OPEN - Rooks, Pawns, Bishops and Knights

[madame_de_fer]

WHO: Vivienne and OPEN
WHAT: Catchall post for Madame de Fer to get to know the players great and small in the Inquisition.
WHEN: Wintermarch, all month
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: There's a specific bit for the Council members, but the remainder is open to everyone. Anyone who's been wanting CR with Viv, feel free to assume your character got one of the vaunted invites and tag in!

For the Council
Early in Wintermarch, all members of the Council receive a gilded paper invitation. No impersonal sending crystal for this message. The contents invite all the Councilors to join Madame de Fer at the hot spring for a day of relaxation and massage. To her mind, this is no frivolous social gathering meant to impress or irritate the others. (Though if either of those become true, that is useful as well.) There needs to be a dialogue enough amongst them that they do not dither away precious time and resources having to renegotiate their relationships upon meeting. That and none of them are any use to the Inquisition if they are tired, weary, and not well taken care of.

Some of her most comfortable chairs and lounging couches have been brought to the hot spring, and tables set with with a full tea service, both sweet and savory, and a few bottles of champagne. There's even imported Antivan cheese wheels, for the eyes, not for snacking. She is determined not to be caught out letting any of the others languish behind in attending to the important business of self-care. Anyone who brings up anything of a political or divisive nature, however, will find that they are most unwelcome. Relaxation and learning more is the point, not to posture and jockey. Not today.


For the Advisors and Companions
All the advisors and previous companions of the Herald likewise receive Spa Day invitations, albeit the day after the Council. Thank the Maker Sera is not around to make a mockery of such generosity. Knowing that Cullen is most likely to be the most stubborn about leaving that musty office of his, Vivienne plans to drag him along by the ear like an errant child if he dawdles too long in arriving.


Open to All, All Month
Before everyone can scatter to the four winds on business following the start of the new year, Vivienne sets out to some business of her own. She needs to know as much as she can about anyone within the Inquisition who might be a considerable piece in the Game, whether they are aware of such or not. Invitations to join her at her balcony begin to go out to anyone of interest: mages, templars, second sons of minor nobles, people from out of the rifts. For those whose invitation falls in the mid-afternoon, it is to join her for tea. Others receive invites for drinks, well after the dinner hour, but clearly with the intent of having uninterrupted time for getting to know the other better. As much as anyone is allowed to learn more about the Iron Lady.

Comments

[serannas]

Ellana is startled by the laugh, especially since it draws attention to the two of them instead of away. But then she sees Pel's face and she starts giggling too. Has she ever seen Pel blush before now? She can't recall it.

It is rather funny when she stops to think about it. Someone in love wouldn't really care, would they? But on the other hand, there's nothing wrong with wanting to feel nice for someone else.

"Now the question is: will you build up new calluses, or join me in wearing shoes?" She doesn't yet know that wearing shoes gives a person calluses regardless, but she's only been wearing them two months now. Give her time.

[mythalenaste]

"Shoes are expensive." That's always her reason, but she's feeling adventurous today. Like she can take on anything. "Fine. All right. I have sturdy hiking boots, but I swear: one of these days, we will go shopping for pretty shoes together. And I will wear what I buy on days I don't need them. I rather liked Adelaide's idea of sandals."

[serannas]

Her blush doesn't fade. "I, uh, borrowed these." Meaning she never paid for them. Shoes aren't expensive if you take them from a pile of supplies.

Ellana sits up a little straighter in her seat, looking surprised at Pel's behavior. What is in this champagne?

"Shopping? Where would we go?" The thought of stopping in an actual town is thrilling. She's been to Redcliffe, and that was a treat. But it's hard to know exactly where two elves can go. "They would have to be willing to take our money." She's not so naive to think they'd be welcome everywhere, though she wishes they could be.

[mythalenaste]

"Redcliffe, probably. And we can only cross that bridge when we come to it." She sips at her champagne.

[serannas]

"Redcliffe seems nice. And Alistair comes from there, so it must produce some good people." Albeit people who might just have an obsession with Dalish feet, the way Alistair carries on about hers. Come to think of it, if the population does share that in common with him, it would be the perfect place to buy shoes.

[mythalenaste]

"Isn't the arl's wife an elf? I heard something like that. But Alistair isn't...from Redcliffe, exactly."

It took Pel an embarrassingly long time to connect the dots there.

[serannas]

"Is she? I'm not sure. But I asked him where was the most beautiful place he'd even been and he said his biased answer was Redcliffe, because he grew up there. He did say he went to the Chantry to become a Templar, but for a time, at least, that was his home." He spoke of climbing up by a waterfall and looking down on Lake Calenhad, saying it was longer edge to edge than the Waking Sea. Little things like that tend to stick in her memory.

[mythalenaste]

"But I don't think he's actually related to anyone there. He'd have been born in Denerim, wouldn't he?"

[serannas]

"Why would that matter?" Ellana gives Pel a curious look. "People in a village can be alike from their upbringing, can't they? Not from being related."

[mythalenaste]

"From experience? Difficult to say." The smile has waned to almost nothing. "Either way, Redcliffe seems like a good place for us."

[serannas]

"And you say we should buy sandals?" Ellana asks as the two spa workers swap hands and she gets cream on one, filed nails on the other.

"That will have to wait for warmer weather."

[mythalenaste]

"We're fantasizing, aren't we? Might as well fantasize the weather will always be warm enough for them."

[serannas]

"Are we? I thought you were being serious." Ellana isn't sure what to think of this new Pel who allows herself to be pampered and dreams of shoes. It's such a different sight than what she's used to.

