scouting mission: opening doors.

[glandival]

WHO: Aenor Dinadhal, Caric Van Kassel, Ellis, Sabine, Vanadi de Vadarta, Vance Digiorno
WHAT: The gang are sent on a mission to the Anderfels to retrieve an eluvian from a lake and install it in Hossberg.
WHEN: Drakonis
WHERE: Hossberg, the Anderfels
NOTES: TBA

Comments

[dinadhal]

The lake ripples coolly around her ankles, more lazy undulation than anything approaching a wave, and Aenor finds herself tempted to rock back and forth on her heels in time with it. She's taken by the rhythm it gives the world, soothed by it--right up until Vanadi makes her laugh.

"This is what you wonder?" This, from a man who had to be coaxed into removing his boots. "The Anderfels, they're cold at night. Clothing drying by the fire or in the wind, I think, is better than freezing."

Which is to say, yes.

[highborn]

Well, what a good thing he'd brought so many extra changes of clothes -- worth the hassle of carrying it all out here. But still, he brightens, because this is overall good news.

"A silver lining to every cloud," he says, and steps lightly into the water. For all his whining, he barely registers the cold and gives no reaction, only wading out to join her. "I don't know if you've noticed, but a good portion of Riftwatch is very easy to look at."

[dinadhal]

"So eager," she says as she kicks a little splash of water at his bare shins, laughter threading through the words. "And you, who do you long to see in smallclothes?"

[highborn]

He skitters back halfheartedly, as if he could possibly be offended by water soaking into his pants cuffs, and offers a shrugging smile.

"Not to be crass, but we would save time if I told you who I didn't care to see in smallclothes."

[dinadhal]

And Aenor simply gestures with one hand, expansive, as though to say go on, then, make your list.

[highborn]

He settles again in the water, making a show of thoughtful consideration. It goes on for some time, almost too long, before he finally manages, "Oh, do you know Old Lars? He works the kitchens. Bit of a pox problem. He could keep all his clothing on, I wouldn't mind at all."

[dinadhal]

"No, no, a kitchen man in Kirkwall, he doesn't count. We're in the Anderfels now." Though she can't deny that, as a party, they're all rather good-looking--she's teasing mostly for the sake of it. "Every one of us, you want to...ah, the word, the word, I think it is ogle."

[highborn]

His thoughtful consideration flicks into a quick grin as he says, "I'll not leer, but rest assured, I will appreciate any views offered. No sense letting them go to waste."

[dinadhal]

"Flattering, I think." Teasing, but also: he's a handsome young man, that Vanadi, just look at him. Aenor will take the compliment. "After a hard day of work, especially."

[highborn]

"Speaking of, I have heard that a brisk and refreshing swim is just the thing, after a hard day of work." He studies the water briefly, then back to Aenor with a brow cocked. "What do you say?"

[dinadhal]

"That first swim, it nearly drowned me." She's shaking her head as she says it, cheerful enough but clearly looking out toward the place in the lake they came out of the eluvian. Quicker than traveling overland, but not her favourite journey of late. "No, I'll have to watch you. Admire, I think, the view."

[highborn]

"Oh, that's just a matter of practice. And swimming alone is a sorry thing, you know." He times his words with a slow sway of a half step out toward the deeper water, an inviting toss of his head in the same direction.

[dinadhal]

She doesn't move, watching him with amusement and crossed arms. "And when I drown, you will comfort my son?"

[highborn]

That's a wide open invitation that he's not sure he should take. He would gladly talk about how just how comforting he could be to her son, but he's not willing to risk the joke going poorly. Instead, with a derisive huff, "Come, there would be no need! I spent my every childhood summer swimming with an aquatic friend. I'd have drowned long ago if I weren't competent enough for two."

[dinadhal]

A wise choice, less because Aenor's likely to be offended and more because she'd be unsure how to break it to the poor fellow that Caric seems to love nothing as he does chatter. "You ask me to put my life in your hands."

But as soon as she's said that, she strips off one layer, a sort of surcoat of linen that's been fluttering around her knees all this time. Underneath is more linen, a sand-colored shirt, left untied at the collar, and her trousers, already dark with lake water where she hasn't bothered to cuff them. Balling up the surcoat, she tosses it toward the rest of their things, but it's too light to make it all the way. "My trust, it is in you, Vanadi. No drowning."

[highborn]

He grins, but still manages to sound earnest when he says, "I'll not take that lightly."

He takes a few steps closer to shore, only to shrug off his own heavy leather jerkin and gloves, and shake out a few pockets of items he'd really rather not be dampened (including a small handful of knives). It still leaves him with two layers of thinner shirt, which will do. On the way back out toward her, Vanadi reaches out a hand -- the one with the gleaming shard in it -- to request Aenor's.

[dinadhal]

She takes his hand without hesitation, once he's relieved himself of his burdens. (Wise of him not to carry all that into the water--it's a wonder he didn't sink when they arrived.) "Swimming, this is something you do often?"

[highborn]

He closes his fingers around hers, grip firm without being too tight, and starts a slow wade out into the deeper water.

"Mm, not lately, it's been some fifty years. But you never really forget, you know?

[dinadhal]

"Fifty years!" she exclaims, delighted to have so misjudged his age. The water creeps up their legs--up Aenor's rather faster--as they walk further in. "Ah, I hope that much is true. In these fifty years, what have you done instead?"

[highborn]

He looks faintly amused, as it's gone from strange to entertaining that people here are surprised by his age.

"Mm, well ... there were a lot of parties," he says. "And ... hm, primarily just the parties, really."

[dinadhal]

"Parties," she repeats, as if she's expecting that to be some kind of euphemism. In her life, such things have been few and far between; no one could have made a life simply waiting for the next one. "Parties, that's all?"

[highborn]

The water is just past his waist now, and Vanadi doesn't slow the pace. Except of course it's quickly less walking and more a glide, as the water deepens. He offers a shrug.

"Parties, yes. A bit of travel. A business venture here or there. There weren't many demands on my time, you see."

[dinadhal]

The water is at Aenor's chest, or nearly, at this point, and if he's not going to slow, she certainly is. They're fast approaching the point where she'll have to figure out just how one swims, whether she likes it or not. But if she's concerned, she doesn't show it besides getting a little more cautious about the steps forward she takes. "Riftwatch, it must be very different."

[highborn]

Fine, fine, he'll slow, and turns more to face Aenor, their joined hands held high toward the surface of the water.

"Oh, it's much better company, to be sure." He eyes her thoughtfully, and with decidedly more interest, "How able a swimmer would you say you are?"

[dinadhal]

"Coming up from the eluvian, it didn't drown me." It's as much swimming as she's ever done--much of it ineffective paddling, much of it clinging to Caric's coat as it billowed in the water. "The Anderfels, they are not known for their water. Not much swimming to be done."

I lived along the Lattenfluss, but I didn't swim in it, lies unsaid. For the purposes of Riftwatch, she's spent her life crossing the dead lands between oases. Traveling the length of the river, endlessly back and forth, was another life entirely.