open ♔ socialization log

[wynn]

 

WHO || Everyone! [ota]
WHAT || Shenanigans.  THIS IS MOSTLY AN OVERFLOW POST for the last social log whoops
WHERE || Anywhere in the castle, surrounding environs, London, Andres, etc!
WHEN || Any time in May/June
HOW || Actionspam

[ The castle can be a happening place, even on more mundane days. This log is for random interactions over the course of these few months. Because not everyone is into parties, ok. Characters who are not currently squired in may also post, as their characters are living in the castle awaiting their ceremonies.  This takes place after the Knights have returned from Dimitris' wedding. 

You are encouraged to start your own threads and tag around, and feel free to threadjack into any on-going threads that aren't specified as 'closed' in the subject lines since people can enter into rooms even in the middle of what's going on. WE ARE BIG ON THREAD-JACKING HERE. You can also specify 'single thread', meaning you want only one response for all participants, rather than multi-thread, where a number of different scenes/threads can be done as replies to the top prompt.]

On this log:

Comments

[bythedreadwolf]

Willing?

[ His lips twitch, amusement flitting briefly through his gaze as he gives her a look. ]

I'm flattered you think I have so much say in the matter. In truth, I've come to expect it. You do make quite the habit of tossing everyone's plans out the window, whether intentionally or not.

[twistingveil]

I do what I can, given the circumstances. I know that's not always what's expected.

[There hadn't been much room for planning in most of the situations she'd found herself in once the Anchor had attached itself to her.]

I suppose it's not so different here.

[She just has the chance to slow down, to let others lead, and though it mostly goes unspoken, she's more grateful for than than she can remember being for anything in a long while. Her role as Inquisitor had taken its toll on her.]

[bythedreadwolf]

[ Not always, indeed. As far as Solas had seen, Ashe hadn't stopped turning every corner of Thedas on its ear ever since she'd fallen out of the Fade Rift with the Anchor in her hand. ]

Do you think not? I take it you are finding it easier to adapt here now, having had a chance to find your bearings?

[twistingveil]

The world itself is new and strange, but Thedas had proven itself to be a different world than the one I'd thought it to be, as well.

[She'd had to adapt there as much as she had here, leaving her culture behind and learning to face threats she'd never imagined their world would see even in her wildest dreams.]

The willingness to learn and to do whatever is within my power to help hasn't changed.

[bythedreadwolf]

[ His gaze softens slightly and he offers her his arm, intending to continue down the corridor. ]

I did not expect it would. [ It's said with all fondness, because he's not sure there is any realm that might alter such a vital part of her core self. ]

Walk with me? Have you learned anything of interest?

[twistingveil]

[She nods once, conceding, linking her good arm through his. In the past, she might have brought her opposite hand to rest against his forearm as they went, but not anymore, and she has difficulty ignoring the fact that it's just a little wrong.]

I've been pointed towards the Dragon's Fire; I mean to spend time there and learn more about how my magic has changed. Being disconnected from the Fade-- I can feel that the power is still there, but making use of it is more challenging than it was before.

[She doesn't feel entirely stripped of her abilities, but enough that she feels significantly less powerful than she once did.]

I've also been spending a great deal of time in the libraries, though I know the same could be said for you, as well. No doubt anything I might have found there, you've already come across twice over, but getting to know the other Knights has offered some insight into how this world works. The people in it are more varied than the races of Thedas, though I suppose that's to be expected, given the nature of this world's Veil.

[bythedreadwolf]

I've spoken to a few from the Dragon's Fire. [ Solas muses his thoughts aloud as he walks beside her. ] To a few from the different sects here, actually. Each of them seem quite interesting in it's purpose. But the Fire does seem like it might be one of the better fits for you.

I've also been seeking how the Veil has affected our magic. I fear we may have to do a lot of re-learning to decipher how to do the same sort of magic here as we were comfortable with back home.

[ Still the mention of this world's races is a subject he's only had a chance to skim over so far. ] What have you learned of its people?

[twistingveil]

And yourself? Where do you think you might fit?

[She has to wonder if he'd considered any of the sects for himself at all-- Solas had always considered himself apart from the other mages back at Skyhold, and for good reason, she supposed.]

It's going to take some practice, but it will certainly be worth the effort. The last thing I want to find myself in this place is defenseless. [Sooner rather than later, she was going to need to be able to summon more than fireballs and lightning or conjure water.] I've been learning a bit about psions-- they don't seem entirely unlike mages, but they don't consider what they do to be magic.

[bythedreadwolf]

[ He looks a little surprised for a moment before shaking his head, a thoughtful look on his face. ]

I haven't decided as of yet, although I've met some interesting people from many of them. I will have to think on it some more before coming to a decision, I believe.

[ He looks curious at her explanation, because this isn't a branch of magic he's looked into here yet. ] Tell me about them.

[twistingveil]

[She nods, the link of their arms tightening just a little as they walk.]

