Project Haven: Kirkwall Outreach [open]

[venenifer]

WHO: Brother Gideon, everyone who signed up, anyone who wants to join without signing up
WHAT: A mobile Chantry service in Lowtown. (FREE FOOD)
WHEN: end of Cloudreach
WHERE: the Lowtown market square
NOTES:

I. READINGS

A small podium has been set up for speakers, who have been given passages from the Canticle of Andraste (keeping it simple) to read aloud to the slowly gathering crowd. They rotate through, starting with Brother Gideon on the first verse, then Wysteria, then Warden Adrasteia, then Seeker Tiffany, followed by any other volunteers who happened to show up at the last minute.

There are a fair number of listeners, but it's also safe to say many are simply here for the food.

II. PANCAKES

When not reading, Tiffany is in charge of making and doling out pancakes, with Maud (and anyone else) assisting her. They have brought down a single brazier that she can use for cooking more, as long as the dough holds out. This is far and away the most popular section of the gathering, and no doubt struggle to keep up with the clamoring hands.

Security are asked to keep a particular eye on them, and to help maintain order.

III. DONATIONS

Lazar will, perhaps, disappointed to find that most donations come in the form of used clothing, toys, and equipment; it's Lowtown, after all, and there isn't a lot of coin to spare.
At least one street urchin, perhaps misunderstanding the purpose of the collection, tries to make off with an item that is, at least in theory, completely available to them. Whether someone decides to do anything about it is their choices.

IV. OTHER

Brother Gideon himself is looking rather on the overwhelmed side, but is keeping it together well enough. Anyone approaching him to ask for direction or delegation is at risk of being snapped at, but this is likely only because he's quite invested in the event running smoothly.

V. AFTER

After the crowd has dispersed and the cleanup is done, Brother Gideon exhaustedly beckons everyone toward one of many hole in the wall dining establishments with the promise of reward in the form of free dinner.
Free for them, at least.

He still doesn't look that enthusiastic, but it's safe to say he never does.

Comments

i.

[heirring]

As the miscellaneous gathered assembly makes quick work to get their hands on whatever assorted pancakes and donations are remaining and then get the heck out of dodge in the aftermath of the reading, Wysteria cheerfully turns the full brunt of her attention to the admirable Lady Seeker in their presence. She goes so far as to clasp Tiffany's hand in both of hers, lest the woman doubt the sincerity of her compliment:

"And you read it so beautifully. Truly, it is such a shame there is no proper Chantry in Kirkwall any longer. Do you know that the first thing I did when I arrived was demand that the Mister Rutyer--he was not the Ambassador then--take me to see where it had stood. We stood on the gate surrounding it--for the area was still closed to the foot traffic then--and peered in. I believe he was quite bored with it, but I have always found everything about the southern religion so very fascinating."

[fairforce]

The southern religion. That does get a little smile out of Tiffany. She doesn't pull away from Wysteria's clasped hands, untroubled by the familiarity and sincerity of the gesture.

"Thank you, really. That's very kind of you. I have to say, you must be a very convincing person, to have coaxed the Ambassador to accompany you to a Chantry, even a defunct one. I do get the sense that would be outside his interest. But you're being modest," she chides, kindly. "You read your verse admirably. You have a very fine voice for reading, and excellent projection--really, you should count oration among your skills, if you don't already."

[heirring]

"Oh, how terribly kind of you. Really though, it is hardly so difficult to read something as written on the page. And I have always thought--or rather ever since arriving--that the Chant was singularly lovely and so it is truly a pleasure to do so. My problem always comes when I'm expected to speak at length with only notes or off the top of my head, and I believe some skill in either is mandatory for any truly great speaker. But I shall keep you recommendation very close to my heart, Lady Seeker. It is a lovely compliment."

All of this Wysteria manages to say in seemingly one great exhale, sucking down breath either so quickly or so subtly that the pause required for it is nigh on invisible.

"As for the Ambassador, yes. He was quite bored by me, I think."

Here, she laughs. It's a bright, cheerful sound and perhaps distracts from Wysteria's failure to release Tiffany's hand. Perhaps she's forgotten that it's in her possession.

[fairforce]

It is rather a lot. Tiffany manages to weather the tumult of Wysteria's reply without flinching. Blinking, yes, but not flinching. A lesser soul would be entirely overwhelmed.

There's no place to break in to the wall of conversation, not until Wysteria cuts herself off and laughs. Tiffany joins in the laughter. Not at Wysteria, that would be both terribly unkind and terribly unfounded. She's more charmed than amused.

"Bored? By you? I don't see how that's possible, if you don't mind me saying."

[heirring]

"Oh," she scoffs, clearly overwhelmed with delight. She absently pats Tiffany's hand once or twice, dismissive (but not too dismissive) of the sentiment. "Well, that is very kind of you to say. But I guarantee that he was at the very least entirely uncharmed by what I considered compelling sight seeing."

With a last pat of the other woman's hand, Wysteria at last relinquishes her seemingly without any thought or chagrin for having discovered she'd still been holding it.

"Have you done very much of this sort of work, Lady Seeker? With the street, I mean. I was under the impression such things usually fell outside the regular duties of your order."

Not that she could say exactly what those regular duties consisted of in totality either, but—