OPEN: And you can shake the mountains with a whisper

[bookish_lioness]

WHO: Hermione Granger and YOU!
WHAT: Hermione ventures out of the library. Sometimes. But she's also in the library most of the time, because she's Hermione.
WHEN: Late Justinian, creeping into early Solace if need be.
WHERE: Throughout Skyhold, just outside of Skyhold, pick a place far away from Skyhold and find a reason to drag her there.
NOTES: If you'd like a particular starter and/or would like to hash out some minor assumed CR that can lead into this, feel free to let me know either via PM or plurk (StarryOblivion). Otherwise, feel free to have them randomly bump into one another!

The Herald's Rest.

Hermione doesn't often come in here, not since receiving an odd look when she'd first asked for just some water (really, given how young everyone here seems to think she is, she'd been surprised that the surly bartender had thought she'd wanted something harder). But sometimes it's a nice change of pace, sitting among the mostly quiet chattering of the other patrons and enjoying the fire as she reads or looks over her notes. Presuming, of course, that no one is foolish enough to have too much to drink and try to bother her. Talking is a distraction she'll accept with no fuss, but Merlin help anyone who's had enough alcohol to think she's open to anything friendlier than that.

Stables.

When she'd first arrived at Skyhold, the stables had seemed relatively empty and were a fine place for practicing her magic without risking hurting anyone. She'd thought she could do the same now, only to find that there are considerably more horses - and, er, other creatures - residing there. Magic might only frighten them, she decides, but they're so pretty that she can't help visiting with them for a bit, getting as close to them as she dares. It's been years since she's ridden a horse, but she's entirely certain that these mounts aren't exactly the type that would trot gently along a given course for an inexperienced rider, so she isn't even going to ask after something so silly, even if the interest is clearly there in her eyes.

Courtyard, not too far from the healing tents.

When the stables prove not to be the best place to practice with her magic, Hermione decides that it might be best to find a little corner close to the healing tents instead. At least then there would be other mages around, and so it was less likely that anyone who stumbled across her would look at her disdainfully. And if anyone gets hurt, a healer wouldn't be too far away. Of course, she highly doubts that anyone would get hurt just because she was unsuccessfully attempting to transfigure leaves and pebbles and whatever else happens to be in the vicinity. Transfiguration doesn't seem to be an aspect of her magic that's carried over into Thedas, or at least Hermione can't manage it without more practice, given that she's growing more and more frustrated as she continuously taps rocks and other objects with what looks like a stick, muttering to herself in exasperation.

Library. Because of course.

If you've been to the library, you've seen her. Whether you know her and enjoy talking to her about rifter politics or think it's entertaining to scandalize her or have never bothered to approach her, Hermione can more often than not be found in the same little niche in the library, nose in a book or a quill hastily scribbling down notes. Or even, occasionally, dozing off, since she hasn't exactly claimed any sort of sleeping space for her own and more often than not loses track of the time when she doesn't explicitly have somewhere to be.

Wildcard!

Hermione wanders, and while she tries to be careful, sometimes it takes her places she just shouldn't go. If it doesn't look like a private room or setting, it's safe to assume that the young witch has made her way there, likely looking for a quiet place to read or do magic or just to get a few moments of silence. And while she doesn't often journey outside of Skyhold, she can definitely be tempted beyond its walls if she has the right incentive, or the right company.

Comments

Balcony

[madame_de_fer]

Having a hand in the process of settling the younger mages with mentors consumes a great deal of Vivienne's time of late. It's a vital task, however, as idle mages have a terrible habit of whipping up some sort of trouble or other to break their boredom. Part of the process involves familiarizing herself with all the mages in Skyhold and learning at least some amount of what their interests and specialties are. It's not too terribly different than what she would be doing as First Enchanter within the Circle.

Hermione's been brought to her attention as a Rifter with magic. While these people to some degree fall outside her purview, there is no small amount of curiosity about the magical gifts non-natives are capable of. Not wishing to frighten the young lady with a summons, she instead sends a runner to seek her out bearing an invitation to tea. Although do Rifters take tea? Something to inquire about later.

Once the appointed time arrives, Vivienne's had a lovely spread laid out with tiny finger sandwiches and dainty cakes. She herself remains as stylish as ever with a daring new hat made from scales she took as a little trophy from that dragon in the Western Approach. So perhaps she doesn't mind being a little intimidating.

[bookish_lioness]

The invitation comes as a surprise, mostly because, while no one here has been actively terrible to her, new people generally aren't overtly nice, either. But she's familiar with the name, having heard of Vivienne from more than one source, and between that and the invitation Hermione finds herself cautiously curious.

