[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

[mythalenaste]

There's a long pause. Pel's fingers trace the pattern of the wood in the table. Not her voice. Her voice is irrelevant anyway. She is a free woman. It's other voices that need to speak. But she is a published author, with a publisher that doesn't care she's an elf writing about elf things and a solid ally in Varric Tethras. She is also trained to be a Keeper. That's two stages.

She appears to resolve, though the only resolution she has made is to make a resolution. She has at least two ways of making change that are obvious to her now. Or semi-obvious. Two ways forward, with any number of branches in each path. If she has the fortitude to walk them. She inhales as if her body is waking up from the emotional slump.

"Thank you." There's another pause as she gets her bearings. "I've only been at sea once, but I think I understand. About your people. The Dalish have aravels in the woods instead of ships at sea, but I know the feeling."

[foxsays]

"Castileos has always been our home, it's above and below; glass floors so we can see and we did build on the foundations of the past but," she shrugs and knocks back the last of her drink because it seemed so simple to her ancestors and she finds it so difficult in Thedas. To be so mired in everything that came before. To not want to reach towards the future as well with outstretched hands, excited and eager, chasing the horizon as if the sun is the greatest golden coin you have ever gazed upon.

"Yet wherever there is the sea? That's home too. The waves, the ships, the crew; my father has never slept a single night on land." I have never been so far from the sea for so long, she thinks as she looks around at the cafe, knowing that somewhere beyond the walls and the tables and the quaint little draperies there's an artificial body of water with red-and-gold canopied boats. "We didn't lose so much as your people did. We have always been free, and when my home had a war, my country ended it. It's probably why we're still so very loud about freedom for everyone, and following your heart and your desires, and being in love with life itself. All the things Thedas likes to believe are impossible outside of stories that happen to other people." Meaning people not like Araceli or Pel.