[open] prelude to summer

[kartereo]

WHO: Waver Velvet +
WHAT: Kirkwall adventures
WHEN: 15-31 Bloomingtide
WHERE: The Gallows and Lowtown
NOTES: None

i. discarding objects

It was a goddamn relief that those screeching bronze statues have been hauled off and out of the Gallows entirely. Seeing the various parts laying on the ground had been getting more than slightly disturbing, and Waver preferred to not think about the fact that his ears had rung for hours afterwards. They often threatened to do so again if he recalled those adventures for too long.

On the other hand, seeing the murals go didn't have the same reaction of utter relief. The fact that half were being saved suggested that their value was such that all of them ought to be, but the rest of him argued that melting them down would probably result in more money.

The day before removal, Waver went to take one last look at the whole set. Truly, he hadn't really paid much attention to them until it was made clear that they were going away. He didn't hide the fact that he was standing and staring at the whole set, trying to read the artist's intentions in the piece.

"I wonder if anyone's going to draw the contents of the ones being melted down," he murmured to himself. "Or if that's just going to be a part of removal tomorrow."

ii. may flowers

Since he helped clear out the herb garden when he first came with the advance group to the Gallows, Waver wandered by there often. He wasn't a gardener nor would he trust himself with the plants, but it was one of the first places in all of Thedas that he had had a tangible impact on.

Sometimes he'd sit himself down under one of the trees and enjoy the quiet. If he dozed, well, that was obvious. He'd end up sprawled on the ground instead, an inelegant pile of long limbs and his hair probably half underneath him and half being held onto by the rougher patches of bark on the tree itself.

When he wasn't dozing and there was someone coming, he'd pull his extended legs back and curl up a bit more. There was always a soft, "Sorry about that" as well.

iii. shopping
Arriving in the colder months had, for a time, not been a problem for Waver. He had his coat that staved off most chills, and being as close as he was with Iskandar meant he also had a human heat lamp to rely on if things were too bitter. But with spring beginning to change into summer, the need for lighter clothes became all too apparent. His beloved coat was stifling by the mid-afternoon, and the rest of his clothes weren't too far behind.

So Lowtown it was, wandering the streets to investigate fabric sellers and tailors. This, of course, required money, and that wasn't something Waver had much of. In a way, that was a blessing: he wasn't going to attract pickpockets. On the other, it meant examining fabric and then having to walk away.

On more than one occasion, he sighed heavily and said, "Damnit, I wish I had known to pack an entire wardrobe."

iv. wildcard
For other things

Comments

i.

[onlyhymns]

Cade has been avoiding the Gallows with good reason: it's a hotbed of terrible memories, some of which he's not entirely sure aren't still occurring. But, in hopes that it'll be cathartic, he too is watching some of the removals.
"I hope not," says a quiet voice from behind Waver, "they're better off forgotten."

[kartereo]

"Mm?"

Waver's question was mild, closer to a hum than an actual question. He didn't turn around either, mostly because if someone had that opinion, they probably would prefer a hair of distance.

"I suppose that's true for many."

[onlyhymns]

Though Cade isn't much of a talker, there are some things he feels the need to express. Especially when most of the people here aren't familiar with what happened, and may not know any better.
"No one enjoyed them," he murmurs, glancing briefly at the other before averting his gaze, "they're... they're from times no one wants to remember."

[kartereo]

Waver only nodded. He admittedly was thinking of things in the longest possible terms, about historic value and how these kind of things help illuminate past events. But that wasn't what anyone should say to people who were still living and too familiar with what had happened.

"I can imagine not. This is one of those times having an outsider's perspective is a massive hindrance."

[onlyhymns]

Cade simply nods. He doesn't point out that having an insider's perspective is also a massive hindrance, not wanting to be rude or to state the obvious.
"Are you a Rifter," he asks, with mild suspicion. He doesn't hate them or fear them too terribly, but they're still cause for some discomfort on account of being inexplicable.

