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(open) our performance begins

WHO: Jhin & YOU
WHAT: The Inquisition gets a new assassin, aka Jhin gets used to Skyhold.
WHEN: 20th - rest of the month.
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Just a little log to get acquainted with peoples. Feel free to throw in your own prompt or give me a poke if you want something specific.

❝the garden❞

Skyhold was... interesting, to say the least. It was a rather big change to the House of Repose and Orlais in general, but he would have to make do. Not that he had much choice, he wasn't exactly about to break his contract. This would bring about potential for art he'd never have a chance for elsewhere. Hopefully.

Adjusting has certainly been a task, but Jhin's found some comfort in the garden. The beauty of the plants was relaxing enough to take his mind off of any frustrations. It's often that he finds himself there, sitting and just taking it all in. Humming quietly to himself.

❝the tavern❞

While Jhin seems to rarely remove his mask, it doesn't stop him from spending some time in the tavern. No he's not drinking anything, more of relaxing and listening to the noise. Perhaps studying Skyhold's inhabitants. He takes his seat in a corner, out of the way. One day he might actually drink something.

Today likely isn't that day.

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A constant fixture in the garden is the little Dalish with a shard in her chest, who seems to take personal pride in shaping and contributing to its growth. One day she's planting, one day she's trimming, one day she's collecting and sorting seeds, or taking stock of the various flora, or fixing packets of herbal teas and poultices from the dried leaves hanging between the pillars of the cloister.

At first she is unnerved by the sight of a masked person frequenting the area, but she quickly assumes it is for the same reasons she does: the garden is peaceful, busy, and alive. Not to mention it smells amazing.
Periodically, if she sees him looking, Sina offers a small smile of acknowledgment. Otherwise, she doesn't disturb him. He doesn't look like someone who wants to be disturbed.

There are definitely some weird sorts around Skyhold, who have joined the Inquisition in some way or another. Mask guy is pretty weird, though, and every time she tries to ignore him in the corner, just sitting there, she finds herself looking back at him in no time at all.

Okay. So. He's in a corner, and there are several people here in case something happens. So, direct approach. Rachette moseys on over and leans on the table (as casually as someone dwarf-sized can do). "So what's with the mask?"

It's not particularly difficult to take notice of those that also frequent the garden. His time at Skyhold hasn't been long, but it's hard to avoid taking notice of the faces that show up day after day. The garden was peaceful and in a way was teaching him some of the Inquisitions members. Not in a social manner, but good enough. If he could identify a face outside of Skyhold then he would know who to be polite to, as long as his contract remained.

The day is pretty much the same as any other, Jhin finds himself relaxing in the garden. However this time when he's offered a smile from the Dalish, he speaks up.

"Do you always care for the plants here?"

He expected that sitting in the tavern and not drinking would likely result in at least one person approaching him. Be they drunk or not. But he wasn't expecting a question on his mask. Yes perhaps it was a tad out of place outside of Orlais. In a tavern.

All right, rather out of place in Skyhold.

"I like it."

It's the simplest answer.

Masks for celebrations, maybe. Masks for balls. Apparently it's a big thing in Orlais, because Orlais is...weird...like that. Even in battle! It would severely cut down on field of vision, but if someone takes an arrow to the face, it'll just bounce off, depending.

This isn't Orlais, it's not a ball or a party of any kind, and this isn't battle, so. "Doesn't it get too hot to wear?"

Jhin shrugs at the question, "Not particularly."

He's never found his mask causing anything unpleasant for him, and certainly not making him overly hot. He had a reputation to uphold, not wearing it would be terribly gauche. It would reflect badly upon him and the House of Repose. Though in Skyhold he likely doesn't need it, to do away with it- Well no one wants to see his face.

The mask is better.

"I suppose I am accustomed to it. I've worn one for most of my life."

He hasn't been paying a great deal of attention to the other people in the garden, mostly keeping to himself and checking on the herbs that are growing here. But when his usually-underfoot kitten goes scampering to try pouncing on a cricket near the guy humming, Anders actually looks the man over. Maybe not a threat to the kitten, Anders figures, but he steps closer anyway. There's really no telling what trouble Purrelden could get in when tackling bugs.

"What tune is that?" He can't quite catch it.

Animals aren't really something Jhin's spent much time around, so he's quick to cast a glance when the kitten begins playing near him. For a moment he simply watches it, continuing his humming. Interesting things, cats, certainly better than small yappy dogs. Quieter.

