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)!!

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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.

[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.]

[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.

[oneirism]

[Aha, she was right! But then she ends up tilting her head slightly again as she listens to him, mulling over his words - and what he says about "letting something else in" causes a sinking feeling in her stomach, even if there's no change in her expression. Since that sounded similar to possession, but maybe it's not.]

... What happens if something else is let in?

[The feeling of him looking through her when he looks towards her causes her to shift for a moment; mainly out of awkwardness rather than feeling uncomfortable. His words causing both Lapis and Mitchell to blink, and the ghost glowers, but he does relax a bit now that he knows Cole is safe. Lapis watches him for a moment, gauging how he's feeling, before looking back at Cole.]

... Mitchell is always like that. I think he knows you won't do anything, but he doesn't really trust anyone.

[existency]

That's all right. It's frightening for spirits here.

[ He focuses on Lapis instead, and though his expression is unchanged from the sort of mournful expression that is his neutral face, he nods at her. ]

If you can keep a spirit here without them forgetting, you're good. You're helping.

[ It's as simple as that for Cole, because even though his idea of spirits and how they worked was quite different from Lapis's, he would still cling to the idea, being part spirit himself. It's frightening, after all, to be in this world. Any spirit that stays without becoming warped is either very strong on their own merit, or they're anchored to someone with a calm, good heart. Solas had said that's rare.

Though thinking about that returns him to her first question, which does make him frown as he looks down again. ]

...Then they hurt people. They don't mean to. But they let a spirit inside that's too great, twisting, burning, hurting—Maker, please let it stop, it hurts—And then... They're other. A demon takes over.