faderift | Salamandridae

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Salamandridae | Open To All

WHO: Sorrel, Beleth, and anyone at Kirkwall
WHAT: Sorrel power-slides into Kirkwall like a 3AM anxiety attack, with a couple of prompts to that effect
WHEN: Mid-to-late Kingsway
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: tba

Kirkwall, approached from land, sat in the delta of the bay like a fat, squalid salamander. It clung to the hills, mottled and shining, just barely dipping its tail into the sea. Closer on, the walls seemed taller, more daunting, Sorrel's first impression of the City of Chains was much less painful. The city seemed like a reluctant amphibian; something caught awkwardly between, and failing in both directions.

i. Neurergus
He'd written ahead, to let Beleth, to ask her to meet him, at the gates. If she couldn't, he knew that she, faster than anyone, would be able to find someone to meet him in her stead-- the sending crystals, those fantastical devices, might not be available for common use among the Dalish, but he knew the Inquisition handed them out to every member, and quite a few hangers-on. And, as he drew nearer down the road, as the city grew larger and more noxious in his senses, Sorrel could only hope that someone would be waiting. Or would see him.

It wasn't as if he'd never seen a city, nor been inside the bounds of a human settlement, but this was one elf alone; dangerous enough even on familiar ground. He had no idea who-- what to expect. He's actually probably making any perceived danger more real, come to think of it. Nothing says noticeable quite like someone who's trying to take a nervous glance in every direction at once.

ii. Cynops
Sorrel had been ingrained from his youth with the habit that when one is nervous, anxious, or worried, one should do something with one's hands. There's always something, in an active Dalish clan, mending, sewing, carving, cooking-- in Sorrel's case, his hands fall on tea. He's not entirely sure where he is. The Gallows, he knows that much, and it's an apt name for a building as sharp and stained as this one. Some apartment he had been led to, small and sparse but there was a kettle, and a box with tea, and a jar. He hadn't looked in the jar yet. He wouldn't be much of a mage if he couldn't make tea with just that much.

So, if you're around the gallows, perhaps you'll smell it, and come knocking. That'd be just nice and neighborly of you, wouldn't it? Of course it would.

iii. Ommatotriton
Perhaps you've met Beleth? Beleth Ashara? Well, she's certainly happy to have met you-- as evidenced by the way that she's stopped you on your path and shoved her twin in your face. Ah yes, Sorrel and Beleth, inseparable as always; and that means, you get to meet the other half of Clan Ashara's own personal Dynamic Duo. (Choose this if you want Beleth to join the thread!)

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Inessa has about a dozen things on her mind, so she doesn't notice Beleth until it's too late. And while she had been meaning to speak to the Scouting division head, this isn't quite as she'd pictured it. Coming to a halt, Inessa's eyebrows raise as she's suddenly face-to-face with two Dalish instead of one, and one of them unfamiliar. As the mabari at her side wags his tail and pads over to sniff at them, she nods politely.

"Ah--hello, Beleth. And to you, as well. I'm Warden Serra, and this is Garahel." The mabari barks happily. Friends?

Beleth's first thought had been to take Sorrel to meet his former clanmates first--they were surely, after all, the ones he'd most want to know were still alive and in good health. So when she spots a white-haired lady elf from behind, she's quick to drag Sorrel by the hand over, and opens her mouth to greet--

Then she spots the dog, stops, stares at it, then slowly, her eyes drag upward to the elf in question's face, right as she turns towards them, and Beleth comes to the revelation: This is not Pel. This is an entirely different elf. This is an elf she hasn't actually met.

But Beleth's practiced enough at handling her facial expressions that only those closest to her (like the one at her elbow) might notice the hesitation, and quick glance to the side as Beleth thinks quickly, before her eyes turn back to Inessa, and she bursts into a warm smile.

"Hello, Warden Serra. This is my brother, Sorrelean. He's the First of our clan, and I thought that he might like to meet some of the other elven mages in the Gallows."

