[ OPEN ] Days too full, nights too dark

[fleurdesel]

WHO: Adelaide & You
WHAT: Catch all for end of Guardian & Drakonis
WHEN: All of Drakonis
WHERE: EDL, Skyhold
NOTES: some prompts to follow, poke me via PM or plurk if you want a particular starter!

[ The Healing Tents ]

Even if nothing else seems to be certain- this much she knows she has right. Every scrape, every wound, every cough she mends with a faint murmur and twist of Compassion's power. Here things are simpler. There is an injury, she is to mend it. No questions of morality or trust beyond that which her patients put in her to see them made well. It's simpler. It's a relief, honestly, after the current mess. Here if nowhere else she can trust her judgement beyond a shadow of a doubt. Now and then the lantern outside showing she is taking patients is shuttered- feel free to come in and find her drinking tea with a cold compress to her forehead. Migraines, Oh joy.


[ The Library ]

For every answer there are at least ten to twenty more questions- though the further along she goes the more precise she might make them and the less dithering about archaic academic footnotes she has to endure. Still she hunches over texts with notes, ink staining her fingers, tea at her elbow long since gone cold as she sketches and notes what scraps of something coherent she can find in these rituals on spirits, the fade, and demons. Either deep in thought, scribbling furiously, or dozing in her chair she is easy to find in the far corner, candle melting down the hours.


[ The Garden ]

Lessons in the morning, sparring in the evening, meditations around midday or tea with whomever she finds that has been overworking themselves just as much as she has which will not do. Adelaide sits here cool and calm at dawn, sculptures of ice spinning through her fingers in forms and shapes that meld and melt and meld over and over- in the early day with her students going over magical theory or discussing with them one on one their fears about demons and fade dreams, in the evening with a rapier, practicing forms, or late at night when she is unable to sleep, staring at scorched earth grass is only just beginning to grow over.

Comments

Emprise du Lion, for Varric Tethras ( Pre Anders Reveal )

[fleurdesel]

[ She's close- she knows she's close. Some of these are absurd, some horrifyingly risky but she thinks it might work. It might be enough to help Detlef and that? Is more than enough for her to set aside her tension from the last time she spoke with Varric and seek him out. He'd had every right to be upset, her own fears did not invalidate anything of his grief.

Perhaps he'd put it out of his mind as well.

When she's certain they are both free she seeks him out, coughing politely outside of his tent. ]

[hugeinorlais]

[Given the assortment of tent-mates adjacent to his, Varric hadn't expected anyone to bother with courtesy. Hearing a polite cough outside his tent is enough to give him pause and, after a moment of silence, he moves to the flap and tosses the fabric open.

Adelaide wasn't a face he'd expected to find but, considering how shitty everything else in the Emprise was? Well, it could be worse. He wasn't too put out to find a polite, pretty blonde seeking him out, even if she just wanted to chide him for blowing up at that templar.

Immediately, Varric tosses up both his hands in a gesture of surrender.]

No need to lay into me, I promise I won't be talking to that jackass in the near future--on the crystals or otherwise. No arguments, no jokes, just good old fashioned stony silence.

[fleurdesel]

That is not why I am here, Varric- and...I would like to apologize for my own reaction that night. I was reminded uncomfortably of something that...

[ This is not precisely a conversation she wishes to have in the open, nor is it the whole of her reason for seeking him out. Lips twisted in a wry curve that could be a smile, she gestures deeper into his tent. ]

May I join you? I will elaborate but this requires some privacy.

[hugeinorlais]

[Varric's eyebrows shoot up, almost of their own accord, as she gestures into his tent. She wasn't here to yell at him, which was good, unfortunately his track record with 'private conversations' was pretty terrible. As badly as he wanted to make a joke about propriety, if she was here for anything as banal as flirting he wasn't about to shoot himself in the foot for a chuckle.]

Come on in. [Varric steps aside and holds back the tent flap for her. It's not a grand gesture but what could he do? It was a tent.]

Not sure how much privacy we can get out of canvas, but I'll try to think optimistically.

[fleurdesel]

The canvas is a start.

[ As she slips inside there's a small twist of her fingers, a low, almost inarticulate murmur before the wind and sounds of snow and the camp beyond is sharply muffled, as though they were in a room of stone rather than a mere tent. The effect would work much for those attempting to listen in. There. Privacy. ]

It will not last more than an hour but- that ought to be enough.

