You don't expect to be bright and bon vivant - OPEN

[youwonscience]

WHO: Cosima, Anders, Herian, YOU?
WHAT: Catchall open post for Kingsway
WHEN: Your choice if it needs to be specific within the month - Cosima's not going anywhere that I know of
WHERE: Various around Kirkwall
NOTES: If you want a specific starter, hit me up on plurk/discord/etc.

I - Infirmary

Kirkwall has seemed to agree with Cosima, overall. It's easier to breathe, out of the cold, and as vertical as the city is, at least it comes with stairs. Still, she's careful not to miss her scheduled sessions with the healers all the same. Given the unknowns about her disease, her anchor shard, and whether or not they affect one another, she's not eager to take unnecessary chances.

It's been over a year now, so she's on a greeting basis with a lot of the people who work in and around what used to be the healing tents. But she's ready to greet new faces too, if they seem open to it. (Especially right after treatment, which is inarguably the best she feels all month.)

II - Library

Doing formal research for the Inquisition has offered the advantage of focusing her efforts, at least a little. But after her recent discussions about microscopes, she's come to wonder if trying to have a simple one built might be a good idea after all. She can think of several uses, both regarding the Fade and red lyrium, and maybe someone higher up will be willing to secure the funding necessary.

She's working on some detailed sketches, with concentration, but not so much that she can't be interrupted.

III - Tavern

It's important not to burn out by working all the time. Cosima would be quick to tell that to anyone who asks -- but no one does, really, she's just reassuring herself. It's true, though, and she can let herself relax into an evening out now and again. She wears gloves and keeps an eye out for trouble, but she also has a few drinks and even joins a friendly card game now and then.

Kirkwall doesn't feel like home; Thedas doesn't feel like home. But she's sometimes surprised how much it's come to feel something like normal. Especially with some friendly company.

IV - Wildcard

[Choose your own adventure]

Comments

[youwonscience]

"Home, definitely home," Cosima says, laughing. "I mean, I guess people could think I'm a bad influence because they think I'm secretly a demon or something, but they haven't said so to my face."

And it doesn't seem to bother her, especially. She feels safe enough here in Kirkwall, with the Inquisition at her back. (Maybe safer than she should, really, but the idea that anyone would think she was a demon after talking with her for five minutes strikes Cosima as unlikely.)

[dashing]

"I certainly keep my suspicions to myself," she replies very seriously, before pressing another kiss to Cosima's jaw and leaning back a little.

Really, though, imagining Cosima as a bad influence given the sheer level of terribleness that seems, at times, so pervasive in Thedas, is keeping an amused little smile lurking, the shadow of it there even when she isn't exactly smiling.

"What am I to do with your dastardly self?"

[youwonscience]

"Hm, I'm probably not the most trustworthy person to answer that question," she points out, reaching to trace Herian's lower lip. "I could make a list of suggestions, though, if you wanted."

[dashing]

“I will be stalwart and uncompromising.” Any air of sternness is deftly sabotaged as she tilts her head, so she gently catches Cosima’s fingertip withher teeth, for just a moment. “Even in the face of your suggestions.”

Which she wholeheartedly invites, brow just slightly quirked.

That wasn't 100% the icon I'd originally intended to use, but then I was like "...WELL"

[youwonscience]

"I think you should keep a very close eye on me, then," Cosima says with a grin. "Make sure I stay out of trouble through constant vigilance."

HAHA it;s perfect tbh

[dashing]

Herian laughs at that, quiet but very definitely an actual laugh rather than just vaguely amused sound variation #05. She should, probably, offer something as a witty retort, but instead she rests her hand against Cosima's neck, dipping her head to press a kiss to Cosima's cheek, her jaw, her neck, brief and affectionate things, before laughing softly again as a thought occurs to her.

"And will you be vigilant, as well? In the hopes of learning from my example?"

[youwonscience]

"I mean, I'll do my best, but they say it's hard to reform a real troublemaker," she says, failing utterly to look solemn in the face of Herian's actual laugh.

[dashing]

She sighs, aiming for woebegone and actually manifesting something closer to poorly suppressed amusement, as her hand cradles Cosima's jaw for a moment.

"Perhaps if I push you back into the water it will revive your sense of propriety," she says, very helpfully, with a smile that could be accurately described as mischievous. "Or offering kisses only as rewards for virtuous acts."

OK this time it was on purpose

[youwonscience]

"Oh man, you think you could stick to that?" Cosima asks, almost a dare. "That might be cutting off your nose to spite your face."

Unlike a lot of her earth expressions, she's fairly sure that one translates even if it's not a common saying here.

perfect

[dashing]

"You question the will of a knight?"

Oh, Cosima. Rookie mistake. Herian's smile is gentle, incredulous, and very, very concerning for the future of any kind of kisses. "Think you that I am unable to uphold my word, in the face of challenge and temptation?"

Interesting. "You must hold a low opinion." Still teasing, just, you know. Slightly terrible teasing.

[youwonscience]

Cosima raises her eyebrows. "Oh man, I better watch myself." No. "What kind of virtuous acts would be enough to satisfy a knight's high standards?"

[dashing]

She makes a show of humming and thinking. "Well, if we consider some of the virtues best befitting knights; honour, courage, mercy, faith, justice, hope, kindness, generosity..."

The list comes easily to her, that much is obvious. Quite what this has to do with Cosima? Perhaps less obvious, given that Herian is still debating it herself.

"It could be ventured that affording me a kiss would be both an act of generosity and kindness," she starts, considering. "Courage, in the eyes of some, given my less than optimal reputation in the eyes of some of the Inquisition," or folly, that could be argued as well, "or mercy, sparing me from constructing such poor attempts at charm?"

[youwonscience]

"So you're going to resist kissing me, but if I kiss you first, that's just demonstrating my efforts to cultivate generosity, kindness, courage and mercy? Wow, that's a lot." She traces Herian's jaw with her thumb. "They're gonna write songs about my heroic efforts one day."

[dashing]

Herian is trying not to smile, trying to seem very wise and stern as she nods confirmation, and isn't really being very successful, as she settles her hand at Cosima's waist. "That they will. Your heroism will be celebrated across ages. You will be considered a paragon of virtue across all our nations."