(no subject)

[theproperglove]

WHO: Josephine Montilyet and YOU
WHAT: Catch-all log for August.
WHEN: Latter half of August.
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: There's a couple of prompts but feel free to PM/ping me @ziskandra if you'd like a personalised starter!

1. THE AMBASSADOR'S OFFICE

The stack of papers on Josephine's desk has grown even larger in the past few weeks, but that does not deter her from methodically ploughing through the pile. Most of the time, she is still keeping her office door open, partly for any inquiries members of the Inquisition might have, but mostly because it feels less lonely that way.

2. GARDENS

While Josephine might not have much time to smell the roses as it were, it does not stop her from spending what little free time she does have in Skyhold's main gardens. It is a change of routine for the Ambassador, who had previously taken to strolling across the battlements when she had fancied a breath of fresh air.

While the Skyhold gardens may not have quite as many roses as Josephine would like, there is, in fact, a larger array of plants than she had expected and they seem to be thriving.

"I did not expect much of anything to grow here," she murmurs as she enjoys the beauty of the scene around her.

Comments

1

[thecookery]

The door may be open, but Avery still knocks and waits at the entrance to be invited in. Whether or not she'd actually admit it, the Ambassador always makes her a little nervous for some reason. All her fancy words and titles and clothes... Even just seeing her around makes Avery suddenly very aware of her own shabby tunic and trousers, among other things.

In any case, she's here for a task. She shoves that all down and clutches the page in her hand probably a bit too tight, as she mumbles out a quiet, "Ma'am," and nods her head stiffly.

[theproperglove]

Josephine is so focused on her work that the presence of a guest in the doorway catches her unawares. She jumps in her seat ever so slightly, fluster shifting to a smile as she nods.

"Ah! I didn't see you there. What can I do for you?"

[thecookery]

Entering and approaching slowly, Avery holds up the page a little higher and explains, "The latest inventory and requests from the kitchens. I'm... one of the cooks down there." She tries for a small smile, but it probably comes out looking at least mildly uncomfortable.

"I know there's usually other people this goes through first? But I've a question for you, so I thought I'd just bring it myself." A pause. "If that's alright."

[theproperglove]

"It's fine," Josephine assures the woman. "In any case, it's probably high time I took a break." She gestures at the stack of papers.

"I've a question of my own first, if you don't mind. What is your name? I don't believe we've met."

[thecookery]

Oh, right. That.

She simply shakes her head and answers, "No, not yet... I'm Avery."

[theproperglove]

"A pleasure," Josephine murmurs in response, before adding, "Josephine Montilyet at your service," as if Avery doesn't know her name.

"What is the request? I must say, I have been hearing far less complaints coming out of the kitchens these last few months."

[thecookery]

"Oh, it's not so much a request as, um..." She trails off for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. Maybe she should have just left this conversation to someone else. They probably could've done a much better job of it.

"Sister Nightingale spoke to me recently, about my possibly taking over cooking all the meals for you and the other Advisors. So, actually, I guess I wondered if you had any requests maybe? Favorite dishes or something you'd rather avoid or... something. I don't know."

1!

[extramural]

He remembers her from their conversation on the crystals more than for her titles; advisor, ambassador, lady, and so on are all titles that many people across many centuries have had. Some have deserved it, but not all. Josephine stands out for her curiosity (and alarm) about the blood oxen, for her wistfulness about whales.

He walks like a man, feet on the ground, because it uses less energy where once levitating was the most efficient. It also serves not to frighten people; it's certainly a good thing to be able to do, but it isn't what he wants to do in this case. Instead he walks in, knocking as an afterthought as he's part of the way through the door.

"I saw whales," he informs her, even as he comes to her desk and sets a blood oxen token carved of horn upon it.

[theproperglove]

Josephine raises her head upon hearing the knock, her initial expression of confusion turning to dawning recognition at his words. Ah, yes, she remembers their conversation.

"You did?" she asks in delighted surprise as she picks the token off her desk and turns it over between her fingers. "Where were they?"

[extramural]

"Near Rivain." There is a slight smile on his face even as he thinks of them, something that is hard for the unobservant to notice. He is still practicing emoting, but he is getting better. "A mother and her calf, in the bay; the calf was likely too young to head out into deeper waters. They surfaced by the ship."

And he had all but fallen overboard in excitement.

"The horn, I'm afraid, is from one of your common cows, but I thought it might better show you what the blood oxen in my world look like."

[theproperglove]

Josephine lets out a little 'ooh' of appreciation, raising the token to her face so she may examine it more closely. "I must confess, it does not look too different from our cows. I suppose it as they say: appearances can be deceiving." She settles the token back down on her desk, placing it so it is facing forward before asking the man about her other curiosity.

"What was Rivain like? I have not had the pleasure of spending much time there myself. It is very different from the countries of Thedas."

[extramural]

There are differences, of course, but she is right; they are fairly subtle, as far as cattle that eat other animals go. Still, she has seen, now; perhaps someday she will see a live one, and the matter of blood oxen will be a curious point once more.

"I enjoyed it, though perhaps it was the proximity to the sea -- much of my leisure time was, I admit, spent wandering the shore. I would have liked to see it before the annulment, I believe. Traditions such as those in Rivain are hidden in my own world, as they are in other parts of Thedas, and we were there on a mission." There is a slight quirk of his lips, but it is dry, humorless. "Of course, in this world, mages are brought away out of the public eye. In my own, they and any suspected of magic are killed. If they are lucky, it even happens quickly."

