Julius (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
overharrowed) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
faderift2024-08-15 03:30 pm
overharrowed) wrote in faderift2024-08-15 03:30 pm
Entry tags:
Sometimes I Feel Like My Brain Turns To Leaves [OPEN + CLOSED]
Sometimes I Feel Like My Brain Turns To Leaves
open
It is long enough past the attack on the Gallows that Julius has resumed something like his normal schedule again, including regular office hours, eating meals at typical mealtimes (mostly), and attending regular meetings with the Division Heads with lists of the supplies, personnel and other resources they didn’t have and needed. (If they fill the Quartermaster position, will Julius delegate this last one? Apply and find out.)
He mostly works with his door open, accessible if he’s needed, and has regular check-in with those whose jobs he supervises. But his main focus in the aftermath of the attack has been shoring up goodwill for Riftwatch and parlaying that goodwill into resources. Cash is great, though supplies won’t be turned away. Anyone with ideas for furthering these aims is especially welcome to drop by his office. Maybe without even knocking; he'd love some potential good news.
for marcus and petrana (slightly backdated)
They’d been able to retrieve many of their truly precious belongings, which given the state of the Gallows was more than Julius had initially expected. But as work continues on the remaining residential tower, it has become increasingly clear Riftwatch’s staff will all be in incredibly close quarters going forward. Marcus’s temporary (“temporary”) new position came with some housing of its own, of course, but the question remains. Julius isn’t sure he has an answer, but it’s on his mind one afternoon when he starts looking for his partners, not urgently but with the idea of starting a conversation that is becoming less theoretical by the day. He tries Petrana's office first, mainly because it's the place to check that doesn't involve changing floors.
for clarisse
Of course he’d spoken to Clarisse when she was first appointed as Griffon Keeper, but Julius is sensitive enough to know that the way she’d received that promotion remained something of a healing wound. He gives it some space in consequence. Still, now that she’s settled in enough to start voluntarily increasing her record-keeping duties, Julius feels assured he can make her part of his regular rounds.
He generally checks the eyrie before the Griffon Keeper's office, which hasn't changed with the occupant of the post. He’s happy enough to catch Clarisse either place, but given the current state of the eyrie, he approaches with reasonable caution. It would be extremely undignified to put his foot through a weakened board and seriously hurt himself, and he can't shake the sense that none of the griffons especially care for his presence there.
for benedict
It’s probably inevitable that things are strange with Benedict for some time after his rescue from the demons. Julius has said — and meant — that he doesn’t hold the younger man responsible for the actions of a demon wearing his face. To the extent that the incident has led to any extra caution on Julius’s part at all, it’s not specific to his interactions with Benedict. (It wasn’t even the first time he was poisoned in Riftwatch’s service, which is almost bleakly funny, though he suspects Benedict wouldn’t find it especially amusing.)
Still, even if he’s careful of the feelings of those around him by habit, there’s plenty of work to be done. When he shows up for their scheduled meeting, it certainly isn’t with any shortage of topics to discuss on his list. And if he hopes that the more he acts as if everything is normal, the more it will feel that way, well … it doesn’t undercut that the very normal pile of work is real and needs attention.
“So. Should we begin with the easy part or the hard part of the list this time?”
for stephen
In fairness, the practical side of his meetings with Stephen as head healer are usually fairly brief; an update on what they’d out of, a check in about any concerning upticks of illness or other things he should bring to the Division Heads. Because they’re so brief, it has become easy to tuck them at the beginning or end of a much more interesting standing appointment.
He wouldn’t call it teaching, exactly; he’s taught many apprentices over the years, and enjoys teaching very much. But working with Stephen feels, more often, like an act of translation. The way he thinks of magic, on an instinctual level, is so fascinatingly different from Julius’s experience that when Julius begins an explanation, it is less an instruction than an opening bid. They do make progress, certainly, but it feels collaborative in a way he’d seldom been able to enjoy.
“Right, so. Back to glyphs today, or do you want to take a break and start on something new?” Sometimes they’re in an office; today they’re in the training yard. Glyphs can be easier to work with in an open space, but it’s also nice to be outside on the rare day that isn’t oppressive this time of year.
