Who: Diana & Hawke What: Diana stumbles into The Hanged Man, Hawke gives her a 'Welcome to the Insanity' drink When: Recently Where: The Hanged Man Rating/Warnings: Low Status: Complete!
Orange County was proving to be quite interesting, to say the least. It was rather like an adventure. Diana was well informed about the dreams thanks to the Valar network, and she’d had a couple dreams herself. She was an Amazon, daughter of Queen Hippolyta, but her mother refused to let her train with weapons. Her mother’s attempt to make Diana understand why war was not a good thing only made Diana want to train more. That was when Antiope began to train her in secret.
Diana could certainly be a headstrong rebel when she wanted to be.
Luckily in this life, she hadn’t had any disagreement like that with her mother. They’d had their fights, of course, as most mothers and daughters do over the various growing pains of life. The worst one had been over Diana moving to America, though it had at least ended on good terms for them.
As it was, Diana was learning her way around Orange County. She’d already found several points of interest, but it never hurt to find more. There was simply so much to see and do around here! She was walking along when something caught her attention. Tilting her head, she noticed a dummy of a man hanging upside down. That was certainly an attention grabber. So at that, Diana decided to go in and see what the place was like. It was actually quite quaint, having a rustic kind of feel.
Walking up and taking a seat at the bar, she looked the place over. It certainly seemed like an excellent place to relax in.
The Hanged Man was his pride and joy, it really was. Recreated in the image of the one he loved in Kirkwall, it held the splendors of modern conveniences (plumbing and proper ventilation, for one) but with an archaic medieval spirit. Natural hardwood floors, customized benches, lanterns of oil and fire giving off a warm golden glow. There were scuffs here and there that distressed the furniture and walls, giving it a ‘broken in’ look that was stylish nowadays and yet those touches had all been accidental thanks to demons being spat out of holes.
It completed the look, however.
Someday he hoped to see more familiar faces walk through those doors. Fenris and his broody scowls, Aveline’s freckled look of exasperation, Sebastian coming in cluelessly asking directions to the nearest chapel. Merrill’s look of excitement, Anders whining about injustices. Varric and those flawless curls on his chest. Until then, he would honor his companions with cocktails inspired by their very existence.
And in-house brewed beer titled Rat Droppings in honor of the dank ale they consumed in tankards that got them piss-faced drunk. It was highly possible rat droppings really did exist in that, but his brew could actually pass health inspection and the taste was improved on.
“Why hello there,” was the greet he extended to the newcomer after polishing off some glass tumblers. Bethany was delivering some grub to customers that needed greasy eats with their drinks, and Hawke was the main presence behind the bar. “Come here before? We can feed you and get you drunk all at once.”
The place certainly had character, that much was entirely obvious. It was one that Diana could appreciate. If every bar and tavern were the same, things would become highly boring quite quickly. And Diana was the type who liked to experience new things.
Of which there was no shortage of in this place.
“Hello,” she responded, turning her attention to the man behind the bar. “No, this is my first time. I am still relatively new to this area, actually. What do you recommend to eat and drink here?” It was always best to ask the staff these things. They tended to know what was best out of what they served.
Relatively new, eh? Judging from her accent, Hawke pinned her not from this glorious star-spangled country run by a living, breathing cheeto. May Orange County be gentle. “Ah, let’s see -” Laminated menus were retrieved from the shelves behind the bar. It was mostly pub eats, like wings battered in smoldering hot sauce, gravy-slathered poutine, lightly fried pickles, a Free Marches-inspired fish pie, and for lighter options was a Starkhaven staple of dried fruits, spices and cream.
On the menu was standard cocktail mixes, domestic and imported beers, and their specialty cocktails all inspired by the people from his dreams. Lady Man Hands: Tequila and raspberry liquor. Crisp, clear, and packs a punch (with a battering ram) was clearly for Aveline. King Alistair: Chocolate stout, sugar, and vanilla ice cream. A scrumptious indulgence fit for royalty was self-explanatory, but to those who didn’t know the references merely assumed they were random quirky names. “Our poutine’s gained popularity if you’re ready to load up on some chips and carbs, and as for drinks, well - our staple beer is brewed here. Rat Droppings if you’re bold enough to give it a go. I’ll give you a complimentary pint, yeah? As a proper welcome to this part of the world and The Hanged Man.”
Taking the menu in hand, Diana looked it over. The food was relatively what she would expect from a pub. It was certainly quite the selection. Lots of carbs and calories and very colorfully named drinks. Perhaps a return visit in the future was necessary as a couple of the drinks on the menu caught her attention, but she didn’t want to get too inebriated.
