[open] angry dooting

[arlathvhen]

WHO: Beleth and YOU
WHAT: Beleth trying to help out around Skyhold and not trying to help out around the Warden Camp
WHEN: Late Justinian, around the time Leliana is sick.
WHERE: The rookery in Skyhold and the Warden Camp
NOTES: Verbal abuse aimed at ravens, cat bribery, and bacon theft.

1) The Rookery

With Leliana out of commission, there's a lot of information, notes, and reports that are piling up. Nothing important, of course, Beleth hasn't seen anything above her paygrade. She supposes that all of the serious information gets funneled somewhere else--Maria, or the other advisors, or maybe a chain of messenger nugs. In any event, she has a pile of fairly mundane information that Leliana will still need to sort through at some point, and unable to aid her mentor in other capacities, Beleth has taken it upon herself to try to organize the information for her. Everything is numbered and sorted into folders, and most of her time is spent writing a series of summaries with the sources noted, so if Leliana wants to read the original report, she knows where to look.

It's tedious, but fascinating, in a way. It feels good to help out Leliana in any way she can, keeping her from getting mobbed by the day to day information that would pile up otherwise. And it's good practice, if Beleth ever wants to be a real bard some day. And it certainly doesn't hurt to get a chance to be one of the first people to learn interesting pieces of gossip.

She can be found at Leliana's desk, with a pile of meticulously piled paperwork, scribbling away at a piece of parchment. She can also be found having an argument with a raven, trying to wrestle a cannister from him while the bird squawks and flaps and carries on like Beleth is personally attempting to murder him. And later on, after a failed attempt at bribing the raven in question, she can be found sitting again at Leliana's desk, this time with other ravens covering the desk and her, with a particularly fat one laying on her head. She's apparently given up on writing for now, muttering to one of the ravens in question.

"You can call me...Agent Belladonna. Hmm. Bard Belladonna. Hello, my name is.........Belladonna."

2) Camp Shady Fuckers

Having accumulated more raven feathers than anyone would ever need, ever, it is quite simply a crime to just let them lay around and gather dust. Luckily, there are ways to creatively use them for good causes. It is with this good cause in mind that elf slips over to one of the cooking fires in the camp, one that has bacon cooking over it, completely unattended. The bacon is liberated into a pouch, with one piece stuffed into her mouth. Then from another pouch, a bunch of raven feathers are taken out, and thrown around on the ground.

It's the perfect crime, probably. Until Beleth hears a meow.

She turns around to discover a familiar-looking cat, staring at her, in what is undoubtedly accusation. She looks left, right, then bends down, pulling a piece of the bacon from her pouch, and holding it out for the cat.

"You didn't see anything."

Comments

1

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin's passing through the rotunda below when all the squawking and flapping gets her attention. Staring upward, she nearly calls out, then realizes that above the din, her voice might not be heard anyway. As there's nothing urgent on her end, she makes her way up the stairs to see what all the fuss is about. The rookery is rarely quiet, but it's not usually noisy enough to infect the area below.

"What the hell is going on up here?! I can hear you from--Beleth?" She stops and stares incredulously at the Dalish woman trying to reach the very annoyed raven, who definitely isn't making it easy for her.

[arlathvhen]

There's a brief pause in the commotion as Beleth stops trying to wrestle the raven for a few moments, whirling around to the source of the interruption. Her expression goes from worried to sheepish when she sees who it is, flashing Korrin a wry smile and taking a step back. A little embarrassing to be caught like this, but at least it's someone who wouldn't think she's some kind of bird torturer.

"This bird," There's a flippant gesture to the raven, who flaps a bit and squawks back at her. "Is, quite possibly, the epitome of all the dark evil that exists within the world. And he has a missive that I need." She turns back to the bird, trying to reach for the canister again, only to get swatted by an errant wing. She hisses under her breath, waving her hand. "Listen, you little terror, I know five Dalish recipes for raven!"

And then back to Korrin. "It's a process."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin's lips twitch. Poor Beleth, but on the other hand, she can't hate such a spirited creature even if it's being a pain. "Ravens hold grudges, you know. I'd be careful. Maybe we could bribe it with a treat? There has to be something it enjoys to the point where it will calm the fuck down."

