[Open] You can take the Captain out of the Gaurd....

[didifuckingstutter]

WHO: Character(s) Aveline + You!
WHAT: Aveline has been "promoted" to Emissary of Kirkwall.  
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: It's a PR nightmare for Kirkwall's newest ambassador. Food shortages, cold weather, and people are turning blue.

It had been all of 48 hours since she had been told she would now be an Emissary of Kirkwall instead of Captain of the Guard. To say the news hadn’t been taken well was a understatement. She was well aware that she was probably the worst choice for this sort of thing, but the point was made that she was the only choice. It didn’t do well to inspire confidence, but, there was little left to argue about after that.

They required her to attend etiquette lessons with a pompous ass who delighted in teasing her about her un-femininity so much she ended up socking him in the jaw halfway through. But, she now knew the difference between a salad fork and a dinner fork, so she counted it as a success. She was given a frilly new uniform, which immediately refused to wear and a “compromise” was eventually reached after some heated words were exchanged. She would still wear her own armor, but she would also be swathed in a half cloak with the Kirkwall crest on it, to make her easily distinguishable.

This, of course, was before everything had gone to pot. Things were a mess before, but now things had become dire. The people of Kirkwall were desperate for food, for warmth, and especially for a glimmer of hope that things would turn around somehow. The guard were on round the clock posts to try and keep the populus calm, but they could only do so much. She would never ask her guard to do anything she would not do herself, so she had parked herself in the main entrance to lowtown, hoping to calm as many as she could. She had “requisitioned” (strong armed) two carts full of blankets, and several dozen loaves of bread to pass out to the citizens until she could approach the Inquistion for aid.

Comments

[iceblade]

One of those entering Lowtown is a tattooed woman in furs and leathers, standing at least a head taller than most folk. The greatsword seemingly made of ice helps her stand out, as well. She doesn't seem to need any help but approaches anyway, looking over the contents of the carts and nodding in approval. When she speaks, her Avvar accent is notable.

"This will go far, I bet. You're doing good work, serah."

[didifuckingstutter]

Aveline has never been one to judge others based on where they were from. She faced a great deal of prejudice when she first joined the guard, and that stomped out any inkling of those notions right out of her. She was a firm believer that actions were far more important than heritage. The woman who spoke seems strong and capable, even confident.

"It'll do." Aveline replied simply as she continued to eye the newcomer. "If you've spare time and spare hands you're more than welcome to help. I may need to go find some more blankets soon."

[iceblade]

Skadi glances over in the direction of the docks for a moment, then nods. "Aye, why not? I've a bit of time to spare before I ought return to the Inquisition's stables. The name's Skadi Iceblade, of White Wolf Hold. Well met."

[didifuckingstutter]

Once the blanket in her hand was successfully passed on, she extended it out to Skadi while shifting her weight to her right leg.

"Well met, Skadi. I'm Aveline Vallen, Captai-Um-I mean, Emmisary of Kirkwall. You're with the Inquisition? What is it you do, if you don't mind my asking? Although you all have been in Kirkwall for quite some time I admit I have been somewhat...occupied until recently, and I haven't been able to meet many from your organization."

Small talk. She could do this. So far so good.

[iceblade]

Taking the blanket, Skadi flashes a warm grim. "Aye, that I am. I'm the Stablemaster, but I'm also apart of the Forces division. If they need a large woman with a greatsword to cleave something, I'm there.

Aveline...you're famous in Kirkwall, aye? Fought against the Qunari horde and all that?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

"Well, now I am having a sense that we might actually be connected of spiritual level." Bethany stated from behind Aveline, her smile curving up on the corners. She was wearing her own Warden cloak, and a small handcart with bread and knitted clothing.

She came up to Aveline, put a hand on her arm gently, before she offered out a hat to each person to go with the blankets. "Here you go, stay warm. Let us know if you need wood or more food. The Wardens, and the Inquisition is here to help as well."

If it were anyone else, it would not sound as sincere.

