WHO: Christine, Ellana, Tessa, Minka, & Julian WHAT: doing various things throughout the latter half of Cloudreach WHEN: Cloudreach 15th - Cloudreach 30th WHERE: The Gallows
Prompts are in comments so I only get notifs once.
{ I } There is a great deal of tension in Christine's shoulders as she works throughout the days of the strike, but she will do nothing drastic while negotiations are going on. She believes in words first, then actions, having never been a rebel mage who cast the first strike. Let others be brash and speak for themselves. She won't join in unless negotiations end poorly for them. While she mostly stays buried in her research up in her office, occasionally she emerges to do her shifts in the infirmary, neatly avoiding any discussion of the strike with curious patients. Instead she focuses on the injuries she sees, sighing and lightly scolding.
"You should really be more careful. This could have been much more serious."
{ II } Despite her somewhat serious and icy exterior, Christine can be a warm, compassionate person too. She wouldn't make a very good healer if she wasn't. And so when she spots someone in the Gallows struggling with something, she clicks her tongue softly and steps forward.
"Allow me to help you with that?"
Whether it's helping to carry something, assist someone in their daily duties, or something else, Christine has a bit of free time to lend a hand.
{ closed to sam } Ordinarily the oppressive heat and constant clatter of metal on metal at the forge wouldn't be an environment in which Christine would want to linger. But while Sam is working, it's a place she not only tolerates, but is fine staying in if only for his presence. Plus it's amusing to see how many people will wander by to ogle him. It's such a burden being handsome, isn't it, Sam?
Today she comes in to find him doing... something. She honestly has no idea what part of the process he's at, but she greets him warmly, taking a moment to clip up her hair against the heat.
To be quite honest, he hardly notices the people who pass by, eyes focused on his work and the sound of metal ringing in his ears. Probably why so many choose to wander by, getting a show and not having to worry about pretending they weren't just looking. So hardly a burden, even when once in a while there is a brave soul who comes in to 'ask questions' - 'oh, what is that called' 'I'm looking for a gift...'.
Everyday he's doing 'something'. Today though he isn't quite creating. "Someone came in asking for repairs on his armor. I was just about to patch it up."
"Oh? I have always wondered how you do that. Surely you add in a new bit of metal, yes?" At least that's what makes sense to her. Like patching up a hole in a blanket or shirt. The business of blacksmithing has always been beyond her, and she's had no need to visit the forge for weapons or armor since she had her spirit blade hilt made. Her staff, Hakkon's Wisdom, is one solid piece of unusual metal that looks like blue ice, and it has never needed serviced.
If blacksmithing wasn't his trade then he'd probably nave no reason to know about it either. His magic blade only had the hilt and he wore leather armor.
"Well, yes and no. That's simply putting it. Actually doing it we need to temper the metal where the repair needs to be done and apply the same or similar metal. Once it's fused and has cooled then we have to file it down on both sides."
{ I } "No," Ellana mutters to herself, tapping her pencil against the page of her journal. Numerous loose sheets are scattered around her on a table in the library, and she searches through several before picking one up and examining it.
"What's another word for--" Cutting herself off, she sets down the page and quickly flips through the large thesaurus in front of her. Beside it, a hedgehog rests on her back, nestled in the middle of a comfy scarf and watching Ellana's search for the perfect word.
"Engaging? No. Gripping? No. Oo! Captivating." Ellana lifts her head and smiles at the hedgehog. "What do you think, Quillhelmina? Captivating?" The little ball of quills yawns and stretches, causing her to roll over. Ellana laughs softly and sets her back on the scarf. "I hope that means you approve."
{ II } One she's found the replacement words she was looking for and has edited things one last time, she can be found at the docks, handing a brown parcel tied with string to a dwarf along with several coins.
"And you'll take it right there?" she asks, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Yes, yes. He's expecting the final edits on those chapters, so I'm going now." He sounds as though this isn't his first encounter with her being a neurotic mess.
"Okay. Good, good." Wringing her hands together, Ellana watches the man go until he disappears into the crowd. Then she finds a place to sit until her legs stop shaking. Despite her demeanor, a smile of relief crosses her face. It's finally done. Now to see if the publisher keeps his word. Her eyes catch another's and she laughs.
"I must look like a shaking newborn halla. So ridiculous."
"If she doesn't I will, captivating is one of my favorite adjectives. If a bloke calls you that it means he's getting creative with the compliments," Cyril comments quietly from Ellana's side.
