Bring Me the Heart of Snow White: Part 1

[madame_de_fer]

WHO: Vivienne and Norrington
WHAT: Vivienne needs to dispatch some Templars on a fetchquest
WHEN: Nowish
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: The red shirts Templars are gunna die. No one knows yet.

On a normal day, week, month, Vivienne makes time in her schedule to spend time with James. In some ways, it's much as life would be in the Circle, collaborating and cooperating to see that things are running smoothly and safely. They've both been out and busy, doing work for the Inquisition and she's keenly feeling the need for his solid, sensible company.

And she has a favor to ask.

If there's anything Vivienne dislikes, it's anything that even hints at the slightest lack of control. Her control. Yet she trusts James, and she trusts his men, and the need is so dreadfully great. There is not much she would not do for Bastien, and that includes letting go of a sliver of control to someone else.

The piles of her ongoing alchemical research have grown over the past few months, threatening to impose a sense of disarray to her otherwise quite tidy balcony. Nonetheless, an area has been cleared to have tea laid out, as if nothing has changed. Small nibbles and a fresh blend from Val Royeaux awaits the Knight Commander on his arrival.

Comments

[judgemewhole]

Norrington himself, as he enters, looks more scruffy than usual when he arrives to the balcony for tea. It is travel, though, not inattention, that makes his appearance a little gruffer than usual around the edges. The manners remain the same, however, and as he clears the landing he bows deeply to the lady in question.

"Good afternoon, Madame Vivienne. I trust I have not kept you waiting long?" He states in that same low, smooth tone, although there is a touch of weariness in his smile, it is still present. A fresh scar glances down his neck, but it is quickly and neatly healing.

[madame_de_fer]

Norrington himself not only gets a smile, but even gets Vivienne to give up her relined pose on her couch when he arrives. She is not now, or truly ever, physically demonstrative, but it's really as close as she comes to bestowing a hug of greeting. Here is one of the few souls she likes nearly as much as her Bastien.

"Not at all, my dear. I had worried that we were to be two ships passing in the night again, but I'm so delighted you're here."

Her eye falls on that new scar and she examines it critically. "Though I shall be terribly cross if you tell me whoever gave you that doesn't now regret doing so."

Honestly, she despises people who are foolish enough to heckle her favorites. Vivienne takes it as a personal affront and there's been far too much of it lately.

[judgemewhole]

A true honor indeed, when the 'Queen' of Skyhold raises herself up to greet him. He takes her hands, and kisses them delicately, before rising completely. "Hordes of wild darkspawn could not keep me away, Madame Vivienne. I could use the respite."

His fingers flick to the scar, and he smirks faintly, "He is currently sitting in his dungeon cell -- so yes, I think he regrets it. Very much."

He steps back, letting her sit first, before he goes to sit himself. "Ah, tea. A civilized drink, to be sure."

[madame_de_fer]

"Then I approve of the addition. It's remarkably dashing." Not that the Knight Commander needs any assistance attracting further female attention, but it certain cannot hurt.

Once Vivienne is well and settled, she sets about the business of pouring out. No need to stand on formalities just the two of them. Well, not entirely true, there are always unspoken ones in place, just these are slightly less stodgy. "I do have a few bottles of a Rowan's Rose put back that I'm holding for Satinalia, but I could be persuaded to open one for the sake of refreshing flagging energy."

James is given another once over. One attentive to the small details. He is clearly road weary and in need of a good rest. Possibly also a substantial meal. She'll see that he gets it later, if she has to go down to the kitchens and demand it herself.

"My dear, you look exhausted." Trust Vivienne not to pull her punches. She means well, which is something. "Are you going to be allowed any rest or will you be wearing yourself down to the brink?"

[judgemewhole]

"I am always looking to be a little more dashing." He smiled in turn, settled down and delicately took his tea cup when offered it. Yes, his hand was rough from sword play and the like. That did not mean he did not know how to act in polite society. "I might beg for a bottle - but I would prefer to share a glass with you at Satinalia."

A pause, and a quiet sigh, before he gave her a rueful look. "I am the titular spokesperson for all the Templars here, Madame. Unfortunately, that means if something large comes down the line, I am required to be there ... or at least having something to say about it."

[madame_de_fer]

"Alas, with much privilege comes much responsibility." Which honestly surmises her problem with all these angry apostate and rebel mages screaming and tantruming about "freedom." They have great gifts and as such, need to exhibit better behavior than those without magic. She contents herself with self-assurance that the Circles will in time be restored and that she will have a direct hand in seeing they are managed better than they fared under Fiona.

There's at least a sympathetic smile from her for his troubles. She's swamped with being the point of contact responsible for all the mages present in the Inquisition. It keeps her busy beyond words and leaves little time for her ongoing personal research. "At Satinalia it shall be for the wine. I, for one, shall welcome the break from my labours. And I insist that you take one as well."

[judgemewhole]

"It is the bane of any leader - knowing the balance inbetween." James said in agreement, leaning back with his tea to sip it. So many of his fellow brothers, looking for a position when they should be looking to how to save their Order from oblivion. It boggled the mind. He admitted they often got the short end of the stick with the free mages -- but they did need to clean up their act. Get rid of the dangerous elements.

