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WHO: Beleth and Sina, Beleth and YOU???
WHAT: Beleth working, playing, and visiting a real live alienage
WHEN: Now
WHERE: Gallows and Kirkwall
NOTES: If you want Beleth to have called you into her office for whatever reason that's cool with me as long as its reasonable (feel to ask!)

I: Scouting Office

Beleth's office is, unsurprisingly, much more professional in appearance than her bedroom. It's neat and orderly, but almost entirely empty of any personal touches that may reflect the preferred style of the inhabitant. There are a few things Beleth has added, a little planter in the window with ivy that crawls up the windowsill, a painting of a forest.

What appears to be a dog bed filled with soft dirt sitting in a charred corner of the office, usually with its miniature dragonling occupant splayed out inside it. Watch your ankles.

Beleth can usually be found seated at her desk, but can also be found taking occasional breaks to pace her office, peruse her bookshelves, or plop down in the charred corner and give Kolgrim some attention. Whether she's summoned you, or you're just dropping in, she'll be sure to stop whatever she's doing to heed her visitor.

II: Hanged Man

This is not the Herald's Nest, and Beleth feels very, very out of her element in here. She's good enough at controlling her body language not to completely stand out, but those who know her well enough can tell that she's not entirely comfortable here. Her back (kept to a wall if possible) is rigidly straight, and she keeps her eyes up and moving around the room, even as she drinks. She's been assured that the Hanged Man isn't nearly as unsafe as it would seem, but--

Loud, shouting, intoxicated humans? Who could blame her for being nervous.

If anyone enters the tavern that she knows, they can expect to be greeted with an enthusiastic wave. Strangers, not so much, but any that approach will be given a cautious, polite greeting.

III: Alienage

It's not as though Beleth hasn't been to alienages before, but it was always quick, strictly business affairs, and there was usually a group with her. She's even been to this particular alienage before, but it was in the dead of night, and there were Venatori attacking her, and it didn't quite feel the same. Now, she's a little hesitant to simply drop in, but--well. She wants to work on lowering the walls between these elves and her own elves, didn't she? Then she had to see where they lived, how they lived.

She still doesn't visit until Sina agrees to come with her.

Now, she stands stock still next to the vhenadahl, looking a bit like a tourist as she watches everything around her. At least the starring is reciprocated, several city elves just as curious of her as she of them. And while she tries not to look down upon her city kin, there is something horribly tragic about it all. Wouldn't these elves be happier outside of the city, living with nature, free and whole? The way the Creators had intended.

She says nothing of this, however, instead just leaning over to Sina and whispering, "Zevran told me once that they pee on the tree, you know."

Wildcard

Got a different scenario in mind? Feel free to post it, or contact me to discuss it, if you'd like.

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Not much later, Korrin strides into the tavern. She's a familiar sight, due to business and leisure, so the regulars are unfazed and some even raise a glass by way of greeting. The Vashoth woman nods to them, but she doesn't stop to chat when Beleth is spotted. That wave makes her smile as she heads over to join her, clapping a hand on her friend's shoulder at least somewhat gently.

"Good on you for taking a break, Beleth. I was wondering if I'd have to personally head over to your office to get you to come here." It's been on her mind, now and then, but the past month or so has left her distracted and at times less inclined to be social. But it's nothing personal, and her smile says as much.

As soon as Korrin approaches, Beleth lets herself relax a little bit more. Korrin seemed as at ease in this environment as Beleth felt out in the woods, and it was nice to see someone comfortable with this place, that she knew and trusted. The qunari woman is given a warm smile and a pat on the arm touching her, before Beleth scoots to make room on the bench for her.

"I know, I know. I've been becoming a bit of a recluse. Starting to really take after Leliana, I suppose. Hiding myself away, up in a tower." She snorts, then takes a moment to worriedly check around, like Leliana might apparate out of the shadows, all the way from Skyhold. "But, if it helps, one of the reasons I spend so much time there...is that the work really can be fun. I think my favorite part is all the cutting-edge information I get to hear. Back in Skyhold, I made nice with a lot of the servants, so they'd tell me what they heard. It's nice to have my gossip circle expanded."

There's a quiet snort of amusement as Korrin watches Beleth glance around, but as no Sister Nightingale materializes, she just gestures to the bartender for her usual. "Hey, there's nothing wrong with enjoying your work. It's nice to be kept in the loop, especially if you're getting paid for it. Araceli's in her element, too, taking care of naval affairs. She never did care much for the snow and the mountains but here, she's thriving."

She smiles proudly while speaking of her kadan, really proud about how Araceli has found her niche. Korrin may not be as attuned to the sea as her love, but she's happy to help be a part of it.

"Honestly, I'm surprised Araceli isn't in the Scouting division with me. I thought that she'd be busy using her Bard training." It's a little odd, to be standing in Leliana's shoes, and not have the other protege doing...something similar, at least. "But if she's doing what she enjoys, then that's what's important." Beleth tacks on, because odd as it is, enjoying your job is more important.

"I know there were some people who weren't thrilled about coming here, but I'm honestly glad that we did. Not only for this job. Being back in the Free Marches is a nice change of pace. I can visit my clan when I have time off, now." Which isn't as often as she (or her family) would like it to be, but far more than it had been when she was at Skyhold. "What about you, Korrin? You seem like you're fitting in pretty well."

"Well, there are less mobs and thrown garbage than I expected." Korrin smirks as she receives her drink. "I know it's been a decade since that Qunari rampage, but people can have long memories. Not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous when we first arrived. Being a mage can be bad enough, but add that to it and...ehh. But the longer we're here and I manage not to lead a qunari horde throughout the city, the easier it gets. Maybe I'll go see my family, too. The parents are in Wycome, that's a bit closer than Tama in Rivain."

