Birthday Shenanigans

[gatheringstorm]

WHO: Korrin, Open to any positive CR (even if it's 'we met that one time and didn't hate each other')
WHAT: Birthday pub crawl/a quieter gathering for close friends?
WHEN: Drakonis 25 for the dinner. The pub crawl is the next evening.
WHERE: Kirkwall (the docks and Lowtown)/Korrin and Araceli's dockside apartment (inside or on the roof)
NOTES: Consider this your chance to add new and stupid names for various taverns in the city. Threadjacking is a-ok and there's no posting order. Adding CW as needed.

Pub Crawl

The message, given over the sending crystals, is pretty simple. Korrin's birthday has arrived and she wants to celebrate it with good friends and good drinks. Since Kirkwall has a variety of places, why not sample them all, or at least the places that will allow a qunari? It's made clear that presents aren't necessary, so no pressure there. She's more interested in the company and making some good memories than anything else. Meet her at the docks by sunset, and prepare for a wild night.

Dinner with friends

You know who you are. If you're at all close with Korrin or Korrin and Araceli (especially both of them), then you're invited to a calm, relaxing night of good quality cuisine, wine, and maybe some music and card games. The menu? It's Korrin, so there's a distinct prevalence of northern fare; spiced wine, Llomerryn Red with roasted potatoes or fresh oysters, paella, and alfajors, among other things. Every dish -of which there is an abundance- is set up buffet-style, with comfortable seating in a semi-circle not far away.

Make yourself comfortable, and watch your plate or a certain fox might try to sneak off with your dinner.

Comments

[aceso]

Though she's not familiar with the men Korrin traveled with, she's impressed at what just the four of them managed to accomplish. It shows on her face, and she sits up a little straighter in her seat.

"A den of them? That must have been quite the encounter! And you have all come back safe and sound, I take it?" She figures Korrin would have mentioned it were that not the case. "As to that, yes, I can say that they have. I have been able to stay in the lab longer with the red lyrium without any ill effects. It has increased the amount of work we get done."

It seems her life has been consumed with work lately, and for a workaholic such as herself, recognizing it means it is a serious thing indeed. But it always feels like they're just on the cusp of another breakthrough, and she simply can't stop; not when lives could be at stake. Their mission in the Sunless Lands proved that.

"Can you believe we have been in Kirkwall around a year now? I was so unhappy when we arrived."

[gatheringstorm]

She grins at Christine's reaction, nodding. "Some of us fared better than others, but we all emerged more or less intact. I'm so glad I learned Knight-Enchanter techniques long ago, that really made all the difference." Barriers that won't quit are a beautiful thing.

"And good. I'll take to testing them on the battlefield, too. Or my original idea, which was to go diving and see how the red lyrium has spread underwater. Our island adventure made me wonder about that." And if they have any more red lyrium krakens to look forward to. She takes another lengthy sip before answering that question.

"Hey, same here. I thought Kirkwall would be way worse toward qunari, considering. But I haven't deal with nearly as much crap as I thought I might, and it's so much easier to get things when you're not living all the way up atop a damn mountain."

[aceso]

"Diving? You are far braver than I!" Since, you know, Christine can't even swim. "If you do take the task upon yourself, I will eagerly await your report on what you find."

But even she realizes how ridiculous it is to discuss work at a birthday celebration. She takes a long drink from her mug to get into the spirit.

"I do miss the beauty and the quiet to be found in the mountains. But calling it isolated would be an understatement. I do not miss the wait on supplies."

[gatheringstorm]

"And I don't miss the cold. Random blizzard aside and being trapped in the Gallows overnight aside, this has been much more tolerable. Don't get me wrong, it's still Kirkwall, but things definitely could be worse." As long as history doesn't repeat itself and the city doesn't take them down with it, she can afford to be a bit tolerant.

She takes another swig, then leans back against her chair. "I'll let you know what I find, of course. The way I see it, that mess is relevant to both our projects. If there's more of what we found earlier, I want to know and before it surprises us. Besides, I also have a Rivaini-style waterbreathing ring, so that helps out considerably."

[aceso]

"Ah, that sounds perfect for someone in your position." As in, someone in the Naval Presence Project should be able to do things underwater for them.

"Speaking of rings, and the cold, I have my own treasure now." Holding out her hand, she shows off her magical ring that depicts a tiny snowy forest inside. "When I wear it, I cannot feel the cold at all. I still need to test it against magical cold spells. Perhaps you could help me sometime? I found it in the Sunless Lands. And yours? Did it come from Rivain?"

