fireandsmoke: (Can't be serious)
The Dragon (Sarkan) ([personal profile] fireandsmoke) wrote in [community profile] faderift2017-08-16 08:40 pm

[Open] Weary/Hungry/Hunched Over Labwork or Irritable and Lost, Take Your Pick

WHO: The Dragon (Sarkan) & You
WHAT: In which the Dragon is splitting his time amongst the Gallows library, the alchemy labs/herb gardens, and the Darktown Clinic (first time venturing out there!).
WHEN: Throughout August
WHERE: Various locations around the Gallows and Kirkwall
NOTES: Includes references back to his agreement with Kit. Also seeking out the Darktown Clinic to personally introduce himself to Anders.




THE GALLOWS, ALCHEMY LABS

The herb garden and alchemy labs have been seeing a lot of activity lately.

Astute observers and wanderers may have noticed for, oh, the past week or so, plentiful flickering flames and brightly flashing lights emanating from a cracked door into the most isolated vacant lab. Lyrium blue, orange, gold, pale blue, back to gold… for a full day the blue-gold tone swells and ebbs but never extinguishes completely, a sustained and steady light show in a relatively quiet section of the Gallows. Then comes the noises: high-volume chants, eerie, lyrical whispers, an hour-long song in an unrecognizable language that could give even the least magic-sensitive pinpricks to their necks.

And just as suddenly as the preternatural activity began, it quits and silences, reduced to the flicker of unadulterated lamplight deep into the night.

It is after a few hours of relative quiet when a voice snaps curtly to an invisible presence, “I need you to come to the alchemy labs.

A peer into the lab's cracked door would reveal a tall, youthful man bent over a lab table, turning something about the size of a small coin over and over again absently in his palm, testing its weight and other invisible attributes with the pensiveness of a fine jeweler. It is a highly weary Sarkan, the one called the Dragon, hovering over a tangle of alembics, flasks, flames, and vials, finally finished with his self-imposed quarantine. While he considers and carefully encircles the small object, he shovels a half-consumed hunk of bread slathered in thick, luscious, fatty cheese with a shocking lack of grace for such a refined and well-dressed individual (and even he would be disgusted with himself, if he were not beyond caring at this point in his efforts). He does not appear terribly aware that he is being observed -- if he's being observed -- and actually looks very much like he could use a bigger feast than he's got, followed by a nice glug of fine wine and a soft bed...


HERB GARDENS AND HALLS AROUND THE LABS, OUT AND ABOUT EARLY IN THE MORNING AFTER THE SCENARIO ABOVE

Out and about the Gallows, the Dragon walks around with a palm cupped close to his left ear, a look of concentration etched into his cold face. He doesn't appear to notice or care if he passes anyone; the most they will get is a pause and a quick glance over the shoulder, his cupped left ear tilted in their general direction. It's a strange sight, to be sure, and one probably couldn't help but wonder if he were going a trite deaf in that ear, or if some sort of pesky fly had bitten him in the lobe...


DARKTOWN

Imperiousness has a habit of sticking out like a sore thumb when it’s the slums you’re walking. It does not matter how thickly the Dragon buries his rich clothes under a heavy, drab cloak, he still manages to stand out, whether it is the nature of his strong and aristocratic gait, or his disdainful glances to the puddles of filth muddying his boots, or the gentle clinking of elixir-bottles and magical artifacts in his hip pouch, or just a combination of the entire package. Even the air smells thicker with decay and destitution to his senses. It is something Sarkan did not miss about his youth in the capital city; he much preferred to tuck himself away from prying, fearful, squealing eyes and surround himself with handsome effects, things that weren’t painful to look at.

Darktown definitely isn’t his taste, to say the least. Beleth’s warning to him about a trek to the Clinic absolutely holds true, and he heeded it wisely, keeping an eye and an ear out for any ruffians that dare to obstruct his path. Anders, skilled mage that Sarkan hears he is, is a strange one, choosing the grittiest reaches of the city to set up a respectable magic school. Was the real estate cheaper?

