entrancelogs | [ ACTION ] OTA: You'll Never Know How Many Dreams I Dreamed About You

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[ ACTION ] OTA: You'll Never Know How Many Dreams I Dreamed About You

Who: Everyone is welcome, children and adults alike.
Where: First floor, ballroom.
When: Friday the 13th, from 9:00 in the evening on.
Rating: E (for Everyone)
Summary: Semi-formal themed fête.

[Guided by brassy music down an expansive hall residents will enter the first floor ballroom: it has undergone many transformations in its time, and suffered the myriad slings and arrows of Wonderland's event-related torment, but tonight its purpose has shaped it into something glittering and streamlined, the décor as advertised not long before. While socialising does appear to be the primary function, the arrangement of amenities would suggest differently.

The gilded walls border on overly opulent and a dancefloor - ringed with refreshment tables, an open bar, and scattered seating - is pointedly centred, and the brass band for which a Vendor Ticket was exchanged explodes with forceful tunes from a handful of different eras, some of which might be recognisable to those of the twenty-first century.

The only uncertainty is how one might spend the evening.]

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[Jowan can't really tell how many of the outfits people are wearing are appropriate or not, though he's certain his probably isn't, since he still insists on wearing his robes everywhere. But he finds he cares more about looking at all the people and striking up the odd conversation, still wondering if he could ever fit in here, and if he even should.

The food helps a lot as well, the period of starvation behind him but far from forgotten, and he gravitates towards it instinctively, which is how he runs into the young woman. He notices that she seems just as uncertain about being here as he feels, so when he sees her again, he tries a small, nervous smile.]

You don't like being here much either?

You have no idea...

[The reply comes before Rose even lays eyes on Jowan. The boredom that had twisted her features, quickly morphing into surprise as she takes in his full length robes. Two months here and you'd think that by now, she'd stop being thrown by the differences. Especially in something as mundane as fashion choices.

At least she has the sense to realize that she's gawking, though not before she'd been doing it for longer than was strictly polite. Shaking her head, Rose drags her gaze up to meet his. Her own smile more sheepish than nervous, a shoulder lifting in a shrug.]

I - [Her posture shifts, Rose now looking more like she's bumming around in jeans and a sweater than trying to blend in with the sea of formal wearing party goers.] I'm pretty sure getting punched in the face would be more my speed than this.

[He shifts uncomfortably at the scrutiny, although Jowan couldn't say if it's because he's wearing robes when it seems there aren't any others here doing so or if it's because of the state of them. He's done his best with cleaning but he can't sew to save his life and he doesn't quite trust the magic wardrobe.

Whatever the reason, it apparently isn't a deal breaker so much as she relaxes as well a moment later and Jowan feels immediately better, less like he has to pretend now.]

Punched in the face? [He repeats, risking a small smile.] I don't know if I'd go that far; I've had that happen and it's not as much fun as you might think.

[Robes are hardly the strangest thing she's seen since landing in Wonderland. Hell they weren't even the strangest thing she'd seen before that. If anything? Rose was beginning to think she could have ignored the dress code and gotten away with it and was silently kicking herself for that now.]

Getting punched in the face is something of a hobby of mine. [She pauses, eyes narrowing as she realizes how that sounded.] Okay so, usually it's me doing the punching, at least if it's going well and if I could choose between that and this? I'd take another black eye about now.

[She shifts uncomfortably, leaning heavily against the table of food.]

That could be the shoes talking, though. [A wry grin forming as the sheepishness fades away.]

Really? You like being hurt? [The look he gives her says he can't imagine anyone actually preferring that, no matter how bad the party is, and he glances down at the shoes.]

Why not just take them off? The floor's clean and even, and most people aren't going to look at your feet anyway when you look... [His face reddens immediately.] ...very nice.

[Trying to hide his embarrassment, Jowan quickly continues:] And what kind of hobby is punching people anyway?

I like it better when I'm winning but, usually you gotta take a few hits. [You can put her in a pretty dress and nice shoes but she's still the woman who would rather be in sweats, going hit for hit with an opponent than standing around a party like this, pretending like she belongs.

Unfortunately for Jowan's embarrassment, Rose does catch onto what he's saying. The brunette's back straightening, preening a little from the compliment as a grin pulls at the corner of her mouth. Her ego had taken some pretty hard hits before she landed in Wonderland and it was quietly nice to know that while some people didn't seem to care much for her, there were others who could appreciate how she looked in a dress.]

So what you're saying is, that if I ditch the shoes? You promise not to tell anyone? [The grin pulls wider, lighting up her whole face and Rose wastes little time in slipping out of her heels. A low, happy hum vibrating in her chest as her feet hit the floor, her shoes pushed discreetly aside.]

The kind that's more of a life choice, I guess? [Her words doing little to explain.] I was training. To be something called a Guardian.

[He's both pleased and relieved that she apparently understood his meaning despite the fumbling words and Jowan can't help the grin that tugs at his own mouth as she immediately takes the chance to ditch the shoes as he'd suggested.]

I'd much rather that you felt comfortable and weren't hurting your feet. [He says, liking as well that she seems to open up more now and he feels less worried about offending her with terrible manners or something he wouldn't know to do at parties.]

A Guardian? [Or at least he was feeling more comfortable until that came up.] Is that... it's not like a templar, is it? What do you guard?

[The word fumbling is more than a little familiar and it's far more endearing from him than from the last person who used to do it around her a lot. Granted that could have something to do with the fact that said person, ended up trying to kill her but that was complicated.]

