OPEN - But here I dreamt I was an architect

[loversinverted]

WHO: Diabhall Minett and YOU!
WHAT: Still another elf falling from the sky - and then his time spent studying in quarantine.
WHEN: Arrival backdated to mid-August - quarantine backdated to the weeks that follow up until the present.
WHERE: The Planasene Forest, and then all over the Gallows.
NOTES: CWs: Body horror, blood, and death in the dream sequence. If you want to skip it, start reading after the italics!

Otherwise I will update this space. If you want something particular with him let me know!

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Quarantine - Wandering the Gallows Grounds

[loversinverted]

In the very early mornings, while the Gallows are relatively peaceful, the newly-minted Rifter opts to spend his time studying something other than books. He can be seen all over the compound, staring into dusty rafters and running his fingers over stone and wood. Occasionally he stops to open a little sketchbook, replicating what he sees in sharpened charcoal.

It's plain that he is inspecting the building itself, but with more than passing curiosity. Perhaps you find him walking the halls, or the baths, or perhaps in the dining hall, early for breakfast - wherever you find him, you are certain to see him tracing the very contours of the room with a graceful hand and a sharp, attentive red-pink stare.

If you approach, he does not notice you yet - lost in his own work (and, perhaps, his own self-distraction.)

[untiltheyarent]

Not in the habit of nosing around newcomers' business, Fifi-- a short elf woman dressed in a maids' uniform, carrying a basket filled with rags and bottles of cleaning solution-- nonetheless has to cast a second glance when passing the second white-haired, red-eyed, sharded newcomer she's seen in recent days. He lacks the pomposity that marks Astarion, and it's admittedly with some trepidation that she pauses, glancing him over.

"Are you lost, messere?"

A half-grown but already very large puppy trots at her heels, pricking her ears toward the stranger with a tail loosely wagging.

[loversinverted]

When addressed, Diabhall turns to face her, expression placid despite the interruption. The little sketchbook is still held open in one hand, sketches of the current room half-finished and notated.

"No, Miss," he replies, voice polite, if a little monotone. "I'm only studying. I hope I'm not in your way?"

Perhaps not pompous, but there is something very proud in the straightness of his back and the lift of his chin. At least he isn't skittish, that much is certain - the focus he had been applying to his work was deep, and many would have perhaps jumped.

He looks down to the pup, lifting a brow, before returning his attention to her owner.

[untiltheyarent]

Though her eyes flit to the notebook, nothing on Fifi's face registers that she's absorbed its contents-- she spends her whole day around people and their various documents, one can hardly pay attention to them all.

"I see. No, you're not," she replies, finding his affect a little strange, though she's hardly skittish herself. The puppy sniffs the air in his direction, alert and cheerful, but is well-behaved enough not to come bounding over.

[loversinverted]

Shutting the book for the moment, he moves to give her his full attention, expression still as stone. He can tell from her effects that she is some stripe of servant, but...he wants to respect her. Hard enough to be an elf in this place, after all.

"Good. I may not be lost, but I don't mean to be somewhere the powers that be would prefer I do not go."

He stoops down slightly, holding a hand out towards the puppy, inviting approach. His face remains unmoved. "I'm still quite new here. It's only been a few days."

[untiltheyarent]

"I am hardly the powers that be," Fifi replies, his expressionlessness putting her somewhat on edge-- but the puppy still seems fairly relaxed, even curious as she steps forward to sniff his hand, so there's no need to make a hasty departure just yet.

"But I welcome you. Are you new to Thedas, messere?" Being an elf doesn't preclude him having been upper class in some other world.

[loversinverted]

"I try not to assume, Miss."

Despite his stoicism, his graceful hand slides further forward to scratch the puppy behind the ears, gentle and sweet.

"Thank you for the welcome. Yes - only a few days, now. They found me in the woods. I was fortunate, and I am grateful to be given a place to stay." Finished with the puppy, he stands straight again, bending himself into a little bow.

"Diabhall Minett."

[untiltheyarent]

If Sati trusts him, he can't be too bad. The puppy immediately takes the opportunity to snuffle into his hand, her entire body wiggling with the motion of her tail, but Fifi clicks her tongue to call her back before she can become a nuisance.

"Josephine Mariette," she replies, with a little curtsy, "I hope you find your stay comfortable."

[loversinverted]

Despite all his strangeness and stoicism, Diabhall is actually not a particularly cruel or dangerous man. Some people once may have said so, but that reputation is one he is happy to leave behind in Eidekey.

"A pleasure, Miss Mariette," he purrs in his low monotone. "I have certainly done so so far. Might I actually trouble you for just a moment with a question or two about the premises? If you can spare the time."

[untiltheyarent]

"Madame," she corrects him gently, quietly. She was married once, even if no longer.

"It's no trouble at all."

[loversinverted]

"I beg your pardon. Madame."

The correction is polite and concise - he doesn't make much of it. Well-mannered.

"Wonderful. Is there anything about the structure itself that you believe needs repair or work?"

[untiltheyarent]

She nods lightly, moving past it. Titles aren't all that important anyway, at least when one isn't of the upper class.

At his question, Fifi pauses to think, glancing about. Then, "I wouldn't know, messere. But perhaps you might reach out to Seneschal Black. I believe the Gallows facilities are under his supervision."

[loversinverted]

"Ah - Seneschal Black. That is extremely helpful, thank you."

His red-pink gaze dips briefly down as he flicks his book back open, making a note in an unfamiliar script upon the page - right next to a sketch of the very hall the both of them are currently standing in.

[untiltheyarent]

"You're welcome, Messere."

Her eyes flit down to the page, but she refrains from commenting as she simply curtsies once more.
"I must see to my duties," she says instead, and clicks her tongue to the puppy.
Sati comes to heel, looking up at her attentively as they make their departure.

[loversinverted]

"Of course. Good day."

Calmly, he lets her go with a little bow of his head.

Helpful, he thinks to himself as he returns to sketching the hallway.