faderift | [ open: hello again, riftwatch ]

Entry tags:

[ open: hello again, riftwatch ]

WHO: Sonia Barra and you!
WHAT: Celebrating her glorious return to the Riftwatch by puttering around the Gallows, doing a bit of work, making new friends. Won’t you sit for a drink?
WHEN: this week ish
WHERE: the Gallows, mostly
NOTES: Sonia’s info page is here!

It's been a long year since Sonia last saw Kirkwall, and all too much change to her little world. To the wider world, too, though in the months of tending to her dying grandfather, the world had seemed to shrink down to the halls of Wildcrest manor. There was a whole microcosm in that house, and it had undergone such violent change in the last year, twisted and bent and broken into new shapes that filled every corner with tension. If her uncle had been difficult and unpleasant as heir, he had become intolerable as bann. He had made perfectly clear how he felt about how she spent her time: that it was a waste, that she ought to be better serving her family, that with so few of them left, she was an embarrassment to the family name. No matter how much she insists to herself that she does not care all that much what her uncle thinks of her, she had burned with indignation. He thinks she is useless, and she hates to be thought of as useless; more than that, she hates the thought that someone might press her into some usefulness she wants no part of.

So she has come back to Kirkwall. She found herself missing it more often than she expected in the last year, and not just for the company of her cousin. There's something fresh and bracing in the air to her here, a feeling full of potential; a touch too romantic, perhaps, but it keeps the light in her. There's nothing she could really do at home, with her father and uncle waging their private political struggle, but here, she can do something useful. Here, she feels like there is room for her to grow.

...Or at least that’s how she would feel if it weren’t for the very grim mood that’s settled over everything. This is not how she remembers Kirkwall, but then, a world of change has happened here, too. She is also realizing just how much she had taken for granted the cleanliness of her childhood home. Misery, thy name is grime.

The mood may be low, but she had been looking forward to coming back, and she refuses to let her buoyant spirit be completely drowned. After all, she has brought with her a cellar’s worth of wine—some of the very latest vintages from Wildcrest’s vineyards—and she is never too dispirited to make new friends. Riftwatch, here she comes.

gallows
She spends her free time in various idle pursuits: most frequently, those pursuits are excellently paired with wine, and when possible, good company. Talking is one of Sonia’s favorite ways to pass the time, and if someone catches her interest, she’s not above coaxing them into a drink or two and some interesting conversation. Doubly so if they’re an old acquaintance she hasn’t seen since she was last here. Please, do, come sit—there’s always something to talk about.

Painting has always been a retreat for her, but in this weather, the scenery here is so glum that more often than not she finds herself frustrated with her subjects. Maybe she’ll find something a little more dynamic to paint than the water if she wanders around a bit. If she’s given up on artistic pursuits for the day, she could be found in the library, struggling through what looks like a spectacularly boring collection of political histories. Never in her life until now has Sonia tried to read something for any other reason than fun, and it’s so boring it might kill her.

The constant grime in this weather makes a long soak in the baths all too appealing, too. When everything else seems cold and gray, the warm embrace of the water is a deep comfort. Hauling water up for a private bath is hardly worth it; instead, Sonia can be found with almost exacting predictability at the communal baths every night when there’s hot water. She’s found it to be a pleasant venue for conversation, as well. She isn’t particularly shy.

work (of a sort)
Sonia is here to help, and help she shall. Granted, she had pictured herself doing something a little more glamorous than gruelingly tiresome patrols and dusting off shelves in abandoned towers. Right, that’s the work that needs to be done, and she’s not too proud to do it—but she is not above a little complaining when it’s particularly dull, and perhaps does not engage in the best of behaviors when the trip promises to be especially boring. A little flask of wine tucked away for a very dull patrol in unfriendly weather, for instance. That’s never hurt anyone, has it? It could even liven things up after a long day of chasing vermin out of dark corners and inhaling more dust than is probably medically advisable.