[mythalenaste]

"Well...it would be nice, yes. But after today I'll have to...wake up, and face reality. And in reality, it isn't practical. I can't afford things I don't have any use for. Pretty shoes and things aren't meant for people like me. They're for...goddesses like you and Vivienne."

[serannas]

Her words startle Ellana so much that her face goes white in shock. Surely Pel doesn't mean that. She can't!

"Don't say that! I'm no more a goddess than a... a nug! Mythal is a goddess. I'm just an elf, same as you." If Ellana was a goddess, she certainly wouldn't lack a purpose or yearn to find her place. She wouldn't have been just a bit of fun for the man she gave her heart to. Goddesses were stunningly beautiful, unfathomably wise, and incredibly fierce. No one would dare cross them.

"I suppose if any person would come close, then Vivienne would, but certainly not me. I hope you understand that." And that she won't go around telling other people that she looks on Ellana that way.

[mythalenaste]

"...Oh, Mythal'enaste," Pel says in a faintly exasperated tone. "Stop that. You're the most beautiful thing on two legs, besides maybe Vivienne. You hair is perfect, your skin is flawless, everybody adores you, you're funny and witty and charming and talented and can do absolutely anything you make up your mind to do. All you lack is confidence."

[serannas]

"Don't," Ellana says, looking far more perturbed than a compliment should cause. "No one adores me. I can think of people in our own clan who don't. And I'm sure you have far more friends here right now than I do. You have family, and friends, and everything a person could ever want." She looks away, mouth set in a firm line.

"I don't care what I look like to others. All I care about is that I matter to them; that I mean something. And believe me, I know what if feels like to not matter at all." Goddesses aren't strung along and cheated on. Goddesses don't get the silent treatment from a clan mate for trying to help. Goddesses aren't talked about behind their backs, like Ellana is sure she's been in the past for daring to want to see the world.

[mythalenaste]

Pel goes a bit quiet, then gets out of the hot spring. Someone is right there with a towel, then a robe, and Pel sits by Ellana, as close as she can be without upsetting the attendants working on her manicure.

"You have family. You have a sister. I know we were never really close before, but I'd like to be now. I'm not First anymore, so there's nothing stopping it."

[serannas]

Ellana doesn't speak for a moment, not sure what to think. She's just accepted that she has no family here, unless she counts Gavin as her foolish older brother who always ends up disappointing her. Her gaze lowers, eyes darting back and forth as she thinks. When she looks up, her forehead is wrinkled, confused.

"Are you really not First anymore? Aren't you planning on returning to lead someday?" She has mixed feelings about this; feelings she wouldn't have if she'd not had the upbringing she did. There had been no extra training for her and no straight path set before her. Nothing she could cling to that would keep her focused on her future. And that was because she had come into her magic after Pel and Sorrel: the First and the backup. And now the First wasn't First anymore. It stung. It made her feel... disappointed in Keeper Deheune.

[mythalenaste]

She shakes her head, eyes blank.

"I'm not going back, no. Except to visit, of course. I'm going to be a researcher for good. Even when the Inquisition is done. It's the best thing for the People."

A pause.

"And...I want it. More than anything."

[serannas]

"So Sorrel is First now." Again, a certain feeling twists itself in Ellana's chest. At first, she thinks it's disappointment, but it feels too strong and too raw. It's anger. She's angry at the Keeper for holding her back and making her feel like she wasn't good enough to be like the other mages Deheune was grooming to take her place. All this time, she could have learned too. She could be Second now.

But no. That life isn't for her now either. Joining the Inquisition has shown her that the world is open before her, and she can explore it. She can find a place where she feels she can belong for good, and that's not in the clan.

"I know what you mean," she says softly, pushing her hurt feelings aside. Everything has worked out, hasn't it? The Keeper's mistake has led to something better now. "I'm not going back either."

[mythalenaste]

Pel sticks her feet back in the water and takes another glass of champagne. One of them was given no expectations, the other far too many.

"I know. Or I guessed, anyway. Your heart was always elsewhere."

[serannas]

"It was. And it is hard to live with your body always in one place, but your heart pushing beyond." There are things about the clan she loves. Sulahni has always been kind and let Ellana help feed the halla. Making baskets is relaxing, simple work that results in something useful. But for a long time, Ellana has felt unfulfilled and unhappy.

"I like being here. I enjoy the work we're doing. And I want to be able to help the Elvhen too. Maybe doing something through the Inquisition can help our people, or once my duty here is done, I'll help them in other ways."

[mythalenaste]

Pel isn't entirely sure what to say to that. Ellana has never shown that much interest in her own people before. Maybe being in the outside world has quelled some of the longing for the unknown, and she's starting to balance out.

"You could help Morrigan and me. We've got a lot of volunteers. There's no reason you couldn't be one, so long as someone's here to take care of Council business if there are emergencies. It's mostly reading and writing at this point, though. I've only had one actual outing approved; the rest has been letter-writing and translation."

[serannas]

With being out in the wider world, Ellana is finding that she can visit places other Dalish clans will never find their way to, and there could be remnants of the elven world that they'll never get a chance to see. But Ellana will see it for them and take notes. She'll spread the word. And maybe they can have a formerly unknown bit of knowledge from the past to hold onto. She wishes they could look towards the future instead, but change hardly ever comes to the Dalish. She wants a better life for her people, but it might be that giving them information is all she can do.

"I'd be happy to do that. But the Council will understand if I have to go out on a mission too. We're lucky to have these sending crystals, like when we had the emergency meeting. Korrin was able to contribute that way, and it was no different from seeing her face."