If we're shooting for comfort? I'd much rather be wearing jeans but I'll take this as an acceptable compromise. [Wriggling her toes against the carpet and letting out a content sigh.]

I... I don't know? [The word Templar meaning nothing to her.] People? [Vague at best with that answer.] It's kind of like a bodyguard but, instead of being there to jump in and protect your charge if somebody happens to try and attack them? There are... people... actively trying to kill them.

[Such pleasant party conversation.]

Oh! No, that's not much like being a templar at all. [Jowan says with obvious relief.] I mean, it was supposed to be like that, I think? But it's not any more.

Who do you protect? They must be lucky to have someone like you watching out for them all the time.

[A thought occurs to him then and his brow furrows in concern.] Does that mean you need to return home then? Or are they here as well?

So what exactly is a Templar then?

[A small, half grin plays across her lips. A hint of nostalgia for home that causes a pang of longing but is quickly pushed aside under the circumstances.]

She's an important person so, I know she'll be well looked after. [But not as well as Rose could take care of her. Not as far as she's concerned.] But yeah. I need to return home and I sure as hell don't want her here.

[Even though... it would probably safer for Lissa in Wonderland.]

They're... [Jowan hesitates, but the food and the laid company makes him feel braver in speaking his mind, especially since there's no templars here to inadvertently overhear.]

They're supposed to be guardians for mages like me. The Chantry teaches that magic is dangerous and templars are meant to protect people from mages who might harm them and mages from the dangers of their magic.

But it doesn't work that way. I grew up in the Circle and there were always templars watching us all the time, waiting for any sign that a mage isn't strong enough, that we might make a mistake. They punish mages that don't follow along quietly with everything they expect us to do.

And if they decide that you're dangerous, you don't even have a chance to try and prove they're wrong. They've made up their mind that that's all.

[Her body language changes as Jowan starts to explain, Rose turning towards him as for the first time this evening, she finds herself pulled into every word being spoken to her. Most of what he’s talking about, means very little to her but it’s not hard for her to draw conclusions.]

So instead of being your protectors they were your watchers. [A note in her voice suggesting that she’s not at all pleased to hear that.]

A Guardian is nothing like a Templar, don’t worry. [Almost as if to reassure him.] Guessing you’re one of the many that prefers being here as well then?

Not really. [Jowan says honestly.] I mean, yes, a lot of what's here is better than in Thedas. I'm not in a dungeon waiting to die and that's always good, but what happens to memories...

[He shakes his head, a shiver of fear sliding down his spine at the thought.] That's too...

It's like what they do to mages in my world. I don't know if I'd rather be me in a dungeon or losing myself piece by piece here. Neither seems like a good choice.

[He lifts his shoulders in a shrug.] I imagine you want to go back to your friend?

Memories? [She's been here for weeks and yet while everyone had been happy to tell her about the mirror versions of themselves. The things that could happen, the creatures that often appeared. The mere fact that they were stuck here and going back of your own choice was impossible? Nobody had ever thought to explain what can happen to your memories and Rose? She needed to learn to ask more questions.]

I don't... I'm still, pretty new to this place. [A tension running through her body now as she anticipates something she in no way wants to hear.]

More than anything. [And it's clear from the way she says that, it's more than a simple want. Rather like a need, as if being apart from Lissa has taken something from her.]

Oh, I thought you'd been here for longer... [Jowan suddenly feels awkward, like he'd sprung a terrible secret on her without warning. Which was... pretty much exactly what had happened. He hadn't meant to just put it out like that though, and would have at least tried to make it less of a terrible surprise if he'd realised she hadn't known, but now all he can do is try his best to explain what she likely is just as thrilled to hear as he was when he'd found out.]

Apparently just being here does something to your memories. [He tries to explain.] It makes them disappear or something like that? But no one can tell me how fast it takes or how to tell, so now all I can worry about is if I've forgotten things already.

I don't want to lose who I am, even if it's nicer here than a dungeon.

[He'd see as her whole face pales, Rose rocking back on her feet as her head starts to spin with the reality of what his explanation could mean for her.]

So first... they kidnap us and now they take our memories away and still, most of the people here don't seem to mind too much?

[Anywhere else and he would have seen a stronger reaction from her but there's something about formal-wear and party-goers that even has Rose tempering her reactions.

Shaking her head.] What about... when people do go home. I mean it happens right? Do they get their memories back then?

[Jowan shifts uncomfortably, his gaze slipping away from her as he thinks about that and his own experiences in the Circle. Life there had been far from pleasant all the time but... he still missed it, strangely.]

Sometimes when things are really bad and you can't escape, you convince yourself that it's not really that bad. [He offers in a quieter voice.] Like maybe people are beaten and hurt and killed, and maybe you could be next, but there's a roof over your head and you get meals every day, so maybe it's not so bad that you can't leave and those things are happening around you.

No one wants to sit around feeling afraid or angry or upset all the time.

[Maybe once she'd been here for a while she'd start to change her tune. Maybe, if she weren't still railing against a captivity that while it might have seemed comfortable, had her feeling like she couldn't breathe most days. Maybe, if she weren't so damn stubborn...]

And you don't think it's those lies that we tell ourselves that help them get away with this? [Her righteousness fueled by the naivety that came with a lack of life experience. For all Rose thought she knew about the world? There were a lot of lessons she still had to discover the hard way.]

I'm pretty good with the anger. [Though even she has to concede. She was here, wasn't she? Not small ball of fury locked away in her room, just ready to explode.]

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[ ACTION ] OTA: You'll Never Know How Many Dreams I Dreamed About You

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