His humming stops when he's spoken to, gaze shifting to Anders.

"Ah, just something from my childhood. I cannot say I recall the name of it."

A finger points towards the kitten, "Yours?"

"Mm." He can't name the things he sometimes hums from his childhood either. "Yes, she's mine. Hero of Purrelden, new conqueror of crickets. It's a step up. She was scared of them not even two weeks ago."

Purrelden stills and crouches down before wiggling her butt and leaping into another patch of grass nearby. Anders takes a seat so he's close enough in case she manages to get herself in trouble or if she wants to climb him and get petted.

"Do you have any pets?"

Hero of... What a name. "Cute," is all he manages, the only thing to be said that was even remotely polite. Couldn't be rude, that wouldn't do after all. Always polite unless there was a good reason not to be.

Watching the kitten, Jhin shakes his head.

"No, assassins generally don't have pets." They'd get in the way he imagines, he doubts the House would allow it either. Perhaps in some situations one could be useful, but the positives could not outweigh the negatives. The animal would be more of a prop than a pet at that point anyway.

"Don't think I've ever had the time for one."

It's very cute. Anders smiles down at Purrelden and takes the word at face value because Purrelden deserves all of the compliments.

"Mm. I suppose they don't. Though cats don't take a great deal of time. I simply spend a lot with her because she has me wrapped around her little paw." He's not that used to hearing assassins be open about what they are. Zevran can be because he's Zevran. This guy? Maybe he's well-known too.

"Do you know Zevran? Or are you from a different assassin group?"

"I don't think the House would approve of a cat, no matter how little time it would require." He chuckles lightly, "They do seem sweet though."

Jhin has little problem being open about what he is, as least when there was no reason to act otherwise. If a job called for more secrecy then he could easily take upon that act, but he was in the Inquisition as an assassin. No reason to hide it. Not within Skyhold.

"Different group. I am from the House of Repose."

C'mon, this dwarf wants to see his face. "Don't you ever take it off? What about bathing? Sleeping?" She looks around the tavern then back to his...face. "Eating?"

"I'm doing none of those things right now." He laughs, clearly entertained by the questions. It wasn't often, or ever, that he got asked about when he actually took his mask off. But he does take it off when he needs to.

"Can't say I know anyone that can manage eating with a full mask on."

"House of Repose. That's... Orlais?" He's not completely certain on that. Anders hasn't really kept track of assassin groups. Maybe he should have, though. The Inquisition isn't threatening him, but that doesn't change how many people want him dead.

Taking a seat on the ground, a bit out of reach, Anders considers the man in front of him as Purrelden prances back with her prize.

"Oh. Thanks." He takes the cricket and she prances right back to hunting as he discards it off to the side. "So you're here on contract? Or taking a break?"

He nods, "Yes, of Orlais." The House was far more well known within its borders than outside of it. With the Game they were always kept busy.

"On contact," he begins. There was no reason to hide what he was and there was none to lie about the contract. Anyone doing any amount of digging would find it easily.

"Apparently giving the Inquisition the Golden Demon means quite the bragging rights for a noble family." Jhin shrugs. "I imagine the House would be against me taking a break were it not. Garden's nice, so I don't mind it yet."

"Golden Demon?" That... No, he's not the target, because the guy's saying giving the Inquisition the golden demon. He can see the name being used, though abomination is far crueler and therefore the one that's commonly used.

"It sounds like that may have an interesting story attached." He needs to talk to Zevran, find out if there's a way to get any sort of warning if a contract does get put out on him. Sometimes he forgets that Zevran isn't the only assassin remaining, now that the Crows have been basically decimated.

"A name I seem to have picked up for myself over the years." He would have picked something far different for himself if he'd be given the choice. But when people decided on a name based on what you've done, it was hard to change it. Thankfully the name did more good as an assassin than anything else.

"Not much of a story, I'm simply good at what I do. A reputation that's done well enough for me." He laughs, shaking his head.

"But where are my manners. Jhin." He bows his head. "A name that rolls off the tongue far better than the Golden Demon. It is a pleasure to meet you... and Purrelden.

"Have you been at Skyhold long?"

Oh. This guy is the Golden Demon. He's... working for the Inquisition now? In that case, Anders' life might not be in danger from Jhin. At the moment. Until the moment they don't see a use in retaining Warden allies.

