Entry tags:
[OPEN]
WHO: Wysteria, Marcoulf, Flint, and/or Fitcher & YOU
WHAT: Open log for Wintermarch
WHEN: Now
WHERE: Various
NOTES: Mix of open and closed prompts; some threads closed to first come first serve and/or contain a few different prompts. Want something specific but don't see it here? Hit me up on discord/plurk/PM/the astral plane, and we can figure something out (or just toss me a wildcard starter if that suits your fancy; I'm pretty flexible). Action brackets aokay if you prefer it over prose.
WHAT: Open log for Wintermarch
WHEN: Now
WHERE: Various
NOTES: Mix of open and closed prompts; some threads closed to first come first serve and/or contain a few different prompts. Want something specific but don't see it here? Hit me up on discord/plurk/PM/the astral plane, and we can figure something out (or just toss me a wildcard starter if that suits your fancy; I'm pretty flexible). Action brackets aokay if you prefer it over prose.

wysteria
II. research division (closed to whoever gets here first)
III. wildcard
marcoulf
II. uninvited guests (closed to whoever gets here first)
III. wildcard
flint
II. kirkwall (closed to whoever gets here first)
III. wildcard
fitcher
II. lowtown tavern (closed to whoever gets here first)
III. wildcard
i
This is a first here without Revered Mother Liliane watchful gaze or Sister Ariane's - loving, well-meant - hectoring.
Which leaves Iris not-marching (purposeful striding, something Ser Gauvain taught at length) with her list and a smile, all thick Orlesian fresh from Val Royeaux-- "Excuse me? If you could check this over, I was told you were the right lady to speak with and given how supplies have been then I'd have it checked if you could."
no subject
And then other days, such as this one, she is so dreadfully late for an appointment from someone she knows will never stop talking about it, that she actually freezes when addressed. Once that instant failure of fight or flight unwinds, she is left regarding the sister with the sick look of someone on the verge of drowning, and promptly snatches the list.
"This is all right. It's fine." A cursory examination, ending promptly. Wysteria folds the list over and is about to shove it straight back into Sister Whatever's hands, then turns it back around and unfolds it for a second look. "No, no. We will need twice that in molasses for our visitors from Antiva. Did the kitchens sign off on this? Of course they didn't. And I don't see soap on here at all. And has anyone told you to avoid that wretched master Gartel in Lowtown? We've stopped doing any business with him."
ii.
His hand is raised, ready to offer some rather icy assistance (literally), considering it seems as though she does not have this well in hand, so to speak.
Maigc in his hand, he tilts his head, letting the frost sprinkle across the table in front of him, hopefully soothing some of the fire leaping to and fro.
"I hope you do not mind. I thought that you might like some help."
bastien;
no subject
Eventually he settles, ridiculous and self-aware, on, "It is a metaphor."
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People who have their own cares and petty squabbles to attend to that she isn't party to.
"The kitchens are far too busy feeding the place to go looking at papers, put on an apron or go." It had more bite with a Free Marcher accent instead of her thick Orlesian but the undercurrent of irritation creeps in because now more time is being wasted and people are going to be fed the wrong thing or not at all if it's not done right. "We have we stopped doing business with master Gartel? What's so wretched about him?"
no subject
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Wysteria slaps it all over, adding just smothering the mess to Solas' rather more elegant efforts.
"The fumes," she explains, as if that is any kind of explanation at all.
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"As for Master Gartel, he shorted us terribly on our last two orders and has yet to make up the difference. He may insist that it was the warehouse responsible for all the sawdust, but we hardly have the time to inspect every ibdividual bag of flour as it's delivered. So best to avoid his business. The extra trouble isn't worth what seems like such a reasonable price. No, I would discuss the matter with— well, whomever his immediate competition is if you can locate them. Perhaps you can play them off one another for a proper bargain."
no subject
Then he needs a moment. Not to organize the bullshit he's about to invent. Just to enjoy the laughing, like a song, in respectful silence.
"Each of les chats represents a period in Orlesian history, with Ancien Deutéronome as something akin to the Council of Heralds, deciding which facet of the Empire should triumph."
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"That certainly adds a rather shocking subtext to the choice of putting Rum Tre Tremper in a lion's mane."
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Somewhere behind them, in the street, other escaped members of the audience sing several lines of a song and burst into peals of laughter.
"So you see it makes perfect sense."
I refuse to type 'wicked grace face'
Charming. That's a word for the barely there, laced tight 'garments' the actors had been poured into.
"Maker. It's a shame Satinalia isn't for months yet."
silver;
Flint sits near the fireplace regardless. He is in the process of tightly rolling and packing a series of wool garments into the chest at his feet. There is a pitcher set on the hearthstone to keep the contents - some mulled wine of indiscriminate quality - warm and the smell of the spice is strong in the room despite the air running through the room.
"How goes the refit?" is the question he asks the moment Silver arrives in the doorway. The Walrus men have been tasked with whipping the frigate into shape for the winter, for the inevitable action in the Waking Sea in light of the failure of the Val Chevin blockage. It's a good question to ask of her quartermaster.
(It's a better question to ask to keep conversation from straying to swollen knuckles or any indiscreet bruising. Someone has been engaged with inelegant work.)
coward!!!
"We must. You must promise me. Not the silks; I would die. But the masks."
no subject
This all said breezily as she trails along behind (before) him.
"Which petichérie chat would you like to be?"
