hassaran: (Default)
yseult ([personal profile] hassaran) wrote in [community profile] faderift2021-04-27 06:06 pm

open | cloudreach

WHO: Yseult + others to come
WHAT: A catch-all for open prompts and maybe some closed starters
WHEN: Roughly now-ish, or backdated throughout April
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: If you'd like something in particular ping me on plurk/discord to discuss!
lumelume: (yaaay)

hands-on training

[personal profile] lumelume 2021-04-27 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Telling time only by the bells and the position of the sun, Mado is nonetheless waiting at the ferry a little bit early, the finest cloak he could acquire tucked under one arm and a matching hat cocked atop his head.

It seems he made the attempt to dress the rest of the way, as much as he could on short notice: not wearing his usual comfortable Antivan street clothes, the Riftwatch footsoldier's uniform he has on is, he hopes, polished enough.

Grinning brightly at Yseult's approach, he doesn't wave to her-- she doesn't seem like the sort to like being waved at.
archademode: (we return)

office;

[personal profile] archademode 2021-04-28 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
“Lady Yseult.”

It’s a harsh entry, his. By way of his armor mostly— pitch-dark in its mirror shine, so broad it might very well threaten to catch the doorway as he presses inside, framed by the dark fabric of a heavy cloak. His posture is tall, his footfalls heavy beyond the weight of layered metal. It speaks of authority, though now only the memory of it, like a living testament to another world played out in harsh lines and lowered voice.

And yet, in spite of that, it’s hardly disrespectful, for he pauses just there before her desk: lingering at attention, rather than overbearing demand.

She is the last he must meet with to fully know the structure of his newfound cause. And he does, in some small way, regret that it has taken so long.
archademode: (When the fire starts to burn)

[personal profile] archademode 2021-04-28 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
There’s no impatience to speak of: as her business is concluded at pace, he remains exactly as he is, declining the offer of either chair, and instead fitting his arms against the small of his own back rather than across the twin pommels of his swords. The slow catch of thin paper almost loud in that otherwise quiet space.

She knows his name. It shouldn’t come as a surprise in some respects— her title and position offer more than enough insight as to how (and there's something to be said for it, isn’t there? The memory of Byerly’s own words: I hope you don't think you cut a subtle figure, Judge Magister).

Her request prompts a slight incline of his head in dutiful acquiescence. It segues smoothly into the practiced matter of drawing his helm away with gauntleted fingers where they rest just beneath ornate horns, leaving instead a stare that’s far more human in nature: harsh hazel eyes shadowed by a sharp brow line, blond hair clinging to the edges of angular features, unweathered and unmarred.

Helmets. Apparently good at their job, if worn often enough.

He lifts his chin, squaring off posture by minute degrees.

“I've come to make my own introduction as asset and ally,” belated as it is, formalities hold worth with good reason. “And, have you time to discuss more than that, to speak with you about a man named Benedict Artemaeus.”

Edited (phone tags, so eloquent) 2021-04-28 23:44 (UTC)
propulsion: (#6060421)

office.

[personal profile] propulsion 2021-04-29 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Knock knock."

—in lieu of actual knocking. It is well past what ordinary earth people might consider normal business hours, and likewise interesting to Tony to see whose door casts light well into the evening.

His, not so much. If he's going to be working late, which is often, it's more likely to find him in the Research workshops, or dungeon-level. Tonight, for whatever reason, he's likewise lurking in his office on a night that so is Yseult, and so: he appears at her door, elbowing it open, and lifts a metal pitcher thing, where the scent of coffee precedes him.

"You shouldn't have any of this after 3 pm," he says. "Got a cup?"
archademode: (When you feel the heat)

[personal profile] archademode 2021-04-29 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
Approval is good, all things considered. Gabranth takes to its presence more than most, though that fondness hardly makes itself known in an expression as stolid as the helmet he now keeps tucked in against his side.

He’s hardly a man for guile or tact, there’s no subtlety to anything he manages, but for this— for a matter as delicate as past betrayals and present aspirations— he does try to keep his footfalls soft, figuratively speaking.

“I have been told he is of poor standing within your organization. That there are— justifiably— complaints against him that are entirely legitimate in nature, and not to be forgotten.” This, after all, is easier a topic to sink into than his own introduction or promise of usefulness; should she ask, he’ll not shirk response, but until then he would prefer not to linger on the subject of his own life's conspectus.

“Thus I feel it important to bring to your attention the matter of his conduct during the last mission I attended at his side.”

