She robbed them of wealth

[foxsays]

WHO: Araceli Bonaventura and you!
WHAT: Catch-all for post-Mire; gambling in the tavern, Skyhold parkour 2: electric boogaloo, chilling in the gardens and wildcard available. Also dinner with Korrin Ataash
WHEN: Between returning from the Fallow Mire and folks departing to the darkspawn desert and red templar winter adventureland
WHERE: Skyhold; the Herald’s Rest, battlements, gardens or wherever if you wildcard it
NOTES: Feel free to have seen a wild Araceli roaming past (and possibly up and over) your windows or to have had a run-in with her fox. I’ll match your style/tense.

tavern; teaching cards and dice
If she’s going to have to learn new games of cards, the least she can do is make sure people can play a few hands of the games she grew up with or introduce them to liar’s dice. Liar’s dice is always so much more than just making coin or whatever you’re wagering after all; liar’s dice teaches you how to figure out a tell and how to cover your own with enough practice and how to tell the most bold-faced lies without a single person noticing if you’re good.

She’s more than happy to buy a drink for anyone who wants to play a hand or two. If you’re new she’ll go easy on you if you offer to explain how Wicked Grace works.

parkour;
The best thing about being back in Skyhold is actually having something to climb that won’t have her landing stagnant water that’s full of corpses ready to attack her. There’s always a little note tacked on a corner of the board in her elegant hand offering lessons and her name but it’s easier in small groups or one on one. Often you’ll need to track her down as she does her regular circuits of Skyhold, climbing up and down the walls either side of the fortress

gardens;
The gardens of Skyhold are larger than most gardens in Castileos, lacking the sea air but they’re more sheltered than most other places in Skyhold so she can some of the weak watery sun. After the Mire she needs it so she’s relocated from the library that was beginning to feel overcrowded with actual researchers, something she is absolutely not. Instead she’s working on something of a report, scowling at it most of the time and there are doodles in the margins, annoyed scribbles and half a paw print along the edge of one of the pages but it’s fine, it’s a draft, it’s perfectly fine.

Besides, it’s not even a report exactly, more of a guide, advice about how to actually get around and fight safely in conditions like the Mire.

Feel free to interrupt before she starts getting distracted with her little reference sketches.

wildcard;
Where else have you bumped into her? Or have you met a rather striking fox with streaks of red beneath his black fur and wondered who the hell keeps shouting ‘Lux’ as you stare down at said fox.

dinner with Korrin Ataash;
It took a lot of convincing to get the kitchen staff to allow her to cook. It helps that she had the coin to pay for it thanks to several profitable games of dice because it’s easy to spot a liar and far too many of the soldiers have honest faces here, the kind of men and women that’d be eaten alive in Castileos. She promised Korrin a meal she’d cooked herself and they absolutely deserve it after that hell.

She can’t make her favourite exactly. They don’t have quite as many fish but that’s obviously the problem with being stuck up a bloody mountain although there’s at least plenty of snow and ice to help keep it fresh. One of the helpers stays to explain the herbs she doesn’t recognise but all in all there’s plenty of fish stew served in bread bowls with rich tomato sauce with a healthy glug of good red wine through it.

When Korrin arrives according to the note Araceli left with her, there’s even a candle or two lit. Look, you gotta have ambience for this after she spent a whole day engaged in high stakes kitchen negotiations.

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

After a day of training and packing and otherwise preparing for a few weeks in Emprise du Lion, Araceli's note is a welcome break from all that. She hasn't forgotten that idea of Araceli making her dinner at all, and is ridiculously pleased that she isn't the only one. That this would happen, and especially now...well, it'll give her some good memories while she's out in the freezing cold. Hopefully she can return the favor for her very generous and gorgeous cook, who wasn't assigned with her.

Korrin arrives after a wash and a fresh change of clothing, not wanting to taint the meal Araceli created with training-stench and sweat stains. What kind of repayment would that be? She pauses in the doorway to take in everything, from the bread bowls to the wine to the lit candles. A warm grin spreads across her face.

"Wow, all this for me? I'm so touched...and starving. I think that lost appetite just came back full-force, thanks to you."

