Given how many years it's been since he lived here, Vanya is mildly surprised to find that he's a bit moved at signs the city is beginning to resume its old rhythms. Visiting while it was mostly emptied out had been unnerving. While he didn't ask for long, he did secure permission before breaking off from the main group to go check on his parents' home. While Vanya hadn't asked for company, he's glad enough for Gwenaëlle to come along; it's probably good practice not to go alone, as much as anything else, even if the city is safer than it was.
As they approach the house, Vanya's neutral expression turns to a quiet frown. A woman in her mid to late 60s is waiting with a large cart in front of a townhouse, fine though not massive. As she spots them, she raises a hand with an expression of surprise but not displeasure. She has none of Vanya's height and her coloring is fairer than his, though as they get close there's a noticeable resemblance in the eyes and the facial expression. (The current one is something like "this might as well happen," though cut with genuine affection.)
"Mother," Vanya's greeting confirms what Gwenaëlle can probably guess as they get close. "What's going on?"
Mme Orlov leans up to press a kiss to his cheek. "Oh, dear, it's so aggravating. Some ruffians are in the house and they've barricaded the door. Your father wasn't getting anywhere yelling at them, so he's gone to try to find a watchman or something."
Vanya sighs and glances at Gwenaëlle, assessing her appetite to help him deal with this.
III. [open]
a. combat You couldn't tell it by looking at him, but Vanya always feels his stomach drop a little when fighting Venatori. Decades of training tell him this is what he's good at, but he's now just a man with a sword and no way to block incoming magic. Luckily or unluckily, he's also a man with decades of training in putting his feelings somewhere else to deal with later, and he doesn't pause in drawing his weapon.
To the Riftwatch agent next to him, he says, "Cover me, I'm going to try to close." Even without Silencing at his disposal, he's identified at least one mage who seems to be actively backing up to toss spells from afar. Is running up to an unknown Tevene mage an objectively great idea? Vanya is about to find out, apparently.
b. after Once the Venatori are dead, Vanya crouches by a corpse, making a start on looking for notes (which will turn out to be present) and artifacts (which will not). He looks tired, but at a glance none of the blood on him is his own.
When someone approaches, he glances up. "I have enough training to be able to spot that something is important, probably, but I can't tell you much in the way of details, I'm afraid. Just picking up things to pass along. Any luck following the elves?"
Wildcard
[If you'd like a starter or have an idea that can't fit into the prompts above, hit me on plurk or discord.]
vanya
Given how many years it's been since he lived here, Vanya is mildly surprised to find that he's a bit moved at signs the city is beginning to resume its old rhythms. Visiting while it was mostly emptied out had been unnerving. While he didn't ask for long, he did secure permission before breaking off from the main group to go check on his parents' home. While Vanya hadn't asked for company, he's glad enough for Gwenaëlle to come along; it's probably good practice not to go alone, as much as anything else, even if the city is safer than it was.
As they approach the house, Vanya's neutral expression turns to a quiet frown. A woman in her mid to late 60s is waiting with a large cart in front of a townhouse, fine though not massive. As she spots them, she raises a hand with an expression of surprise but not displeasure. She has none of Vanya's height and her coloring is fairer than his, though as they get close there's a noticeable resemblance in the eyes and the facial expression. (The current one is something like "this might as well happen," though cut with genuine affection.)
"Mother," Vanya's greeting confirms what Gwenaëlle can probably guess as they get close. "What's going on?"
Mme Orlov leans up to press a kiss to his cheek. "Oh, dear, it's so aggravating. Some ruffians are in the house and they've barricaded the door. Your father wasn't getting anywhere yelling at them, so he's gone to try to find a watchman or something."
Vanya sighs and glances at Gwenaëlle, assessing her appetite to help him deal with this.
III. [open]
a. combat
You couldn't tell it by looking at him, but Vanya always feels his stomach drop a little when fighting Venatori. Decades of training tell him this is what he's good at, but he's now just a man with a sword and no way to block incoming magic. Luckily or unluckily, he's also a man with decades of training in putting his feelings somewhere else to deal with later, and he doesn't pause in drawing his weapon.
To the Riftwatch agent next to him, he says, "Cover me, I'm going to try to close." Even without Silencing at his disposal, he's identified at least one mage who seems to be actively backing up to toss spells from afar. Is running up to an unknown Tevene mage an objectively great idea? Vanya is about to find out, apparently.
b. after
Once the Venatori are dead, Vanya crouches by a corpse, making a start on looking for notes (which will turn out to be present) and artifacts (which will not). He looks tired, but at a glance none of the blood on him is his own.
When someone approaches, he glances up. "I have enough training to be able to spot that something is important, probably, but I can't tell you much in the way of details, I'm afraid. Just picking up things to pass along. Any luck following the elves?"
Wildcard
[If you'd like a starter or have an idea that can't fit into the prompts above, hit me on plurk or discord.]