faderift | [OPEN]

WHO: Nerva Lecuyer and literally anyone who wants in on the fun
WHAT: A Templar escorting two Tranquil arrives at Skyhold
WHEN: From nowish and open to people as they come back from the Mire
WHERE: The courtyard
NOTES: lots of hatred

It was incredibly cold, and getting colder, but the deep fur cloak around her shoulders insulated her armour and kept most of the wind off, so it was bearable. Her charges, however - two Tranquil that she had rescued as she fled from the Templars - were difficult. They would not mind the cold even if it was killing them, so she had to be extra vigilant in checking them over for frostbite every night that they made camp. When they finally made it to Skyhold, her soul was as exhausted as her body, and she only made a very cursory introduction before pleading for a place to lay her head, and for protection for the Tranquil. Once she had both, she slept for a long time.

The next morning was bright and clear, and the air felt warmer in the castle despite the early winter that stormed in the mountains around them. She was at a loss, for a few minutes, as to what she should be doing - the entire Inquistion unfamiliar and disconcerting. So few templars, and so many mages, coming and going freely, with no regulation or safety structures in place...

She would take her concerns directly to the leaders of the Inquisition, once she better understood the situation. Until then, it was time to get her bearings.

Training in the courtyard made things easier - let her take her mind off of everything and focus only on shield and blade. She had to pause, however, as she found that her two charges were watching her, waiting for orders.

"The Inquisition is our Order now," she told them solemnly. "You do not report to me, but I am at your disposal if you are in need of any assistance." She knew that assistance would never be requested, but she would offer it again, when she saw them.

Later, she would spend a long time in the Chantry, trying to find some kind of guidance.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah, good. It's always wonderful, seeing a few Tranquils; nothing quite like a sobering moment of running into people robbed of magic and emotion.

An old, sturdy log is positioned in the courtyard, and it's an excellent makeshift bench for one to use. At the moment, Twisted Fate had been content to observe everyone else while dabbling through a novel he's giving partial attention to. The Dalish elf's eyes only glance up when he watches the templar arrive with said Tranquils.

Well, at least she isn't a lyrium-depraved idiot waving a sword around.

No time like the present to play nice. Putting on a smile, the elf shuts his book and places his hat onto his head as he approaches.

"Welcome to Skyhold." The grin remains. "Don't suppose you need to be pointed anywhere?"

The Dalish always put her on edge. It wasn't just how many apostates they created - and either kept, or let loose on an unsuspecting world - but in general how much they flouted the rules of society. The structure. She was surprised, to see one here at all, and her brow furrowed, lips turning downward.

Why was he grinning at her? Was he mocking her?

"I have been given instruction," She said with an oddly formal clip to her voice, the Orlesian accent readily apparent. "I am looking only for refuge for my charges."

It's almost hilarious how much his smiling seems to put people off here. Though it makes sense; she's clearly a templar, and Orlesian to boot. A wandering, grinning Dalish elf would be a thing, wouldn't it?

When he smiles now, it's somehow almost wider.

"What, the Tranquils?" He tilts his head. "Not planning on sticking around, then? What a shame. Love the accent."

Her eye twitches, her frown deepening as he was most definitely mocking her. If anything, she stood up a little straighter, the ice forming in her spine.

"The Tranquil were my charge, yes," She said, her accent only getting crisper, despite herself. "But I will also stay, since it is very apparent that I am needed." There was something of an admonishment in the way she said it - as if she were needed because he personally needed a babysitter.

"I had not expected to see Dalish."

If anything about her behavior -- her stance, the way she speaks -- at all bothers him, he does not seem to respond to show that it does. The smile remains, and he tilts his head slightly.

"The more the merrier," is what he says, musing. "And trust me, when I joined the Inquisition, I didn't expect to see any either. The Dalish tend to mind their own business, and yet here some of them are. Seems most of the others are from the same clan."

He shrugs. "In any case, we're all here for ultimately the same reason, yeah? Resolving this crisis and whatnot."

"There is more than the sky at stake," She said primly - almost an admonishment. "Even if the sky is healed, Thedas is still torn asunder. One must hope for more than emergency relief, if the Inquisition is to help at all."

She was surprised by her own force of conviction - but once delivered, she did not take it back.

"Frankly, all I want is to deal with this sky business, then go back to my life. But hey, if you got a bigger picture, good for you. Just doesn't have much to do with me."

The elf shrugs. He heard the way she spoke, with such intensity. It's almost impressive, really.

The shrug does nothing to soothe her disquiet, but beyond another twitch in her expression, she prides herself in not snapping at him. He was Dalish, after all. They had all the moral conviction of a spindleweed. She shouldn't expect any less.

So she clears her throat to throttle her growing temple, and frowns. "May your life be so unaffected by the outcome," She said, instead, not really noticing that it could either be well wishing, or a curse. "The Dalish, perhaps, can afford such short vision. The rest of us cannot."

For a moment, Fate's face loses the smile at the remark. His eyes narrow slightly as he gazes over her, calculating.

Then the smile returns with an abrupt chuckle, his hand raising to his mouth to cover it. He breathes in and tips his hat back.

"Ah, yeah. The Dalish. They can afford that all right." He snorts. "You aren't wrong about that."

His tone sounds wry, dripping with something -- distaste, maybe. Not necessarily at her opinion, but it could be interpreted either way.

"Welcome to Skyhold, little lady." Fate winks at her. "Twisted Fate is the name. I'm sure we'll talk again, and it'll be quite chat."

"I look forward to it," She said, in a way that made it clear that she looked forward to it in the same way that she would boils. Little Lady had tipped the scale past disquiet and into true annoyance, and she didn't bother attempting to keep her expression neutral. Dalish.

She clipped her heels together, and gave a short nod of her head - the shallowest bow she could imagine, which was almost mocking. "Thank you for your guidance, Ser."

"Trust me. Pleasure's all mine."

He grins sharply and nods his head to her before wiggling his fingers in a farewell gesture. Turning smoothly on one heel, he heads off, back in the direction of the tavern.

[OPEN]

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