[kartereo]

"I am, yes," Waver confirms, simple and straight forward. There was no way to hide that information most of the time, given that he kept his hair obnoxiously long and whenever possible tried to dress closer to his suits from home, nor any reason to while within the Inquisition's immediate territory.

iii (going to be slow for a bit)

[gatheringstorm]

"It would've been convenient, huh?" Korrin looks over from examining daggers at a stall nearby. Sure, they're not her fighting style at all, but she can appreciate fine craftsmanship. But the daggers slip away from her attention as that sigh gets to her.

"How much are you looking to get?"

no worries

[kartereo]

"I mean, grab me when I have a trunk full of clothing or something," Waver said, his usual grumpiness threatening to slip into comedy. But with a shake of his head, he turns to Korrin.

"Honestly, enough for two light weather coats, plus a few shirts and trousers. I've budgeted for the expense. I think."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin mentally calculates how much that's likely to cost and nods. "If you run a little over, don't sweat it. I haven't seen anything I really want and the urchins haven't dared to steal my belt pouch yet. Strange, huh? I can lend you enough to make the difference."

[kartereo]

"You can clearly boot them into the water from here, that's why," Waver said, imagining the action. It really is more like an old cartoon, but there's something satisfying about that. "I'm way, way more of a pushover. Probably literally."

He wasn't going to test that out though.

"And thank you, I appreciate it. What're you out looking for, if you don't mind my asking."

[gatheringstorm]

From Korrin's grin, she likes the mental image as well. "Mostly? Stuff to decorate the room Araceli and I share. Well, that and apartment decor in general because I'll be damned if we have to share a big warehouse with countless other people and thin walls forever. We just need to find a place with landlords that aren't skittish about...well, me. I haven't had anyone think I'm trying to invade in a while, but a large woman with horns? That'll get them freaking out about damage deposits and stupid shit like that."

III

[tallasaking]

"Or ... you could try asking around your local Inquisition, and find out that perhaps they can help you out." Is Tyrion's amused response from behind him. He'll see that Tyrion is pushing a cart of traded items, that he is going to take back to the docks. Amazing what people will trade for weird Qunari things uptown.

"Hello, Waver."

[kartereo]

"Hel-- good God," Waver cuts himself off, looking at the cart. The amount of stuff piled in is impressive, and the moment's surprise curls into an impressed grin.

"Well, you've clearly had a productive day so far." Which was probably a grievous understatement. "And as for my wardrobe predicament, let's just say not everyone needs to know the precise state of my clothing. Or lack thereof, as it is."

[tallasaking]

Tyrion smirked, leaning on his cart a little as he tipped an eyebrow up at the other Rifter, a smile flickering across his green eyes.

"Hard work has it's rewards. So does the ability to make nice." He patted his cart lovingly, before he snorted, "Well, I hope you allow me to know, at least. As my wife is a master seamstress."

[kartereo]

"At that rate, you should start looking to get a second wagon."

Never mind the logistics of getting two connected and moving them simultaneously. That was something to ponder later.

"If that's the case, do you know if she's accepting new clients?"

book club

[limier]

He does, in fact, beat her there.

A penchant for punctuality only extends so far in the Gallows, where a seemingly-endless list of tasks keeps unfurling itself for the Inquisition's view. The upkeep of a functional Circle was no small matter; the transformation of a dead one into the Inquisition's new, northern stronghold —

If you want to be busy, it's not difficult. Wren wants it very much.

The books thump onto the table: A few slim volumes, one inscribed with a peculiar set of characters (he may recognize them for old Tevene), the others bearing typical Trade runes.

"I've signed my soul to the condition we return these in," Dryly. "So no terrible loss, should we bend a page or two."

[kartereo]

"I do not fuck around with librarians," Waver replies, his voice surprisingly grave. "When you live on research and they can cut you off, you can't afford to anger them."

Clock Tower's librarians were there stern, severe, and towering type. It left an impression.

