faderift | I'm one card short of a full deck, I'm not quite the shilling [open]

WHO: Jefferson and YOU.
WHAT: The hatter's settling in at Skyhold. Well. As settled as he can be. The guy's kind of twitchy.
WHEN: Latter part of Solace
WHERE: Skyhold and all associated locales.
NOTES: Will add warnings as needed.

They've been shepherded to this keep in the middle of the mountain range with the promise that they aren't the only ones. That they're working on a way to send them all back home again. It's more than he expected, the courtesy and hospitality, even if some of the people in the keep give them wary looks. There have been incidents. The extent of which he's not sure, but it's not a surprise. Traveling between worlds is tricky at the best of times.

And it's never left him with a souvenir like this one. The mark feels like an invasion, like corruption, and it makes his skin crawl. Occasionally he's taken to rubbing at the green mark on his hand, sometimes without noticing that he's doing it. It's done nothing to improve his already rather nervous temperament.

Still, best thing to do for the moment is try to adapt. Don't draw too much attention, observe the goings on in the castle. He keeps his distance from the soldiers and the training ring, though he does on occasion stop to watch. He flits into the tavern and out again, able to overhear some decent bits of gossip.

There's also a library, as it turns out. It's doubtful there'd be anything of use as far as getting them home, or surely they would have found it by now, but it can't hurt to have a look on the sly. He's not quite sure if 'Rifters' are allowed to go poking through their things, so he does so when there are relatively few people around.

This isn't quite the prison he expected it to be. But that doesn't change the fact that once again, he's been torn away from his daughter. That's a bitter pill to swallow, no matter how scenic the vistas or friendly the people.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Maybe kicking down every door isn't necessarily the answer."

He sighs, rubbing his hand against his face before leaning inward, voice dropping lower. "There's been research, but it's all very recent. With a lot of 'incidents' along the way. And it's resulted in a lot of mistrust where our kind are concerned."

Because while they may have the goodwill of these people for now, if it comes down to it? He knows for a fact they'll chuck them out -- or worse -- if they prove a threat. And proof needed in a world like this can come awfully flimsy.

"I'm not suggesting we do nothing. I want to see Grace as much as you want to see Henry." He's gone very still, eyes fixed on her absolutely intent. "But we can't afford to lose what resources we have in the process."

When push comes to shove, people default to protecting their loved ones. They both know it, they've both experienced it. He talks about their kind but Emma is thinking solely of them.

They have children to get back to, so they can't wait around for the people here to decide they're good with rifters after all. Things could just as easily go in the other direction, and then what? They're not going to be cautious to the point of losing their chance, that won't help them get home.

"Sometimes kicking down the door is the only way in." There are other people they can talk to, and at least one of them is a friendly face. She'd like to touch base with Ruby, maybe see if she can point her in the right direction. If nothing else, she'd like to know if her friend is looking for a way out, too.

"I need to talk to Ruby, see what she's heard. She might be able to fill in some of the blanks, give us some kind of starting place." If there's hesitation there and a frown that falls a little heavier than usual, it's because she doesn't quite know what to expect from her friend in this situation. It seems like she's doing a lot of good here.

"Yeah. Fits right in, from what I've seen." He shrugs mildly, gaze straying to the shadows lining the far end of the tavern, observing their fellows here. "That goodwill could come in handy."

One hand lifts, rubbing over his mouth before dropping to the surface of the table, nails drumming lightly against the scrubbed surface.

"Getting to know our fellow Rifters wouldn't be a bad idea, either. People from different lands, with different abilities? It can't hurt to pool what we know...and stick with the people most motivated to see it work."

"As long as they're motivated to send all of us back to the right place, instead of taking advantage for themselves." It's a line of logic that has her hesitating at the idea of sharing too much with the rest of the rifters. She's not ready to trust Jefferson after some of the stunts he's pulled, but they're both looking to go back to the same place. Branching out means sharing what they know with people who have ties to other worlds, and are probably just as eager as they are to return to them.

"For now, the main thing is to make ourselves useful while we're collecting information."

The natives will be more likely to help someone who's pulling their weight. Maybe it's the savior in her, too - if she's stuck, she'd like to be doing something more than sitting around and twiddling her thumbs (which isn't much of an option here, anyway). They might as well lend a hand and see where it gets them.

I'm one card short of a full deck, I'm not quite the shilling [open]

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