005 | open

[shri]

WHO: Lakshmi & YOU ( & Sometimes A Magni )
WHAT: Open post for Lakshmi for this month + community outreach + elephant training + the dinner people want to come to!
WHEN: coughs
WHERE: The Gallows & around
NOTES: Just Lakshmi being extra.

I. COMPLAINTS BOX

It's, as it goes, a very informal setup. Shockingly informal to the last time she did this particular sort of thing. But it stands to reason the Inquisition can't fix things - and, she the person in charge of fixing those complaints and to hear such concerns, especially - if she doesn't know it. There is only so much she will get passed along from Coupe, Thranduil, Herian and Beleth especially, and what would the leaders in Skyhold know on a street level?

The plan to that end, is simple. She gets help finding a table, a chair, a semi-dry bit of street under an awning, outside of a pub ( a few coins given over to a landlord to afford the space ) a quill and ink, and sits herself down. She wears her Inquisition clothes, not heavily armed, with her sleeves pushed up to her elbows and - the veil gone for the most part. Instead, more distinctive as herself which has more to do with being unmistakeably her, she wraps all her hair up in a red turban. Part pride, the official nature to her own mind of one of her courtiers, but - part knowledge that being distinctive in even such a small way is obvious to even those who can't remember her name if they pass it along. The woman with the red cloth around her head will, and with it, one invitation.

If you have a grievance to do with the inquisition, come and tell it to her.

And she sits there and she listens and she takes notes. Every little thing that is told. The assurance at least, that in her long curling script of Farsi, Hindi and Marathi - no one can read it but her at the present time. For one hour every day, just after lunchtime, so can be found Lakshmibai, a human complaint box.

It doesn't work immediately. It doesn't even work not immediately, it isn't like people here trust strangers, trust someone so outside of themselves, and let alone someone working as part of a figure of authority. Half of it's heckling, insults, jostling to say vile things against her or rifters or that prick that runs the pub that kicked him out. She doesn't respond in anger or violence to it, all the same. She takes the notes down as seriously as she does any other.

Until, eventually, some do come, one or two. A young man annoyed with his shoes because all the good cobblers were busy working for armies. A mother furious that she had to drag her daughters inside when they should be washing clothes because there were so many soldiers about. More things like that. It isn't much, or particularly important, but she talks it through with each person that comes, recording it all in quickly scribbled words.

At the very least, she ends up having a decent repour with the tavern owner.

She know ultimately it amounts to no more than what it seems, the appearance of listening. But it is a start, and one she does gladly - and for someone as able to pick arguments as she is, she does it with little comment and good nature.

But it is still dull work on most afternoons, so if someone passes by that she does know - she is quick to make conversation. A brief wave and call of "How goes you?"

II. ELEPHANT TRAINING

For anyone that volunteered for it, Lakshmi knocks on their door for the training and drags them out onto the field.

(Woe to you if you try to ditch, you get the most disappointed look of your life. Like a mother that can't believe you are breaking her heart this way. Do you want her to die of old age and you not do your own part? You shame her, you shame your family, you shame the inquisition. )

And there is a series of drills over the weeks. A great deal of them built around jumping and building upper body strength. Have you ever done a chin up? Well, now you certainly are. Then once she thinks you're strong enough, you have to do it again, in armour. Whatever the preference might be. Building up to get used to latching onto, grappling and scrambling.

But today, today she insists will be fun for anyone that's come along to training.

'Fun' in the case of Rani Lakshmibai, means taking a running jump onto the shield of a crouching soldier, landing mid-stride with one foot and being launched the rest of the distance towards the tree branch and catching herself with both arms on the wood. One second free swinging before she pulls herself up the rest of the way.

The explanation is brief, today we're going to put all the training from everything else together. She isn't totally merciless. Under the street is a stack of hay-filled bags and thickly padded blankets over the top to stop any injuries from the process.

