faderift | The secrets in the snow

The hardest part of the whole journey is going to be negotiating getting around the stairs unless she climbs higher up on the roof and comes back down since there's always a steady flow of traffic in and out of the kitchens, and if the Tal-Vashoth chefs are around then someone might grab her for fun, or she might clip one of them anyway. Some of the cooks are given to shouting and new people making deliveries that aren't used to her.

She wants to get back to her spot. Where she had her first climbing lessons in Skyhold. Where she tends to hold court maybe since if you really do want to look for Araceli then that's probably the best place to lie in wait for her because she'll eventually return past or down it at some point. It's just the deciding that might take her a while because when she's been deprived for literally months, she's suddenly racked with the sort of indecision that hasn't really plagued her in years, not since the last time she broke a bone and those were so long ago now, back when she was still learning as a girl.

Since the kitchen is closer, Korrin assumes that might be the destination intended rather than the stables. (Though really, if she's wrong it's not as though she'd mind checking up on Asher and The Walrus.) While she heads up the stairs leading to the main hall and then jumps off at the turning point, the Vashoth woman glances up again just to be certain of her route. Even if those parkour skills could possibly be termed rusty, it wouldn't take much to lose sight of Araceli for good if she really wants to be elusive. Whatever her kadan decides, there will be a certain Vashoth mage trying to catch up to her. Well, at least from the ground. Hopefully, Araceli can be a little accommodating.

It isn't the kitchen, but close. When Korrin next properly catches sight of Araceli she'll be sliding down the crumbling chunk of tower (she assumes it was part of the tower once) that signals the beginning of the battlements that share a wall with the stables, where there's a lower section of wall. A pile of hay has been set up once again since the lessons are back on and so Araceli can dive off if she chooses but she remains where she is, toes curling over the edge of the wall as she takes a breath and shakes out her hair again.

Stretching her arms high above her head, she wonders if she should pretend to be surprised or not by Korrin just so happening to be there, or if that spoils the game. As she doesn't have much time to decide, she calls out as soon as she catches sight of Korrin.

"Sirena, you caught me! That means you win."

"And what do I win, kadan? Catching you wasn't easy, surely there's some reward for all my effort."

Korrin grins hopefully as she calls out, quickly closing the distance with those infuriatingly long strides. She pauses just below, wondering if Araceli will go easy on her or make her work for it. A world-class climber she is not, but if Araceli won't come to her, she'll find a way to make it happen. Never underestimate what she'll do for a nauseating, public display of affection.

Now, this could go a few ways because Araceli hasn't really tried this.

One: she might misjudge it and topple them both into the hay. Two: the wall might not like the cane here so she might have to recalculate and call it off even before it begins. Three: possibly someone loses an eye.

But she likes to prepare for all eventualities whilst hoping for the very best because she's a thief and blessed with a certain sort of luck so hooking the cane over the wall she swings down so she's hanging upside down, smirking at Korrin.

"I suppose after all that time fetching things from high places for me you must be so very tired of it. I don't know if you'd be interested in what I have in mind."

Expecting more that Araceli would jump down to meet her, if not have her climb up, Korrin raises her eyebrows and smirks back. Having automatically taken a step back when Araceli swung down, the Vashoth woman steps in close with a mischievous glint in her violet eyes.

"You should know by now; I'm always interested, kadan." How could she not be? Trust aside, and Araceli always has that in full, fortune favors the bold. "Whatever you have in mind, I know it'll be worth it."

Edited 2017-01-14 05:37 (UTC)

Gripping the cane tightly with one hand, the other reaches out for one of Korrin's horns as another point to steady herself as well as to make sure the angle and positioning are just right. Not quite, she'll need to inch herself up a little more or she'll be too low for it to work.

"Unless I start talking about the good points of the Grand Game, or how there are some to be found that we can use, such as the use of place settings and how to properly send a threat or a grave insult? Even a declaration of intent?" She's teasing, of course, but she's in the right position now with their height difference sorted, tipping Korrin's head towards hers to pull her into a kiss that's far more familiar to her than it will be to Korrin.

Probably. Not so much the specifics since no one was as tall as Korrin, and usually she had a rope, or curtains, or a fixture, or there was some bedroom window involved but this sort of kiss isn't really one you get to experience all that often and she'd be willing to lay down whole sovereigns that this'd be a first for Korrin.

And Araceli would make a killing on that bet. Korrin's no stranger to kisses, of course -even before Araceli- but one of this nature isn't something that's ever happened to her before. And as her lips meet Araceli's, she wonders why it took so long for this to happen. Well, only briefly. Korrin has a way of getting lost in the moment when Araceli kisses her and this is no exception, returning it with enthusiasm even as she does her part to keep Araceli steady.

