[OPEN] there is a light that i leave on

[heirring]

WHO: Wysteria, Marcoulf, Flint and OPEN
WHAT: Open post/catch-all/buries myself in top levels
WHEN: Harvestmere
WHERE: Kirkwall and misc
NOTES: Prose or brackets are a-okay. Feel free to hit me up on DM or discord if you want something specific that isn't here. Just posting a wildcard and winging it is awesome too.

Comments

wow thanks for nothing gmail

[katabasis]

It was a fair introduction. [That he is a captain, that he has no affection for the Tevinter Imperium. What else is there to say to nearly a perfect stranger?]

I would point out my ship were the weather or hour more friendly to it. And yourself, serah? I recall our mutual friend describing you as some kind of warrior and completely neglect to mention any of your work for the Inquisition. I wasn't aware I was acquainted with the woman in charge of keeping us in the good favor of the local population.

[There's nothing whatsoever pointed about it. If she wanted to have idle conversation as they make their way along the docks, then she's welcome to it.]

[shri]

To that at least, I was appointed whilst she was away in Tevinter.

[ She follows along with it, one step in front of the other. Her gaze flicking up to him from time to time, eyes lifting from the path. Then back again when she speaks - directing herself in that simple manner: forward, onwards. ] But she was not wrong, of course, I am a warrior, and yes, I do my best to see our goodwill ensured, and whatever that allows me aside. Limited though that might be. Is there anything you would have seen too on behalf of the local crews?

[ The same offer, really, she gives anyone who might have an issue she does not know about. ]

[katabasis]

I don't suppose you have seabound venatori agents to be hunted in this packet, do you?

[He makes a show of patting it under his arm as if searching for some hard edge in the bundle of fabric.]

No, I believe they're well rationed and accounted for. Only prone to the same disease all sailors in harbor suffer from. [And before she can jump to something venereal (though, let's be candid, that isn't off the table completely), he clarifies:] Restlessness. But I'll let you know should anything occur to me.

[There are things he could ask for now, in this moment. But better, he thinks, to be understood as independent for the time being, as permanent as any other trade crew in these waters.]

[shri]

[ She lifts a hand to politely cover her laughter. Her eyes dropping away momentarily. This is a pleasant sort of fiction. Walking with a dangerous sea captain through the worst parts of the city like neither of them had too much of a care. ]

Is not restlessness the true disease of all sailors and soldiers alike? They do cause a mess. [ Her eyebrow lifts, her head tilts, come now, give her dues in minding. ] Though I am sure the feared, mighty and dashing Captain Flint keeps his crew completely in line and I need not worry over much.

[katabasis]

[He doesn't say Is that what's being said? Instead, he gives her a brief sidelong glance - wry, line of his mouth quirking - and settles on:]

You shouldn't worry at all.

[All mild good humor as they cut their way toward up through the fog.]

[shri]

[ her hand lifts, presses over her heart and bows her head. ]

You set my foolish heart at ease, Captain.

[ Barely kept from laughter - quick as she was to it. Flicking her fingers at him to wave him on in their walk. Taking the next corner by lead to wind them further up the street to the light of a lantern. ]

[katabasis]

[A week from now - a month or more if they're exceptionally lucky -, he will find himself in her office asking for some favor or to make some specified arrangement on his behalf. He knows it. This is the commerce of keeping twenty odd men on a ship happy (or not miserable) in its harbor. But better to save that offer for the time being and plan to use it when he actually needs it - and, Maker willing, after he's had some time to generate some additional good will to support it. 'I've never asked you for anything, but I'm asking now' is always a compelling argument to have in the pocket.

So, easy good humor tonight and favors on some other tomorrow.]

Pleased to hear it. [For good measure:] The same naturally applies in reverse - should you need assistance in some matter or another, I'd hear it.

[Theoretically speaking.]

[shri]

[ Her answer is to hum, smoothing her fingers against the material like oh - she's thinking. Perhaps, maybe. The faint chime of bangles against bangles. The cool night and its half echoes. ]

No, not at the moment. [ And there is the weight of it, where his gambit will always pay out. Her line of work, as it stands, is always in need of favours. There is always someone who needs help, always something that needs doing, and it needed to be done yesterday. ] Unless you know of a group of smiths and carpenters who are also at times, combat ready, that don't mind working in places like the alienage, and can be called out of bed at a moment's notice and can assure me that they won't run their tongues against Dwarf, Elf, Quanari or Mage.

[ Only the half impossible. Is what she means. ]

[katabasis]

[Look at the pair of them, telling funny jokes. He huffs out a low noise - a humming chuckle - as they make their way through the fog ridden street. Every few paces some glow of a lantern meanders out of the dark to touch the night, but at last they seem to be making their way toward some specific lamp murmuring through the dark. A doorway is materializing now with it--]

You might have better luck pulling down the moon. But I'll pass along a recommendation should I come across such able hands.

[shri]

[ True enough, it takes form. An unassuming little door, weather-beaten with no more than the lantern above it to announce it was there really at all. Hardly anything nefarious. Just a room that had been to let, and had the space she needed.

She fishes rather less ladylike to the top of her bodice as they talk, tugging out the key from where she hides it below her clothes. Best not make it easy for any thief, ignoring what it might say about her that she does such a thing as she holds it between her fingers. ]

I would settle if they can simply mind their manners for the short term. [ A mournful sigh, turning away from him as she puts the key to lock - the damn thing old and always stuck, and with it she shoves with her shoulder into the wood to make it move with a faint huff of breath before it finally swings open. Gesturing with a hand for him to follow her up the small, dinky little staircase that took a sudden sharp left as it went up. ] Something to drink for your trouble, Captain?

[ It's not an illicit offer, or despite the teasing back and forth - something with an undertone, just that he had carried all that material for her, after all, and she was raised with manners. ]

[katabasis]

Would that I could. [This said even as he follows her up the narrow, creaking staircase at her behest.] But I've some business I should see to.

[What business needs doing in the middle of the night? Plenty. But more to the point, there will be a boat waiting for him along the docks and he'd rather not leave those men there for long. He'd return to find it abandoned in favor of the taverns and whatever cheap brothel was nearest.]

Another time, maybe.

[shri]

[ She nods, pity that it would be a thing to see what kind of man he'd unravel to be as the conversation went. How honest, how much the stories would line up, whether there was sense to placing her skills in his hand.

But perhaps it's enough that it's this, as they come to the little door at the top of the stairs. Taking her key out from where it's hidden in her top, ( a discrete digging around as she steps in front of him to get it out ). Once it's open she steps through and gives him a little room to come up to the landing. ]

Another time, then. [ Yes, maybe it is enough. Her smiles picks at the corner of her mouth and on whimsy, or great act so far: she lifts her hands to place them palm to palm, bowing her head over them. Her eyes lowering with the gesture, the gold on her brow swaying briefly from the flat decorate disk.

Then she drops, bending at the knees, and touches the ground briefly beside his foot with outstretched fingers. ] Blessings for your trip back. [ An explanation for brief action before she rises back up. Moving on past how strange it might be to reach for her package once more. ]

[katabasis]

[There are strange things done all over the world. He doesn't question it, and instead simply passes back the packet out from under his arm.]

Enjoy what's left of your evening.