[open] calm before the storm

[arlathvhen]

WHO: Beleth and YOU.
WHAT: Beleth hanging out around the Gallows, gossiping, being an anxious mess, and other fun Beleth things.
WHEN: Nowish, covering up until modplot starts.
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Probably last chance to do much with her before everyone goes off to war and shit gets real.

i. scoutmaster office

As things start to get more and more serious, and everyone is gearing up to leave for the big battle, Beleth gets more and more busy. All of her scouts will be in attendance, and Beleth is spending a great deal of time working to assign everyone and make sure that everyone will be playing their part. She keeps her door open most of the time, and can be seen pouring over reports, writing letters, or consulting a map of Thedas with little color-coordinated pins pushed into it (because not everyone sticks knives in their maps like some kind of HEATHEN).

However, whatever she's doing, she'll set it aside if anyone comes to her office. Whether coming there out of the blue, having made an appointment, or being summoned there for some reason, the Scoutmaster's office is open for any visitors.

ii. training room

When she isn't dealing with the massive amount of paperwork that a massive battle requires, she's training for the event itself. It would hardly do for her to send people to fight, and not be ready for it herself, after all. So, usually late at night, when she's done with her work for the day, she can be found in the training room.

She starts with what she's best at, archery. Firing arrow after arrow at targets. Some of the shots go wide, but for the most part, she does a solid job of keeping the arrows in the target space. After that, she starts with the daggerwork. She's never been as good at this as archery, and it shows as she follows the intricate steps of the usual bard training practice. Anyone familiar with bard training will recognize the graceful drill as The Butterfly, but for anyone who doesn't know, it is simply a rather pretty demonstration of daggerwork.

She'll stop if approached, but can also be approached when she takes breaks, to sit down for a few minutes and drink from a jug of water she's brought with her. Anyone who knows Beleth well enough can probably recognize that the relentlessness she's putting into these drills is a sign of anxiousness, the way she throws herself into it with a determination that speaks to just how on edge she is.

iii. the docks

Besides overworking herself, there is always one tested and true way to deal with stress: Arguing. It doesn't take much for Beleth to find an excuse to bring someone to task, and stands there on the docks of the Gallows, a few papers in one hand, the other one devoted to tight, tense gestures to show just how aggrieved she is of this failing.

"--And if you look at the order, it quite clearly says that we need Rashvine Nettle, not regular rashvine. If I wanted regular rashvine, I would take two steps out of the city and collect more than enough--" Her voice is relatively controlled for the argument, because she's still a division leader, and can't be seen having a shouting match in broad daylight. But there's an undeniable tension cutting underneath her words, her eyes sharp and accusing as it drills into the unfortunate soul who has brought her the alleged unworthy rashvine.

"--They are not the same, they wouldn't have different names if they were the same, would they? I need rashvine nettle for lyrium potions, regular rashvine is entirely useless for the task. An entire crate of useless--" And here, she jabs an accusing finger at a crate. "--entirely unneeded, regular rashvine."

Anyone can step in and either side with her, save the poor person receiving the Scoutmaster's wrath, or wait until she waves the other person away to speak with her. Or, if they're someone who might be tasked with gathering herbs and could make the mistake of mixing up rashvines, they can be the unfortunate person getting told off.

iv. cade

When Cade requested a private meeting with her, she was quick to agree to it, and make the time in her schedule. She can't quite imagine what he wants to talk about--maybe he's managed to acquire his own betrothed?--but Cade wouldn't make the request if it wasn't important. Not with the way things are going right now.

So when Cade arrives, the door will be already be open, and Beleth will already be in one of the chairs she uses for chatting with people. There's already a teapot seeping on the small table between the chairs, and in Beleth's hand is a file, as she crams in some reading while waiting for him. At his approach, she flashes him a grin, gesturing to the other chair.

"Cade! Good day, please come in."

v. legolas

The reason for Legolas showing up at Beleth's office is, ostensibly, testing wearing makeup over the anchor on his hand, and trying to see how well it can last while he goes about his day. And that's certainly one of the things that's happening, the door to Beleth's bedroom propped open while she goes to and fro, fetching her own makeup for the trial. If this works, she'll have to find a way to order large quantities of it--she might have to reach out to Val Royaeux, the only place she could think of that might carry enough to outfit everyone who would need it.

(If Legolas takes a peek into her bedroom, he'll discover that it's even more ostentatiously elfy than her office, and filled with personal momentos and whatnot.)

The trickiest part of the moment is getting Beleth's foundation to match Legolas' much fairer skin, though she's taking to the challenge with gusto. And maybe if she distracts herself with trying to match skintones, she'll be able to forget that she's grasping Legolas' hand, and not act like a total fool. She's fine, this is fine, she spends plenty of time holding hands with attractive elves. Just another day in the life.