[didifuckingstutter]

Once Aveline could turn to see who it was behind her, she wasted no time wrapping Bethany in a tight bear hug. It had been a long while since she had seen her, and she felt her eyes get a little misty with emotion. She clamped it down as best she could. It wouldn't do to be seen weeping in front of everyone. She was getting too soft in her old age. After a few moments, she let the smaller woman go, and put both hands on her shoulders.

"Been too long, Bethany. You look well. Are you well?"

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany beamed brightly, hugging back as tightly as she could. Even if it felt like she was being crushed by an actual bear. Family was, after all, family. Aveline had been so very busy lately and to have her back again? It was like coming back to a warm fire in the hearth.

"I am well, thank you. Married life continues to be a joy." She looks around, her expression softening, "And I do like the perk of being able to help with Kirkwall."

She looks over at Aveline, her gaze brightening. "How about you?"

[didifuckingstutter]

She gave her a wry half smile as she rubbed the back of her neck. How was she? Exhausted was the word she most thought of to describe herself. Grouchy was the what everyone else would probably use. She worked from dawn to dusk to keep Kirkwall functioning, often only sleeping for a few hours before getting back to the grind. She tried her best, but the same nagging thought pulled at the back of her mind. She was not Hawke, and she never would be. She couldn't capture the hearts of the people the way Hawke did. She was too ridged, too hard headed. But, there was a short list of people she could trust with Kirkwall's safety, and it continued to get shorter.

"I am well enough. Things have been...challenging here to say the least." She said paused, wondering if she should confide in Bethany, tell her how lonely she's felt, or how scared she is for her sister. But, she thought better of it. Everyone had their challenges in life, and griping about them never made any of them go away.

"The Viscount has come to the decision that I'm to act as Kirwall's Emissary for the time being. I didn't have much say in the matter, and I'm well aware I'm a piss poor choice for it, but it's how it is and I'm determined to make the best of it."

[sunshinethroughgrey]

She could see Aveline judging her answer, as she did with all things, carefully and with great consideration of her audience. One corner of her mouth lifted as she gave Aveline a wry look - she knew that wasn't everything . Sobriety followed in her brown eyes.

"... to the very least. When it rains, it pours, it seems." She sighed again, before she gave her a thoughtful look. "Well, I suppose that is excellent for Kirkwall - but I have a feeling our poor diplomatic core is going to have no idea what to do with you, Aveline. You're too straight forward for flowery politics."

[justice_is_blond]

He's heading back to the Gallows from Darktown in full Warden robes as they're the warmest he has. His head is down as he pages through his notes so he almost walks into the cart and guards, all of whom he apologizes to before going to step around to the side... and then his gaze falls on the woman clearly in charge. She has to know. Someone had to have told her, Bethany, or Carver, or possibly even Fenris, they've been here so long, but the chance she has no idea he's here puts his heart in his stomach.

Before he can try ducking around the cart and hiding, the tuxedo cat on his shoulder hops down and strolls right up to Aveline, rubbing her face against the woman's boot. Maker take him, she and Lirene are the two people he's most hoped to not run into and his luck is awful as always because someone would of course look to where the cat came from.

"There's... a similar outreach in Darktown," he says, voice very hoarse.

[didifuckingstutter]

Aveline looked down suddenly once she felt something brush up against her leg. She let out a soft chuckle when she discovered it was just a cat.

"Well, hello there," she whispered, and then looked up to see who-

The world came crashing to a halt, and she was certain she must be hallucinating. Because there was no way, no way, Anders had the balls to come back to Kirkwall. He was clothed in Warden robes. She knew Ander's thoughts on the Wardens, and they were anything but fond. He wouldn't just be parading around in them for kicks. Or would he? She had almost convinced herself it wasn't him but then he spoke, and it was his voice. His fucking voice ringing in her ears clear as a bell. She didn't even really hear what he said.

She felt herself flush with anger, and her feet stomped over to him without her even thinking about it. She tried to remain calm, remembering all the lectures she'd been given about keeping her temper in check and how she couldn't beat up whoever she thought deserved it now that she was an ambassador. But he was here, after all this time he'd come back. She scowled at him, grinding her teeth together to keep herself from screaming at him in front her men. If anyone knew who he was....

"You. Me. Alley. NOW" She thumbed over to alleyway behind and a little to the left of where the carts were set up.

