faderift | [ open: all arise! ]

Entry tags:

[ open: all arise! ]

WHO: you. yes, you there. you're invited
WHAT: Sonia is throwing a big party, because everyone needs an excuse to get good and drunk together right now. And dancing. There is always dancing.
WHEN: Justinian, shortly after the return of the jungle crew
WHERE: The suite at the top of the mage tower
NOTES: ♫ have some party jams ♫

The month in the jungle was a long one, made longer by the total lack of any alcohol to mitigate the experience. Utterly unthinkable. Sonia is addressing a public need by throwing a grand party -- a public service, even. Besides, it's what she does. When was the last time she got to plan a party, anyway? Granted, this is not a Denerim soiree for the young nobility, but the venue doesn't matter. Only the people and the drinks, and Sonia is assuredly rich in both. It is also a fantastic excuse not to think about any of the bad things that have happened since she was last in Kirkwall.

The decoration in the residential suite at the top of the mage tower would be best classified as improvisational -- one of those drapes tacked along the wall for ambience may be a bedsheet -- but it's the spirit of the thing that counts. One makes do with what one has. In one corner are a few tables laden with spirits, some provided by Sonia, others by generous partygoers. There are a few Barra vineyard vintages in the mix, highlights of her personal collection, a testament to the celebration she considers tonight to be. There's a small selection of food nearby, mostly for snacking to go with the drinks, though guests are free to bring whatever they like to share.

And there is, of course, music. Someone here has brought a fiddle or a flute or a bunch of pots masquerading as a drum set. Maybe you've brought your very own a capella choir. Whatever the accompaniment, there's something to dance to. Sonia makes sure there is dancing.

Tonight is not for licking wounds or swapping grisly stories of terror and survival. Tonight is for feeling alive, getting properly and delightfully drunk, and having a good god damn time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Bet that stings a bit. Being reminded.

[ She takes in another lungful of smoke and holds it, then lets it jet out through her nose. Fuck, that feels weird. ]

[ He shared, so you'd think he'd be a little better at taking the sympathy. He shrugs lightly, more resigned than dismissive. ]

Better than forgetting, anyway. [ With a slight nod in her direction, ] Where were you before you joined up with Riftwatch?

[ Athessa shrugs, too. ]

Oh, around. I did some mercenary work in Rivain for a while, before coming back here. Riftwatch was still part of the Inquisition then.

[ Hard to believe that was so long ago... ]

[ His brow pinches, bemused. His tone's mildly incredulous to match. ]

Mercenary work. Seriously?

Uh, yeah? What's that look for?

[ Asked as if she doesn't get why her being a mercenary would be unexpected. ]

[ Oh. After a very flat deer-in-headlights pause to reconsider his approach, going with the honest answer: ]

You seem a bit young, is all.

[ Oh, that. ]

I'm twenty-nine. What are you, like...

[ She visibly struggles to come up with a number, then gives up. ]

I can't even guess, I'm terrible at ages.

[ His eyebrows lift very slightly at her answer, surprised or impressed or both. With a vague gesture towards himself, ]

Thirty-two.

[ Does he look thirty-two??? He has no idea. People used to tell him he looked like a baby, now he's apparently got an adult grandson. ]

But that's not where you're from, is it? "Around". Being a mercenary— that's just a job.

It's just not as easy as saying "I'm from Kirkwall" or "I'm from an alternate plane of reality," ya know. I was born to a Dalish clan in the Free Marches and then they got wiped out by bandits or slavers or both, so when I was thirteen I started fending for myself here.

[ It's the answer he was going for, something a little more meaningful than even "from Kirkwall" or "an alternate plane", something that gets at who she actually is. Difficult not to feel guilty for pushing when it's clearly not a nice answer, but his reply's measured, more respectful than awkward or knee-jerk apologetic. ]

Right. Sorry. [ He takes a moment to settle on a neutral (maybe??) topic. ] Has Riftwatch changed much since splitting off?

Less money, more freedom, I guess? We don't really have to worry about whether or not the Chantry will approve of what we do, but we had to tighten our belts over the winter. There's still a shortage of coffee and tea and sugar that isn't doing us any favors.

Yeah, I've noticed.

[ Worst part of Thedas. Well, not actually even close to the worst part of Thedas, but definitely the most obnoxious day-to-day. ]

The mess hall lies about it to Rifters, you know. I went half a bloody month thinking coffee hadn't been invented yet.

Wha--

[ She looks at him to assess whether or not he's serious, decides that he is, and looks immediately indignant on his behalf. ]

Those fuckers. Which one told you that?

Um.

[ A bit deer-in-headlights at the zero to 100, but he rallies quickly. ]

Didn't catch his name. Short man with the big arms— [ Quickly. Not very helpfully. ]

It's fine, really. It's just like being a freshman at the academy.

[ ... he hated being a freshman at the academy. Maybe the zero to 100 is fair, actually. ]

And let one of our number get away with trying to treat Rifters as less than any of the rest of us? I don't think so.

[ Clearly, she has some personal stake in people being treated as outcasts. ]

Oh— okay. [ A little slow, still catching up. He gets the surface issue, it's just a strong response for some coffee. Or— that's not right. It's a stronger response than he might've expected for some mild hassling of a Rifter. Of him, specifically.

Maybe being on the other side of it is the weird part. He remembers that same indignation when the Accords had been introduced, bullying Inhumans into outing themselves. With that thought he says, again: ]

Okay.

[ More sure, on the same page. Only a bit resigned. ] There's a complaint box, yeah? Riftwatch HR? That's— [ Human resources. She's an elf and he's apparently a demon going by popular definition. ] A department that sorts out interpersonal problems in the workplace.

There's a complaint box but the department is just the Seneschal.

[ She has no ill will towards Salvio, but-- ]

Most I've seen come of complaints is arguing about them over the crystals. I prefer to take things into my own hands.

[ WELL.... ]

Yeah. [ He says, lifting one hand to idly scratch behind an ear. ] That's about what HR does.

[ A little carefully, ]

What's that mean, exactly? Taking things into your own hands.

[ whaddya THINK it means, Fitzy-boy? ]

It means I'm gonna talk to him? [ duh. ]

And kindly remind him what we're all doing here, [ wait for it... ]

And if he doesn't listen I'll kick his arse until he does.

[ That's exactly what he thought it meant, actually. He squints slightly, head tilting a bit as he weighs it as an option. ]

Right, that's— that's fine, theoretically, but maybe there should be a few more steps between the reminder and the arse kicking.

If he listens to the reminder, there won't have to be more steps, or arse kicking.

[ She cools slightly, because being indignant right now, right here, isn't going to help much. She'll save it for the dining hall. ]

I just don't like seeing people get taken advantage of because of where they come from.

[ His mild concern evaporates, which has more to do with fully tracking the meaning of that statement than her chilling out. Maybe a little bit of the second thing, though. ]

No, you're right. [ He'd already agreed with her, generally. More specifically: she's right to be genuinely angry about it. ] I'll go with you.

Maybe not the best idea but sure. You can point him out to me just in case my hunch is wrong.

[ Slightly disgruntled, ]

What's that supposed to mean?

If I go talk to him on my own, he won't have a specific Rifter to single out as the reason he's getting a talking to.

But if he gets that talking to and sees you with me, he'll think that the only reason I'm chewing him out is because you complained, and he's likely to seek you out in retaliation later.

(no subject)

technologist - 2020-09-03 16:33 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only