Though the Dragon was very careful and thorough in requesting directions from the Inquisition and a few guards on his way out, he has not yet had a chance to master his sense of direction in this accursed realm. And now he finds himself referencing his parchment of hastily-scrawled instructions with a deep, irritated frown. He made it this far. Did he miss the last turn-off for the Clinic? What a profound waste of time…

"You over there!" Yes, that is an edge of superiority and disdain in his voice. Mostly impatience, sure, but there is a definite dash of ungraciousness in that tone. "I'm looking for the Clinic. The directions I've got are absurdly useless. Which way is it?"


WILDCARD

For any scenario outside the two described above. He is most likely to frequent the libraries. You may also run into him fielding some of his ‘rifter’ magic in quiet, secluded areas or gardens (like creating little mist-sentinels which he can theoretically send out to spy and listen in on other people, like certain Tevinter in the dungeons, but obviously his range will be much poorer than he’s used to). Any other ideas, you’re welcome to just surprise me or hit me up at [plurk.com profile] kriskristofferson.

eolasemah: (skeptical)

Herb Gardens

[personal profile] eolasemah 2017-08-17 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
Although Sina has wrought substantial havoc on the chantry garden, she still also oversees the herb garden in the Gallows and maintains its health, which usually requires her to be among the first working on it in the early morning.
It's not that uncommon for people to move through it around this time, either to help out or just pass through, but periodically she has to correct them, and it appears today is one of those days.
First she clears her throat, then calls a polite "excuse me", then pads around to stand in front of him, pressing her hands onto her hips in exasperation.
"Please stop standing on the embrium," she sighs, and gestures a foot away, where there's a non-flowered path.
eolasemah: (sina down)

[personal profile] eolasemah 2017-08-17 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
Sina's not oblivious, and she sees the path of the man's gaze. She almost follows it with her own, but instead continues to watch him patiently, sighing out through her nose and nodding in thanks when he steps away from the flowers.
"You can help me pick them," she suggests, her tone weary. She knows why he censored himself. A glance downward at the embrium, and Sina bites her lip with a shrug of one shoulder. "They're not crushed too badly. It's fine."
eolasemah: (default)

[personal profile] eolasemah 2017-08-17 06:13 am (UTC)(link)
Sina sighs, clearly enjoying this about as much as he is. She holds her hands out and shakes her head when Sarkan offers to dig them up, insisting she didn't mean it. "I was being hasty," she replies, "they'll be fine. It's fine. Please just don't stand on them anymore." It's possible some of the stress from the chantry garden...forest is spilling over into her interactions here, but it's also possible she's just preoccupied.
eolasemah: (skeptical)

[personal profile] eolasemah 2017-08-17 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Creators, what a baby.
Sina watches him with dull patience, standing still and waiting for the tantrum to blow out before she speaks again.
"They're free for public use," she says flatly.
ragweed: (kit | annoyed 2)

[Backdated to early August] The Gallows, Alchemy Labs

[personal profile] ragweed 2017-08-17 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"You summoned me?"

The dwarf leaning in in the doorway doesn't look particularly subservient or willing to hop to to meet the Dragon's demands, likely because he'd rather be anywhere else at this exact moment. However, at least in comparison to their previous meeting, he is no longer limping about on an injured leg. That injury has, apparently, been seen to.

He squints at whatever small, golden trinket it is that the Dragon is toying with, his annoyance easing some from his features. Instead, it would be totally reasonable to read a bit of excitement into his expression.

"Ancestors," he mumbles, awed, "you actually did it?"
faithlikeaseed: (pb - pensive)

Wildcard: A strange rose

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2017-08-18 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
There's a strange new addition to the herb garden and Myr isn't sure what to make of it.

It smells like a rose bush. He was convinced on that evidence alone that someone had gone and dropped one in the middle of Sina's carefully tended plots--except there wasn't anything else (no crushed green smell of broken stems, upturned dirt, disturbed herbs) to indicate how it got there. Nor does it precisely sound like a rosebush when the breeze kicks up; and though it smells like it's in full bloom, there's not nearly so many bees around it as he'd expect. It's almost as if they've given on on getting any nectar from it.