[foxsays]

As promised, Araceli's hair is no longer the mess it was the last time she saw Korrin more than in passing though she still shudders at the thought of just how long it took to get it that way. Never again will she go to somewhere that can be humid, cold and muddy all at once. A day in the kitchen has settled her somewhat and if she can keep this mood up, keep herself busy then maybe she'll be able to ride out the worst of the storm when Skyhold empties of people once again except with her remaining behind.

"Well don't you look ravishing this evening, madame Ataash?" And it's true; the outfit fits her like a glove, flattering in all the right places and whilst red might never be Araceli's colour, the flash of it just somehow makes the outfit. "Your arms could be considered illegal in some countries for the fit of swooning they would cause. Please, sit, sit, allow me to pour."

Sleeves rolled up to show off the tattoos on her arms - a fox on the left, a compass and anchor on the right - and to keep them out of the food, she examines the wine but the label makes no sense when you have no idea where anywhere even is.

"Remember when I said I cooked for the people in my building? That means I cooked for all of them so cooking for two is not one of my talents but there should be plenty for us and enough left that the cooks can hand it out, I'd hate for it to go to waste." If there's one possibly petty thing that upsets her, it's wasted food when she's seen people going hungry too often in her life. "I had to make some guesses of course, you don't have the same fish here, or hot enough chillis but fish stew is always made with whatever you had."

It strikes her that she's actually a touch nervous, foolish though it may be because Korrin hasn't ever treated her differently because she's from another world but this is home she's offering here, served just like the vendors by the docks.

[gatheringstorm]

That promise is definitely appreciated, as Korrin's eyes wander over those gorgeous curls appreciatively, resisting the urge to touch them. That can wait, as she wouldn't dare distract from Araceli's hard work and can manage a modicum of patience in light of that. Later, though, she makes no promises.

In response to such flattery, she chuckles and does as requested, sitting and awaiting the wine. "As do you, Araceli. You're absolutely right, the mire didn't do your poor curls justice. I'm glad to see them restored to their radiant beauty once again. May we never need return."

Her appreciative gaze turns to the food, the aroma enticing her even before Araceli begins speaking of the meal she had prepared. "It looks and smells delicious. And hey, I'm not one to complain about huge amounts left over, not in the slightest. You might have people fighting over you for your cooking skills, but as long as you're willing to take on that risk, I support such generosity." But she's allowed to be smug that Araceli did this for her first, right?

[foxsays]

Hair can come later, first there's dinner; she'd offer to sort Korrin's chair but she knows she's absolutely not going to manage it so she sits across, pouring with a skilled hand, not spilling a drop. She'd never put a true sommelier to shame but the old one back in the palace would no doubt be proud of her if he could see, after all the lessons she endured with him.

"The two young gentlemen," a term she uses loosely, rogues of the most roguish sort, the act she pulled when she was fencing goods, "procured hair oil for me. At the cost of dates and good brandy, as such things are settled. And you, away from such cold

"There was a garlic toasts part to go with but to announce so openly that I can make such a thing? Suicide. I have other things to do that don't involved being wheedled into making garlic bread for everyone who comes to bat their eyes at me." Because she would. Because she's seen people so hungry it makes them unable to stand straight. Because she's a soft touch when it comes to helping people that need it. "To us brave heroines who traversed the horrors of the Mire and came out of it more beautiful and richer for knowing one another," she toasts, holding out her glass to Korrin who is forever and always allowed to be smug and remind everyone else that not only did Araceli cook for her first, she cooked for her and her alone first.

[gatheringstorm]

And Korrin will absolutely brag about that later, no doubt. For now, though, her attention is firmly on Araceli's charming company and the delicious meal she's prepared. She raises her own glass, tilting it slightly to clink that of her generous dinner companion. "Indeed. All that hardship was made worthwhile by your presence, and this moment now. I would endure it all over again without regret...though you'll have to forgive me if I hope there's a long break from all that."

Her lips quirk in a wry smile as she takes a sip of that wine, savoring it as she couldn't with that 'care package' from earlier. "Don't worry, I'll keep your garlic toast secret. Though if that's the best way to get some of it for myself, I won't hesitate to bat my eyes at you. I'm not too proud to admit it." What is pride compared to garlicky heaven? And getting a smile out of Araceli, too.

tavern

[lettersfromhome]

"Ah, now what's this?"

The young rogue has company, it appears. A middle-aged woman with curly blonde hair has taken a sudden interest in the cards, her brown eyes flickering between them and Araceli with interest. "A card game!" she chirps, almost cheerfully. "How delightful. I don't know how much of a challenge I could offer, but perhaps you'd be kind enough to teach me how to play?"

