faderift | I never wanted the bright lights [open]

WHO: Audra and special guest stars
WHAT: a marcher settles in.
WHEN: Early-mid Firstfall
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: If you'd like me to add a starter for you, hmu.

For Saiorse

While a significant part of Audra's deciding to officially join the Inquisition was a desire to learn more about the rifts and do what she can to help, part of it was also reconnecting with people. She'd heard some names she was familiar with, which had prompted some digging and turning up other names. Ultimately that led her to the right door, which she promptly knocks on.

She hasn't physically seen Saiorse since she was 11 years old, but a lot of Audra's life had been lived in letters, especially after her transfer to Kinloch Hold.

For Inessa

"Inessa, are you in?" Audra is still learning her way around the Gallows, and it only took her poking her head into three other rooms before she found the room that belonged to Inessa. The look on her face as she brightens when she spots the elf makes it obvious she's pleased she finally got the right room.

"There you are! I was going to go make myself some tea, thought you might want to join me and we can do a bit more catching up?"

Open - Gallows Courtyard

Given the cooling weather of Firstfall, most people in the Gallows use the courtyard to quickly cut through on their way from one place to another. Audra on the other hand is sitting on one of the available benches, wrapped in a cloak, watching people hurry past and making note of faces. Sometimes she'll call out a warm hello, but it's hit or miss whether or not she gets an answer.

She's people watching, and this is one of the better places to do it.

Open - Gallows Library

It doesn't take long for Audra to become a regular in the library. She has always relied on borrowed libraries for research, and though many of the books she's found are things she's already thumbed through, the discovery of new tomes is nothing short of a delight for her, and she finds several books she has yet to read.

She has her arms full of a stack and is bracing her chin against the top cover, making her way to an available table where she can spread out her bounty and attack it at will. Before she can reach the table, however, a book that isn't sitting quite right in her pile shifts loose, causing an avalanche and all the books save one tumble from her hands and into a heap at her feet.

"Mhac na galla!" she swears, staring down at the mess before sighing and kneeling down to start gathering the books back up.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Inessa is tidying up, because living quarters are never immaculate when you're a dog-owner, even a mabari. She does her absolute best, though, only slightly less a stickler for neatness than in her Circle days. Straightening, she glances over with a smile as Garahel perks up from his spot on the floor, wagging his tail.

"That sounds lovely. I know last time was more about the general state of things here, and it was necessary, but it's good to have that out of the way." Now they can catch up at a more relaxed pace. "Just give me a moment and...there, that should do it." Garahel gets to his feet as she finishes up, heading over and looking hopeful about getting some pets in before they have to move.

When someone picks up one of the books out of her immediate reach to hand it back to her, she might not be expecting it to be connected to a possibly familiar face. In fairness, Julius himself doesn't register right away that she's anything other than a person who fell afoul of a problem common to people inclined to pick up too many books at once.

"They do have carts you can borrow, if you need them," he says, helpful rather than arch.

Audra happily complies with Garahel's solicitation, crouching down to really dig her hands in to the scratching, a smile on her face.

"Oh, you're such a good boy, aren't you?" she coos, before looking up at Inessa and straightening. "So I put a kettle on over the fireplace in my room, it should be ready by the time we get there."

Audra huffs out a laugh, shaking her head as she picks up books.

"I know, I just didn't expect to-" she breaks off her stream of thought when she looks up, surprise etched across her features as she narrowly avoids dropping her books again. "Enchanter Julius?" she questions, almost not sure she's actually seeing someone else from Kinloch Hold.

Garahel pants happily at all the attention, eagerly licking her wherever he can reach. He loves you, Audra! Never doubt.

Inessa observes that as she walks over to them, nodding agreeably. "Perfect. And I just fed him, so do not believe any 'I'm starving' looks he gives you. He's spoiled enough and I don't want him overfed."

"Guilty," he says, with a laugh, but then he registers. "...Maker, Audra? It's been an age." For all they'd never had a closer relationship than he'd had with any of his students... many of his students are gone, either dead or scattered, and unexpectedly finding one in Kirkwall genuinely pleases him. "How long have you been here?"

"Not long- a few days is all," she replies, straightening up a little and smiling a little wider.

"First Inessa, now you. Is all of Kinloch Hold hiding around here somewhere?" She knows it isn't, that would be too good luck. Most of those from Kinloch Hold that had once been her friends were dead now, from what she knew.

"I feel like you'd have to feed him a lot for him to be overfed, but fair enough," she gives the mabari one last pat before turning and walking out of the room.

Audra is pretty much right next door, so it's not like it's a long walk. Her room is still fairly bare, but there's signs of her inhabiting it, namely in books stacked on the desk next to rolled up parchment and quills, and a well cared for skull adorned with purple and blue gemstones sitting atop the dresser with dried out herbs lined up next to it.

Then of course there's the kettle whistling over the fire, which she beelines towards.

"I'm afraid I've only got the beds to sit on right now."

Garahel naturally sniffs at whatever's within range, though he's well-behaved and doesn't mess with anything he shouldn't. At Inessa's direction, he paces before plopping down on the floor, yawning and stretching out. Claiming a bed, Inessa smiles over and shrugs.

"It's fine, truly. I don't mind." Her gaze strays to the stack of books and then the skull, and she smiles. "You've started to make yourself at home, I see. If you plan to shop for more and don't mind the company, we can tag along to the market whenever you'd like. I should restock my herb stash, as it is."

Busying herself for a moment with taking the kettle off the fire and moving to the cupboard where she's got two cups and a few tea cakes she liberated from the kitchen. She grins a little at Inessa's observations, before nodding her head as she carries the cups and cakes over (one cake very gracefully sticking from her mouth), handing one of each to Inessa (not the cake in her mouth of course,) before sitting down on her own bed. She removes the cake from her mouth before replying.

"That would be brilliant. Mine is getting a bit low, though I collected what I could while I was traveling. I have more Elfroot than I'll probably use in a year."

Taking the cup and cake, Inessa smiles in thanks and has a sip from the cup first. Garahel stares intently at the cake, but she doesn't drop a crumb for him this time, since he's just eaten. Eventually, he'll go back to relaxing on the floor again.

Inessa nods with a wry smile before trying a bite of the cake. "Better to have it and not need it rather than the other way around, hm? Such lessons have remained in me, as well. I'm lucky Ciri is patient with me, and that we don't have to share with anyone else so there's room to spare. At least, for now."

"If only," he says, and though it's with a smile, there's a small note of melancholy. He's far from t he only one in the Inquisition who's lost many people, but between the Mage-Templar War, the disaster at the Conclave, and even the events of a decade ago... it's a higher body count that he'd prefer.

But that's a dour thought for a pleasant reunion.

"You're looking well. What brings you to Kirkwall?"

I never wanted the bright lights [open]

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