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[ the inquisition has a number of gareths, at least three equipped with sending crystals. of course, one specifies the details of a name (samouel) or a title (ser) and it all goes to the proper place. very tidy.
occasionally less tidy: the memory of a middle-aged templar with four hundred other things to track. which is why when she says — ]
Gareth,
[— it's hard. flat. ]
Why am I hearing of an argument in the lines?
[ disagreements happen, are to be expected. but they need the appearance of order here. let them tussle about lyrium out of the bloody public view. ]
occasionally less tidy: the memory of a middle-aged templar with four hundred other things to track. which is why when she says — ]
Gareth,
[— it's hard. flat. ]
Why am I hearing of an argument in the lines?
[ disagreements happen, are to be expected. but they need the appearance of order here. let them tussle about lyrium out of the bloody public view. ]
[ Gareth stares in alarm at his crystal, holding away from him, as though it might lash out somehow. Baffled, he tried to recall any arguments he’s had involving lines that would make a woman with a voice like she gargled nails and spat them out at unsuspecting mages yell at him. His first assumption is fear, and he looks desperately around for Kostos. At least the same paranoia that makes him jump to conclusions tells him not to just admit to anything. Instead, he bullshits a story to buy himself time to think. ]
Serah, I’m not sure what you mean...unless you’re speaking of my argument with Kostos on the magical schools? Because, I’m sorry, I don’t care what he told you, the spirit school isn’t that great, and wisps are dumb. It’s just a fact! Why would you want to summon some idiot wisp when you can summon a fireball? It’s just good sense, serah.
Serah, I’m not sure what you mean...unless you’re speaking of my argument with Kostos on the magical schools? Because, I’m sorry, I don’t care what he told you, the spirit school isn’t that great, and wisps are dumb. It’s just a fact! Why would you want to summon some idiot wisp when you can summon a fireball? It’s just good sense, serah.
[ aw, fuck.
that voice is a lot of things: high, young, full of shit — and definitely not ser gareth. ]
Ah, [ she fumbles, words wander off-track. wren closes her eyes, recollects. when she speaks again, the tone's less a softening than a displacement, still a touch too thrown to be truly rueful. ] I expect I've reached the wrong Gareth.
Between wisps and flames, I am inclined to agree. Neither is much for conversation, but fire makes a statement, no?
[ hey, it was good enough for the chant. there's no way to back out of this gracefully. ]
that voice is a lot of things: high, young, full of shit — and definitely not ser gareth. ]
Ah, [ she fumbles, words wander off-track. wren closes her eyes, recollects. when she speaks again, the tone's less a softening than a displacement, still a touch too thrown to be truly rueful. ] I expect I've reached the wrong Gareth.
Between wisps and flames, I am inclined to agree. Neither is much for conversation, but fire makes a statement, no?
[ hey, it was good enough for the chant. there's no way to back out of this gracefully. ]
Edited 2017-12-04 08:50 (UTC)
[ He’d thank the Maker, if he thought He gave a shit and had anything to do with this. Instead, he’s just relieved. Too relieved to be properly annoyed that he could be mistaken for someone else. ]
Ah! Well, then. That’s no problem at all, there’s a bunch of us running around here. I’m sure one of them deserve your scolding.
—And you’d be surprised! I’ve had all sorts of conversations regarding fireballs. Sometimes, while making statements with them. Very versatile things, fireballs. Moreso than lightning, at least.
Ah! Well, then. That’s no problem at all, there’s a bunch of us running around here. I’m sure one of them deserve your scolding.
—And you’d be surprised! I’ve had all sorts of conversations regarding fireballs. Sometimes, while making statements with them. Very versatile things, fireballs. Moreso than lightning, at least.
Edited (IMPORTANT MISSING WORD) 2017-12-04 09:01 (UTC)
Basically. Aaanyway, I’m just plain old Gareth. Not Ser Gareth, nor Samouel Gareth. Just your ordinary research mage, here to research and mage.
Gareth. Are you alone?
