Sssshhh she'll hear you.

[the_effect_she_has]

WHO: Katniss Everdeen and Open
WHAT: The Mockingjay listens to Halamshiral
WHEN: Over the Halamshiral visit
WHERE: Halamshiral, all over the city.
NOTES: Slight warnings for elven racism.

In The Merchant Quarter

Inquisition Scouts do one thing where ever they are, and that is listen to the people around them. In the Merchant Quarter, there is no lack of people there. So while the Orlesians wandered from store to store, chattering at one another, Katniss wandered with them, her cloak showing the clear Inquisition pin on it. She let her mouth gape open and her borrowed mask stay a little crooked, and she spoke with the most Fereldan accent she could.

The Orlesians rolled their eyes, and ignored her, which meant she was able to do her job splendidly. Even better was the taverns, when drunken arguing usually meant some sort of useful information to bring along to Leliana later.

In the Alienage

Katniss made herself slight more discreet here - she dressed in her simple clothing and offered her help instead of just helping. At the catcalls of 'shem', her gaze would frost over as she explained that she was, in fact, a half-blood.

That gave her slightly more wiggle room to wander around and listen, but not much. Still, you could find her on the street corners and sitting in front of wells with other half-bloods, nodding her head quietly as they rambled off about their troubles.

Wildcard!

See regular Wildcard instructions.

Comments

For Kalli and Vivienne

[the_effect_she_has]

Of course, it wouldn't do any good to discern the secrets of the common folk when it was up in the nobility where they had to pay the most attention. So Katniss came up with an idea, with Vivienne's permission, to have herself pose as a bard to sing in some salons that Vivienne had cooked up.

There was one catch, and it made Katniss slightly nervous. Vivienne wanted her to sing with Kallian. While Katniss liked the girl well enough, she wasn't sure if Kallian would be prepared for what precisely they would be doing in these fine homes.

Which was probably why she was asking, for the fifth time, "You're sure you know the plan?"

[kallian_endris]

"Perform with our voices, observe with everything else," came the answer.

Kallian straightened her dress and mask.
"I'm sure we'll be fine."

[madame_de_fer]

"Of course you'll be fine, darlings. Just don't fuss and fret so much with your garments. It's the first and most obvious sign of discomfort."

Vivienne looks them both up and down, critically, knowing full well that the people they will be surrounding themselves with will do the same. Lovely dresses, matching masks, no ostentatious jewelry implying they have more wealth than they actually possess. If there is any problem, it might be a somewhat mistaken notion that Kallian is Katniss' servant. Orlesian sensibilities, if they can ever be called sensible.

"You both certainly look the part." And the Iron Lady couldn't be prouder.

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss nodded her head at Vivienne's response - even though the mask was nothing short of annoying. How could people wear these things all the damned time. She gave Kali a piercing glance, but nodded. Short, and to the point.

"Well, that's half the battle right there." She stated, her mouth twisted. "Now we just have to sing like it. Then they'll just let us wander around and listen to them gossip."

And, since it was part of the arrangement, Katniss nodded towards the closed curtain, "The name of the person we're ...checking up on you for, Madame Vivienne?"

[kallian_endris]

Kallian immediately let go of her garments, folding her hands into the delicate, practiced pose the Orlesians seemed to favor.

"Yes, Madame," she said demurely.

"The singing should be all right. They liked it at the soiree. Then, we just have to be politely unobtrusive..."

[madame_de_fer]

Ahh look at Kallian and how prettily she poses. It will go a long way to forward her mission for the evening, being able to mimic the mannerisms of those she is there to observe. She gets a nod of approval from Vivienne. "Indeed they did, my dear. I shouldn't doubt you'll have at least a few guests attempt to poach you away."

Because it's vulgar to steal someone's servants and workers, but if it can be pulled off, it becomes one hell of a coup for the new employer.

Her attention then turns to Katniss and her question. She considers how much she should share of the little she knows and how it factors in the Game, as opposed to allowing them both the space to feel the details out themselves. A name is easy enough to supply, though she's convinced they will soon see for themselves why that particular woman.

"You will want to look to the Baroness Laetitia Jacquet. Her holdings are quite modest and her title a sup for her father's faithful service under Emperor Florian. Curiously she's managed to keep herself clear of having to take a side in the civil war." Vivienne's voice takes on a hard edge, indicating that such is not the full story. "At least not in a public way. Hedging her bets is risky, but a valid play in the Game. Perhaps. She's been ignored and not pressed because her meager properties wouldn't yield enough resources for either side to be worth the trouble."

Which begs the question, why is she suddenly bursting onto the social scene and how is she funding a particularly exquisite wardrobe? Sparkling new, at that.

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss glanced over at Kallian and sighed in quiet envy. Honestly, what she wouldn't give for some natural grace and beauty instead of having to tap herself into some serious tugging, pulling and otherwise keeping a blank expression of coolness. Kallian was at least believable as a bard.

She was just going to have to sing, and keep quiet. Work on what meager charms she had in desperate situations.

"All right then." She tilted her chin up a little at Vivienne, "We are ready when you are, Patroness."

Arching an eyebrow at Kallian, "Ready to take lead?"

[kallian_endris]

Kallian's attention was fixed on Vivienne, eyes glittering behind her mask as she took in the information. But her rouge-painted lips were fixed in an equally delicate and practiced smile, mannerisms she had first learned from her mother years ago.

"I will strive to impress. Let's do this." She looked to Vivienne. "At your pleasure, Madame."

[madame_de_fer]

With a final nod, Vivienne turns to enter the party. She has a way of carrying herself that is half-gliding/half-swaying and all-intimidating. If anyone actually dared to point out the truth of the matter, she's just a mage who got lucky by making herself an influential noble's mistress. No one's ever so crass, nor so stupid. The woman's been firmly installed into the life of the man who heads the Council of Heralds and has the Empress' ear to boot. Crossing her is dangerous.

Which is why every head turns as Madame de Fer saunters in, and everyone is willing and eager to offer her smiles along with a healthy dose of fearful respect. No one at all thinks twice at her bringing along a bard or two to the party. Almost everyone has at least one in their entourage, like a life-sized, person shaped accessory. They're all to mingle, playing their own version of the Game while those with power do so on a different level. All carefully timed steps to ensure a win.

On her way through the room, she accepts a glass of champagne being passed around on a tray. It's safe to drink. Nobody is so vulgar as to attempt to poison guests at a salon. It's a far better show to do so at the dining table. None of the members of the Council are here this evening, which is both a disappointment and a relief. It sets the tone for the evening, which is playing hard against people far beneath her.

Fortunately, her friend, Vicomtesse Elodie is among the guests. She becomes the Iron Lady's first point of interest, to assure her dear friend that joining the Inquisition was the only sensible choice to make. Poor dear had been so frightened that Vivienne had gotten mixed up with murderers or worse.