[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

for both ladies!

[madame_de_fer]

Thus far, the trip to Val Royeaux has been a success. There have been, of course, a few bumps to be navigated. That was to be expected. Vivienne has high hopes to educate her acquaintances about the city and Orlesian culture, while accomplishing some very real business. Part of the fun lies in allowing the others to go and explore on their own, then swoop in later to see how they are managing.

When she catches up to Beleth and Sina, she grows concerned just a little. Too much is weakness, after all. One is armed with pastries and the other seems distressed. It doesn't quite add up, as she'd expect people to give both or neither a difficult time.

"Sina, darling, whatever is the matter?" She glances to Beleth to see if there's an explanation forthcoming.

okay I'm consolidating alla deez

[eolasemah]

Sina only has a few moments to stand outside and look crestfallen before she's converged upon by three very helpful ladies, of all different races no less! How symbolic. Maybe.
"Oh," she says, blinking at them all in mild surprise, "no, no, it's not that, I..." She chews her lower lip, going over what she was told, albeit angrily, within the shop. "...Orlesians don't like trades?" This is half a question, aimed at Vivienne. She was going to give them some packets of tea! But they wouldn't have it.

[arlathvhen]

"They don't like trades?" Beleth repeated, looking both surprised and confused, trying to figure out why Orlesians wouldn't like trading, and why Sina would try it in the first place. Then it clicks, the whole issue with currency. Most people who traded with the Dalish were happy to barter, but she'd dealt with people attempting to give them coin once in a while. It was something she'd had to get a better understanding of when she became a paid agent of the Inquisition.

There's a quick glance at Vivienne, before Beleth speaks up, figuring that she understands Sina's position a little better than the others would.

"Humans don't barter in places like this. They use, ah," She fishes in her pouch, and pulls out a copper coin to show to the other Dalish. "These. If you work for someone, they give these to you. If you sell something, they give these to you. Then you buy things with them. Do you want me to get your books for you? You can give me whatever they were going to give them." It's like bartering! With Beleth as the middleman.

[eolasemah]

Sina stares at Beleth while she talks, becoming increasingly lost and incredulous. This is the most absolutely ludicrous system of exchange she's ever heard of, and she can't help wondering if it's just a rich humans thing. She'd never seen a human up close (and alive) until coming to Skyhold; she knows about as much about their currency as she did about their religion.

"...I don't know," she murmurs, glancing over her shoulder and back in the bookshop door. It's almost the principle of the thing now, and Sina can be stubborn when she wants. She furrows her brow. "I think it's ridiculous. What will they even use them for?"

[arlathvhen]

"They'll use them to buy other things." Beleth replies reasonably, shrugging a little. "They'll give the coins to someone else to buy something they want, those people will buy something they want...the coins just keep circulating around." It's definitely odd to think about, where the coins had been before she got them, where they were going to end up after they left her hand. Not like bartering, where if you gave someone some tea, you could be reasonably sure they would brew and drink it later.

"Um--You'd have to ask someone else for a full explanation, though. I just understand the basics. The Inquisition gives me money because I work for them, and I can buy things with it." She shrugs. Humans were bizarre. "I guess it makes it easier to purchase large amounts of things...? A pocket of coins instead of trying to fork over a hundred carrots."

[gatheringstorm]

"Yeah, trust me. It's way easier when you get used to it. You'll still be able to barter in other places, I just wouldn't bother to try in the capital. Everyone's stuck on their Orlesian currency here." Korrin relaxes a little, as at least its an issue of misunderstanding and not (overtly) racism. Yet. But she might linger, just to see that it doesn't surface. People tend to rethink their words when a protective, looming force with horns is staring at them.

She smiles at Beleth, having beaten her to offering, but perhaps Korrin will slip something into that purchase and pay for it herself, as a present. She has enough money to go around and isn't fearful about spending it.

[madame_de_fer]

Beleth's explanation for Sina is serviceable enough and Vivienne doesn't feel the particular need to go further. Then again she tends to see Sina as a delicate little doe and doesn't wish to frighten her too badly, nor turn her into an example of Dalish ignorance of the world. With some people she would, and do so with smug satisfaction. But not with a favorite.

"Beleth and Korrin have the right of it, my dear. Coin is so much easier when dealing with costly purchases. Now then, which books did you wish? I insist that I be allowed to make a gift of them."

She knows full well that gifts are a very laden thing for the Dalish, having encountered that first hand during Wintersend. But this will not stop the Iron Lady from having her way and providing whatever it was Sina had wanted for herself. And if she insists on bartering, there is a matter of herbalism that she can trade her expertise for in kind.

[eolasemah]

Though still deeply uncomfortable with the idea of being given some manner of currency to buy the books, Sina finds she's outnumbered. She blushes a little, unable to resist smiling at their generosity.
"...they were just... compiled journals of soldiers in the Exalted Marches," she says quietly, "I don't think we have anything like it in Skyhold's library." They have more histories than any one person would ever know what to do with, but reading perspectives of actual people is entirely different.

[arlathvhen]

"I have to admit, I am no expert on the collection of books we have at the library," She's done some reading there, but it was all on history, geography, trying to catch up on a life time of isolation. "But considering most of our books were donated by--" Shit, she forget Vivienne was right there. "--People who were not soldiers," Nobles. "I doubt that, as well. It sounds...interesting...?" Beleth would guess that Sina was talking about Chantry soldiers--soldiers who had murdered their ancestors. She's not sure she would want to read their private thoughts.

"But if that's what you want, we can ask...?"