Edited 2017-09-20 02:12 (UTC)

Sorrel makes that mistake too; and why not? There are few enough elves with pure white hair, if not from age. His first thought is only why would Pel be wearing that getup? It's only when Beleth hesitates that he realizes his own mistake and. Wait, what was That? Had she-- Oh, boy. Ha.

"Andaran atish’an," He starts, formal enough, then ruins any solemnity with a grin, "Please, call me Sorrel. I--"

Cold! Cold wet dog nose! This is a very large puppy.

"...dog? Hello to you too, dog."

Cyril did come knocking, but not because he smelt the tea. He liked the smell as he came nearer to the room, because it brought forth a lot of good memories, but he was here because he knew who was in the room. He had heard from the grapevine that Beleth's brother was there and had to see him.

The knock is hesitant despite the confidence he pretended he had. He wasn't sure that Sorrel would want to see him.

The suite is Beleth's and it's very nice-- for the location. He can't complain about privacy. Loneliness, more like. So, when he hears the knock, he's grateful. You spend more than twenty years pressed among your fellows and never think you'll mourn it when it's suddenly gone.

"Cyril?" He opens the door and, oh! A familiar face! "Cyril! Want some tea? It's fresh. You not too busy are you?"

He smiles at Sorrel's response and chuckles softly. "As if I would turn down tea from you," he says casually as he moves to enter the room.

"Plus we need to talk about your trip and how it went. Have you seen Sina yet?"

Sorrel's smiling to see him, stepping back to allow him entry, sifting the tea, easy, genial. Sina. He had to ask, didn't he?

"She's why I'm here," He turns abruptly to the kettle, holding it cupped in his hands. Focus. It's focus that will let him breathe, let him have the space he needs to be calm, "I had no idea it was getting that bad."

No one had told him. Oh, he'd known she wasn't well. But there was a difference between something that came and went, and the kind of thing that washed always up and up and up, like the rising waves of a tide.

"The trip was alright. I'm not sure the Keeper wanted to let me go, this close to wintering, but it's not as if there was any choice. Only a little trouble, nothing serious. I stayed to the byways, mostly. You know?"

Cyril presses his lips together in thought as he remembers the notice he got inviting him to join the experiment on Sina's shard. He wants to be there, to help where he can, but he isn't sure that Sorrel has heard about that part and wants to let her be the one to tell him.

Instead of bringing that up, he nods at the question. "I'm glad your journey was easy then, though if I find out who made trouble for you I might have to contact Merrick and slip them their names." He means it as a joke, but there is a vague honesty there.

"And I don't imagine your mother would be happy to let you go, but you have to do what is right by you and your family."

Not only a cold wet dog nose, but a dog tongue as well. As long as Sorrel doesn't flinch, Garahel licks him after deciding through sniffing that he likes the elven man well enough. Pleased to be addressed, he barks again and wags his tail, all friendly enthusiasm. Beleth gets the same greeting as well, if she doesn't back away from him. The big mabari pays attention to the moods of others and when he is or isn't welcome.

For a moment Inessa was worried that they might expect her to respond in kind -her elven pronunciation is not ideal- but that grin puts her more at ease, as does Beleth's smile. That introduction has her interest, and she nods, her own forming. "I'm pleased to meet you both. Actually, I meant to introduce myself to you earlier--" Said as she nods to Beleth. "--as I'm the new leader for the Rifts and the Veil project. Another mage is always welcome here, of course. I'm Circle-trained, myself, but I enjoy discussing magical theory and application with anyone interested, whatever the background. Are you here to visit, or to join?" Her gaze now turns to Sorrel, curious.

"I don't think she's accepted how serious this shard stuff can be."

Sorrel's departure had not been pretty. In the end, he knew he'd only really left with permission because his mother was unwilling to risk that he would defy her, should she deal him an ultimatum. That kind of thing demanded an answer, after all, to save face. One that neither of them wanted to see her give.

