that's in the sky where the rain's from [OPEN]

[existency]

Who: Cole (existency) and YOU
When: Before Natalia's ball, but over a few days
Where: Various
What: Cole is getting used to his new home.
Rating/Warning: None unless someone rude tags in (probable)!!

---

option a — the basic arrival prompt

[ He doesn't belong here.

It's quiet, startlingly so, because there aren't the songs and shimmers of the Fade here like there were at home (wherever "home" was). It whispers, enough for him to be able to reach out and grasp it, use it like he does, but it's not the same. It's disorienting and startling, which is why he wanders. He's looking for the places where it's the loudest, since where it's louder, he's more comforted.

Of course, this process might seem quite strange to anyone nearby. Cole himself would seem to stick out enough, since a gaunt young man with a very large hat and wearing old, dusty leathers would be a contrast against the technology around. But it might catch you by surprise that you seem like you've seen him earlier today, but you can't place where. Unless you're a bit closer to spirits or magic yourself, in which case, it'll be a bit easier to remember seeing him earlier in the day, doing the same thing.

He's just wandering, as if he's lost something or looking for something, but he never makes eye contact with anyone, and most of the people walking by don't seem to see him at all. In fact, it's only you that sees him. ]

option b — memes never die

[ How's the weather today? Did you guess cold and rainy? It's definitely cold and rainy. At least for the purposes of this prompt.

If you're braving this terrible weather to head towards the park, you might notice a strange pattern along the main path. Every so often, there's a small cardboard box underneath a tree, and if you're curious enough to go inspect it, the contents might be a bit confusing.

They're all cakes.

They're not quite left out in the rain, since the trees manage to cover most of the rain, but they're still getting soggy enough that no one in their right mind would really want to eat them. And it's clearly not an accident, since there are quite a few!

Continuing along the path, there's a young man braving the rain, though he doesn't seem to mind it. He's out without even an umbrella, though he doesn't really need one, considering the large brim of his hat... But he's also clearly the culprit of the cake-related mystery, since he has a few boxes in hand, and he's setting one down underneath a tree, opening it, then looking up into the branches like he's checking for something.

But all of the sudden, he seems to become aware that someone is watching, since he looks towards who's approaching, but he's quick to bow his head shyly. ]

...Sorry. Am I in the way?

[ More importantly, why is he leaving cakes out in the rain?? ]

option c — not quite as exciting as killing dragons

[ His Cerevice had told him he was a florist, and so a few days after arriving, Cole starts to work. It's definitely not the same as the Inquisition, but he quickly finds that he enjoys the work. It's quiet and solitary, since Cole's odd appearance and mannerisms tend to keep him from getting put at the front and scaring away customers, but he can tend to the flowers dutifully while still getting to be around other people and listen like he likes to.

It's not quite the tavern in Skyhold, where he can just stand for hours and watch the lives of the people there unseen, but it's close enough that he's content.

If you have reason to visit a florist today, other employees will probably greet you first, since Cole tends to stay towards the back. But it's not long before he starts to busy himself with something, then approaches to hold out a bouquet that's stunningly beautiful, and whatever you've come to a florist for, this seems to fit the bill perfectly. ]

...Are these what you were looking for?

[ His voice is soft and gentle, but not quite shy. It seems like he knows, for whatever reason. ]

(( ooc note ; if you choose this prompt, just make sure to include something in your brackets about why your character is getting flowers please! ))

option d — choose your own

[ Wildcard! If you have an idea of a prompt of your own that's different, go for it! You can run it by me or just run with it and we'll figure it out. ]

IMPORTANT NOTE—If you haven't filled it out already, please comment to Cole's permission post before replying!

Comments

[existency]

[ He fidgets nervously, since he's still getting used to being seen so much as this. It was frightening in the Spire, always running, always hiding, but there were so many places to hide. Even when he left, running after the Templars until he met the Inquisitor and helped her, he could always hide. People didn't have to see him.

...But being with the Inquistion means that people needed to see him sometimes. He had taken things that Varric and others had said to heart, so he let himself be seen more, but it was still something that made him anxious, especially around people he didn't know. A mage that wasn't a mage was especially worrying, but he didn't feel threatened. Actually, with how she talks about it, he feels a little more secure, like when he talks to Solas. ]

I'm me. [ Welcome to Cole, who gives very unsatisfying answers. ] I thought I was a ghost, but I learned that I wasn't. So I'm just "Cole."

[ Then, curiously, ] It is quieter here. Usually no one listens at all, though. They can't.

C

[remainingtwin]

[It was strange to think that Christmas was coming up already, when in her world it had been summer. It was even stranger to think of passing that holiday without her mother or sister around her.

