faderift | ( open ) these changes ain't changing me

Entry tags:

( open ) these changes ain't changing me

WHO: Six & open!
WHAT: Training, studying, missions
WHEN: Throughout the month
WHERE: Gallows, library
NOTES: N/A

» TRAINING » GALLOWS

Training is a regular use of time for Six, unchanged since her dream, waking with some of the burdens removed from her shoulders. Finding Adrian's sword in Thedas, unburied as it had been at home, had been enough to cause her pause, but there had been some time since then. She knows that she'll have to bury it again here, that she'll have to find a suitable resting place, but it isn't something that is pressing on her currently. There are more important things to consider, more important things to do, especially with a sister to take care of and a dog to consider.

Two, the ever dutiful Mabari, settles near Six, head tilted to one side and tongue out as he dozes, content to let his mistress do as she will until it's his turn.

For the most part, Six spends her time with the familiar greatsword, swinging her weapon with ease, content to lift it and tear apart the training dummies as she has done almost every day since she had first woke here. Her strength is more than it had been before and it shows with the ease that she lifts her blade; it seems as though she's not carrying a two handed blade at all. It comes with a decade of practice and she's aware that it's something she has worked for - her pride is obvious as she takes a break to rest. Other times, she can be found with a longsword in her hand and a shield in another, practicing carrying the both - it's not her favoured weapon, but it's clear she has a decent amount of skill with it all the same.

Eventually, she abandons her own weapons training and takes her mabari to one side, summoning Two over. He seems to be developing well as far as she's concerned; he responds to 'sit', 'heel', 'walk' and 'lie' well enough, but there is more to do. 'Bite' and 'hide' should come next, though she's not sure how practical hiding might be in a true combat situation with nothing that he is familiar, but it's worth practice all the same. She can be found walking with him, moving with him, adjusting them both to the feeling of walking side by side, until she stops and breaks into a laugh, leaning down to scratch at his ears gently, whispering gentle words.

» STUDYING » LIBRARIES

The library isn't somewhere that Six has spent a great deal of time, but she knows her way around enough to know to avoid the seats of common regulars. She's not here to read too much that might get in the way of others, at least, and when she moves around the room she does it with proper respect to anyone who might be sitting and reading themselves, stepping around them quietly. She doesn't stand out as much as she usually might; her armour has been left in her room, the amulet of Sarenrae around her neck instead.

The books she chooses are those relating to Andraste, the Chantry and religion of the world, and she sits quietly with those for the better part of a few hours, an intense expression on her face as she does what she can to learn, taking notes on a piece of parchment at her side.

When she's not reading, she's still making notes, but this is all in a very foreign looking language. Sometimes she whispers the words aloud to herself and they don't sound very natural, even coming from her mouth, her head tilting as she tests them. She's clearly fluent, but practice doesn't hurt and she wants to make sure she doesn't lose her third language, no matter what the risks. Elven is easy enough to remember, but Draconic? That's something else entirely.

» PRAYING » KIRKWALL GARDENS

When she's not training, Six has found a place in the garden that suits her for the praying she does every single day. She's well aware that there's no way for Sarenrae to respond to her here - she doesn't exist, she's not a real God here, there's only the Creators or Andraste or the Qun, all of which she knows too little to consider following - but she cannot give up her prayers. She kneels, usually facing a wall, her hands clasped around her holy symbol and her lips moving silently as she says words in a very quiet whispers.

Sometimes, she's there for hours, kneeling, Two at her side as a gentle guard dog despite his small size, her hair tied up in the familiar bun. She doesn't move when people walk through the garden, focussed entirely on the familiar words, her fingers brushing over and over the metal around her neck. When she stops to pause she lifts herself up and walks around the garden, stretching her legs with Two trotting along beside her. Sometimes she tests his commands, asking him to sit, or lie, or heel, and always given him gentle warmth and encouragement when he does.

Eventually, she will always go back to her prayers, offering thanks and dutiful words to her Goddess, no matter what anyone else - whatever religion they might be - would think of her for it.