And Rivain is closer to Par Vollen than Korrin can stand right now, as well. She can keep her promise to Araceli if she's still in the Free Marches. "It's just been...strange. Taas got reassigned and Kas disappeared. I think I'm the only one of my kind with any profile in the Inquisition right now."

"Humans have particularly long memories when it comes to the other races causing them injury." Beleth mutters it under her breath, loud enough for Korrin, not loud enough to be heard by others in the din of the tavern. "I'm glad that no one has been troubling you. I was worried too, but they seem to be dealing with the Dalish pretty decently." At least, she hasn't heard much issue, and it's Beleth's job to hear these things.

A frown passes across her face at the mention of both Taas and Kas. "I miss Taas, but at least I know he's alright, and that he'll come back. Kas...is troubling. He's one of mine, I'm supposed to be able to keep tabs on my scouts. But he's just...gone. I've been trying to look into it--I can't believe it's so hard to find a qunari. It's almost like he's trying to avoid being found." She frowned, fingers tapping on the stained tabletop. "Add to some troubling reports I've heard--I don't like it. Not a bit."

Kas is a hard subject to talk about, even now. Korrin stares down at her drink, too weary to hide the deep hurt festering within. She wonders what she can possibly reveal on the matter, even as a lump forms in her throat, but she pushes it back down and looks sharply over to Beleth at that last part. "What reports? Please, he's like family. If there's anything that gives even the faintest idea of where he's gone...."

She can understand all too well what it's like to lose someone close to you, and Beleth is just about to offer her sympathies. Then Korrin's voice turns sharp, and her hands go up in a placating manner, look worried.

"Um--Just that he'd been fighting with other members of the Inquisition, and had become kind of withdrawn. Nothing that I wouldn't think that you already knew. I hadn't thought of it too much at the time. I mean...teenagers go through that all the time. Maybe I should have spoken to him...?"

Korrin's shoulders sag at the lack of new information, and there's a contrite expression upon realizing she'd alarmed her friend. "Sorry, Beleth. And no, I already knew that stuff. I was hoping for more, about anything current or near to it." She takes another swig to settle her nerves. "...speaking to him probably wouldn't have changed anything. He was going to go anyway."

"I'm sorry, Korrin." She reaches over (and up) to pat her friend on the shoulder, face sympathetic. "I wish I had more information to give you. And--" Her lips twist in annoyance as she takes a sip of beer. "I'm sure you're right, and I could've have stopped him. But I should have tried. He was my responsibility." And it doesn't look good for her, having one of her own disappear with no word, and she can't track them down.

"If I hear anything on him, you'll be the first to know. Promise."

Saoirse has visited the alienage every day since their arrival in the city. If possible, she would have a home here among the familiar customs and daily life but she knows there is a reason for her to remain within Inquisition quarters. She has made friends here, learned more about life here in Kirkwall and how it differed from the life she experienced in Starkhaven.

It was also tradition now to visit the vhenadahl. Every alienage, or so she has heard, had one or something like one to represent some long forgotten story. Today she comes with two little ones that she sings to on most days when their mothers are busy and they need to be watched. In their hands are a bundle of flowers, grown in the garden that manages to flourish despite conditions.

They have been delicately worked into crowns and small bouquents but the party stops short at two unfamiliar faces. Dalish were not uncommon here: Merrill had a residence here and was well known while Ellana had made many visits since their arrival in the city. Saoirse considers the two for a moment because coughing slightly, announcing their presence with a glance to the two children at her side.

"It will not bite," she says with a brilliant smile. "If you wish, the children have brought flowers to decorate the vhenadahl and would like to offer some to you two as well if you would like to join in."

Edited 2017-07-24 02:37 (UTC)

Oh my god Karen you can't just ask people if they piss on a tree. Sina is in the middle of whispering a mortified "of course they don't" when Saoirse and her tiny entourage appears, and she stops dead with a sudden smile. "Yes!"
The children might recognize her from the times she's visited, though having very little experience with anyone younger than herself, Sina has mostly stuck to conversing with adults. Still, she's tried.

Edited 2017-07-24 21:40 (UTC)

Beleth is just about to hisswhisper a reply to this DENIAL OF TRUTH, when they're interrupted by another elf. Beleth doesn't recognize her off the top of her head, but figures she must be one of the city elves living here. At least they're a friendly bunch.

"We'd love to join in," She reaffirms after Sina also agrees, and steps forward, smiling at both Saoirse and the children. A hand held out, flowers offered, and soon Beleth was busily weaving a wreath for the tree. "The vhenadahl is truly beautiful. I've been told that it serves as a reminder of Arlathan, the past and future home of all elves." Surely, it wouldn't hurt to get a small history lesson in. "In Arlathan, the trees were even bigger than the vhenadahl, if you can believe it. Big enough that our people lived in them, like you would a house." She grins at them, then glances at Sina--either for agreement, or for Sina to add her own knowledge. She is a First, after all.

With a brow raised, Saoirse simply offers a tiny smile before lightly bringing the children forward with a careful nudge. One immediately turns, hiding behind the older woman's leg away from the pair while the other looks up at Beleth with wide eyes. Saoirse, meanwhile, listens quietly and nods fondly.

"Mmm. The hahren of Kirkwall knows many of the old stories, a rarity among the alienages. She is very wise, and beloved by the children for passing down her knowledge to the next generation." She explains, lightly and urging the other child toward the vhenadahl if she does not to interact with the other two. It is not something Saoirse wishes to force.

"Nevertheless, it is always good to see more members of the Inquisition coming to visit the alienage. They are wary, but I believe the help we are offering has been a welcomed one." She says, idly weaving flowers together. "Are you both friends of Ellana?"

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