We're Back! A Gallows Tale

[sulahnan]

WHO: Athessa and YOU!
WHAT: Oh, you know. Getting back from the jungle and getting way too into her work.
WHEN: Now, Post-Jungle
WHERE: The Gallows & Kirkwall in general
NOTES: shrug.

I. Back on her Bullshit...or...not.

Athessa is quite possibly the best rested of the whole group that returns from the jungle, having found sleeping rough a lot easier than sleeping in a bed here. Weird. But in the few days that follow, she once again gets back to her habit of not sleeping well and prowling around in a cloud of root-smoke. She also has a small dagger strapped to her hip instead of going unarmed or strapping on her dual-wield blades, and an unusually heightened work ethic during daylight hours. Minimal antics, maximum...something else. Something like responsibility? Weird.

II. Can I Raas you a Question? (Closed to Raas, if that wasn't clear)

They don't know each other. They've never even interacted, at least as far as Athessa can recall. But where else is Athessa supposed to turn, when she doesn't know anyone else who speaks qunlat and doesn't want to snoop around unnecessarily before handing over what she found to the boss?

"'Scuse me..." She isn't timid, just a little awkward. It's not typical for her to introduce herself to someone just to ask a favor. "Do you have a minute?"

III. A New Kind of Office Visit (closed to Yseult)

Athessa knocks before entering, same as usual. But this isn't one of their scheduled check-ins or typical scout work that either of them expect from one another. They're barely settled after getting back from the jungle when Athessa is reporting to Yseult with a missive in one hand, and a qunari dagger in the other. Both are set on Yseult's desk.

"I...figured I should report this to you. I dunno if it even really matters, but I found these in De--in Sten's room."

IV. Wildcard

[ you know the drill ]

Comments

[sulahnan]

She looks...sheepish, a little bit, because the only reference she had she’s already given to Barrow for the same purpose: bloodhounding. “Uh, like...me and Derrica, I guess, but without the people-smell?”

[justashotaway]

She has to take a moment to consider--right now, Athessa smells different, naturally, without any bath oils to use--but she thinks she'll know when she smells it. When someone smells like Athessa and Derrica.

Of course, there is one other concern. Not strictly an issue for Laura, but Athessa should be forewarned. "People do not like to be sniffed."

[sulahnan]

"That's true," she admits with a shrug. "So being sneaky about it is probably a good idea. Or, sniffing stuff they've worn or touched, or where they sleep."

[justashotaway]

"They also dislike it when you go where they sleep." Did she learn this the hard way at some point soon after her arrival? Maybe. But also, she still resents the idea that someone was in her room without her permission, touching her things and taking them. "We will have to follow people."

Fortunately, that's something she's good at. She thinks about it, pauses again, and asks, "Who should we start with?"

[sulahnan]

A good question. Athessa scratches her chin and hums.

"We should make a list. We can start with the people we don't know or who we think might have a motive, then move on to lesser likely ones. We should be able to eliminate anyone who was in the jungle with us from the pool of suspects, but we can't discount the possibility that someone in the jungle made contact with someone back here and told them what to do."