[open] to the need for more

[doneisdone]

WHO: Teren and you
WHAT: Wardenmom is consumed by secrets, as usual
WHEN: the first half of Wintermarch
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: will update as necessary

I. The Hanged Man

Sometimes found perched at her table by the window with a hot drink of some kind, Teren likes to sit and do her mending where she can hear nearby conversations but is out of the way enough to not appear too approachable.
Which isn't to say she won't talk to someone who sits with her, but, as usual, whether or not she's feeling sociable is a gamble for the person approaching to take.

II. Out and About

Provisioning for the Wardens is a busy job, especially when Teren has also been lending some assistance to the Kirkwall alienage through the worsened weather. Throughout the day she can be found escorting workmen both on foot and in the teetery little ferrying boats from the docks to the Gallows, all of them generally laden with various foodstuffs and other supplies necessary to keeping the Wardens alive.

Perhaps it's the cold ever-creeping into her bony frame, or the ugliness of the weather, but she seems more standoffish than usual. Not angry per se, but pensive and distracted.

III. Her Quarters

A very limited number of people are welcome to call on Teren at home, but they know who they are. Though the door is only left open when she's waiting for Wardens to drop off their uniforms for mending, often a light can be seen through the crack beneath the door, and the faint sound of her speaking to someone, low and gentle.

IV. The Stables

Boots needs feeding and brushing. She visits her druffalo at least once a day to make sure he's being kept well, and often stays to clean his enclosure and yell at anyone she perceives to be bothering him. Boots, for his part, is fine with whatever.

V. Wildcard!

Comments

iii

[ichaer]

Ciri is here for her uniform to be mended after her latest tumble off Kelpie during training. She's supporting a new bruise along with a few shallow cuts, nothing worse than usual but something is very clearly weighing on her mind as she sits not far from Teren running the whetstone along her blade.

She said she needed the peace and quiet, plus it's nice getting to spend some time with her not-mom-but-absolutely-sorta-her-mom on a not so busy day.

"Nate said I should help him out with leadership work," she says suddenly. "Said I had a great deal of promise."

Aka: Hi mom. Dad is being weird and supportive and I don't know what to do with myself.

I

[justice_is_blond]

Any other topic and he'd hit up her quarters, settle in and enjoy her company. This, though, after Zerique, feels like it might be touchy so he's letting her have a place where she can just leave, just in case.

In order to make his presence a little more appealing he brings over two mulled wines in case she's out and then unceremoniously joins her table.

"You're looking well," he starts.

II

[circleprodigy]

Inessa has been rather scarce anywhere but her office and the library after the new year set in, but it takes some guilt-tripping from Garahel to nudge her outside. At least the cold doesn't bother her too much; Skyhold was always worse, in that respect. Still, Teren's gift of winter hat with embroidered mabari is convenient, and she wears it now, rather fond of her ears not freezing.

Speaking of Teren, she's soon spotted by the workmen and Garahel trots ahead of his mistress, wagging his tail in greeting. Smiling, she follows at her own pace. "Good afternoon, Senior Warden."

IV

[iceblade]

One person who's naturally a regular visitor is the Stablemaster, a tall tattooed Avvar woman with a fondness for each and every kind of mount that needs pampering. Horses, harts, dracolisks...even druffalo are welcome, and when she's not busy seeing to immediate needs, she'll visit the ones that don't seem particularly skittish about company. That includes the calm druffalo, and she reaches out to pat the creature with a fond grin.

"Handsome as always, Boots. You keep at it, eh? Make all the other druffalo jealous.

[doneisdone]

It's likely that Ciri's is the uniform most frequently mended next to Kaisa's, and Teren simply sighs and accepts it when the girl comes in. She doesn't mind when Ciri hangs out, since for the most part she's accepting of companionable silence.

When she speaks suddenly, Teren looks up with raised eyebrows. "Will you, then?" she asks idly.

[doneisdone]

Though she appreciates the wine, Teren can already tell that Anders is up to something. She quirks an eyebrow at him when he sits, continuing her stitching and then giving a smirking scoff at his remark. "As always," she idly replies, "need something mended?"

[doneisdone]

Teren gives the mabari an absent pat on the head when he approaches, otherwise continuing to pore over the ledger she has in her other hand.
"Afternoon, Serra," she greets, glancing up over her shoulder to take stock of the elf. "Haven't seen you about much lately."

[justice_is_blond]

He smirks back. He can't help it.

"Of course not. I wouldn't make you do my mending." It's the most relaxing task he's got on his plate, and sometimes he needs something to just keep his hands busy.

"But it seems you may be doing a little... creating, rather than just mending," he adds with an eyebrow waggle. "You and Loghain?"

[circleprodigy]

The younger Warden smiles a bit apologetically at that, while Garahel lets out a contented grunt. "The projects have taken up more of my time than anticipated." And yet, she doesn't want to abandon either one. Both are vital and have her interest even aside from that urgency. "...but I have been effectively reminded that a more balanced schedule is in order."

She nudges at Garahel gently with her boot, and the mabari straightens, all proud of being a mother hen.

[doneisdone]

The druffalo isn't a mount, per se, but Teren appreciates the consideration he's given nonetheless. She's approaching with a bucket of water when she overhears someone talking to him, and though at first her eyes narrow, she quickly realizes it's just the stablemaster.
"They'd need a brain for that," she remarks, hauling the water over and watching with quiet, unsmiling satisfaction as Boots lowers his muzzle into it. "Luckily, unlike most people, he doesn't pretend he's got one."

