001.

[champions]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Marisol
RECIPIENT: All
WHAT: sup losers
WHEN: early Wintermarch, handwaves vaguely etc
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Marisol's info is over here but still in progress, feel free to shoot me a pm if you'd like some deets or to hammer out past cr

Good morning, Inquisition.

( It’s early afternoon, easily. She sounds very relaxed, and it would not be inaccurate to imagine her reclining on a sea of cushions and eating chocolate. Her accent is distinctly Antivan, and probably should be accompanied by a montage of vineyards and orange blossom. It’s just the kind of vibe she gives off. )

I wanted to apologise for any inconvenience caused the last few days by my arrival; the family estate in Hightown was not yet ready to receive me, it seems, and so there has been some to-ing and fro-ing. I understand one of the birds caused a little confusion.

( It trapped Finch in a cupboard. ) Please rest assured all the flamingos have been moved for their safety.

( And the safety of the Inquisition. )

I am Lady Marisol of the Houses Vivas and de la Nieve, Asturias and Hierro. ( Merchant Princes, nobility, pirates. You may remember her from such mage empowerment videos as GO REBELS GO and IT’S NOT SMUGGLING, IT’S SPECIALISED TRADE. ) You know, I had planned to be here a little sooner, but the weather in Antiva was so fine. I couldn’t bring much winter sunshine with me, but the Inquisition’s supplies have been replenished a little.

So! Is anyone here from the Rialto Circle? And can anyone explain why it is I should bring ships and staff to an Inquisition that took to destroying the Necropolis? I have some aunts and uncles who are very upset about it.

( She, personally, does not sound seriously concerned, but apparently she doesn’t sound seriously concerned about anything. )

Comments

[foundmyselfagain]

Ah yes, the flamingos with Opinions about my hair care regimen.

[ Or lack thereof. ]

Please tell them that I like the shirts, though.

[champions]

They are birds of distinction. I shall, and I am sure they will say you are very welcome.

( A moment to allow for dramatic effect, and then: ) How are you?

[foundmyselfagain]

I’ve been worse. I’ve certainly been a lot better, though. With the whole...everything.

But I’m back with Nell and Kostos! So, that’s nice.

[champions]

Yes, she told me you were both here. You are fairly recently arrived, if I remember it rightly?

Once the estate is ready I hope you will all attend regularly for dinner.

[foundmyselfagain]

Pretty recently, yeah. Not entirely by choice, either.

--Okay, it was entirely against my choice, it turns out that I will return to the Gallows under threat of pain. The more you know!

But I'd love to visit, I'll even try to make sure my appearance doesn't draw concerned reports from your neighbors to the city guard about vagrants on your doorstop. I'll wear the blue shirt.

private.

[champions]

( She hadn't heard that. )

I think these may be matters to discuss in person, Gareth. Are you living in the Gallows, still?

[foundmyselfagain]

I'd be happy to meet you again, of course. And, uh. Yeah.

Kostos is my roommate! Which is actually pretty nice. He hasn't started plastering skulls everywhere just yet.

[champions]

You'll return to your quarters one day to find them entirely made up of skulls.

Will you meet me at the docks? We can have dinner on the boat; it will give us a bit more privacy than almost anywhere else in Kirkwall.

[foundmyselfagain]

Sleeping on a bed of skulls sounds really cool, though. If a good way to injure my back.

[ Worth it for the #aesthetic ]

Ah? Yeah, sure. We can just get a net and grab fish right out of the bay. I hear they do that, some places. At least we can cook them first.

Anyway! I'm on my way.

[champions]

Think of it as a sort of massage, if that helps.

( She sounds dubious. She does not think it would help. If it did, she'd be a little concerned. )

I will see you soon, Gareth. Give your name to the guard at the docks, and he will ensure you get here safely.

[foundmyselfagain]

I've been here way longer than you, and you're already at the point where you boss around guards and I just have to give my name. You are a true marvel, madame. Both amazing and a little terrifying.

[ AND THEN SWITCHING TO ACTION??? Gareth goes to the docks and gives his name and is presumably safely escorted. Woo. ]

[champions]

( She makes a musing sound, playful and mysterious, and cuts off the feed so Gareth can get to heading over this way without being a spectacle speaking on the crystal as he moves.

AND HEY IT’S HER BUDDY. The guard bows, and departs, and Marisol beams at her friend, kisses him on each cheek. )

The secret, ( she says, seamlessly picking up the conversation once the guard has departed, ) is to hire your own guards and be generous with tipping those not in your employ.

( So, understandably, not necessarily something Gareth can do. Hands set on his shoulders, she leans back. ) Let me look at you. How has the Inquisition been treating you, Gareth?

[foundmyselfagain]

[ Gareth is exceedingly glad that he has bothered to switch into one of the nice shirts and make his hair look more presentable before meeting her. He'd almost forgotten how elegant she was, and how being around her made him tend to feel like a dirty peasant that should have been escorted away from her. At least now he feels like a clean peasant. Maybe a servant.

Either way, he returns the kisses, grinning right back at her. ]

My dear, each time I see you, I think that surely, you can't become more lovely, that you must peak at some point in time. And here you are, proving me wrong yet again.

[ His smile is gentle and playful, giving a little shrug at her question. The fact is that he does look better. He's not nearly the pale, gaunt, underfed ragamuffin that he'd been, back in the Old Days. Regular meals, exercise, and no longer bleeding profusely on a regular basis has had their effect. ]

It's not as bad as I'd thought it'd be. Admittedly, I had some pretty bad thoughts about being stuck in a religious military organization stationed in the Gallows, so the bar wasn't very high. But! Kostos and Nell are here, and I had missed them terribly.

[ Then he grows a little more solemn, for a serious answer to her question. ]

It varies, day to day. Sometimes I think that I'm taking back what was taken from me, I'm settling the old nightmares, proving that I'm stronger than them. And sometimes...It's hard to remember that I'd left. That those six years weren't just a dream, and at any moment Orsino will round the corner and scold me for being late to class, and then my friends will be there, laughing at me.

[ His smile is small, and sad. ] Though they'd have been late too, then, wouldn't they? Hypocrites.