faderift | But the Stars are not gods, they say

Watching Korrin from his giant glass bowl is the very small black kraken, a little model ship grasped in several arms as he hauls himself up to squirt a jet of water at her. Another arm waves with a wet slapping at the glass.

The lady is not in her office, dress hanging up, shoes tucked in. Lux is absent too. But if Korrin can spy the courtyard then there's a sweatier Araceli with a lot of blades. Some of which might have been decorative pins holding her hair up before she went for the dummy with a flourish.

"Yeah, yeah. Hello to you, too." Korrin takes the water-squirting in stride, even dropping in some food from wherever Araceli keeps it nearby. But now that she's spotted her favorite human, that's about as much quality time as the kraken is going to get for the time being.

Taking her goods back downstairs -even if she were as limber as Araceli, Korrin's not about to parkour down and risk destroying them- she thunders down the stairs and out the tower once more. Humming an Antivan shanty under her breath, she strides toward the training area and once she's close enough, just pausing to enjoy the view. Her own fighting style is swift, efficient, brutal when need be. It doesn't have the grace Araceli's own possesses, and those fluid movements always catch her eye when it's not mid-battle and she's required to focus on something else. A warm, broad smile forms as she leans against the wall.

"And here I was half-expecting you would drop down on me from above, kadan. It's not often I get to find you first."

Pay him tribute he is lord of all he surveys. He doesn't even notice Korrin leaving, too busy snaffling at the food then as far into his ship as he can to eat in peace.

Outside Araceli is still in the midst of her drills, a strike aimed high to come up under where two sections of armour would meet on an opponent. Her hair is roughly pinned back but coming loose, plastered to her face and neck in places as she pirouettes sharply as if a blade is being thrust her direction--

Someone is speaking, her trailing arm up in a block because she's still in the moment but she knows that voice, blades dropping as the delighted smile crosses her face. "Sirena! You're back," as if she hadn't been keeping track of the damned ships. "Perhaps I wanted to let you have the win when you're just home, come here."

Mmm yes come let your sweaty girlfriend pounce. With her knives.

Korrin lives for that smile, and all at once the past several days away seem entirely too long, for all that she could focus when there was a mission that needed doing. That she should discuss it with Araceli on a professional level isn't forgotten, but...it can wait. Slavers and pirate queens and whatnot will still be waiting after their reunion.

"Well, I have to say I did appreciate the chase...and the view. As you wish, kadan." Neither the sweatiness (Korrin would call it a 'glow' at least for Araceli if not herself) nor the knives bother the Vashoth woman in the least and she laughs, setting down that bottle and the treats. Stepping forward, she holds out her hands to help her up, because Araceli can't be held fast enough.

Stepping back just enough to allow herself a little run up, Araceli jumps so it's the best sort of reunion hug, blades still out because she is small and alarming what of it? One is sheathed still when she pounces, the arm swung wide around Korrin's neck with the blade angled in such a way that Korrin isn't in danger unless Araceli happens to be dropped at all. So she might want to take care. Hold tight.

Because that's very sharp, very cold stiletto steel in the other hand at Korrin's back as Araceli holds herself upright so she can kiss Korrin senseless for as long as she can until she can't because she's breathless and smiling.

"I missed you," she says, rests her forehead in the crook of Korrin's neck for the first time in days. Who cares if there's an audience for this? Sometimes she's twenty-two, swept up in her girlfriend coming back, in being very public about it all when she gets to be because so often she can't and fuck them if they don't like it today. Korrin's home. Korrin's home and Araceli can have her all to herself until work calls again. "Are you well? I didn't hear from you but that's never a guarantee one way or the other? Was it smooth sailing? Have you even had time to sit down and eat?"

Araceli is never in danger of being dropped by Korrin, of course. She weighs practically nothing in the Vashoth's eyes, and said Vashoth is well accustomed to these antics by now. If she couldn't catch and hold onto her, would she truly be worthy of being her sirena? And cold steel is a small price to pay for that enthusiastic welcome, which she echoes.

