![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[At some point during Tav's quarantine in the Gallows—that much resented period required of all newly arrived Rifters in which they are strictly confined to the fortress island—, a knock comes at this door.
The source of which turns out to be a primly dressed young woman, her blonde hair twisted up and pinned to her head, and a particularly predatory look to her. Her left arm is missing, the empty sleeve of her dress pinned neatly to the shoulder. At her heel is a small dog who must, under the faint reddish stain inherited by living among Kirkwall's dust, be white.
Should the door open, the little white dog promptly helps himself to sniffing at Tav's ankles. His mistress meanwhile launches into her assault:]
Hello, and welcome to Riftwatch. You're the new rifter, of course. I thought it best to introduce myself directly now that you've had some time to become acquainted with your new situation. My name is Madame de Foncé. I serve as the Mediation Officer here in addition to my ordinary work in the Research division.
The source of which turns out to be a primly dressed young woman, her blonde hair twisted up and pinned to her head, and a particularly predatory look to her. Her left arm is missing, the empty sleeve of her dress pinned neatly to the shoulder. At her heel is a small dog who must, under the faint reddish stain inherited by living among Kirkwall's dust, be white.
Should the door open, the little white dog promptly helps himself to sniffing at Tav's ankles. His mistress meanwhile launches into her assault:]
Hello, and welcome to Riftwatch. You're the new rifter, of course. I thought it best to introduce myself directly now that you've had some time to become acquainted with your new situation. My name is Madame de Foncé. I serve as the Mediation Officer here in addition to my ordinary work in the Research division.
[To say that Tav is eager for any kind of company would be an understatement. He finshes re-braiding his hair behind his ear and bounds up to accept the knock. Puling the door open, he opens his mouth to greet his guest, but finds himself assailed by conversation. He listens, of course, but his eyebrows go sky-high. Research?]
Research on what? Me as a person? Or an elf, since that seems to be a matter of issue here. Or going out and doing research? I've a connection with plants, especially, being a druid.
Research on what? Me as a person? Or an elf, since that seems to be a matter of issue here. Or going out and doing research? I've a connection with plants, especially, being a druid.
[After a thorough huffing at Tav's ankles, the little white dog promptly helps himself to slipping past the man's heels so he may explore the contents of the room beyond the doorway. Evidently the room is more interesting to the little beast than the occupant.
For her part, Wysteria makes no effort to check the little dog's egress. Instead, swiftly corrective—]
No, no. I'm with Research Division. I'm not recruiting you, I'm merely explaining my place here. Although obviously I'm certain the Provost would be delighted to have your assistance. Or, come to think of it, the infirmary if you have some skill with plants. Doctor Strange is always after volunteers.
I'm only here as a matter of politeness. To introduce myself and to see that you are well settled. How are you finding the Gallows?
[She speaks at such a rapid clip, with hardly a breath taken to fund her monologuing. But here, she pauses and offers Tav a broad, expectant smile. It must be his turn to talk.]
For her part, Wysteria makes no effort to check the little dog's egress. Instead, swiftly corrective—]
No, no. I'm with Research Division. I'm not recruiting you, I'm merely explaining my place here. Although obviously I'm certain the Provost would be delighted to have your assistance. Or, come to think of it, the infirmary if you have some skill with plants. Doctor Strange is always after volunteers.
I'm only here as a matter of politeness. To introduce myself and to see that you are well settled. How are you finding the Gallows?
[She speaks at such a rapid clip, with hardly a breath taken to fund her monologuing. But here, she pauses and offers Tav a broad, expectant smile. It must be his turn to talk.]
[Color Tav continually confused, especially as she keeps speaking at such a clip. At long last, she ends on a note he can respond to and takes a deep breath, offering a smirk before forming his response,]
One, who is Doctor Strange?
Two, I’ve been in prisons enough times, this is a step up.
One, who is Doctor Strange?
Two, I’ve been in prisons enough times, this is a step up.
[Rather abruptly, something in the young woman's face shades toward suspicion. For the first time, her attention flicks past Tav toward the room beyond, and then back again. There are only a few kind of people who spend a great deal of time in prison, after all.
Though when she speaks, it is in a high and cheery tone as if there were nothing the matter at all.]
Oh, well. I'm pleased to hear it's an improvement. As for Doctor Strange, he is the head healer of the Gallows infirmary. He is a rifter as well. Like yourself.
Though when she speaks, it is in a high and cheery tone as if there were nothing the matter at all.]
Oh, well. I'm pleased to hear it's an improvement. As for Doctor Strange, he is the head healer of the Gallows infirmary. He is a rifter as well. Like yourself.
[No, thank you. She will stay right here in the hallway.
She does however snap her fingers at the little white dog, who has made his way around the room and now looks to be contemplating the possibility of jumping into the bed. It draws the little animal's attention promptly. With a spring and a wagging tail, he trots back to join her.]
