faderift | (no subject)

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WHO: Korrin and anyone.
WHAT: Korrin helping restore/exploring Skyhold
WHEN: Now or any time within the past two weeks.
WHERE: Skyhold, naturally. All over.
NOTES: Any previous CR from TDM is welcome. Or, since she's traveled all over, if it'd you'd like them to have already met, just let me know and we can talk details.

The Inquisition's recent history would have anyone reeling, and Korrin Ataash is no exception. Present for that last night at Haven and the trek to Skyhold, the Vashoth mage has those memories firmly in mind, though she can't bring herself to talk about it with anyone. Instead, she focuses her attention outward, into being productive. Need debris moved, doorways cleared, a walkway restored? Just ask the nearby mage, who is all over the fortress helping out however possible. She doesn't seem to mind conversation either, as long as she's allowed to work and talk at the same time.

While she can and does go on for long stretches, Korrin isn't exhaustible or unreasonable about taking breaks. Even during said breaks she's not idle, though, preferring to explore Skyhold bit by bit. She can be found poking about almost anywhere, but the Undercroft, Armory and Training Grounds -and, naturally, the tavern- are the most likely targets of her interest. And of course if there's anyone who looks especially lost or in need of assistance, she'll be there to help.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"So I've heard. It's just weird to think of a Qunari in a heroic role, given their usual one in history. As much as I might have imagined myself as one of those heroes, I'm just as glad to keep my distance from Sten, that or any other."

She's a mage, can you blame her? Korrin knows entirely too well how her kind are regarded by the Qunari, and wants nothing to do with that baggage. Her own is enough.

"You must have traveled with Sister Nightingale then, too. Was she anything like she is now?" The mysterious spymaster isn't that well known to Korrin personally, but her reputation has preceded her, of course. It's not difficult to imagine her helping end the Blight as she is now, but as a lay sister?

"Sister Nightingale? Ah- you mean Leliana. It was a decade ago and she was coming out of something quite personal and terrible- to be perfectly frank? We all were. There is not one member of Our Merry band that actually had their head on straight. I suppose that is what gives me hope for the Inquisition. People forget that their heroes are people as well. We were all of us broken in our own way. Having a purpose helped us mend." That was...unexpectedly serious of him.

Quick. He needs some frivolous humor to counteract it!

"Does she still keep a pet nug? She finds them adorable- I do believe she named the one the Warden found for her Schmooples. Terribly noisy thing. And hideous. She would wrap a ribbon about it's neck and feed it treats whenever we had the coin to spare."

It's too bad he's so quick to counteract it, because Korrin's listening intently to Zevran speak of his group in such words, eyeing him with more respect. She doesn't consider herself broken, exactly, but still, the notion that such heroes had their own problems and were still able to overcome gives her hope for the Inquisition as well. That's hope which is badly needed at the moment, even with finding Skyhold.

Mention of nugs has her wrinkling her nose. "Nugs are creepy, I don't see why anyone thinks they're proper pets. Have you seen their feet? The stuff of nightmares. I believe I did hear one of her agents talking about her having a nug, though. It might even have had the same name, now that I think about it. You'd think traveling through Ferelden would give a preference for mabari. Anything but nugs."

One cannot allow themselves to be taken too seriously, lest people come to expect it of him. He is but a pretty fool of many skills and remarkable circumstances, little else. "I have eaten pickled nug feet. It was a wager. I won ten sovereigns for being able to keep them down- honestly? I've had poisons I'd drink more readily than doing it again, gold or no."

Korrin shudders, now wishing she hadn't made that comment about nug feet. Or seen them, because now this image would always come to mind. Thanks, Zevran. "Pickled nug feet...oh, Maker, that sounds disgusting. That's not a wager I could ever stand to take, even if I'd win. Some things I never need to know about, including what it's like to have those."

So, so gross. Also a mental note to never talk about this near the spymaster. "So how many times have people asked you where the Warden is now, as though you're attached at the hip? I've heard countless bets made about him, but as far as I know, no one's come to collect."

"Well, I was young and I needed the coin." Losing the wager would have indebted him to some highly unkind people.

"Honestly? You would be the first since I have arrived." Those that knew him or of his part in the tale remembered that he was not The Warden's keeper- it had been the other way around. "There are theories to be true,but for the past six months? Nothing. He can be quite sneaky when he wishes to be."

Her eyebrow raise at that, having thought others would have pestered him about that way before herself. Not that she was prodding overmuch, but still. The subject was brought up every so often in the tavern, from snatches of conversation as she passed.

"You would know better than I or almost anyone else here, to be sure. Though Wardens have been disappearing, haven't they? I heard that was the reason for an excursion to the Hinterlands, to question one about the rest."

"Were it another ten, twenty years along? I would say he had begun to hear the Call." But it is far too early for that to be the case for Jonas- for most of the Fereldan Wardens. None of them have been in the order so long as to begin hearing the siren song of the sleeping Archdemons.

"The Call? That's the end for them, right?" Korrin's knowledge on the Grey Wardens other than that they fight darkspawn and have never had one of her kind join them is somewhat limited. Nor has it been a high priority to rectify that situation with so much else demanding her attention. But she can ask now, so.