Likewise breathless and grinning, she holds Araceli close afterward, her fingers gently combing through those beautiful curls. The scent of her hair oils brings forth another reminder of what she'd missed (which was everything). Anything or anyone else is nowhere on her mind right now.

"I missed you, too, kadan. Sorry I went dark when we disembarked, but practically from the moment we did, we were working. I grabbed what I could, here and there, but there just wasn't time for a leisurely meal." A true tragedy, when northern cuisine was in such abundance. "I did bring back what I could, though; wine, spices, oils...anything that would keep, so we could enjoy it together. If you're worked up an appetite, I'll join you. Then you can see for yourself that I'm not wasting away, fair enough?"

This late in the evening, all Araceli has left to do around the Gallows normally involve a bath that she can probably get away with swapping for a swim or covering with perfumes and oils tomorrow if she just wants to go now. The idea of taking home anything to study from tonight falls into the whole commendable but laughable, and leaving her dress where it is for the night won't do it any harm.

So she hops down, weapons stowed away safely as she shakes out her hair again now it's not sticking to her quite so much - Kirkwall's cold even now, or cold to her, as soon as she stops moving she doesn't feel as flushed - and tips her head to the side considering. "All I need to do is run up to lock the office if we want to eat at home or we could have a bath here, lock up, then go home. You know I can always eat, it's rude to refuse the opportunity or invitation."

Someone that runs around as much as Araceli does tends to eat plenty, at least when it's their sort of cooking and she's been doing the cooking for one thing which isn't her preferred sort of cooking at all. But it's Korrin's choice seeing as she's just home.

Decisions, decisions. Food is definitely going to happen whatever the order, she'd grown so tired of the stores they had at sea that her stomach is begging for something, anything else. But the thought of washing off the long voyage, and curling up with Araceli in steaming water is far, far too tempting for her to pass up.

"A bath sounds heavenly, not gonna lie. Your little friend tried to give me one, but that's not the same as a good soak. We could start there, and that invitation will still be standing afterward, promise." Always choose a partner with a healthy appetite who enjoys food; Korrin's never failed to follow Tama's sound advice.

It's a thought at some point when the whole lifeboats thing is further along to maybe actually set up something to do with fishing even if it's for fun. Harder out at sea to get the hang of it but if people learn how to do it then it'd be less relying on dried rations that get more and more stale by the day, or more questionable in the case of the fruit and vegetables that don't get pickled first. Something to add to the list after the bath and before bed.

"Fernando doesn't like to be ignored," Araceli says with a little shrug as if that explains everything. It's not his fault he's a very small kraken who has no idea of his own size, perhaps in his own mind he's a very large being, master of all that he surveys imposing his will upon those who dare to enter his inner sanctum, she can't claim to know his mind. "There's Llomerryn red I can heat," or close enough to marinara that it makes little difference when she's throwing things together, "I'll run up to the office and grab my things."

"That sounds perfect. I'll meet you there, kadan. Say hi to Fernando for me." Korrin brushes her lips against Araceli's once more before heading to the heated baths. Some mages might avoid the templar's former tower out of principle, but no hot water is a dealbreaker for the Vashoth woman from further north.

Arriving there, she's pleased to find the area quiet. The general rush must have been earlier, which means she gets her pick of spots. It isn't long before Korrin is sinking into the steaming water with her eyes half-closed, waves of white hair drifting down and about.

"Fernando Florencio Eduard Mariano." Surnames not included but sometimes she must give him his whole name so he doesn't somehow feel he's being made to feel small when her own is apparently a mouthful. A short trip back to the office finds the actual bathing supplies kept there since the baths are in the Gallows so it's easier to keep them on site and deal with cleaning them there, a change of clothes for after and going home so she can just wash the dirty ones at the flat and a look on her face that must give off an air of being in no mood for conversation now.