With the brief explanation of today's exercise, Lakshmi shimmies back down the tree and lands with a heavy thump, brushing her hands off and takes the shield off the hand of the person who had demonstrated with her. Hefting it up her arm and latching it to her wrist. The kind she favours is a medium round shield, covering her upper body neatly.

"So, who is game to try it?"

III. MY DEFIANT LOVER HAS RETURNED ( DINNER PARTY )

It's not that she's nervous no one will come.

It's that she's made an awful lot of food, and what is she going to do with it all if no one does? Because it turned out you could take the woman from her homeland, but not the homeland from the woman who had been roused in the kitchens by her mother-in-law, who is that going to feed? We are the house of Newalker, we will not be dishonoured by sending people home hungry! That never quite leaves the back of her head when she prepares for anything.

But she has set the room up especially for it too. Her new single room, with the bed, desk, table and chairs, pushed all to the side, and a central floor space completely cleared. Rather, instead, she has laid out a rug across the middle of the floor, cushions around it. Oil lanterns burn fragrant dotted here and there - and on the table that had been in the middle, set to one side, has been ladened with food, so much so it might groan under the weight of it all. All of it smells rich and strong, of spices. How she has afforded that boggles the mind because she doesn't seem to have skimped on a single bit of it. From the dried shredded coconut mixed into the black peppers that sharply taste when bitten into. It stains itself red, yellow, green, and just as she said of it, not a bit of it has meat in it.

Each guest is greeted by her - and not so far from her, Magni as well. The tall Avvar woman easily dwarfs her as she hangs behind Lakshmi. Between them, even if it not direct nor spoken directly of, that familiarity between them that they can stand so easily in small spaces together with more than comfort in the exchange. The hand that settles on Lakshmi's waist or how Lakshmi in return will place a hand on her arm as she passes. Though in her greetings, Lakshmi makes no comment or acknowledgement, rather too busy playing hostess. Dressed as immaculately as she set up the room, the saree discarded for the warmer months, and her anakarli dress and the matching white dupatta are thicker to keep her warm. Her long black hair pinned up atop her head and set with flowers. The gold shimmering at her brow, ears, fingers and ankles against the white material. The anklet chiming with her step that makes each movement distinct. The bindi on her brow has been remarked deeply over the usual small dot that was long ago tattooed on. Tonight its a half moon below it and a broader circle, both done in a deep, deep red. Just the same, her fingertips have all been stained the same colour, and with a bigger red circle in the middle of her palms. Thanks be to the Dalish woman she met that taught her what they used to stain skin here.

She is herself, tonight. No more, and no less, the sort of woman she had once been, as when a guest arrives, she neither bows nor curtsies to them, to welcome them in. Rather after they have taken their shoes off ( she meant it, don't you dare track dirt into her room ), she drops to touch the ground in front of their feet, before rising up again. Her hands pressing palm to palm, for a moment, before she gestures past her as she steps aside. "Please, come on. Will you have something to drink?"

[ ooc: feel free to hop around and do different things in this as much as you like, it's a dinner party after all! ]

IV. WILDCARD

Got something you want to do? Please feel free!

Comments

III.

[swordproof]

Six has never been to a dinner party before.

It's not the sort of thing that she would've been invited to as a child; her father was not high enough rank by far and even if he was she doubts he would've taken her, gangly and awkward as she had been in her youth. Mercenaries are not welcomed then, and even as a Paladin she had avoided the rich and noble families, uncomfortable with her own lack of understanding and manners. She hadn't been raised to know that sort of thing and she knows she's lucky to have been taught to read and write if nothing else.

She carries flowers in her hands, awkward as she hesitates down the hall near Lakshmi's room. She has respect for the other woman - Lakshmi is a proud, brave and intelligent woman, Six knows that from their brief time together - and does not want to do something wrong, something that might appear awkward and uncomfortable, that might betray how on edge she is. The spirits had made her shaky and unsure; the reminder of her losses, of Sarenrae, of Adrian, all the things that she had tried to bury and forget.

