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

[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.

[twistingveil]

I haven't backed away from you yet, have I?

[He's been among the greatest challenges she's faced, now that things have changed, and for what distance she's put between them, they've still managed to remain more than civil, cautious as they both do their best to adapt and decide how they must see one another.]

We'll sort things out. The fact that you're important to me is exactly what has made this all so difficult.

[bythedreadwolf]

[ A complicated array of expressions twitches briefly across his features. ]

Should I apologize to you for that? [ Despite his words, there's the faintest hint of amusement coloring his tone. ] It was not my intent to make things more difficult for you.

[twistingveil]

[She watches his reaction with interest, doing her best to gauge it (Sense Motive 18)].

No, I don't think an apology is necessary. I'm not certain I want to imagine how the last few years might have gone without you.

[She wouldn't have lived to become a part of the Inquisition at all, let alone lead it, she's sure.]

[bythedreadwolf]

[ To be honest, neither does he, and that at least is quite evident for her to pick up on. ]

You still would have managed, I'm certain.

[twistingveil]

[She pauses for a breath before she pulls her arm away from his, unlinking them only to reach out and take his hand, lacing their fingers together for a moment.]

I'm glad you're here. All else aside, I'm glad not to have to do this alone.

[bythedreadwolf]

[ If he's startled by her movement, he's quick to mask it, instead giving her hand a warm squeeze in understanding. ]

As am I, vhenan.

[ His voice is soft, fond, as he meets her gaze, far more than mere affection in his eyes as he meets and holds her gaze. ]

[twistingveil]

[For a moment, she says nothing more, does nothing-- but the moment passes, and she goes up on her toes to press a soft kiss against the side of his mouth. She wants it to be so much more, but she restrains herself for now (Will Save 30), though she squeezes his hand in turn.]