The clincher comes when he--carefully, with every due respect for the herbs--creeps close enough to reach out and gingerly touch it, and finds nothing whatsoever to meet his questing hand but the faintest prickle of magic. He can't know that he's shoulder-deep in someone's lovingly crafted illusion as he does this, but anyone sighted might get some enjoyment from the spectacle of him being half-devoured by the ephemeral bush with an expression of sincere puzzlement on his face.
Edited 2017-08-18 20:59 (UTC)
eolasemah: (angry)

[personal profile] eolasemah 2017-08-18 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Sina is more than happy to let the conversation be over, and is on her way back in the direction of the patch a few feet away where she was working before, and then Sarkan speaks again. She turns with an incredulous, wide-eyed smile, resisting the powerful urge to say 'oh, can I?'
Instead, since he isn't looking at her, Sina just shakes her head and continues away. Shem'len. Sometimes she forgets they're not all like Araceli.
ragweed: (kit | thoughtful)

[personal profile] ragweed 2017-08-19 01:22 am (UTC)(link)
Kit probably would think the Dragon was a bit of a looker, if his personality weren't so sodding abrasive. ...Still, the bastard came through with his request, and so in that spirit, Kit decides to let his comment slide.

It's less easy to maintain his chill in the face of obvious spell casting, especially knowing that he's going to have to stick that enchanted piece of metal in his ear now. Spooked, he takes an involuntary step back and waits until the glow of the spell fades before he forces himself to inch back into the workspace.

He picks up the earring and examines it; more subtle than something stuck right in his ear, he supposes. He looks back to the Dragon, who is already nose-deep back in his notes and research.

"Hey," he says again. A pause. Then, with grudging sincerity: "Thanks for this."
ipseite: (009)

the library.

[personal profile] ipseite 2017-08-19 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
Petrana had not long entertained the notion of visiting the Darktown clinic - there are people who ought to walk unescorted in Darktown, and she is perfectly aware that she is absolutely not one of them - but rather read his reply to her note and thought, well, the library, then. It isn't her particular wish, in fairness, to on first introduction delve immediately into elaborate displays of magic. The library seems a fine enough place to begin, and she has little trouble seeking him out.

"Mssr Sarkan?" having politely made enough sound in her approach not to startle him too violently from his reading. She is a small thing, standing only five foot flat, modestly dressed bar the jewelry that sits out of place in plainness, pretty but unremarkable at a glance if not for the shard embedded firmly in her left hand. She offers a smile in muted warmth-- "I am Madame de Cedoux. We corresponded briefly. Is this a suitable time for you to speak?"
faithlikeaseed: (pb - this just might work)

[personal profile] faithlikeaseed 2017-08-19 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
It would take a more engrossing puzzle than an illusory rosebush to distract Myr so completely as to not notice the muttering going on behind him...though it is engaging enough for him not to trouble himself over that muttering right up until his new object of fascination vanishes completely. He draws his hand back and straightens up, his perplexity deepening as he rubs the feel of foreign magic from his fingertips with his thumb. Illusions aren't a common magic on Thedas--outside the Fade, where they're the definite province of spirits and demons--so he's a little slow to make the immediate connection.

But when it does click-- He turns in Sarkan's direction, considering the last words of the spell he caught and comparing them to his store of remembered voices. It wasn't in Trade, but he might recognize that one... And a faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he does.

Well, he'd been meaning to meet the fellow in person sometime.

Carefully, using his staff to feel out his way, Myr makes his way over to the wizard's bench. "Was that yours?" he inquires, once he's close enough they can talk in conversational tones.

And then he deliberately takes one step closer to the bench than he needs to be before grounding his staff and winding his hands around it, his face turned politely toward the other man.
ragweed: (kit | annoyed 1)

[personal profile] ragweed 2017-08-19 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"Don't lose it, because there won't be a second. No excuses--unless you manage to get your entire ear shorn off. Not that I'll make a second regardless."

Kit exhales shortly and gives his head the tiniest of 'why do I even bother' shakes, pocketing the ring. He'll need to find a way to jab it through his ear at some stage, but that won't be the worst discomfort he's ever experienced. Certainly it'll be less unpleasant than trying to have a conversation with this chump.