There is a sword on Sundermount - she will have to visit it soon.

Finally, finally, she makes her way down the hall and steps into the room, fingers gripping the flowers a little less intensely. She smiles weakly, offers the flowers as she waits for Lakshmi to stand before she breathes out.

"Water?" She almost squeaks - almost.

[shri]

Lakshmi takes the flowers gladly. Following the little behind Six and deviating in her path to bring the flowers over to a vase of water that she had set aside just for that. Gently placing them into the water, appreciating the gift for what it was with a smile before she turns back. Each step and shift heard as her feet move and so do the anklets.

"Of course." She to the water jug, fetching a cup as she goes. Plain wood, nothing grand, but always clean. As is the water, thankfully. Gently she pours it out, chattering as she goes. "I hope this evening finds you well?"

[swordproof]

Everything smells wonderful, much better than the daily rations she was accustomed to having on the road, even here as part of the Inquisition's forces division. She watches with a small, pleased smile as Lakshmi places her flowers away, something warm in her chest before she reaches and accepts the cup without any hesitation. She trusts this woman, after all.

"Thank you," another nod, something gentle. "It has been a normal day thus far, I think. Everything here smells wonderful. Can you tell me what it is?"

[kyrr]

The smells are what catches her more than anything else; Tofa is used to the smells of cooking meats, of berries and the sharpness of salting it, to keep it, but this is something different. All the smells are so rich, so strong, so intense that Tofa is content to stand and drown in it, tilting her head and enjoying the warmth. She hasn't dared assume that there might be something provided for her to be able to eat, nothing that might sustain her - she had been forced to take care of herself on that front for a long time - but it seems as though there is a great deal.

It takes her a little while to find the confidence to actually approach Lakshmi; their communication issues have been apparent since they first met and without Magni there to help guide them and translate between the two of them she's not sure if she'll be able to put her feelings into voice.

There's a glass in her hand that she puts to one side, approaching the other woman and touching her arm gently. The bow she gives is not as deep and intense as the one that Lakshmi is prone to offer, but her hands move gently, carefully, motioning to the food and then putting a hand on her chest, head bowed.

Thank you for the food.

[shri]

For Lakshmi, it was simple. This was her family now. There was no middle ground about it. Magni was one half of her now, and so, that half included Tofa as much - and with Magni's reassurances and there to answer her questions, she had checked and double checked that there was more than enough for Tofa to have without double checking.

So too, had she slowly, stilted, begun to learn to speak Tofa's language. Her brow knitted as she watches her hands and then - as she understands, she smiles, beamingly wide. For a moment, she's a far younger, far happier woman as she does. Even that Tofa would try the gesture back is more than enough repayment back.

Then, slowly, she begins to sign back. Not as fast as Magni, and some of it is wrong, but hopefully enough to get through.

The more food, you would like? Then, just in case, she sweeps her arm across, indicating what she meant just in case.

[kyrr]

Tofa has always had a great understanding of family; her family, including Magni, had always been large, part of a great Hold that took care of one another and cherished what it meant to be a group of people surviving separate from others. Moving to the Inquisition was strange and different, there's no denying that, but having her sister and by proxy having Lakshmi was making the transition much, much easier.

The fact that Lakshmi was learning her language, putting the time and effort to try and communicate with her when she assumed much of the Inquisition would not care enough is something that warms her completely. She is trying her best in return, trying to learn more about this woman and offer her anything, everything, to make the two of them more at ease with one another.

Slowly, carefully, a smile settles on her face, something soft and warm.

Soon, thank you. Thank you is a bow, soon is a motion forward. Some signs are interchangeable; context must give meaning, especially with a language that she is inventing alone. Are you happy?

attending a dinner party - very OTA

[notched]

ALMOST ENTIRELY FLAVOR TEXT
She has been informed that it pleases people, while they are eating, if she would remove her coat. So she comes without the stinking, tattered thing. She also leaves her oversized hat and its leather gorget that laces up all the way past her nose. She is a much smaller woman without these trappings. Delicate and pale with large, dark eyes and a childishly pouting set to her mouth. Not so ominous nor intimidating, but... she wasn't here for that, was she.