[ No other preamble seems necessary. He knows who this is. ]
[ No other preamble seems necessary. He knows who this is. ]
Well, that does seem to be the new standard.
[ Huff huff. That’s a yes, then. ]
[ Huff huff. That’s a yes, then. ]
Don't sulk.
[ There's a hint of a snap in her chiding tone, but she doesn't follow it through. ]
I didn't tell you because I didn't plan it.
[ There's a hint of a snap in her chiding tone, but she doesn't follow it through. ]
I didn't tell you because I didn't plan it.
[ He sighs, because not sulking is an enormous task. However, his voice does sound at least 50% less sulky when he speaks. ]
Did Kostos plan it? Because he didn't seem thrilled.
Did Kostos plan it? Because he didn't seem thrilled.
Of course not. I just saw the opportunity and I took it. There wasn't time to tell you.
[ He gives a small, contemplative hum. She hadn't seemed to have told Kostos, either, but she'd brought him with her. But then, he could give Nell more power than Gareth, without getting the lot of them arrested. ]
...I could've helped. But I guess that would've been suspicious. More than it already was.
Would you have told me, if you had planned it out?
...I could've helped. But I guess that would've been suspicious. More than it already was.
Would you have told me, if you had planned it out?
It would've been very suspicious, and then very obvious. And it wasn't worth you outing yourself. I knew I could manage it, just with Kostos's power.
[ That's the easier reassurance to give. Though her hesitation at answering his question probably isn't unfamiliar. That she stops to think about it may even be encouraging, at least in terms of his chances at getting an honest answer. ]
Probably.
[ That's the easier reassurance to give. Though her hesitation at answering his question probably isn't unfamiliar. That she stops to think about it may even be encouraging, at least in terms of his chances at getting an honest answer. ]
Probably.
I have some power of my own, you know. [ Not that it's quite up to snuff with people who haven't regularly tapped blood magic for power, but it exists. ]
But...alright. I'm sorry for pouting at you about it.
...And I think it's kind of cool you blew up your old Circle. I wish I could do the same, but. Yanno.
But...alright. I'm sorry for pouting at you about it.
...And I think it's kind of cool you blew up your old Circle. I wish I could do the same, but. Yanno.
It's his specialty. [ And theirs, as a pair. ] It's no comment on your value to me.
[ She forgets, sometimes, that they're now living in Gareth's Circle. She'd heard so many horror stories of the Gallows, but has only ever seen it filled with Inquisition agents, ice-skating across the courtyard. ]
Someday, perhaps. If the Inquisition leaves. [ or turns on them! ] I wouldn't think less of you if you preferred to live elsewhere.
[ She forgets, sometimes, that they're now living in Gareth's Circle. She'd heard so many horror stories of the Gallows, but has only ever seen it filled with Inquisition agents, ice-skating across the courtyard. ]
Someday, perhaps. If the Inquisition leaves. [ or turns on them! ] I wouldn't think less of you if you preferred to live elsewhere.
Well—good. I’m glad.
[ It’s a good thing that this is over crystal, so Nell can’t see him puff up a bit in pride when she assures him of his value to her. After all, he doesn’t begrudge her taking Kostos, he doesn’t want to (and know he can’t) be a replacement. He just doesn’t want to be forgotten. ]
Saoirse lives here. She was in the Gallows too, when...it happened. But now she’s living here, in her old room in the mage tower. She doesn’t let those memories bother her. I...shouldn’t, either. [ Except it does. Except it still haunts him, changed him in ways he’s constantly reminded of. ] At least for now. How would I afford a place, anyway? I’ll just start studying the architecture here more. It’ll be trickier to bring down, I think.
[ It’s a good thing that this is over crystal, so Nell can’t see him puff up a bit in pride when she assures him of his value to her. After all, he doesn’t begrudge her taking Kostos, he doesn’t want to (and know he can’t) be a replacement. He just doesn’t want to be forgotten. ]
Saoirse lives here. She was in the Gallows too, when...it happened. But now she’s living here, in her old room in the mage tower. She doesn’t let those memories bother her. I...shouldn’t, either. [ Except it does. Except it still haunts him, changed him in ways he’s constantly reminded of. ] At least for now. How would I afford a place, anyway? I’ll just start studying the architecture here more. It’ll be trickier to bring down, I think.