[foxsays]

"Certainly señora," a bright grin accompanies her sweeping the cards up into her hand, shuffling the deck as she nods to the seat across from her. "I'm afraid if you're looking for Wicked Grace then I'm still learning the rules but there are plenty of games from my home country." The hand might give away that she's not Antivan or Rivaini but that's probably about it really, she's been willing enough to let others think what they will when she's gambling with them.

"Ah! Strip Jack Naked, absolutely, a two person game and it teaches you the difference between the rankings of cards. Pay cards and ordinary cards. One of the nicknames for this game is taxes, it's why it's taught to children where I come from."

[lettersfromhome]

"It hardly sounds like a children's game, with a name like that."

Mia chuckles, settling herself gracefully into the seat opposite the young woman. She can't quite place the accent, almost Antivan but not quite, but it sounds lovely regardless. As lovely as the young woman herself, in fact.

One hand gestures faintly to the cards before settling onto the table. "Well then. How is it played?"

[foxsays]

"That's the name we use for it on the docks, it was beggar my neighbour when I was a girl but sailors always talk to you like you're an adult." Or they did with her, always under the watchful gaze of her father.

"First, I split the deck, like so, here's your half. Now, we have two types of card - twos through tens are ordinary cards but the kings, queens, jacks and aces are pay cards. You put your cards face down and we turn over our cards one after the other until someone puts down a pay card. The person who didn't place the pay card has to play cards until they've paid for it - aces are worth four ordinary cards, kings three, queens two and jacks one. Once the card has been paid for then the first player takes all the cards laid down at the time and puts them to the bottom of their own pile. There's another rule about pay cards versus pay cards but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

dice game

[serannas]

It probably comes to no surprise to anyone that Ellana is an honest person. She hates lying and liars, but being a part of the Inquisition means learning new things and it's possible she may be put into a situation in the future where she'll have to lie to save lives or get vital information. Needless to say, this is something she needs to practice.

Coming over to the table, Ellana smiles at her. They met in the Mire, but with the mission, there really wasn't time to get to know her.

"Hello. I heard you were teaching a game over here?"

[foxsays]

Ah yes, the dreaded Mire, a place she would sooner forget and one that makes her thankful she landed in Haven because now she knows that she'll always take snow over a rank and fetid bog. Ellana's face is familiar, but unlike chattering to Korrin or Lace on patrol, it's more the Vallaslin she remembers, having been more concerned with keeping track of their surroundings and her footing at the time.

Still, she smiles when the woman takes a seat, nodding as she slides her dice over.

"I am. Various card games so others can suffer as I do whilst I perfect Wicked Grace," she hasn't even started on Diamondback, "but also liar's dice, the most important game in my home country. Every captain is expected to be an expert if he hopes to be successful. Care to test your luck?"

[serannas]

"I'd like to try! It could be fun." Ellana takes a seat and gives the dice a look, turning one over in her palm. "Is it hard to learn?" She would hate to be endlessly asking questions because she just doesn't get it.

[foxsays]

"It's the sort of game where you can learn it but you always feel as if you're mastering it, there's always room for improvement because so much depends on who you play with, how you are at the time. And it depends on how you're playing it." Taking a quick drink of her brandy, she grabs the dice and more from her pocket and two of the cups used for earlier hands, spreading them out between them.

"Seeing as it's just you and I, we'll play the version for two people - usually there are several folk, six on average, so there are thirty dice on the table and your bid is for all of them. This version is easier to learn with too. "Before we truly begin the rules, this game is about learning how to lie and how to spot a lie, the main reason it is so very popular where I come from with sailors, captains, pirates and merchants. Newcomers to the game must always remember the name."

Par-kour?

[the_effect_she_has]

All right, Katniss was up for anything that was going to give her an edge in the field. She was already fast and quick on her feet, and she could climb trees like she was a squirrel.

So, she looks for the woman who is ... literally crawling up the walls, and calls out to her from below.

"Am I too late for a lesson?"

[foxsays]

Almost at the top of wall, she stops and glances down as she pushes herself up to find a better grip so she can wave down at the stranger, because naturally that's what you do.

"A moment, I'll be right down!"