[arlathvhen]

"He's already holding a grudge against me, and I have no idea what I did to earn it." Beleth replies, taking a break from trying to swipe the canister to cross her arms and frown. "Bribing might work. Or just praying that whatever information he has can sit until Leliana gets back." She sighs, shaking her head. "He'll have to get tired of it eventually. I'm sorry about all the racket, though."

[gatheringstorm]

"Eh, I was more confused than anything else, though the library-dwellers are probably grateful for the break." She was too buy getting up there to notice their reactions, other than that no one was beating her to the stairs. Cowards. "I'll see what I can fetch from the kitchens, then. It's about time I found something for Bastard, anyway. Since Kain's recovering, too, that damn parrot has no one else to rein him in from swearing at the nobles nonstop. Which I personally love, but am fairly certain Ambassador Montilyet doesn't."

[arlathvhen]

"Is the Tevinter down there? The one that put glitter on all the ravens?" Beleth peeked over the side to see if she could spot Dorian's distinctive profile, before pulling away to turn back to Korrin. "I hope it bothered him, I got glitter in my hair for a week."

It takes a few moments for Beleth to realize just who in the world is Bastard, and what kind of pet would someone name that. The explanation gets a giggle out of Beleth, and she shakes her head. "I can't imagine that would go over well. Can you take him away from the nobles? And--what happened to Kain?" She blinks, tilting her head. "I met him once, he seemed nice enough." If a little...weirdly obsessed with dragons.

1

[mythalenaste]

A snowy owl flaps in through the window, causing the raven Beleth is struggling with to let go and fly off. The owl lands on a chair and becomes Pel. She has mentioned to Beleth by now that she has been learning shapeshifting, but Beleth hasn't had occasion to see until now.

[arlathvhen]

Despite the fact that the owl gave Beleth victory over Baron Plucky, she still lets out a startled yelp when it bursts into the rookery, and another when it's suddenly a person. For a few surprised moments, she just stares at Pel, before everything clicks into place. She shoots the other woman a wry smile as she moves over to the desk, opening the canister and fishing out the message.

"I nearly sent an arrow through Twisted Fate for trying that as a wolf, you know. But thank you, I was at my wit's end with that terror. He must have gotten Fen'Harel's own blessing, I swear."

[mythalenaste]

"Wouldn't've been nearly as heroic if I'd run up here, told you what I was going to do, then jumped out the window and flew back in. Might have been more alarming, though."

[arlathvhen]

"I would have found it less alarming, but not nearly as effective, nor dramatic." Beleth replied, smoothing down the paper and starting to read over it. "I'm glad that Morrigan has agreed to share that magic. I know the Keeper has mentioned that kind of magic before, but knowledge of it is scarce, and fading. It's good to see it being brought back to light."

She pauses, then wrinkles her nose. "It's nice of Morrigan to share any relevant information, really."

[mythalenaste]

"I didn't learn it from Morrigan." Though she quirks a brow at Beleth's wording. "She can be a bit cryptic, but she's mostly been forthcoming. At least she is when you work with her."

[arlathvhen]

"Oh? I suppose that's even better." She raises an eyebrow back at Pel, and shrugs. "I know of at least one person who learned it from her, but I'm glad there are more teachers running around." She looks down at the paper, her lips pressing into a thin line for a few moments. "I suppose she's forthcoming with information, if you're fine with having a shemlen talk down to you. Do you know she has an eluvian?"

2

[doneisdone]

Teren doesn't speak yet. She just stands behind Beleth, or towers rather, hands on her hips and her mouth pursed and her dark eyes fixed on the back of the elf's head. No that's fine, you can steal the Wardens' food and give it to cats, one just hopes you're ready to d i e f o r i t

[arlathvhen]

There is a stark moment where Beleth feels a chill go up her spine, like death itself just reared its head. Slowly, she stands, and even slower, she turns to face whatever horror has discovered her. She expects a demon, or a ghost, or perhaps Corpheus himself to be standing there looming down on her, but the reality revealed to her is so, so much worse.

