Take me to the water's edge [open]

[provenforce]

WHO: Rey and YOU
WHAT: Stuff Rey is doing for the month of Harvestmere
WHEN: ~whenever~
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: if you'd like a closed starter hit me up on plurk, or pm!

i. riverside

Rey can be found often standing on the river bank, a little ways away from the camp, where she thinks no one will see her. Even after her lessons have concluded for the day with Obi-Wan she'll come here to keep practising, picking rocks up from the riverbank using nothing but the Force, then throwing them out into the water.

Sometimes she sees if she can find the same rock and pull it back, other times she'll try to angle a smooth stone, perfect for skipping, just to see if she can skip it with her will alone. And sometimes she'll get frustrated with that and just actually physically skip stones, something she learned to do in the water troughs at the edge of Niima outpost when she was young.


ii. tower

Sleeping in the barracks was something that Rey wasn't quite comfortable with, too many bodies, too many people she doesn't know well enough to trust letting her guard down around. So for a while she'd taken to sleeping in nooks and crannies around the castle, wherever she could tuck herself to avoid getting trampled on or spotted. Finally she found herself a room that looked unoccupied, possibly due to the massive hole in the wall facing the valley. Rey is however something of an expert in patching up sad hovels into something liveable. She hung a heavy wool blanket across the hole, and added some nails she acquired to pin it into place when night fell and the wind blew.

Anyone who happens into the tower her room is located in, whether looking for her or not, may find her with tools spread out on the floor as she attempts to install a locking mechanism into the door. She doesn't own much, certainly nothing anyone would want to steal, but a lock will make her feel more at ease at night.


iii. hot springs

Rey can count on one hand the number of times she's used a bath with actual water. On Jakku every drop was precious and needed more for hydration than the luxury of cleaning oneself. Sonic showers were the norm, and even those had been fairly infrequent. She'd had a real shower before leaving to try and track Luke Skywalker down, it had felt bizarre to waste water in such a way.

Standing looking at the hot springs now, she still feels that way. All the same she needs to get clean, and she knows this is the best option, the other being the freezing river. She's getting better at tolerating the cold, but she does still have her limits. This isn't her first time here, but she's still unaccustomed to the concept, so it's late at night when she's less likely to run into someone else. With a little puttering she puts her things aside, before making her way into the water, letting out a sigh as the heat seeps into her skin. It's the closest she's gotten to the Jakku heat since arriving in Thedas, and strange as it is, it's not unwelcome.

After soaking it in for a few moments she sets to the task of letting her hair down, wanting to be in and out in as short amount of time as absolutely possible.

Comments

ii

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin's own room isn't too far away, notable by the blue seashell painted on the door. It's a fair guess that the small room was likewise in terrible repair when she and Araceli first claimed it; that was the point, taking something they were pretty sure no one else would want. Nobles wouldn't want holes in the roof or walls, or a room in the mountains without a working fireplace, after all. But bit by bit, they made it livable. She's just a little too selfish to go live in the barracks when she can snuggle in privacy with her kadan.

Upon exiting and searching the nearby area, Korrin comes to a stop when she realizes that the empty room in that nearby tower is empty no longer. The girl is instantly familiar, though it's been a while since they last spoke. Korrin can't forget a person with her own lightsaber, after all. The tall, horned woman pauses by the entrance, noting the tools on the floor with interest. "Want an extra pair of hands? I'm not needed anywhere, at the moment."

[provenforce]

Rey is by nature wary of anyone who offers her their help. Before she met Finn, the last people who had offered their help had stolen a space ship that would have been worth a profound amount of rations after helping her fix it up for months. She's been burned, badly. Still, there isn't much for Korrin to gain here by offering which briefly makes Rey wonder why she's offering at all. Letting out a breath Rey shifts a little, tilting her head back so she can look up at the tall horned woman.

"You know anything about installing locks in doors? I've honestly never worked with anything this old before." Or well, the lock was new. Something she'd purchased while in Orlais. But the technology? Old.

