Study Interlude (Dio)
This is just a bit of a throwaway scenario I imagined… nothing ground shattering, nothing epic, but it does offer a bit of insight into Dio, I suppose?
“Wait, so you’ve been ‘reading up on tieflings?’” Diotima teases, glancing up from her book to offer the lanky apprentice wizard seated on the corner of her bed a smirk. “That feels a little bit like stalking, sir.”
“I’m not-” The young man…. Steve... stutters. “It’s not stalking, Diotima! I just wanted to learn more about y- about your people. I was taught much, but meeting you, I think that much of what I’ve learned is wrong.” He pauses, and adds a bit awkwardly “We’re… I believe we’re friends, so I thought it prudent to learn. Have I offended you?”
Dio tilts her her head, touched by the gesture. “Hn? Oh, uhm. No. No, it’s cool.” Tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear, now awkward herself, she adds “So uhm. What did you learn? Anything interesting?”
“Well,” Steve says, taking on a tone of authority that few outside of the arcane arts can muster “There is much said on the matter. Some tomes claim tieflings have secret powers associated with their bloodlines. Transformation, mind control, compulsion of a-” He turns a bit pink. “...sexual nature. Among others.”
Diotima snorts, rolling her eyes. “Compulsion of a sexual nature, what? That’s ridiculous, my dude. Fucking wizards, man.” She hesitates for a moment. “But I mean, I guess at least the transformation part is accurate. I… well. I know people, tieflings, who can do that.”
Steve, leaning forward with interest, asks “Truly? Are they akin to changelings then, capable of changing their skins at a whim? Or is it more an illusory transformation as the fae are purported to use?”
Dio shrugs. “No, it’s not like that, it’s just, I dunno, they say they’re bound to one form, they sort of attune it and end up with that form. Maybe they can change it later, I’m not sure, I’ve not asked. And it’s… not painful, but draining, you know? Sort of like having a small headache all day. It’s exhausting.”
“Forgive me, but it sounds like you speak from personal experience.” Steve replies. “Not that I’m… actually, I withdraw my question.” He’s known Dio for long enough that he has discovered that she can be touchy about talking about herself unless she broaches the topic herself.
“No, it’s… you’re curious, I get it.” She replies. “So...yes. I can; it’s not a common ability-” In fact, she’s one of two tieflings she knows who can do so “But it is ‘a thing’ some of us can do. But I mean, I rarely do it, though.”
“Rarely? Why?” Steve asks.
Why would I?” She replies. “If people can’t accept me like-” She gestures vaguely, indicating the whole of herself “-this, they can fuck right off. So… yes. I can shift, if I want to. But not into anything interesting; I have the choice between bitchy tiefling and bitchy human looking girl.” She flashes a quick smile… her comment is not particularly funny, but it helps her to mask her discomfort.
“Oh.” Steve says, considering. Then, teasing, he adds “So I’m standing in the presence of Silverymoon's most uninteresting lycanthrope?”
The joke, rare for the perpetually serious Steve, catches Dio off-guard. Laughing, she says “Oh, fuck off! I mean, I guess that’s true? I mean…” Running her hands down her hips in mock irritation “-had I known I was going to get one chance, I would have given myself more curves.”
“Can I see?” Steve blurts, his curiosity overcoming his discomfort at asking personal questions.
“What, my curves?” Dio smirks, reaching over to poke him in the chest. “Steve, you pervert!”
Stammering, pink face, Steve holds up his hands “I didn’t mean! No, not your- I mean your… other form. Can I see it?”
A shadow of… not annoyance, but something akin… crosses Dio’s face. “I don’t…why? It’s… I mean, it’s not impressive, I still look like me, mostly. It’s not exactly exciting.”
“Academic curiosity, I suppose? But you don't have to if it makes you uncomfortable, Diotima.” Which is, he suspects, true… though he doesn’t particularly understand why.
Dio considers for a long moment. “I just… I don’t know. Let me think about it, yeah?”
“Of course, Diotima.” And, with a wisdom rare for the young apprentice, he adds “Now, about those divination exercises…”