[hugeinorlais]

[While Varric has about as much appreciation for the subtleties of magic as most Qunari do for Orlesian ballet, he knows enough to know that sudden sound dampening spells that last an hour? Well those only have a handful of good uses and...given their current location... He didn't like jumping to conclusions but it was a bit hard not to.]

Hey, now-- [Varric starts a little gently as he lets the flap close. His hands are back in that gesture of surrender, though the whole motion is a bit gentler than before.] I don't want you to think I'm not flattered, because that is definitely not the case, but the Emprise du Lion isn't exactly...doing it for me--

You know? Romantically.

[Even the Fallow Mire was a more appealing location for this sort of thing. Sure, it had the undead everywhere, but at least it wasn't covered in Red Lyrium.]

I'd be happy to lend an ear for conversation but...maybe not "private conversation"?

[fleurdesel]

I-

What?

[ That, what? She stares at him for a long moment, trying to sort out why, exactly, he's jumped to that conclusion-

The flirting, she supposes, would lend to that- they're in his tent, she's just-

Adelaide's eyes go wide and her hands fly to her mouth to muffle the sudden bright peal of laughter. Something she's needed, desperately, since they've arrived in this terrible place. ]

I- Varric I do not mean to say that I would not, you are- that is not what I mean by private conversation.

[hugeinorlais]

[Her sudden, startled laughter was so bright and shocked that he didn't have it in him to be offended by it. He just lets out a heavy, relieved sigh and drops his arms to his sides.]

Thank the Maker--Not that I wouldn't, but between the snow and red lyrium, whatever mood there is out here? Not ideal for anything close to that.

[But now this was getting awkward and she had wanted to talk to him about something private.]

So, what couldn't wait for better walls?

Library! (What a surprise!)

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione doesn't know just how valuable an actual job would be here, but it doesn't seem right to sit in Skyhold all day, unable to fight or even do much magic, and not enrolled in any classes to boot. She'd been pointed in the direction of a bulletin board that occasionally contained little tasks that needed doing, and upon finding that one of them referred to someone back in the library, she'd decided that it wouldn't hurt to look into it. After all, asking a few questions never hurt anyone.

... much.

After quietly asking someone in the library to direct her to the right person, Hermione slowly approaches the woman who clearly seems to be incredibly overworked. Having little doubt that this is the woman advertising for a personal aide, she gingerly clears her throat and asks, "Excuse me, are you Councilor LeBlanc? The one who put up the advert for an aide?"

[fleurdesel]

Another time, another place. But I truly only wish to speak with you privately. To...explain myself for that night.

[ And ask for yet another favor, afterward. She clears her throat with a soft cough, reigning in her composure. It is no laughing matter, what she has to say. ]

I- that night, I was shaken. Uncomfortably reminded of what I heard in the voices of the Templars the night the White Spire fell.

[hugeinorlais]

[Well, he hadn't expected things to suddenly get this serious, but he couldn't fault her. He hadn't seen the White Spire but he'd heard plenty of stories.]

Yeah...you said as much. [He'd been livid, but he still recalled her explaining as she tried to keep him from ripping that templar a new one.] You doing alright? Remembering that sort of shit can really take it out of you.

Library! (Books and fun for all!)

[fleurdesel]

"Mm?" Adelaide blinks, peering over at- one of the rifters from her clothing. But if she could read the notice and was approaching- she's not exactly in a position to be picky. "Yes, I am Adelaide LeLBanc, please- ah."

She frowns at the nearest chair, stacked with books. Hardly hospitable. Muttering more to herself than anything she moves them out of said chair and gestures to the newly freed seat. "Sit."

[fleurdesel]

I did spend half the night wondering if another Templar was about to take me by the throat but-

[ She shakes her head, arms crossed over her chest, holding herself against the memory. ]

I spoke with Norrington. Expressed my concerns. But my anxiety shouldn't have overruled your right to be frank with him. I apologize.

[bookish_lioness]

That first name rings a distant bell, and Hermione wonders where she's heard it before. It's likely that someone had mentioned the name to her in passing, but she'd need more context to remember where.

