faderift | OPEN POST - there's a green glow coming from the library window

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OPEN POST - there's a green glow coming from the library window

WHO: Pel Ashara and everybody in Skyhold
WHAT: Pel returns from the Fallow Mire with crazy amounts of research and will wall herself up doing work and being totally antisocial unless you save her!
WHEN: 19 Firstfall...or is it the 20th? Today. Today and really, really late tonight.
WHERE: Skyhold courtyard and library
NOTES: This is prior to the general return from Skyhold, obviously. Pel just caught a ride back to Skyhold well ahead of the crowd.

Arrival

It turns out a large caravan full of pious Andrastian humans will leave a tiny heathen elf-woman alone if she carries herself like she's about to kick someone's ass. The trip from the Mire to Skyhold was uneventful. In fact, there was never a good enough reason to use her magic, so none of the van was tipped off that Pel is a mage.

Unfortunately, she had no pack mule, so she's having to haul a lot of crap around by herself. One of the nicer people let her keep her heavier things on his cart, but now she's having to get it all unpacked carrying it with her own two hands. She's too proud to ask for help, but you can offer it if you like.

Library

From the time she arrives, she's in the library. During the day, she can be found bent over books. Sometimes, she's asleep on top of one.

At night, long after the keep has gone to bed, a green glow can be seen in the library window, flickering like flame. If someone chooses to check this out, they will find Pel standing over a stone slab with a veilfire flame in her hand, held over her work like a candle. A rune on the slab gives a faint green glow in response. The fire reflects in the elf's eyes like a cat's as she stares suspiciously at you.

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Usually, when it comes to this sort of thing, it's droll and boring for him. He lost interest years ago in discovering anything about their lost history. It's a point of need for most elves, and it's a point of irritation for him.

Twisted Fate studies the rune. The sense it gives him is not one he feels is pleasant. He takes in a deep breath through his nose.

Whatever he truly thinks or feels, he sees no sense in telling her.

Instead, the corner of his mouth quirks up into his typical smile. "Interesting, really." That's not entirely a lie. "Many of these from the Mire, then?"

"Everywhere in the mire. All together, they had a cohesive message." She's not telling him what that message was. The first people who hear it--read it, actually--are going to be the Inquisition's leaders. "It's a lost art. Useful art."

She's not advocating bringing back elvhen frescoes, or anything.

"Well, if you've found something useful, certainly don't let yours truly stop you," he drawls, reaching up to tuck some hair behind his ear as he extinguishes the flame in his hand. "I suppose I'm a little surprised that there's something the Inquisition could gain from old runes laying around in mud."

Twisted Fate shrugs. "What could it even be used for though?"

"Not for me to decide. But the messages themselves can be useful. A lot of ancient knowledge was lost, a lot of people thinking very hard for a very long time. Of course most of what they came up with is probably rubbish, but there were some geniuses among them. We can pick through the rubbish and find the gold. It's what I'm here for."

Fascinating, really. Though his expression does not waver, he is truthfully not invested in this remotely. Then again, that's not why he is part of the Inquisition, either; though a mage he is, those are the skills he's putting to use unless in the middle of a fight.

But he keeps his smile, unwavering in her explanation.

"Lucky we have you then, isn't it?" His book is tucked under an arm. "Well, while you're working through the night, don't suppose you need a late night snack? I tend to find I'm a lot less pleasant without something in my stomach."

"You Dalish?"

A laugh is earned, soft and withdrawn. "What gave it away? Besides the vallaslin, I know I have that going for me."

"Having vallaslin means you started Dalish. Doesn't mean you're still Dalish.

"I'm on the Council of Magi. My clanmate and I represent the interests of Dalish mages in the Inquisition. You ought to have a talk with her when she's back from the Mire."

"Then let's just say it's complicated."

Never a fun topic, but it's the best answer he can give.

"Why, I would love to. Who should I be looking for?"

"Her name is Ellana. She has dark blonde hair--you know, just look for the prettiest little mage you've ever seen, perfect skin and hair and not a freckle in sight, branches on her chiseled marble cheekbones, she's impossible to miss. She'll also smile at you. She might be the only Dalish woman who does that, in the entire of the Inquisition."

"Well, that'll really stand out, then." At least she's honest about it. Twisted Fate nods his head once. "I look forward to meeting her. Still, my offer to you stands, if you're hungry. You seem the sort to be wrapped up in her work without remembering to care for herself. If I'm wrong, then I'd be glad to be so."

She seems a workaholic, in any case.

