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{ 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?"
{ 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 }
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."
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trashlife or insatiably and we can plot something out!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."
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."
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.
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.
"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."
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."
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?"
"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?"
If he had, he would have made a comment about how she'd be surprised how much the colloquial relies on sight, but as it is she's spared the grammar lesson by asking being interested in learning.
"I can certainly relate. I've been training to regain some of what I lost myself." He doesn't wish to dwell on that though. "My friend is named Prompto. Have you had the pleasure of making his acquaintance?"
"I can certainly relate. I've been training to regain some of what I lost myself." He doesn't wish to dwell on that though. "My friend is named Prompto. Have you had the pleasure of making his acquaintance?"
Whoa, a blind fighter? That is badass. If Tessa was blind, the first thing she'd do is trip over a chair and break her neck. The thought of fighting while blind? It doesn't even seem like a possibility should it happen to her.
"Prompto? No. I'd remember a name like that. What kind of gun was he used to?"
"Prompto? No. I'd remember a name like that. What kind of gun was he used to?"
He's trying, anyway. Eventually he'll have his abilities back.
"A variety. He favored handguns and pistols, but he could use heavier machinery. He has one of them here, Lionheart. It came through one of the Rifts. It lacks ammunition, I'm afraid."
"A variety. He favored handguns and pistols, but he could use heavier machinery. He has one of them here, Lionheart. It came through one of the Rifts. It lacks ammunition, I'm afraid."
"Dude, he named his gun? I should have thought to do that." Missed opportunity right there! "Well, doesn't matter. I ran out of ammo and used it to beat a bunch of demons to death until it broke apart." As you do.
She lifts the crossbow in her hand and gives it a thoughtful look. "Though I've got this one-handed crossbow here. Maybe I could name it? If I ever get used to aiming it."
She lifts the crossbow in her hand and gives it a thoughtful look. "Though I've got this one-handed crossbow here. Maybe I could name it? If I ever get used to aiming it."
Ignis shrugs in a 'of course' kind of way, though he can't help but be a little amused at the mental image she brings to mind.
"Practice makes perfect," he replies. "Perhaps naming it will help you feel more connected to it?" A pause. "It certainly can't hurt."
"Practice makes perfect," he replies. "Perhaps naming it will help you feel more connected to it?" A pause. "It certainly can't hurt."
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.
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.
"Huh. I can see how I'd be less likely to give up on practicing if it had a name." Tessa's never really been one to name her cars or electronics, so this is new to her. And she's a bit lost on what to call it.
"I might need a little help. If it's up to me, I'll probably be dumb and name it after one of the Steelers." Wait. "That's a sports team where I'm from."
"I might need a little help. If it's up to me, I'll probably be dumb and name it after one of the Steelers." Wait. "That's a sports team where I'm from."
"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."
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."
"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.
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.
"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.
"Weapon cataloging duty..." he repeats, brow still raised. It was definitely something needing to be done, but seemed like quite a lot to put on one person.
Whatever he might have said next is lost on his lips, as he notices how the color drains from the person's face and she seems to freeze when she looks at him. Sam's expression turns to one of concern as he stares back and then jerkily looks over his shoulder, wondering if there was something behind him - Maker he hopes not.
Nothing seems to be there.
Sam turns back around when he hears her start talking again, wondering what just happened. "Ah... yeah. Course only certain people are able to do that. Takes a lot of training... or unless you're a Qunari or something. Are... you ok?"
Whatever he might have said next is lost on his lips, as he notices how the color drains from the person's face and she seems to freeze when she looks at him. Sam's expression turns to one of concern as he stares back and then jerkily looks over his shoulder, wondering if there was something behind him - Maker he hopes not.
Nothing seems to be there.
Sam turns back around when he hears her start talking again, wondering what just happened. "Ah... yeah. Course only certain people are able to do that. Takes a lot of training... or unless you're a Qunari or something. Are... you ok?"
Wouldn't it have been freaky if there was? Tessa almost wishes there was so she'd have some excuse for her behavior. Because there's no way in Hell she's telling a stranger: "Sorry, for a second I thought you were this guy I may or may not be in love with from back home, but it's totally complicated because it's the zombie apocalypse and you don't just reveal feelings like that for someone while all this crazy shit is going on. Plus I'm guessing he had a wife -- or maybe a husband, shit, I don't know -- because he's super shady about his past and never once tried to get in my pants SO YEAH, complicated up in here." Sam should count himself lucky that he's free from her ramblings. Too bad she can't be free from her own brain.
"Yeah, I figured the 10 foot tall horned dudes could use this, but I haven't see any around except the one who uses magic." A pause. "Who's not a dude, but I call everyone 'dude.' Gender neutral." But it looks like he's seen through her clever tactic of not mentioning why she looked at him like he was a ghost, so she tries for casual. "Oh, pfft. Yeah, I'm good. It's, umm... I lifted my head too fast there. Got dizzy for a sec. All that blood rushing from my brain. You know."
"Yeah, I figured the 10 foot tall horned dudes could use this, but I haven't see any around except the one who uses magic." A pause. "Who's not a dude, but I call everyone 'dude.' Gender neutral." But it looks like he's seen through her clever tactic of not mentioning why she looked at him like he was a ghost, so she tries for casual. "Oh, pfft. Yeah, I'm good. It's, umm... I lifted my head too fast there. Got dizzy for a sec. All that blood rushing from my brain. You know."
"'Quillhelmina'? How adorable!"
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?
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?
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."
"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."
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?"
"Eh, I won't judge. But what's all that about, then?"
"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."
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."
"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."
"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."
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