Their powers are all born of the mind-- they can influence the minds of others, or perhaps read thoughts, or use their minds to propel objects without laying a finger on them. There are more variations, I'm sure, as many as there are among mages, but it seems curious, does it not?

[She would think of it as magic, unquestionably, but there seems to be a distinction in this world.]

[bythedreadwolf]

This realm does seem inordinately fond of finding all sorts of different types of magic we've never encountered in Thedas, it's true. I'm still learning to decipher what those differences are for some of them. Did you know apparently there are some people that can learn magic here, rather than being born with it? Wouldn't that set the Chantry on its backside?

[ His voice is wry as his thumb brushes over the back of her hand where it rests in the crook of his arm. ]

[twistingveil]

[A smile pulls at one side of her mouth as she pictures that, biting at her lower lip as she considers harried Chantry sisters and templars trying to do their best to corral anyone who might even have the vaguest inkling towards studying magic.]

They can't control the mages now. They would never be able to build towers enough to hold every potential mage, if that were the case. Though if anyone had the potential to learn-- perhaps it wouldn't be feared so.

[It's hard to say. Magic did open a number of troublesome doors, if the practitioner was irresponsible or malicious.]

[bythedreadwolf]

Perhaps not. I suppose it is something we shall have to observe here. Either way, it is an interesting distinction. Besides, I thought you were getting rid of all those towers.

[ His lips quirk, because he knows she'd dabbled with many solutions to the problems that had sparked the Mage Rebellion. It was a problem that had no easy solution. ]

[twistingveil]

Of course I am, though I expect to be met with some resistance-- as in all things.

[Even as the Inquisitor, there had been many who had questioned her methods. That, she supposed, was to be expected, all things considered, especially when it came to certain topics. She was more than happy to leave the circles broken, as they already were.]

There will always be people who will try to take things back to the way they were.

[bythedreadwolf]

[ That's a rather pointed comment to drop into the conversation, but it gets a soft bark of laughter from him as he casts a shrewdly amused glance in her direction. ]

Yes, I suppose there are, vhenan.

[twistingveil]

[She realizes the potential implication of what she'd said, and though she doesn't go so far as to flush with embarrassment, her expression softens all the same.

His situation isn't quite so simple. For all that she disagrees with him, she knows that much.]

I did not mean you, ara'len.

[bythedreadwolf]

Did you not?

[ Fond laughter lurks in his tone all the same as he turns to face her, reaching out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. His expression softens at the term she uses, and the meaning behind it. It has been a long while since they'd spent a night pouring over the old language and the different meanings behind a phrase, but he still remembers those nights in his solar and around a campfire fondly. ]

But the meaning still rings true, all the same.

[twistingveil]

[She stands her ground instead of pulling away the way she had at the after-party. Turning her back and excusing herself every time she was reminded of how delicate their situation was would solve nothing. It did neither of them any favors.]

Your heart is in the right place, even if I don't agree with your course of action.

[It's as much of a concession as she can make at the moment. He wants to return their people to the way they once were, and there was a time when she knows she would have wanted the same-- before she'd learned more of the world beyond the Dalish clans.]

As long as we're here, it doesn't matter. That's what you keep saying, isn't it? That we shouldn't trouble ourselves with what isn't relevant. We may well be here forever.

[bythedreadwolf]

My heart is conflicted over the matter, actually.

[ His confession is quiet as he searchers her face, when she does not pull away this time, does not put more distance between them once more. As she probably should, but he cannot bring himself to regret it. ]

We might. But we both know neither of us will give up on it so simply. It is not in either of us to walk away from a problem that needs our aid.

[ Although couldn't the same be said of this realm, he wondered? ]

[twistingveil]

[She nods her understanding, because of course she herself is torn on the matter-- it would be easier, perhaps, to stay here, but there was so much they were leaving behind to do so. It didn't feel right, to give up on trying to get back, not entirely.]

I suppose that's the trouble, isn't it. It seems we're needed in both places.

[bythedreadwolf]

If only it were a matter of prioritizing the urgency. [ His counter is wry, because they both know the frustration of this dilemma. ] In the meantime, we shall have to take it a day - and a problem - at a time, yes?

[twistingveil]

We have no other choice.

[She'd come to that decision long before now, having given the situation itself a great deal of thought since her arrival.]

If only it were that easy to set everything else aside.

[bythedreadwolf]

It's never easy. [ His voice is mild, searching her face. ] But sometimes it is necessary. I think we shall have to struggle to do so together, you and I.

[twistingveil]

[Once more, his words stir something within her, and so she decides to be honest, even moreso than their previous exchanges on this side of the Veil.]

Even being in one another's presence seems to be a struggle all its own. It would appear we have a number of them to overcome.

[bythedreadwolf]

[ He gives her a carefully mild expression. ]

I have never known you to back away from a challenge, Ashelia.