therookery | open | yngvi's observations: the belly of the beast

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open | yngvi's observations: the belly of the beast

FORM: Various notes left here and there wherever you might want to find them
SENDER: Yngvi
RECIPIENT: Interested parties, easily ignored
WHAT: The possible ramblings of a dwarf or is there actually a message here
WHEN: Justinian
WHERE: Various locations around the Gallows mostly
NOTES: Actually notes for Yngvi's little assignment, feel free to hunt him down and get involved (either catch him leaving the notes, writing them, recognise the scrawl - whatever works)

[Found throughout the Gallows - or in a few other places if they've been scattered or left elsewhere by people reading them then discarding them when they can't decipher the contents - are several short missives all written in the same hand. Barely legible but just about.]

Since when have rats ever begged for scraps, this place has gone to the dogs. Unless the dogs died but they stayed?

Coal. Blue. Crested. Poison? Poison???

Thought they were ours honestly, should keep an eye on it. Or not. More than you'd think, less than you'd hope. If I'm counting right.

Sister missing. Never enough money. No one notices an elf disappearing but that's three now, check again, easier if they really were wearing skins and faces.

Don't think they're a Vint but reckon they fancy sounding like one. Prick.

What a stupid fucking name.

Isn't that a bit of stepping on toes? Where'd the Red Irons go??? Check with usuals.

Who's sitting at the top now? Faces all wrong again but some say the faces are right, others saying they're wrong?

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[ Ellana had come across the note about missing elves -- after reading the note several times and finally deciphering it -- and has kept it with her, planning on bringing the information to Thranduil since they're trying to brainstorm about it. But when she sees a new note written by the dwarf and dropped, she hurries to check it out, confirming it's the same handwriting. And so she rushes after him. ]

Wait!

[ She catches up and quickly pulls his previous note from the bag on her belt. ]

You wrote this? You know about the missing elves too?

[ Yes, yes, she knows. There may be squiggles on her face, but there are boots on her feet and a worried look in her eyes. If you think you've come across another Beleth, think again. ]

[There's a split-second where Yngvi has to perform some very very fast calculations about what to do when she shouts; does he pretend he never heard, does he bolt, does he saunter off and then find a place he can lose her then follow or does he do what he's doing because he's turning already because curiosity killed the cat and a Fade demon ate it.]

What. [Flat. Let him look up and-- no. Not the voice of the rude snobby Dalish. And then when he's had his measure, turned so more of his body is facing her but enough is still in the direction of bolt because she's got longer legs but he has momentum on his side once he gets going, that's just a dwarf thing--] Maybe. What's it to you?

I'm trying to figure out who took them, and where!

[ She pushes the note back into her pouch, releasing a sigh. ]

But the others in the alienage -- they're scared. They won't talk about it. They probably think if they talk, they'll be next. But you've been there too? Have they let any hints slip to you?

Not every elf lives in the alienage. You read that and thought alienage? [Not quite a sneer but he presses hard because he knows things, knows Kirkwall. Maybe not just so well as he did but he still knows it.] Weren't in the alienage, don't need to be there.

Folk talk to me, fuckin' amazing, look at me but there we are. [One hand grabs her arm to pull her down to his level, teeth bared like he's going to tell her off because he knows how you have to make a thing look.] Never done this bit before?

I only thought that because the ones I've noticed missing were from there.

[ She worries her lower lip for a brief second because that means that this goes further than she originally thought. An alienage is an easy target, because people are stuck there with one way in and out. But if elves all over Kirkwall are missing? Surely if this was some voluntary thing, their family and friends would know, which means they're being taken.

When he grabs at her, she bends down, eyes darting from his face to his hands, looking for a knife. She's pretty sure she can shapeshift into a honey badger before he can get a knife on her, and though she's not keen to do it right out in the open, she will if there's going to be trouble. A honey badger hide is nearly impenetrable and she'll bite his ankles for good measure. ]

No. I'm new to this, but I'm going to help however I can.

[A thing Yngvi is good at: the performance. Clapping a hand over Ellana's to set it on his shoulder, he starts staggering backward into a quiet corner because in the real world where Yngvi lives and has always lived, where people are generally only nice if they want something from you and know that it'll cost them more to get it without that niceness or that they can't extract the cost of it back later, no one will intervene in an elf-dwarf skirmish. Maybe another elf might. She's Dalish so city elves might steer very clear of it but some of her folk might come to her rescue but humans won't want to get involved in it because it's beneath them and any dwarf coming along will stop long enough to listen and take the words back.