Edited 2017-01-16 04:08 (UTC)

Rigging would make this easier. Both her hands would be free, her knees would be hooked into something, they'd be on a ship with the wind in her hair and the taste of salt would be on Korrin's lips, and sailing most anywhere in Thedas would mean leaving the cold behind to head somewhere warm, somewhere that isn't Skyhold. The thing is, Araceli does like to keep a few things as a surprise, and Korrin is always going to have something she can do with her magic, is always going to have the height and strength advantage.

Also she has to break the kiss far quicker than she'd like because there's blood rushing to her head, meaning she has to right herself on the wall to get her breath back before she passes out, dazed and confused. (Another reason she hasn't done it, not when she wasn't sure enough of where she really stood in Skyhold.)

"Well?" Sounding smug would work if she wasn't so breathless herself, but that can be put down to what Korrin does to her anyway.

Araceli is just as guilty of causing breathlessness, though Korrin manages laughter after her lungs aren't quite as burning for air. She has that silly smile on her lips that is likely to resurface throughout the day, the memory of this moment carrying her through the tedious or irritating parts. There's a mischievous glint in her eyes even as she resists pulling Araceli back down, because kisses aren't worth making her literally pass out.

"Now you've done it. I'm definitely hooked on that kind of reward, and will chase you all over Skyhold for it, if you'll let me. I'm still not sure you didn't just let me win, but who am I to complain?"

Using the cane, Araceli swings herself down from the wall onto the ground where she takes half a moment before stretching as high up on her toes as she can. There's a smirk on her face while she waits for Korrin to do the rest, even a little shrug of the sholders too.

"You went out on a roof, I don't think I've ever seen you do that before." Which is pretty much confirming that she was aware of proceedings but Araceli is a thief, she's always flimsy about these sorts of things anyway, so does it really matter when it ended like this. "Were you chasing me down for anything specific? Or was it just the thrill of it? Not that I am ever complaining, of course."

When Araceli stretches like that, Korrin can't help but pick her up and spin her around, just because she can. There are advantages to being someone significantly smaller and lighter, so of course they have to be seized when possible. It's a brief spin, as Korrin doesn't want her kadan dizzy, and of course she's set back down gently and with a gentler kiss.

"The thrill was part of it, and you can be sure I'll do it again solely for that reason. But I did have some thoughts about taking over the kitchen with you, perhaps finding another spot with a good view where Lux can snore on us after he's fattened silly. Interested?"

"Sirena!" Trying to sound cross and failing miserably because she's laughing too hard, she holds on tight as she shrieks. This feels more like thing used to. Before people died. Before people got kidnapped. Before how real everything become so horribly real in such short order. "Sirena if you make me spook every beast in the stable and set them to stampeding I will do my best to land you in it worse than me. I am very persuasive. And I can cry on command if I need to."

Not a trick she pulls out often because she simply doesn't need to but it's gotten her out of more than one nasty scrape and she would stoop that low.

"You know I never say no to food, and Lux will somehow appear the instant I try to actually eat. Are we cooking or just putting something together?"

That shriek is always why Korrin has to do it, that and the laughter. She grins, savoring a moment of silliness while they have it and aren't forced to dwell on the grim realities that the Inquisition is facing. "Have some mercy, kadan. I couldn't help myself, not after you rewarded me so. Besides, I think it well worth the risk."

No stampede so far, that she can tell. Korrin will take the lack of panicked noises as a good sign.

And that broad smile lingers as she's definitely in the mood for a kitchen takeover. "Definitely cooking. I'm grateful for Burly and his friends, but half the fun is creating something with you. Something that can put us in mind of warmer places far away from all this snow." Which is to say that those Castilean dishes are definitely welcome, of course. They may not be able to visit Araceli's homeland in the flesh, but at least they can manage it through cuisine.

"There is no mercy in duels, only blood." First blood but you gave a dragon's tooth to someone with a talent for being dramatic who can be selective with the truth so this is the life you chose Korrin. What if a nuggalope fell over and crushed everything? Or those dracolisks, perhaps they're the assassins of the mounts, able to silently devour everything in panic as a survival mechanism, who knows.

Seriously, can you fully trust people that ride dracolisks or are they hiding some sort of secret deep down? So far applications would suggest you cannot.

Commandeering the kitchens sounds like just the thing she'd like to do to though so she gestures for Korrin to lead on. "What are you in the mood for? Savoury? Sweet? Small things or an actual meal? I need to know how much shooing out of the kitchen is about to be required of me and if I need to set the rapiers down on the table to make a point." Only joking, the Tal-Vachefs always seem relieved to have people that know and love spices around, and she helps out when she's got some free time to pick up some kitchen gossip anyway so she isn't just freeloading. "I don't know if they'll have much fish left so that might change when we get in there unless you've scouted ahead."