He nods his head at her statement, before he puts one hand to his chest. "I shall take one, if I may take one with you, dear First Enchanter. To share a glass of wine with you would be worthy of rest and relaxation."

[madame_de_fer]

"You are a treasure, my dear."

She means it in all sincerity and not just idle flattery. Vivienne enjoys their respectful and yet fond relationship, working together as equals on either side of the same coin. It is her hope that others can watch how they comport themselves and learn what balance is meant to be in place.

Settling in for a long afternoon, Vivienne lounges on her couch, setting her teacup on the seat before her. One slender finger is held up as a caution that she is not asking James to stir himself when they had only just established that he is due a rest. "While you are here, darling, I wondered if you might lend me the use of a couple of your Templars."

[judgemewhole]

"To be treasured of someone of such immense value themselves? Is a high compliment indeed."

He states warmly, with another little tip of the head. Vivienne is everything a mage should be - someone who uses her gifts to help others, who respects her power and controls it with an iron fist. He leans back against the chair and sips his tea again, eyebrows raising over the cup.

"I wouldn't say no - if I can free them from some of their duties. Do you need more books fetched?"

[madame_de_fer]

"Nothing so dull for them. There is a reagent I need for my alchemical research, but I simply cannot get away to collect it for myself." Everything is on hold until a snowy wyvern heart is in her hands, and yet time is continuing to tick away.

She takes a drink from her cup and offers helpfully, "It should prove an interesting training exercise for them. I require a fresh heart from a snowy wyvern." Go in, kill one, come back without dawdling. No problems there, correct?

[judgemewhole]

"Considering how busy you have been ... well, it makes a great deal of sense." James stated simply, before his green eyes narrowed with interest. A hunting excursion for a magical reagent. "I believe it would be - in more ways than one. I was looking for ways to expand our reach outside of simply 'hovering' over mages. This would be an interesting use of time and talent that mages cannot ignore we are of use."

He tipped his head, "What is a snowy wyvern? What makes them different from the other kind, besides they must be exceedingly rare?"

[madame_de_fer]

"Hovering." There is a a delicate snort in response to the use of that word. She has a few guesses who might have lodged that complaint. She hears them frequently. Too frequently. There truly is no satisfying some people.

Discussion of the wyvern is terribly important. Just so James knows what he's getting his men into. "Wyverns are vicious and hunted for sport in Orlais. However, they are incredibly dangerous and chevaliers are employed to drive them away from settlements for safety. The toxin of the snow wyvern is more potent and deadly by far." She levels him a serious look right into the eyes. "You must impress upon them that the danger involved is great indeed."

[judgemewhole]

He gives her an elegant shrug. There is not, but the templars are here and by the Maker he is not going to give up on the Order because some mages were of the mind they could just walk around willy-nilly without consequences.

His gaze sharpens at this, before his lips press together, "If it is altogether that deadly, Vivienne, are you certain it is safe to use in your concoction? It seems this beast's venom could kill you just by touching it."

And yes, he is worried about your safety.

[madame_de_fer]

"Quite certain, yes." No glancing around or away, as one might do if uncomfortable or masking some truth. Vivienne is neither uncomfortable with the level of sharing she is willing to provide, nor is she truly masking the truth. She's simply choosing not to reveal the whole of it. "It is the heart which I require and not the venom it produces. Though you're quite right, simply touching the venom could kill a man. It must be the heart of a snowy wyvern or the potion will not work."

Not that she plans to bore him with the particulars of why this particular wyvern heart and no other. As it is, there will be no time to dilly-dally once it's been procured. The heart must be fresh or its potency will diminish into uselessness.

[judgemewhole]

James frowns, before he nods his head slowly, "Very well. I shall have them wear heavy plate and not touch anything but the heart, when they kill the beast." He pauses once more, looking faintly troubled, "And you cannot tell me what this concoction is for?"

He trusts Vivienne, of course he does. Just ... the snowy wyvern does not sound like a creature uses in any sort of typical alchemic endeavor. He is starting to wonder if some member of the Council is in fact, trying to get Vivienne killed.

[madame_de_fer]

Unusual ingredients for unusual alchemy. It's not just an illness that Vivienne is attempting to combat, but the ravages of age. Only for Bastien would she go to these extremes.

"It is a personal request for a member of the Council of Heralds." She does not specify which. It could well be any of them, and it does fall well within her responsibilities as Enchanter to the Imperial Court. Only for James' sake and his alone does she spare an apologetic half-smile. "They are depending on my discretion. I am sorry." And she is. But not sorry enough to put a halt to this project, despite the risks.

Though he's right to be concerned. Vivienne's been the target of innumerable assassination attempts and is unlikely to have seen the end of them.

[judgemewhole]

He nodded his head once, before he straightened, "Well, considering the importance of that august body, and of course of you, then we will have to see that you get this heart."

A thoughtful pause, "We already have an outpost there, yes? It will be quicker if I can send them straight on without having to fight through half of Thedas."