[theproperglove]

So much has happened in the world these last few years that Josephine can no longer hear reminders of how mages are treated without feeling uncomfortable. As a younger woman, she could have - would have - turned a blind eye. Now, well, she still isn't sure what the best course of action is, but it is something she's determined to figure out, something she'd want to explore even if it wasn't practically her job. The excitement fades from her eyes, the corner of her mouth tugging downward.

Quietly, she answers, "I do hope that Rivain may regain its beauty once more." She hopes that she may play a role in shaping that world she wishes to see. He is not seeing Thedas at its best, and she honestly does not know what the world's best is.

Just that it could be better.

2

[eolasemah]

"They're resilient," comes a voice from behind and a bit below Josephine, and there stands the little Dalish again, pale face smudged with dirt and too-large gardening gloves covering her thin hands. Her shard is a bit less visible than normal, but still glows eerily through the thick fabric of her tunic.
"...the plants, that is," she stammers after a pause, "the things that grow here. They were here when you first arrived, but lying dormant and waiting to be coaxed back to life. All they needed was a little nudge." She gestures with her hands, a light pushing motion, then lowers them to her sides again with a more bashful smile. "Welcome back. The flowers have missed you."

[theproperglove]

The corner of Josephine's mouth curves slightly in appreciation of Sina's sentiment, but she finds that she cannot accept the compliment. "I have not been a very good friend to the flowers," she admits, finding herself wanting to be better at it in the future.

"It is good that they have you."

[eolasemah]

Sina tilts her head. "How so?" she asks, her smile remaining, "they don't ask much of us other than light and air and water, and perhaps a little protection from time to time." She finds that her face feels hot; she's blushing slightly. Looking downward to hide it, she spots a rose on a weak stem; it's unlikely to last more than a few days, and it's a wonder a branch that thin has managed to bloom at all. Glancing back at Josephine for just a moment, Sina then leans down to pluck it-- a bit too easily-- from the shrub.

Pursing her lips a bit anxiously, she takes a few steps toward the ambassador and extends the rose to her. "Here," she says shyly, "it matches you."

[theproperglove]

Seeing as Sina seems insistent of complimenting her regardless of Josephine's protestations, Josephine accepts the rose from Sina, holding it delicately between two fingers in a careful attempt not to scratch her skin against the thorns. "I-" she starts, before finding herself at a loss for words, a rare occurrence. She looks down, focusing her attention.

"I am flattered, truly. But I meant what I said. Perhaps all they need is light and air and care and water, but I feel that if I were to tend to my own gardens, I would get the quantities all wrong."

[eolasemah]

Sina grins, but in a sheepish way, and she looks down when Josephine looks at her. "That's all right," she says with an awkward laugh, "that's why I'm here." She furrows her brow briefly-- wow, wait, where is this going? Nice night for an evening.
"...um, but I'm... I'm sure I couldn't do what you do," she quickly stalls, "which is much more important."

[theproperglove]

Oh, Sina. Josephine knows that it is not her place to say, but she truly does wish that the elf had better self-confidence, if only for her own sake. Shaking her head slightly, Josephine answers, "We all have our unique talents and gifts. You are restoring beauty to the world." She gestures with a small wave of her hand in the direction of the flowers. "It is important enough."

gardens

[ichaer]

"Flowers are pretty durable despite looking so fragile. They can adapt to their surroundings better than most."

To be honest, Ciri had not actually planned on speaking up to Josephine. This is the first time in the two months since her arrival that the young Warden has visited Skyhold's gardens. Turns out that it was a surprisingly peaceful place. Now, she is seated on one of the stone benches, likely standing out in her Warden armor and enjoying the pleasant smell.

"After seeing what they can do in the Anderfels, I am not surprised at what grows anywhere anymore."

[theproperglove]

Upon hearing the voice, Josephine turns in the direction of the speaker, smiling when she spots the Warden sitting on the bench. "How do they grow in the Anderfels? I've never had the pleasure of going, myself."

[ichaer]

"You'd have to ask someone besides me, sadly. I didn't leave Weisshaupt a lot of the time but folks were always bringing stuff up there to us."

Being a Warden in the Anderfels, she found, was until being a Warden anywhere else. The Ander folk adored them in a way that even Ciri couldn't completely understand and the march to Weisshaupt had been one filled with gifts whenever they passed a group of people.

"I wish I had learned more though but I never was much of a green thumb. My grandmother used to call be a disaster in the garden."

[theproperglove]

"I cannot lay claim to any gardening talent myself," Josephine says with a despairing sigh. "We all have our own strengths and weaknesses." Making plants grow? Definitely one of her weaknesses.

"What would they bring to you?"

[ichaer]

"Tell me about it because my main weakness seems to be flowers and anything edible. I'd make the worst of dates."

She sighs but chuckles. "Supplies, mostly. Food, bandages and herbs to make potions. Some people brought things like books or puzzles which... it was nice."

[theproperglove]

"Flowers and food can be bought at least," Josephine indicates with a slight incline of the head. "Did you have the chance to do much reading while you were at Weisshaupt?"