driftfleet | Tourist Mingle!

[Saturday after the shuffle (9/19);]

[Varric is actually ready for this. He's filled out the necessary paperwork and... well, sorry for ruining your life, Fenris. He appears on the bridge with a flourish of confetti as most people do, and he's got a pack with his few belongings slung over his shoulder. And his gun. Gotta have his gun. It's strapped on his back where his crossbow used to be.]

Anyone home?

[any other time]

[The first thing Varric does is transfer all of his smuggled things onto the Tourist. The second thing Varric does is find a place to write. He plans on getting furniture when he can, but for now, he's curled up on top of some wooden crates in the cargo hold. He uses a book as a flat surface in order to write his next manuscript. Fitting, really, since A Fistful of Copper is shaping up to be more epic than Hard in Hightown.]

Hmm... nah, too predictable. Maybe...

[Varric you are such a life ruiner. Fenris makes it a point of ignoring the confetti that heralds the arrival of a new crew member. He's not exactly a member of the welcome committee and for good reason. He usually ignores a newcomers presence for at least a week before making any attempt at contact.

But he KNOWS that voice, and that's enough to make him investigate. ]

...Varric?

[Varric brightens considerably when he sees Fenris is still around.]

Sorry for the lack of advance notice, elf. Didn't even think it'd work, but here I am.

You've transferred here?

[He glances up at the still floating about confetti. Seems so. The elf gives a soft huff of amusement.]

Did you miss me that much?

[He chuckles.]

Maybe a little. The guys on my old ship were all right, but this one girl... well, it's a long story. I know the captain here, too; I figure that's almost as good as jumping back onto the Huntress.

Funnily enough, Axel was saying a few days ago how he was looking forward to your company. Seems he's got his wish.

[But part of that doesn't sit right with Fenris, and a frown crosses his face.]

Has she given you any trouble?

[Does he need to punch someone? Please say yes, he hasn't punched anyone for a while. ]

Now he'll never be rid of me. Good thing, too. He's lacking a dwarf in his life.

[He rubs at his chin and glances away.]

Not exactly. I told her that throwing magic at people without their permission-- even harmless stuff-- was a bad idea. She informed me I had a stick up my ass. I mentioned that the last time I saw a mage refuse to control himself, he killed a bunch of people.

You can see where this is going.

I'm sure he'll feel the same way.

[Sarcasm? Maybe. Maybe not. Fenris's expression sours considerably at that mention of Anders. To know there's another mage here, flaunting their powers about and using them on people as if it were nothing. ]

Then it would be wise for her to heed your advice, lest she do that to someone considerably less forgiving.

[Like him. ]

Did she hurt you?

[Because if she did, she is on a one way ticket to "Ooops, There Goes My Heart"-sville ]

[Varric knew this would get that reaction, which is why he tries to downplay it before Fenris starts getting wild ideas.]

I'm fine. It was harmless, just like a little breeze at my head, but my point stands. I'm worried she'll get on someone's bad side... I mean, I trust you not to hurt a fifteen year old girl, but I don't know everyone in the Fleet anymore.

And who knows what else she can do. If she decides to set someone's mustache on fire or something... well.

[Fenris was, indeed, gearing up for some prime overreacting. Of course, Varric had to go and say that and take the edge away from his anger. Instead, he gives a frustrated part-sigh-part-growl, folding his arms. ]

Then she brought it on herself. If she can't control her abilities, then she's an accident waiting to happen.

[And this is exactly why the Circles need to exist. He doesn't voice this, though. He knows Varric's stance on that, and bringing it up again will do little to change the dwarf's mind. ]

That's the rub, she claims all magic is controlled on her world. After what this place has pulled? I seriously doubt it.

[He summons a bottle of whiskey out of the inside of his jacket.]

Anyway, now you know why I packed up. I figured there was less risk of me waking up with my chest hair on fire.

Drink? I know it's not your usual, but I haven't had the best of luck finding wine lately. [Damn dusty moon.]

Please That sounds like an excuse if ever I heard one.

[Fucking mages and their lies to make them look better. ]

Not unless the plant boy does something foolish, no.

[Like Fenris will ever turn down a drink. ]

At least it can't be as terrible as that Froot Loops concoction.

[Varric agrees, but he's quieter about it. Maybe the Circle wasn't the best option, but there's nothing wrong with mentors and guides. Maybe if someone had kept a closer watch on Anders... god, maybe Varric could've prevented all that. He... isn't sure. It's a dark road, that.]

Plant boy?