The florist's shop is usually a nice respite from daily life, but right now the flowers just remind her of things she couldn't give those she actually cared about. But maybe getting some flowers to brighten up her own place would help her brighten her mood.

Something with red and white flowers, to remember her sister by? She stares down the flowers like they might somehow make the decision for her, when Cole seems to appear from nowhere. Mio starts in surprise and stares at him for a long moment, as if trying to determine who he is or what he wants (mostly it's just he evokes a strange feeling that's both familiar and not and makes the butterfly bruising at her throat throb strangely), before remembering that in polite human society, you should probably acknowledge when you're spoken to.]

I... Yes? [Baffled, Mio reaches for the bouquet and then hesitates] How did you know?

[oneirism]

[Lapis does notice how he fidgets, and she doesn't want to make him more nervous than he is. Even if she's bad with emotions, she does stay where she is and stays quiet until he responds, not wanting to rush him or anything.

Though that answer gets her to blink in confusion, tilting her head for a moment as she mulls over it - trying to think of how to decipher that. But she does at least know now that he isn't a ghost, so that's better that a completely unsatisfying answer. Which is why she nods, shifting to hold her hands behind her back. Mitchell keeps hovering close to Lapis throughout this, watching Cole warily but not doing anything beyond that.]

... Then it's nice to meet you, Cole. I'm Lapis. [There's a blink, and she hums in agreement as she looks around, as if trying to maybe spot another spirit.]

Mm, that's right. I know a few people who could back home, but not a lot. I have an ability to help people listen, but it's not something I like to do... [Since it tends to be a painful process for them. Then she pauses and looks back at him with another slight tilt of her head. She can't help but be a little nosy curious about what he said before.]

... You mentioned mages before, and how the 'songs sing through them and turn it'. Is that how they use magic?

[So they pull power from the spirit world, where he's from? She's never seen that in any fantasy books she's read before.]

[manolia]

A kind soul, I see. [He smiles brightly. This kid's like a flower, himself!]

[Now, does Chibi see an opportunity to preach chat about wakfu as a way of life?? Oh, boy! One of his tanned, callused hands lights a bright turquoise with some sort of energy.]

We call it wakfu - the ever-flowing energy of life, the great blue Veil in which all living creatures are enveloped. It - wakfu, that is, and life - is a gift joyously given to us by our Goddess, its embodiment. [He uses the trail of blue from his hand to conjure a few images, a woman with fantastic hair being the one he settles on.] Wakfu is in and around all life, even if we cannot see it. Well, we train our people in it, so we can - I mean, my dragon brother is so attuned to wakfu-sight that he can tell the contents of a person's soul. [At least, Grougal is able to tell how strong someone is... The wakfu dissipates.] But I'm not he, by any means.

b

[braider]

[Astrid hadn't intended to go out to the park today, especially given the rain, but it's not like she isn't used to rain or anything. Back on Berk, if it wasn't raining, it was snowing. That was about it when it came to weather. So this? This was nothing. All the same, she still didn't want to be out long.

But her dragon had other plans.

Astrid had flown Stormfly into town, planning to be in and out in a shop. She left the dragon outside while she did what she needed to, but when she exited the store, the dragon was nowhere to be found. At least, in the immediate area. Even though the rain, the bright blue of her dragon wasn't hard to notice at the park across the street, so she replaced her hood over her head and followed after her.

When she caught up to Stormfly, the dragon in question was poking around a box under a tree. Astrid sighed, grabbing on to her saddle to get her attention.]

Stormfly, what are you doing? That's not yours.

[...not that Astrid knew who would have left a cake under a tree in the rain, but still.]

[existency]

It doesn't have to be in the rain. But it happens to be raining.

[ Unfortunately, being a genius absolutely doesn't help with Cole... It probably hurts more than anything, because what he says seems to be nonsensical, and yet there's a reason behind every action. Just, you know, those reasons tend to be quite obscure.

He looks up at the tree branches, then adds gently: ]

They won't sing if there isn't food to eat.

[existency]

[ Cole notices that someone is following him, because he's good at noticing such things. It used to fill him with fear, a feeling that he shouldn't be found, but now, he can just ignore it. At least a little. He knows he sticks out when people see him, when he lets people see him, because he doesn't look like he belongs.

...But he's not used to it being this distracting.

When Mary falls, Cole is quick to be at her side, almost running there in concern. He holds out a hand that's worn and calloused, even though he's only in his late teens, but there's a clear gentility in his expression as he looks at her, which isn't something he often does. ]

I'm sorry. You fell because I forgot.

[existency]

[ He's used to being stared at, but all the same, it makes his head bow a little more to hide his face under the brim of that large hat. Even though he's quite a bit taller than she is, the way he slouches and carries himself makes him come off as quite shy and small. When she reaches for the bouquet, he holds it out gently for her to take, though she she hesitates, so does he, and he withdraws it. ]

...It seemed nice. Nostalgic.