[justice_is_blond]

He really doesn't want to go into an alley with Aveline. But the other guards are looking at the two of them and he wants to wind up in a fight against them even less. Anders slips around her to pick up Purrelden before nodding and stepping into the alleyway, mind already whirling.

As soon as they're in there, he's talking, voice pitched low enough that he's not sure how she can hear it over the pounding in his chest.

"I'm not here to cause trouble, I'm no longer possessed, I've been staying out of your way and now you're suddenly not on any of the usual patrol routes. You're here instead." Which he hadn't expected, and he wonders if it's due to the illness the rifters and Templars seem to be going through. He's been so busy working that he hadn't even thought to find out if patrol routes or guard duties had changed.

[didifuckingstutter]

She scowled again. How dare he anticipate her well enough before she had a chance to yell at him. How long had he been in Kirkwall? If he'd had time to figure out her patrols, it must have been for quite a while. And it must have been a lot of work to figure them out.

A lot of work to avoid her in particular. Only her it seemed.

Her heart clenched a little at that thought. Their last conversation had been...rough to say the least. To be fair, he had just blown up the Chantry and plunged them into a civil war, but their relationship had always been rocky. She had extended a branch out to him over and over, and always he found some way twist her intent. She did what she could to help him. Lessened patrols around his clinic, and took his words to heart about treating Mages as equally as she could. And for all his bitterness, she knew he was a good person. Narrow sighted, but the same had been said about her time and time again.

Was he truly no longer possessed by Justice? He looked the same, but on closer inspection she saw the bags under his eyes, and how his shoulders hunched. He looked like shit, truth be told, and she knew he was vain enough to take care of himself unless something serious had happened. That took some of the wind out of her sails, but not much.

"I'm no longer Captain of the Guard." She hissed as she balled her hands into fists, trying to keep herself under control. "What are you doing here? Why in Maker's name did you come back? I know you are no idiot. You know what will happen if you are caught."

[justice_is_blond]

He'd had a lot of stressful walks fantasizing about everything he would say if he ran into her again. None of that practice seemed particularly applicable today, though, because all of it had involved him traveling with other people too. He'd avoided thinking about running into her alone, especially since she'd voted for his death.

No longer Captain of the Guard is a surprise that has him blinking. Why? She'd always been diligent, and this had to be a recent development. ...Or it's possible the guard he's paying off just hadn't seen that as important.

Anders contemplates the questions, visibly looking past her as if considering still making a break for it. That would be idiocy, though, so he sighs and leans against the alley wall, petting his cat as stress relief.

"The sane wardens, the ones not under influence of Corypheus," because she saw how things went down in the guy's prison, "are with the Inquisition, working alongside it to bring him down. I'm... I'm back with them. It's complicated. I joined the Inquisition to help a little and then die, and then the Wardens decided they wanted me alive. It's official and everything, so I'm, they can't kill me, but it could be a mess, which is why I'm keeping my head down while I help. Why aren't you Captain of the Guard anymore?"

[lyriumcarved]

Fenris had needed a change of scenery for a while now. He's been doing all that he can to deal with the strange reaction his brands have been giving him, but it's often only small reprieves for a short amount of time. By now, it's evident that whatever is affecting so many others is impacting him as well, albeit in a different way.

He is not pleased with this turn of events.

But he's been wallowing for a long time, or so it feels like... Staying in, drinking, slathering cremes and ointments on his skin to soothe the itching and redness as much as possible. He definitely needs to take his mind off things. So he's gotten himself all wrapped up and headed out, taking more care than usual to hide his brands, wearing a higher collar than usual so that only the ones on his chin are visible. Somehow he finds himself wandering rather aimlessly, ending up in the area of Lowtown, where he sees a familiar figure...

"Aveline? It's been a while." A long while, at that. He'd expected to find her on returning to Kirkwall, and was surprised not to cross paths until now.

[didifuckingstutter]

She turned toward whoever called out to her, and once she made eye contact with him, she stopped everything she was doing. He was bundled up against the cold, making him far less spikey and more cuddly looking than she remembered him being. If she weren't so shocked, she would have laughed. Instead, she stared up at him.

