faderift | OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

WHO: All
WHAT: WINTER IS HERE
WHEN: Haring 15-Wintermarch 1
WHERE: The Gallows, Kirkwall
NOTES: You can use this post as an event-style mingle log, or just use it as background information for your RP elsewhere!

It's been a chilly month already, but in mid-Haring the temperature suddenly plummets. One day it's merely cold, and the next morning the Inquisition wakes to frost on the inside of the window panes and an icy draft whistling through every crack in the tower's masonry. Downstairs, the pipes that feed the bathing chambers and the kitchens creak in the walls, loud enough to be heard even out in the courtyard, where they run beneath the stones, and around midday, when the sun has failed to raise the temperature above freezing, a blocked pipe finally gives, cracking open to spill water across the central court and send it running down side passages. The whole area floods several inches deep and almost immediately begins to freeze, presenting at first a gigantic, treacherous slush puddle and, after a few hours, a sheet of sheer ice.

Melting a safe path from door to door and laying down sand or wood to keep it from becoming slick again is a simple enough undertaking, but before the entire courtyard can be thawed, someone appears with ice skates—and that’s a better idea, surely, for at least a few days. Anyone who complains about the frivolity can be assured it’s good exercise, not to mention good training for a force that may have to travel or fight on ice in the future.

Temperatures remain cold enough that even some parts of the harbor begin to freeze, first just at the calmest edges of the shoreline, and then the more protected nooks and crannies of the bay, inlets and the spaces between piers and beneath docks. It snows most days--not real storms, just a couple inches here and there--little enough for the window to blow most of it off the icy plain of the courtyard and other wide open, paved spaces, accumulating on branches and in alleyways, and creating growing drifts in corners and against walls.

After a week or so actual chunks of floating ice begin to fill the narrow channels of the harbor, threatening smaller and less-sturdy vessels, and the situation in the poorer parts of the city begins to grow dire. With the Viscount's blessing, Inquisition teams (particularly mages) are called in to help. Some are assigned to the docks, to clear ice that makes landing and unloading treacherous, others to help escort ships into harbor by melting a path ahead. Others are sent into Lowtown to clear ice and snow and to provide warmth and medical attention where needed. At least one mage is sent with each team, and while many neighborhoods are pleasantly surprised and grateful for the quick work fire glyphs make of cold hearths and frozen streets, a few are unable to overcome their distrust, and refuse the teams entry, determined to take care of their own without the help of dangerous outsiders.

In the last week of the year, a true blizzard strikes, snow falling steadily for more than a day, blanketing the city at least three feet deep. Digging out the Gallows will be a group effort, and most non-essential trips outside the base will be cancelled for a few days until travel is less difficult, while those who reside in the city or elsewhere may be encouraged to stay a night or two in the fortress so they might continue to work without traveling through the storm. But on the first day of Wintermarch the First Day feast goes on as planned, with modest but plentiful food and ale served in the Gallows' dining hall for anyone who wishes to celebrate the new year.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I do! But actually, I only know one fancy dance: the waltz. Any other time I've danced, it's been around a fire or at a celebration and I wasn't doing steps, but just feeling the music. So I guess you could call it dancing, or maybe swaying?" She giggles again, raising a hand to her mouth and shaking her head. "I don't know! It feels like dancing to me. Anyway, wasn't I going to teach you to use the crystals? And here I am, wondering if what I do is dancing or not." Clearing her throat, she unwinds her scarf and sets it aside to better hold out her crystal in its locket.

"Go ahead and get out yours again?"

Her melodious giggling and the thought of her swaying and dancing tugs at his stomach. It's a sound he wants to always hear.

"I would very much like to see you dance, not matter the style. I'm sure it is breathtaking."

He beamed at her and then rummaged around in his pouch again. Once he has the crystal in hand, he knelt in front of her, and then presented it palm open to her, not knowing what she will do with it once she has it.

Breathtaking? A blush spreads across her face before Ellana can even think of trying to hide it. What a compliment! Of course now she's sure that the first time he sees her dance will be the time she slips and twists an ankle in front of him.

"Okay, well, you need to hold onto it, and this will work easiest if there's a little distance between us, so I'll go out into the hall." She clears her throat and stands, her face still burning a little. "How it works is you either think of the Inquisition as a whole in order to talk to everyone at once, think of a couple of people if it's a message for a few, or think of just one person so it's a personal conversation between the two of you. So I'm going to think of just you out in the hall and then I'll speak into the crystal. You should hear my voice coming from the crystal. Then think of just me in return and say something back."

Without further ado, she steps outside and closes the door behind her. She starts walking down the hall, because if his elf ears are anything like hers, he probably has keen hearing anyway and she doesn't want this to be spoiled from him hearing her through the door. But a moment later her voice appears in the room, coming from Haldir's crystal.

"Hello? Can you hear this?"

He waits, patiently as he hears her shuffle down the hall. He waited and her voice ran out from the crystal in his hand. He smiled, happy that it worked, but now it was up to him. He brought the crystal close to his lips. Now just to think of her.

