[orsinofe]

Glaze on the Gouda (Orsino & Gamlen)

[hammered-time]

"If you step into my office, I think it will be abundantly clear that the only thing that hasn’t left is the cheese," Amell sneered sarcastically as he began to heel his way down the steep, shabby wooden stairway into the cellar, tugging the chain for the unshaded, single incandescent lightblub that dangled to the side as he went, then crossed to turn on another bulb over the sawhorses and slab of plywood that made up his desk.

"I’m in the midst of moving, but for the time being intend to keep this shithole for my wares." Gamlen grabbed one of his product books, extracting his glasses from the front pocket of his shirt and sliding them onto his face with a brief flare of nostrils and press-close of eyes before blinking down at the now legible paper. "So how are we doing this? Do you just want a look at crates marked with dates aligning with this supposed lyrium-coated cheese infestation? Or do you want to wiggle your finger into every holey block I’ve got?"

[orsinofe]

He ducked down into the basement following the footsteps and the rasping voice from Amell.  It was quite dark, but he didn’t have any problems adjusting to the darkness.  When the man tugged the chain and illuminated the dank cellar, it only seemed to add a haze to the room.  If Orsino hadn’t been smelling cheese all day, the stench of the cellar might have disturbed him.  As it was, it hardly caused him a second’s time to adjust his breathing.  Stepping to the side of the man by his makeshift desk, he glanced over the logs.

“I admit, I’m a bit tired from having to do this errand for the Knight Commander all day.  Though, to be honest, it would be easier to simply check the crates of the stuff that correspond to the dates during which the infestation, as you so aptly put it, occurred…” his eyes swept the small room skimming from crate to crate.  “I will have to at least check for the presence of lyrium on all of the cheese in case someone as intelligent as yourself were to have removed them from the correctly labeled crate.”  It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the man.  For all appearances, he took his business very seriously.  So did Orsino; leave no stone unturned, even in a wild goose chase.

“But, for the time being, let us start with the crates you have from Bloomingtide to Harvestmere.”  He ran his finger along the proper entries before turning to the darkened room and raising his brow.  There didn’t really seem to be a particular order to the crates that were stored about the room, but he was sure that Amell knew exactly where everything was – or at least he hoped he did.

[orsinofe]

Two Coins for the Ferryman (Bethany & Orsino)

[sunshinehawke]

Amber eyes glanced at the elf before letting them wonder back to the scenery as they moved past the Gallows. “Change can be a very difficult thing for people to accept. It’s much easier and more comfortable for everything to remain the same as it has always been. However, if change was always welcomed with open arms… The world would be a much different place. Although I’m sure it would still have plenty of problems to go around.” The world didn’t have to be perfect, Bethany knew that. If it was, it would certainly be boring. But it would be nice if people were more accepting.

She let out a light sigh as they passed by the twin statues and out of Kirkwall. Even if she was only on a ferry, it was nice to be outside of the limits of the city. After all, it wasn’t very often that it happened. Most of the time she was in the apartment, Anders’s clinic, the library or the shelter. Very rarely was she presented the opportunity to stretch her legs in a sense.

Bethany listened to the voice over the speaker as it stated facts and history about the area. A couple of the people around them were whispering their own conversations to each other, while others were listening intently. There was one older lady in particular who was staring hard at the pamphlet in her hands. When she wasn’t, she was sending glares toward a couple who were apparently being too noisy for her liking.

“Do you leave the city often? I can’t say that I have.”

[orsinofe]

He keyed into the sound of her voice above that of the announcer.  All the history and lore of the building was basically verbatim from the book on the history of Kirkwall, and what wasn’t, was common knowledge of the people whom had lived there.  He could have given a better description of the place in his sleep and made it more entertaining in the process, though some might not wish to remember all the color that he added to the place.  Bethany was certainly an interesting person, one whom could set sail a thousand ships if the time ever came about that it was necessary.  She could also be a strong voice at his side for change, but he would not ask her to submit to the prison as he had been forced to.

Her final question was like a sharp blow in the crisp air of the morning.  It brought him out of his thoughts as they drifted through the tour.  As a matter of fact, until the most recent leniency of Meredith, he had been forced to stay within the walls unless his talents were needed outside of them, and then only under heavy guard was he allowed to leave the confines of the Gallows.  But – she didn’t know that it was his constant prison, and as of late he had managed to get out from under the stifling pillow that was slowly suffocating him.

“I wish that I could get out of the city more than I am able to.”  He began before sucking in a breath and releasing a long drawn sigh.  “But, it seems that I do much more good inside the city than I would do outside.  Thus, I tend to spend most of my time trapped here.”  He waved his hand towards the silhouette of the city as the boat start to make its way down the shores commentating on the state of affairs outside the city walls; the irony was not missed.

After a brief pause from the speaker and between themselves, he looked straight into her amber eyes and let a small smile splay across his lips.  “I could certainly use an ally such as yourself in my fight inside the walls.”  Mainly, he said it to garner her reaction; not actually for the response that she was about to give him.  Although, it would be interesting to see whether it was an immediate rejection or a hesitant one.

[orsinofe]

Two Coins for the Ferryman (Bethany & Orsino)

[sunshinehawke]

Bethany listened to the voice over the loudspeaker as it informed everyone of the safety rules and where items were located in case of an emergency. She half wondered how many people have fallen overboard by leaning over the side. The voice sounded like it really stressed people not to do such. Once it was through with all of those instructions a different voice began speaking about the history of Kirkwall. Most of which she was able to read in books, but it was different to be able to look at the city from afar and hear that history as well as lore.

She paused and her attention shifted when she heard the male elf’s voice close to her ear. There were always two sides, or more, to a story. Most tended to glorify the stories to suit their needs and make them look better.

Her eyes pulled away from the city when she asked what her least favorite part of the city was. Obviously, he knew what her first answer would have been. “I suppose it would be the amount of crime then. It’s never safe for me to just walk through Lowtown or Darktown by myself. Especially if it’s night. And if I do happen to be attacked… Well, trying to run or get help is probably the best option.” That was if she could outrun her pursuer. She couldn’t exactly throw fireballs at the attackers. Not unless she wanted to grab very unwanted attention.

No sooner had they entered the large shadow cast by the Gallows had her amber eyes turned up to the prison. She barely noticed her grip on the edge of the book in her lap tightening. She had never been as close to the Gallows as she was then. It made her uncomfortable. While she knew the boat wouldn’t exactly get up close and personal with the building, she liked being as far away from the place as possible.

Quietly, she forced her hands to let go of the book and folded them together before setting them down. While the history might have been interesting, the purpose for why it was built was not great. It would always be a kind of prison. Even though it was apparently now just “housing for mages in the Circle of Magi.”

As she cleared her throat she also tore her eyes away from the building. “Two sides to every story, right? Although, I guess this time they didn’t want to make up a better story.”