» LAW AND ORDER » LOWTOWN (CADE)

Wandering around Lowtown doesn't fill Six with much in the way of inspiration; it's not the worst place she's been to in her life, not with all the travelling she's done - especially not when she considers her own home - but it's nothing compared to the pillars of Hightown. It's a stark reminder of what this world is like, with the vast differences portrayed even in a single city, and she spends the first few hours of her mission simply wandering around, seeing where guards are posted, checking that the information that she's been given is correct. It's only after those things are done that she makes her way back up to where she's supposed to be meeting her partner, armour strapped across her body, greatsword at her back and a mabari walking close to her heels.

She has heard that people respect those that have a hound like this imprinted upon them - it is time to see how true those words are.

Anyone can see her as she wanders through Lowtown, but the main bulk of her mission takes place with a partner. It doesn't take her a terrible length of time to find Cade and when she does she approaches him carefully, offering him a short bow - which, preciously, Two attempts to copy with his short, puppylike legs - before she lifts herself to her full six foot height, offering something like a smile that seems just on the edge of something a little stern. It's not an intentional attempt to appear aloof, but Six has never truly been the type to be all smiles and gentleness.

"Greetings. I am Six."

» WILDCARD » LOWTOWN, GALLOWS, ETC

( Six can be found wandering around Lowtown, training in the Gallows and heading back and forward from her room, so feel free to interrupt her! You can also ping me at aziraphale for something personal! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The thing about Cade is that he's so anxious, other anxious people feed off it, and then he feeds off them, and it's just a big disaster all around (this is why he gets bucked off his horse more than anyone else in the Inquisition).

"Um... yes," he says, suddenly remembering under what circumstances and blushing. Perhaps they won't remember him. "They're... town guards." Which is to say, expect nothing more or less. Hope it isn't the same ones who threw him in the drunk tank for fighting, however many months ago that was.

It's difficult to watch him - it's as though she's walking beside a nervous rat, her head tilting as she watches over him, a touch concerned. A part of her wonders if she ought to say something to calm him or if, perhaps, she had done something to upset him or set him on edge, but... She has barely done anything thus far.

"Yes, they are," she walks forward. "They seem to be doing their jobs well, even if they are often left unnamed. I think there are some who might be suitable for the Inquisition, but I would speak to them first."

There's a clear reason Cade doesn't know most people in the Inquisition, and most don't know of him.
"Any, um... in particular?" he asks, glancing at Six and then ahead, where he spies a couple guards standing at their post and chatting idly.

"The one in the middle," she says, nodding her head, almost thoughtful. She knows what good men are like; she had worked with mercenaries and Paladins enough to sense the good from the bad. Once she'd been actually able to do it, and she misses that with something painful in her chest.

"Shall I speak with them first?"

Cade considers, then nods. He's old-fashioned in some ways, especially when it comes to military things and talking to other soldiers, but... truth be told, he's not actually a soldier anymore, at least not in title. And this woman seems capable of handling herself.
But he'll still be here at her shoulder, standing just behind and with his arms crossed, ready to defend her if they get crass.

Six, at least, is comfortable with guards and soldiers. She grew up with them as her friends, if she could call them that, gangly for her age. One of them had been the first to press a sword into her hands; the first to teach her to be brave, to be strong. She has faith in them, a confidence that she cannot hide behind her usual stoic nature.

She moves to them and reaches, offering a hand with a tilt of her head.

"Good day. I am Six, this is Cade. I would speak with you, if you've a moment."

In that perhaps they'll bond someday, if Cade ever learns to hold a conversation.
He offers his hand to each after Six, giving a standard warrior's clasp and then stepping back to stand at her shoulder as they turn and offer her their attention. They look mildly interested, if only because their usual encounters with Inquisition colors involve dragging them out of fights and stepping aside for them.

It's strange, to be the one in the lead; Six isn't used to being the one to step forward as any kind of leader. Truly, she had imagined that whoever she would be partnered with would want to take charge and have her in the background as a kind of guard and watcher more than anything else.