"So melodramatic, it makes me swoon." She moves as though to do just that, but stops herself in time, having no desire to crush Araceli. That would almost certainly ruin kitchen time, and they can't have that.

Straightening, she offers an arm as they approach the kitchen side entrance. Araceli's questions have her tilting her head in thought, savoring all the options. It's enough to rouse her appetite just thinking about it. "How about a big, spicy meal? As much spices as we can get away with, and then we can leave some as compensation for taking over for a while. And I haven't done any scouting. Probably should have, but I just had to find you first."

After all, if Araceli wasn't in the mood for cooking, there wouldn't be any point.

"Remember I won't catch you if that happens." Since she absolutely can't do more than help support Korrin if she's sick or wounded, there's no point even making the attempt to do it.

Taking the offered arm, it gives her time to consider what they're about to get up to in there. "I can give them some of my stash to make up for what I use, then put in enough to get them to order and set some aside with the merchants for next month. Hopefully when things are more settled in Orlais supplies might be easier to come by for a few things." Ordinarily, spices to give meals actual flavour aren't something Araceli would ever have called a luxury item but in this part of the world, apparently so. "If they don't have fish I can use chicken for what I'm going to make, and you don't need to know what it is to help make it."

Again, watch her dodge eating dark meat as much as possible because sorry there is very little about it that she will ever enjoy unless she's trying to make rations more exciting.

"Tsk, so unfair. You can swoon on me anytime." Which Korrin loves and would never discourage, she just likes poking fun at the occasional ridiculousness of that their height and build differences present. It's nothing she would ever want to change for either of them, of course. They're perfect as is.

"Orlais is probably going to take its sweet time in getting settled, so I'll try to see what we can get from up north, too. Even if it's an expensive hassle, it's still worth it to have decent cuisine at least sometimes." Thank the Maker that they both come from lands where spices are celebrated and essential. Korrin's not sure she could ever truly bond with someone who was set on Ferelden levels of blandness. It hurts the soul to think about it. "Knowing your skill and excellent taste, I'm happy to go in relatively blind. Tama's always saying I should learn to do more, so no wonder she thinks you're a good influence."

Never shack up with someone who can't cook, as Tama tends to say. Korrin luckily has remembered some recipes to perfection, it's just a matter of getting her to branch out.

"We each have our challenges in life. Store your blessings in your holster for when you need them." That's some Felix Bonaventura wisdom right there for free, you're welcome. The old man is twirling his moustache with pride whenever she parrots that particular one back since it numbered among her least favourite in her teens.

At some point, Araceli hopes there might be a need to go north again even if she's maybe been spoiled compared to most what with two trips to Antiva and one to Rivain all with the Inquisition. She even got to see Tevinter too though not even Korrin knows that one. "How did you grow up as you did without always being asked to do this and that around something like a kitchen or a fire? We were always having to do something when I was little in my mother's brothel, even on my father's ship they would find me a box." She was a very small child Korrin, as you can probably imagine. "So much is making do, substituting and adding and playing around with it. Not difficult."

Says the girl who cooked regularly for a building full of people from her mid-teens but moving swiftly on as she lets the smell and heat of the kitchens hit her, squeezing past one tall grey chef to start poking about. "Can you see about spices for me? Pick your favourites but only one really hot one, I need to see what I actually have to work with for meat before I can start."

That saying prompts a smile from Korrin, who will commit that to memory for later. At least she has plenty of blessings to choose from, Araceli's presence being responsible for a good portion of them.

Nodding to the request about spices, she begins scanning the higher shelves for her usual favorites. There will be at least one strong addition, guaranteed, but Araceli's cooking is such that Korrin tends not to need more than that, anyway. "Oh, I was asked to do things around camp. That was as much of a kitchen as we had without visiting Tama. She put down roots, so she built herself up a huge one, as you've seen. But my parents were always on a job or on the road, so there wasn't a lot of time to teach me more than the simplest, most efficient things. Whatever I know that isn't 'roast it over a fire' is almost certainly because of Tama. She's the one that insisted I know how to make banana bread, and that spiced wine."

Memories of bonding with her grandmother over food bring out a fond smile, as she gathers what's needed to set on the worktable. "You on a box is an adorable image, I gotta say. If I'd known you back then, I would have let you cook atop my shoulders. The ceilings a bit too low to try that now, though."

Ducking under Kalla's arm, Araceli hums to make sure Korrin knows she can hear her as she gets to work hunting through where they keep the meat. Hearing about Korrin's childhood on the road is always interesting, trying to picture it in her mind from what she does know about Thedas from the places she's seen herself or the illustrations in the books she reads in the library. The hardest part is trying to imagine Korrin's height since the best she has to work with is Kas who already tops Araceli by a good half a foot as it is but some of the rest she can fill in. "Cooking is a big thing for us, we're on a port, we can get almost everything if we have the coin for it. Speaking of, Kalla you know I'm good for it, mark it agains me and we'll settle up tomorrow?"