As requested, her hands are washed, her face is clean, the rats nest that is normally her hair has been tamed, somewhat-- the braid hangs around her shoulder. She deeply dislikes this final piece of taking off her boots, an obvious manifestation of her hyper-vigilance. She never knew when she would need to pick up and leave a place, and fussing to put back on one's boots was wasted time. But neither can she argue that the boots aren't filthy. She does it, finally, after loitering around the door a little too long, leaning back into the wall to pull the knee-high leather boots off. She loses even a little more height and weight when she does this.

Without armor or weapon, she goes in. And is uncomfortable for it.

A DINNER GUEST
Anna, as she introduces herself, is a very quiet and somber woman. She mostly listens to those around her, tending not to speak unless spoken to. Even when the jokes are good she does not laugh, but instead looks up from her food with her large eyes to acknowledge it before returning downwards into the meal. She picks slowly at the food, uncertain if she likes it, and drinks whatever is put in front of her without question. The alcohol in Thedas is not nearly as strong as the blood cocktails of Yharnam, she finds they do fairly little to her unless it is very strong and she drinks rather a lot of it.

If one does talk to her, one on one, she is a thoughtful and careful listener on any topic. She expresses her own lack of knowledge on topics without reservation, and is never unhappy to hear what people have to say. She does not, however, much want to talk about herself, if it can be helped.

A QUESTION
She had come to this party under the premise of asking a single question: "What is most important to you, in life?"

[shri]

It isn't booze that Lakshmi pours into Anna's cup when she comes by. Though there is certainly wine enough for anyone that wants it.

Rather, the milk drink is thick, frothy, and it smells of pepper and cinnamon, that bitter after taste of aniseed and the lightness of honey. Faintly orange in colour as she pours from the jug of it she has mixed up. Lakshmi holding her fingers lightly as they sit adorned with rings and chains around the cup.

"Here, try this. It helps keep the cold out."

[notched]

This is another thing she is not entirely certain she likes. The smells are strange and contradictory, the color odd. Still, she takes it, holding it in her hands and letting the smells settle on her senses. In general, she is not used to eating anything which piqued the senses like this. She had been living on blood and jerky for too long, and even in Thedas where there was food enough, none of it drew her attention. She still most often ate in the dark, chewing dried pieces of meat joylessly.

"It's all very good, thank you," she says, unconvincing but polite. "I've never had anything like it."

I.

[youwonscience]

Cosima knows Lakshmi, at this point, more or less purely by reputation (through Herian's occasional talk about how things are going in Diplomacy, and through the fact that the Gallows is relatively small place and you don't do things like capturing an elephant without getting noticed). But Cosima is never averse to even a moderately friendly face when she's out and about in Kirkwall, and she slows and smiles as she passes the table.

"Hi. This is the community outreach thing, right? How's it going so far?"

She doesn't want to bother someone who's working, but there don't seem to be any feedback-givers nearby just as present.

[shri]

Lakshmi is glad for someone to talk to at least - the quill spinning idly in her fingers and, so the Tavern keeper told her, any business was good business so the more people saw her being interacted with, the more they would do it themselves.

Cosima she knows in passing at least, Herian's... lover? She thinks, isn't sure, and it firmly isn't her business anyway.

"Miserably, but that is expected," Lakshmi says it with a laugh. Expected is to say, makes it easy to deal with.

[youwonscience]

"I mean, fair, I guess. You want some company for a little bit? I don't want to get underfoot if you're busy, but it looks like you could use someone to talk to who isn't going to complain about anything."

The laugh, at least, encourages her to ask. Cosima loves Herian, but it's occurred to her recently just how many friends she's made and lost in Thedas. Lakshmi isn't the only one who could use someone to talk to.

iii.

