WHO: Two Geckos + an assortment of guest stars WHAT: Summary of content WHEN: Late Bloomingtide WHERE: The Gallows, misc. Kirkwall haunts. NOTES: Will update as needed.
"Most above-board stuff is coin. The lower you get on the food chain, the more it's barter and favors. It's not all dishonest. There's plenty of people who will get you something decent to eat if you help unload a wagon or something. And if they know your face, sometimes they'll give you something more later. Be willing to point you in the right direction."
Never underestimate goodwill with people who have little else, Ellie's learned.
"When I started drawing my pay from Riftwatch, I just asked and they explained the basics. How many copper to a silver and stuff like that."
She gives a shrug.
"I'm sure you know this, but before you buy anything, watch other people buy from the same place. You'll see pretty quick who's getting ripped off, and what a fair price is. And no matter what, keep your anchor shard covered. If people think you're a Rifter they'll charge you out the ass. And you can haggle, but don't push your luck in Kirkwall. If you piss someone off here they mean it. If you go to like, Rialto, they'll talk shit about your mom and it's just part of making a deal."
Some of this, Seth knows. It comes with the territory, knowing how to read people and use those observations to his advantage.
And this kid is how old?
But it's a kindness. There's no angle in dismissing it. Yes, Seth recognizes the importance of goodwill. And they are alone here, without a real understanding of the people around them. So Seth files away the names (Kirkwall, Rialto) and tips his cup to her.
"What's the problem with the shard?"
The more pressing issue than being ripped off. He can fix that. He can't get the shard out.
Ellie gives him the slight nod back, the one that says she's been there, and recently, and doesn't see the goddamn point of holding back something like this. Sometimes, it comes back to her. That goodwill. And if it doesn't, then maybe it'll go some other direction.
She can live with that.
Ellie considers her own shard, turning her hand upward, but doesn't uncover it. She folds her fingers (the maimed ones) over it, pulls a face.
"Just your standard bigot shit. It's different, so it's bad." She adopts a low, whiny, defensive voice for this- likely an imitation of someone specific. But she relents quickly, shrugging one shoulder.
"It's magic. It's the Fade. People here don't trust magic or mages. Guess it wasn't all that long ago that a terrorist mage bombed the absolute shit out of their Chantry here in Kirkwall. Like- a temple. But that was just the cherry on top of the bullshit sandwich."
"I know good mages and I know asshole mages. The problem is that when the asshole can level a city, people get nervous. And if mages ever lose control they can get possessed by demons. And, well-"
Ellie gestures to the anchor, spreading her fingers in a magician reveal.
"The anchors look an awful lot like a rift, and that's where the demons come from."
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no subject
Never underestimate goodwill with people who have little else, Ellie's learned.
"When I started drawing my pay from Riftwatch, I just asked and they explained the basics. How many copper to a silver and stuff like that."
She gives a shrug.
"I'm sure you know this, but before you buy anything, watch other people buy from the same place. You'll see pretty quick who's getting ripped off, and what a fair price is. And no matter what, keep your anchor shard covered. If people think you're a Rifter they'll charge you out the ass. And you can haggle, but don't push your luck in Kirkwall. If you piss someone off here they mean it. If you go to like, Rialto, they'll talk shit about your mom and it's just part of making a deal."
no subject
And this kid is how old?
But it's a kindness. There's no angle in dismissing it. Yes, Seth recognizes the importance of goodwill. And they are alone here, without a real understanding of the people around them. So Seth files away the names (Kirkwall, Rialto) and tips his cup to her.
"What's the problem with the shard?"
The more pressing issue than being ripped off. He can fix that. He can't get the shard out.
no subject
She can live with that.
Ellie considers her own shard, turning her hand upward, but doesn't uncover it. She folds her fingers (the maimed ones) over it, pulls a face.
"Just your standard bigot shit. It's different, so it's bad." She adopts a low, whiny, defensive voice for this- likely an imitation of someone specific. But she relents quickly, shrugging one shoulder.
"It's magic. It's the Fade. People here don't trust magic or mages. Guess it wasn't all that long ago that a terrorist mage bombed the absolute shit out of their Chantry here in Kirkwall. Like- a temple. But that was just the cherry on top of the bullshit sandwich."
"I know good mages and I know asshole mages. The problem is that when the asshole can level a city, people get nervous. And if mages ever lose control they can get possessed by demons. And, well-"
Ellie gestures to the anchor, spreading her fingers in a magician reveal.
"The anchors look an awful lot like a rift, and that's where the demons come from."