[ A thought floods in, but he tries to push it away, since at least around complete strangers, he's tending to learn not to blurt out the thoughts that come in, but... It's hard not to sometimes. He fidgets nervously, wanting to speak to it, but he holds himself back, saying only something simple. ]

It— Will help. Remembering helps, soothes, and smooths out old wounds that scar, darkening, dimming.

[immobileyes]

[ Okay, so he's not shy. Or as shy as she is, and Mary would make a note of this... except she's far too chagrined to think of anything except how utterly mortified she is that this total stranger is blaming himself. ]

No, that's--

[ Her voice breaks in a squeak, embarrassingly, and Mary bites her lip as she inwardly debates with herself as to what to do. If she ignores his hand, he might be hurt. If she takes his hand, is that like agreeing with him? Why is interacting with people so scary? ]

It's... n-not your fault... [ And like a graceful, regal medusa, the powerful lineage she's descended from--

She sounds as though she's about to cry as she reaches out and... pats his palm several times. There, there, she doesn't blame you IS SHE BEING REASSURING YET?? ]

[existency]

[ When you're from a video game called "Dragon Age," there are a few creatures that you don't take kindly too, and chief amongst them is dragons. Cole had seen the dragon approaching one of the cakes he had left out in the rain before it saw him, and he had quickly retreated into cover where he could hide. He had fought dragonlings before, but that was with the others of the Inquisition at his side to help him. Alone... He wasn't sure if he could handle it.

But dragons were dangerous. They didn't mean to be, just like a bear didn't really mean to be, but bears didn't breathe fire, ice, or whatever else. So in his cover, Cole silently pulls out his daggers, as tense as a bowstring as he waits for the best chance to attack, but luckily, he never quite gets his chance.

Astrid approaches, and he hesitates, watching the interaction instead. It makes Cole's brow knit in confusion, since, well, the whole thing about dragons as far as they knew is that they didn't like anything else around. This one didn't even seem to mind that there was someone else there. And she didn't seem scared at all.

The grip on his daggers relaxes slightly, though he doesn't sheathe them. It's not the sort of thing he feels completely comfortable enough to do. But he shifts, then stands, peeking out of the cover where he had been hiding. Yet despite the threatening appearance of those daggers in hands, his voice is gentle and curious. ]

You're not afraid. Most people are afraid of dragons.

[remainingtwin]

[Mio's too baffled to be suspicious right away, but she does reach out again to take the bouquet now. After all, even if it's strange he did pick it all out for her, and it is what she wanted. Refusing seemed kind of silly at that point.] ...Thank you.

[Uncertain what to say at this point, she examines him curiously, wondering what in the world he was going on about. It's not like he knew, how could he? He didn't look like anyone--dead or alive--she'd encountered in the village, so there's no way. Right?]

Who are you?

[harepiece]

[don't look at him ciel......

i'd say maybe Oz can detect that Cole means no harm but lbr, when has detecting the opposite ever stopped him?? But here he is anyway, listening to Cole's explanation with a look of genuine curiosity.]

You're feeding the birds cake? [?!??] I didn't know they liked cake.

[existency]

[ Cole listens silently but attentively as Chibi explains, just as he does when Solas explains things, since Solas tends to understand matters of spirits better than anyone else. But there are familiar things here, though it's in a different context than he's used to. He perks up at the word "Veil" especially, since that's something familiar, but everything else is a little different. ]

I have never heard of wakfu.

[ But it makes sense, and that idea is carried in his tone. Cole doesn't really understand magic well, since he's no scholar, but he wonders if that's just a word for the whispers that slip across the Veil to be turned into magic by mages. When he watches the figure be formed, he's more sure of that idea, though not completely. It's strange, to hear things familiar but explained differently. But when that light appears, it does feel like magic, an old song of the Fade. Different too, but familiar enough. ]

What is a dragon brother?

[existency]

[ Cole nods slightly. ]

It's stale, so they like it more. If it's too fresh, it's too soft, crumbling in tiny beaks, not quite enough for them to want to pick at it too much.

[ At this point, he glances over to Oz, though his eyes are still mostly hidden by the hat and his unkempt hair. ]

But when it's cold and rainy, it's good. They don't have to go as far to feel less hungry.

[existency]

[ He nods lightly, though it's still careful and uncertain. ]

Yes. It sings stronger through some more than others. But the ones that are strong enough to listen without letting something else in, it's magic.

[ It's still an odd explanation that raises more questions than answers, but that's how conversations with Cole tends to go. He continues fidgeting, then stops, looking up towards Lapis, but there's a sense he's looking through her rather than at her. ]

Your friend... He cares for you. He's frightened of me. He doesn't have to be. I don't hurt. Only help.