He thought of her striking eyes, who's color reminded him of the forest. Of nature, of life. Sparkling, brimming with emotion. He thought of her lips, rosy and plump after their kiss. Her nose, small and refined, as it brushed against his cheek and then her cheeks, flushed and-

He had to stop himself before he was lost in memory and had to make a rather quick excuse to leave. He cleared his throat, and whispered a little huskily into it. "I hear you, Ellana."

Out in the hall, Ellana grins to herself, though a moment later she realizes how silly she must look should anyone come upon her. But Haldir's learned to use the crystal so easily, and she's glad for it. Now they can stay connected and she doesn't have to try and find him on one of the city's many rooftops.

"Oh, good! So you see, it's as simple as that. Whenever you want me, just call me on the crystal. If I don't answer right away, whatever you say is stored on the crystal and I can hear it later." Ellana glances up and down the hall before adding a bit sheepishly. "I guess I'll come back in now."

He paces in an attempt to calm down, but her voice ringing through the crystal just pushes images of her even more prominently into his mind. He takes a deep breath, and stuffs it into his pouch once she is done, hoping he can get himself together before she returns.

He turned toward the fire, hoping to give himself a few more precious seconds before he has to look at her beautiful face again.

Edited 2018-01-01 22:01 (UTC)

Ellana slips back inside, all smiles as she closes the door and takes her spot back on the bed.

"There; that was pretty easy, wouldn't you say?"

"Y-yes very easy." He says only turning partially as she entered. He fiddles with the clasp on his puch pocket, unable to close the damn thing. Once closed, he took another deep breath.

Finally mustering up the courage to turn towards her he adds, "Th-Thank you for the demonstration. I am in your debt. Again."

He appears to her to be agitated in some way, but she can't think of a reason for it, unless he really dislikes being in a room with walls. Smiling weakly, she replies, "Well, you're bringing me wood tomorrow, so throw an extra log on, and both debts will be repayed."

He turned to her, thinking it was perhaps better to go than to overstay his welcome. He would be back tomorrow, with the extra fuel. Hopefully he would have collected himself better tomorrow.

He turned, inclining his head. "I will talk my leave, then. My thanks again for your hospitality and your kindness. I will see you tomorrow." He smiled, hoping she wouldn't take his quick departure as being rude. He would look at procuring some food and wine for her tomorrow as well.

The smile is returned, but Ellana wishes he would stay a little longer. Whether it's because he has things to do or because he feels awkward about what happened earlier with the mistletoe, she can't say. It doesn't help that she has the urge to take his hand and tug him down on the bed with her, to keep him a little longer.

"Sure," she says instead, rising from the mattress and moving to get the door. "I look forward to it." Her gaze moves from his eyes to his lips and then back up again. No, she can't do it. Even though she wants to be bold, he's proven he's a little skittish. She can't give him an impulsive goodbye kiss to see how he reacts.

His heart skipped several beats as her gaze, which could only be considered hungry, fell to his lips and back up to his eyes. Before she could open the door, he reached out and took her hand. He couldn't stand not knowing if she wanted him. Because he most definately wanted her.

"Ellana, I-I do not wish to make you uncomfortable, nor do I wish to overstep again. But-I" he sucked in a breath. He just had to say it. "I wish very much to kiss you again. I admit I have been wrestling with myself since-If-if you would like to..." he looked at her hopefully but also a little like a lamb facing slaughter. "If you do not please tell me and I will not broach the subject again. Your friendship is dear to me..."

Always one to wear her heart on her sleeve whether she wants to or not, Ellana can't hold back her bright smile at his confession. When she and Felix separated, she had had to reevaluate herself and the way she acted when in love. With time and experience comes wisdom, and she hopes that she's now in a spot where she can have feelings for someone without going overboard again. Whatever will come will be a surprise, but she's determined to go into it all with clear eyes.

Instead of answering him with words, she goes up on tiptoe, pressing her lips to his and closing her eyes.

A soft ah managed to escape before she kissed him. His eyelids fluttered shut and his body screamed for him to pull her towards him to have her tight against him again. But, he would not do so without her permission. Not again. Instead, he tucked one finger under her chin, and let his lips push a fraction harder into hers. He opened his lips, much like she had done earlier, deepening slightly. After a few moments, he pulled back just enough to end the kiss, but not enough to take his face away from hers. He couldn't bring himself to take himself away from her. Not yet.

His breath was ragged, both from the flood of emotions and his waning contol. He ran the tip of his nose back and forth along hers as their foreheads touched. His hands carressed her face and neck, silently searching, asking for more if she wanted.

Edited 2018-01-08 01:01 (UTC)

By the end of it, Ellana's tingling from head to toe. She comes back down on her heels and giggles softly at the picture they make; her own hands lightly wound around his back.

"This isn't what I expected to happen when I went ice skating today," she murmurs, voice cheerful. There are some vague, nagging thoughts in her head that she might want to figure out what courtship means to the Eldar so she's sure they're on the same page, but those are pushed aside in favor of kissing him again. No one can really blame her for that.

He can't help but smile against her lips and whisper into them as he gathered her closer by winding his arms around her shoulders.

