fade rift. inbox.

[propulsion]

"You have reached the life model decoy of Tony Stark."

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[murderbaby]

Do you feel as though you've been in Thedas long enough, now, to give me a short list of subjects whose explanation would benefit a Rifter?

[propulsion]

Twelve months, nine days, pro'lly about six hours, but who's counting.

[ Him. But only sometimes. ]

Subjects, sure. First thing they're gonna want to know is what a rift is, and what a demon is, then what a mage is. That stuff all hits you at once.

[murderbaby]

Over a year and a day. I'll get you an anniversary present.

[Scratching noises-- he's clearly writing this down.]

Rift, demons, mages... which will necessitate at least a brief summary of the Fade, spirits, and circles. Or is that an overwhelming amount of information?

[propulsion]

I take gift cards.

[ In the privacy of his office, Tony hooks his fingers behind his head and leans back, welcoming the distraction in spite of its deeply nerdy intentions. ]

Nah. I mean, yeah, but it's all overwhelming. I'm still overwhelmed, right now, oh god the walls are closing in. Oh, you know what -- a map, with a little, you know, 'you are here' arrow. Then a geography and a history lesson.

[murderbaby]

[Mhavos writes get pack of cards in the margins.]

A history lesson. At least leading up to the current war, yes. What else? And what assumptions should we make are well known? I am for example not about to explain the history of commerce. Hmm. Perhaps less is more.

[propulsion]

Some things take care of themselves. The way Riftwatch itself functions teaches commerce. And we're gonna keep getting people from different tech levels, so you learn by doing most times. Culture shock on steroids.

Then there's the whole, you know. Human problem.

[murderbaby]

...Please elaborate. From my vantage, that could mean so many things.

[propulsion]

Yeah.

[ Yeah. ]

So my world's just humans. Dwarves as fundamentally not human aren't a thing, elves definitely not, but both exist like, uh. Folkore. Fiction. Qunaris pretty out there, that was new. Also some non-sentient species, like how dragons are real, here, and made up where I'm from, but dragons won't take it personal.

Obvy there's elf Rifters, like head of Research, but lot of humans from human-only places. So if you can find a how-to guide that isn't Chantry propaganda, that'd be great.

[murderbaby]

Ah.

Any guide of that sort is liable to be biased, but the point is having it done, not argued to death via committee. I'll see who can be trusted to write on Dwarves.

[Qunari... who even runs into those, man.]

...That was more delicacy than I would have expected from you, Monsieur Stark. Thank you.

[propulsion]

Sister Sara. A pedant and a nerd and also not super religious, somehow. And a dwarf, in case that wasn't, you know.

Silver lining to stupid humans is we also don't know we're meant to be douchebags about it, but it'll probably happen on accident.

[murderbaby]

...I hope you're not volunteering to write the information on humans.

[propulsion]

What? No. Thedas doesn't carry my brand, trust me.

[murderbaby]

Yes, quite. Though I will ask you to go over the rough draft.

[propulsion]

Uh huh.

[ Homework. :/ ]

Hey just thinking about it, you know who'd be perfect for that? My pal Fitz. He came in pretty recent [ it has surely been months ], same place as me, could probably give a fresh perspective.

[murderbaby]

[Fitz, now, there's a name that sounds real. Tony Stark sounds like something one says before seizing.]

I intend to solicit opinions, as misguided as that is sure to be. I hope I can count his among them.

[propulsion]

[ Okay MhAVoS dAlAt. Tony, however, gives an immediate short laugh-- ]

Oh, yeah, good luck.

[murderbaby]

[Dryly,]

I'll need it.

[propulsion]

It is a hundred percent the clown show you remember. Speaking of, when'd you get in?

[murderbaby]

And yet, a 'clown show', so to speak, is at least autonomous.

Recently.

[propulsion]

Yeah?

[ He waits for elaboration. ]

[murderbaby]

Within the fortnight. I was recently of Val Royeaux... again.

[propulsion]

Huh. Okay.

I could probably still use the clerical help if you're looking for busywork, and I got a stack of documents labelled 'elf stuff' under Project Felandaris that could probably use a pair of eyes. Athessa's, uh. Doing stuff there too.

[ Listen, he's busy. ]

[murderbaby]

I'll see to it. I look forward to working with a man of such advanced cultural sensitivity.

[propulsion]

That bad?

[ He can hear the joke, but still. ]

[murderbaby]

I've heard far worse. The fact that you trust me with the topic over yourself is something that would have shocked me, months ago.