She raises her head, opening her mouth to shoo him off, then stops. Looks thoughtful.

When was the last time she ate?

She took that one really long nap, she's been working since then...

It was light then. It's been dark for maybe six hours now. She ate a snack a few hours before the nap.

She is starving.

"All right," she says, faintly surprised, even a little humbled that someone she assumed would be completely self-centered took the time to observe such a thing.

He gives a little bow of his head. "Glad to hear it," Twisted Fate says, winking at her.

"I'll even take requests. Unless you have no preference?"

"Erm. No, food is food." She follows him, hanging back just slightly, like she doesn't quite trust him yet.

"Ah, so be it." There's a dismissive wave of his hand as he grins to himself, turning to make his way down towards the kitchen. "Me, I suppose I'll just have to make do on biscuits and tea. Sort of the best thing to have while reading a book. Might suggest something a bit more, mmm... dried meat maybe for your work? Helps, anyway."

She can be as anti-social as she wishes. Clearly, Twisted Fate can talk plenty for two, and then some.

"Do you miss your clan? I suspect so." Sometimes, even he does.

"Of course." Ugh, she shouldn't have stopped working, because she is tired. If she'd kept working, she wouldn't have known she was tired. Now she won't be able to start working again. She sways a bit as she walks, hugging herself like she's cold.

"Six of us came here. So. There are a few of my clan I wouldn't mind missing a little more." Ah, look at that. A minor jest.

That earns a glance over his shoulder, a feign of surprise as he gasps softly. "Was that a joke? Why, I'm honored." In as much as he's teasing, he does sound amused. "Must be nice to have family around, though. I assume, anyway."

Really, he wouldn't know.

Once they make it to the kitchen, he's rolling his shoulders and sliding his coat off, draping it over the back of a chair before he's rolling up his sleeves. "Get cozy. I'll bring you something. I promise I won't take too much more of your precious time, frostbite."

As always, that smile remains, and he moves quietly. Whatever his true intentions are, he does not display them. For now, it's innocent enough, him offering to prepare a small snack for her. Though it's not terribly complicated, he arranges an assortment of fruit and dried meat on a plate for her with some slices of cheese.

The plate is set before her, and he turns to prepare some tea.

"Don't suppose you'd like a cup yourself?"

"Only one of them's a relation." But that's a technicality, they're all family.

She sits and gives him a surprised look at the nickname. It's...actually not an objectionable nickname. Kind of badass, actually. And he has no reason to know about her affinity with ice magic, either. Hunh. And here he is, making food. Food means something. Food and time are precious resources, and here he is giving her both. She has softened quite a bit when she is presented with the plate, and reaches immediately for the fruit.

"I would love some." Anything hot sounds really good. She starts wolfing down fruit and cheese, pauses to polish off the meat, and finishes with the fruit again, beginning and ending with the sweet things. It's incredibly satisfying.

There's the change in demeanor. It becomes more obvious, and he takes a second to observe her before he's going back to fixing some tea for the both of them.

"There y'go. We can be an imposing gathering of strangers across Thedas, but when y'get down to it, we all need the same thing." He grins, waiting as he lets the water steep, and he nibbles on a biscuit.

When all is said and done, he presents her with a cup for her to fill at her heart's content, and a metal teapot. He pours himself a cup before he's sitting down across from her.

"You already look more cheery." Or as cheery as she gets, he presumes.

"I'm tired. I just got back from the mire today." It's not a complaint. More an explanation for her sudden cheeriness. She warms her hands against the cup.

"And then right to work." Twisted Fate snaps a biscuit in half for himself, absently offering one half out to her. "Sounds like someone was excited. By which I mean you, of course. I suppose working with the Inquisition brings about a lot of opportunities like this for you? Finding old artifacts and such."

"What else was I going to do? Spend the day doing nothing, after I spent days doing nothing except travelling and spinning?"

"Well, I'd have slept, personally. Big then, long trips exhaust me." Twisted Fate grins and shrugs. "But I guess you just have better fortitude than me."

He takes his plate of biscuits. "Anyway. I promised I wouldn't take too much more of your time. Better to cut it off soon or you'll never work."

There's a bow of his head. "Enjoy your night, frostbite."

She makes a small noise and folds her arms on the table, resting her head on them. She doesn't want to move.

"Thank you for everything."

"You're very welcome." He grins down at her. "I'll come by again in a few minutes. Just in case y'nod off. Until then, have a good night."

At that, he struts away from the kitchen, off to read his terrible, terrible novels.

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mythalenaste - 2015-11-20 03:29 (UTC) - Expand

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