[OPEN] So Much Is At Stake

[madame_de_fer]

WHO: Character(s) Vivienne and OPEN
WHAT: Catchall leading up to Orlais happenings
WHEN: Beginning of the month up until Orlais event starts
WHERE: Skyhold (early) / Val Royeaux (one week before event start)
NOTES: Open to all. Val Royeaux segment is a shopping trip en route to Halamshiral (which is available for 'guests' to tag around with each other.) Prose or brackets is fine, I'll tag to match.

Early Solace
Courtyard
Even with whispers about ongoing strife in Orlais, little notes and letters finding Madame de Fer's hand confirming as much, she remains in Skyhold for the time being. Her business is much as it has been. No small part of her day is spent working with the younger mages present in the Fortress. With no Circle to provide these youngsters with solid training, they find themselves trouble in trying to alleviate their boredom. The best solution she's found is to take an active role in not only learning their names and personal quirks, but genuinely trying to seek out responsible mages to serve as mentors to guide them. Much of her time is spent finding suitable adults willing and able to work with their younger members.

Balcony
Not quite as many new mages are joining the Inquisition as there were in the early days. Those who do are often either Rifters, or rebels who didn't follow Fiona to Redcliffe, for good or ill. Regardless of affiliation, Vivienne attempts to stay apprised to the numbers of the magically gifted present in Skyhold. It's especially important that she does so now, as the recently appointed mage liaison. For her part, she tries to remain as available to find on her balcony as she may. When a new name is brought to her attention, an invitation is sent out to join her for tea where she holds court from her chaise lounge.

Anyone passing through the Main Hall of a late night might find her still awake upstairs and intent on an alchemy project.

Gardens
Any morning following a late night dabble with alchemy will find the Iron Lady strolling through the Skyhold Gardens. She examines the plants as she passes through, calm as always, though sometimes a thoughtful hum gives away her extra consideration of something she sees.

---

Val Royeaux
Convinced now that the Inquisition will be making a move into Orlais in short order, Vivienne's routine alters. She decides that a little detour en route for shopping is absolutely demanded. Nevermind that the capital is actually beyond where they will be traveling, or that it seems perhaps frivolous to be indulging in retail therapy when there are far more serious matters to attend to. She, of course, insists that if they are to deal with Orlesians, those agents should at the very least look presentable as such. No, plaidweave is unacceptable. Find something else. Shopping is happening. They've plenty of time to conclude their business and meet with the intended encampment at Halamshiral.

She doesn't travel to the capital alone, however. There are a number of people she's invited to join her for the excursion. Not all of them are particularly pleased to be present, but somehow the Iron Lady's gotten her way. Not that blackmail was involved in any way, that's far too cheap to someone who revels in playing the Game. However, her bullying victims might perhaps feel otherwise. She's arranged lodging for them all at Bastien's townhouse, though the Duke is not in residence at present. Playing hostess is quite fun for her, thus Vivienne will point out the best shops, the tastiest pastries, and of course the most ideal restaurants to see and be seen.

Her own personal shopping involves inspecting a golden pig, which she decides firmly against, browsing fabrics, pretty jewelry pieces, careful inspection of practically every bookseller she can locate, and much time inquiring with the local herbalists.

Comments

[apostafuckyou]

"No juicy gossip here, I'm afraid," Raylan said, taking the cup from her. He took one polite sip and then put it down, silently deciding not to touch it again. Not because he didn't trust her or didn't want to drink anything or something, but because tea was disgusting.

"I've been in the Hinterlands," he said. "I stayed in my tower as long as I could after the rebellion." He didn't shrink from calling it that, even if he didn't consider himself a rebel. "But things were going south quickly. I spent the last eight months in a shack that was abandoned when I found it, setting whatever mines and wards I could think up to keep fighting away from me." He gave a little chuckle. "A young man came through, told me about the Inquisition. I was finding that I'm not quite self-sufficient, anyway, and the Inquisition seemed like a better option than getting scurvy 'cause I couldn't find any vegetables."

[madame_de_fer]

When the tea remains untouched the remainder of the visit, that information will be filed away by the Iron Lady, for potential use later. Very little slips by her that she doesn't keep safe to herself, just in case. There's almost always a use for information sooner or later. Her own cup is carefully balanced on her lap and slowly savored in tiny sips which she lingers over in her enjoyment. Nibbles are excellent for keeping up one's flagging energy but tea warms just enough to chase off the chill of a mountain fortress.

Vivienne's attention never waivers in the telling of Raylan's life over the past months. If anything she is a keen listener, learning forward, keeping eye contact, the occasional small nod, no interruptions. She utterly approves of his calling the rebellion just that. People with no gift for facing facts might dislike that term, but it remains quite true.

"I'm not certain you'll find the viands available in Skyhold to be satisfactory." She certainly finds them subpar but the man won't starve at least. "The wine is closer to vinegar and most produce is limp on arrival. But coming here was the wisest course of action. I appreciate a sensible man who recognizes rebels for being just that. Did you take any injury in the local fighting or were you successful in keeping intruders and thugs at bay?" Yes, she just called both other mages and rebel Templars... thugs.

[apostafuckyou]

Raylan did take a little nibble, enough to count as having partaken. He wasn't hungry, keeping himself well-fed on whatever was left out or he could scam out of the kitchens (he was working that poor underfed loner strategy pretty well), but it had been awhile since he'd seen anything so...so gratuitously rich. As for the warmth, well, he prefers a good ale for that.

He was beginning to relax a little, as Vivienne spoke more and he took her measure. She was becoming less of a foreign, unknown thing and more of a person. He could talk to people, as long as they didn't annoy him.

"Limp ain't no worse than nothing at all, ma'am," he said with a little smile. "I had a couple of close calls, but I wasn't bothered much. Most of those who came to call could be scared away with a little bit of drama." The smile was back again, this time the kind of smile one might see on a clever little boy, belying his obvious age. Raylan suspected he was a good ten years older than Vivienne, though of course it was hard to tell a highborn woman's age.

"The rest could be reasoned with. I wanted no trouble and had nothing of value, so..." He spread his hands. Not worth robbing or killing, and the sorts who couldn't be seen off with some clouds of smoke and an amplified voice were, by design, smart enough to not want to waste energy on him.