Please excuse her for some intense haggling over the price of fish but dammit Kalla she was the one who went to Adelaide about mages freezing fish in the first place, has she not earned these fish? Damn right she has earned the fish.

"Some day you should make banana bread when we're going to a terrible place so we can be very smug." You know, the way Araceli sits and puts spices on her food in front of the scouts or soldiers, or sits and eats whole chili peppers in front of them to prove her dominance. "You didn't know the cook in the brothel though, we had to behave in there. Cooking was practically sacred. Knew just where to get you with her towel if you weren't doing as she told you."

But here she is, triumphant with her fish, so hopefully Korrin has the spices so she can begin.

Korrin smiles at the haggling, knowing Araceli will always get the best deal she can manage. It's always entertaining to just listen to her at work, getting the upper hand with that silver tongue of hers. Granted, it's for a good cause, so the Vashoth woman doesn't feel at all guilty. They'll share whatever they don't eat, anyway.

"She sounds a lot like Tama, making sure that everything has to be just so. I'm not sure she'd call it sacred, not in words, but it's always been obvious that preparing and serving food right is an important part of life. It can be easy to forget, when we're busy trying to keep the word from falling apart, but moments like this are a good reminder of what it should be like."

Taking the time to make their meal and taking the time to enjoy it is good for the soul. Tama might have said that but even if she didn't, Korrin would have felt it. "I'll bring the banana bread, if you bring the chili peppers. Their faces when you eat those in front of them are always priceless."

One day come watch her when the stores are low. Less pretty, more mercenary, slipping in and out of her own language depending on her mood and how intense it gets. If she had her own way and her own kitchen instead of having to share this communal Inquisition bullshit then things would run smoother but no, she must share, and that means she has to deal with such things.

"A lot of things are sacred to my people," Araceli shrugs as she slaps the fish down on a chopping board to get to work, clearly comfortable with this part. "We would never eat whale unless the whole of Castileos were starving, we only use the bones and teeth when we find them washed up on the shores after other things have picked them clean." That's just one example of many but there are other little things she could mention that they do or don't do, expressions of love, of giving a part of yourself that maybe she doens't need to.

Korrin ate her food before she went away and then she came back for First Day and the rest is history as they say.

"Of course. Speaking of - can you start mixing the spices? If anything needs ground or cut too then we should have that done so it's ready to go when the fish are good."

"Good point. I'll get on that pronto." Korrin gets a bowl and a chopping block after a quick moment's search, snagging a knife as well. Anything more than that can wait, if it's needed. Quickly sorting out what can just be dumped into the bowl for mixing from what needs attention, she gets to work with a quick hand. Tama taught her well how to prep ingredients, and muscle memory kicks in without a hitch.

"Would that we had our own kitchen, eh? Imagine what we could do if we didn't have to share or kick people out just to make good use of this. I know, we're lucky just to have a room in Skyhold at all instead of cramped into the barracks or one of those tents. Allow me this moment of greed."

To be fair, their room was little more than a hole in the wall when first claimed. It took energizing debris and some significant handiwork to make it more livable. In its present condition, it would have been snagged for some visiting dignitary or noble instead. As it is, mysteriously no one has asked them to move. She's not sure if it's her presence, Araceli's or Lux's. Maybe all three.

It takes a little while for Araceli to reply since she has to go grab a bucket for the guts and the scales, and the fish heads. Not that anyone is going to throw them out since something in Skyhold is going to eat them, be that some of the strays, some of the rats that inevitably end up in all places where people are if they can spare the poison, or perhaps the dracolisks. You could probably feed anything to a dracolisk and it wouldn't grumble or bat an eyelid.

"My place is small. Artist district so not much money unless you have a patron and of course, I am not an artist in a way that invites any sort of patron so I have a small home. A bedroom that has a curtain, a bathroom that has a door. Everything else is a big room but that is my kitchen and not all places have that since some just have a tiny space for a kitchen so you can have more space for whatever else. I picked my place just for the kitchen." Obviously she's talking about her own home, not the palace quarters she has but the place she moved to when she moved out on her own, the one she still keeps because it's handy to have it, because she'd miss it.

Because again, as much as she gets free run of the palace kitchens far more than Skyhold's, she misses having her own where she gets to dictate everything.

"Once the spices are all done, if you add a few drops of oil? A few. We can add more if we need to but we can't take it back out if there's too much." There's a little bit more authority in her voice, the same way there is when she gives a climbing lesson but she's not yelling the way she does if people just try to do things alongside her unannounced. Delegation is key. That dealt with, she looks up for a moment and laughs. "I sleep in tents when I must, I would break into rooms if I had to stay in tents here, or the barracks. I am used to a certain level of comfort."

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