[gatheringstorm]

Leaning in, Korrin lets out a low whistle as she admires the wonder that is Christine's new trinket. "That's going to be useful, if you plan to go live among the Avvar too." She lets out a knowing smile, remembering her friend's ties to Honey Badger Hold.

She holds out her own hand,revealing a ring with wave designs. "It did, yeah. Remember when we stopped over at Llomerryn on our way back? I found it at their market. After seeing what we were facing just beforehand, I had to at least take a look for some extra help there. And at least with my project, I'm pretty sure we're headed back there sooner or later.

[aceso]

"That was my thought too. The furs can only do so much. I cannot wait to see the looks on their faces when I return without being weighed down in furs. Of course, I am sure they will find out the truth and continue to make fun of me for it." It's just the Avvar way to give lowlanders a good ribbing at their lack of Avvar qualities.

Christine examines Korrin's ring with an impressed look, nodding along with what she says.

"Were there other rings there? Perhaps Inquisition funds could be used to purchase more for its project members. Though I can see how this might be one of a kind."

[gatheringstorm]

"I bet they won't mind if you walk around in Avvar paints, though." Korrin wiggles her eyebrows before taking another swig. She thought about getting those for herself, but then her tattoos would be hidden and where's the fun in that?

"They didn't mass-produce them, that I saw, but that's not to say there aren't more around. If there's something else you want me to keep an eye out for, let me know and I'll see what I can do."

[aceso]

"Ah, they might not, but I would not enjoy it!" It just goes against her very Orlesian nature.

Christine takes a moment to consider what she might be interested in, and takes a long sip of her drink as she does so. Nothing really comes to mind, especially now that she has cleansing runes in her armor.

"Hmm, I can think of nothing. If I knew what to ask for, I probably would have rings all over my fingers by now, protecting me from all sorts of dangers." She flutters her fingers in the air. "But thank you for the thought." Korrin has been a true friend for a long time and Christine appreciates it. In fact, she wishes she could do more for her friend than just a night out and the one gift, but their lives are so busy since arriving in Kirkwall that neither of them have many free moments.

"Now, what do you hope this next year of your life brings you?"

[gatheringstorm]

"How about Corypheus' head on a platter? It's about damn time, you know." Korrin snorts, knowing it's never that simple but she was asked what she wanted, dammit. "And while I'm thinking big, a way to remove those anchors without killing people."

It's too late for Sina, but Araceli and others...they deserve to have that choice presented to them.

"...but if I'm more realistic, I wouldn't mind the return of some friends stationed far away. Taas, Twisted Fate, Adelaide...what can I say, I'm selfish and letter-writing isn't nearly a good substitute."

[aceso]

Her face softens. She, like Korrin, is in love with a rifter, and the thought of getting Church's anchor shard out is often on her mind. She knows he hides the pain it causes him too, not wishing for her to worry, because she always asks if he needs one of her spells to lessen the pain and he often brushes it off.

"That would be very nice. I imagine it is harder to be stationed at an Inquisition camp for so long. Several of my excursions out to far off places have felt very long indeed, and they were only a few weeks. It is a good wish."

[gatheringstorm]

There's a nod of understanding, glad to be able to share that with someone in the exact same situation. Not that she's going to spend all night baring her soul when they're supposed to be having fun, but it's nice to have that acknowledged in some small way. Few others would understand, let alone be people Korrin would mention that to in the first place.

"If you're not used to it, it can take a toll. And even if you are, there are times when you just crave regular access to hot water and meals you don't have to hunt yourself. I never thought I'd say that Kirkwall is spoiling me, but...." She shrugs, unable to deny that she's gotten used to some creature comforts.

[aceso]

That revelation makes Christine laugh, because such a thing is true. The city provides them with food, clothes, shelter and that can't be sniffed at. The city is far from perfect and yet it's better than trying to live off the land by yourself.

Taking a moment to finish her drink, she then places the mug in the middle of the table and leans back in her chair.

"I wonder if additional large outposts such as Skyhold and Kirkwall will be set up by the Inquisition. I would not mind a change in scenery, as long as I can continue my work in the same manner as I have always done it."

[gatheringstorm]

Draining the rest of her drink, Korrin leans back and decides to savor it for a moment before signalling for another. She won't expect Christine to match her pace, though, not when it takes a lot from a human brew to even begin affecting her. She grows thoughtful at that, considering what has already been established.