“Rat Droppings? It sounds as though you gave it such a name to dare people to drink it,” she commented with a smile. “I am not one to back away from anything, so I shall try a pint of it. And while I am at it, also an order of poutine. I have not had the food before, but it does sound intriguing.” And, well, it wasn’t like Diana needed to be on a diet. It may well be a heart attack on a plate, but weren’t the best kinds of foods described as being so?
Indeed, the best kinds of foods were the ones not ideal for the cholesterol but fuck it, it was America, wasn’t it? Might as well assimilate into the culture of heavy calories. “Excellent choices,” Hawke approved. Poutine was rung up into the kitchen, and he took a frosted mug and began to unleash the Rat Droppings on tap into it.
With the perfect thinness of the froth. That was always important when beer was poured.
“Here you go, love - an official welcoming gift, and may this bloody place treat you kindly and fairly. It can be an odd place to live,” he alluded. Surely Diana would know what he meant if she was on of them.
As the saying went, when in Rome do as the Romans do. So, when in America do as the Americans do. Or so Diana had done thus far, at least. Besides, she could work it off later at the gym or just by jogging around her neighborhood. Either way, she’d make up for it later.
“Thank you,” she responded with a warm and bright smile. “I have heard things here can be odd at times. I suppose it can be considered an adventure, depending upon how one looks at it.” Diana noted. She wasn’t fully versed on the things that went on here beyond the whole dreaming of another life thing, but she would undoubtedly learn about that quickly enough.
“I take it you’ve been giving the spiel of dreams and other things?” Hawke asked, rather boldly too - he suspected she was on the network. Perhaps not with a smile like that. Usually people came here to drink because of it, or maybe this place hadn’t broken her just yet. “Odd’s a way to put it. I had a hole into the spirit realm open up right over there.”
He pointed over to an area where the wood seemed a little darkened, like something went ‘splat.’ “Got sucked into it for awhile. It’s a trip I don’t recommend. I can make one hell of a list of different adventures you might come across if you’d like.”
“I have no formal introduction to the dreams, though I have read enough to be aware of them,” Diana clarified. “I have only had a dream or two myself, but I understand how they are different from normal dreams.” No, this place hadn’t broken her, but Diana was a very difficult person to break. She was an eternal optimist like that.
Looking over where he pointed, she tilted her head a bit. Something had definitely happened there. “You were trapped in the realm of spirits? That must have been a harrowing experience. Though I am pleased to see you made it back unscathed.”
Hawke was pleased escape with his life, too - considering in Bela’s dreams he had died in the literal same scenario. What a hilariously traumatizing day. “I am as well, but go on, tell me what flavor of ‘other life’ you’ve been blessed with. Mine involves magic - mages, dwarves, elves, a horned-race called the qunari and all the politics that come with it.”
What a thing to dream about when all he’d wanted was to help support his family. Must be his destiny to just be thrown into shit, or to be at the wrong place at all the wrong times.
“I am an Amazon living on a hidden island called Themyscira. My mother is the queen. I cannot really say much more as I was still a young child in my last dream. I just know that I wish to be a warrior. I also tend to be a bit of a troublemaker, running away from my tutors to watch the warriors train and such.” Diana admitted with a smile and a chuckle.
“My mother tries to discipline me, but it doesn’t really work. Especially when I smile at her and ask her how she’s doing after she’s caught me running away from my tutor.” Despite her mother being a graceful, stoic queen, Diana wondered if her mother had been the rebellious type when she’d been younger and that was why she was secretly amused.
A bell in the back kitchen made a ding, and there was a plate slid in the small window behind him. “Gimme a second, that’s yours -” he said, turning around to pick up the dish quickly by the edges (it was hot) and then carefully set it in front of her. Steaming, delish, and sure to clog a major artery. Welcome to America.
“There you go, love, but anyway, an amazon? Quite a new twist around here. I take it you will become a warrior then. First impressions tell me you’re not someone who’ll take ‘no’ for an answer.”
That definitely looked like a heart attack on a plate. Diana made a mental note to do a longer workout routine to compensate. And perhaps eating some salad and fruit later as well. At least she’d always had a fast metabolism so she could soak these calories. And, well, without further ado, Diana dove right into that plate and hoped her arteries were prepared for this assault.
“Considering that my aunt seems to recognize my will to be a warrior, I think I shall become a warrior.” She said with a smile. “You are correct. Being told no only makes me want it more and work to find another way to get it.” Sometimes it got her in trouble, of course, but it also tended to pay off. “I inherited my mother’s stubbornness, so really she possibly should have expected this.”