A slight pause, before:

“Which is to say, he performed admirably under duress.”
archademode: (is at my fingertips)

[personal profile] archademode 2021-04-29 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
It suits him just as well. He, who had spent so long at the side of Vayne Solidor: Consul, stolen Emperor— a tactician without a hand to show anyone, least of all himself.

"It was his magic that afforded us a distinct advantage when we set ourselves against the stormrider, and it was his diplomatic prowess that did— in addition to the work of the others present— secure fair bonds in the aftermath of that battle, amongst gathered Orlesian nobility.

If he is known for cowardice, then let this stem the bleeding, at least in part, for the dragon struck him dumb with fear, and yet he did still act in our favor. Put himself at risk, so that we might succeed."

His gaze shifts slightly, lowering in brief consideration for the creature curled soft across her lap— though his focus returns only a beat later. He is, after all, better trained than to overtly show disrespect without meaning to.

"War, as I have known it, spares little concern in regards to upset, or past grievances. With this in mind, know that I only offer my perspective for future efforts, where unique adroitness may yet provide necessary benefit, regardless of the divide between divisions."

Edited 2021-04-29 05:21 (UTC)
ipseite: (132)

[personal profile] ipseite 2021-04-29 10:07 am (UTC)(link)
( it is not unusual for petrana to be asked her thoughts on this or that with regard to rifters; what is unusual, in recent weeks, is the simple fact that occasionally she actually has an answer rather than demurring either of reasons of politeness or simply lacking anything to say on the matter. )

For the most, ( she says, in what she considers to be frank and what marcus rowntree would describe as what he has slowly realized petrana thinks is frank, ) others have come and gone and since my resignation from Ambassador Rutyer's current post it has not been my direct concern.

( problem. she means the rifters haven't been her problem, distinct from the time where they all were and it did her head in. )

But I have been surprised to find the population — overall less of one. I must admit, it has been some time since I have been made forcibly aware of rifters. A few more recent arrivals show promise.
archademode: (You know it ate me up)

[personal profile] archademode 2021-04-29 06:39 pm (UTC)(link)
“My own?”

This time, when his attention flicks away, it’s in clear show of thought. Truth be told he’d expected to speak little— if any— about his own endeavors on the Exalted Plains, at least in comparison to all talk of past qualifications or bloodied strengths. Confessions that had sat poorly with Commander Flint, though Gabranth might argue Yseult's poised acceptance of everything said thus far might make her hypothetically better suited to endure such talk without (quite literally) throwing a book at him.

“I performed as requested, aide to the Daughter of Denerim and her allies.” Bulwark, shield, such roles he favors keenly. “The beast was slain without loss of life or limb. I claim but a fraction of responsibility, as any present would.”

The topic of diplomatic efforts he lets lie: there, more than anywhere else, he can promise no use. Limits that perhaps they’re both well aware of by way of armor and dour proclivities, track marks that speak for themselves.
hornswoggle: (111)

storeroom

[personal profile] hornswoggle 2021-04-29 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
The trend seems to be most who keep odd hours are in the service of some sort of work. And so too is John, making his way back in the wee hours of the evening from a tavern where he'd spun out a embellishments of stories for a gathering of sailors. They're stories he's told before, made new again with a scattering of embellishments, and they accomplish a certain objective.

But it also means some coin passed to Emlyn's youngest brother, to ferry John across the water to the Gallows at some absurd hour of night after Emlyn's closed the doors and the assembled sailors have slouched off to their beds. It's late and all is mostly dark, but the sound of shifting boxes carries along the hallway and draws John from his contemplation of the stairs towards the source of the racket, which turns out to be—

"I'd wondered if someone had snuck onto this island to burgle us," John says, by way of greeting. "What a relief for me to find you instead."
staysail: (70)

training yard

[personal profile] staysail 2021-04-30 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
Darras, arms folded, leaning against a wall, takes a moment to observe his wife.

She no doubt knows that she's being observed. He's seen her sensibilities at work, that uncanny ability to pick up on such attention without batting an eye. She will also, no doubt, know who it is who is watching with her, even though her back is to his vantage point. She has a way of knowing such things. She always has, as far as he knows. Born with it, maybe.

All of this leaves him no choice but to be the one speak first. At least to establish some surprise here.

Well. First he watches another moment. She's very watchable, his wife. Especially when she's fighting, with all the grace of the actor she started life as. She makes it look like a dance, smoother than the brutal functional fighting Darras learned.

But, eventually.

"If I propose a duel, here and now, are you going to turn me down?"
rezni: (13)

office hours.