A bit trickier. But we've some time to plan.
[ Nell's silence lingers a long moment before she begins again, an abrupt launch back into speech. ]
It's brave of you to stay. And Saoirse, too. That's mad, staying in the same room, but brave too, in a way. Nevarra City was nothing like Kirkwall, but being back there, walking those halls again--it was like I'd never left. I think it's good, us taking over rooms in the Templar tower here. We're showing them all they don't frighten us or control us any longer. That this isn't the place it was then any longer. That it isn't the world it was then any longer.
But if you want to go, tell me, and we'll find a way. Alright?
[ Nell's silence lingers a long moment before she begins again, an abrupt launch back into speech. ]
It's brave of you to stay. And Saoirse, too. That's mad, staying in the same room, but brave too, in a way. Nevarra City was nothing like Kirkwall, but being back there, walking those halls again--it was like I'd never left. I think it's good, us taking over rooms in the Templar tower here. We're showing them all they don't frighten us or control us any longer. That this isn't the place it was then any longer. That it isn't the world it was then any longer.
But if you want to go, tell me, and we'll find a way. Alright?
I wonder if we could make sure that the two side towers fell on the central one? That'd take less force.
[ Not that he knows much about supports and explosions and whatnot. Maybe he should brush up on it, without looking suspicious. ]
I understand. This place has changed, but walking through the gate again, it reminded me--I thought I'd only do that once. But--You're right, Nell. It's making a statement, to be staying in the Templar tower. Though I think the statement could be made just as well on one of the lower floors...
[ Exercise is another form of mage oppression. ]
Truly? Let's move to Hightown. I want to go around doing magic on our front lawn with all the neighbors squinting from around their curtains at me.
[ Not that he knows much about supports and explosions and whatnot. Maybe he should brush up on it, without looking suspicious. ]
I understand. This place has changed, but walking through the gate again, it reminded me--I thought I'd only do that once. But--You're right, Nell. It's making a statement, to be staying in the Templar tower. Though I think the statement could be made just as well on one of the lower floors...
[ Exercise is another form of mage oppression. ]
Truly? Let's move to Hightown. I want to go around doing magic on our front lawn with all the neighbors squinting from around their curtains at me.
[ Nell laughs. ]
Well, if Marisol ever really joins us, maybe we will. She wrote me some weeks ago and said she was considering a visit, and I'm sure she'd never deign to stay anywhere but Hightown, if she can bear this city at all.
Well, if Marisol ever really joins us, maybe we will. She wrote me some weeks ago and said she was considering a visit, and I'm sure she'd never deign to stay anywhere but Hightown, if she can bear this city at all.
What? No, not her! She doesn’t like my hair. Or my clothes. She’d make me dress up.
[ The WORST. ]
[ The WORST. ]
She doesn't like anyone's hair or clothes, [ Nell laughs, ] she'll be after me for a whole new wardrobe if she comes. Perhaps she'll be distracted by that.
Sound plan. She can be distracted by shoving you into frilly dresses. With lace and ruffles.
But seriously, I’ll be fine for now. It’s...interesting, to see how it’s all changed.
And, um—Thank you, Nell. For checking up on me.
But seriously, I’ll be fine for now. It’s...interesting, to see how it’s all changed.
And, um—Thank you, Nell. For checking up on me.
I've already told her many times, absolutely no lace. Her seamstress will simply have to be more creative than frills.
[ a pause, a shrug he can't see ]
You're welcome. We have to stick together. There aren't many of us here, after all. I don't suppose your friend Saoirse is a rebel?
[ a pause, a shrug he can't see ]
You're welcome. We have to stick together. There aren't many of us here, after all. I don't suppose your friend Saoirse is a rebel?
Gareth. How do you feel about the thought of connecting with other non-Loyalist mages?
Are we going to war again? That’d be fun, maybe we can pull a real victory this time.
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