[orsinofe]

The amount of crime was enough for him to raise his brow and cause a slight slant of his lips in admission to the fact.  It was still all too fresh on his mind what had happened to him when he had been kidnapped and tortured and that was in hightown, a much less crime filled place than the two she spoke of herself.  Though, he supposed, he didn’t have to worry about using magic in public to defend himself, if he could see the attack coming.  It was one thing to defend oneself using magic and a totally different story to use magic aggressively.

“In this city, it is probably the best bet, but unless you have someone to run to get help from…” he trailed off as it was well known that people tended to let others alone to their pain.  There was enough of it to go around in this city, they didn’t need someone else’s problem on their shoulders as well as all the burdens they already carried.

When her muscles clenched beside him, it drew his attention first to her hands until they relaxed and then to her face to watch the lines of stress slowly fall as they glided past the looming shadow of the Gallows.  It had had the same effect on many a magi he had known as its reputation proceeded it throughout the lands.  He couldn’t help but chuckle sardonically at her words.

“This is the story that all the normal people want to hear.  The magi are safely housed in a secure place and being treated like normal people.  It keeps them happy just like keeping the elven segregated in their Alienage has the same effect.  Gives people peace of mind or some rot.”  The last bit nearly spit with contempt as it was more lies thrown onto the flame to keep things status quo as they always had been.

“I suppose my worst feeling about the city is that it rarely seems to change.  Everything continues as it once was and nothing seems to be new or inventive.  The old ideals are clung to as if they were law, and most of the time they are.  Unfortunately the times have changed and change beckons, knocking at the door.  The door, however, has been long since barred.”  He stated matter-of-factly with a sigh.

The boatman droned on about the history of the building and the statues that surrounded the harbor as they drifted out towards the coastline and the deeper waters therein.  And, though the sour note of the Gallows still hung in the air, it was still a very pretty if not chilly day for the tour.

[orsinofe]

Two Coins for the Ferryman (Bethany & Orsino)

[sunshinehawke]

Amber eyes shifted down to the book when Sahl tapped on the cover. It was good to know that other wouldn’t be able to tell what the book was just by looking at it. However, Bethany also wondered if having a ward on the book was more dangerous than the contents. Maker forbid Templars find the book in her possession. Though she did suppose she could try to remove the ward if worse came to worse. For now, it was better with it in place. Especially on the crowded boat.

“No, this book is good. Thank you” she replied with a smile just before the speaker told everyone to sit down and stay within the boat. The volume was dizzying, but necessarily so. She watched as others sat down around them, getting ready for the ride.

Her eyes fell back onto the male elf when he asked her what her favorite thing about the city was. “Being able to acquire specific items is very interesting and a good aspect of the city” she agreed. Although, it would be even better if everything wasn’t so expensive. There were quite a number of items that her family couldn’t afford in Kirkwall that they could get in Lothering, and it wasn’t just because of the lack of money they possessed. Fresh items in particular were very expensive. She missed being able to eat good amounts of fresh vegetables and fruit.

She thought for a moment about what her favorite thing about Kirkwall was. “That’s a difficult question to answer…” There were many things she didn’t like about the city. The high danger of being attacked at any moment or being found out by Templars being at the top of the list.

“I guess I would have to say the amount of people I’ve been able to meet and friend I’ve been able to make. I have made quite a number of friends since coming to Kirkwall that I probably wouldn’t have met back home” she told him. Of course, not everyone she was friend with she met by herself. Many people were introduced to her by her siblings. That was probably the safest way for her to meet new people. If they already went through her siblings’ screening test then there should be little risk for her.

[orsinofe]

His brows nearly knit together when she responded that it was a difficult question to answer.  He had thought that it would have a simple answer and be fairly neutral ground; he noted that for the future.  When she finally finished her answer, he nodded in agreement.  “Yes the number of people does make blending in a little easier, and from what I hear, there are many sympathizers within the walls, though I don’t know them personally.” 

The loudspeaker droned on about safety precautions while moving about the boat and where the life boats and flotation devices were in case of an emergency.  Afterwards, a different voice came on the coms talking about the history of the city: how it had been built by the Imperium, the slave trade, and the salvation of the Andrastenian rebellion against the magisters.  The old lore of the city was always intriguing information to those that didn’t know anything about the origination, though the City of Chains told its own tellings of each of those historical recounting.

“There is, of course, two sides to every story.  This is the historical recollection.  It tends to leave out all the gory details and,” he leaned in to whisper against her ear, “a fairer light to the Church while casting shadows upon the Imperium.”  He chuckled lightly as he pulled away from her ear allowing the cool breeze from the waters flow between them once again, which was nice as the sun was warming the air with each passing minute.

“Other than the obvious, what is your least favorite part of the city?”  He thought that question might be a little easier given the hesitation to his first question when a lull came from the voice over the speakers.  It went without saying that the heavy Templar presence in the city was the obvious least favorite part for any magical wielder regardless of whether they practiced or not.

Speaking of looming threats, the ship had made its way into the shadow of the Gallows as the tour guide began telling the history of the prison itself and the reason it was created, the slave trade.  If he were truly free, a shiver would have ran the length of his spine, but seeing as he was returning to the prison later that day, he simply let out a sigh.  After about ten minutes of lecture on the way the structure was built, it was glossed over as a housing district for those within the Circle of the Magi.

It never ceased to amaze how much information was kept from the public as to how things really were.

[orsinofe]

Glaze on the Gouda (Orsino & Gamlen)

[hammered-time]

"I’ll show you my wares if you want, sure," Amell drawled amicably, his hands thrusting into his pockets as he leaned his left shoulder against the frame of the door, peering out into the eyes of the impatient Knights who stood sweating in the balmy autumn air.

The majority of his personal belongings had already been packed up and moved into his and Elissa’s estate in Hightown, so little remained for the idiots to root through, trample and disrespect.

Still.

"But only one of them, if any." He nodded at the men who stood behind the mage. "Bit of a tight fit in the cellar, and I don’t need them bumbling around, knocking shit over, destroying my stock and then shrugging it off as if it’s my fault for making good use of little space. I hardly expect I’d be compensated for my losses. So pick your prized pony, and when you have, come on down."

When finished with his terms, Gamlen stepped back toward the narrow cellar door, raising a slate brow at the company lingering at his thresshold.

[orsinofe]

The man was, at least for the moment, non-hostile and his demands were not egregious.  In fact, he seemed like the rumors about him had been misplaced.  The person standing in front of him was a good businessman with a wise head on his shoulders.  Orsino couldn’t place how many things had been accidently broken at other places or samples taken without being offered.  His magic was more than enough to test any of the cheese for lyrium; the knights had no reason to go about taste testing the batches as well.