[personal profile] rezni 2021-04-30 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Beg pardon," comes a voice, preceded by the rasp of the door on it's hinges, swinging forward to reveal—

"Nikolai Lantsov," he says, one gloved hand lifting to his chest briefly.
I was told this was where I could find the Scoutmaster, and prevail on her for a few moments of her time?"

No point in asking if he's interrupting. She's seated at a desk, there is what looks to be a significant amount of paperwork at hand, Nikolai is certain he's interrupted her at something. He doesn't intend to prolong the conversation, only to take the measure of her, make a good impression, and leave while it's still intact.
lumelume: (Default)

[personal profile] lumelume 2021-05-02 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
Verbally, Yseult receives little more than a "yesser and noser" as she explains, but Mado grants her the rapt attentiveness of a working dog to its master, preparing to spring into motion on command.

As directed, he steps forward and waves to an oncoming cab in perfect mimicry of a well-dressed townsperson whose gesture he witnessed moments previously.
rezni: (83)

[personal profile] rezni 2021-05-02 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd like to see that map, to begin, is on the tip of his tongue, but—

Serah Lantsov. What a novelty. All the names and titles, and this is all he has claim to now.

Settling into the designated chair, Nikolai lifts one ankle to set upon opposite knee before answering, "I've been in the process of getting my bearings, but I am very interested in making myself useful to the efforts of this organization."

Surely a sentiment she hears all the time, but.

"So I should say the real question is what I could do for you, and for Riftwatch."
ipseite: (043)

[personal profile] ipseite 2021-05-03 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
( petrana's expression is wry, over her teacup. )

I cannot speak much to specifics; I am perfectly satisfied to consider that they do not squawk endlessly nor fall over themselves to cause diplomatic incidents promising. It is certainly a departure from our history.

( and she doesn't actually have to talk to many rifters to observe that; it is the absence that she finds noteworthy, and worth considering that it might mean some of them will be useful as they adapt and not merely 'not problems'. )

But I spoke with the new witch, Madame Maximoff, shortly after her arrival; she seemed eager to adapt to her new circumstance, to understand the context in which she found herself. And I have become acquainted, since the dreaming we shared, with Mssr Holden, who I would consider to be a stout-hearted hard-worker that might be relied upon, if —

( a tilt of her hand. )

We do not lack for idealists. He has a streak of pragmatism that will serve him and Riftwatch both well, I think.
propulsion: (#6060405)

[personal profile] propulsion 2021-05-03 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Roadblock."

Tony enters the room, the door nudged mostly closed behind him with a tap of his heel. He's holding his own cup, hooked on a finger, but he will fill Yseult's wine glass first with dark, dark coffee, and then his own more expected vessel. He settles somewhere comfortable and opposite her, a dad-noise type exhale in the descent.

He leans, sets the jug down on a surface. "Figured I could use a break from almost burning down the Gallows tryna get this," a hand gestures, holding some abstract concept in the air, "stabiliser online with some non-threatening paperwork." He nods at what she's reading. "What's keeping you from,"

where do scouts go when they're not in the office, something he considers for a blank moment before settling on,

"hiding in a tree. Right now."
hornswoggle: (286)

[personal profile] hornswoggle 2021-05-03 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, seeing as how the good ink is gone..." is the first thing said, flippant and mock-regretful, but as to the truth of the answer—

No.

"I was passing," he answers, more seriously. "It was a toss up which of you I might find."

Or whether it would be a wholly unexpected individual rooting through the storeroom. The Gallows' occupants all keep similarly odd hours and undertake projects that take up all their time.

He shifts his weight, the lean of his body against the crutch settling as he observes Yseult, asks, "Can I offer my assistance?"
lumelume: (ooh)

[personal profile] lumelume 2021-05-03 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
"For playacting," Mado replies with a modest smile, seemingly just pleased she's pleased, "party tricks for coin. But it's easier to learn songs when you remember how they're sung, from all the notes to the words you don't know."
staysail: (93)

i said actor but i meant acrobat. i would swear i wrote acrobat. forgive me.

[personal profile] staysail 2021-05-03 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Privacy."

He grins as she turns to him. Takes just one moment more to look at her, standing there with the falcion held graceful. It's funny how you can see someone and see all of what they've been before. There's nearly no one that Darras has known longer than Yseult by now.

He pushes away from the wall and goes to the weapons rack. "Maintaining the element of surprise." More for his list of whys. "Maintaining your air of secrecy. So as to not publicly embarrass me when you kick my arse."

Another falchion. Darras touches its hilt, first, superstitious. Then he grabs it off the rack and gives it an experimental twist, testing its weight. He shoots her another grin.