One of the few good things about arriving in a new world with limited resources is that she doesn't have to worry about what one wears to tea with a new acquaintance; one wears whatever one has that isn't dirty or in need or being tailored. It takes some of the normal societal pressure off, though even as she eventually finds her way up to the balcony in a relatively comfortable pair of jeans and a simple blouse, she can't help but feel a whole host of new worries creeping in.

When the tall woman comes into view (along with that hat, Merlin), Hermione manages a small smile, stopping a respectable distance away just in the off-chance that she's managed to find her way in the wrong balcony and happens to be interrupting someone else's tea time. "Madame Vivienne? I'm Hermione Granger."

[madame_de_fer]

The Iron Lady does so enjoy balancing an impression of being both charming and intimidating. She finds ways to tip the balance to one side or the other as the situation demands, but mostly keeps right in the middle. Such is her intention today.

On Hermione's arrival, Vivienne permits herself the opportunity to quickly and thoroughly look over her young guest. Clean, presentable, mercifully not wearing plaidweave. The jeans are a fascinating pair of trousers, as the fabric is unfamiliar to her. It looks sturdy. Hmm. She doesn't belabor her first look, however and smiles warmly.

"Ah there you are, my dear. I'm so delighted you could pay me a visit. Do come and make yourself comfortable." The chairs on the balcony certainly look plush enough that it's not an idle invitation to be at ease.

Vivienne pours out two cups of tea, handing one to Hermione and stepping aside so she can add milk or sugar as she chooses. Tea in Skyhold is self-serve as it's impractical to keep a staff of servants on hand as she would at home. She misses the little luxuries but is made of sterner stuff than many give her credit for; she does not require them.

"I've so been looking forward to meeting you."

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione tries not to pay attention to the appraising way Vivienne looks at her, or at least not to squirm under her gaze. People have eyed her strangely on a fairly daily basis since her arrival, and though she's more or less gotten used to it, it's still odd to put herself in a position where she's scrutinized on a one-on-one level.

But she can look past that, and also work past the sense of cautious unease at the cordial greeting. She'll feel better once she knows why she's there, but she isn't going to simply slice through the pleasantries and demand that they get to the meat of the conversation. Tact is a strong point of hers, after all.

"Thank you," she tells her, accepting the tea with a small nod of her head. She's gotten used to taking her tea plain, given how relatively scarce fresh milk can be around here, and sugar had never been a staple of her diet to begin with. But she appreciates the option, taking a seat at the edge of one of the plush chairs nearby and looking up at the imposing woman before her.

"It's nice to meet you formally," she explains. "I've heard your name before and have seen you about, but I wasn't about to shove my hand in your face and ask you to shake it as I introduced myself."

[madame_de_fer]

"Aren't you a delight?" It's not idle praise. The people of Thedas can be quite notorious about their lack of manners, and more than a few Rifters have proven just as difficult. Some of that can surely be blamed on differing cultures, but the rest falls squarely on the individual to exhibit basic good manners. Already this little visit is off to a far better start than she could have anticipated. "I'm so very pleased to meet someone with such exemplary manners."

The Iron Lady settles in with her own tea and reclines comfortably on her couch, relaxed and at ease. It's so much more cozy this way.

"I would ask what you've heard beyond my name, my dear, but I feel that would be a poor start. Perhaps if you've questions, I might answer them for you." If Vivienne will answer, that is. She does enjoy maintaining her own carefully controlled image. "I've been told from Seeker Pentaghast that you have magic yourself?"

[bookish_lioness]

Despite herself, Hermione finds herself feeling rather pleased by the praise. It doesn't sound placating or trite, though she's sure that most people might feel that way if someone were to compliment them for basic manners. She doubts that Vivienne means her any sort of harm, though, given her role within the Inquisition, and so she's inclined to believe that the woman is at least genuine as far as that goes. She doesn't know her nearly well enough to really say otherwise.

She isn't sure just what sort of questions Vivienne might be expecting, but it sounds like an open invitation to be inquisitive, which is something Hermione is always willing to take a person up on. For now, though, she's at least going to offer up what information she can about herself, given that she knows how common it is for most Thedosians to be distrustful of rifters.

"That's right," she answers. "I'm known as a witch, in my world. Any woman who can do magic is generally considered a witch, and the men who can do magic are typically called wizards. The magical community as a whole is known as the wizarding world. It's a bit... different from what I've heard of the lives of most mages here."