[writteninblood]

Sorrel's been to formal events before. Albeit, they were Dalish formalities, which even in their extremity resembled nothing so much as particularly important family gatherings. It's difficult to stand on more than mere ceremony, when all you have is a dirt floor, a leaf-canopy roof and the sky for a hat. Still, he's not without manners, and comes bearing gifts, and arrives early.

Well, gift. But it's a voluminous one, arms overflowing with branches and each one green as spring and lined with yellow blossoms, each no larger than the tip of his thumb. There were enough of them to make the carrying a real burden, but he managed well enough; with help, he hadn't even lost much to pickpockets on his way back to the Gallows, nor much trouble seeding the magic needed in the garden. He'd hear for it later, but sometimes it was worth the labor of digging up a bush later, for the sake of gratitude owed.

"As requested, Messere," He smirks around the bundle, dressed in green and copper mage's robes of Dalish cut, and fine enough for any Keeper.This was Beleth's idea of Best Dressed, and knowing his limits Sorrel had submitted to her rule of law. There's nothing to be done with that hair, however, "Are they anything you hoped for?"

[shri]

They are beautiful flowers, she cannot deny. She takes them into her arms gladly, holding them up briefly, to smell them with contentment that is nothing less than genuine. There was nothing like them to make her feel like home.

"They are, thank you." She murmurs gladly from behind them. Gently lifting her fingers to touch the petals with a soft hand. "I am amazed you managed to get so many." It was, after all, the depths of winter.

[writteninblood]

"I am a Dalish elf," He says, as if that were all the explanation anyone should require, "We Keep the summer as much as Winter's Grasp, as they say. Should I put these somewhere? Unless this is a costume party; I'll be a bush!"

He's an idiot, is what he is, but while a true idiot can be educated this is, unfortunately, Sorrel's real personality. Pray for him, if you will

I

[doneisdone]

Having places to go and things to do (and people to eviscerate) has always been the case for Teren, but things have changed since her sudden and awkward semi-promotion, and now she's a lot crankier about it. But there's Lakshmi wearing a ridiculous hat, and despite the nature of their last encounter, she can't help but go over to say hello.

"Taking complaints," she observes, looming over the table and drinking in the sight of it with a measure of incredulity, "all of them reasonable, I'm certain."

[shri]

This time at least - there is no chance Teren is about to stab a loved one. So to that, Lakshmi greets her easily, happily even. Good to see a friendly face after all this grouching.

"Of course." She looks down at the list. "We have three counts of ale being overpriced, and two unfair over being thrown out for being drunk."

[doneisdone]

Oh, there's always a chance of that, but maybe less of one if there aren't any loved ones immediately about.

Teren is a little surprised to see Lakshmi looking friendly, but isn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. "And how is that your bloody problem," she remarks, perching on the edge of the table and curling one leg under, "you hardly run the pubs."

[chainlightning]

ii.
Merrill has never been so happy to be put through her paces in her life. Lakshmi knows about elephants, and for all Merrill had only seen the ones at the battle, she had quickly decided that they were both adorable and that she wanted to pet one. Training like this was similar to the training she went through with Ghostface, save for the fact that elephants were more likely to crush you than eviscerate you. Falling from either of them was likely to end poorly, and as always, the fact that she was a mage with a staff made her moves slightly different than those who preferred a blade or a bow.

There was also the matter of her lack of shoes. The shield doesn't look splintered, but Merrill knows that could and would change, especially in battle. With a soft sigh, she relents and retrieves some leather wrappings from her pack, wrapping them around her feet. They weren't boots, but they would protect from splinters, and the leather is at least likely to give her some grip.

She hopes.

With no one else stepping forth, Merrill does. Her staff is safely strapped to her back, and the past training sessions have contributed to more running and jumping with it back there. Even as a Dalish elf who has had a staff since she was young, like a third arm, it was good to practice moving with it. She gives Lakshmi a smile and makes no move to remove said staff, instead nodding toward the shield.