A shame she doesn't have a pile of hay in this spot but one good thing about old brickwork is that you can get up and down with a minimum of fuss, letting her jump the last foot or so before she pops up with a grin, wiping her hands on her trousers.

"You are never too late for a lesson. As an old friend liked to say, every day is a school day, Araceli Bonaventura, at your service," she greets, dipping into a flourishing bow at the end.

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss watches with an impressed glance -- honestly, she had never seen anyone move that easily down the side of a wall. She nods as the woman lands at her feet, before her lips twitch at the corners.

"All right then. Katniss, Everdeen. At yours." She pauses, then does a little curtsey herself.

[foxsays]

"I was hoping more people would be interested, I had one group lesson of a fashion but everyone was at very different levels so now it's as and when both parties are free." Plus Gavin almost got himself killed by a horse so for now she's going to keep the group size smaller in the hope she can keep a better eye on everyone involved.

"First things then, I must know your level of skill. Are you familiar with climbing, what have you climbed, do you use ropes or hooks or such to aid you. Oh and can you fall safely, that was my very first lesson here."

parkouuuur

[amygdalae]

--well that was certainly quite a sight.

He had heard something like this from the patients he had been treating, but seeing it for himself was very different. Sure, Bruce had learned to be fairly agile himself due to his time on the run, but even he couldn't be as agile as he was seeing right now.

Bruce stood right where he was, eyes narrowing under the sunlight as he looked at the figure currently scaling up a wall, unable to stop himself from worrying a little. Trained or not an accident might still happen, and falling from that kind of height really wasn't going to make the accident minor. More like major.

[foxsays]

One day she'd get to go to somewhere she could climb with water below to allow her to leap without a care in the world but given that she had to steal hay and straw from the horsemaster for the few piles for lessons, climbing back down before jumping was the only way to go.

And she'd learned not to use the awning of one of the stalls after a very severe lecture from an Orlesian woman that one time.

Still, once a thief, always a thief, and a thief always knows when they're being watched because back home a warning shot might well follow. Peering down, she switched to a one-handed grip to wave down from above at who she thought was watching. Difficult to tell when high enough that you couldn't always pick out faces so well.

"Have you come for lessons señor?"

[amygdalae]

It took a moment for Bruce to realize that she was waving at him, and after a second he awkwardly waved back, clearly not used to this--whatever this was, anyway. Being noticed? That wasn't exactly new...ish.

"Ah--no." Bruce shook his head as he replied. "I was simply watching. The way you climbed was very impressive." He smiled after saying that, and his words were nothing but honest. It was a rather impressive sight to see, even as dangerous as it was. Although if she did know what she was doing, then Bruce supposed he didn't need to say anything.

[foxsays]

"Hang on, I'm going to-"

Not bothering to finish, she shimmied back down, regretting the lack of water and that the horsemaster and others would complain if she stacked hay in all the spots she wanted to. A couple of feet from the ground she dropped, neatly falling into a roll before she dusted herself down and wiped her hands on he trousers before approaching.

"Araceli Bonaventura, at your service and always glad to put on a show and to receive compliments from a gentleman. Skyhold does make it easier though, old brickwork has a lot more places for fingers and toes." Old brickwork also had a tendency to crumble or disappear to create larger but potentially very unstable and dangerous holds but best not to scare strangers with that one.

Tavern!

[easternseaqueen]

Isabela was an easily-recognizable fixture in the tavern these days, but the sound of cards and dice attracted the pirate's attention.

"Well, now. You look like someone who knows her way around a deck," she said with a grin, sidling up to the table.

"Have room for one more?"

[foxsays]

“Always,” she replied with a smile, taking a moment to make some room since the soldiers previously with her had decided to leave behind, stacking them all neatly enough for the next passing serving maid.

“They’ll be the games of my homeland though apparently some of them are like Antivan or Rivaini games, according to a soldier or two.”

[easternseaqueen]

"In that case, we shouldn't have any problem," Isabela said, sliding into the chair.

"So, tell me, Kitten, your deck or mine?"

[foxsays]

"Kitten?" She'd been called many things in her life, not all of them meant as compliments, but kitten was certainly a new one. Still, she reached into her coat pocket for her cards, a little worn here and there from countless games, shuffling until she plucked out the queen with a wink.

"I am rather fond of having something like that to look upon when studying my hand."