Personally, he didn’t want any to accompany him, and at that moment, after a long day, it was an easy decision to make them all stand outside and wait for him to make his own decisions.  Sadly, Meredith’s rules indicated that at least one Templar had to be in agreement with the findings in order for them to be proclaimed sound.  She didn’t want him hiding away a lyrium smuggler under her nose, not that he would.  Reluctantly he turned to his entourage and said, “Gage, you’re with me.  Phillip guard the door.  And, Gage, if you’d be so kind as to humor me and stay above the cellar at least until I’ve done my reconnaissance that would be appreciated.”

Gage looked as if he was about to raise a protest before he caught wind of Orsino’s challenging stare.  Meredith had put him in charge, and thus, if his orders – requests were not listened to, there could be some dire consequences for those that came along with him.  Stepping through the doorway, he held his hand low enough for the mabari hand to get a whiff of his scent and thus understand his intentions before turning towards the cellar.

“The house seems to be missing some normal items.  Do you store any of your cheeses elsewhere?  Not that I wanted to add another stop to my list, but it is prudent for me to inquire.”  His eyes glanced at a few of the more barren spaces in the apartment where there had obviously been objects not too long before.  “And, I promise if anything is broken, I will mend the objects myself so that you are compensated.  I believe the … knights… have had their fill of cheese for the day.”  A slight grunt and sidelong glance at the owner of the cellar indicated that it might not be the case, but he was welcome to cause as much ruckus as he might see fit should it start to happen.

[orsinofe]

Faded Shadows [Orsino & Feynriel]

[sandintheireyes]

Feynriel stared at the man in front of him, fascinated and horrified by how he half-heartedly attempted to defend the idea of the Circle even as everything he said about it showed that the institution was terribly, terribly wrong.

Not to mention, for Feynriel himself, his life or mind would simply be forfeit were he to come within the templars’ sphere of influence, and the First Enchanter clearly understood that.

“You don’t mean to speak ill of the cage that holds you under threat of death or Tranquility, for being what you are and for having been a victim?” he murmured, eyes incredulous, though his tone remained moderated.  “Maybe you should.” 

Feynriel shook his head slowly, then sighed.  Yes, of course he would help.  He could not do otherwise, being who he was.  “I fend off demons every night.  They’re only so much background noise to me, for the most part, lately,” he said with a shrug.  “I can find you and help you, and I will, of course.  And maybe we can unravel some of whatever it is that’s causing these problems for you in the process.  If there’s nothing physically wrong, then it must have something to do with the way your mind interacts with the Fade, and that’s something we should be able to work on here, I would think.”

[orsinofe]

He was tired, exhausted even.  His thoughts and opinions were rather scattered and any argument that he would broach would not be beneficial to whichever side he decided to defend.  When the word victim passed his rescuers eyes, he grimaced.  It was not a position he found himself in often, nor was it a good position to find himself in now as it could certainly threaten his position.  Though it was not a pleasant one, he was fighting the fight for the others; surely that had to add up to something.

Mimicking the somniari with a slow shaking of his head from side to side that made him seem more drunken than anything, he felt a wave of relief wash through him as the words sank in.  “It is perhaps that my connection to the fade has been corrupted by the pride demon.  I had not considered that, though I have never been given the chance to deal with the problem before as it tends to end up being a case of ‘Death or Tranquility’.”  The final words leaving a sour expression on his face and taste in his mouth.   There was no room for leniency in the Gallows, at least according to the Templars.  Meredith could be persuaded to give him time on some cases, but not when it endangered the lives of others or her men.

“I would be grateful for all the help, and in time, I may be able to offer you some assistance – limited though it may be in this forum – should you require it.  You could say I would owe you a favor.”  Raising his head to look into the young eyes staring back at him.  “I do not give those out lightly.”  He assured him.  Not that he didn’t already owe him his sanity, or perhaps his life at this point already.  It was still something that not many would ever be privileged enough to hold in their possession.

“Do you have any experience in untangling damaged connections to the Fade or cleansing the taint from a demons impression on the folds that I use to access this venue?”  He wasn’t certain if the man standing opposite him would even understand what he was trying to get at.  It wasn’t as if the Fade was a well versed topic for even the highest of scholars in the Order of the Magi.  There were many uncertainties, which is why they could never argue the case against Tranquility well enough to get the practiced banned from usage.  If only more were known about it, then the barbaric act could be shown for what it truly was.  Being proactive was one thing, but being afraid of something that hasn’t come to pass yet was another entirely.

This was why he was the First Enchanter.  He wanted to influence the policies that were governing the magi and protect the freedoms that were dwindling into nothingness for those innocent of any crime aside being born with a gift.  Releasing a heavy, ragged sigh, he closed his eyes.  “Almost time for them to wake me.  I can tell.  I won’t be here much longer this night, but I look forward to your presence tomorrow, Somniari.”  This was the only bad thing about communicating through dreams and not in the waking world; sometimes you woke up at inopportune times and there was no guarantee that you could find your way back to the same place you left once you re-entered the fade.

They would, of course, meet again the next night.  But, as the other said, he would have to be found.

[orsinofe]

Two Coins for the Ferryman (Bethany & Orsino)

[sunshinehawke]

A sigh of relief left Bethany when the male elf informed her that she was not late. She highly doubted that he would have left if she was a couple minutes late, but she preferred not to keep people waiting. Next time she had to meet someone in the docks she would make sure to leave earlier than normal so that she wasn’t late. Although, she wasn’t too sure how often she would be meeting someone there.

“It’s nice to see you again as well” she greeted politely, her breathing returning to normal as she composed herself from having to fight her way through crowds. Noticing the book in the other’s hands, her eyes shifted down to watch as he handed it to her. She read the title as she weighed the book in her hands. It was definitely one that she had not had the pleasure of seeing before. However, she did tend to stay away from any books that could possibly connect her to having magical abilities. Especially when borrowing them from the library. Fiction was a much safer choice.

Before she could say anything about the book she heard the ferryman call for everyone to get on board. She held the book in one hand as she lifted up the other to pull some of her hair behind her ear to keep it out of her face. Her eyes glanced toward the offered arm before looking up at the male’s eyes and gently accepting it as they walked onto the boat. “Well, I did dress accordingly. I should be okay if we sit on the top level” she told him as headed toward the stairs that lead them up.

She scanned the different empty seats before deciding on a couple and leading the other toward them. There were definitely plenty of seats for everyone to sit down. At least that wanted to sit down, there appeared to be quite a few people who preferred to remain standing from what she could see when they were on the lower deck.

[orsinofe]

It amused him that she was concerned about being late as he watched the sigh and relief cross her features when he had mentioned that she wasn’t at all before allowing himself to be led about the boat until she found seats that suited her interest.  Having noted her own hesitation on the book, he felt that he should clarify something to her, but that could wait until they were seated and could take their conversation a bit more private instead of the louder tones they had to use to communicate over the ambient ferry noises.

