You drink the wise blood [Open]

[unbrokenoath]

WHO: Kaisa and whoever wants to hang out
WHAT: Kaisa's back from her mission and getting used to Kirkwall and also being Senior Warden
WHEN: Nowish
WHERE: Around Kirkwall
NOTES: n/a for now

Hanged Man

It's always been in Kaisa's experience that the first place you go in a new town is the tavern. That is where you're going to get a feel for the pulse of the town, what the people are like, what the gossip is. And how Wardens are going to be generally accepted, because that's been up in the air lately. So, after being gone for what felt like ages, it's only natural the first place she shows up is the Hanged Man. She's in her casual clothes, just in case, but there's no denying that it's a warrior that strolls into the bar like it's her own house, an easy grin on her face.

She doesn't look particularly worse for wear, at least. A little leaner, a little more tired, a brand new scar crossing her collarbone. But her grin is just as energized as it always is, her presence just as loud and apparent, even when she doesn't say anything.

And she doesn't say anything, just yet. Instead, she spends a few moments glancing from bench to beer-soaked bench, and then swaggers on over to the bar, plopping down. It's only after she places her order that she turns back to the tavern.

"Sooo. Who wants to hear a story that is at least 50% true, and 100% awesome?"

Chapel

The chapel in the biggest tower is nice, certainly. Bigger and prettier. But there's a quiet stillness to the smaller chapels that Kaisa likes. She may be loud the vast majority of the time, but when it comes to her religion, she appreciates a chance for quiet peace. It's rarely the same time of day, each trip she makes, but always at odd hours. Too late, too early, right smack in the middle of the day.

And once in a while, she shows up with some kind of decor for the chapel. Nothing fancy or particularly expensive, just things like a string of dried rose heads, or replacing candles nearly burnt up with new ones. It's the little things, really.

After she's finished adding whatever trinket she'd managed to get a hold of, she kneels in front of the altar for a minute or two, before stepping back to the benches. There, she sits silently for some time, staring contemplatively into the distance.

Teren

There's one thing weighing on her chest, after her conversation with Nathaniel. A worry nagging at the back of her mind. Eventually, it's decided that there's only one thing to do, which is exactly what Kaisa usually does in uncertain situations--stand tall and face it head on, with all the poise and delicacy as a druffalo in a pottery store.

So, a few days after her arrival in Kirkwall, she tracks down wherever Teren might be, and throws her arms in the air.

"Teren! I'm baaack! Did you miss me? Did you cry?"

Wildcard!

Throw something totally different at me! Or talk to me and we can come up with something.

Comments

[unbrokenoath]

"What--hey, no. That's not how you're supposed to listen to a story." Kaisa shoots a grin at him, shaking her head. "It's an experience, you don't sit there picking out the true bits, like some picky kid pulling carrots outta the soup. You gotta sit down and eat the whole thing, or it's not the soup your Momma made." The analogy may be a little stretched, but it gets the job done, Kaisa figures. Her light tone and mischievous grin makes it clear that she's not being real serious, though.

Either way, she takes a sip of her beer, watching Kirk thoughtfully over the rim of the mug. "But I suppose if you want to try your hand at it, I wouldn't say no. It'll be a fun challenge." Between the bullshit she can make up, and the crazy shit that happens to her regularly, it's always fun to see how far she can press the line, what people will believe and what they won't. After a moment, she raises her mug to Kirk, smile slipping into a smirk. "I'm sure I can get a hold of something or another as a reward. We're surrounded by alcohol, after all."

[universal_charm]

"Challenge accepted then," he grinned, moving a few seats closer to her. He crossed his legs and leaned on his knee, chin cradled in the palm of one hand, the most attentive of bar goers.

He had technically already lost a similar game to Ogrhen, but no need for her to know that, and the dwarf had provided excellent practice. Regardless of victory, it would be fun, and he happily took up the chance at anything to distract from the ever present misery of this town. Or certain parts, he supposed.

"Okay, I'm ready."

[unbrokenoath]

Well, an attentive audience is always nice, even if they're going to be spending half the time trying to suss out any lies in your story. But details are details, and Kaisa isn't about to turn down a rapt audience. She takes a long drink of her beer, sets it down, and begins to tell her story.

"Okay, so, one time, I saved this Antivan merchant princess, right? I won't get into that, it's just your standard 'beat up bandits and save the day' kind of deal, everyone and their mom has one of those in their back pocket. The important bit here is that, while I'm aware that I'm basically irresistible, I guess I was more irresistible than usual, because the Antivan princess ended up deciding I was her true love. Which, I mean, that's flattering, thanks, but princesses come with a lotta issues. Like her father. A merchant prince who had an arranged marriage all set up for his daughter. Except now she's telling him she's gonna run off with me. While I'm still standing there, mind you." As she speaks, she gestures about freely, hands telling as much of the story as her words.

"So I'm just standing there waiting for payment for the rescue, and they're having a row right in front of me, and then the prince turns to me, and he starts in after me about ruining his daughter. And I'm just like, listen here, Lord Chucklefuck, no one asked me if I wanted to run away with a princess. And, no offense, but I'm not really interested in committing to your daughter like that. I mean she was hot, don't get me wrong, but I've got things t' do, and I can't have a princess following me around while I'm doing it. Unfortunately, that I didn't want to elope with his daughter was more offensive, somehow. So then, I had both of them yelling at me." She shakes her head, a wry smile on her face. "Rich people, right? Never satisfied."

[universal_charm]

Kirk nodded his head, sipping his drink as she spoke, taking it all in. It was certainly quite the charming tale, and he found himself grinning and laughing as she told it, appreciating it for the amusing piece that it was. He seemed to fine it particularly hilarious that a little merchant princess had decided Kaisa was her wife out of the blue.

"Okay, so, the lie is that you called him Lord Chucklefuck to his face," Kirk said after wiping some tears from his eyes, having been howling for the last several minutes at the climax of the tale.