Boots slipped off, little basket of supplies nestled to the side, Korrin probably hears the rustling of Araceli setting all her things down neatly before she slides in with a little hiss when the warm water finds sore spots from earlier scrambling around and training, head tipped back. She submerges completely, holds her breath a long time then pops up, curls tossed back over her shoulder. "Hi."

Groping behind her she passes over a comb to Korrin in case she wants one, starts finding one of her oils to just get clean a little quicker tonight than usual.

"Hi, kadan. Perfect, isn't it? I'm feeling miles better already." Stretching a little, she opens her eyes and takes the offered comb. "If you turn away from me, I'll help get the back." She trusts Araceli to do the same for herself, after all. Granted, her own -straighter- hair tends to require a less delicate touch, but she's taken the time to learn just how to help with Araceli's own grooming process. Those curls must be treated with proper respect, and her kadan deserves no less.

"I don't miss much about Skyhold most of the time," Araceli says as she turns with the quiet slosh of water, "but I do miss the hot springs, and that they were so close to the rooms instead of having to take a boat to and from wherever I bathe unless I want to heat up that much water in front of a fire at home."

And yes, she knows that they're in the lucky position of being able to have something to bathe in at home if pressed but it has to be in the kitchen, it needs to be heated up slowly, and Araceli barely fits so she knows Korrin doesn't. At all.

"I was visiting with Señora Vauquelin recently and I forgot how jealous being in a Hightown home makes me. Where we live isn't too different to my home away but Hightown is more like the palace than the Gallows, I very much miss that at times. But," she resists the urge to shake her head since Korrin's dealing with her hair after all, "tell me what you're allowed to tell me of Antiva, the gossip is firsthand for once!"

There's a sigh and nod in response as Korrin herself pines for the one aspect of Skyhold that she truly misses. Everything else is admittedly easier and more abundant, but the longer distance between their bed and a spacious heated bath can be brutal at times. "Maker, same...not that I want to pick up and move here to the Gallows, that wouldn't even make sense since the docks are so convenient for what we do. But what I wouldn't give for there to be a decent bathhouse on our side."

It could be suggested, sure, but somehow she's certain such things are low on the Inquisition's list of priorities. Oh, well.

Carefully working away, Korrin smiles as she savors what is instead of focusing on what can't be. "I didn't have much time for anything not mission-related, but we heard about a pirate vessel stealing a large amount of gold from a ship in Rialto Bay. Except what the actually stole were a buttload of false coins instead; a merchant prince -Velevasquaz- was going to use them for trade lessons for his sons and place a huge bounty for the return of the ships cargo. The coins might already be in circulation, though. So, if you get gold coins from Antiva, better check to see they're legitimate.

As for the mission itself, we busted a slaver den and emerged mostly intact for it, but it's only one link in what could be a long chain. There's another important member; Viliana Malafronte, a pirate captain. We couldn't find her on our own, since she was at sea when all that went down...but as I mentioned in my report, teaming up with the Naval Presence project might help us find her. I hope we can get to that sooner than later, and find out where she's taking her cargo to or from. More links to bust, but if it means freeing slaves from that shit, it'll be well worth the time."

Edited 2018-04-09 15:12 (UTC)

Well there's always Araceli managing to forge suitably convincing documents to pass herself off as genuine nobility to get hold of an estate or marrying some doddering fool that'll die soon so she can inherit without the demonic rifter worries. Which she won't. Because it leaves them with the same issue of being away from the docks but still closer to the Gallows for a warm bath and with the chance for a better bath of their own that they don't have to share because she's a spoiled girl who loves a bath. "They don't need that down at the docks though, it's not where most people are going to be bathing that way," at all because honestly most people aren't actually that clean, "or when there's water right there that they can have a dip in. That's what mot of them do at sea if they're so ripe they can't stand it. They're not wasting anything just for a bath."