"Or they could expand on the keeps we already captured, I suppose. Crestwood wouldn't be so bad, if a bit remote. The Western Approach is just plain creepy, so hard pass. And Emprise du Lion is too damn frigid; we might as well be back in Skyhold."

[aceso]

"That could work. I would enjoy seeing them updated into places with permanent housing and facilities. And it would help the Inquisition's image to see more than a small force stationed at each. But perhaps such an undertaking requires too many resources and would be too much to manage. It is still a thought, however."

Now Christine gestures to her empty mug. "I am afraid I cannot come with you on a tour of all of Kirkwall's pubs. I am quite susceptible to alcohol, and I wish to head home sober, but I also wanted to help you start off your night."

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin waves that off, unoffended. "I'd carry you if it came to that, you know, but you're welcome to stay exactly as long as you please. The company is what matters, not the length of it. The fact that you're here now is present enough in itself."

[aceso]

"That would be a sight: you carrying me. I would probably be giggling and kicking my legs, and I cannot let my neighbors see that." She would never live it down.

"As long as we are part of this Inquisition, you can be sure I will be here to celebrate your day." Just not all night, but Korrin understands that. "One more round?"

[gatheringstorm]

"You mean you can't let Church see that, right?" Korrin grins, pretty sure he'd find that sight as amusing as she would. But Christine is a good friend, whose dignity can be respect. It's only fun if the person willingly surrenders it, after all.

"One more round!" She signals for a refill, raising her voice enough to be heard at the bar.

[aceso]

"Ah," she says, lips curving up in a smirk. "Perhaps so." He would never let her live it down, which means with her luck, it'll happen someday.

Looking over her shoulder at the bar, she notes their bartender nodding his head and filling two more mugs. She smiles and looks back at her friend. "No one could ever say they could not hear you, could they?"

[gatheringstorm]

"Nope! When you're living with a bunch of loud qunari, you have to be louder. I'm better than my dad, at least. I'm still not sure he knows what 'indoor voice' means. That pompous seneschal would love him, I bet." If she didn't have have work to do, it would be tempting to talk her parents out of their reservations about Kirkwall long enough to make that happen.

[aceso]

Christine chuckles just imagining it, though no doubt the seneschal probably has a pretty bad reaction to seeing "qunari" in his general vicinity.

"My mother can be quite loud herself, but I do believe she is quite aware of how loud she is being." And Christine has had her own temptation to bring her mother to Kirkwall and set her up in a decently priced place, now that she makes enough working for the Inquisition. But it's the trip itself that worries her. She isn't sure her mother could take such a journey with her constant poor health. If only she could rally and there could come a period where she feels well enough, then perhaps it could be an option.

Their drinks are brought over and Christine gives her thanks before starting in on the mug.

"Have you heard from your parents for your birthday?"

[gatheringstorm]

Savoring a long sip, Korrin nods afterward with a grin. "Oh, yeah. They sent a care package crammed with my favorite treats, and plenty for Araceli and Lux, too. It's like they can't decide what I should have, so they just throw in everything...but hey, I'm not complaining as long as they remember how to budget. Tama sent oils, spices and candies from Rivain, so I'm all set for northern-flavored cuisine for a while."

[aceso]

Christine, with her Orlesian and somewhat Fereldan palette, dislikes the spices from anywhere north of the Marches, but she doesn't say so out loud. It's what Korrin enjoys, and that's the important thing.

"Ah, if only we were all blessed with family that spoils us so." Not that she expects care packages from her mother. It would be unreasonable in her current living situation. "I do hope you can see each other again soon, though family ties such as yours cannot be broken by distance."

[gatheringstorm]

"It's true, I'm pretty spoiled...though to be fair, I like to think of this as compensation for partly raising them while growing up. The Qun doesn't teach you shit about how to live outside it, so it was a learning experience, to say the least." She can't bring herself to resent them for that, it's not as though they had any reason to know better until taught otherwise. "I saw them a few months ago, back in Wycome, and I'll see them again at some point. Probably on the way from an assignment up north."

[aceso]

"Indeed? And with you learning to control your magic at the same time? It sounds as though you grew up very fast." Christine can't put herself in those shoes because her childhood was completely different to Korrin's, but it does sound like it would be a struggle at times. However, perhaps her innate stubbornness would have carried her through.