[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

balcony.

[elegiaque]

A few short months ago, a private invitation from Madame de Fer would have given her both fits of anxiety and something rather exciting to write home about, starstruck and fascinated. A few short months ago, though, Gwenaëlle was less well acquainted with Morrigan - her offhand asides on this very subject have somewhat dulled the mystique, and it's a more thoughtful young woman who ascends the stairs. Still cautious; Vivienne is the Game in a way that she's long since ceased to even aspire to, Vivienne is dangerous and she'd be stupid not to take that seriously.

A little less larger than life, though. A woman.

She can sit down to tea with a woman, she thinks, preparing to fall back into familiar patterns; to make use of her own shortcomings and protect herself with them. Look at her and see what she wants to be seen as, and not look closer -

"Madame," she greets, politely, taking a seat opposite for herself and arranging her skirts neatly; sleeker and darker than the fashionable set of Orlais these days, but it suits her, too well-made and cannibalizing for itself too much from current style for it to simply be out of vogue, no, she has decided to dress this way for her own preference. "Thank you for the invitation."

[madame_de_fer]

"Of course, darling! I'm so very pleased you could join me." Vivienne's response to Gwenaëlle is far from fully falsely pleased. It's something of a relief to have someone of gentle breeding present. Even if the young lady in question is a touch headstrong. It's a quality trait for an Orlesian heiress. It makes for a delightful break from the mundane, if nothing else. Besides, the Iron Lady has an interest on two fronts: Gwenaëlle's shard and her father's blatant attempt to seduce Vivienne before. Charming man. Not quite that charming.

Today she's wearing a curves-skimming outfit of royale sea silk threaded with silver and a horned hat made from what is unmistakable dragon scales. Vivienne means to appear both refined and elegant, while maintaining herself as a force to be reckoned with. Even against dragons. She finds it helps to keep herself firmly in control of her own life by controlling how she projects to others. Naturally she rises from where she's been reclining with a book that she's not actually reading, to give the Vauquellin heiress a fully proper greeting. Her heeled boots add a good four inches to her height and yet there's not so much as a hint of a wobble from them.

"Do come and make yourself comfortable, my dear. I feel we've so very much to discuss." Starting with the shard and ending with Emeric.

[elegiaque]

Even without heels, Vivienne is a solid seven inches taller than Gwenaëlle; with them, more than a foot. On the frequently uneven stone of Skyhold, for her own part she prefers something a bit less ambitious than a heel, a large selection of satin slippers dyed to match her gowns that she wears through in a trice and the odd slightly hardier shoe. It is a new pair of the former tucked beneath her skirts, today, and so she can appreciate the full effect of Vivienne's height - it is a good thing, she supposes, that height is the least of what she finds intimidating about her.

Higher on the list is the prospect of what she thinks they have to discuss, frankly, especially as - it isn't that she'll be surprised or embarrassed to hear that Emeric tried his luck (pushed it; no one can say the man isn't brave as well as charming), especially as she is well aware already, but she doesn't exactly relish the prospect of having to talk about it with the woman in question. Her father can be...

Well, himself, mainly. And for many, 'himself' means 'a charismatic and engaging addition to any party he's invited to', but Gwenaëlle has a slightly more jaundiced view of a man she's seen the shadowed edges of closer than most of his adoring public.

So she says, "Do we?" with a small, tight smile, her hands clasped in her lap, dark silk soft and pooling around her. "You're very kind."