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

[exequy]

Kostos, who would be offended by the suggestion that he can't actually hold a conversation if it were made aloud, doesn't look up from his book or give much indication whatsoever that he's listening.

So, you know. The offense would be irrational.

But he is listening, and when Gareth seems to find the end of his thought, he tilts his head thoughtfully to one side without removing his eyes from the page.

"Tell them they can no longer sit with us in the dining hall."

[foundmyselfagain]

Gareth lets out a grumpy huff, hands propping on his hips. He’s not, exactly, sure what he was expecting from Kostos, but being taken seriously would be a good start.

“You know I’m right! We’re trying to prove that we’re important allies, that we’re needed, and our opinions need to be considered. They are jeopardizing all of that by showing that some mages will not only roll over for them and let themselves be used as a doormat, but that they’re willing to do what we’re doing, while being obedient wimps.”

He doesn’t bother to keep his voice down, not trying to call others to attention, but not trying to avoid it. He is right, after all, and everyone else should think on his words.

[exequy]

"If they have time to do two jobs now," Kostos says—still not looking up—"they were not doing much of one before."

And if Gareth means who Kostos thinks he means, they're little more than children. Not that that's an excuse for them, that they're only children. Mages are never only children. But while they are responsible for themselves, and fully accountable, and all of that, they're also of minimal importance. And eighteen-year-old—fourteen, when the Circles fell—can't do what he does. Or at least, if one is going to try, he'd like to watch, with a glass of wine.

He finishes a paragraph, then raises his eyes, finally, to give Gareth his due consideration, or some fraction of it, depending on whether he's due more consideration than a two second pause and skeptical raised eyebrows.

"What would you suggest?"

[foundmyselfagain]

They aren't too far apart in age than Gareth, and that's probably why he's not as focused on them being children. He wasn't that much older than they were, when his Circle fell, and he could understand what was wrong.

Admittedly, for several years, he thought the answer to that problem was gratuitous murder, but hey.

But he know that gratuitous murder is not the answer, here. He's not sure what the answer is, but killing probably isn't going to help. So, like a mature, rational adult, he parks himself on Kostos' bed, and pouts. "I don't know. Maybe if Nell gets us extra privileges, or a new Mage Council, they can't be in it." Which...entirely depends on hearing back from Nell, when they're finished negotiating.

[exequy]

Kostos moves his legs obligingly, because it's Gareth. Someone else, he might refuse. Or move his legs deliberately into the path of their descending bottoms.

"Or if Nell gets us a dining hall table," he says, and he's still making fun a bit, but without the surly why are you even talking to me tone he might aim at someone else, "they can't sit at it."