She stares up at Teren for a few breaths, frozen in place like a deer spotted. Slowly, she raises her hands, half a strip of bacon still in one. Then she bursts into movement, also like a deer. Although deer don't usually shove the rest of the bacon in their mouths before wheeling around and dashing off.

L8r h8r.

[doneisdone]

She can wait.

1;

[foxsays]

As per usual, Araceli comes in via the upper door of the rookery from the walkway, though she's just as prone to entering via one of the windows if Leliana knows that she's up there on the rooftop when she drops by to quickly let her know how things are progressing. Right now she's back from doing what Charter asked her to do which is basically what she already does: go to the tavern, listen to what people are saying, get them to say more. This just has the added step of writing it down and that's what she's carrying with her.

"Hola Beleth, hola cuervos!" She calls, no Lux with her since he'd spend the whole time having his tail pulled by Baron Plucky and Marion Squawke.

One of the ravens flies over to her quickly, perching on her shoulder to poke at one of her earrings as she joins Beleth, arching an eyebrow at her as she strokes the raven's head carefully; this bird tends to get sent after her since it's easier to send a bird to find Araceli rather than a scout when she's likely up on the rooftops or the walls. Another few she displaces when she hops up to perch herself on one of the remaining spots on the desk, smiling at her fellow bard.

"Is the crow part of Belladonna's persona?"

[arlathvhen]

It's a sign that she's somewhere she feels comfortable, and that she's gotten used to Araceli popping out of windows, that she doesn't flinch when the other bard in training appears. Which is a good thing, because the last thing she wants to do is startle all the gathered crows and have them leave a grand mess all over Leliana's desk. Instead, she turns to face Araceli, a sheepish grin on her face as she dislodges the bird on her head and sets it on her lap instead.

"Andaran atish’an, Araceli. I suppose being menaced by crows would certainly add some depth to her, wouldn't it? Perhaps she made an ancient pact with the first crows. Would that be stealing the Nighingale's thing?" She pondered, petting the fat crow absently. "I'm just worrying that it sounds silly. I need to be taken seriously, if I'm going to do this right." She glances up to Araceli with another smile, shrugging.

"I'm sure the more seriously I use it, the more it will be taken seriously. But what of yourself? Anything interesting afoot? Or awing?"

[foxsays]

"I know more about seabirds than songbirds, perhaps Zevran would be better placed to judge these things when he has kestrels tucked under his wing as well. I was thinking more of a title rather than a name, perhaps we should get masks one day and finer clothes, go out some place and try them out to get used to them? Even to a tavern to be two mysterious ladies. Belladonna and the Maid on the Shore." She's never said that aloud to anyone but Lux before, and Lux just puts a paw or his nose to her cheek, or rests his head closer to her lute if she's playing. Not the best barometer of the name she's chosen but the song is a favourite, one that fits her well and it has the right air of mystique for a girl with a shard in her hand.

"Planning for my trip to Rivain, not the easiest thing when I have to haggle via letter rather than down at the docks with the captains but-" An expansive shrug to say what can you do because this is life and she can't abandon her duties entirely until it's time to go since the trip had already been cleared with Leliana. At least she can stay with Korrin's grandmother so it's just the ship but still, easier at home. "And the usual slew of rumours at the tavern, everyone gossips and the soldiers gossip more than fishwives if you get them going. I wrote down what seemed important or relevant, given the circumstances."

Digging into her pocket - ignore the jangling of coin but how else does a girl make a living to buy fine things for herself and her loved ones in Skyhold where there is little call for a thief? - she pulls out several scrolls of paper, all filled with her elegant, looping hand to add to the pile.

[arlathvhen]

"...Are there a lot of birds around the sea? I mean--" She blinks, contemplating the unpleasant journey she made with her clanmates across the Waking Sea, the only interaction she's had with a large body of water. "--Do they go very far past the shore...? If they go in the water like a duck, they could get eaten." That was one thing she hadn't seen, but had heard plenty about. Monster fish larger than a man, with razor teeth.