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Sidony has always always been the kind to enjoy her work - not the menial side, of course, but the one that allows her to work with the body, with anatomy, to sink her fingers into blood and corpses. It's hardly a job fit for a woman, or so her parents might say, nor for anyone, according to the Chantry, but she adores it. The knowledge, the information, the wisdom... It thrills her. That is what she works for, and that is why she is here, wandering dusty corridors and showing herself as being idle - though deep in thought.

The knowledge that this other woman is a lady has Sidony dropping into some form of a curtsey, if nothing else, bowing her head just a little. She is married now, even if her husband is a rogue, and that grants her some status, no matter what her family might think or say about the union.

"A pleasure, my lady." She offers a hand, for a kiss or a shake, whatever Sonia prefers. "Lady Sidony Venaras Rutyer, lately of Nevarra City and most recently of the Riftwatch infirmary."

Sonia will always kiss the proffered hand of a new acquaintance, unless it is one she is not particularly pleased to make. And as she goes to do so, the lovely lady's name falls on her ears, and her eyes go delightedly wide. She presses a fleeting kiss to Sidony's wrist and raises her head with a smile.

"Are you now?" she says brightly. So this is Byerly's pretty little scandal. She is...well, she's not not what Sonia had expected. Really, she hadn't known quite what to expect. She could read between the lines in Byerly's letters, guess at the true intentions lying underneath all the drama, because she knows Byerly just a little too well to buy completely into everyone else's appallment. Byerly is a rogue, yes, but of a very particular type.

"Delighted to meet you, Lady Rutyer." Sonia's enthusiasm is genuine, even if saying the words is just a little strange. Byerly, married. So strange. She wonders how long he's planning to keep this up. It's impossible to tell, with him. "I would be even more delighted if you might join me for a drink sometime. Perhaps as a reward for all this hard work."

Her smile is impish. Oh, yes, all this hard work you've done already, Sonia.

She does not kiss in return, of course, but there's a slight curve of delight on her features as she is blessed. While Sidony is still, admittedly, slow to come to terms with her own fancies - no matter what her spouse might enjoy - she cannot deny that she is somewhat tickled by the softness and tenderness of the lady before her. It is nice to meet someone with manners.

"I am, truly. Is it my reputation that follows me or his, I wonder?" Their wedding had been something of a drama, an unrehearsed one for the most part, but she is aware of what people imagine of the two of them. That had been rather the point, after all, to disarm and make people think she a fool and him a man reaching for class and power where he had little.

"The hard work?" An eyebrow raises, but she is vain enough to take it in her stride. Taking her hand back and crossing both behind her back, she allows herself a coy smile. "I suppose that depends entirely on what kind of drink you are seeking to have, my lady."

Goodness, that smile. Now that she’s finally met her, Sonia is absolutely itching to know just how this all happened. Rumors and coyly written letters do not satisfy the curiosity at this point. But she will not pry—well, she won’t pry right now, at least. Sonia laughs, idle twisting a lock of curly hair around a finger.

“I’m afraid to say his, in this case, but please don’t take it personally. It’s a matter of proximity. I suppose your husband has failed to mention his much fairer cousin? Or perhaps his stunningly beautiful cousin?”

She gives Sidony a wide grin and just the slightest wink. She could carry on this conversation without disclosing that information, but that would just be rude. Sonia really does want to be friends, after all.

“A good one, naturally.” Her eyes glitter with preemptive delight. “Has my cousin at least shared with you a bottle of Wildcrest wine? Ah, but he likely swilled away his cache as soon as I left. Fortunately, I returned amply supplied.”

It's very easy to play the gentle, coy mistress; she is a wife now, of course, and must play the part, but it does not stop her from her own drama and dramatics - and she doubts Byerly would want such a change from her. He enjoys the chatty edge of her tongue as much as she delights in his, and there's no point hesitating when it comes to others.

"My husband is cagey about many things, a failing I have learned to accept and cherish." Sidony doesn't bother going into more detail than that, but -

ah, well. It all makes sense, now. Standing a little taller, hair falling around her shoulders, she watches Sonia before she breathes out. So, this is someone related to Byerly; a cousin, someone that matters to him. It's something she ought to be very careful about - their marriage may be something of a sham, but...