[gatheringstorm]

A wary demeanor or response isn't anything new to Korrin. As a 'Qunari' and a mage, she gets plenty of suspicion just based on those two factors. It's not fun to be judged like that, of course, but if she made a scene every time that happened, she likely wouldn't have time for anything else.

Glancing down to the lock, she raises an eyebrow. "Looks new to me. But yeah, Araceli and I did the same for ours. Not that anyone would really have wanted our crappy room at first, but we had planned to fix it up, so things could have changed. She's better at it than I am, but I remember what goes where, more or less." If nothing else, she can hold things in place for Rey.

[provenforce]

At least Rey isn't wary of Korrin for her appearance or magical ability. She'd be just as wary as a regular vanilla human. Possibly warier, because vanilla humans have stabbed her in the back more than aliens.

She smiles a little at Korrin's answer, nodding her head.

"Then if you don't mind helping, I won't tell you to leave. I've got a rough idea of what I'm doing here, but I'd rather not ruin the door."

i

[aceso]

Energizing rocks to move them is nothing new to Christine, and seeing Rey doing this down by the river has her wandering a little closer to watch. She can tell the woman is a rifter, but there are plenty of those here with magic of their own. Making no effort to hide the sound of her footsteps, Christine still doesn't speak until she's at the water's edge.

"Performing a magical exercise?"

[provenforce]

Rey knows by now the nature of magic in this world, and while she's learned that people are wary of it (hence practice so far from Skyhold), she also knows the same people are generally wary of Rifters. Anyone approaching her, she assumes isn't going to do her harm. Or if they were, they'd be less obvious with their footfalls. So Rey continues moving rocks, only pausing to look at her visitor once she speaks.

"Yes. Though we don't call it magic, where I'm from." It's enough of a similarity that she doesn't feel the need to say 'no it's not magic' because really, to those who have never experienced the Force, it absolutely is. Even to her it is, a little.

[aceso]

"It seems that holds true for many rifters," Christine replies, eyes moving towards the water. "May I ask what your people call it?"

i

[conqueredhearts]

Iskandar had decided that a ride would do his horse some good. Now that they both seemed to require exercise as well as food and rest again, it seemed rather important to provide his companion with that. Which was how they came across the girl moving stones with what must be magic. An impressive thing to be sure!

He smiled a little then guided his horse over to her, both beast and man huge. Getting down off of him, he brought him closer to the river for a drink as he directed that smile her way. "My apologies for interrupting, my friend. It seems you were rather busy!"

At least he recognized that much.

[provenforce]

Rey wasn't particularly startled by the appearance of the gentleman or his horse. The pack animals common on Jakku were larger than any horse she'd seen so far, and if you can get along with wookiees you have a fair chance of not being startled by any human regardless of stature.

So she finished the exercise she was running through, the rock settling in the palm of her hand as she turned to look at her approaching visitors.

"Just finishing up, actually."

[conqueredhearts]

"What magic is that you are using? It was impressive!"

He was sure he'd seen similar things but he couldn't recall them now. Then again it was impossible for him to remember past summonings. His memories were always erased after every summoning so far as he could tell. Likely to make him fresh without complications for his new Master.

Iskandar looked at the rock to see that it looked quite ordinary. Magic of the mind perhaps?

river; scoots in a week late with nugs

[inagutterson]

Personally, Yngvi has perhaps one bath per year. But Yngvi is a responsible nug owner now (when he hasn't just unleashed many nugs amidst Skyhold after arriving in truly flamboyant style) as can be witnessed by him sloshing about by the river with some nugs squeaking by him.

Not in distress, just squeaking. At least until a stone comes too close to Nug Wellington who barrels into Rump Roast, and Rump Roast startles Truffles. Stroganugg, aloft in Yngvi's arms, makes a noise of protest as Yngvi stares because humans. Humans are weird.

"D'you know how slippery nugs are?" He calls as he bends - not very far since, y'know, he's a dwarf - to try to get Nug Wellington back under control before he's off on a wild nug chase. Truffles retreats to between his legs and safety though Rump Roast has other ideas, and heads straight for Rey.

[provenforce]

She hadn't meant for the rock to land so close to the poor thing, she'd actually been distracted by the squeaking and lost control of it.