"Heh, well, I don't think we need to bother Merrick. It's all miles past, now. I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere, anytime soon," Not until the autumn rains and winter chill made travel difficult. But what he meant was, not until and unless Sina sent him back home. Not until she'd had every chance to, "And anyways, it's not as if Sina's my only family here."

Cyril bit back asking Sorrel to never return. That seemed so incredibly a selfish thing to ask that he was able to keep the words back.

"I can't imagine how Beleth is right now. Has she paraded you around yet introducing you to everyone and making sure they know how great you are?" hr asks instead, grinning in a teasing so of way as he spoke.

"I don't know if I count as much of an expert, compared to all that, but I'll do my best," Despite his obviously superior Dalish methodology, Sorrel isn't sure he'll be able to keep up with all the... the terminological...

She's a Grey Warden! And an authority! Circle-trained or not, that speaks to a higher expertise than Sorrel is confident he can keep up with.

"...Ah, I'm only visiting, I'm afraid," Sorel replies, offering Garahel ear-scratches for his trouble, grateful for the chance to avoid eye contact, "But I may be here a while, and I'm willing to pull my weight while I am. My first concern has to be Sina, of course; I'm worried-- I just want to help her, however I can. She is my wife, after all."

"She introduced me to a Warden not too long ago. I don't even think they'd met, she was just so excited..."

Sorrel goes on, recounting his meeting with Inessa, but the fondness in his voice is all for Beleth. Whatever grief comes to him in Kirkwall, it cannot possibly outlive the joy of just being, as he has always been, with Beleth nearby. He had forgotten how often he'd needed her, how many times a day he'd turned to share some moment, and not having her there had made every lack obvious beyond ignoring.

"...I feel as if I'll have met the entire Inquisition by the end of the week, if this keeps up."

It is, to say the least, alarming to find Sorrel where Sina had no previous intention of meeting him. She's carrying her herb basket when she rounds the corner and there he is, causing her to stop short, blinking in surprise. However, she's quick to shift into pleasantry, stepping forward with an uncertain smile.
"Sorrelean," she greets him, "I didn't know you were coming."

"Sina."

It is in this moment that he realizes, with an abrupt, gut-dropping embarrassment, that he hadn't sent a note to her. He'd asumed, without cause, without the slightest thought, that someone would-- that Beleth would tell her he was on his way. That had been...

Well, it certainly hadn't been polite.

"I-- I got a letter. And the Keeper gave her permission and I..." He blushes, takes a deep breath, and tries again, fumbling desperately for the notion of grace, or dignity, or anything like balance, "...I heard you weren't well, so I came. Surprise?"

Nailed it.

She blushes in response to his, and though the moment is awkward, Sina doesn't seem unhappy about it. She steps toward Sorrel to gently take his hand, smiling up at him. "I'm glad you're here."

Easy, the release of pressure, and his answering smile is soft with fondness and relief. Thank goodness she understands, and that she's happy to see him. That might be silly-- of course she's glad for him, but... Ah, it doesn't matter, does it?

"I'm glad we're here together," Sorrel laces their fingers together, companionably, and only then remembers himself, "But, I interrupted what you were doing. Can I make it up to you by lending a hand?"

Sorrel is given a quick jab with her elbow, because she knows that Sorrel knows what happened, and she also knows that she's going to get snarked at for it. Might as well get a head start on the elbowing that will inevitable follow.

She continues to smile pleasantly, at the dog, which is given a few pats, but discouraged from more licking than strictly necessary, and then at Inessa. She nods along as Inessa introduces herself as the new project leader. Not that it's actually under her division, but it's good to know the leaders of the projects nevertheless. "Yes, of course. Congratulations to your new role, I'm sure that you'll do wonderfully."