"I believe he must have," she says finally, smile still soft and careful. "But I would never turn down another taste."

"Ah, yes. It's one of his most charming and wholly infuriating qualities," Sonia says, with complete sincerity. For all his faults, she clearly adores him. Perhaps it's because her impressions of him were set so early, that she remembers him first as the older cousin who once let her use his face as a palette for new makeup, as her very first and favorite pen pal. Letters exchanged with Byerly, even when their chances to meet in person became scarce, helped her endure boredom and the buzz of family politics constantly ringing over her head -- and after the Blight, when things got hard, those letters had helped her endure that too, in their own way. Byerly was always, in Sonia's mind, a destination of fantasy and mystery and excitement.

And goodness is this ever exciting.

She is entirely, wholly curious. Surely Sidony must already be aware of that; she's clearly no fool. Anyone would be curious. But as far as Sonia is concerned, her curiosity is fairly benign. She doesn't want Sidony to think she poses any threat to their marriage. However mischievous she might be, she has no intent of upending their careful fiction, whatever basis it was spun on. She grins.

"Then I must insist," she declares. "After we're finished with what I am convinced is possibly the most boring work on the Maker's green earth, please do come for a drink with me." She tilts her head, blinking wide eyes at Sidony. "However did you meet my cousin, by the way? He neglected to mention."

"Infuriating to a fault, isn't he? I have no room to complain since I chose him as my own, but I must recognise his failings as well as his many virtues." It's not as if Sidony is blind to what other people might loathe in Byerly; he has been nothing but kind, gentle and certain with her, a softness that she had never truly imagined, but he is not the same with all the people they know. She recognises it and appreciates it all the more for who he is with her.

She had never considered what Byerly's family might have thought of their marriage; she knew enough, from the strange events of their shared memories and pasts, that things were hardly on good terms. She never thought to consider what might happen if one of them appeared, just like this.

As kind and careful as Sonia appears to be, Sidony is no fool. She may be young and a touch careless at times, but she is not blind. She must tread carefully and ensure she does not lose herself - or any whisperings of secrets - to this lady. It would not end well, truly.

"He and I met by discussing things on the crystal. Then we began to speak to one another regularly and things simply progressed from there." She lifts her shoulder as if it doesn't matter at all. "I would gladly join you, of course. I am at your service."

Sonia laughs, a genuine laugh, her eyes sparkling. “And what virtues would those be? You possess a rather rare taste in company.”

She smirks, lets out a little laugh as she picks up a duster. The sooner they clean, the sooner they drink—and, no doubt, the more interesting the conversation gets. Discussing things on the crystal? That’s not a meet cute, that’s a line. She could probably pry something closer to the truth from Byerly if she applied the right leverage, but what fun would that be? This is a harmless mystery, Sonia decides, if her curiosity is all for herself.

“Oh, but I don’t mean to speak ill of my cousin—mostly. His is the most singular company, incomparable to others, even when he is absolutely insufferable. Our tastes are somewhat similar, I think.” She pauses mid-dust and looks at Sidony, her gaze naked and direct now. Her smile is slightly smaller now, but entirely full of warmth, almost childlike. “He is my very favorite cousin. One of my favorites among the family I have left, even—I know you’re not supposed to have favorites, but I do. Don’t tell him this, it’ll go to his head—but I treasure every moment of his company. I always have. And I am so very pleased that he has found someone who delights in it. I am sure he must delight in yours.”

"Isn't he charming enough? And I suppose his taste in wine is well and good, and there's something roguishly clever about him at times. Those are the few I can think of without being entirely disgusting with my affection."

She does have to play up the idea of it being a love match on her side, as much as Byerly plays with the idea of it being for status and power on his. It doesn't matter that he likely has more power than she does now - at the time it was a gamble she was willing to take, and it played out quite well for her. It's better than fretting about her future all over again, or wondering what she might do with herself and her idle, thoughtless desires.