"We've come to discuss the place of the Inquisition in the Gallows and your thoughts." Six isn't going to beat around the bush, at least, and honesty comes first. "There are a number of new recruits in the Gallows and we wished to coordinate, to ensure the safety of Kirkwall."

There's a pause, and the guardsmen look Six and Cade over before he speaks.

"How?"

To be fair, it's at least somewhat a class thing, or ...the dregs of a class thing, since although Cade is no longer a Templar, he still carries some residual distrust of the Kirkwall Watch. There was a pecking order here, once. Perhaps there still is. Perhaps, if they recognize him, they'll respect him less than if he's simply awkward.

"By working together," he says, quietly and a bit impatiently. That is, after all, what 'coordinate' means.

Six raises a brow at Cade, but says nothing - it's true enough. They're here to work together and that's what Six wants. Her feelings towards guardsmen are complicated enough that she doesn't want to drag this out longer than it is already taking. They're supposed to work together, to pinch a few if they can, and Six breathes out a little noise.

She's sure she looks intimidating enough for the both of them, at least.

"Working together," the guardsman scoffs, and Six frowns.

"We spend as much time in the Gallows as you. We would like to do what we can to make your job easier - we know that the new Rifters make things more difficult."

Cade nods, wisely finding it more proactive to let Six do the talking. He lifts his head, watching the guards and trying not to look too snobby as he does so-- after all, even if they did recognize him as a Templar, it wouldn't do anyone much good now. Least of all him.
He leaves his voice out of the conversation for the time being, but is poised to jump in if anyone disrespects Six, or, for that matter, the Inquisition.

The guardsmen don't look particularly curious or interested, and Six stands a little taller, her face souring. She looks a little more intimidating than she did before, standing her full height and glaring down at them.

"We know the Rifters, intimately. We know the rounds the guards make and we know how best to put out other men to support you, if necessary. The Inquisition is here to be an aid, to support, to offer prospects, not to make your lives any more difficult than I am sure they already are." She's sour, now, but still speaking clearly, stoically.

"You're here to tell us that you're gonna make sure that Rifters aren't causing us trouble?" One of the guards snorts, and Six frowns, lips pulling down.

"We are here to tell you that some of those Rifters might be a benefit to the Inquisition and could support you."

A narrow-eyed glare reaches the guard who spoke out, and Cade seems to bristle slightly, but nods in agreement to Six's explanation. They can hardly make your organization worse, he's tempted to say, but holds his tongue.

The guard sneers back at him, then looks at Six, brow furrowing. Another chimes in. "What are they going to do, pour demons down on smugglers and racketeers?"

Shifting, just enough to adjust her stance and show off the rather large greatsword strapped to her back, Six frowns, arms crossed tight over her chest. She has no time for fools that are here to mock her, especially since they seem ignorant of the fact that her hand very clearly has a shard in it.

"No. We are going to find the smugglers, find the racketeers, find anyone who breaks the law of this place and ensure that they are given just punishment. Is that not something that would make your lives significantly easier?"

Perhaps they're not so ignorant, or perhaps they've seen enough locals with shards to know it doesn't necessarily designate a Rifter. This woman looks normal enough. And... with a big enough sword.
City guards aren't about to start picking fights, not when they're lucky to get through one day without bloodshed. Rather than rise to Six's tone, they seem to back off, albeit with some eye rolling.
"S'pose," one of them grumbles.

Cade is still bristling, but his hackles seem to lower when they relent. Perhaps they can get this over with sooner than later.

They're learning that Six is more than she appears, which she appreciates, at least. She knows that she appears to be a normal woman and she has learned enough of Thedas - the mercenary work, the religion, the people - to be able to make herself appear as though she was born here if she had the desire to try. What gives her away is the necklace around her neck, the symbol of a God not of this world whatsoever.

She nods all the same, welcoming their relaxed stance, letting them back down just a little, not pushing them.

"We would like to help you. If you could tell us where you have need, we will do what we can. We have no desire to hinder your work or make your life any harder than I am sure it already is."

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( open ) these changes ain't changing me

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