[There's no cups handy, but Varric is fine with taking a drink straight out of the bottle and passing it to Fenris. It's been that kind of week. He winces as the fire goes down.]

It tastes like it was brewed in the Viscount's bathtub. At least it isn't watered down.

I forget his name, you will no doubt see him eventually. He is actually made of plants. But apparently not a demon?

[He's not 100% sure on that one. But hey, drinking out of the bottle is what he does on the regular, so he'll swig. He's less bothered by the fire, but that's what solving your problems with alcohol (and violence) does to you. ]

At least it isn't as potent as water.

[Look, he'll even hand it back. ]

[Varric is surprised he's getting the booze back, so he takes another drink.]

Like the girl with magic who isn't a mage?

[And he passes it back.]

At some point this place will stop surprising me.

Edited 2015-09-29 06:48 (UTC)

So it seems. Yes.

[He gives a soft, annoyed huff. ]

That, I doubt. Exsilium always found a way to surprise me, and this place is no different.

...Except that I don't have to go into any more time machines.

[Because seriously, fuck time machines. ]

[He pulls a face.]

Thank the Maker. I have enough misadventures as it is without throwing time travel into it.

[OH VARRIC, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.................]

It is a miserable thing to do. I do not recommend it.

[Sorry, Varric. It sucks. ]

[ s'mores ]

[ Perhaps unsurprisingly, Asteffiel is very wary about Captain Apple's little fire. Or maybe it doesn't make sense, because he's living plant material and thus not particularly flammable.

... at least, the open fire seems to bother him a little until he gets to playing with a marshmallow. ]

.. why does it start being sticky...? [ Why yes, he was just squishing it for a bit, and now has a marshmallow all over his hand. ]

[ Anytime ]

[ Asteffiel has been spending a lot of time on the sandy moon. It is mostly okay - he's not a plant who is used to dry weather, so when he's not out, or in the medbay, he's either in the kitchen, drinking a lot of water, or making use of cool water in the shower, still fully clothed in his usual leaves.

There's also something a bit odd going on with his face - a little bit of clear spines are sticking from his chin now. He doesn't seem bothered, so .. he probably grew the cactus spines, not got stuck by them. ]

[S'mores aren't an Italian food, so Caesar basically has no idea what he's doing. Which is why there's melted marshmallow all over his fingers, too, and he's frowning at it super irritably.]

I think at the exact time is most convenient for us to make a mess out of it.

.... maybe it's supposed to be food you get all over your hands?

[ ... Asteffiel is realizing this will be a very human food. His fingers aren't exactly solid on the surface, and so.. he might have marshmallow smelling hands for a while. ]

... so you go and take a nice scrub after eating?

[That's such a ridiculous suggestion that he has to laugh at it despite himself.]

Maybe. I don't know. It's an American food, so it's not really my area of expertise.

[ Asteffiel spends a long moment studying him. ]

... American is one of the "I'm human but I have a different name because I live in a different place" things, isn't it?

[ He.. is pretty obviously not from the human-only world, right? ]

[Okay, another laugh. This is a world record, probably.]

That's exactly what it is. I'm Italian; America is across the ocean.

Ooohhh... Our humans are almost all on one place, still. Or they used to be in one place but they had to go to other places....

You have to cross a sea to get to Orr, but the only humans in Orr are the walking around but dead types. [ Orrian refers to a lot of things that are dead and walking around like they shouldn't be. ]

Hm. Like zombies?

[Naturally this is the part that interests him. What is up with the undead everywhere?]

Orr is where you're from?

You kill them and they're already rotting, they kill anyone who isn't a sylvari, and the person gets back up and helps them? [ ... Aggressive zombies- ]

Oh, no. I am from the Grove, which is in the maguuma jungle. Orr is across a little bit of sea from where I live. [ Which doesn't stop the undead at all, for .. obvious they're already dead they can't drown, they just kinda walk up on our beaches reasons. ]

[He makes a face.]

Sort of like zombies.

So do you like it? The Grove. [A beat.] That's sort of a stupid question, but I feel like we're supposed to be bonding or something.

I like it. But I probably like it because that is where Mother is, and because I only lived in a bad place, other than when I was living in the Grove.

[ ... Hmm, what's a better way to say that. ]

I like it because my friends are there.

Oh . . .

[He actually looks kind of shy at that. Which is pretty ridiculous, considering he's normally either a] stoic or b] irritated, but there it is.]

That's why I like it here.

Ooohh. That's a good reason to like it here.