It's been a while since they've spent time together, what with the two of them both going off on their own directions, so he had come near when he saw her - hoping for a chance to catch up a bit. He just couldn't help the smart comment as a way of saying hello.
"Though I suppose flirting isn't what you have in mind right now."
Glancing up, Ellana grins and pats the seat next to her to encourage him to stay awhile. Cyril is a welcome face and she could really do with a break before her brain turns to mush.
"No, I don't, but I agree that's a perfect compliment. It would get me swooning." She takes the messiest of her arrangement and scoops the papers into a pile so the table looks less like an explosion of parchment.
"This is Quillhelmina, by the way. She sneaked into my life recently." The hedgehog stays put on the scarf, but is observing quietly.
Inessa rounds the corner with some books of her own, Garahel taking point. Intensely curious, the mabari lets out a questioning sound as he leans up to peet at the hedgehog, sniffing at it. Setting down her books, Inessa likewise peers at the new addition. "Well, hello there, Quillhelmina." She glances to Ellana with an eyebrow raised; can she pet her?
"Thank you! She went days without a name because nothing fit, but then I thought of this and it just works."
Quillhelmina doesn't move at the mabari's sniffing, but whether that's from fear or not finding Garahel a threat is hard to say. Ellana nods to Inessa, however. "She has a soft tummy. And the quills aren't so bad either. Just a little prickly."
"Oh, I quite understand. It took me a while to name Garahel. Speaking of which...avoid the quills, okay?" Garahel settles for booping noses, wagging his tail happily. Friends, right? Inessa reaches over and strokes the hedgehog's head, smiling as she looks back up to Ellana. "Where did you get her? Was there another giveaway, as with the little nugs?"
Freshly returned from the Gallows, Korrin steps out of her boat in time to catch that brief exchange. She's about to ask anyway, but Ellana meeting her gaze creates the perfect opening. She smiles, all sorts of curious.
"Eh, I won't judge. But what's all that about, then?"
"I just sent off the final edits of my book to my publisher. Varric is the one who made this all happen. Long ago he put in a good word for me with some people who publish his books, and when I finally got my journey all put together in a readable form, I mailed it to them." She blows out a breath, rubbing her sweaty palms against her lap.
"I needed to make a few edits and clean up some repetitive words, but it's all done now. Out of my hands and out into the world."
"...wow." Korrin raises her eyebrows, an impressed smile quickly forming. "Ellana Ashara, an author. Now that's something to celebrate. So, when will I get a chance to peek at it, do you think? Because I'll definitely set aside some time."
"Well you look like you've just sent off some sort of Dalish treasure to a dwarf .... so I would say shaking sounds about right." Adasse drawled as he sauntered up to her side, curiosity lighting up his dark eyes. He nodded towards the dwarf, who was heading off into the crowd.
That make Ellana laugh, especially since Adasse isn't too far off the mark.
"Close. It's my book on finding the Sulevin Blade. He's taking it to the publisher now." Ellana runs her hands up and down her arms, feeling excited goosebumps spreading there as she speaks.
"It's been a long time in the making. I've been editing my notes for what feels like forever."
At that Adasse blinked with surprise, because he wasn't aware that anyone had ever found the Sulevin Blade, much less wrote a book on it. "They're really going to publish a book by a Dalish elf on a Dalish blade? The times, they are a'changing."
"I never knew you were so adventurous, Ellana." He beamed over at her. "Outside of the thieving lessons."
{ I } While nobody's asking her to get up and work, Tessa finds she has to do something with her day, and Base Operations has a list of small tasks that need doing. One involves cleaning out one of the weapons' storage closets to separate serviceable weapons from broken ones. It's a monotonous task, and Tessa wishes this place had iPods so she'd have something to listen to. But she gets to work, separating weapons and scoffing at the size of some of them. Seriously, people who use mauls this size must be compensating for something. Those ones she has to drag out of the closet with some effort, and anyone could easily come across her struggling.
{ II } But if not then, they might find her at the Gallows' archery range later, after she finds a one-handed crossbow with bolts loaded into the side. It had reminded her of those old revolvers from westerns; the six shooters. And anything that reminds her of a gun (a weapon she was using just over two weeks ago) is something she wants to try. However, being her first time, she's not doing too hot. In fact, she's missing the target completely. Sighing, she lowers the weapon.