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A little sigh follows with a nod because yes, this she knows, this she remembers from being stood on empty crates to peek up over counters before the Chantry took her and even after because it's Orlais and no one is given to charity even if they should be. "Has anyone investigated this matter then? I realise that Riftwatch has many other matters to attend to but if he does it to Riftwatch who have duties such as," a gesture in place of words she's not ready to say, "Doesn't it stand to reason he'd do it to others as well who aren't in any position to argue with a man such as that? Who can't go bargaining?"
no subject
"I have no idea. It was made clear to the gentleman that until he settled the difference with us, Riftwatch would do no further business with him. That is really all I know. I believe it very likely that the rogue was relying on the fact that we take in such a large quantity all at once to hide his sins."
no subject
But you know. Reset the bone or cut that limb off. Move on with your life the way everyone else has to even if your mouth is full of blood and regrets. Though shoddy standards always seemed to be the Kirkwall way and that's going by the memory of a child raised on overheard stories about the place.
"Is there anyone who gives us good prices that I should be looking for? Anyone who might be encouraged to be charitable to the faith or less charitable? It's difficult to predict how someone reacts to the colour of your skirts now."
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"It proceeds without issue, in spite of the continued complaints about everything from the weather to Kirkwall's continued rationing," John answers smoothly, as his eyes take in the open trunk, the spiced wine, and then linger on Flint's hands. The mess of his knuckles is a tell. The sight is not unfamiliar, but John finds he cannot assume a cause for it. A question forms; John feels the shape of it, but as is fast becoming the norm, he is slow to find the words to put it to.
"I expect it'll be finished by the time you return from the frozen tundra, likely before," he continues, easing into the chair.
A second year wintering this far South is taking it's toll. John has some terrible inclination to suggest they board the Walrus and simply leave. It is acknowledged and set aside; it's old habit now. The impulse finds no purchase, but it persists.
"Is your presence on this venture petty punishment, or are you looking forward to sorting out the troubles of mountain villages?"
John assumes the answer: petty punishment. The fractures within the department are well known to him, would be well known if John had not taken up his own role within the structure.
no subject
The wool shirt is tucked in neatly to pad between the trunk's wall and a small stack of books already in residence; the cup at his heel is shifted onto the hearthstone and refreshed from the pitcher, then passed to Silver.
"I expect you'll have the particulars of your theater troupe whipped into order by then as well."
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With a slashing motion, Wysteria scratches one item from the list entirely and then surrenders it back to Iris.
"As for the other thing - you may of course do whatever you like with your free time. I can hardly stop you. But if you do fine yourself in conversation with the man, I would appreciate it if you would find some subtle way of telling him to get bent."
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At the least, it would be an interesting diversion. As far as opening salvos go within a position, John's sure he can do worse.
"Would you like me to accompany you?"
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"I told Warden von Skraedder that, should anything happen here while we're away, you'd be able to assist in taking control of the situation. There's no reason we should both freeze to death."
All this said easily and without looking up, the rings on his battered hand catching in the orange fire light as he goes unhurried about the business of folding and finding some space to pad with the shirt.
no subject
The reasoning is sound. John finds no reason to object other than his awareness of the fissure between them that has refused to vanish over time. Yes, one of them should be on hand to represent their interest. Yes, it is better John stay. There are many reasons for it beyond simply their most immediate interests. The ship is here. John is less likely to be useful in the snow.
But still, he absorbs that information and finds himself unsatisfied. There's nothing to do for it. John drinks his wine and watches the comforting gleam of rings on Flint's fingers. His own contribution sits there, wrought of carefully chosen stone and silver, blessed with blood and fire. (John's own blood; what is a few more drops set against all that he's already spilled on Flint's behalf?)
"Should I refrain from asking what happened to your hands?" John asks finally, finding no reason to argue for his presence on this trip and veering instead towards a more obviously sensitive topic.
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He leans on his staff, sparks of electricity above him prickling. He can almost hear the laughter.
"Yes, so I see." Head tilted, he does little else for a moment before - "Is there something more I can do to help you? What were you attempting?"
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"A difference of opinion.”
Now there is the hesitation. Or maybe it is merely a moment of distraction consumed by the question of where and how best to pack a series of papers. Eventually he adds, "I'm fairly confident Rutyer will survive."
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"What opinion warranted blows?"
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And then he hums dismissively, packing away papers and folding in a woolen undercoat over the whole assortment. It's not a satisfying answer; it is unpleasantly partial. He tries adding, "I'd be shocked if I were the first person to throw a punch at him. It's an act of grace the man isn't walking around with one constant blackened eye."
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"Should we be expecting reprisals?" is what he finally settles on. If there were a moment to weaken Flint's position further, it may very well be when he's away and isolated.
Please keep that ring on, he'd like to say. But calling attention to it seems like a foolish thing to do. If Flint hasn't divined it's purpose, then it's best for everyone that the ring is left alone to quietly do it's work while John quietly tries to fortify Flint's position here. Not so long ago, it was a given that John would have done this. Now, working on Flint's behalf seems fraught again for much more complicated reasons than him thinking John was an idiot.
no subject
In order: a series of socks, a knife in its sheath, a chartbook which fits nowhere except on the top of the pile inside the chest. And then he is finished; Flint closes and secures the battered trunk, then reaches out to take the cup from Silver.
"I plan to make an offer to the mages."
no subject
"Offering them what, exactly?"
John can guess. At this point, he is more acutely aware than ever of what mages may want and their own unique position to at least offer to assist them in their quest to obtain it.
no subject
He offers the cup back, hand warm from its shape.
"What we helped them take from the Circles. That capital might be used now for something which benefits us both were we to find something we agreed on."
no subject
Inevitably, John feels the cinch of a noose, the clutch of the trap he's caught himself in. There is the pressure of knowing an advantage and refusing to press it.
He continues on, pressing past the sensation.
"To which of them will you make your offer?"