As he sat down next to her, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief himself; no one had noticed him or come to ask him any questions.  Sahl was still intact and Bethany would be none the wiser, at least for the time being.  Tapping on the cover of the book that had made its way into her lap as they sat, he grinned and waved a bit as if to indicate that she shouldn’t worry about it.

“The title of the book has been warded as I’m sure you can see.  So, unless you’re actively trying to see what the book is, you’ll not even notice the name.  Plus, it’s a book completely about potions and concoctions, so there really isn’t anything too damning in it.  You should be completely safe while it’s in your possession.”  He assured her trying to act nonchalantly about it.

“If you don’t like it, however, I do have another that I brought along that you’ve possibly seen before that wouldn’t be any risk to you at all.  Then again, I brought one that is much more so.”  He chuckled and winced as the loud speaker blared across the top of the ferry telling everyone to take their seats as the boat would be moving shortly, or at least to make certain to not be leaning over the edge of the guard rail.

“What’s your favorite thing about the city?”  He asked as the intercom bleeped off, turning his attention back to the woman at his side.  “I’d have to say the fact that there seem to be an awful lot of specialty shops for just about anything, magical or otherwise.  And, with the docks, it’s easy to get just about anything you want imported.”  It was only fair that he stated something that he liked about the city before he expected an answer from her.  She was here, but far from at ease with him just yet.  Not that he could blame her.

[orsinofe]

Two Coins for the Ferryman (Bethany & Orsino)

[sunshinehawke]

Bethany had hoped that the day would be just a bit warmer and less windy. While she wasn’t known to get motion sickness, it wasn’t often that she went on boat rides. She wasn’t sure if the choppy water would affect her stomach for the worse. She truly hoped not, it would be extremely unfortunate if she began to feel nauseous or developed a major headache halfway through the tour. Well, all she could do was hope that her body agreed with the probability that the boat ride was going to be less than smooth.

The Docks were rather crowded and she found herself having to carefully weave her way through people. Or suddenly stop walking so that she wouldn’t get run over by someone in a hurry to reach their destination. She watched as some people made their way through others with ease. It was difficult for her to get used to crowds, though she wasn’t particularly uncomfortable or paranoid about them. The city just moved differently than Lothering. She assumed that she would get used to it eventually.

She carefully made her way to the area that she and Sahlin –or Sahl- had agreed upon. As people began to clear she looked forward and spotted the male elf. Not wanting to risk losing sight of him, she quickly closed the distance before anyone could walk in front of her.

A small smile pulled at her lips in greeting. “I’m not too late am I? I didn’t expect to have to swim through so many people to get here” she admitted.

[orsinofe]

He was tall for an elf, but still shorter than quite a lot of the people walking about the docks.  It certainly aided with spotting her before she had spotted him and allowed himself to be more visible for her benefit as there had been a few subtle incantations about the place so that people that may have wanted to talk to him about one thing or another wouldn’t attempt to do so.  The flow of people was very active that morning allowing for difficult passage through the docks for anyone, which suited his purposes nicely.  Although, when she reached his position a bit exasperated from her swim, he wished he had chosen a quieter day.

“No, you’re by no means late.  It is good to see you again.”  His hands grasped loosely around the initial offering of his first book holding it up into her visual range just so.  “I was afraid that the book wouldn’t be enticing enough to get you to come see me once more.”  Looking her over without being intrusive he let out a small sigh and a light smile, “But, here you are.”

He slipped the book into her hands, the title clearly reading:  Agitations of Tevinter Alchemists.  There was a pause as he let her read over the title and then a slight twitch of his lips up into a small smirk in amusement.   Interrupting their moment of greeting, the ferryman bellowed the ‘All Aboard’ leaving him to offer him arm to his dare he believe friend.  “See, right on time to get a good seat for the ferry.”

Guiding them both to the short line, he handed two coins over as payment for their entry and then boarded the boat.  “If you’ve never been, I advise sitting on the top deck.  There’s not a lot of shelter up there, but I don’t believe it’s going to rain.  How well do you do with chill winds?”  He inquired letting her steer them to their resting place for the trip based on her preference for seating.  “I’ll follow you.”  He leaned in to say rather close to her ear to make sure she could hear him over the hum of the engine and the dull roar of the docks.

[orsinofe]

Two Coins for the Ferryman (Bethany & Orsino)

It was a brisk morning, but the sky was clear and the wind was blowing in some warmer air from the north as he stood in plain clothes unescorted on the docks awaiting the woman he had met in the library.  He had taken quite a long time choosing the right book from his collection that she wouldn’t have had access to from any library that might intrigue her.  The one that he had finally chosen was one on complex alchemical concoctions that weren’t well known or easy to craft, and in case that didn’t pique her interest, a rather lengthy book on the breeds of dogs within the Free Marches.  A final smaller book was his ace in the hole in case neither of those seemed to light up her face, but he was loathe to give away any copies of his own personal incantations that he had crafted over the years for specific purposes.  A few choice scripts had been copied into the small red book in his pocket, though.

His aura had been in check since they were in a public setting and he would rather not give himself away immediately; enough people probably recognized him in the area as it was.  One was too many at this point as he was not quite ready to reveal himself to young Bethany regardless of his intentions.  Although, he was certain that when she found out, it would be a rather difficult set back in their relationship unless he was able to push her through that point.  It was a tricky game he was playing and the pieces were stacked against him.

Gulls were calling all around the docks as he stared out over the relatively choppy waters from the whipping winds.  It would not be the smoothest ferry ride that he had ever been on, and he silently hoped that Bethany had either taken necessary precautions for motion sickness or wasn’t prone to such.  He had memorized the aura she bore at the library, so he felt her before he could even see her.  Still, he never turned to see her approach or to greet her.  It was better to just sit and stare off in the distance awaiting the call for boarding.

When the call came, he would have the two coins for their passage as would be expected of him and then they would be on their way across the river and into the bay for the tour of Kirkwall, the Gallows and the Coastline including a detailed explanation of the wildlife and animals that could be found in the waters and in the forests.  If Bethany hadn’t been on it before, he was certain that she would enjoy herself just from the amount of information that she would be given.

His eyes closed for a moment as he surveyed the surroundings magically once more searching for the woman that was meeting him and any other signatures that might alert him to others.  The area was mainly free of magical signatures, either they were hidden or nonexistent; either case, he was fine with it.  As he breathed out a long breath of air, he turned his back on the waters and looked into the crowd of people as if anticipating the arrival of someone he wasn’t aware would be showing up any second.

[orsinofe]

Glaze on the Gouda (Orsino & Gamlen)

[hammered-time]

The sight of the pristine, crimson-trimmed white uniforms flanking what was blatantly a circle mage outside his door left Gamlen distinctly reluctant to answer. But he wasn’t an apostate, and neither of Leandra’s magic-blooded children were lingering about at the moment, so he had little excuse not to answer, save a vague dislike for the entities that provided so much unease for his family.

