[open] all natural and technological processes proceed in such a way

[corundrum]

Characters: Padparadscha and you!
Date: August in general
Location: Streets of Aifaran, one of the Tifaut places of worship, Dreaming Bridge
Situation: August catch-all feat. Justice 2, Faith 5 and Meta 3 affinities. Feel free to hit me up on Plurk if you'd like a closed prompt instead!
Warnings/Rating: None currently.


[A: Mis-Knighted]

[The concept of "knighting" doesn't exist in Padparadscha's world, so they initially decide to play along with the decrepit ex-Sentryman's apparent intent to do it to them. It mostly just seems like a little bit of fun, and maybe they can learn something about customs in this world.

It turns out to be much more of a ceremony than they expected, though, and while they don't seem to mind the wait, they glance with some amusement over to anyone who's stopped by the spectacle of a rambling old man with a rusty sword laid on the shoulders of a resolute rock person.]

This is a lot of words for a...honestly, I'm not sure what it is this ceremony is for. "Knighting"?

--

[B: Meditation]

[While Padparadscha hasn't given a great deal of time to the various faiths of Aifaran, they've been around that area more in the last month, so it's not overly surprising when one of the Tifaut members invites them to a meditation session. Considering their faith involves the idea of repairing the world through belief, of course Padparadscha was going to express some curiosity about it after hearing about Rutile's questionable decision to explore the Barrier.

The most surprising part is that the meditation actually seems to work. Padparadscha is a calm person by nature, but even they can feel something that permeates deeper than that, rejuventating and energising. It's an odd feeling, a bit like when they first wake up from a long sleep, and they depart the impromptu gathering area for the meditation with a wave of the hand and a luxurious stretch towards the open sun.]

Ah, feels like I've taken in a whole day's worth of sunlight at once. It's good~

--

[C: The One With Sick Horns]

[On one hand, Padparadscha doesn't actually need beauty products considering they're all rock and a layer of skin-tone paint. On the other, the owners of that beauty shop had been pretty enthusiastic about the idea of testing their products on a kind of person they'd never seen before, and Padparadscha isn't nearly as fussed about wasting time as living things are.

The very curly horns are an odd bonus, though. They're not rock, but some kind of organic material, Padparadscha assumes, though they're surprisingly light for their size. Still, they're new and very large, so Padparadscha can be found in front of one of the mirrors in the Dreaming Bridge shortly after the incident, tapping across the horns as if to discern their makeup and response to touch.]

What funny things... [They seem more amused than anything, honestly.]

Comments

[corundrum]

[That makes Padparadscha laugh for a moment, apparently less bothered by the entire situation than he is, though that's not surprising.] Well, you're in the kind of mood that seems like it could bring on a storm to me, but I think that was his fault in the first place.

[Though they're not typically one for bartering, Padparadscha wanders up to the stall, seeing what they have.] Is it normal for people who earn their keep by selling things to refuse to sell to people, then? That seems backwards.

[If it felt like he was "back in Orzammar", presumably this isn't something that only happens here.]

[bestofthevein]

[It takes Kit a second to realize what they intend to do, but by then, it's too late for him to do anything other than startle and awkwardly protest,] Uh, hey, wait, you don't have to--

[But they do, apparently.

[The Tia-cheal vendor looks more than a little shocked by Padparadscha's approach, though that gives way to visceral displeasure when he figures out what this strange new person is on about. He abrasively brushes them off, turning his face away.] I'll sell you whatever you want--but not to him. He's a bad omen.

[Behind Padparadscha, Kit makes an audible 'tsch' noise and fishes out a cigarette to light.] Yeah, fine, whatever.

[corundrum]

[Well, that's...an interesting reaction, though Padparadscha largely just seems amused, looking over the stall.] What is it you sell, then? I'm afraid I haven't had much reason to buy anything since coming here.

[Clothes once or twice, the occasional trinket that seemed particularly interestingly crafted, and that was about it. They don't need food or any of the multitude of other comforts living things seem to purchase the most.]

And I have to wonder what kind of bad omen you think he is, as well. A stormy attitude doesn't do it to bring storms, I'm afraid.

just realized this is a faith 2 thing, not commerce, my bad!

[bestofthevein]

You aren't Tia-cheal. [The vendor looks increasingly hostile under this interrogation, mild though it is, and continues to dart his eyes nervously past Padparadscha's shoulder to the dwarf behind them. He shakes his head stiffly.] You Dreamfolk wouldn't understand.

[Kit takes a quick drag off of his cigarette and steps up to Padparadscha's side, grimacing.] Just--forget about it, salroka, [he mutters to his friend, refusing to make eye contact with the man who won't even sell him a damn piece of fruit,] it doesn't matter. There's plenty of other places I can shop, I didn't mean to get you dragged into this. [truthfully he looks chagrined and embarrassed over having Padparadscha witness this moment.]