"So, the blemish spotter goes first, to try to conceal the anchor as much as possible. The foundation is going to try to make it look smoother and more natural, which is why it's so important to match your skintone." She's explaining it step by step, since Legolas will have to be able to do this by himself at some point. "If this works, I'll probably have to try to find foundation to match everyone's individual skin tone." Shopping trip, maybe? That'd be a nice break from everything. "Then I'm going to dust it with setter, to try to keep it from smudging or wiping off. Now, this will help, but it's not a miracle worker, so try not to do anything that would ruin it."

She declines to list any kind of activities with his hand that might be frowned upon. She's not Lexie, after all.

vi. wildcard

Any other ideas? Throw it in, or hit me up if you want to discuss it.

Comments

[arlathvhen]

Beleth looks up quickly, the harried expression on her face quickly changing to genuine pleasure upon seeing who it is. No, she doesn't have a moment, but she'll make one anyway, to spend a few minutes not thinking about the looming and terrifying future. Shoving papers aside, she rises from her chair, and quickly makes her way around the desk.

"Petrana! Of course, I'd be glad to give you what time I can. The papers aren't going anywhere, unfortunately."

And certainly are less appealing to spend time with than a friend. The only way it could be better would be if Coupe happened to walk by and see them.

[ipseite]

As far as distractions from looming terror go, this may not be the most effective given Petrana's purpose, but she is at least warmer company than field reports and projected battle plans; she greets Beleth properly with a quick, affectionate clasp of hands. Much as it's beneficial to keep a friendly face in this tower, it is a strategy that asks little of her when her camaraderie is quite real—sentiment and practicality need not be in opposition.

Just so: “I understand you'll most likely be joining the campaign in Ghislain—I wished to give you something. It isn't much—I have yet to quite persuade magic in Thedas to hold the way it did in Sulleciel—but I would nevertheless...”

She offers the wrapped token forward. Loose of the fabric, it's a small, stitched badge with silver thread on black fabric, a sigil of foreign design to Thedosian mages woven onto it.

“I would sew these into my husband's clothes before battle,” she says, gazing down at it for a moment. “The sigil means protection, luck. I'm afraid its practical use is, ah, negligible until I've done further study, but if you would forgive me the sentiment, and carry it all the same?”

[arlathvhen]

Beleth returns the greeting warmly, hands squeezing back, a soft smile on her face. Petrana is certainly more welcome company than what she had been doing, even if it doesn't distract her. Though, Beleth's face does grow more solemn as Petrana goes on to speak, and answers her with a quick nod--yes, she's going, she's little choice in the matter, even if she wanted to avoid it. And more worrying, she's little choice but to drag her whole division with her.

But Beleth's attention refocuses when Petra presents a little bundle to her, and she unwraps it carefully, like it's a precious treasure that she's being handed. There's a look of mild confusion when she sees what it is. But Petrana, bless her, is quick to follow up with an explanation of just what she's holding, and the expression shifts to being genuinely touched.

It may be purely sentimental, but the sentiment touches Beleth nevertheless. That Petra would create this at all, in the hopes that it would make Beleth at least feel somewhat more protected--That Petra would think to want to offer the same kind of protection she gave to her husband--

Still clutching the token in her hand, Beleth takes a step forward, and throws her arms around the other woman.

"I'll treasure it," she assures Petra. "And I'd be honored to take it into the battle with me."

[ipseite]

“I'm so glad,” she says, and though her beaming smile is impossible to see at the angle of them, cheeks turned to shoulders, the sincere warmth of it is audible in her voice. Kindness is well worth having as a calling card, and all the better and more reliable for being in earnest; as carefully as she reaches out, as poised as she holds herself, it's always better to have done.

Allies are essential, and friendship is the best alliance.

When they part, she holds Beleth by the shoulders, still pleased—and pleased to take this moment, and commit it to memory, of what might yet be a before.

“I shall stitch it for you, then, and perhaps we might talk of pleasanter things.”

[arlathvhen]

It is, Beleth is well aware, rather silly, just how earnestly touched she is by the knowledge that someone not only hopes that she does not die, but is actively taking steps to try to prevent it. She's touched nevertheless, both by it, and by how pleased Petra is when Beleth assures her that she'll take the token.

Petrana truly is a creature entirely different than Herian, one that Beleth feels she understands--and likes--far better. It really is a shame that things panned out the way that they did.

Not that Beleth would ever say that aloud, of course. Herian is probably trying her best. Probably.

"That sounds excellent. My head feels like it's so full of battle plans and contingencies and possibilities that it might explode. I keep feeling like--if I'm just prepared enough, if I just try and make sure I know enough, maybe--" Maybe she can prevent the worst from happening. Maybe she can save lives. Maybe, if she works hard enough, she can make some of the unknowable aspects of a war into something that can be quantified and controlled. "--Well. There are plenty of things more pleasant to discuss."

What those things might be are, currently, a big blank, mind going empty as soon as she tries to actually think of something to speak of. Smooth.