With a tight sigh of discomfort, he eased himself off the floor where he’d been stretching his back out and crossed to the door. Amell drew it open ithout pause, doing nothing to hold Bastion back and instead allowing the large, drooling beast lumber out and shove his big, broad nose in the crotches of the party.

"Strippergram?" he sneered, arms folded as he leaned in the doorway. "If so, whoever sent the lot of you clearly doesn’t know my tastes."

[orsinofe]

The mabari was easily heard from outside the door, so Orsino was braced for the beast to come lunging out in an attempt to scare away those standing on the other side.  Unfortunately, all the beast did was stick his head into his crotch which caused him to look down amusedly at the animal instead of casting him back inside the house with the prepped force spell; even more so as the beast moved on and he heard the disgruntled cries from the Templars behind him as the shooed the mongrel back inside.

He nearly guffawed when the man asked about a strippergram, especially when the two Templars glared at him and grunted, “We’ve orders to –“

Orsino raised his hand interrupting their recanting of what they were supposed to be doing here which brought an even louder grunt of disdain, but he didn’t care.  The man at the door had caught his interest as he seemed like the type that might piss off his entourage, which he thought would be at least mildly entertaining as opposed to most that just went about subserviently allowing them to do whatever they needed to do since they were Templars.

“We’ve been assigned the task of inspecting your cheese for the magically tainted lyrium laced kind.”  Orsino offered with a quirked eyebrow.  “Perhaps you would allow us to see your cellar?”  What he expected was to be laughed at and the door slammed in his face.  Granted, the Templars at his back wouldn’t allow for that to happen regardless and he could prevent it if he wanted.  But, this was the last name on the list and he rather enjoyed seeing the fools guarding him off their feet.

“It’s not really a request,” chimed in Phillip who seemed to have gotten kicked out of his bunk on the wrong side that morning. “So, if you’ll just show us to the place so that we can get back.”  Orsino rolled his eyes visible only to the man in the doorway and stifled a sigh keeping his eyes glued to Gamlen’s features looking for any sign of hostility.

[orsinofe]

Confessed Temptations [Orsino & Bryony]

[motherbryony]

She nodded along thoughtfully as the First Enchanter explained more about demons and mages in the Fade, more curious about it than she particularly wanted to admit.  Every time she was exposed to mages, she realized how little she actually knew about them and the struggles they faced – and it seemed like something she really should have a better handle on, being what she was.

“Yes, Amaranthine.  I could have come from somewhere else, I suppose, but that’s the first place I remember living.”  Bryony shrugged.  That he would think he recognized her was interesting, but not of any great note, most likely.  The First Enchanter was an elder, and had likely seen a great many people throughout his years, even if his life was lived in the Circle.

“Oh, no offense taken, First Enchanter,” she assured him with a concerned frown.  “You’ve been through a lot.  Though I still am not entirely sure what I can do to help, I’d like to however I can.  I’m guessing you didn’t come just for an ear, if you’re uncomfortable around priests at present.”

[orsinofe]

Orsino leaned back against the chair and cracked his fingers his eyes wandering over the pieces of furniture in the office as he hesitated on what he was about to say.  It was truly a rather large confession that one word from the mother would be all it took to bring him down, not just from being the First Enchanter, but from life itself.  He would be put to death immediately for having tasted the power of blood magic just from the fear it would cause.  Even the Templars themselves had issues with blood mages since the source of their power was not the lyrium from which they derived their own abilities.

He closed his eyes and muttered a few words that were well practiced.  The magic immediately flowing around him to proofing the room so that no sound could be heard from outside its walls and any listening devices within the room would be silenced.  Even the door that he had left open closed of its own volition as he finished the words.

“I do not mean to scare you at all Mother, but what I am about to confess must be kept in confidence under no circumstances should you be able to utter a single word of it or my life would be in danger regardless of the fact that I have not done anything wrong.”  There was a visible bead of sweat running down his forehead as his features looked weary.  Another spasm of pain ran through his body causing his eyelids to flutter closed though his expression remained neutral.

“While I was down there being tortured by the demons,” his voice was dry and ragged despite all the control he was attempting to put into the statement, “I lost.  I gave in to their desires a moment too soon.  Just the second before Meredith’s voice echoed out across the room, I touched the forbidden magic and it is plaguing my body now like a poison.”  His gray-blue faded eyes looked over at the countenance of the mother.

“I have not even used the magic, but I gave up the fight.  The power calls to me nightly now that I have touched the essence of the magic and it eats at me from the inside.  One word and I am a dead man just from being pushed beyond my tolerance, beyond the threshold of my will, of my strength.  Sometimes I wonder if it would not have been better to have died there than have to live with the threat of my imminent death.”  He loosed a deep sigh; eyes dropping down to his hands.

“But, I have found that I have other magi to live for, to fight for their rights and freedoms and to teach them the right path to walk.  I also have my adopted daughter whom I may not have made it this long without driving me to continue my fight and not give in.  And, believe it or not, I think I have earned a deeper respect from the Knight Commander from this ordeal, but I dare not breath a word of this to her.” 

His chest felt lighter having laid the truth bear, though his heart tightened as he was now at the will of the mother he had just sought counsel from.  She truly held his life in the palm of her hands, granted he could snuff out hers before she even had a chance to utter another phrase.  He knew that he would not do that to save himself, though.

[orsinofe]

Age Before Beauty [Orsino & Bethany]

[sunshinehawke]

A light smile played on Bethany’s lips as she quirked a brow at the male sitting near her. The book was going to be a complete surprise then. Other than the simple fact that it wasn’t all that easy to find. “I suppose you’re right” she said as she turned her attention to the water bottle on the desk in front of her.  Picking it up, she twisted the cap off and took a few sips before setting it back down.

“I don’t mind boats.” Her eyes turned back to him when he mentioned something about a ferry. A boat that gave a sort of tour of the area? “No, I can’t say that I have. It doesn’t get too close to or stop at the gallows, does it? I try not to get too close to the gallows” she said, pausing for a quick moment. “If it truly just goes around the areas, then it actually might be interesting to see. Especially from the outside.” She couldn’t say that she looked around much at the city when they first arrived. There were a couple of glimpses, but she was more focused on getting into Kirkwall.

“I don’t think meeting there would be a problem” she told him. It sounded like a place that they would both be able to get to and one that would be relatively public. While she might not have thought of the other as an immediate threat anymore, that didn’t mean that she wasn’t a bit weary. One could never be too careful.

[orsinofe]

It seemed he had captured her interest with his book, now he would have to find one that would suffice.  Of course, he had plenty of those, but he would take his time sifting through his collection to find the right one, though it might be best to bring two just in case one fails.  He found a soft grin had come to his lips as he watched a smile play upon hers.  Perhaps he had not started their acquaintanceship off on a bad foot after all.