"Figures. Find a pseudo-gun and I blow at firing it."
Ignis is still working hard to ensure he has some semblance of fighting ability. Thedas is just as dangerous as Eos - and in more so in many cases - he cannot allow his lack of eyesight to render him helpless.
That means he spends a lot of time in the training grounds, and he happens to be near when he hears Tessa's vocal complaint. Her voice is familiar and he realizes he knows her from the crystals.
"I've a friend who successfully made the change from pistol to cross bow, perhaps I can ask him to impart some of his wisdom?" It's the same friend the discussed before - the one Ignis thinks would choose to stay in Thedas, though he doesn't reference that detail he imagines she might remember him discussing someone from home.
His voice is familiar too. It's been a smorgasbord of delightful accents since she arrived. She's pretty sure if she spots an Antivan in person that she'll jump their bones as soon as they say hello, and Ignis's accent is all refinement without sounding snooty.
"Hey, Ignis! See, I remembered!" Of course then she takes a good look at him and realizes that he's blind. Why did she have to use the word "see?" Her face grows hot as she winces, but thankfully she's spared him seeing that.
"Um, yeah. Your friend? That'd be great. Any help I can get, really. I'm sorta new to the whole weapons thing, but I don't want to lose what I've learned so far, you know?"
It's the loud clanking of metal that grabs his attention first. Then it's the obvious noise of something heavy being dragged across the floor. It's rather... ominous sounding. It reminds him of when the statues came to life in the Gallows or some of those red lyrium behemoths, so a little horrifying to hear - he really hopes that when he pops his head in he won't be hearing screeches or bull-rushed.
Poking his head around the corner, Sam gives a quiet sigh of relief that the source of the noises not what he was picturing. Though it did beg to question-
"What are you doing?" he asks, as he walks into the room, brows raised at the woman's obvious struggle.
"Urgh...grr..." Tessa grunts out as she tries dragging a heavy, two-handed maul over to the "good" pile of weapons. Pausing at the voice, she goes, "It's cool, dude. I got assigned weapon cataloging duty." She stops and lets the handle drop to the ground to take a break, stretching her back and turning towards the voice.
And then the color drains from her face and her arms drop to her sides. It only takes a moment for her to realize that this guy isn't Mike, but the realization is pretty crushing. His face shape, nose, and even sort of his eye shape all look similar to Mike's. Not a twin by far, but similar enough that she could see him as Mike's cousin.
Clearing her throat, she gestures to the weapon she's been struggling with, desperate to move on and not linger on how, for just a moment, she thought everything was just the way she wanted it: her in a world safely away from Earth with Mike here and safe too. That's wishful thinking and she can't put all her hopes on it.
"Seriously, people swing these things? Like we've got sledgehammers back home, but they're tiny compared to these."
"... Let me guess, you've never held a weapon in your life." James drawls from behind her, arms crossed over his armored chest as he gives her The Driest Look Possible. "I am pleased you seem to know where the pointy ends are, but perhaps we might work on not dulling them all by dragging them across the floor?"
Honestly, who were these people that the Inquisition kept sending into his armory? Like a mad bunch of country bumpkins.
Looking up, Tessa's brow furrows at the guy giving her lip. She's close to giving him some attitude right back, but reminds herself that it's her first day and she's had to suck up to people at her crappy minimum wage jobs before. This is no different.
"Back home we have guns," she starts mildly as she turns around, turning out her hand to show the green glow from her palm. "Still, I've beaten zombies to death with baseball bats, fence posts, whatever I could find. But no, we don't have weapons like these there anymore." Sheepishly, she approaches, hand fishing a folded up piece of parchment from her back pocket. Tessa's loathe to give up her jeans here, though she's had to wash them a couple times already so she doesn't become 'that smelly Rifter.' Eventually she should look into fitting in better, but it'll be a process to dress in Thedas style clothes. She's not sure if this guy is a random passerby or someone of authority, but she decides to play it safe as she hands the parchment over.
"Sorry if I screwed up. My orders say I'm supposed to clean this closet out to see which weapons are broken and which can be looked at. I was under the impression they were all dull but... it's my first day." So please, please go easy on her.
