{ OPEN }

[aceso]

WHO: Christine and OPEN
WHAT: Returning from the Frostbacks with gifts.
WHEN: sometime after mid-Harvestmere
WHERE: Kirkwall (Inquisition holdings like the docks and stables)
NOTES: She put out a call for people to request items so now she's arriving with them.

{ stables }
Arriving back in Kirkwall doesn't feel like coming home, but it does feel like a relief because now Christine can settle back in after days of traveling by horse and ship. Her horse, Ambrose, is carefully brought off the ship, laden with furs and full saddlebags, but he's a large draft horse with a good temper, so he bears his burdens well. Making her way straight to the stables, Christine is helped by a stablehand and together they set the furs across the wall of Ambrose's stall and the saddlebags are set down in the aisle by a bench.

After feeding and watering her horse, Christine takes a seat on this bench and puts out a few calls to those who requested items from the Avvar hold she made contact with. Then she leans back against the stall and sighs, her journey at an end. She makes quite the picture, surrounded by animal furs and bags overflowing with mead and dried herbs.

{ lowtown }
There's tension in the city now that the Inquisition has elevated rifters to positions of power within its organization, and Christine knows it's ignorance that is leading people towards fear and lashing out. Despite being glad to be done traveling for a bit, her time with the Avvar makes her wish she could be back there, where they don't fear the Fade, or spirits, or strange magic. They take everything in stride and treat everyone equally as long as they're willing to pull their weight. But here in Kirkwall, she worries for the rifters.

She walks the streets on her way back to her house, looking out for any signs of trouble. Any raised voices have her on the lookout to see if it's a rifter getting harassed, or even a native member of the Inquisition. Perhaps they've outstayed their welcome here.

Comments

[iceblade]

"Aye, mostly. I don't count the stares, though there's less of them than I thought there might be." It's probably all the rifters, though she's certainly not complaining. "There are a few who were very focused on finding me a shirt while we were up north, even though my armor suited me just fine."

Yeah, her armor is paint, but so what? It covered her body, protected it. As far as Skadi's concerned, that's the important part.

[aceso]

"It was more likely done for their comfort than yours," she says with a knowing look. "But since you have asked for more, I see you have paid them no heed. Which is admirable. The climate here is very tense right now, and there is a sense that everyone must be quiet and conform. It is... unfortunate."

[iceblade]

Her lips forming a thin line at that, Skadi reaches up and strokes the nuglet that's resting against her neck. "I came here to figure out this shard and help defeat the one who caused it, not to be made civilized for the comfort of lowlanders. But nor am I trying to stir the pot, either. I'll be what I am, whether or not it meets with approval. If others want to conform, that's their business."

[aceso]

I'll be what I am. Such words are so good to hear in a world where so many have to hide what they are or feel ashamed about it because of others' fears. Christine knows she would be a completely different person if she had been raised among the Avvar; that she wouldn't still carry a wariness about spirits possessing a mage, for starters, but so many other hangups too. It makes her rather determined to raise her future children in an Avvar hold, where she doesn't have to fear a reinstated Circle taking them away from her. That reminds her: she needs to discuss the children thing with Church when she gets back to the house.

"Skadi, you are a breath of fresh air; do you know that?" Approval +10 right now.

[iceblade]

Shame and conformity for the sake of it is not only something Skadi wasn't raised with, but will never really understand. Perhaps if not Avvar, she would be different in that area as well, but contemplating what-ifs has never interested her. She chuckles at the compliment and flashes a grin.

"Consider it another service happily given, free of charge. I should get this wee one back to my place, I think it wants to nap." Indeed, the nuglet is resting against her with its eyes half-closed. It might as well have someplace more comfortable than her shoulder.

[aceso]

"Very well. Enjoy your new fur, little one," she says to the sleepy nuglet who will have a new blanket or outfit soon. "And you as well--" To Skadi: "Enjoy your war paint."