“You get a nice view of the Gallows from just about every angle, but this one does not stop at nor drop anyone off there.  For the most part it shows an outward glimpse of the city and a little of the coast, but what tour of Kirkwall would be complete without showing off the Gallows?”  He shrugged his shoulders.  “It may be a place full of negative connotation, but the stonework is quite excellent from the outside.”  A quiet chuckle passed from his throat.  The masonry was excellent throughout the structure, but there was no need to bring that up.

The urgent tingle of a new message arrived again turning his attention once more from the woman sitting across from him.  “So, it’s a date then?  If I recall, it runs daily from morn til dusk.  Preferably I like the tours more towards the night end of things as the sunsets tend to be a work of art all its own, but I am willing to make time whenever you are free.”  He glanced up from his work with a questioning look and a gentle smile.

“No pressure, of course.”  Reaching for a scrap of paper and a pencil that the library left lying around to write down reference numbers if you by chance looked one up from their computer system, he scribbled down a phone number before handing it to her.  “Whatever you decide, just call that number.  I can be reached day or night there.  And, should you ever get into trouble.  I’m just a phone call away.”

Part of him wanted to watch her leave; another part wanted to return to the e-mailing at hand.  He was just getting into a particularly interesting part of the lecture that his mentor was offering, and from the trouble spots he had encountered in his own attempts to do the transformation, he needed to hear the advice that she had.  With a nod and a polite goodbye, he turned to his computer and began his response to the instructor on the other end of the feed.

[orsinofe]

Age Before Beauty [Orsino & Bethany]

[sunshinehawke]

“Oh… Well, I really don’t think that is the reason she prefers to sleep next to me” Bethany responded, a very light pink tinting her cheeks for a couple of seconds. She cleared her throat before speaking again. “You are right though, she is pretty protective of those she likes, especially me. By that thinking she must have claimed me the first time she saw me, because she wasn’t fond to anyone else who looked at her.” It wasn’t surprising that the cat she chose was over protective. She lived with her family being that way, so she was used to it.

She nodded while thinking of places that he might be able to find the specific cat he was looking for. “You might have luck in certain pet stores. They are more likely to have certain breeds. You could also look in the papers or online for people who have any Aegean felines. However, I would suggest going to shelters to see if they have any. Adopting an animal that is in need of a home is better, especially since not all shelters can house the animals for long lengths of time.” Of course, it would be his decision. He might not find the specific breed he was looking of if he went to a shelter, even if it was the better option. It was also rare for shelters to have kittens, if he wanted a young cat instead of an adult.

Listening to the different possible places that they could meet again she shifted her weight in the seat, it was about time she began heading back to the apartment soon. “Honestly…I don’t up to Hightown that often” she told him. It was more dangerous for her up there. The idea of going above the plate and being able to see more sunlight for a while was pleasant, but she also knew it could be a very bad idea. Especially if she went by herself.

“It might be easier to meet somewhere here in Lowtown, unless that would be too difficult for you?” She watched him for a moment before he mentioned having a book that she might be interested in reading. One that she wouldn’t be able to find in the libraries. “What kind of book would that be?” she asked him, curious as to what it was.

[orsinofe]

The slight change in tint on her cheeks was enough to bring a rather charming smile to his lips, so it seemed she responded to flattery at least partially.  The subject of animals was truly an interesting topic to her, and fortunately, his new focus in his magical studies coincided with it fairly well, so he was very happy to just let the conversation go where it would.

As she started listing off a few places where he could go to find a cat of the lineage he was seeking, he nodded along.  “It might be preferable for me to look for one in the shelters then as I have a soft spot for saving things that tend to have been labeled with an expiration date.  I will look around in the few we have in the city should I get approval from the landlord before searching elsewhere.”

He breathed a gentle sigh of relief when she turned down his offer of hightown.  It really wasn’t his favorite location even though his accident had occurred months before.  The locale was safe enough, but he steered clear of the area whenever possible.  There tended to be quite the crowd in the upper city parks, however, so he had offered it more for the public place with many witnesses as she might feel safer. 

“I concur.  Lowtown seems to be easy enough for both of us to access otherwise we’d not be here, yes?”  A soft chuckle parting his lips as he glanced back to his screen which had chimed once more vying for his attention.  “If I told you, then you wouldn’t be as surprised to see it when next we meet.  Plus, it gives you something to look forward to.”  He tsked at her teasingly.  “I promise it will be worth the wait, though.  So, how about we go to …” there was a brief pause in his sentence as he drifted into thought.

It was suspicious enough that he came to this library as often as he did for research and a change in atmosphere and scenery.   Soon he would be hopping around the libraries in each plate to make it seem more random, so suggesting they meet here again was a bad idea.  He was doing a guest lecture at the college with Meredith’s approval, but that was a no go either as it was not quite time for him to reveal that card to the woman sitting across from him.  Potion brewing was not really fascinating to watch, and as much as she liked animals, meeting in a pet shop seemed like a poor idea.

“Do you like boats?  Have you ever ridden the ferry that circles around the coast, gallows, and then back to the docks?  I hear it’s quite entertaining if you’ve never been especially if you’re not from the city.  Perhaps we could meet there?”  He raised his brows at the offer leaning back in his chair again to make certain she didn’t feel pressured to accept that particular suggestion.

[orsinofe]

Age Before Beauty [Orsino & Bethany]

[sunshinehawke]

“That is true, it would be difficult to tell if the potion was successful right away” Bethany agreed. It wasn’t a spell that had immediate visible affects. A healing potion healed the wounds and injuries of someone right away.  A lyrium potion reenergized a mage’s supply of magic. The Elixir of Heroism wasn’t like those potions.

A light smile pulled at her lips when he changed the subject from magic and back onto animals once again. “Both. She loves people paying attention to her and loves to be on your lap. However, because of her size she has some difficulty fitting on smaller laps. That does not stop her from trying though. She also enjoys sleeping next to me when I’m sleeping.” She was lucky with Bastet’s personality. Bethany was able to watch the feline’s reactions when she was in the shelter, which helped a lot. Not to mention the cat took a liking to her, but not many others. “She can be very picky though, and when she feels threatened it can be quite terrifying. Her hiss is…more like a snake’s hiss than a feline’s. She’s a savannah cat, so she has more wild blood in her.”

She glanced at the book as he took it from her and shut it, setting it on the desk in front of him. She wondered if he would actually that the book or if he would end up putting it back on the shelf. Pulling her eyes away from the book, she set them back onto the male. “You would have to spend a bit of time with the cat. It might be difficult if you’re looking for a kitten, because their personality can change when they mature. It’s easier to understand an adult cat’s personality. However they might still act oddly if they’re in a stressful situation. Places like shelters can be very stressful for animals, especially if their owner just gave them up.” Time and time again she has seen animals become depressed at the shelter because they didn’t understand what was going on. She always tried her best to make each animal feel safe and comfortable.

