faderift | [open w/ some closed threads] escort missions.

[Given that Emet-Selch is now spending very nearly all of his time here, it's not difficult at all to find him here and there around the Gallows-- most prominently around the Research office, but it's not the only place he keeps himself occupied:

-around the armory and training area, you can find him at times practicing with a wooden sword, though he has a somewhat odd stance and way of swinging it for the type of practice blade this is; presumably he is more used to something a little different. On rarer occasions he is actually helping out a bit around the armory itself, though it doesn't last long-- just a little assistance with maintenance while he happens to be around anyway, rather than larger or more involved tasks and projects. Weird how there's always something to go do for Research if something that requires a lot of effort pops up.

-outside at night, he can occasionally be found anywhere with a decent view, with two star charts. One is clearly the Thedosian sky, and the other is unfamiliar, done by hand. It's not uncommon for him to seem slightly irritable, in general, but this is the exception; he seems in a decent enough mood, at these times. Calmer, more contemplative.

-he is most often around Research and the library. Very rarely will he be around in the mornings, but if you also tend to work anywhere from the afternoon to the late hours, you're far likelier to run into Emet-Selch. This is where you'll want to look if you need him for anything; more often than not, he's going over existing information and taking notes, or organizing anything that needs it, though it's also fairly common for him to be looking into various language resources.

(These are definitely a focus in any downtime he has, as well-- find him in the office or one of the lounges with a book, and he's probably studying Orlesian or something.)]

[if you need something more specific to respond to: please feel free to hit me up!! plurk/discord/dms are all fine.]

[Surprisingly, Emet-Selch is not terrible with children. Or, at least, he isn't terrible with one child.

It quickly becomes apparent, while they're out to allow Emet-Selch to take care of a necessary errand or two, that they're both acquainted with the same pair of refugees within Kirkwall; Emet-Selch doesn't do much relief work in general, he explains easily enough, but this is something of an exception, for reasons he declines to specify beforehand. For whatever reason, his errands include quietly checking in on a boy of about ten or so and his mother, who he's aided a bit here and there-- the boy's old enough to be taught how to properly hold a practice sword by now, which is precisely what Emet-Selch has been doing on occasion (with his mother's knowledge.) Better to ensure a kid with interest is taught correctly before they start running around trying to figure out swinging a weapon on their own, after all, and to try to instill further responsibility in them. Not too difficult, considering this one is a fairly responsible and well-meaning boy by nature.

Which is all reasonable enough, but not much of a reason anyone would choose to assist one specific kid, and while Emet remains somewhat detached-- he isn't unkind in demeanor. The two of them actually get along decently well, and if one's looking closely, there's a degree of resemblance despite the fact they aren't even from the same world.

The kid's excited to see both of them at the same time, too, though naturally Emet never explains why this is the case, chalking it up to coincidence, business bringing them here together. There's no need for the real explanation.

As they leave and begin to make their way back, load somewhat lighter (one of the errands being the acquisition of a couple supplies to leave behind), Emet-Selch remains quiet at first. Before long, though:]

I trust you can keep all of this more or less to yourself?

[If anyone higher up asks about it, he's not going to expect anything to be kept quiet, but that's just a function of this arrangement.]

"Ashby Brewer, a somewhat notorious alchemist (according to other alchemists), has been making the rounds to all the usual lecture spots throughout Orlais (the parts that haven't been invaded), Antiva and the Marches. Today, he's making a show of blowing things up in a field outside of Kirkwall because the Viscount Keep wouldn't give him a permit to put his presentation on in Hightown. Go soothe Brewer's ego and get a copy of his research notes."

Commandeering a cart to carry the pair of them out into the well-used field outside of Kirkwall had cost John only a small amount of coin, but he has the sense he's overpaid. Surely it shouldn't cost him money to soothe the temper of an explosives-enthusiast, who made the mistake of asking permission rather than begging forgiveness with regards to his intended display.

Their approach had been marked by a series of loud blasts. As the cart lurches to a jolting stop at the far end of the field, John sighs, and remarks dryly, "At least he's impossible to miss."

Even without the concussive booms, smoke and intermittent shower of sparks, Ashby Brewer's shock of red hair can be seen from this distance. It's all standing on end, and John can't be certain whether this is an intentional style or a byproduct of his work in the moment.

As they set out, John questions, "Before we begin our appeal, would you mind telling me if his work is impressive enough to warrant our attention? I'd like to strike the right note in our greeting."

