OPEN | Too Much Sunshine

[nadasharillen]

WHO: Nari, Lexie, Myr, Korrin, Kylo, You!
WHAT: Catchall for my gals (hmu if you want a prompt)
WHEN: Pre-Tevinter Solace
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: on a scale from Lexie to Nari, what's your work ethic?

Nari

I. Working (Gallows)

Despite the hot, sticky, relentless weather, there's still work to be done, and Nari is doing it. Sometimes in a loose light cotton tunic and sometimes stripped to a breastband and shorter leggings (she'd added the breastband after the casual habitual strip of her shirt she'd employed at home seemed to be vaguely distracting), but whether in the oppressive closeness, but shade, of the workshop or out under the blaze of the sun when it manages to peek through the haze, she's out in the Gallows at the constant repair tasks as well as light deconstruction on the finished pieces of the obstacle course to prepare for their move to the Wounded Coast.

Currently swearing and trying unsuccessfully at one of the boards securing the latter—her team had perhaps been too effective—it looks like she could use either help or a break.


II. The Beach Episode (Korrin, OTA, let's all go together)

Okay, maybe some time for leisure. As devoted as she is to working herself into a tired stupor on a daily basis, spending time with Korrin is always something that will make her take a pause. That, and it's a rare nice day. So, off they go to the beaches outside of town with some blankets to spread across the sand, some food, and the intention to heap sand on top of sand and purposefully cover themselves entirely in water that isn't falling from the sky in sheets.

It's gonna be a good day.


III. Wildcard!

She's around~



Lexie

I. It's Hot Up Here, A Lot up Here

Each day of unfavorable weather—which is to say, most of them—finds Alexandrie lounging out on the balcony of the apartments that faces the Waking Sea in dresses with fewer layers, lighter weight fabrics, and less corseting than she would wear out in society. Her hair is up more simply than usual and she looks alternately vexed and content depending on whether or not the breezes are currently blowing past her off the water.

All things considered, it is not a poor place to spend the afternoon. Do come play cards, or read, or chat about current events, or drink, or watch the late afternoon storms roll by in their brief cacophonies.

(Or be smugly used to the heat, you Tevene savages.)

[ impromptu group activities welcome :3 ]


II. Wildcard

Catch her outside painting on the two non-garbage days this month. Sit in the Memorial Garden. Something else!

Comments

[hwaaaitsme]

This was better tread territory--the Archon and upper political spheres of Tevinter were, after all, Loki's forte. He shakes off his brief confusion and replies before Bene can interject with something truly foolish.

"Nothing will come of talks with the Archon, not unless they stroke his ego quite determinedly," Loki proclaims and turns his gaze back on Bene.

"I expect they might have a better chance endearing individual houses to their cause, but that's another goal entirely. Have you been bothered about your House connections?"

As for her question about tailors, well, Loki will see that her maid is furnished with some names and addresses.

[altusimperius]

"I intend to do my best," Bene loftily replies from behind his glass, "my parents are known to the Archon, and I'm sure I can be instrumental in the talks with him." Listening to him, one would think Benedict and the Archon are bosom buddies.
"Now that I'm in the Inquisition's good graces I would hope the exchange will be quite beneficial."

[coquettish_trees]

Lexie raises her eyebrows. "Talks shall be so difficult even though the Archon made the overtures for them?" A shrug, and she continues to fan both herself, and, by virtue of her placement, Loki. "I suppose an invitation is merely that. I admit a bit of surprise at the size of the delegation he is allowing for. What purpose so many? To perhaps allow us to properly court the Houses rather than the Archon himself, as you suggest?"

[hwaaaitsme]

"No, I expect he rather just wants proper bowing and scraping before he will deign to acknowledge the lot of them, and that does require a crowd of some number," Loki replies and then glances sidelong at Lexie.

"Consider...the monarchy in Orlais is insufferable because they have the right to be ruler by birth, yes?" Loki begins. "Now imagine if their pedigree went hand in hand with the divine gift of magic, granted unto man to serve him?