[existency]

[ He looks down at their hands, confused, and Cole wonders to himself if he's missed something. The awkwardness is confusing to him, since the people of the Inquisition, well, they weren't exactly awkward people. They were older, a little tired inside, since they had seen and felt much, but continued bravely. It wasn't often they fumbled over themselves, only Cassandra when Cole listened to her read. ]

I'm here to help.

[ That seems like the right thing to say, though he's not sure. He closes his hand around hers very carefully, then starts to stand to help her up. ]

[existency]

[ He hands it over without complaint, and though his head stays bowed for a moment longer, when she asks, he raises it so that she can see his face a bit better. He's pale, unkempt, and gaunt, which gives him a rather startling appearance, but despite that, there's a feeling of great care and kindness in his features. ]

I am Cole.

[ But that's all he says, since Cole never elaborates much more on anything unless it's asked. ]

[immobileyes]

[ Mary is just that special soul who's been around for over a hundred years and is still pretty much a teenager, like a weirdo. She's still trying to grow accustomed to not being alone, and the awkwardness... definitely shows.

But at least she manages to get on her feet with his help, and she doesn't even wobble. Right, what's the proper thing to do here... ]

... Thank you.

[emotive]

Oh, well... I'm not sure if this holiday exists where you're from, but there's the Lunar New Year to look forward to, at least for me!

[She smiles and turns to face him so it's not just her profile that's facing him.]

That's right, I don't think I've seen you around before. Are you new here?

[braider]

[Astrid's pretty used to people being unsure about her dragon, but weapons hadn't been involved yet. At least, not here.

When Cole approached and speaks up, she quickly steps between him and Stormfly, her frown deepening as her gaze goes between him and the daggers in his hands. She had been around enough people with the intent to harm her dragon, but he...seemed curious, not out for blood. All the same, she doesn't know him or his true intents, so she's immediately on guard. Stormfly, on the other hand, tilts her head curiously at the stranger. She doesn't sense danger from him yet, so she's not reacting quite like Astrid.]

She's my friend, that's why.

[She doesn't reach for it yet, but her axe is strapped to her back. If he so much as dared to try and attack, she would be ready in a second to stop him.]

[harepiece]

[Huh! He hadn't considered that, but it does make sense once it's laid out. He makes a little noise of understanding and glances toward the nearest tree cake.]

So it's the same as leaving out dry breads? That's really thoughtful of you.

[A beat, and then, because clearly this guy has already proven himself good friend material:]

My name's Oz! What's yours?

[remainingtwin]

[His appearance makes her blink in surprise, and now she's reminded of Itsuki, all pale skin and pale hair (those his had been white, she remembered that much) and sad eyes. Though Cole's eyes maybe aren't quite that sad, but she's not the kind of person to go staring into a stranger's eyes anyhow.]

...Mio. I mean. [She closes her eyes a moment and shakes her head to clear it, before bowing politely] Amakura Mio. Pleased to meet you.

Are you-- Um, that is, you're...? [How does she ask 'are you human?' without being rude? Dilemma. Instead she drops clutches the bouquet tightly--maybe a bit too tightly-- with both hands and fidgets. New direction entirely, time to try and save face!]

You work here? [Mio winces at her own hasty subject change]

[existency]

[ Cole Slightly Approves ]

[ Cole nods, and though he doesn't smile, his posture relaxes. It seems like Oz understanding his intentions pleases him. ]

But I couldn't find any dry bread. So it was cake instead.

[ He definitely stole them from the back of a bakery, but they were goingto go in the dumpster anyways, so it's fine... He turns towards Oz a little more, though his face still remains mostly obscured. ]

Cole. I'm Cole.

[existency]

...I didn't know.

[ His words are still careful and quiet, but Cole cants his head lightly as he looks at Stormfly instead. He doesn't hear anything but spirits and people, so the dragon is silent to him, but he can tell that it's not afraid. It's certainly not rearing to attack, which is what he's more used to. Actually, he has a feeling that the girl is probably more likely to attack. ]

I didn't know you could make friends with a dragon, I mean.

[ He relaxes further, though he doesn't put the daggers away, since it's just a bit difficult to do so when the sheaths are strapped to your back. ]

Usually they want to hurt people.

[harepiece]

[Dumpster cakes for the birds... Wow. Cole sure is living up the adventure life already. Oz doesn't even have the heart to tell him that he probably won't find any birds that aren't robots or holograms...]

That's a pretty smart idea, Cole. [A smile!] Just Cole is fine, right?

[He is getting the distinct feeling that Big Brims McGee over here probably doesn't care about titles...]