"Sorry!" she replies to his call, and that's when she sees the creature- nugs he'd called them- barreling towards her. Without entirely thinking about it she steps forward, meeting the critter halfway and scooping him up before he could make a grand escape. She cradles the wriggling creature carefully as she walks towards the dwarf, smiling apologetically. "I didn't mean to disrupt them. Are they all alright?"

[inagutterson]

Rump Roast is more than happy to be picked up (Stroganugg is the clear favourite of all Yngvi's nugs for reasons that make sense only to Yngvi) and starts making pleased sounds. And pawing with his little hand-feets. The other two on the ground peer up as well, Yngvi leaning back because this always happens, everyone is tall, the world conspires against him.

"Tougher than they look, more slippery than an eel when they get going mind. There's a reason folk race nugs." Mad people wasting their money but it was money in Yngvi's pockets if they wanted to bet on the nugs then wasn't it? "Hauled me from Orlais to here though, so reckon one rock won't scare them now."

Lo and behold, Yngvi tells a truth. (Okay so Yngvi hauled them up the mountain but details.)

iii

[lettersfromhome]

Late at night seems the only time she ever has to herself, and with both Zevran and the baby asleep it seems as good at time as any to try and unwind a little. People have been suggesting that, after all. Nonstop. As though she didn't know perfectly well how to take care of herself.

She's bundled up in a fur-lined robe on the way down to the hot springs, with a few towels folded over an arm to assist once she's ready to climb out. She pauses, however, when she sees the young woman already occupying the spring. It's something of a surprise to see anyone out here this late.

Mia draws to a halt just short of the spring's edge.

"Ah. My apologies. I didn't mean to disturb anyone."

[provenforce]

Rey almost instinctively ducks under the water at the sound of a voice, she'd been so focused on pulling knots out of her hair she hadn't even realized someone else was near. She stops before her head goes completely under and slowly comes back up, looking at the woman who spoke and willing herself to relax a little.

"No it's- it's alright. I didn't think anyone else would come down here this time of the night."

[lettersfromhome]

"Nor did I. Apparently great minds think alike, and yet find a way to thwart one another," she replies with a wry smile.

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to share? I don't bite."

She'd offer to come back later, but there might not be time later, or she may very well just pass out from exhaustion sometime during the wait. It can't hurt to ask, at least. She does give the wet knots in Rey's hair a considering look, however.

i.

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione has snuck off on her own to secretly practice her magic enough times that she can tell when someone else is doing the same. She's not sure if this particular person is trying to hide the fact that she's a mage or if she just wants some peace and quiet, so she doesn't interrupt her, even if she watches her from a little ways off, curious about her little project.

When the girl wraps up and turns around, Hermione realizes that she can't quite pretend that she hadn't been watching, and it would be rude to turn away without a word after being caught staring at a person. So she cracks a small, only slightly awkward smile, asking, "Is it harder to do your magic without a staff? I've never quite been able to determine if that's something only certain mages can do."

[provenforce]

Before people see the shard in Rey's left palm, they definitely assume mage. The staff usually worn slung across her back certainly looks like a mage staff. She looks confused for a moment by the question, as well as the unexpected audience, before a look of dawning crosses her face and she smiles a little, shaking her head.

"My staff is just for hitting things. I'm not a mage." Which she realizes sounds like a lie when she was clearly just floating rocks around, so she holds her hand up, palm open. Even though the arm warmers she wears cover half her hand, the green glow is unmistakable. "I'm from a different universe."

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione blinks in surprise at the mention of the staff being used for "hitting things". While she's certainly heard of them being used in that manner before, she's also pretty sure that most mages would consider that a gross misuse of what appears to be their primary weapon. She's also heard of plenty of people lying about being mages before, and given the fairly secluded spot in which she'd found the other woman, she's about to accept her words as little more than that before dropping the subject entirely.

But then she sees Rey's hand, and her face goes from nervously avoidant to something resembling genuine pleasure. "Oh! A rifter!" She holds out her own hand, then; she tends to wear longer sleeves than she really needs to in an effort to keep from being bothered by anyone specifically because they can see a green glow from her palm, but the sleeve shifts just enough when she stretches out her arm. "I'm a rifter, too. Not very many of us can do magic. There used to be a good number of us, but...."