[doneisdone]

The Projects. Teren raises an eyebrow, smirking faintly, but she knows not to poke fun-- something happened recently that has a lot of people looking long in the face, and Inessa has, as always, been embroiled in it.
"A wise fellow, that one," she intones, nodding to Garahel, "you ought to listen to him more often."

[doneisdone]

"Of course you wouldn't," she repeats, as if to say 'how could I be so ridiculous'. She's still looking pleasant enough until the bomb drops, and then her hand stops mid-stitch, her face momentarily frozen in that way of hers that has likely become familiar to Anders: it's the question of fight or flight, deliberated on the spot.
Finally, after a loaded pause, her eyes raise to meet Anders', almost accusingly. "What are you on about," she snaps, knowing full well that they both know what he's on about.

[justice_is_blond]

He holds her gaze. Her response is absolutely confirmation because otherwise she'd be rolling her eyes, or bringing up canoodling with Wren, or so on. What he doesn't know is how treacherous or not the ground he's standing on is.

"You and Loghain have been spending time together in a... close manner, or so his body language would suggest." Teren's seems to always be aloof even when she's not feeling aloof, so he can't go off that. "I thought it a positive sign."

[circleprodigy]

Garahel makes a noise that could be interpreted as smug, wagging his tail.

"Mabari wisdom is not to be lightly set aside, true. I did not gain such a companion only to ignore this." As a Fereldan, that would be utterly inexcusable. She's not newly out of the Circle and knows better.

"Could you use an extra pair of hands? We don't have anywhere we need to be, at least for an hour."

[iceblade]

Skadi chuckles at that, straightening. "He's majestic as is, he needs nothing else." She won't pat him again while he's busy with the water, instead glancing over to his owner. "How'd you gain him?"

To be fair, she'd ask this whatever kind of beast he was, but it helps that he's provoked her curiosity. It's not as though there are any other druffalo in the stables, after all.

ON A BOAT

[limier]

They’re on a boat.

The bulk of the Inquisition can spend a lean winter on grain; fabled, predatory lion-birds, not so much. And only so many boats come and go from the Gallows.

So call it providence, or a lack of timely escape routes: They’re in a boat — along with a large quantity of salted eels.

Wren takes advantage of familiar company to let her eyes drift shut a few moments, but it doesn’t last through the swell of waves. Dragging a hand over her jaw,

(Been sleeping like shit lately.)

"Copper for your thoughts."

Well, that’s one way to fund the wardens.

[doneisdone]

Somewhat treacherous, but at the very least Anders should know he's not in the category of people who will be killed for asking a stupid question. Just... berated, maybe, if it's stupid enough.

"That's none of your business," she grumbles, her brow furrowing irritably, though there's a faint tinge of color blooming on her already dusky skin. "He's the only other bloody adult in the Order, of course we'll talk."

[doneisdone]

Teren herself isn't all that familiar with mabari, but Garahel has earned a special place in her social circle as Acceptable Dog, which is about as esteemed as one will ever get without actually walking on its hind legs and talking or eating Orlesians.
"Those bottles need to be counted," she replies, looking back to her list but nudging her head toward a crate containing bottles of oil. "They skimped me the last time and shan't again."

[doneisdone]

Teren barks a laugh. "Majestic," she repeats, but thumps Boots on the flank anyway, in what might pass for affection. "Like one gains a wart," she sighs, stepping out from the stall to fold her arms and watch him enjoy his sustenance, "one day it's just there and won't go away. He followed me, and when a druffalo decides it's going to do something, most are powerless to stop it." A sigh. "I'm quite surprised we haven't received an angry letter yet from a farmer missing his druffalo."

[doneisdone]

"I'm cold," Teren supplies, "and this boat reeks." She's bundled up under a fur blanket which she brings along for such voyages, hardly confident in her body's ability to warm itself when they're out on open water.

"Where have you come from in such a hurry?"

[iceblade]

Practically any animal has potential for majesty, in Skadi's eyes...minus nugs. They're just weirdly cute and nothing more. Hearing how Teren's druffalo was gained, she chuckles. "A druffalo that behaves like a mabari? I've heard of their imprinting; if you found him in Ferelden, maybe that explains it. Does that mean you'll have this wonderful lug tagging along whatever your mission? I suppose if you need something headbutted, he's the one to do it."

[circleprodigy]

"That I can do. Pure numbers will be a refreshing change from theory." Inessa nods and heads toward the crate while Garahel paces and plots down somewhere between them. More busywork is probably not what the mabari had in mind for her, but it's outside in fresh air among people, so he won't complain.

[justice_is_blond]

The color in her cheeks makes holding back a smile completely impossible and he leans back in his chair, smiling and sipping his wine.

"What, it's not my business when someone I give a care about might be finding something that makes them happier? I'm endlessly glad I've found Nate, after all." Only other adult. She means only other grump that isn't Nate, really. Ciri has grumpy days, but Nate, Teren, and Loghain are good at looking stern and dour even when they aren't.

[doneisdone]

Another laugh, more like a snort. "Oh, Maker save me, no. He likely followed me because I'd been dealing in grains and smelled like food. And if he ever came on a mission we'd all die, or at the very least eat like kings."

[doneisdone]

Without hesitation, Teren gives her the packing list and gestures over to what needs to be done. Though she's not especially friendly about it, she's not unkind either, and gives Inessa a distracted pat on the shoulder as she goes back to what she's doing.