She quickly walked over to him, and without a moments pause, she gathered him into a hug. She blinked away the tears that threatened to fall, and once they were under control, she pulled back.

"It's good to see you."

[lyriumcarved]

There's an audible pained sound as she hugs him, but Fenris isn't about to complain or offer any explanation right away. He's used to pain, it's a regular companion of his, but lately, it really has been worse with these strange effects he's been experiencing. He'd been avoiding contact purposefully, to minimize touching the brands. So there's a bit of stiffness on his part, before he gradually relaxes.

This... this is what friends do when they see one another after a long time, after all. Right? Sometimes he forgets these things, even these days.

"You as well." He winces for another moment, before adding, "I assume you've been keeping busy? And now you're back to maintain law and order in Kirkwall?" He'll have to see whether she can arrange to change those patrols around the mansion again... but one thing at a time.

[didifuckingstutter]

She grimaced a little at his painful reaction. In her excitement, she forgot about how sensitive his brands were. She quickly pulled away, giving a silent apology. She was just so excited to see him. Out of all of their band, she felt like she could connect with Fenris most. They may not see eye to eye, but he had always supported her, pushed her, and made her laugh more than she would admit.

"I have been trying to, but it's been a challenge. I've been...reassigned to try and get help where it's needed." She tugged at the cape that she hadn't gotten used to, and rolled her eyes a little.

"You're looking at the new Emissary of Kirkwall." She put her hand out, and continued. "And before you say anything, yes, I am aware that I am probably the worst choice for this sort of thing, but the point was made that I'm the only choice."

[lyriumcarved]

Fenris is still grimacing a little, looking more annoyed than usual... he backs away slightly, trying to pull himself together. That new burning sensation on his brands gets pretty hard to ignore. He really doesn't want to seem unhappy to see her, after all, because she really is a much-needed source of sanity right now.

"I was wondering about the new uniform. Someone in Kirkwall is playing quite the unfortunate joke on you..." He couldn't imagine being forced into a diplomatic sort of role like that, especially for someone who's more of a fighter, and accustomed to running the Guard. "Who knows, when it comes to the Inquisition? Still, they must have seen some reason in choosing you for the position. You know this city better than most."

[unshadowing]

People walking by with arms full of blankets and bread loaves catches Carver's eye. He follows the trail backwards towards Lowtown. Honestly, he initially suspects it was Bethany at it again, though usually she roped him into her charitable efforts. So what bleeding heart is handing out bread loaves and blankets?

The answer rather surprises him. There sits Aveline, wearing some odd cloak, handing out these supplies and talking calmly to the denizens of the city's lower section. His brow raises at the sight. "Is this how you spend your down time these days?" he asks as he approaches her.

[didifuckingstutter]

She looked up to see which knob was starting up with her this time, but she was delighted to see it was one of her knobs. Her face it up with surprise as she stode over to him.

"Down time. Ha! That's a laugh!"

Bloody hell, he was still a giant human. He seemed more comfortable in his own skin. Less puffed up, and more settled. A lot must have happened while he was away, and she couldn't wait to catch up. She attempted to wrap her arms around him in a crushing hug, and mostly succeeded.

"Hello, Carver. I forgot how bloody massive you were."

[unshadowing]

Well, a dozen years in the Wardens will do that to a guy.

Carver had wondered where the heck Aveline had been. Granted, since he's Carver, he didn't exactly go out of his way to find her (and he was kind of busy, honest...) but he still wondered. Lo and behold, here she is...

...crushing his sternum and ribs in a bear hug. "And I forgot how bloody inhumanly strong you are," he chokes out.

[didifuckingstutter]

She let out a cackle as she let him go, and thumped him on the back a little too. "And her I thought that was my most unforgettable feature?"

She settled back into her right leg, and relaxed as she rested her arm on her sword. "How have you been Carver?"

[unshadowing]

"Among other things." He'll let that be intentionally vague. "Still alive, still a Warden. And now aiding the Inquisition, more or less." Beats being in the Deep Roads, and Weisshaupt is... yeah. Let's not go there. "What have you been doing? Haven't seen you around really."