Yes, I imagine he needs all the assistance he can get. You might consult him on the matter directly, however, as I know nothing at all in the subject. —Well. Very little, in any case.
She does however snap her fingers at the little white dog, who has made his way around the room and now looks to be contemplating the possibility of jumping into the bed. It draws the little animal's attention promptly. With a spring and a wagging tail, he trots back to join her.]
Yes, I imagine he needs all the assistance he can get. You might consult him on the matter directly, however, as I know nothing at all in the subject. —Well. Very little, in any case.
[Tav watches as the little dog trots back to its owner and Tav’s smile dims; he misses Scratch right about now.
I’ll reach out to him to see how much help he truly needs. Hopefully quite a bit.
[He’d rather wander the lands than be confined to this prison much longer.]
I’ll reach out to him to see how much help he truly needs. Hopefully quite a bit.
[He’d rather wander the lands than be confined to this prison much longer.]
Very good. [Sorry for your new convict recruit, Doctor.
Her pasted on smile persists even as she takes an oh so casual step backward. Is she distancing herself from Tav? Maybe just a little.]
You know, [soooo casual! Weird how this factoid has just randomly occurred to her! It has nothing to do with him having seen inside numerous prisons, apparently.] You won't have been the first criminal to arrive here. We've had any number of thieves and assassins. And then of course there are the pirates. And we once had a known murderess.
Her pasted on smile persists even as she takes an oh so casual step backward. Is she distancing herself from Tav? Maybe just a little.]
You know, [soooo casual! Weird how this factoid has just randomly occurred to her! It has nothing to do with him having seen inside numerous prisons, apparently.] You won't have been the first criminal to arrive here. We've had any number of thieves and assassins. And then of course there are the pirates. And we once had a known murderess.
[As soon as Wysteria mentions criminal, Tav's gaze flicks back up. Upon murderess, Tav swallows and puts himself at the back of the room.]
How do you know about that?
[He doesn't bother defending against the accusation. Not while the Urge, no, his other self-- the Bhaalspawn-- continues to live on. It's a constant danger to others and yet he somehow woke up here.
He sucks in a breath.] I need to keep a cell here, should the Bhaalspawn take over again. That or a lot of rope if I'm out on an expedition.
How do you know about that?
[He doesn't bother defending against the accusation. Not while the Urge, no, his other self-- the Bhaalspawn-- continues to live on. It's a constant danger to others and yet he somehow woke up here.
He sucks in a breath.] I need to keep a cell here, should the Bhaalspawn take over again. That or a lot of rope if I'm out on an expedition.
[Tav beetles backwards. In the hall, Wysteria does the same. It paints a comic picture, the gap between them having widened considerably to the point that Wysteria must now raise her voice slightly to pretend to keep speaking completely and totally casually and not like a person, say, concerned about the possibility that a violent criminal may be among them.
He is familiar with the inside of prisons? Requires a great deal of rope? What's a respectable young lady to think.]
A cell, you say. I'm certain that Captain Rowntree—he is the officer of the watch here who oversees matters of Gallows security—would be happy to assist.
Or if it is a particular affliction you're suffering, perhaps the infirmary staff might be able to assist. It's not catching, is it?
[Bhaalspawn sounds like a very unpleasant sort of illness and a moment ago they were stood rather close.]
He is familiar with the inside of prisons? Requires a great deal of rope? What's a respectable young lady to think.]
A cell, you say. I'm certain that Captain Rowntree—he is the officer of the watch here who oversees matters of Gallows security—would be happy to assist.
Or if it is a particular affliction you're suffering, perhaps the infirmary staff might be able to assist. It's not catching, is it?
[Bhaalspawn sounds like a very unpleasant sort of illness and a moment ago they were stood rather close.]
[He could argue that the Bhaalspawn is not who he used to be any more, but considering what Gortash recently told him and the quiet (and not so quiet) urges that still exists…
Tav sighs.] Sometimes when I fall asleep, I become a murderer, exacting and terrible. Sometimes when I’m awake, I still have these murderous urges, but on a much smaller level.
[Like his current fancy to split her dog in two and return it to Wysteria in pieces.
No, he doesn’t do that any more, he won’t succumb.]
Tav sighs.] Sometimes when I fall asleep, I become a murderer, exacting and terrible. Sometimes when I’m awake, I still have these murderous urges, but on a much smaller level.
[Like his current fancy to split her dog in two and return it to Wysteria in pieces.
No, he doesn’t do that any more, he won’t succumb.]
[The little dog, presently having sat somewhere in the span stretched between the two of them, wags his tail helpfully.
Meanwhile, Wysteria's very pasted on smile has somehow become yet more stiff and artificial.]
Oh. How very inconvenient. And I suppose you've informed your Division Head of this fact already, yes?