"How much more haughty and insufferable do you expect the monarchy would become?" He asks and takes a sip of his drink. "Then, of course, give him the skill and intelligence to avoid being murdered because there is a system to quickly and efficiently replace him should he fall?

"We, my dear, would not mourn the Archon's death. Nor would we mourn the death of the magister who was quick enough to assume his rank before the others could. It is politics."

Loki swirls his drink with one hand and looks to Bene for confirmation.

"He expects we shall publicly fellate him with much enthusiasm; it is what he feels he deserves, and...given the circumstances, I expect we shall. No, the cleverer move would be to appeal to Houses, but I do not expect the Inquisition will begin with such things. The interplay of Houses in Tevinter is a lifetime education in and of itself and selecting who to ally and who to snub will be...tricky. There tends to be a cascade effect."

[altusimperius]

The conversation's turn is so quick that Benedict almost doesn't realize where it's gone until it has, and then he looks decidedly uneasy, hiding it by staring into his glass while Loki goes on.

"We are wise to know where we stand," he says, a little more quietly than he might like, going for incisive and not quite getting there. If anyone has designs on the Archon's seat, his mother is likely among them; it's times like these he realizes how frightening politics can be. Why he feels the need to hire a body double before setting foot back in Minrathous, after allying with the Inquisition.

"Perhaps you should leave the machinations to the Magisters," he adds, more quietly, but with more venom. Which is to say: you'll never have to deal with it, so butt out.

[coquettish_trees]

Sorry Bene, only one free save per instance of conversation. Besides, she is deeply enjoying being prettily arrayed across Loki's lap with a glass of cool and particularly fruity wine in one hand and the means to create a personal breeze in the other, watching him lay out his thoughts as one very familiar with the game might discuss the set of a chessboard.

Handsome, well-dressed, incisive, agile in all manner of things, and a surpassingly good fuck. Hurrah me! Following him after the competition at the tourney on a whim ranked easily among the best decisions she'd ever made.

"Leave the machinations to only the powerful?" Alexandrie asks, aghast, "Perish the thought. Everyone down to the servants plays the Game in Orlais, and it's much more exciting that way. Who shall fall, who shall rise, who holds the true power, all of it a constantly shifting dance." She sighs happily. "Beautiful and fierce." She turns back to look up at Loki. "It seems to me that the Inquisition has already made two choices," she says, inclining her head towards one man and then the other, "so the cascade will have already begun. I imagine if that is left unacknowledged we shall look woefully underprepared, but simultaneously I have observed that the Inquisition tends to change even entrenched structure wherever it reaches. Like a novice surprising a master with some wild unruly gambit."

[hwaaaitsme]

"Artemaeus and Asgard are a rather mismatched pair in this game, true," Loki cedes and considers Bene. He isn't actually looking at Bene, of course, he's looking at his mother through the similarities in her failure of a son. Calpurnia was rather ruthless, but her hold on the Imperium was a bit different from how Odin had sunk his claws into things. By in large the two houses did not clash, there was precious little overlap in any of their endeavors or responsibilities, but this might cause some conflict.

And how Loki thrived upon conflict.

"I'm sure my father will be delighted to be dragged into Inquisition affairs, but he is only a guaranteed actor in that he will not publicly disavow Thor. Privately, I expect he shall make our lives difficult in increasingly dramatic ways. If my mother is present, she will temper him, but I did not question her about this Inquisition business. I do not know if she cares.

"She does like your mother, or so she has expressed, and I still cannot tell you what that means. I know not if she would sway Odin to Calpurnia's side or not, or if she would be a free agent in this mess of political nonsense."

[altusimperius]

"We could arrange a meeting," Bene replies, a bit coolly; he knows better than to speak for his mother, and doesn't want to seem too enthusiastic about family alliances.

"...anyway, Lady de la Fontaine, I can provide you with the contact of a fine Minrathous tailor, should you desire it."

[coquettish_trees]

"I should indeed," Lexie replies emphatically. "Honestly, I should consider myself a disgrace in my entirety if I did not find myself properly attired for such an occasion."