"Sakroka," he says, and one gets the impression he's using the word very sarcastically, "next time, just do us all a favour and say, 'you're welcome,' and leave the rest of your commentary on the inside."

He turns to leave, muttering, "prick," as he crosses the threshold to the corridor.
limier: ([ yellow: regard ])

alchemy labs!

[personal profile] limier 2017-08-19 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
There have been all manner of strange gossip regarding the Gallows' newest apothecary, and sooner or later it would have required a cursory investigation. Better to kill two birds with one stone: What she needs today isn't something she's entirely comfortable going to Beleth for.

As though this conversation will be any easier for the presence a foreign mage.

Wren raps twice upon the door (the rough sound of metal upon stone; there's been little time today, she's come still armored) before nudging it open more fully. For someone so finely-dressed, he looks more or less like shit.

She's one to talk — if her pupils have returned to a normal size, the bruises along her jaw will be slower to fade.

"The Dragon, yes?" Brusquely enough. Her hands fold behind her back as she steps inside. "Have you a moment?"

It's clear from the way she plants herself in the doorframe that she doesn't expect the answer to be no.
justice_is_blond: (Just a little amused)

Darktown

[personal profile] justice_is_blond 2017-08-20 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
It's definitely a grey and dismal day in Darktown, a little more dingy than average. That hasn't slowed down Anders, or the amount of chaos that poured through his door, unfortunately. He's stepped outside for a few moments to rest, leaning against the patched and reinforced wall that makes up his Clinic, when he hears someone asking after the Clinic.

A young voice answers, Paedic, one of the boys that runs messages for Caveborn Trueborn, one of the two gangs that have decided it's better for Anders to be using the building healing them rather than keep fighting over it as it falls into more decay.

"You're there," says Paedic as Anders pushes himself up off the wall and heads forward. "Serah?" gets added belatedly, and Anders can't help but smile faintly before he gets his expression neutral again and looks over the man currently looking down on the boy.

"You'll find that Darktown has a transience to it that makes most directions quickly useless. But learning the feel of the place isn't too difficult," Anders says before waving the boy off. The man's voice sounds familiar, though it takes him a moment.

"Sarkan, is it? I'm Anders. Welcome to my Clinic." His robes are fairly plain when he's down here, browns and blues, but there's golden embroidery on the chest and gold accents that speak to the vanity of the wearer. He likes pretty things. As does, it appears, the man before him. It's nice to have commonality there, though it gives him a guess as to why the man doesn't sound entirely pleased.

"Would you like to come inside?" The building itself has three rooms, as much as they can be called rooms with the dividers partially rebuilt. The first holds tables and chairs, with scattered slates and chalk and people learning. The second has more chairs along with a few fires equipped with various cooking means: spitroast, cookpots, kettles, while the third is cots and desks, cabinets and bottles and herbs and potions. There are people throughout, there is no real privacy to be found except in a small back closet space, but Anders holds the door open to the Clinic anyway.
ipseite: (010)

[personal profile] ipseite 2017-08-20 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
He is not terribly friendly, but, then, she read the note he sent her back - she had not been anticipating friendliness. She isn't sure that this is even going to be particularly productive, that he'll be at all interested in the conversations she wishes to have...but she will have made the effort, at least, and the effort costs her little. If he doesn't wish it, they will part and she thinks it needn't be contentiously.

She says, as she sits, "To speak," very mildly, not without warmth. She's friendly, if reserved in the way of one who grew up with the vipers and learned to survive.

How to thrive.

After a moment, considering her words - "It interests me, to know more of how magic is practised and taught in other worlds. Where I am from - Lamorre, or I suppose I might say Sulleciel - it is, for the most part, not taught at all. I learned on horseback and in war-camps, from knowledge passed mouth to ear and so on. It had been my particular project to commit such things to paper - we hoped very much to rebuild the libraries of old, from even that small seed. To understand better how it is managed elsewhere, not forbidden..."

An elegant shrug. Plainer clothing does little to disguise her for what she is: molded for rule. She was born to be a wife, and little more, but her husband has expected her to become king and not courtier, and of all the challenges she's been forced to rise to, this one has suited her best.

"I don't believe in overlooking any opportunity to consider a new angle."

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