With that, Waver turns each book over to best look at the spine, reading the titles, and face screwing up at the old Tevene. "Interesting alphabet," he murmurs to himself, before reaching under the books to pull out an even slimmer volume.

What he had done was taken a few sheets of parchment and fold everything to make a little booklet, the pages measuring four inches by six. Inside was a neatly written title page, A Few Examples of Non-Thedas Architecture; Earth, 2006. The rest of the pages, totaling no more than twenty, had faithful attempts at trying to draw a few examples of architecture from different periods and the briefest of blurbs about the time frame and culture that produced them. Nothing comprehensive, nor a best of list. More this is what is within my capability to draw.

[limier]

"What field?"

She slips a smaller book from her pocket (plain, unmarked: select translations of the Tevene, itself a historical study of the Imperial Highway) before looking to the booklet. If there's no real artistry to it, it's still a novel effort. Some — pyramids — seem near enough to structures she'd seen written of. Others,

Maker. How much wealth must there be, to honeycomb their buildings with so much glass? (How do they not freeze their bloody fingers off in winter?)

"These are remarkable," She regards the page intently, seems to mean it. "Our works must seem so very homogenous, to your eyes."

[kartereo]

"Theortetical nonsense." Modern magecraft, actually but nonsense was far more on the nose.

Waver takes the smaller book though with delight, and flips through it with intense curiosity. The pyramids give him pause in particular, if only because it allows for one of those beautiful compare/contrast moments.

"We've had a lot of time to come up with styles that can often end up intermixed in the same city district," he admits. "What's in Thedas is just as remarkable to me."

[limier]

"Is theory ever otherwise?"

About half as sincere as it isn’t. Near as she’s ever been able to tell, all theory is nonsense, right up until the point it stops being theory. That it’s upon occasion dangerous nonsense doesn’t lift it free of the category. Dangerous nonsense launches ships, careers, and children from treetops every day.

"There must be a deal of migration then, no? For such mingling of cultures."

ii

[ichaer]

Throughout her life, Ciri has never had much in the way of a green thumb. She was, in fact, more suited for the battlements and training grounds than something peaceful like the gardens that have brought some life to this gloomy place. It was one of the nicer days since her own arrival in Kirkwall when she strolls into the air, enjoying the feeling of sunlight of her face and pleasant smells from the herbs and flowers.

Despite his sprawled out state, the young Warden at first does not notice Waver until he speaks and she glances downward with a curious look.

"It's fine," she says peeking upwards again. "I couldn't blame anyone for enjoying the weather here."

[kartereo]

"It is pretty good today, huh?" Waver says, looking up at meeting Ciri in the eye. He has no intention of moving, not when he's this comfortable, but he has no reason to ignore conversation.

"There's something about the building construction that ensures there's some kind of breeze coming through at all times. Provides more moderate temperature, I guess, although I don't know how great that breeze will be in the winter."

[ichaer]

"Mm. I didn't think Kirkwall had much in the way of those," she says with a glance down to her conversation partner. "Since good news out of Kirkwall is so rare these days."

She hums thoughtfully at his comment concerning building construction but she ultimately gives a tired grin. "Won't be as bad as Skyhold, I'm sure. Free Marches don't get nearly as cold as Ferelden or the Frostbacks. The breeze off the Waking Sea will probably be the worst thing come winter."

[kartereo]

"As I understand it, historically it has also never had good news." There had to be some kind of curse on the place. It was the only conclusion he could draw after doing all his research.

"That seems a cold comfort, I'm afraid," he continues, wrinkling his nose slightly. "But anything would be nice in comparison to this past season."

[ichaer]

"I don't know kicking out the Vints, Quanri and Orlesian has got its own merits. It did well for itself during the Fourth Blight too."

A bit at the high cost of Warden life but there was a lot more of them part then. "At least we've got walls here? I mean, we had walls at Skyhold but I was in a tent in the valley so this is dreamy by comparison."