"Mm. You may reconsider calling it a pleasure. I'm known as Anders, and I've been at Skyhold for several months now. Purrelden a little less so." Might as well just get that out there. He doesn't think someone would go for introductions if there was a contract out on him, but at the same time he can't really say he knows how assassins think.

He also can't say if he's being paranoid or if it's justified.

When she realizes he's speaking to her, Sina's smile brightens somewhat and she steps toward the stranger with a small nod. "Much of the time," she confirms, "though sometimes I just like to be around them." When she's too weak to work and doesn't want to take up space in the healing tents, not that she feels like disclosing that.
"I see you enjoy them."

"That Anders?" He imagines so, why else would he have gotten such a response otherwise. "It is still a pleasure. I hardly see why it wouldn't be."

Anders is quite safe from Jhin, he's got no intention of killing anyone at Skyhold and certainly no contract to say otherwise. Though chatting with a target is something he'd do, he always was a fan of dramatic deaths.

"Mm that is quite some time. It get any easier, being here that long?"

Her eyes narrow further, as if trying to discern a manner to eat with a full mask on. Or trying to discern if he's making fun of her. Maybe both. "Maybe you just lift it up enough to shove a spoon in your mouth. It would still technically be on."

"You've done a wonderful job, in that case," there's a smile in his voice. It always was a pleasure to meet anyone willing to spend time making the world far more pleasing on the eyes. Plants were an art all on their own, and could be quite the inspiration.

"It's difficult not to enjoy such beauty. Helps that at times they can be better company than some people." And that as beautiful as they were, they could also be deadly. What wasn't there to enjoy about such things.

Standing, he offers an elegant bow, "I am Jhin. It is a pleasure to meet you, my dear."

Jhin just shakes his head, "Oh I'm certain you could, but that would just be cheating. Potentially rather rude, depending on the company."

Of course one could also argue that taking it off fully to eat could be considered rude as well, but such things seemed far less likely in a place like Skyhold.

"I do eat with mine off."

"So you just like being mysterious." A beat. "And Orlesian." They like their stuffy fluffy face masks, right? Just...not like his. His definitely sticks out a little.

"Mysterious," he shrugs, it wasn't something he'd really thought of. "Can't say that was my intent. But definitely Orlesian." He couldn't deny that if he tried.

Yes true his mask was different, but he enjoyed that aspect of it. Set himself apart from the other assassins, yet was still identifiable, to those that knew, that he was a member of the House of Repose.

"Is there truly something so odd about wearing a mask?"

Although Sina finds his philosophy a bit dismal, it's one she can't argue with. She laughs lightly, looking down. "Well... at times," she concedes, and then proceeds to look uncomfortable when he bows to her. She understands that it's a human gesture of respect, but it still makes little sense to her.
"Siuona, of Clan Dahlasanor," she replies, with a small incline of her head, "Sina."

"That Anders," he confirms with visible relief. It's always nice when someone doesn't get angry at him for still existing. "Some feel it's the opposite of a pleasure. That's what keeps being at Skyhold from getting too much easier. But it's... gotten better nonetheless."

Purrelden brings back her newest prize, a flower she successfully hunted, apparently, and Anders actually holds onto that one.

"Friends make it better. Apparently, if you stay in one place for any sort of time you start getting to know better. I'm still in the testing phase of this theory, but it's working out thus far."

"I guess it wouldn't be odd in Orlais, but I don't know if it's common anywhere else." Definitely not in Orzammar, and it doesn't seem to be common around the Hinterlands or around Ferelden... "What's the point, other than hiding identity?"

"A stunning name for a stunning lady."

Making her uncomfortable certainly wasn't the intent, but his interactions with elves was limited at best, Dalish especially. Treating her as he did everyone else was really all he could do, and all he cared to do.

"Have you been with the Inquisition long?"

"Hiding identity?" Jhin chuckles, shaking his head. "Why they do the exact opposite of that. They represent things like class, which family you're from, or who you work for."

Not to mention to be without one. Well, he would certainly never do something so gauche in Orlais.

"Mine of course identifies me as an assassin from the House of Repose. Though I do see how it is less identifiable to those not familiar with all that goes on in Orlais."

Alas, the discomfort only deepens. At his flattering words, Sina stares at the man in utter bewilderment, looking as though she isn't sure whether to run or laugh or do something else entirely.
She gives a strangled giggle-- stunning?-- and blushes, though perhaps not for the reason he intended. "Uh.... not terribly," she replies to his question, "about half a year, I think."

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(open) our performance begins

the garden

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