( open ) one of these days letters are gonna fall from the sky

[dressmaking]

WHO: Lacey Harwood and you!
WHAT: Learning her way around.
WHEN: Through the end of Drakonis.
WHERE: Various locations around Skyhold.
NOTES: None! Come say hi.

Library

One of the first places Lacey goes is the library, once she hears that there is one and finds out where it is. It's occurred to her quickly that she needs to orient herself in this strange place — that she's not yet totally convinced isn't some illusion created by the Capitol, but she should probably play along just to be safe — and since she doesn't yet know whom she can trust enough to talk to, if anyone, she may as well consult a book or two.

Which is where one might find her, starting in on a thick volume that appears to be about the history of the Chantry and looking more and more confused with each passing second. There are a handful of others on various other topics sitting on the table next to her, a couple of which she's already tried to read and found she couldn't; looking at the books' spines, they're in Orlesian and Nevarran. Language barriers aren't really a thing she's ever had occasion to encounter before. Even people in the Capitol with their bizarre accents speak the same language as people in the districts.

This one she can read, but the topic is... not so easily understood. Another thing that doesn't really exist in Panem: organized religion.

Garden

Later, Lacey takes another walk around the fortress and stumbles upon the garden. Even after having been in the Capitol, which isn't short on public parks, seeing dedicated green space is still a bit of a novelty to her, the woman from District 8 who only ever sees green growing things at home when she's looking at the neat lawns in front of the houses in the Victors' Village. This isn't like any of the parks in the Capitol, either; it seems more... wild, somehow. Clearly a space intended for people to be in and tend to, but not so neat and clean and perfectly ordered. If anything, that makes it more interesting, not less.

Careful not to disturb anyone who might be tending to the plants, she steps into the garden quietly to take a look around, pausing near a flowering bush briefly and leaning down to sniff the blossoms.

Battlements

At some point, Lacey climbs up to the battlements, where the air is crisper and colder — though that hardly bothers her; winters in Eight aren't exactly what one would call warm. Aside from a couple of passing guards on patrol, there's no one else up here for now, and she leans her hands on the parapet and just breathes. To say the mountain view is striking is a vast understatement. She can almost, almost believe this is real, that she's not in Panem but instead in some other world entirely.

But she's still waiting. Waiting for Snow or the Gamemakers to shatter the illusion. They've always been told there is nothing else outside of Panem, not anymore. The idea that this is another world entirely is so unbelievable as to be totally absurd.

(The hope, though — that doesn't go away so easily.)

Comments

Library

[justice_is_blond]

It's about time he took out some more books, really. There's a lot to study, a lot to learn... and a new face among the shelves. Anders is more focused on finding what he's looking for while there, but her growing confusion becomes evident and he looks over.

"...Going for some light reading, I see." The comment is sarcastic, a little wary, a little friendly. Someone who is a fan of the Chantry is not going to exactly be a fan of him, after all. "Do I want to ask why you seem to be researching the Chantry?"

[dressmaking]

Fortunately for Anders, Lacey doesn't even recognize him. The sarcasm registers easily, and she arches her eyebrows slightly in a bit of dry humor, though she is otherwise trying to keep her composure. To say she's still somewhat rattled by her unexpected arrival is an understatement, but she's too used to having to seem unruffled and poised to let herself show it.

"Someone mentioned it. It seemed important," she says, aiming for neutrality, for something that doesn't show too much interest. She sets the book down, laying it open on the table. "I suppose I have a lot of catching up to do."

[justice_is_blond]

He looks over the titles, shifting the books so he can see their spines. Other than the Chantry, he doesn't see a theme. It's all over the place. Anders raises an eyebrow as he looks back at her.

"What, the Chantry on the whole?" Rifter, then, likely. It's far too early to tell if she's lucky she's run into him, if this is her area of interest, or entirely unlucky. "If you've questions, I could help, but I can't say I'm unbiased. The Chantry doesn't exactly care for my kind."

[dressmaking]

"Your 'kind'?" she asks, coolly, but also sounding most certainly as if she has no idea what he's talking about.

Suffice it to say there's no such thing as magic or mages in Panem.

[justice_is_blond]

"Mage. Specifically, mage who believes mages should be free and are people, rather than simply objects to be feared." It's said with calm determination, almost as a challenge. A moment later, he tilts his head and looks back at the books, at all they cover.

"Most people can tell from the robes what I am. And you're taking on quite the scope of research. Are you a rifter?"

[dressmaking]

The almost-challenge in his tone makes Lacey raise her eyebrows at him. She’s… not amazing at analyzing people’s behavior, but she’s had practice at it, had to in order to get by in the Capitol. It’s not as if she said anything to provoke that kind of reaction, so perhaps he’s used to having to defend himself to everyone he meets.

She, on the other hand, doesn’t know enough about “mages” (whatever they are) to disapprove or approve either way. At his question, she draws a breath, then nods. Makes a mental note: people are calling people like her rifters. Awkward, but she supposes it fits.

“I just arrived recently. It seemed a good idea to try to get my bearings.”

Whether or not she’s doing a good job of that is another story.

[justice_is_blond]

New, which definitely explains the raised eyebrow, and maybe, just maybe, he's putting it on a little thick for someone who hasn't had a chance to start learning. Especially when if he and Justice can get a handle on their approach they can help matters.

"The Chantry is powerful, and it helps to know about it, but remember that history is written by the victors." He needs to start writing again. He needs something for the Rifters, to prepare them for the world so that they're not brainwashed into fear. It would be a good project, actually.

"Did someone recommend the Chantry to you in particular? I could assist with it. My view is biased, but so is the view of anyone here, and the books are especially so."