"There may be something to it," he muses, over the sound of another explosion. "Particularly if, despite this display, he proves capable of managing any sort of finesse... but honestly, with this sort, there's less need to be too delicate with one's approach."

Emet-Selch shrugs one shoulder, arms folded across his chest; he's keeping a wary eye ahead, just in case. One never knows when a stray bit of debris might come flying in unexpected ways, in this sort of situation.

"Anyone who is involved in the sciences and is this intent upon showing their work should take well enough to any real interest shown. I've had similar colleagues, myself-- one had only to ask what in the world they had made to receive what may as well have been a full oral presentation on the subject."

From the exasperation in his tone, it's clear that 'colleagues' might in fact just be a single verbose person, but. The point stands. "Get him talking, and I may make a better evaluation of his actual talents."

[ he wasn't sure what to expect, truthfully.

emet-selch isn't exactly an unknown quantity with their shared division; but the most holden could've said about him before recent events was that he seemed like a quiet, focused worker. gabranth's accusation had been a weighty one, and he'd chewed over the warning seriously. loss of life on a planetary scale is horrific to imagine — orders of magnitude beyond eros — and he trusts gabranth enough to give his opinion its due.

so he hadn't protested the assignment to accompany emet-selch into kirkwall.

he'd, as he'd told emet-selch earlier in the day, intended to head towards the refugee settlements anyway, so it wasn't sending him out of his way. and he'd been curious, too, what kind of business the man would have there.

he hadn't expected the child. he certainly hadn't expected the boy's bright pleasure to see emet-selch, or the training that had followed. jim hadn't lingered too obtrusively, helped the mother with a few chores over the course of the lesson, and they'd all left on friendly terms. he hasn't decided yet if he wants to bring up the experience at all, when emet-selch beats him too it. ]

I'm not going to lie to a division head, [ he starts, because it's only fair, ] but I'm not much of a gossip. I can keep a secret.

[ a beat, then, ]

If you don't want it to spread, I can be the one to come down with you, whenever you want to check on them.

More or less expected.

John does chuckle a bit over finesse. As an organization, they are rarely given to the concept of finesse. But there's a first time for everything, surely. They must hold out hope for it, for Yseult's sake.

"You'll be able to flatter him better than I," might sound like farce, but if Ashby Brewer is looking for the opinion of a fellow scientist, John isn't going to rate. "But I can certainly cool his temper enough to get your foot in the door."

And the truth of the matter is that Riftwatch is hardly in the position to turn someone down for temper or eccentricity, so—

"Let's start now. He seems to be between explosives."

Which gives them a narrow window to close the gap, something John gamely devotes himself to as he calls out, "Ashby Brewer!" loud enough to draw the man's attention towards the pair of them.

[He draws his coat closer around himself as he stands at the dock, looking out toward Kirkwall proper; it is still somewhat disagreeable to be unable to leave alone, but he could certainly have worse company.]

Just how many errands did you say you must do, again?

[Emet-Selch only has the one, really, so the length of the trip will be entirely up to her. More time away won't be objectionable, either.]

Nor would I expect you to lie to one, given the situation.

[he's aware enough of the position that he is in, after all.

but after a few moments of consideration, he finally adds,]

...You are already aware. I would not object to your accompaniment in the future, so long as you prove capable of staying quiet enough.

[of course that wouldn't stop him, if he did choose to tell others, but in that case-- the least that can be done is to keep from giving him more information to work with in the future.]

Why does it matter to you?

[ he asks, with a glance over to the other man. there's nothing challenging in it; his curiosity is open, guileless. ]

There's nothing shameful about helping those people, especially a child.

It is not that I find it shameful, it is simply my own business.

[it's personal, is the thing.

he's quiet a few more moments, takes a few more steps forward in silence.]

And were I to make it known now, precisely how do you think that would look? Convenient timing, certainly, to seemingly develop an interest in aiding the downtrodden just when my reputation needs it most. Even more suspicious not to simply help all of them as a group. I do not wish it cast in that light, nor for those two to have any part in it.

I can respect that, [ he says, briefly lifts his hands in a conciliatory gesture, ] and I agree that they should be kept out of this. God knows they've gone through enough.

[ there's the question, potentially, of emet-selch's motives, and that can easily extend to the question of why them? uncharitable minds may turn to the question of whether or not they can be trusted. a beat, and then he adds, ]

You were good with him.

Well, by my age, one learns to deal with others, regardless of their own years.

[an easy dismissal, but certainly not the whole answer. a few moments of consideration follow, internal debate over what to share.]

I have watched over my own, before.

