A village gift (Text post AND log) OTA

[clouded_heart]

WHO: Foggy Nelson
WHERE: South Village Inn
WHEN: Jan 10th ish
OPEN TO: OTA
WARNINGS: None at present

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Text post
UN: haventthe

Hey people, Foggy here. I got a couple of those boxes that seem to happen to people and while it's addressed to me, I get the feeling that it's meant for the collective. I've got a bunch of woodworking tools here, including chisels, files, a saw and a hand drill with drill bits.

I'm taking this a hint that they approved of my amateur forays into carpentry and want that to continue, but I want to make sure everyone knows they're welcome to use them. For now, I'm keeping everything at the South Inn, but maybe we can set up one of the houses, or the mill as a workshop at some point.

Even had an idea for making paper from the sawdust and shavings. That's probably going to need experimentation though.

South Village Inn

True to his word, Foggy has set up in the large front room. He's moved a table to a far corner and he's set out the tools, checking them over to see if they're all fine. He does know all these tools, he did high school wood working, but it's been a while.

A long while.

But the main reason for sitting here is so that it's apparent he is here, and the tools are here, and they can work something out for making useful things and teaching people to make useful things.

Comments

[clouded_heart]

Without trying to seem pathetic or desperate, I'm not entirely sure why I'd be in your bed, given you don't seem to be hurting for company from the flirting I've seen going on.

[ataashihunter]

I am not, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't like more people. And I wouldn't invite you if I wasn't actually interested.

[clouded_heart]

I believe you're interested, that's not an issue! More a bit surprised.

[ataashihunter]

You underestimate yourself then. You're good looking Foggy. In a different way than say... Zevran or Bobo or Nida, but that doesn't change that you are. I like a lot of variety.

[clouded_heart]

I know I'm not bad looking, this isn't me looking for compliments (though they're appreciated, thank you). I'm not *pretty* like some people are. And the clothing here certainly isn't the most flattering...

[ataashihunter]

That is very true, but it isn't good for anyone at least.

But it isn't just about looks. I think you'd be fun in bed.

[clouded_heart]

Thanks, I hope I am.

But like I said, got some stuff in my head to sort out. And I'd want to know your definition of fun and games and how my own aligns with it.

[ataashihunter]

No worries, and we should. Which brings another question. You want me to stop flirting until you've sorted it out? I like flirting even if that is all it is.

[clouded_heart]

No, I like flirting, it's fine, so long as there's an understanding that it's just that.

[ataashihunter]

Good. And I want you to tell me to back off if it is ever uncomfortable.

[clouded_heart]

Not an issue, I'm very good at protecting my own boundaries. But it's good of you to check.

[ataashihunter]

A lot of people can be a bit worried about a Qunari flirting with them. Worse when it is a Tal-Vashoth not that most people know the difference.

[clouded_heart]

You intimidate me a bit, but that's never been a reason for me to back down on anything before.

warn: consent issues?

[ataashihunter]

Good, I want people to be in my bed because they want to, not because they're afraid to say no. There's been times when who I was with wasn't my choice and that wasn't nearly as good.

[clouded_heart]

I'm sorry that happened to you.

I'm not scared to say no.

Consent issues, eugenics

[ataashihunter]

It is just the way Qunari view things. The Tamassrans figure out what bloodlines to continue and when and then you sleep with whoever they tell you to. Well, I guess specifically procreate. The rest of the time we can sleep with whoever we want. As long as no kids come from it.

Consent issues, eugenics

[clouded_heart]

We had people not that dissimilar.

The rest of the world waged a war on them to stop them.

Re: Consent issues, eugenics

[ataashihunter]

Why? If their people didn't mind it.

Re: Consent issues, eugenics

[clouded_heart]

Because you can't just decide to take someone's freedom of choice away. Consent and personal agency are important and if the only way you can keep people agreeing is to deny them any other option, that's slavery. Personal freedom does need to be balanced with existing in a society and respecting the rights of others, sure.

But this country declared one people superior and certain other people 'the enemy' and committed genocide for that belief. Seventeen million men, woman and children were murdered just because they were considered not worth the resources it took to keep them alive. Others were forcibly sterilised because these people decided they should never be allowed to breed.

Eventually, a generation or two down the road, if they'd got away with it? Maybe those generations would see it as normal and fine. Or maybe, they'd look across the borders and see people who didn't have their lives mapped out by the state and decide they'd like the try that. Which makes them an undesirable and gotta go.

Re: Consent issues, eugenics

[ataashihunter]

But do people really have a choice? Does the baker that can barely feed his family have any choice but to go to work? Or the elves working in the cities, do they really have any choice but to accept the abuse the nobles send their way because if they don't the nobles call the guards or stop paying them. Choice is a fine idea, if you can pay for it. A lot of people can't. I have men in my company who will be killed as surely as I will if they go back home because of who they are even though they are not slaves. Under the Qun everyone is provided for, you have a place, a home, protection, food. That is more than a lot of people in Thedas has, even if you ignore the slaves.

And Qunari would never kill that many. People too are a resource to the Qunari and killing like that is a waste. If you can't perform your purpose, because maybe it isn't the right one for you anyway, then another one will be found for you. I was meant to be a soldier, but soldier wasn't right for me.

Re: Consent issues, eugenics

[clouded_heart]

Your world sounds somewhat like ours, a hundred, two hundred years ago. We've made a lot of strides in social and economic mobility.

My family are not rich, at all. They're butchers. But I was able to go to higher education, I chose to become a lawyer. The system still has flaws that need fixing and are being worked on, but there are choices, there are personal freedoms.

I understand what you're saying, but for me, it seems a false dichotomy. There are other options than abject poverty and economic disparity or conformity in a system where everyone is treated 'equal' with all decisions of any import removed from the person.

Which, yeah, is not what you're saying, but it's how it sort of comes across.

Re: Consent issues, eugenics

[ataashihunter]

You are not the only one who feels it looks that way. Talk to Hawke for example. She's dealt with the other side of Qunari.

And it is good that people in your world have choices. Some of the men in my company can't go back to their homes because they made a choice to leave and have been cast out after that. They defied some law or some rule telling them who they have to be without any attention to two they are. At least with the Qun we are honest about the expectations and restrictions.

How did you move on from a world like mine to one more like yours?

[clouded_heart]

How did we move on?

Some parts of our world haven't. Some parts are going back towards it. Ultimately... I don't know. I'm not a historian, or an anthropologist (person who studies cultures and societies). It's taken a lot of people suffering until they won't take anymore and rise up. Revolutions. Bloodshed.

[ataashihunter]

Hm. Yeah I've seen some of those. Heck I've helped out. One of those things that happen when you're a mercenary after all. And it seems like it is happening places in my world as we speak too. Maybe that is for the better.

[clouded_heart]

You know how was were discussing universal education once? I think that's also important for revolutions and moving a people forward. Teaching people not *what* to think, but *how* to think. How to pick facts from opinions and put them together