Yngvi lets his breath blow out of him with an exaggerated 'oof', staggers and makes sure he can see anyone coming and that it's Ellana's back facing outwards. Smarter in ways he doesn't get credit for. City boy knows how to stay alive better than he knows his books. His f'fuck'ssake is one breath, soft as an oath, just right for what he's attempting to accomplish as his heart hammers for...he's not sure.

Asher left such a purse of coin behind for the elves, he remembers that, they took a huge wagon for free into Gwaren because they had nothing but that was Yngvi-attached-to-Asher, Yngvi-the-Boneflayer. Here this is Yngvi. A thing Yngvi's name can solidly be put to.]

Some elves are in Darktown, s'how it goes, but some elves got jobs? You...is that a thing you know about? I don't know with you, that other one'd walk over their backs same as a shem. Have to pay to make sure no one's hassling you, so you're getting left alone. Might be alienage. Might not.

[He makes it look like he's pulled himself free of her, wrenched his shoulder out from under her hand but for a roughened dwarf's hardened working hands, it's more gentle than you'd think, much more.]

[ Is this what people in cities do? Do they seriously start fake fights just to cover themselves talking to someone? Is it because walls are thin here behind closed doors? Is that it? Because this is just weird and it takes Ellana far too long to understand that's what he's trying to do here, which means her mouth is hanging open on the edge of a protest until he starts talking.

Funny enough, if any other Dalish elves saw Ellana of all people shoving around a dwarf, they'd probably sit down and watch, passing around a pipe filled with elfroot as they wondered just what in the name of the Creators did Yngvi do to piss her off. ]

Yes. I've talked to them. Mostly the ones in the alienage, like I said. If I do see an elf outside of it, I assume they are working, so I don't bother them. Some work the docks, some are servants, some don't say what they do.

[ Smuggling, most likely. But a job is a job, isn't it? ]

Don't let the tattoos fool you; I'm nothing like Beleth. Elves are elves. They don't have to follow the rules she's made up for them to count.

[ Now she points a finger at him angrily. Or at least acting like she's angry, because he obviously thinks it's a good idea to portray the conversation this way to outsiders. But when she speaks, her voice is normal; not coming from behind gritted teeth. ]

You have friends that are elves, right? You speak as if you do. So we need to find who's taking them and where they are. And you have way more connections here to get started than I do.

[Yes. If you asked Yngvi. Or no. Or sometimes. Or Tuesdays at three o'clock sharp but not two minutes before or two minutes after unless the shadow of a dragon has passed over you in which case once and never again. Always keep them guessing because then it's the most natural it'll never be, only one man has the script unless they're Carta or Boneflayer. (Not Carta now, can't trust any of them now.)

He doesn't roll his eyes but the rest of his face twitches like he does, waiting for the penny to drop.]

What you talking to them about? And you can talk to them if they work if you make sure you buy something and make it worth their while, might need to watch what their master's like if they've got one, one or two don't, one or two have masters what don't care but most get snippy and a few are pricks who'll take it out on them. [What he'd give for Liadan and Melisende about now.]

Right, well, make sure it doesn't get back to her yeah? Fuckin' unbearable dictating like her arse is polishing a throne and she's allegedly in charge of me like that's happening, no one's in charge of me 'cept me and my battlemaster. [Curling his lip, Yngvi coils up on his toes like he might bite that finger.

(Your finger and the rest of the hand are safe. Best believe you don't want a fight bite from this one.)]

Why d'you-- contacts and associates, I don't have friends, I'm not some soft...some soft lordling from Orlais all scented water and statue fondling thinking that the word my family uses for elf is better than the one the peasants and doglords use, I'm from here. I know Darktown. Know the alienage because it's not so different really. [And, because he can't help it, the tiniest sullen mutter:] Not that anyone bloody knows.

[ Come on, Yngvi. She's not going to tell you what she talks to them about so you can judge her for it. Otherwise she'd expect you to tell her what you talk to your fellow dwarves about. ]

I know what you're feeling there. I've signed up for scouting too. Here I have to send her reports when I haven't even spoken to her in over a year.