"My people have done similar things, deep in the woods, when we have had to defend ourselves. I haven't done it as much as a mage, but I'll go."

iii.
After leaving her clan, Merrill has seen a lot of things. She has seen even more since joining the Inquisition - but with the Rifters, there is always something more to see.

Merrill wears green, as she usually does; few elves and Dalish besides have a large wardrobe, and what Merrill has is best saved for Inquisition functions. She accessorizes, though; a silverite butterfly clips her hair up and a charm bracelet with a deer and a dragon sit on her wrist. A silver locket sits low around her neck, the griffon in front seemingly guarding her heart. Her feet are clean, which is a mercy. Of the many things she had thought she might see, Lakshmi dropping to the ground in front of her feet and then standing back up was not on the list.

It flusters her, for a moment - should she return the gesture? Should she bow, as the Dalish do? She isn't certain, and so after some frantic hand-waving, Merrill finally settles on stepping past Lakshmi and further into the room.

"I- yes? Thank you? It smells amazing in here."

iii, continued.
[ hit her up c: ]

ii

[shri]

Lakshmi nods as she brushes her hands off on the tops of her thighs. Working the ache from her missing fingers through in slow absent measures from the now well-healed wound. It was a little easier when she was moving like this, it didn't spasm in the phantom pain.

"It will be similar to doing it with a sword I suspect, the weight might throw you off. The trickiest part will be balancing your strike to the short flight. I'd work on that first, then we can look into combining an attack with it."

She moves over to wear Merril is, coming up beside her to brace her feet for the jump in a demonstration. "Your leading foot needs to land first because that is where you will push from."

iii / open;

[sarcophage]

Leander has come, too, and brought his empty belly along with.

As instructed, he's made himself presentable, and in fastidious detail: skin scrubbed, nails trimmed, everything tidy. (Including the bits no one will see. He was at it anyway, so why not.) He's even shaved his face clean for the occasion, which likewise shaves a few more years off his visual age. Strategically. In his experience there are few things the mothering type likes better than a skinny young boy to fuss over, and so he's come to deliver, hoping Lakshmibai's culture jives with Rivain's in that fashion.

Having just slipped out of his low shoes, Lea's about to ask after the hostess when she makes herself evident by speaking. With a smile, "My goodness, you look even lovelier than you sound. I absolutely will, thank you—what are my choices?"

[shri]

She hums, neither saying more or less than that to his compliment, but her eyes are warm, fond, as she watches him. Always happy to have someone pleasant and keen to talk, liked talking, after all, when the company was good and she was comfortable.

Comfortable, she certainly is.

Ushering him after her, she strides over to the table and points about it. "There is water, wine, milk - Mattha, spice milk." She moves in and out of the languages easily. "So take your pick."

I

[judgemewhole]

Honestly, James would have simply passed by with a friendly nod and a wave, if not for one suspiciously lazy group eying Lakshmi and her table. He's been in Kirkwall long enough now to see a group of troublemakers when he sees them, so he veers from his path to lean himself on the wall nearest her. He doesn't put his hand on his scabbard, because he doesn't want to frighten away anyone wishing to make a real complaint - but his green eyes do narrow on the group. Then he gives the woman warrior a friendly smirk.

"I am doing considerably better now that I can move under my own power. How are you? I do not think we have talked since we traveled together, all those months ago."

[shri]

She does a marvellous job to look like there is no one there that should concern her. Twirling the quill about her fingers, softly moving it backwards and forwards against callouses that were more from swords and guns than writing implements.

But, at least it was a bit of relief in the recovery after losing the fingers on her off hand.

"No we have not, how goes you, Sir?"

[judgemewhole]

He put one hand to his stomach, and grunted softly, before giving her a wry look. "Oh, well enough. I am getting too old to fight in squabbles, I have found. Or running away from nighttime terrors. So it is pleasant to simply be working on improving our armory. How about yourself? What are you up to, here?"