]

What sort of issue was there between Orlais and Ferelden anyway? And why did it need your help? Nothing personal but I thought being king of Ferelden would come with its own advisers.

[Any kind of diplomacy with Orlesians would require him to seek help so he didn't accidentally start a war but he'd figured he'd have plenty of his own without needing the Inquisition to get involved.]

She really does. [Brennan's amusement over it all is enough to override his irritation with the subject. Clearly the man is too tolerant for his own good but with Morrigan not present there's no need to waste his time talking about her more. He'll have to deal with her back in Ferelden, that's bad enough.]

He wouldn't have been the first Warden to better himself by joining. [Duncan himself had said he was recruited off the gallows. He doesn't know what this Rainier did but from what Brennan said he deserved the second chance however he came by it, as a Warden or otherwise.]

...But even with all the others you mention- [That he will have to get the stories of eventually.] You know you still don't count as the normal one in the group, right?

It wasn't an issue so much as a... hmm. Wanting to keep friendly channels open without stepping on any toes? [ That's a polite way to phrase that, right? ] Things in Orlais have been a bit of a mess. There was threat of a civil war, and a coup. Celene's throne was a rather uncertain seat for the span of a few months. You wanted to reach out in the aftermath and approached me for my input, since I'd had a hand in sorting out the mess for her.

[ One problem he'd wished he could stay out of. Alas.

Alistair's comment gets a huff and a laugh from him, however. ]

Technically, I'm not sure we have a normal one in the group, to be perfectly honest.

Meaning I was worried about messing things up. [He doesn't need to tiptoe around the fact he's no diplomat.] And she owed you so I asked for help making sure they'd stay out of Ferelden. [Shaking his head, Alistair chuckles.] You're braver than me, getting involved in Orlesian politics.

[Since he's betting that bit about sorting out the mess for the Empress sounds like a much longer story. But possibly one he doesn't want to hear right away, given it's about Orlesian politics.]

You'll have to tell me more about them one day so I can judge for myself.

[One day later as his stomach is reminding him that he did come down for a reason and it's fully prepared to speak up and embarrass him if not satisfied.]

I wasn't given much of a choice in the matter.

[ Brennan's tone is wry as he gives an answer, because Orlesians weren't much in the habit of asking for anything.

Perhaps catching a hint of that protesting rumble, Brennan gives a soft chuckle as he straightens in his chair once more. ]

I will do so. But in the meantime, I'll let you find your dinner, since I'm assuming that's what brought you down here to begin with?

[Isn't that the truth?]

Am I that predictable? Don't answer that.

[With only a slightly abashed grin he shoves to his feet.]

I'll talk to you later. Unless you find any more interesting ones like this- [Waving a hand at the memory.] Which you better tell me about right away.

[ Brennan just laughs and waves him on his way. ]

You'll be the first I come looking for. Good day, Alistair.

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Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket | OPEN

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