“If you want a sociable cat you’re going to want to look for one that comes to you right away. That will also show you that they’re not afraid and are more adventurous than others. If you’re able to pet or even pick up the cat with little to no problem, then you might have a lap cat on your hands” she said with a smile.

Her eyes shifted to look at her small tote as he glanced away toward the door. “Other than starting to read the books I picked out, I don’t have much to do. But you appear to be a bit distracted. If you need to be doing something else then perhaps another time might be better?”

[orsinofe]

He nodded at her adequate knowledge of the potion regardless of whether or not she had actually produced the elixir before.  She was a very learned mage and someone had taught her well in the art of potion brewing, at least the knowledge portion if not the application of such.  Making note of that tidbit of information, he allowed the subject to drift back to the animals that she seemed to enjoy speaking of so much, this one being her cat, Bastet.

“I am not surprised that the cat prefers to sleep with someone with as much beauty as yourself.”  He lightly smirked as he proffered her the flattering comment, “Though I am very certain she can be over protective of you as well.  From what I’ve read, cats tend to like to claim objects and people as their own and don’t really like others to touch, claim, or mess with their belongings, so to speak.  Is that about right?”  He asked. 

“I think I prefer a cat more of the Aegean landrace.  From what I have read they tend to be more friendly, though fierce in their own right, while tending to be widely spread to many households and just independent enough that they could survive being alone for prolonged periods of time if need be.”  He explained.  “Perhaps you may know of a place where I can find one after I’ve discussed it with my landlord.”  That title still didn’t seem to fit the bill for Meredith, but it was the best translation he had since he was trying to leave the Gallows and that life out of the conversation at hand.  He could think of nothing that would send the woman running faster or make her more uneasy around him.

“I would very much like to meet again at another time.  I know of a fairly reclusive park in the Hightown area that we could meet, or here again if you’d prefer.  Initially I was coming here to chat with a colleague as I don’t have the most reliable of internet resources within my dwelling.  Or, there is always one of the establishments around here if you’d rather have somewhere more…public.  I’d rather you feel comfortable and unthreatened by me.  For, as I said earlier, I do not mean you any harm.”

This time his eyes shifted to the tote upon the desk, and with a raised eyebrow managed, “I may even be able to bring a book for you next time that you wouldn’t be able to find in the libraries here, but I think you would enjoy reading it.  If you would like, of course.”  He sat back in his chair, reclining against the flexible backing a moment his hands interlocked with each other across his chest.

[orsinofe]

Confessed Temptations [Orsino & Bryony]

[motherbryony]

Bryony listened quietly to the information, letting it sink in as she sipped at her tea.  “No, that pretty much all makes sense, within the metaphors you’re using.  So you were captured by people who wanted to corrupt you, and… they’re still trying?  I have heard from some of the more… alarmist elements…”  She wrinkled her nose as she spoke of certain other priests who were more outspoken on the issue of magic.  “…that mages can always hear demons in the Fade, that they never really stop tempting you?  Although I’ve always thought if that’s the case and it was really bad, there would be a lot more verified cases of possession than there are.”

The young Mother seldom felt she was qualified to opine on issues pertaining to mages, but when the occasional initiate or even full cleric started talking about how much danger they were in at all times from even the mages in the Gallows, even she was comfortable telling them they were being foolish.

“And yes,” she added, quirking an eyebrow to his last two questions.  “I was fostered at the Amaranthine Chantry in Ferelden for a year, and one of the lay sisters adopted me right after I turned four.  Genevieve Verreuil is her name.  I was never able to find out who my birth mother was, or even where I originally came from, although I’ve always assumed I was just a local foundling.  Why… do you ask?”

[orsinofe]

He nodded along with her resting his chin on his thumbs while his forefingers pointed upwards across his lips.  “That about sums it up, yes.”  He added as she finished her line of thought.  “Magi and demons can hear each other in the fade, yes.  But, the stronger you are and the more prepared, the less likely you are to be targeted as you’re simply not worth the time and effort it would take for the demons to subvert your defenses.”

“There are some that can tune them out almost effortlessly, or so they’ve said.  I do not know how true that is.  On many occasions I have had to use quite a bit of effort to thwart demonic attempts.  It is not as foreboding as one might think though.”  He clarified for her with an arch of his brows.  “The demons try to see how much fight you’re willing to put up.  Most won’t even bother if you’ve got protections up in the fade.  By the time they’d manage to get anywhere, it’d be time to wake up assuming there’s nothing keeping you asleep.  So there is danger, but it is not constant.”

“People in poor health, mental health, or weakened states of being are at higher risk of being tempted or possessed as the case may be.  However, there are people that are willing to help those, and often time’s healers spend a great quantity of their time shielding those that are sick from the horrors of the fade.  It is something people tend to forget and take for granted.”  He sighed knowing that Bria had done everything she could for him, but it had not been nearly enough.  He owed much to the one that saved him from his nightmares.

At her inquiring statements referring to his questions about her adoption, he breathed out a quick breath and straightened his back.  “I only ask because you mentioned it.  Your face it reminds me of someone else, but I can’t quite place it at the moment.  But, you grew up in Amaranthine, you say, as far as you know?”  He shrugged his shoulders.  “It’s possible I’m seeing things.  I’m not in the best state of mind as you might guess coming out of this.  Otherwise, no offense mother, but I would not be here.  A demon disguised as a chantry mother does not lead one back to the chantry so quickly to seek aid.”

Though the comment was harsh, he kept a neutral expression.  He meant nothing against Bryony.  The situation was unfortunate, but he would have steered clear of the walls and Hightown if he had a choice in the matter.  Unfortunately, he needed the absolution and confession, or so he was beginning to realize.  His shoulders shivered ever so slightly as he felt the slight burning sensation crawl through his veins. 

“When a mage is attacked by demons, danger is not easily escaped as the battle is waged on many fronts.  I am just surprised that I am still in control of my own faculties.  If Meredith had liked me any less, I think she may have put me through the Rite already.”  It was meant as a joke initially.  But, there was so much truth in the words that he found no humor in them as they crossed his lips. A heavy breathed sighed from his nose as he placed his empty teacup on the desk and leaned back in his chair again looking over the woman sitting across from him.

[orsinofe]

Age Before Beauty [Orsino & Bethany]

[sunshinehawke]

Bethany allowed a faint smile to appear on her lips as the other began talking about war hounds. “Mabari require quite a bit of attention. They have a lot of energy and need a way to release it. If you’re unable to give them the amount of time that they need it is very possible for them to become depressed. While I enjoy taking care of all of the animals at my work, the mabari can be more difficult at times. Particularly because they often give me walks instead of the other way around.” Luckily she wasn’t required to walk mabari lately. It definitely saved her legs and arms from some soreness.