Wildcard option! If you'd like to do something with either of them, either throw down a starter or hit me up at megoom, megoom#2520 on Discord, or via PM to trashlife or insatiably and we can plot something out!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
{ christine }
{ I }
There is a great deal of tension in Christine's shoulders as she works throughout the days of the strike, but she will do nothing drastic while negotiations are going on. She believes in words first, then actions, having never been a rebel mage who cast the first strike. Let others be brash and speak for themselves. She won't join in unless negotiations end poorly for them. While she mostly stays buried in her research up in her office, occasionally she emerges to do her shifts in the infirmary, neatly avoiding any discussion of the strike with curious patients. Instead she focuses on the injuries she sees, sighing and lightly scolding.
"You should really be more careful. This could have been much more serious."
{ II }
Despite her somewhat serious and icy exterior, Christine can be a warm, compassionate person too. She wouldn't make a very good healer if she wasn't. And so when she spots someone in the Gallows struggling with something, she clicks her tongue softly and steps forward.
"Allow me to help you with that?"
Whether it's helping to carry something, assist someone in their daily duties, or something else, Christine has a bit of free time to lend a hand.
{ closed to sam }
Ordinarily the oppressive heat and constant clatter of metal on metal at the forge wouldn't be an environment in which Christine would want to linger. But while Sam is working, it's a place she not only tolerates, but is fine staying in if only for his presence. Plus it's amusing to see how many people will wander by to ogle him. It's such a burden being handsome, isn't it, Sam?
Today she comes in to find him doing... something. She honestly has no idea what part of the process he's at, but she greets him warmly, taking a moment to clip up her hair against the heat.
"What wonders are you creating today?"
Hi I'm Sam
Everyday he's doing 'something'. Today though he isn't quite creating. "Someone came in asking for repairs on his armor. I was just about to patch it up."
Sam I Am
no subject
"Well, yes and no. That's simply putting it. Actually doing it we need to temper the metal where the repair needs to be done and apply the same or similar metal. Once it's fused and has cooled then we have to file it down on both sides."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
{ ellana }
{ I }
"No," Ellana mutters to herself, tapping her pencil against the page of her journal. Numerous loose sheets are scattered around her on a table in the library, and she searches through several before picking one up and examining it.
"What's another word for--" Cutting herself off, she sets down the page and quickly flips through the large thesaurus in front of her. Beside it, a hedgehog rests on her back, nestled in the middle of a comfy scarf and watching Ellana's search for the perfect word.
"Engaging? No. Gripping? No. Oo! Captivating." Ellana lifts her head and smiles at the hedgehog. "What do you think, Quillhelmina? Captivating?" The little ball of quills yawns and stretches, causing her to roll over. Ellana laughs softly and sets her back on the scarf. "I hope that means you approve."
{ II }
One she's found the replacement words she was looking for and has edited things one last time, she can be found at the docks, handing a brown parcel tied with string to a dwarf along with several coins.
"And you'll take it right there?" she asks, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Yes, yes. He's expecting the final edits on those chapters, so I'm going now." He sounds as though this isn't his first encounter with her being a neurotic mess.
"Okay. Good, good." Wringing her hands together, Ellana watches the man go until he disappears into the crowd. Then she finds a place to sit until her legs stop shaking. Despite her demeanor, a smile of relief crosses her face. It's finally done. Now to see if the publisher keeps his word. Her eyes catch another's and she laughs.
"I must look like a shaking newborn halla. So ridiculous."
i
It's been a while since they've spent time together, what with the two of them both going off on their own directions, so he had come near when he saw her - hoping for a chance to catch up a bit. He just couldn't help the smart comment as a way of saying hello.
"Though I suppose flirting isn't what you have in mind right now."
no subject
"No, I don't, but I agree that's a perfect compliment. It would get me swooning." She takes the messiest of her arrangement and scoops the papers into a pile so the table looks less like an explosion of parchment.
"This is Quillhelmina, by the way. She sneaked into my life recently." The hedgehog stays put on the scarf, but is observing quietly.
no subject
"When it happens I'll try to make sure you are by some cousins, then. Or push over a nice couch."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
I
Inessa rounds the corner with some books of her own, Garahel taking point. Intensely curious, the mabari lets out a questioning sound as he leans up to peet at the hedgehog, sniffing at it. Setting down her books, Inessa likewise peers at the new addition. "Well, hello there, Quillhelmina." She glances to Ellana with an eyebrow raised; can she pet her?
no subject
Quillhelmina doesn't move at the mabari's sniffing, but whether that's from fear or not finding Garahel a threat is hard to say. Ellana nods to Inessa, however. "She has a soft tummy. And the quills aren't so bad either. Just a little prickly."
