The Days That Bind Us 2: Still Bound

[exequy]

WHO: Mages, anyone else who cares
WHAT: Give us liberty or give us potatoes, or: a most noble strike for a most noble purpose, or: pissy mage babies throw a tantrum
WHEN: 14-19 Cloudreach 9:44
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: This is for consolidating RP regarding the strike. Your character doesn't have to be striking themselves to top-level or tag around, as long as it's tangentially related.

The morning of Cloudreach 14, with minimal fanfare, a significant fraction of the Circle mages working with the Inquisition across Thedas stops showing up for work. On the other hand, a significant fraction doesn't stop. But the not-working fraction is significant enough to cause problems, and for the Inquisition to not delay or prolong the discussions already set to take place at Skyhold with a few representatives of the aggrieved mages and a number of Templar and Chantry representatives.

In the Gallows, most of the mages who are refusing to work relocate—voluntarily, unless being scowled at by Kostos Averesch qualifies as being forced against one's will—to the dusty recruits' quarters in the former Templar tower for an indefinite, politicized slumber party, featuring uncomfortable bunk beds and a lot of unseasoned starches. For a cause.

ooc | Remember that striking characters are generally losing access to confidential information, Inquisition equipment or materials, and any amenities, comforts, or privileges beyond the "plain potatoes for dinner" and "not thrown out into the streets" level.

Comments

Inessa

[circleprodigy]

Recruit's quarters are less of a hardship on Inessa than the sudden free time. A small, uncomfortable bed and no real privacy? Eh, she's dealt with worse in her life and not all that far in the past. However, she finds herself more than once heading to her office automatically, only to stop herself from that routine before she can be accused of not committing.

But regardless of the mages' issues with the Inquisition, she's still a Grey Warden and those duties she plans to continue fulfilling. So when the slight elven woman isn't sleeping worse than usual or attempting to each those plain potatoes (and probably letting Garahel have most of that), she'll be up in the roost. Potato demands careful attention, after all, and as a griffon keeper, the others are her under her care as well.

Garahel is, naturally, following Inessa everywhere that isn't the roost. So, enjoy some quiet doggy snoring.

[altusimperius]

Giving Garahel the widest of berths is Benedict, who will never be used to mabari. Dogs are supposed to be horrible little yappy things that his mother's friends brings around, not monsters bigger than wolves and drippy and near hairless. It's horrible, and any time the dog has approached him, Bene has rapidly stepped back and away from him, scared in that instinctive animal way that one would be if in the sights of a bear.

[circleprodigy]

You know that rule where the more you want to avoid a pet, the more attention it will pay you? Well, that's the case with Garahel. He never jumps or paws or such, but he is curious about the twitchy new neighbor and keeps trying to sniff at him to get a better sense of the man. His mistress, trying to get settled in with a cup of tea and a book, frowns a little and beckons to him.

"Garahel, come here. Leave him alone." Garahel whines a little -he was just being friendly!- but obeys, plopping down beside her with a huff.

"...sorry about that." Sort of.

[altusimperius]

"Why is that thing allowed indoors," Benedict demands, his voice shaking as he stays pressed against the wall, not taking his eyes off Garahel. "It should be chained outside with the other beasts."

[circleprodigy]

Garahel whines again, visibly hurt, and Inessa narrows her eyes at Benedict. It's true that her affection-seeking mabari can be too much for others to handle at times, but that? That was completely uncalled for, in any sense. Her tone is definitely cooler when she replies, and perhaps her Fereldan accent is a shade more notable as well.

"That 'thing' is a mabari, and mabari are never chained by anyone with a heart or common sense. As long as I remain -and I intend to, for the duration- so will he." Deal with it.

[altusimperius]

"Hearts and common sense," Benedict snorts, "two things in short order around here as it is." He looks Inessa up and down, and ultimately decides she's not worth confronting. Look at her, she's just an elf. "Go on then." This is half-said to Garahel, whom he continues to eye warily.

[circleprodigy]

Inessa, looking him over, seems to come to the same conclusion. He's not worth the confrontation, when she could be spending her efforts more productively elsewhere. And she will...but first, it's time spoil Garahel. She's not usually one for cutesy voices where others can hear, but this time, she'll be utterly shameless.

"How's my handsome boy? Do you need a belly-rub? I think you do...."

[altusimperius]

With a scoff, Benedict flips his hair and takes his leave. Fereldans.