“A cat might be a better option if you don’t have enough time. Felines tend to be more independent, though that does depend on the breed or the cat itself. Some cats are more sociable and require the same amount of attention mabari do” she told him, her eyes glancing away for a moment as she thought about what to say next. “I have a cat of my own that requires quite a bit of attention. She’s very sociable, but also choosy with who’s around her. However, she’s also rather large and very…dog-like. I suppose what kind of cat you get would depend on what your landlord would allow.”

It was surprisingly easier for her to talk about animals. The topic didn’t require her to watch what she said as much. Or worry about who might be around listening. “Oh, I apologize…” she said as she brought her eyes back to him. “I can’t say that I really excel at many of those topics.” She might have known about them and practice some of them, but she knew that she was nowhere near being an expert in any of them. However, Bethany did know one thing. Her father did always tell her that she was a fast learner. Especially if she was being taught something that she was interested in.

Her eyes turned down toward the book when it was handed back to her once again. She read the title of the potion before reading the ingredients and the first couple of steps. “This one isn’t that easy to get your hands on. I haven’t been able to try creating this one myself. However, I have seen it done once before.” Her father was rather fond of creating potions and practicing magic, especially when he was able to share it with his children. Bethany enjoyed and missed learning from her father. She never had a chance to try and create the Elixir of Heroism with him.

She shifted her eyes away from the book and turned her attention away from her father for the moment. “Have you been successful in creating this one?”

[orsinofe]

It was comfortable, almost easy just sitting back and listening to the young woman prattle on about animals as if they were her closest friends.  There was no pressure in that conversation; he almost wish he hadn’t brought the topic back around to magic.  She had such a charming personality when she was talking about things she enjoyed, but as the topic switched back, it was as if a cloud surrounded her and she withdrew inward hiding a bit of her inner light.

“I am not the best when it comes to brewing, but I believe I know someone I could go to if I were to need this exact potion to be created.  Though I have never seen it successfully crafted, I have seen it attempted several times without success, at least that’s what they said after it was quaffed.”  He chuckled again shaking his head.  “If I were to make this concoction and drink it down noting success, I might say that it didn’t work either.  It would be rather hard to tell the difference from watching.”

Drumming his fingers on the knee of his leg, he grinned pleasantly and asked, “So you have a cat the size of a small dog that is very sociable?  Is she a lap cat or does she prefer to just proudly sit at the center of attention?”  The books he had been reading regarding the animals had given him much knowledge on this topic of conversation even if he had relatively little practical experience with the animals themselves.  “I’ve been doing a little reading while considering which I might like to obtain.  As you can tell, I’m a bit of a bookworm.”

He retrieved the book from her lap again this time closing it and placing it upon the desk of his cubicle to be returned to the shelf later as he had a better copy of it in his private collection.  “I certainly think I’d like a playful cat, and one that doesn’t mind roaming about.  But, I think I’d like to have one that comes and sits in my lap when I’m thinking as well.  I don’t suppose there’s an easy way to tell which type of a cat they are before purchasing it?”  A part of him wanted to keep the topic light so that she would just continue sitting and chatting, another knew that it was getting to be time that his escort would show back up soon.

Glancing slightly at the door and then back to his monitor, he smiled at the young woman.  “And, if you had somewhere you needed to be, don’t let me keep you chatting all day.  But, perhaps we might be able to meet again, on your terms of course.”  He assured her.  There was very little chance that this woman was dangerous, but she did seem rather lonely and was decent company to boot.  If she was willing, he’d enjoy a second chance to just chat.

[orsinofe]

Age Before Beauty [Orsino & Bethany]

[sunshinehawke]

“I can be very patient, especially if it is a necessity” Bethany told him. She was sure her father knew that of her. He was always patient with her and she was patient with herself. There were plenty of times where she became frustrated trying to make a potion or learn a spell, but she always remembered to keep calm. In time she would get better at it. She need only be patient and keep trying. Creating potions was similar to cooking in some ways. The appearance of what you were making helped tell you when it was done. The sudden change of color in a potion. How stiff the peaks of egg whites were while making meringue.

She watched as he flipped through the book in her hands and settled on another, the lyrium potion. “I can’t say that I have made many of these in recent times.” It was a potion she knew how to make and knew it was important given the fact that she was a mage. However, she felt she needed them less now than she did before arriving in Kirkwall. She rarely used her magic within the walls so there wasn’t any need for her to replenish the magic in her veins.

Bethany paused for a moment and turned to look up at the other when he asked what she did for a living. She definitely wasn’t going to tell him everything she did and where she worked. That could cause way more trouble than she asked for. Not that she was asking for any trouble.

Weighing her options and words, she turned her eyes back to the book for a couple of moments as she thought. He was a teacher. She could see that. “I work with animals” she told him. That answer should be relatively safe. She didn’t say where she worked. “It’s something I enjoy doing and I’m lucky to have found such a job. There are few who could say the same. Especially people who came here to escape the Blight.”

[orsinofe]

She hadn’t said as much, but she had definitely implied that she had come from Fereldan to escape the blight.  It wasn’t something anyone from the city would mention off hand, at least not without a complaint lodged somewhere in there for lack of jobs.  He rubbed his chin with forefinger and thumb in contemplation over her words for a moment, though trying to look distracted by his work as opposed to what she had just told him.

There had been news of the Fereldan circle having a falling out with rumors of several (at least one to his knowledge) runaway magi.  This young woman sitting in front of him could be another that had fled that horrid tower.  He could barely look at the reports it was so gruesomely filled with photographs that emphasized what happened to magi that turned to blood magic.  Certainly that was an extreme scenario.

“I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of many animal companions, though I am a fan of large mabari hounds.  I hear that just about every household in Fereldan has one, but alas, I have not found that I could dedicate enough of my time or attention to them to keep them satisfied.”  He chuckled politely knowing how true that was, and the fact that the Gallows would never permit him to have one.  They were guard dogs, what use would he have of one of those?  Just another obstacle they’d have to go through when the time came for them to accuse him of blood magic or worse as they had his predecessor.

The smile pasted onto his lips kept his thoughts hidden from her.  She need not know all the details floating through his head about old times or excuses for why pets were not allowed.  “I have thought about picking up a cat,” …one of the Aegean landrace… “But, I haven’t yet talked to my…landlord about it yet.”  It was something he would make certain to bring up at the next conversations they shared.

Looking back at the book, he grinned.  “You are very knowledgeable about potions.  Is there anything else you excel at, runeworking, wards, or incantations?”  The last few words breathed in a hushed whisper as to not allow anyone else to hear before gathering the book back and flipping to a new page, something tricky.  The page he turned to contained the Elixir of Heroism recipe.  It was rumored to bring age and experience to its consumer, but he’d never actually had one that worked.

Raising a brow in a look of interest, he handed the book back to her.