Doing her best not to nod, Araceli takes a note of the name in case she might try running it past Lady Vivas if the Antivan woman is inclined to speak with her in friendly terms now that the cat's out of the bag regarding what Araceli happens to be. A little groan escapes her because what a headache. "That's just what everyone needs, especially if too much of it gets traded about by Inquisition folk.

Lady Vivas might be a good person to ask for information, she's Antivan, and when I spoke with her before she did speak about the Merchant Princes and how things were going in Antiva. It's not as if we can easily send word to Llomerryn and find out how things are going there." And that's really just for Tevinter or Qunari movements, the likelihood of Captain Valdez informing them of another pirate and their habits are slim. "You know I'll support that, I have plans for a few things we should all be doing together or in little groups, maybe able to bring in some people from outside to let them see what we do too but everyone catching up wouldn't be so terrible."

"Oh, I know they won't bother. It's a pleasant fantasy, that's all. Besides, it's a hassle but I'll take it over not having any access at all. Fuck, all this settled life is making me spoiled." Life on the road was often full of hardships, but it's instilled a certain adaptability in Korrin that she's not eager to lose. Hence, signing up for missions either with Araceli or without. She can't afford to lose that edge.

"It's still weird to hear of any mage using a title unless they're a vint, but yeah, she'd likely have the needed connections. Whatever she gives us, it's more than we have right now." Yeah, she's not counting on Valdez ratting out another pirate, either. That's different from the threat the Venatori pose the waters of northeastern Thedas. "And I'll help with those plans however I can; wherever I'm most effective, you'll have me there." She lowers her hands to rest them on Araceli's shoulders while dropping a kiss on the back of her head.

"Korrin," and Araceli has to turn to stare semi-incredulously, "I just said I missed living in a palace. Being settled isn't spoiled, it's a good thing because you have a place to come back to. Getting to shut the door, hang up your clothes, relax where no one else is? No one else deciding what you'll eat? It's a good thing. Having odds and ends cluttering the place up." Not that she'd imply that people without somewhere settled didn't have a place to fight for but for her it's always made it real to know that she has her home, her neighbours, her little life amidst whatever she's doing that might be changed by whatever action she takes.

"Lady Thevenet had a title too, she's Nevarran. No one knows what might happen, if mages one day here gain back more rights and with those the titles they lost. That she continues to go by it for us can be an advantage we can use, and it does speak to confidence and ambition." Things they can't afford not to have when sometimes appearance is all that you have to speak of. "It's your turn now, come on."

Korrin turns as directed, though not before flashing a smile. "It is a good thing, better than I thought it could be. Don't get me wrong, kadan, I love our life together. That apartment with a view of the water, walls thick enough that we don't hear other people and they don't hear us, the kitchen that's just ours and no one else's? All those things are awesome. I just have to keep enough of the mercenary with me so that when I'm on the road I'm not grumbling constantly for the lack of them."

Leaving behind the world's most comfortable bed for a bedroll in a tent...that's harder than it used to be.

"And Nevarrans have always been unique like that. They somehow kept a little of the respect for mages that everyone else outside Tevinter squashed down...at least for the Mortalitasi and those who might become them. Antiva's different...or it was, but if that can help us in any way, I'm not complaining." She knows better than to think non-humans will gain any titles to go with those rights, but whatever. It's the not being shoved back into a Circle that's the important part, for the rebel mages of the present.

Groping behind her with one hand until she finds one of the combs she'd brought down with her, Araceli slowly works it through Korrin's hair until she's sure she'll be able to get her fingers through without snagging, sweeping some from Korrin's shoulder to press a kiss there. "Living at the Gallows at the start was-- I know I slept wherever I could at first at Skyhold, I can do that but we all had more space, it was a little too communal after time on the ships for people not used to it."

Or people used to it who'd started to become accustomed to something of a more comfortable life of not having to share just as much space constantly.