Well. She'd assumed that she simply hadn't seen them around, but after Kain's death, she has to wonder how many of the other magically-inclined rifters have suffered similar fates. Instead of saying as much, she waves her hand dismissively and adds, "I'm Hermione Granger. Are you new?"

iii

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra, too, prefers to bathe alone, less out of any sense of modesty than simply because she enjoys the solitude. Normally she rises early, and makes do with a splash of cold water from a bucket after her morning workout. But she's up late tonight, and in the mood to indulge herself.

The hot springs, half shadowed in the nightly gloom, appear to be empty at first glance - though, to be fair, she doesn't look particularly hard before stripping down, smalls joining the rest of her clothing in a heap on the edge of the water. She stretches luxuriously, silhouetted at the edge of the water, before she steps in and sinks down at its edge with a sigh of her own. Her head tilts back, her eyes closing, and only once she opens them again does she notice the other figure, a few feet away in the water.

"Oh." She stares at the young woman, at a loss for anything intelligent to say. "I - had thought I was alone."

[provenforce]

Rey was more aware of a new presence, if only because that is how she's wired. It was clear that the woman didn't notice her though, so she turned around with her back to her, equal parts politeness and not being sure how to react, until she hears the water break and a voice.

Turning around a slightly unsure smile on her face she shrugs her shoulders at the woman's statement.

"Obviously you're not."

[stabsbooks]

"Obviously," Cassandra agrees. There's a slightly awkward silence.

"I did not mean to disturb your solitude. If you would prefer to bathe alone, I can return at another time."

[obi_wanmanshow]

Obi-Wan finds her by the river, that morning, watching her ping stones off the surface of the water. It's an idle thing, with all the real intention and emotion of childhood behind it, and something about the moment makes him loath to disturb the peace. She has already progressed remarkably-- her control is improving by leaps and bounds, and he feels no sense of pressure, no need to push. Obi-Wan long ago came to trust his feelings, and so he stands, listening to the plunk of stone and snowmelt, the rush of water, and the wind-sound muffled by the encroaching mountains.

"I was thinking," he said, finally, "Today, we should begin with meditation, if you like. I'm interested to see if we can't pry more meaning out of the vision you mentioned."

Qui-Gon had done that too, phrased most directives as if the course of study depended entirely on his student, and now Obi-Wan found himself falling into the same habit. It made him smile to think of it, and for once without the accompanying pang of loss.

[provenforce]

She's grown comfortable enough with listening to what the Force is telling her, that she can sense Obi-Wan when he approaches, but she doesn't stop until he speaks. The exercise she's given herself to do may seem rudimentary and silly to some watching, but she's been enjoying it.

Turning when Obi-Wan speaks up she smiles at his suggestion, nodding her head. "I'd like that. I've figured out some of what it meant on my own, certain things happened, but..." She presses her lips together, the smile of a moment ago fading. "There's still a lot of it that's hard to place."

[obi_wanmanshow]

He smiles at her, warm acknowledgement, and reaches out to pat her shoulder, gently reassuring. A visionary talent is never an easy burden, but even if he himself is no expert, he's helped guide Anakin through enough that-- well, it's not as if Rey has another choice, here. Given the option, he'd be willing to bet the Thedosians would call her a blood mage, if her vision became well known.

Obi-Wan isn't worried, of course. Rey is nothing if not discreet.

"In the temple, we had isolation chambers, and comfortable chairs, to help easily-distracted younglings find their focus. Somehow, I think that isn't going to be your problem" He says, folding gracefully down onto a relatively dry spot by the riverbank. Sitting cross-legged, Obi-Wan seems as relaxed on hard stone as if he were sitting on a cushioned chair; he's serene, completely at ease, "Before we begin, if you have a moment, I'd like to ask how you've been fitting in, around Skyhold, and with the Inquisition. It can't have be an easy transition, but-- what's your impression, of the people here? Is there anyone specific, who stands out to you?"