Meanwhile, Wysteria's very pasted on smile has somehow become yet more stiff and artificial.]
Oh. How very inconvenient. And I suppose you've informed your Division Head of this fact already, yes?
Oh. Well, yes. I imagine that is— [Highly possible. It had taken her some weeks to join up with Research all those years ago, after all.
Still. Someone ought to know.]
Tell me, who fetched you from the rift when you fell through it? I imagine you must have explained your situation to one of them.
Still. Someone ought to know.]
Tell me, who fetched you from the rift when you fell through it? I imagine you must have explained your situation to one of them.
Redvers and Benedict and another man, I think. [Tav taps his fingers together.] I passed out mid-battle.
[Which rarely happens, he’d like to argue, but now hardly seems the time.]
Perhaps this Strange should be warned if I am to work with him as an herbalist.
[Which rarely happens, he’d like to argue, but now hardly seems the time.]
Perhaps this Strange should be warned if I am to work with him as an herbalist.
Edited 2024-02-01 09:38 (UTC)
[Oh good. He is some kind of mage as well. That will certainly make everyone very understanding of certain murderous impulses.]
It's not unheard of that otherworldly users of magic find their abilities somewhat altered by their travel to and presence in Thedas. I'm led to believe that the qualities of the Veil which separates this world and the Fade—that is to say, the origin of magic here in Thedas—acts as a sort of moderating power over certain rifters.
[She's rambling. When this occurs to her, she straightens by a faint degree and clears her throat with a forceful ahem.]
Well, I'm pleased to hear you're doing so ['well' is not the correct word.] decently. I'm certain the rest will all come with time. Perhaps you might— [No, she can't recommend that he seek out the Seneschal to assist in choosing a division; what if he were to harm Julius? She would feel terribly.] Only wait a few more days, and I'm certain all will fall into place.
It's not unheard of that otherworldly users of magic find their abilities somewhat altered by their travel to and presence in Thedas. I'm led to believe that the qualities of the Veil which separates this world and the Fade—that is to say, the origin of magic here in Thedas—acts as a sort of moderating power over certain rifters.
[She's rambling. When this occurs to her, she straightens by a faint degree and clears her throat with a forceful ahem.]
Well, I'm pleased to hear you're doing so ['well' is not the correct word.] decently. I'm certain the rest will all come with time. Perhaps you might— [No, she can't recommend that he seek out the Seneschal to assist in choosing a division; what if he were to harm Julius? She would feel terribly.] Only wait a few more days, and I'm certain all will fall into place.
Serah Tav.
[ The voice on the other end of the crystal is very serious, affected by aScottish Starkhaven cadence that may or may not translate well in Faerun. This message comes soon after another conversation, later in the day. ]
My name is Marcus Rowntree, and I act as Captain of the Watch here. I would like to speak with you before the day is out. It regards a request of yours.
[ The voice on the other end of the crystal is very serious, affected by a
My name is Marcus Rowntree, and I act as Captain of the Watch here. I would like to speak with you before the day is out. It regards a request of yours.
Oh. Well.
[She fidgets there in the corridor, her artificial smile slipping and then resetting. Well.]
I highly recommend perusing the contents of the Gallows' library should you need some activity to occupy your thoughts. To say nothing of the fact that it is quite helpful, I think, to learn as much as one might about Thedas. If you like, I can recommend a number of introductory titles— [She catches herself.] Or rather, I would be most happy to write a list and leabe it in your pigeon hole in the dining hall. I'm certain one will be assigned to you if it hasn't already. But I didn't mean to stay very long, [she lies poorly] and we should be on our way. Many appointments, you see. Much work to be done.
[She fidgets there in the corridor, her artificial smile slipping and then resetting. Well.]
I highly recommend perusing the contents of the Gallows' library should you need some activity to occupy your thoughts. To say nothing of the fact that it is quite helpful, I think, to learn as much as one might about Thedas. If you like, I can recommend a number of introductory titles— [She catches herself.] Or rather, I would be most happy to write a list and leabe it in your pigeon hole in the dining hall. I'm certain one will be assigned to you if it hasn't already. But I didn't mean to stay very long, [she lies poorly] and we should be on our way. Many appointments, you see. Much work to be done.
[Any cheer Tav may have had before Wysteria entered his cell disappears when her smile drops. He blows out a breath and his shoulders slump as he nods. Books. Gale had certainly been a purveyor of books. Perhaps Tav should store a few here, to help stave off some of the loneliness.]
Of course. [Tav is well-acquainted with the little diplomacies that come with working with every day people.] I would not delay you. Thank you for your kindness.
[He sounds, if nothing else, resigned.]
Of course. [Tav is well-acquainted with the little diplomacies that come with working with every day people.] I would not delay you. Thank you for your kindness.
[He sounds, if nothing else, resigned.]
Page 1 of 9