But there are more important things to think over than birds, and Beleth's attention is quickly caught by Araceli's own choice for a bard name. "The Maid on the Shore," The name is repeated in a quiet, admiring tone, testing out the sound for herself. "I like it. It's--mysterious. Like you're a rumor fishwives tell. Um. Unless that's not what you're going for." She glances at Araceli worriedly, though the expression shifts to a small smile as Beleth accepts the scrolls of paper.

"Let me know if I can help you with your trip," The Dalish says, as she skims the papers. "Rivain is quite a trip. You'll be careful, won't you?"

[foxsays]

"There are hundreds of birds by the sea. Some spend their whole lives by the shore or the sands, many nest in the cliffs overlooking the oceans, others dive deep into the sea to catch the fish often when things like dolphins, seal or whales, or our fishermen force them to the surface. A few of them go on huge flights far out to sea to hunt, hundreds of miles. And then there are all the other birds that migrate at the right season. They stop along the way but they still have to fly over huge stretches of ocean to do it," she explains, hands mapping it out on the table as she goes without really thinking too much about it. "Sometimes they get eaten but they're very fast, though watching a great white shark breach..."

Closing her eyes she gives herself a shake; if she gets homesick she won't get past it, not when planning for Rivain is making her miss her father more than ever, when she wants to tuck herself next to his side.

"It's a song, actually, it was the first thing I taught myself to play on the lute here and it's about a thief. I'll play it for you when I come back if you'd like, but I promise to be careful, I wouldn't want Korrin to worry."

Skyhold probably wouldn't want Korrin to worry if anything happened to Araceli while she was off studying but she can't imagine too much coming up while she tries to find books and information they simply don't have here.

"You'll keep me up to date too, if anything changes with the Nightingale? Or if anything comes up at all? I'll be staying with Korrin's grandmother while I'm there so there won't be too much to worry about with anyone overhearing."

2

[justice_is_blond]

He's rarely far behind Purrelden. It's just because she's small, it's because she's his and she could be harmed for that. So when Purrelden meows, Anders circles the tent near the campfire and comes across Beleth... feeding her.

"Is she begging? She should know better than to do tha--why are there feathers everywhere?"

[arlathvhen]

Beleth slowly looks up at Anders as he questions her, then glances to the side, where the feathers are scattered around. Then down at the cat nibbling the bacon she'd bribed him with. She doesn't say anything for a few moments, trying to decide just what kind of explanation she can give. Then, after some thought:

"I would suspect the feathers came from birds. Probably. They usually do. Unless there's another animal with feathers. Very mysterious, if you ask me."

[justice_is_blond]

He narrows his eyes.

"Yes, but this many? And very mysterious? What's going on here, Beleth? A bird didn't explode. Five birds didn't explode. What did you do?"

[arlathvhen]

Beleth contemplates her options for a moment--She can convincingly lie, and Anders probably trusts her enough to fall for it. But a convincing lie would be difficult, and could risk that trust going up in flames in the future. No, the best route would be to tell him a white lie and frame it with adorable awkwardness that would allow him to draw his own conclusions.

"Me? What makes you think I did anything? I didn't make any birds explode. And those birds would probably deserve to explode anyway, because I'm pretty sure that they were the ones that stole all that ba--" She pauses for a moment, and quickly shoves the rest of the bacon she'd been about to feed to Purreldan into her mouth.

"--And anyway, there are no witnesses, are there?" At this, she glanced down at the cat. Don't be a snitch.

[justice_is_blond]

He bends down, picking up a feather and turning it over in his hands. It's ordinary, there's nothing really special about it. Except visually it could match the ones he wears and that's what's making him wonder why she used them in particular.

"You're eating the bacon and acting shifty, that's why I think you did something." Purrelden mews, and he's pretty sure she's begging more. "I also think you're undoing some very difficult work trying to get her to not beg, but I'm never going to succeed there. Just..." Anders shakes his head and looks back at the feathers. "Pick them up, and then I'll say I never saw you. Otherwise, if they come after me because of the feathers, I'm putting the blame right where it belongs, Beleth."

He scoops Purrelden up, waggling the retrieved feather in front of her and getting her to bat it. "...And if you bring them all, bundled up, to my tent later, I'll even give you an alibi if they start considering you as a suspect."