"Or will it be t'other way around today?"
archademode: (This is my crown)

[personal profile] archademode 2021-05-03 08:52 am (UTC)(link)
He pauses there, head tilted slightly lower as he thinks, leaving his own sharp brow line cast in faint shadow. A narrow collection of seconds burned before he decides there's little point in sparing her particulars of his past. If she's willing to listen, she's more than capable of filtering out usefulness without his own assumptions getting in the way.

“In my world I was appointed to serve as sword and shield for Emperor Gramis Gana Solidor and his two sons, Vayne Carudas Solidor and Larsa Ferrinas Solidor. The elder of which was established as both Consul and tactician, and it was by his order that I did briefly discard my armor in favor of taking on the guise of Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg, trusted advisor to King Raminas of Dalmasca.”

Gabranth's own elder brother, Basch fon Ronsenburg. But he leaves that detail aside, for as he sees it there’s no need to drag anything beyond simple truths into his own assessment.

“With King Raminas’ witnessed death at my hands, the whole of his nation blamed Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg for his assassination, and our Empire thus gained sovereignty over Dalmasca and its people without further warfare or negotiated terms of surrender.”

It is, in fact, an undoubtedly long winded way of saying:

“To speak plainly: I have always been a blunt instrument, such is my own nature, but if necessary I am more than capable of breaching the confines of my own limitations. Better to succeed in war at cost, than to preen or posture over matters of comfort.”
archademode: (to beat you to the punch)

[personal profile] archademode 2021-05-05 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
“It is not my place to decide.” The answer is simple, it comes without frustration or fanfare— or even a twitch of pinched consideration wound across his brow. Where he stands opposite to her, his chin lifts a little higher: order is order, and he knows that much.

“However in the event guidance is an impossibility, success will always remain priority. Should I fail in one aspect— I would give consideration to another approach.”
kantikoy: (a new state of mind)

office;

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-05-06 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Though the door is ajar, there is a gentle knocking at it before Adrasteia pokes her head into the office, spots Yseult, and smiles. It's of note that this is not the usual, comfortable smile that Adrasteia often offers to all and sundry who pass through her visual path — it is no less polite but somehow strained nonetheless.

"Hello. I was hoping to speak with you about the Temple of Dumat."
rezni: (83)

[personal profile] rezni 2021-05-11 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"I've submitted myself to your Research Division," Nikolai tells her. "I'm interested in the development of technology that can be put to use in your work here, but what I would consider a help in the field is likely vastly different than what you might envision, considering our differing backgrounds."

Thedas is not Ravka, though Nikolai has very quickly picked up on the unending tide of complications and bad news. But familiarity with the sense of being saddled with an uphill battle doesn't give him any idea of what that battle looks like.
staysail: (70)

;-;

[personal profile] staysail 2021-05-19 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
Bigger, stronger, more experienced, and not as light on his feet. Yseult's blow comes quick, and by the time Darras reacts she's already moved away. The slap of the blade leaves his arm stinging. He laughs anyways.

"Oh, so that's how it is? Tricky--"

He's shaking out his arm, apparently very distracted, right up until the point that his grip on his falchion tightens and he lunges at her, an overhead chop that he pulls at the last moment, switches to swipe at her side instead.
kantikoy: (and everyone's waiting)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-05-19 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
She steps further into the room and gently shuts the door behind her before taking a seat. "The darkened rift in the Fade still exists there, and it is... perhaps the more dangerous of the Temple's features and should be dealt with as soon as we're able."

We, in this case, being more specifically the Wardens than Riftwatch.
kantikoy: (you don't wanna hurt me)

[personal profile] kantikoy 2021-05-20 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
A nod. "Since the 'Gate' has a response to Grey Wardens and does not close in response to anchor fade shards in others, we've considered the possibility of one of us obtaining an anchor shard and trying again."
propulsion: (#6060386)

[personal profile] propulsion 2021-06-27 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
Gamely, Tony maintains eye contact throughout, deadpan in kind, but breaks when she points out the weather. Fair. He brings his coffee up to drink from, attention flicking to the cat that he may or may not have just not noticed was there until it moved.

"Kind of what it sounds like," he says, easing to slouch deeper into his seat. Not abandoning all propriety, or anything, but seeking some comfort that the upright chair at his desk hadn't provided. "It's a thrust device that'll stop, say, an airship from capsizing in bad weather, assault, that kind of thing. It'll need some kind of motion trigger—"

A hand wanders in the air, makes a flat line that wobbles so, like to demonstrate, before that hand drops.

"And also to be big. Lots of heat and force expelled in a blast. I've caused worse explosions for worse reasons."