"Oh," she starts, holding a hand up to try and stop her from clearing out the chair. It seems impolite to actively stop her, though, so she only offers a small, polite smile as she accepts the offered seat. "Thank you. I, um... well, my name is Hermione Granger, and I'm a bit new here, so I'm afraid I'm not entirely familiar with all of the terms in your note, but if the position hasn't been filled and you need someone in the interim until you find someone more capable of handling Thedas-specific affairs, I should be able to handle the basics. I'm a fast learner and enjoy research and note-taking, and I can make a decent spot of tea."

[fleurdesel]

"What I need, more than anything else, is someone that is able to take notes and help me with my day to day correspondence, research notes, and lesson plans. As you are not of Thedas I expect the first few weeks to be a bit rough as you learn about the world as well as what I will be asking of you." If what she writes goes over Hermione's head- it is quite likely it's too technical for the common man as well. Breaking it down for her would assist Adelaide in breaking it down as needed for others.

"Do you have much experience with research and lecture notes? The politics, the Game, the nobles, Madame de Fer- that can be learned on the job." Everything else? Is somewhat required.

[bookish_lioness]

"Research and notes, I can do," Hermione replies, just barely managing to keep herself from outright grinning at the comment. "My penmanship is neat; I can write up a little sample for you now, if you'd like. What sort of lesson plans do you deal with?"

She hesitates for a moment before adding, "While it's all a bit much to take in right away, I've been doing some reading to familiarize myself with this world, including a little bit about politics and such. I'm not sure what 'game' you're referring to, but everything else sounds simple enough to learn."

[fleurdesel]

"I would at that." She flips through the stack of paper until she finds a blank page, offering that over along with one of her pens- one of the few not smudged with ink. After a mental note to invest in ones that did not leak, she offers Hermione a wry grin. "The Grand Game. It is...Orlesian politicking. Gossip, espionage, blackmail, betrayal. I avoid it but may find myself having to wade through it on occasion. The must you would have to worry about is finding the kindest way to deflect interest."

Something they both would end up handling now and then, but for the most part- at least at the moment? It was not quite so large a concern. "You are a few steps ahead of the curve, then. I am impressed."

[bookish_lioness]

As Adelaide speaks, Hermione accepts the pen and paper with a small smile and instinctively starts in with the popular pangram, The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog, careful to write out every single letter even more neatly than usual. Even as she writes, she frowns a little as she remarks, "Espionage? Blackmail? Are those open political practices, or just the standard behind-the-scenes subtleties of government work? It's not my area of expertise, but I can be diplomatic when I need to be and so can hopefully avoid any particularly sticky spots."

She slips the paper over towards Adelaide for her inspection. Having come across enough disparities between her world and this one, she explains, "It's a popular phrase for dictation and typing, though I don't think that latter really applies here. I can jot down some famous verse if you'd like a larger sample."

[fleurdesel]

"That it is done is something of an open secret. Bards are most often to handle such things- this is why discretion is also required. I handle sensitive information be it in research or policy for the mages. Our meetings are public but some discussions can be...if not inflammatory but require an education and consideration most do not have in order to prevent knee jerk reactions." And to keep them from being motivated by fear or anger. It is a frustrating nuance of her work- but one she has come to accept.

For the time being there isn't a way around it.

The sample she takes and gives a solid look over. Neat, precise, legible. "This is excellent."

And not too poor a practice, showing what every letter in the alphabet might look like in one go. "To start, twenty silver a week. As you adjust and we shall see how you pick up everything, yes?"

[bookish_lioness]

"It always comes back to mages, doesn't it?" The words are murmured under her breath, and she realizes belatedly that they might have come off as derogatory. Not wanting to give off any kind of negative impression, she immediately explains, "In the interest of full disclosure, I should probably mention that most people who've met me have described me as a mage, even if we call ourselves something different back home. It just seems as though a lot of the trouble that goes on around here is directly related to how people react to mages, more so than the mages themselves. It's not a criticism, but an observation." She's observed it so often that she's beginning to wonder if she should just stop introducing herself as a mage to make things easier for herself, but Hermione has never been one for taking the easy route. Besides, she really should be perfectly honest about something like that with anyone who may end up being her employer.

She has no idea how the money here translates to what she knows, or how much twenty silvers would actually buy her, if she actually chose to spend it. So any posited salary would have been an acceptable exchange for her time, as far as she's concerned.