She gives Sorrel a slightly pained look when he mentions that he's only visiting, and had they been in the company of one of their intimates, there probably would have been whining involved. "I appreciate you being here while you are, and I'm sure Sina does, as well. You're doing a good job at being a husband, you know. Almost like a real adult." That last part is said with more of a familiar smirk than her diplomatic smile, and another elbowing for good measure.

"You ought to take the opportunity to learn more while you're here, you know. I'm sure Warden Serra would be able to help, or point you in the right direction." Not that she is just assuming this, of course. Inessa did just offer.

The gesture lends itself easily enough to a hug, and Sina leans in to embrace him, enjoying the warmth of a good friend who was a stranger not so long ago.
"I'm just taking things back to the garden," she explains, stepping back and looking into her basket, "what wasn't used by the Inquisition today can be given to locals." There's an assortment of tea packets and poultices, apparently left alone by its recipients. "Usually someone will come to collect them for Darktown, but only if I'm back in time." She smiles pleasantly. "Come with me? I want to show my forest."

"Thank you, Beleth. I will do my best." Inessa nods sympathetically to Sorrel's explanation. "I quite understand. I don't claim to know Siuona well, but she and others like her are why I'm doing my best to understand the shards and their effects. If you wish to take an active role in such, the project can always use more people. That your are here but temporarily doesn't matter to me." How can she deny a man dedicated to helping his wife? It's not possible, of course. Giving him something solid to focus on might be just what he needs...an Beleth, as well.

Beleth's pained look didn't go unnoticed and Inessa's sympathy shifts. Rather lacking on blood family herself, she won't be responsible for encouraging them to part ways sooner than later. "It seems there is much to keep him here, for the time being. I can promise little save that we will not run out of work to be done anytime soon." Even if breakthroughs happen, they will likely herald the beginning of more work, not less.

Garahel perks up and barks, apparently in agreement. He'd like to see his new friend more, of course.

Edited 2017-09-22 23:58 (UTC)

As Cyril listens to his recounting, he smiles and even chuckles over anything that is very over the top. He can imagine how happy Beleth is right now and considering everything she has to deal with, it warms his heart to think of the twins as being reunited. It's funny, he had been missing Sorrel for unrelated reasons but now he realizes how strange it was that the two of them had to be apart. He imagines its the same way some of the old Clan would feel knowing that he and Merrick were less involved in each other's lives now.

"That's isn't so bad. We have a lot of very beautiful people here. You may be married now, but that doesn't mean you can't admire without touching," he teases very lightly.

And indeed there is someone--a familiar enough face, if only from the wedding. Even if not, there's a wide smile across it flashing white against the nut-brown of her skin, a welcoming sparkle in the emerald of her eyes, and she's an elf. One with vallaslin.

"Aneth ara, lethallin!" she calls, voice light with good humor, "Welcome to Kirkwall, armpit of the Free Marches."

Sorrel whirls at the greeting, the familiarity of language and accent like a balm in the salt-harsh sea of Common in Ferelden and Kirkwall accents. It's strange, how the familiar can strike you, in a strange land, like light glancing of a dropped coin.

"Aneth ara," He replies, in good spirits and returns the smile with a lifted hand, "I'm glad to see someone's come to find me. I was about to just turn around and go home again, to save the trouble."

"Maybe that's how it works in your head," He reaches out to slap that exact head, though the cuff it too toothless to catch more than hair, "Besides, Sina's beautiful enough for anyone."

Lifty tones, those, and very loyal. Sorrel hasn't changed a bit; and even if he had, there's a joke in this that would be spoiled if he gave even an inch off the bit.

"What about it, then? How has the Inquisition life been treating you?"

"Knowing Beleth, there'd be more trouble to be had if you did that," Nari quips back with a grin, "and I know Sina will be happy to see you." She'll beckon him over towards the gates with a query: "Tired? Hungry?"

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Salamandridae | Open To All

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somewhere in the gallows idk

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