[ he wonders which part of that he wants to ask about first. by my age, and he thinks back to gabranth — a man who looks younger than he is, but untold centuries in age. it's not impossible that emet-selch could be the same, particularly since they seem to come from the same dimension. the same something, anyway, since gabranth had recognized him. ]

You have kids?

I did, [he says, expression and tone both remaining neutral despite what that past tense implies.] But unlike myself, they were mortal.

I can think of a few extra, if you like,

( is one of those things that's sort of half a joke—ha, ha, the frivolous woman wants to do more frivolous tasks, what an endurance test—and half the kind of corkscrewed empathy of someone who spent a significant amount of her life unable to leave places very like the gallows under her own power or by her own choice. if he wants to dawdle outside of the gallows' long shadow, she can think of excuses. )

I need to go to the market, and I need to collect a package from a toy shop.

I'm sorry.

[ he says after a beat. it's clear enough what happened: i did. ]

I can't imagine how hard that must've been.

It draws his attention before he can prepare the next explosive, though he definitely already has something held in his hands as he turns to face the two of them and give them a quick look-over. Just two, not visibly dressed as authorities, but after being spurned when it came to the permit...

"Gentlemen," he says, watching the pair of them as they approach. "My reputation precedes me! Now, are you here to observe, or to complain again about the noise? I assure you as I have assured others, it should not even be audible within the city, barely audible if so! Certainly not a disruption. Very little risk involved."

Emet-Selch just raises a brow at John as the man speaks, remaining silent as he tilts his head toward him-- well, go ahead, then.

Well, we shall see. I may ask you to find more, or you may change your mind about that offer in time.

[depends in part on how this goes, how they find each others' company-- he will require it to remain here, after all.]

I've a commission from a smith here, myself... though I at least will not be keeping it.

[it is Gift Errands Time.]

Such is the way of life, when it is fated to be cut short.

[a dismissive enough response, accompanied with a small, idle wave of a hand. it's the only time the subject has really come up like this, at least since he shed his former identity; condolences offered then were meant for someone he wasn't. they've never exactly been given to emet-selch, and it's far easier to brush it off.]

[ For a few minutes, Bastien watches him from a distance. A distance overhead, specifically, from the narrow window of one of the buildings rising up around the courtyard. He's looking for—what? Signs of evil? For the wooden sword to grow tendrils of black blight around his hands and glow ominously? Obviously that isn't going to happen now, if it hasn't already. But he watches, he notes the mismatch of footing and weapon, and after those few minutes he jogs down the stairs and out to the training yard.

He stays quiet until he's spotted, but he's once he is he smiles and waves—a little awkwardly, a little apologetically—and says, ]

I am supposed to interview you.

Are you, now.

[They've yet to meet, so the look Emet-Selch gives him certainly has a touch of curiosity to it. Evaluating, looking the man over briefly with the practice sword at rest over his shoulders. A moment or two passes before he exhales a sigh, his posture shifting back to its usual slouch from the straighter bearing he'd kept while working.]

...Very well. I assume you'll be wanting someplace with a bit more privacy to it, so if you will allow me to put this back first-- we may go.

[ well, okay, if you're determined to sound supervillain-y. there's an instinct to be offended by his dismissiveness wars with the obvious care he showed the boy and his mother so recently. after a moment, ]

Then why bother helping them?

[sometimes it's just better to be this way about it than to acknowledge: yes, it had hurt before. to allow anyone else to actually perceive that, to tacitly acknowledge there's a degree here of-- well, of opening up to the possibility of the same thing happening again.

but there is probably a hint of that in his answer.]

He reminds me of my firstborn. That's all.

[ well.

it's a more honest answer than he'd been expecting. he's quiet, lets the idea of that settle. maybe it's naïve to believe emet-selch — he doesn't think, say, gabranth would — but he doesn't have any real reason not to. if it is a play on his sympathies, it is working; but it's not like the other man is getting much of anything out of it. ]

Okay, [ he says, presently. ] I won't ask you anything else about it, but my offer still stands.

We will see, then.

[both whether he takes holden up on that offer, and whether he really won't ask anything else. people get curious-- it's a part of what they are-- and he wouldn't be surprised if anyone wanted to try to evaluate him further, after everything. his current reputation doesn't lend itself well to being taken at face value.]

Did you have further business here?

[open w/ some closed threads] escort missions.

some open prompts:

escort mission 1 (emet & jim)

bangs open door

no subject

kneeslides in here

no subject

(for joselyn)

no subject

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training area.

no subject

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