"We all speak ill of him at time, do we not?" Sidony waves her hand idly. Head tilted, she hesitates before she breathes out and nods her head. "Many imagine our marriage to be... Something that it is altogether not, but I would not lie and say I do not care for him, that I do not love him." It is simply that the love she has for him is more akin to that of a sister to a brother, rather than wife to husband. "He is one of the dearest and most important people in my life and I imagine I would do almost anything to keep him in happiness."

This is...a strange moment. While Sonia knows Byerly has plenty of friends (in his own way, in varying flavors of sardonic), she knows that people who care for him like this -- truly and fully, without reservation -- are rare. Perhaps she had been flattering herself to think she was the only one, but rather than a spike of jealousy, Sonia feels...indescribably happy. She beams, batting her eyelashes to fend off even the notion of tears.

"You and I both," Sonia says, and holds out a hand for Sidony to clasp -- not in greeting, this time, but solidarity. "But enough about that lovable lout. I know plenty about him already." Although she is certainly learning more. "I'd like to know more about you."

It's clear that whatever motivation there might have been for their marriage - scandal and protection mixed together in some awkward, platonic desperation that she could never truly manage to thank him for - Sidony does love Byerly. He has been beyond good to her, faithful and wonderful both, and though she knows she can get cross with him at times (and he with her) she would not do without him. She would never choose to do without him either.

It's very easy, then, to reach out and embrace what family Byerly has left.

"About me?" Coy, playing an all too familiar game. "Oh, my dear lady, what would you like to know?"

"Oh, only everything," Sonia says, batting her eyes playfully at Sidony. "Don't worry, we can skip all the tedious middle-talk and building-up. I only want to know the important things -- whether you like to swim, your favorite place to watch the sunset, what kinds of books you like to read. You look like someone who reads books."

"So not much at all, then, I see." Sidony does feel a smile settling on her face, though, even as she reaches to adjust her skirts, giving her time to feel quite pleased with herself. Even now she does welcome and cherish the attention. "I read a great deal of medical books, dreadfully boring to most. I am Head Surgeon."

"Oh, to the contrary. We only ever like to think about the big parts of ourselves, but we are all made of little things. It is in the little things we find our true selves." Sonia gives her a lopsided grin, and it's hard to tell how serious she's being, but she does seem to be sincere about it. Her eyes brighten with interest.

"Head Surgeon? Really? Then meeting you is twice the honor." Oh, something she didn't know. Fascinating. The impressed look is genuine -- Sonia has great respect for experts in medicine, precisely because she finds it incomprehensible. "But certainly they aren't boring to you. What do you like about them?"

"That was almost poetic. It must be a family trait." To wax lyrical and mean something, to use words coyly, cleverly, wonderfully - Sidony has seen much the same in Byerly, and not just once. He is a marvel; there's no reason why his cousin might not also be marvellous as well. It's more than just a little entertaining.

Settling, she doesn't bother attempting to hide her pleased smirk.

"I enjoy learning about the human body," she admits, voice quiet. "I am keen to be the best in my field, to prove that one does not need magic to be useful to healing."

"Almost? Ah, I must be losing my edge to all the dust."

Sonia watches every turn of Sidony's expression with interest and delight. Byerly aside, Sonia thinks she would have been delighted to meet this woman under any context. There is much, much more here than the subject of a scandal.

"A truly noble pursuit," she says, the irreverence gone from her voice. "The pursuit of perfection in pursuit of the good of all." She smiles slightly. "It would take a fool to underestimate you, I think."

"You must work a little harder to earn my favour."

It's a tease, of course - Sidony is already half-won and she isn't certain how she feels about it. She feels quite content to relax some of her posture, to let her eyes drag over Sonia as she considers the situation they're in. Byerly will have to be informed, of course, and she'll have to do something to bring them all together. That'll be amusing.

"Thank you," she allows, her smile more genuine now. "I am doing my utmost, but many would still prefer the awkwardness of magic to the certainty of a surgical hand."

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[ open: hello again, riftwatch ]

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