"I'll complain next time we have to camp. I hate it. I hate camping," Korrin won't be able to see Araceli's satisfied little smirk since she's busy working away on her hair but it feels good to say it. Yes, she can do any sort of ship life swinging away in hammocks or curled up even on piles of rigging to sleep but camping? No. "There's no part of it that's good, I go because I know I have to go but every time we don't need to do the sleeping on the ground in the middle of nowhere in all weathers I'm happier."

(She is a spoiled baby who grew up in a warm brothel all her life, who had a flat that was still small and cosy, who went on a ship where she always found a nice little nook to sleep in. Then had a palace bed. There was always a bed. Not glorified ground.)

"Whatever comes of the king and the Merchant Princes whenever it comes, it'll be an indicator. The Merchant Princes will want whatever's best for business. Mages could be good for that." Mages could be more easily argued to be good for business if casting a lot, but there's more to look at, depending how the wind blows, if people have sense in their heads and all that. "At least there aren't the Crows now, it must've made it easier to know you wouldn't have to look over your shoulders for any sort of involvement from them in any fashion."

Closing her eyes while savoring Araceli's attentive touch, Korrin lets out a content sigh. "I promise you that loving camping will never be a requirement of our relationship, kadan. It is what it is and I'm used to it, but I won't pretend I love too-thin tent walls, among other shit." Sometimes literal; someone has to dig the latrines.

"It's strange to think of the Crows as a non-factor. They were a ruthless bunch, but they kept invaders at bay because no one wanted to deal with them. I don't think the Merchant Princes scare outsiders nearly as much."

"I should've gone to Nevarra. The one time we had an inn." A real inn. Beds. Of course they both know why but what are the chances of it being repeated in a hurry when they went to uncharted frozen wastes last time?

Nodding, she runs the hair oil through - she'll need to pick up more soon - Korrin's hair before following it through with the comb, rising up on her toes to rinse it out. "Remember what they did to Zevran. How many others have there been? If the princes get things sorted, they'd have a stronger base; don't doubt tariffs and treaties for control and keeping the peace."

"I'm not sure I'd expect a repeat trip to Nevarra anytime soon, or at least the capital." She wasn't there for the Grand Necropolis fight, but she sure had to hear about it afterward. What a mess. "That said, I'll look for more assignments that involve beds than tents. That shouldn't be too steep a standard, right?"

Her voice is increasingly more relaxed, as the hair oil and comb are putting her perfectly at ease. She has to remind herself that this is a public bath and they'll have to get out sooner or later. Though what a way to drift off, if it could happen. "It also helps that we've a common enemy to keep everyone distracted...two, if you count people worried about the Qunari from the north. They're always good boogeymen."

"There are always ways things have to be smoothed over; Zimevur and Castileos are far from friends, they blame us for all that happened from a war they instigated throughout the rest of our world yet we still go there for diplomatic missions as needed, to do what might be done to maintain peace. That's without anything like this." All of it only brings to mind that first discussion with Lady Vivas, her mouth pulling into a frown she knows twists the same as her mother's might. "Yet Nevarra is connected to elsewhere, and close to Tevinter. How many noble families from one nation to another? Cast a stone into the water, you never know how far the ripples travel, what they touch."

Araceli's sure she's said that before, and here in the baths only illustrates the point better as she rises up on her knees to rinse Korrin's hair entirely, to check for any sign of injury that might be lingering that she hadn't spotted already but it bears repeating. Because it's true. Because they don't know. They never know. It's what makes the Inquisition so damned dangerous at times.

"The Qun...I can understand why people are afraid of the Qun." No matter how carefully she says it, it still sounds the way it sounds: I am afraid of the Qun, a thing I can't negotiate with that will take and reshape until there is nothing left. "If they could all be set at each other...but that's why there's a project to look into them and what they're doing. And we should get going, I don't know if you have your ring." Leaning forward, she tilts Korrin's face towards her so she can kiss her before she reluctantly climbs out, wrapping a towel round herself then holding out another.

But the Stars are not gods, they say

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timeskip to the baths?

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