WHO: Julius
WHAT: Catch-all
WHEN: mid-Solace through mid-August, give or take
WHERE: Various
NOTES: Besides the open starter, feel free to reach out if you'd like something bespoke or have a wildcard idea that doesn’t fit (or if I was supposed to give you something bespoke and fully forgot because it took me so long to write this post, heyo).
WHAT: Catch-all
WHEN: mid-Solace through mid-August, give or take
WHERE: Various
NOTES: Besides the open starter, feel free to reach out if you'd like something bespoke or have a wildcard idea that doesn’t fit (or if I was supposed to give you something bespoke and fully forgot because it took me so long to write this post, heyo).
open
It is long enough past the attack on the Gallows that Julius has resumed something like his normal schedule again, including regular office hours, eating meals at typical mealtimes (mostly), and attending regular meetings with the Division Heads with lists of the supplies, personnel and other resources they didn’t have and needed. (If they fill the Quartermaster position, will Julius delegate this last one? Apply and find out.)
He mostly works with his door open, accessible if he’s needed, and has regular check-in with those whose jobs he supervises. But his main focus in the aftermath of the attack has been shoring up goodwill for Riftwatch and parlaying that goodwill into resources. Cash is great, though supplies won’t be turned away. Anyone with ideas for furthering these aims is especially welcome to drop by his office. Maybe without even knocking; he'd love some potential good news.
for marcus and petrana (slightly backdated)
They’d been able to retrieve many of their truly precious belongings, which given the state of the Gallows was more than Julius had initially expected. But as work continues on the remaining residential tower, it has become increasingly clear Riftwatch’s staff will all be in incredibly close quarters going forward. Marcus’s temporary (“temporary”) new position came with some housing of its own, of course, but the question remains. Julius isn’t sure he has an answer, but it’s on his mind one afternoon when he starts looking for his partners, not urgently but with the idea of starting a conversation that is becoming less theoretical by the day. He tries Petrana's office first, mainly because it's the place to check that doesn't involve changing floors.
for clarisse
Of course he’d spoken to Clarisse when she was first appointed as Griffon Keeper, but Julius is sensitive enough to know that the way she’d received that promotion remained something of a healing wound. He gives it some space in consequence. Still, now that she’s settled in enough to start voluntarily increasing her record-keeping duties, Julius feels assured he can make her part of his regular rounds.
He generally checks the eyrie before the Griffon Keeper's office, which hasn't changed with the occupant of the post. He’s happy enough to catch Clarisse either place, but given the current state of the eyrie, he approaches with reasonable caution. It would be extremely undignified to put his foot through a weakened board and seriously hurt himself, and he can't shake the sense that none of the griffons especially care for his presence there.
for benedict
It’s probably inevitable that things are strange with Benedict for some time after his rescue from the demons. Julius has said — and meant — that he doesn’t hold the younger man responsible for the actions of a demon wearing his face. To the extent that the incident has led to any extra caution on Julius’s part at all, it’s not specific to his interactions with Benedict. (It wasn’t even the first time he was poisoned in Riftwatch’s service, which is almost bleakly funny, though he suspects Benedict wouldn’t find it especially amusing.)
Still, even if he’s careful of the feelings of those around him by habit, there’s plenty of work to be done. When he shows up for their scheduled meeting, it certainly isn’t with any shortage of topics to discuss on his list. And if he hopes that the more he acts as if everything is normal, the more it will feel that way, well … it doesn’t undercut that the very normal pile of work is real and needs attention.
“So. Should we begin with the easy part or the hard part of the list this time?”
for stephen
In fairness, the practical side of his meetings with Stephen as head healer are usually fairly brief; an update on what they’d out of, a check in about any concerning upticks of illness or other things he should bring to the Division Heads. Because they’re so brief, it has become easy to tuck them at the beginning or end of a much more interesting standing appointment.
He wouldn’t call it teaching, exactly; he’s taught many apprentices over the years, and enjoys teaching very much. But working with Stephen feels, more often, like an act of translation. The way he thinks of magic, on an instinctual level, is so fascinatingly different from Julius’s experience that when Julius begins an explanation, it is less an instruction than an opening bid. They do make progress, certainly, but it feels collaborative in a way he’d seldom been able to enjoy.
“Right, so. Back to glyphs today, or do you want to take a break and start on something new?” Sometimes they’re in an office; today they’re in the training yard. Glyphs can be easier to work with in an open space, but it’s also nice to be outside on the rare day that isn’t oppressive this time of year.