[ Call her crazy, but being a condescending asshole and saying "you can always return to the clan" as if it won't work out with her and Felix is not the way to endear yourself to her. Neither is screaming in Ellana's face how selfish she is for not kissing the Keeper's feet; you know, the woman who made her feel worthless and like a dirty secret her whole life. Ellana's reports to Beleth will be formal and as short as possible. ]

Well, whatever you'd prefer calling them, then. The important thing is to find out what's happening here. You'll know more than me. What should we do next?

[Look Yngvi will judge everyone for everything and nothing because he gets to because he said he can because he has a piece of paper (crumpled, somewhere inside an otherwise empty coinpurse inside a lockbox placed behind a wall with three loose bricks - not the three you're thinking of, and no, not those three either - guarded by a rat king accessible by going through a door in the Chantry you can only find last thing on a Tuesday then left, left again, up and down, down, down, deeper than you think you would ever go until you see the bones of the world and they see you) that says he can do what he wants.]

No one says what language you need to write the reports in, I've seen the whole if you cut out the Qunari bit and Tevinter.

[Is that a challenge? Could Yngvi do it? Perhaps. Perhaps not. But he could write it all in a Carta code and claim it's all he's ever known or so illegibly she'd need to hire a scribe and not a soul could say any wiser. (Well, three, but if his lady, Wren or Korrin sold him out to Beleth he'd be affronted, furious, and heartbroken, and not in that order.)]

First lesson: when you're in a city and you're not human or you don't look like a human, it's not about what you prefer. Didn't know we was a we if I'm honest, I'm going to Darktown 'cause that's where I heard things, meander through the underskirts of the city, dally about, see what there is, casual y'know? Nice and casual. Can't look bothered, can't look worried. Dunno who did it so who's to say who's watching, plenty of folks hate elves, plenty of folks just don't give a shit about elves, whole world of difference between them two things and you go tellin' anyone I said that the Carta'll have their cut.

[More likely they'll have their cut of Yngvi's sorry arse but he doesn't like this, this...this dangerously close to feelings thing that he can't do, can't get away with, gets caught in his throat unless he tries to turn it into a threat like the dog that's been kicked every time the master beckons but still thinks that this time, maybe this time when he calls, it'll be a soft hand with something good in it and not another lick of steel capped toes to the ribs.]

[ She's getting really tired of the "I'm so tough and cool and look how much I don't care," act. Obviously he cares, or it wouldn't have been worth scribbling down, thinking to look into it. ]

That's one thing I've already figured out. [ You know, considering the fact she is one. ] I want to know what you find out from your casual look around.

How is the stupid one my boss. [Mournful. Did you want to see a sad dwarf well guess what you're seeing one now Ellana.] I'll be in touch, sending crystal or well, you figured this out well enough. Said anything to anyone else 'bout what you've found?

[ Wow, that is such a sad face, Yngvi. ]

I've been in contact with Saoirse about it. She's going to ask around Darktown too.

[ It seems to be the place where questions have answers. ]

Does Saoirse know how to ask without getting her teeth knocked out? I'm not having a hit elf or a dead elf or a missing elf on me because you've told me now and I know who she is to see her and I can't pretend I never heard that.

[But you Ellana are going to pretend you didn't hear a word of that last bit got it?]

[ Oh, Yngvi. So you do care. ]

She said she'd be careful, but if you're worried, maybe you should meet up with her to ask.

[ Because you're totally worried. That crusty shell is cracking! ]

[Tell. Absolutely. No one.]

Nothing but trouble, never asked for any of this. 'One of us needs to stay, why don't you stay Yngvi, it'll be fun Yngvi' and then-- Fine. Fine I'll go make sure she doesn't get eaten by rats and deepstalkers then. And you do the same. Only one of me.

[Yeah it's all fun and games until he literally falls apart Ellana who puts back the pieces when dwarves have breakdowns?]

[ She grins, which doesn't really work for the whole "argument" look they're supposed to be going for here. ]

Thank you, Yngvi. I'll be sure to.

[ She'll play her part! Please don't have a breakdown. ]

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open | yngvi's observations: the belly of the beast

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