"Nor I. Although I can't say I am unhappy with this developement." He tilted her lips back up to his, deepening the kiss and content just to hold her. He very much enjoyed holding her. And kissing her. And just being with her. He kissed down her neck, and then moved up to nibble her earlobe.

"I can't say that either." It's an easy admission to make, as she's happy to encourage him further now that he's aware of it. Her toes curl in her socks and she releases a breathy sigh as he finds a sensitive spot with his lips. Fingers grasp onto his armor, holding on for dear life as her knees knock together.

"H-How do you know how to do that if you've never kissed anyone before?"

He felt her legs quake, which gave him a swell of confidence he had never experienced before. He held her closer, keeping her upright as he kept kissing and nibbling his way up the shell of her ear. At her question, his ego swelled again, and he let out a soft chuckle.

"I have keen eyes and even keener ears. I stumbled upon many lover's in my time protecting Lorien. This particular area seemed to generate adequate results across the board. I took a risk, and hoped for the best. And," he nuzzled his nose into the hollow of her neck, leaving soft kisses along the way. "Hearing you. Feeling you. Tasting you, is the best experience I ever could have hoped for. You shine, Ellana. Like a beacon, like a star. I am lucky to bask in your light."

Edited 2018-01-08 07:14 (UTC)

"I suppose I should be thankful that those lovers were giving you a show," she says, tilting her head so he can have better access to her neck. Otherwise he wouldn't have the education he does now.

"Mm, I know what a compliment that is. The elves of Arda love the stars." When she and Galadriel had first met, they sat under the stars of Thedas and Ellana showed her their constellations. It was then she learned of how the elves of Middle-earth adored them and their pale, twinkling light. It makes sense that she would be compared to one instead of the sun, when the person making the comparison is an elf.

Her fingers move along his back, brushing against his hair. She's never been intimate with anyone who had hair as long as hers, and she takes a moment to draw her fingers through it.

At her combing, he let out a hum. It had been a long while since anyone had wound their fingers through his hair, and he found the sensation was most enjoyable.

"I speak only as I find, Ellana. You are unlike any I have ever met before." With a smile, he lifted her up, bracing her against him by curling his arms under her thighs, so her head was level his. He wanted to look into her eyes fully, not looking down at her. He wanted to memorize every part of her face. The sweep of her nose, the tiny flecks of amber in oceans of green that were her eyes, the curve of her lips every freckle. He would commit her to memory.

He smiled up at her, rubbing his nose to hers. "I find myself quite captivated."

Being hoisted up gets a tiny squeal of excitement out of her, and she wraps her arms around his neck to hold on. This whole day has felt like some sort of dream, and if it is then she never wants to wake up.

"I can say the same thing about you." A warrior, but shy. A person who could be polite, yet playful. He's a mix of contradictions and she wants to learn each and every one until she knows him like the back of her hand.

Her eyelids drop partway and she brushes her nose against his in return. "If this is how we'll always say goodbye for the night, I worry it may take hours. We might have to start the goodbyes from the moment we meet up."

He was overcome with emotion at her statement. He was always one to feel deeply, but this was all so very new to him. To have someone seek out his company, to ask nothing more from him but to be himself, it is so novel, so foreign that he cannot help laugh like a fool. His heart, lighter than it has been in centuries, feels too small to contain his happiness in this moment.

"If I am permitted to kiss you during such times, I see no problem with it." He plants a few more kisses on her soft lips for good measure. "But, if you truely wish for me to leave, please tell me. For I am more than a little reluctant to leave you and your welcoming home in exchange for the stables, and fear if it is left to me I would not let you go."

Edited 2018-01-09 05:07 (UTC)

"You can kiss me whenever you'd like." Though her gaze lifts in thought and she feels the need to amend her statement only seconds later. "Unless I'm talking. Or eating. Or I have a cold and can only breath through my mouth. But any other time, you can." That should be sufficient enough for him.

"I don't want to chase you out, but I had some things I wanted to get done around the tower before night falls. And we'll see each other tomorrow." She gives him an apologetic smile, knowing far too well how hard it can be to let someone go. Yet experience has taught her to not cling so tightly and to not love someone so much that it feels like it could consume you whole. When a person gets that way, as she once did, they're willing to head down dark paths for the one they love, and it's hard to see reason or sense. She thinks a little distance will be good for the both of them.

He nods, still smiling at her. He can't seem to stop. He thinks about just staying on the rooftop until morning, but decides that he should give her the space she has asked for. He slowly slides her down to the floor and cups her cheek.

"We shall indeed. Is there a time that works best? I do not wish to hinder you from any plans."

"Oh, anytime after mid-morning? I'll have had breakfast by then." And until this ice goes away, she really has no pressing duties to attend to at the Gallows.

Ellana's hands slide down to rest lightly against his chest. Her expression is fond, and she leans her cheek into his hand. "Until then?"

OPEN ↠ HARING EVENT

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Sorry this took so long!!! Ah!

It's okay! Worth the wait.

Oh fuck it! Prepare those lips for smoochin!

Oh my

Re: Oh my

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