"A warning that they are about to be overrun by the taint. Twisted into something mindless, savage. Rather than become that they go down to the Deep Roads to take as many of the Darskpawn with them." They had time yet for Jonas and Alistair. No true sentimental elf he but the idea of them needing to do that? Unsettles him somewhat. He had made an offer, once, to end it quickly and peacefully. The sputtering indignation had been more than enough to convince him it wasn't warranted. "But from the moment of joining they have thirty to forty years before that becomes a problem- it is far too soon."

Korrin shudders, getting the image well enough of what it might be like to have that always hanging over one's head. She wasn't even sure if it was possible for her anyway. Maybe qunari weren't as affected...but she has no desire to find out for certain. "Far too soon, and it's a far bet that the world runs out of Grey Wardens faster than it does darkspawn, even without a Blight. I'd hate to see what happens without them, Calling or otherwise."

With that, she forces herself to smirk a little. "And here I was going to ask if you'd ever been tempted to join them. With such a generous retirement plan, how can one refuse?"

"And trade the Crows for the Wardens?" He cracks a laugh. "Ah, no. I have had my freedom for the past ten years and I intend to enjoy it for quite awhile longer. They join because they must or because they feel it right. Honestly? I could not say. Those I know best are either missing or foolishly noble."

Alistair, Maker bless him, was not often the most pragmatic of men.

"I can't blame you for not wanting to be in either category. I sure as hell don't, not in the slightest."

Korrin shakes her head, understanding the need for the Wardens even as she's certain it's a sacrifice she could never make herself. She wants to change the world for the better in her own way, one not involving tainting herself and dealing with darkspawn horrors all the time.

"You're judged by the company you keep, though. That you stuck by them when you could have just left speaks well of you."

"I owed Jonas a life debt. Until I'd seen his task through I wasn't about to leave- besides. It offered me some protection from the Crows. Attempting to assassinate a Warden is..impolitic, truly. Not many made a bid for that contract." He did for his own reasons, known only to himself and the Warden. "Afterward...they became friends of mine, I suppose. A strange thing to have but- keeping in touch with them has kept me mindful of how fortunate I was to be shown mercy. Perhaps this noble gallavanting about has it's benefits, yes?"

That brings out a small grin and approving nod from Korrin. "For all the risks you must have taken, I'd hope so. But, I think I understand to some degree. The rest of the Valo-Kas may not be here, but I know I can count on them when I need it. Even if that comes with Kaariss and his terrible poetry."

"Were we all here aiding the Inquisition I would know the fate of the world is in good hands. Sadly, that cannot be." Alistair was minding the Wardens, Jonas was missing, Oghren was with the wardens somewhere or another, Shale had long since sought out different shores, Sten returned home ages ago, Morrigan did whatever it was she pleased and may appear one day or another, she had a habit of doing so, Leliana was here, and Wynne?

Wynne had died not long ago. They are scattered and shall likely remain so. "All this does is leave room for new blood to rise up and be the heroes this world needs. I am content to be the sexy assassin sidekick."

"How refreshing, to find someone so aware of his strengths. And I'll be the 'scary qunari mage'. Nevermind that only one of those is constantly applicable." She snorts and crosses her arms, not thrilled with stereotypes but knowing it's going to take more work to successfully establish herself as anything else.

"While you're at it, a sexy assassin sidekick who fends off falling elves would be nice. It's already a pattern, and no one seems to care that I have these things called horns. Somehow, I don't think that's going to end well."

"I would have gone with 'gorgeous qunari mage' but that is just me." The jaw, the eyes, the horns, the arms? Where should Zevran even start with how she is terribly lovely? He could go on for quite some time if pressed- or even if he was not. "Are you certain they are not doing it on purpose in order to be caught by you?"

"Good to know." The flattery gets him a warm laugh in response, as Korrin doesn't mind it or is especially self-conscious about that sort of thing. "If they are, they're taking pains not to show it. Playing hard to get, maybe? In a really weird, 'almost got us killed' fashion. That's more excitement than I'm used to having around here."

"Do you prefer your flirtations to be more straightforward? I ask only out of intellectual curiosity, I assure you." Lies, terrible, terrible lies, but knowing someone's preferences is never a bad thing.

"Uh-huh. Of course." But sure, she'll play along. Korrin will take some flirting far better than people avoiding her because of race or magedom. Besides, it's not as though he's hard on the eyes either. "Straightforward and over drinks, usually. No extreme sports or anything prone to giving bruises or sprains. I know, I'm just weird like that."

"Perhaps, then, after you are finished clearing this area I might purchase you a drink or two?" For company and conversation, of course, nothing else. No designs on her virtue has Zevran. Nope.

Seeing where this is leading, Korrin isn't surprised, of course. She tilts her head and smirks. "Sure, why not? Something to make up for all this tedium would be a nice change of pace." She hasn't decided just how far to take this yet, but company and conversation at the very least. And other things aren't completely off the table, though she makes no promises.

"You may tell me of your travels and I will answer more questions you have about the Blight, yes? It'll be great fun." Step one: Drinks. Step two: ??? Step three: ~~PROFIT!~~ lovemaking? One never knew and it never hurts to give it a shot- besides. She's a qunari mage that isn't leashed- he's never met someone quite like that. All the more reason to learn more of her.

Korrin nods readily to that, probably already forming more questions in her mind as they speak, but she'll save them for the tavern. "You have yourself a deal. I've been meaning to try that new brandy they just got in, anyway. It has to be better than the one time the tired to humor me with a qunari brew better suited to stripping paint."