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
II
"Eh, I won't judge. But what's all that about, then?"
no subject
"I needed to make a few edits and clean up some repetitive words, but it's all done now. Out of my hands and out into the world."
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
II
"What was all that about?"
no subject
"Close. It's my book on finding the Sulevin Blade. He's taking it to the publisher now." Ellana runs her hands up and down her arms, feeling excited goosebumps spreading there as she speaks.
"It's been a long time in the making. I've been editing my notes for what feels like forever."
no subject
"I never knew you were so adventurous, Ellana." He beamed over at her. "Outside of the thieving lessons."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
{ tessa }
{ I }
While nobody's asking her to get up and work, Tessa finds she has to do something with her day, and Base Operations has a list of small tasks that need doing. One involves cleaning out one of the weapons' storage closets to separate serviceable weapons from broken ones. It's a monotonous task, and Tessa wishes this place had iPods so she'd have something to listen to. But she gets to work, separating weapons and scoffing at the size of some of them. Seriously, people who use mauls this size must be compensating for something. Those ones she has to drag out of the closet with some effort, and anyone could easily come across her struggling.
{ II }
But if not then, they might find her at the Gallows' archery range later, after she finds a one-handed crossbow with bolts loaded into the side. It had reminded her of those old revolvers from westerns; the six shooters. And anything that reminds her of a gun (a weapon she was using just over two weeks ago) is something she wants to try. However, being her first time, she's not doing too hot. In fact, she's missing the target completely. Sighing, she lowers the weapon.
"Figures. Find a pseudo-gun and I blow at firing it."
ii
That means he spends a lot of time in the training grounds, and he happens to be near when he hears Tessa's vocal complaint. Her voice is familiar and he realizes he knows her from the crystals.
"I've a friend who successfully made the change from pistol to cross bow, perhaps I can ask him to impart some of his wisdom?" It's the same friend the discussed before - the one Ignis thinks would choose to stay in Thedas, though he doesn't reference that detail he imagines she might remember him discussing someone from home.
no subject
"Hey, Ignis! See, I remembered!" Of course then she takes a good look at him and realizes that he's blind. Why did she have to use the word "see?" Her face grows hot as she winces, but thankfully she's spared him seeing that.
"Um, yeah. Your friend? That'd be great. Any help I can get, really. I'm sorta new to the whole weapons thing, but I don't want to lose what I've learned so far, you know?"
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
I
Poking his head around the corner, Sam gives a quiet sigh of relief that the source of the noises not what he was picturing. Though it did beg to question-
"What are you doing?" he asks, as he walks into the room, brows raised at the woman's obvious struggle.
no subject
And then the color drains from her face and her arms drop to her sides. It only takes a moment for her to realize that this guy isn't Mike, but the realization is pretty crushing. His face shape, nose, and even sort of his eye shape all look similar to Mike's. Not a twin by far, but similar enough that she could see him as Mike's cousin.
Clearing her throat, she gestures to the weapon she's been struggling with, desperate to move on and not linger on how, for just a moment, she thought everything was just the way she wanted it: her in a world safely away from Earth with Mike here and safe too. That's wishful thinking and she can't put all her hopes on it.
"Seriously, people swing these things? Like we've got sledgehammers back home, but they're tiny compared to these."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
Re: { tessa }
Honestly, who were these people that the Inquisition kept sending into his armory? Like a mad bunch of country bumpkins.
no subject
"Back home we have guns," she starts mildly as she turns around, turning out her hand to show the green glow from her palm. "Still, I've beaten zombies to death with baseball bats, fence posts, whatever I could find. But no, we don't have weapons like these there anymore." Sheepishly, she approaches, hand fishing a folded up piece of parchment from her back pocket. Tessa's loathe to give up her jeans here, though she's had to wash them a couple times already so she doesn't become 'that smelly Rifter.' Eventually she should look into fitting in better, but it'll be a process to dress in Thedas style clothes. She's not sure if this guy is a random passerby or someone of authority, but she decides to play it safe as she hands the parchment over.
"Sorry if I screwed up. My orders say I'm supposed to clean this closet out to see which weapons are broken and which can be looked at. I was under the impression they were all dull but... it's my first day." So please, please go easy on her.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
{ minka or julian }
Wildcard option! If you'd like to do something with either of them, either throw down a starter or hit me up at