[corundrum]

Well, nobody's ever going to understand anything if all you do is say that. [Padparadscha's tone isn't judging, just calm and somewhat amused. It seems something of a bizarre attitude to them, to assume someone won't understand when you're unwilling to tell them anyway.

Since Kit seems like he'd prefer to leave, though, Padparadscha shrugs slightly and turns away.] If you insist. But there's no harm in offering a little advice where it's needed.

[And the vendor certainly needs it, with an attitude like that.]

[bestofthevein]

[With an especially cold look over his shoulder, Kit mutters to Padparadscha,] Probably wasted on someone like that. He needs more than advice.

[A prejudice-correcting kick to the shins, maybe. Kit keeps this observation to himself. Still, as he makes his way away from the vendor at Padparadscha's side, it's clear that this encounter has clawed its way under his skin and put him in... well, a stormy mood wouldn't be an inaccurate characterization. It runs rather counter to the way he usually deals with unpleasant feelings, and so as they walk, he looks agitated, like there's a sudden upswell of energy in him that he needs to work off, somehow.]

Ancestors, [the way he says it under his breath makes it sound like a swear word of some kind,] that guy's made me angry.

[corundrum]

Does it mean all that much if you make the decision of what they should be doing for them? [Padparadscha's tone is still light and somewhat amused, but there's a certain knowing element to that remark as well. It's why they don't tend to do more than advise when it comes to stepping in with people.

It seems like the remarks have gotten under Kit's skin for whatever reason, though, so Padparadscha settles on keeping the mood light.] Isn't an "ancestor" what living things call the ones that came before them? I thought most rude things living things say were just supposed to be rude all the time.

[bestofthevein]

[...They make a good point. Kit grunts once under his breath and makes a face--like he knows what he's hearing is good sense, but that doesn't mean he has to like it.] No, [he admits grudgingly,] probably not.

[That second question earns them a slightly warmer chuckle. Kit lifts his shoulders in a shrug and takes a quick pull from his cigarette.] Yeah, well, [he muses,] our ancestors were probably rude some of the time, too. They can't all be Paragons.

[a beat, before he elaborates, gesturing,] Paragons are, uh, special dwarves. Dwarves that accomplished something big for the rest of Orzammar--like inventing something, or being especially good at killing darkspawn. [He doesn't sound too impressed by any of what he's saying, which probably suggests just how little esteem he holds for the culture he comes from.]

[corundrum]

[Considering that's the same place he mentioned earlier that he sounds so dissatisfied with, it's hard to miss the implication that Kit finds something about it bothersome. Padparadscha typically isn't one to pry too hard, but they can't say they aren't curious, and they give an interested hum as they turn towards him, walking backwards for a moment or two in the manner of someone who doesn't imagine it will backfire on them at all.]

That's the place you said earlier as well, isn't it? Orzammar. There are few people here who lack strong ties to where they came from, but it doesn't sound like you're all that fond of it, huh?

[bestofthevein]

No, I'm not.

[He doesn't intend to sound as brusque as he does, but damn if it isn't hard to lay it out like that from time to time. Kit grimaces as he follows along after Padparadscha, his somewhat trudging pace fairly well juxtaposed against their lackadaisical stride. He mulls over how much to tell them.]

There's this... system in place, for figuring out what your place in society is going to be. It's called the caste system. Artisans are from the artisan caste, merchants from the merchant caste--you get the picture. [Up comes his cigarette for a puff, before he lowers it.]

If you're born casteless, then someone puts this one you, [he lifts his hand up to point to an aged, tattooed brand beneath his other tattoos, just visible on his cheek bone,] so everyone else in society knows you're less than the dirt they walk on. The Shaperate doesn't add you to the memories; when you're dead, it's like you never existed.

I defended that damn thaig from the darkspawn. Honestly, I should've just let them raze it to the ground.

[he's not bitter or anything]

[corundrum]

[Initially, Padparadscha seems at ease with the idea of a system for deciding one's place in society - their own society has something along those lines, even if it's for jobs and roles only. The idea that that should cast out people who don't fit a particular role, though, makes them frown slightly. It's a subtle thing, but it's rather clear they dislike the idea that's being presented to them.]

That seems unnecessary. [To say the least.] As gems, we take up certain roles as given to us by Adamant-sensei, but all gems and all roles are equal. There's no reason to think of another as any lesser for the work they do, or don't do.

[Phos had arguably been in a similar position to Kit, lacking a proper role, and they've proved themselves in other ways since then.] I think it speaks for your heart that you saved it despite all that, though.