“Well, if you haven’t heard yet then you should know that any skills acquired in these dreams, items too, can carry over? Exist here as well?” Hawke tossed a bar towel over his shoulder and leaned back, crossing his arms. “In my world people are born in magic, which - in the eyes of the ‘church’ establishment and in regards to politics, it’s not exactly a good thing - but I managed to receive that ‘gift’ here too. Magical staffs, armor. Very helpful things when this place has a habit of trying to kill you, so perhaps you’ll begin acquiring all those warrior skills you learn.”
Like muscle memory of sorts? That’s how it was for him.
“They do? I like the sound of that.” Diana could use a bow here, and use it well, but it could be handy being able to use a sword, spear and any other weapons the Amazons used. Hopefully the muscle memory would kick in and she would not need to train from scratch in this world.
As he spoke of magic, Diana listened intently. It seemed that people dreamed of a multitude of different worlds. His had magic. “Do you have a specific kind of magic that you wield, or can you use whatever spell you want?” As far as she knew, magic didn’t exist in her world, not in the way that Hawke knew. The gods had powers, and some of the great heroes of old had special abilities as well. To her, magic seemed to reside in weapons, such as the Godkiller sword that her mother had shown her.
“Magic’s an innate part of us but we learn how to manifest in different ways, mostly in the form of different spellworks - I don’t know all of them, and some come easier than others. Though my expertise is…” An eye of his closed in a bit of a wince. Diana wasn’t from Thedas, so the judgement wouldn’t be stabbing at him. “Blood magic, mostly. It’s known as a forbidden school. I enjoy understanding it, picking apart what people are afraid of the most, but like all things it needs to be exercise with a degree of caution. Anything is a weapon for terrible things if the intent to use them is...well, terrible.”
Her head tilted as she listened to his explanation. Diana had no judgement for the revelation of blood magic. It didn’t mean anything to her. “Blood magic? Do you use blood to power your spells, then?” It was probably a silly question, but she felt it was better to ask and know than to assume. “Though you are correct, anything can be used for evil if the intentions are evil.”
“That’s one way to use it, yes,” he said, thoughtfully stroking that majestic beard - finely trimmed and manscaped, he never did let it get unruly and wild. Garrett had scruples. “Blood magic a bit of a different gamble, too. It’s a way to control others, influence their actions, enter dreams and also expose oneself to demons on the other side. Though I’ve no intention to become a too. It’s dangerous, no doubt, but there’s power in blood. Good power that could help others if used right.”
Hopefully he’d be able to do something with it to help Morrigan in her latest venture.
“But, anyway, enough about that - don’t mean to creep you out in the slightest, but if the dreams ever give you trouble, love, feel free to stop by. I’ll make sure to keep your glass full, belly satisfied, and a willing ear for when things go apeshit. And they tend to, down the line. It always starts out harmless before you realize you’re on a flaming train about to ride off a cliff into a valley of spikes.”
That was fascinating, the uses that could come from blood magic. Though the ability to control others wasn’t so good to hear about. “I do wish you luck in using the good side of blood magic.” It did seem, from his description, that it could be a slippery slope he was on. And hopefully he was not alone in being helped to resist the darker side of it.
“Thank you, I appreciate it. It is difficult to say where my dreams will lead. At the moment, the more likely path is riding a horse over a cliff while on fire and crash into the rocks or shallow water.” She grinned a bit, giving his words a little Amazonian twist. “Or, if you are me, you leap off of a higher road, intending to land on a lower one and misjudge the distance between the two.” The image of her mother catching her was one she’d always find amusement in, mostly for how they both responded to it.
Hawke laughed. “Ah, I’m liking your humor - you, love, you’ll be just fine if you can smile flattened like a pancake after that leap.” Likely with a few bruises, scuffs and scrapes, but overall fine. Diana seemed to have that fire in her. “I’m gonna leave you to your lunch while I tend to a couple other patrons but throw something at me if you need me, pinky promise I won’t take it personally.”
“Thank you, you are doing excellent at your job.” Diana responded with a grin. “I will try not to throw any food or drink at you, though no promises.” She teased with a twinkle in her eye. Though if Diana had her way, there would be no food or drink left for her to throw at him. So it would probably need to be a dirty napkin that would be be chosen for such a job. Diana ate her food, enjoying it and the beer, and she soaked up the atmosphere of the place. People-watching was something she really loved doing.