"That sounds agreeable, if you'll still have me. I know there are people who feel a certain way about magic and about those who came in through the rift, so I won't fault any change of heart." Well, she will, but at least she wouldn't do it out loud.

[fleurdesel]

"Mages or elves. The historical context is great and the grievances greater. It is...difficult to explain the whole of it even to those that live here and understand some of the context." More often than not it comes down to those two parties, though the forthright nature of Hermione's explanation and observations causes Adelaide to raise her brows. The more the girl talks, the more impressed she is- though she will have to ask after however she does magic later. Learning new systems is fascinating on so many levels and the opportunity to apply principles of one system to another-

Well.

"As you said, in the interest of full disclosure-" Adelaide reaches a hand out, turning it palm up- ice forming into a perfect crystalline replica of a Chevalier in full plate armor. "I am Adelaide LeBlanc of the Inquisition's Council of Magi- and I myself am a mage. A Spirit-Healer to be precise; a school of magic that calls upon beings on the other side of the veil to heal my patients. It is one that grants me some fear as there are ever those that assume one day I'll be possessed. If you are comfortable working with me, Madmoiselle Granger, I would be happy to have you."

A beat passes as she considers the rest. "As for your being a rifter- one of my closest friends fell through the first and I am currently, as best I am able, researchign the effects of the shards to make certain of your health. We do not know what it is they do or what might happen- the more we know? The more comfortable the rest of the Inquisition and in turn, the rest of Thedas. Fear is brought on by ignorance. Fixing that ignorance...it will take time and I am but one woman. With you? We shall be two."

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione nods at the mention of elves. She'd always known of elves as being a marginalized group, but after having met some here and realizing that they're nothing like the house-eves with which she's familiar, it seems as though they're slightly better able to take care of themselves, at least from the standpoint of physicality and the fact that they aren't magically bound to anyone. They still have a terrible time of things, of course, and so she'll still fight ardently for elf rights whenever she's given the chance, but it's the reaction to mages that's been surprising her the most.

Seeing the ice form in the palm of Adelaide's hand, Hermione suddenly realizes where she'd heard her name before she even introduces herself as a Spirit-Healer. "Korrin told me about you," she tells her. "She said you would be able to answer questions about the Fade and the rifts." She pauses for a moment before asking, "Beings on the other side of the veil? Do you mean... spirits? Not demons, surely? What else is there that could be of any help in healing?"

Shaking her head, she ultimately decides, "I don't know enough about the specifics of what you do to be struck with fear at the thought of it. So I suppose that counts as me being comfortable with you. I suppose that's also an exception to the 'ignorance breeds fear' rule. But that doesn't make ignorance any more palatable, if you ask me."

Smiling a little, she decides, "As I have no exams to study for, I have all the time in the world, all of which I put at your disposal."

[aggregiopavali]

Occasionally passing through the gardens on his way for quieter parts of Skyhold was something Fenris did when he felt the need to be as far away from people as possible. It was the feeling of magic, restrained but there that had him reeling back, looking at her.

His look was obviously anti mage, but there was something more - a fascination with just what she was doing with the ice. The two looks warring on him must make him look almost comical.

[fleurdesel]

She endured the mixture of fascination and abhorrence through three forms- a fluted tower, a lion, a dragon,- all were spun out of fine ice to hold in detail before melting down into the next- before she spoke. "Can I help you- or are you going to glower until your face becomes stuck that way?"

[fleurdesel]

"To the best of my ability- yes. I am studying them as much as I am able but as the Rifts are a relatively recent phenomenon there is not much written of them. The Fade, now, I know a fair deal about and can cover in greater detail. As a fair portion of my research is connected to both you'll be learning as you work. Your asking might help uncover something I have not yet considered." There is, after all, something to be said for alternative points of view. "Spirits yes, demons no. We try to avoid them as a rule."

But that- the agreement, the bravery. She might have to amend that line of thinking. "Ignorance often breeds fear- where it does not breed curiosity, or both. It is rare someone is faced with a thing they do not understand and doesn't fear it. In this I think you will be an excellent match for what I need."

Adelaide wipes her fingers clean of ink before offering it to Hermione; a proper contract will be written up later but- this? They can agree on in the simplest of ways. "Welcome to my employ, Mademoiselle Granger."