+ marcus.
a strange thing, a little, sometimes, with the history that they have been slowly grinding into the Gallows. Barely anything in the scheme of things, all the time that these walls have stood (and all the things that have been done to them), and that feels a lesson, somehow. How many moments in history had felt like nothing and lingered? Rippling outward. How swiftly things change. How quickly the Gallows had become synonymous with Riftwatch, its bloody history not forgotten, but...
Iskender, Coupe, Flint, Rowntree.
What was this office, before it was hers and Silver's, hers and Bastien's?
“Darling,” she says, warmly, when the door opens. It's only her, but the office has a different feel now it's shared again.
no subject
no subject
A moment neither of them is working sounds like a dream someone had, five years ago; for now, she is content that they — and Marcus — have always worked so well together, professionally as much as personally.
(Probably slightly more. She is less frustrating, professionally.)
no subject
There's no illusions, at least in private, about who has the strongest hand in organizing their collective finances.
"But I suppose I'd rather felt." A pause. "I think I had gotten accustomed, to a bit more space." Quieter, as it's not something without some complicated baggage tied into it. He's well enough; this isn't how he'd raise the topic, if he weren't. But that doesn't make it simple.
no subject
“The expense would not be unmanageable,” she allows, after a moment. “Between the three of us, if we feel it should be merited. It would require some adjustment, but...” A tilt of that hand. “Well. Some of that, we spend on accommodation when we linger in the city regardless.”
It actually might be cheaper than their occasional stay in Hightown. Once they have options, she can be surer of the math...
She realises that she is, already, thinking of when.
“Shall we invade that private space and see what he thinks, too?”
no subject
"It would also allow us to host, now and then, if there are those in Hightown we think worth inviting. In a way less complicated than bringing them over here." A home rather than rooms in, effectively, a garrison.
no subject
and she is warmly pleased to be drawn in close, the way they both might have balked at before, ahead of an admittedly short walk through mostly the halls of offices. Marcus, hopefully at the other end of that walk, may take his lion's share of the credit for this softening between them. To think: a brisk romantic.
“Well, perhaps,” is only a little dampening on that idea, contemplative, “though there is a space between not financially irresponsible and adequate to entertain, depending on the acquaintances and their particular worth.”
Hightown contacts have Hightown expectations; they are simply not bringing home Hightown money. Even still, the idea isn't without merit, and she allows it to percolate as they make their way to the Forces office and quarters, considering it from all angles. Hightown is not exactly ignorant of their means or circumstances, however effectively they move there; there may be those worth cultivating more intimately. A delicate balance to strike.
no subject
Some minor decision not to immediately rise from his seat at the heavy-set desk, but does put his pen aside, sit back a little further in his chair.
"Hello," a greeting. "Passing through?" The door to their private quarters is, in contrast to the front entry, closed tightly, but unlocked.
no subject
Still, assuming he's not discouraged, he ushers Petrana in to settle in her seat of choice. As for Julius, he half sits, half leans on the edge of the desk, careful not to actually displace anything on top of it. "I've had a thought, and Petra thinks it's at least worth raising to you, so we didn't want to go any farther with it before it was all three of us."
no subject
Probably no where terribly fine, but she's relatively certain between the three of them they could afford somewhere comfortable enough. Somewhere they might enjoy the reprieve from their entire lives revolving around this space, for a time.
no subject
All that, and it's a coin toss as to whether they would decide to bring a work matter to him anyway.
But they do not. A glance from Julius trails to Petrana as the topic is handed off, Marcus listing back in his chair. Alright, not a marriage proposal yet. Eventually it will be, he's sure, and pitched exactly like this.
"The benefits," he echoes, "such as, less likely to become rubble."
He can think of more.
no subject
Petrana had taken the suggestion well and he's hopeful that Marcus will too. It will undeniably constrain their pooled resources, but the more Julius has let himself think of the idea, the more attractive it seems.
no subject
(Even, she says, but it seems the thoughtless words of habit and not a meaningful critique. It'd hardly be the most modest place to which any of them have laid claim, after all.)
“And,” brightening, “you are so fond of decorating.”
Himself. Them. Petrana's assumption that it would extend to a living space they had more control over than one room here or there may or may not be misguided, but she seems taken with it for a moment.