[ Having friends. Asteffiel plays with his hair for a moment... completely forgetting he had marshmallow on his fingers... ]

I like it because it's new. I- oh. ... Oops... [ He remembered he has goo on his hands and.. now the oblong leaves of his hair. welp. ]

[S'mores]

[Fenris has eaten S'mores before, back in Exsilium. He wasn't especially enamoured with them back then, and nothing has changed. So he is, indeed, glowering at the merrymaking from his own miserable corner away from everyone.

He's not eating a s'more, but he is drinking from a bottle of wine and as far as he's concerned, that is participation enough. Approach the grumpy elf, y/n?]

[Any other time]

[Fenris has spending his time, as he does with every planet they visit, working. Bounty hunting is much more familiar work to him than the construction jobs on the water planet. He knows how to hunt down a man, and has been doing it gladly. It's a little trickier, bringing them back to the authorities alive, but he supposes most places can't be as lax about these sorts of things as Thedas is. It pays well, anyway.

When he does return to the ship, it's to sleep or drop off supplies. Someone might be lucky enough to catch him when he arrives, or before he heads off at the crack of dawn. ]

[Axel looks up from tending his little fire and throws a slightly bemused look Fenris' way.]

Fenris, come on, don't be such a grouch. At least come hang out or something. Look. [He holds up a chocolate bar.] I'll let you have an extra piece of chocolate~

I am not being a grouch, I'm perfectly content at the moment.

[This is apparently being content.]

And I do not require an extra piece of chocolate.

[Still, he'll SIGH and move a little closer to the group. For the fire :| ]

Content. Right. I forget sometimes that you default to [He sweeps a hand in front of his face and his expression shifts to something along the lines of 8[. He's only making a little fun of you.]

Fine, extra graham cracker? Come on, surely there's something sweet you like, besides apples. [He holds out the bag of marshmallows.] Have you ever even eaten one of these?

[Fenris stares at that piece of pantomime for a moment, before continuing to make that 8[ face.]

I have no idea what you mean.

[He stares at the offending bag. ]

I have, actually. I like them just fine. [Still, he'll reach in an take one of the damn marshmallows, and two of the damn crackers, giving Axel a pointed look. ARE YOU HAPPY NOW, CAPTAIN? ]

[Her office... er. Bedroom.]
[Phedre left the door to the room granted to her by the ship open. She would't call it a salon, or a play room, or even an office. it was... complicated. Books and warm, sensual red and interesting things if one followed chains to their conclusions.

But, she wanted to meet those on her ship. And she wanted to meet those around her. And she wouldn't hide what she had been made.

When you enter, she smiles at you in welcome. Warmth and pleasure and clear invitation to talk.]

[S'Mores]
[Phedre has had sweets, but this is anew form to her - all of it.

Chocolate didn't exist in her part of the world, not for another couple centuries. And not in the modern format even then.

She had been taught how to be gracious and to try new things. She even looks excited at the prospect of something new.]

What is this?

Edited 2015-09-21 22:13 (UTC)

[Caesar's been leery of Phedre - not for any particular reason that has to do with her personality, more because her position on the ship makes him uncomfortable. But it can't go on forever, and it's rude, regardless; so he visits her room eventually and, to his credit, doesn't say a word about the chains, just leans against the doorframe.]

It seems like you're settling in.

[Okay, maybe that's an oblique reference to the chains, but whatever.]

The Fleet will have it's jest.

[She catches the eye flick, and the observation. She doesn't let it bother her - considering their surroundings, it is likely many would be curious. In her travels, Phedre had endured much more than curiosity.]

Would you like to come in?

If you don't mind. I haven't been socializing much, and I didn't want to be rude.

[But he stays where he is, half out of courtesy and half because he's starting to feel that boundaries are incredibly important, in a small space like this.]

[She gestures him inside, clearing the chair she had been seated in so he might have it, and settling a pillow on the floor for herself.]

Not at all. Please, have a seat.

[Well that's - he's about to tell her she doesn't have to move, but then she does anyway, so this is his life now, he guesses. He sits, considers her carefully.]

. . . You're very comfortable here, [he settles on eventually, although once he's said it he's not sure it's correct. Maybe it's just that she gives off an air of being comfortable anywhere.]

[It occurs to him that that used to be much easier for him than it is now.]

[Ah, the newest newbie. This girl showed up while Axel was sleeping, so he hasn't had a chance to even really speak to her yet, so time to make some conversation.]

They're called s'mores. Which is apparently because 'you always want some more'. [A beat.] Get it? Some more... s'more...? [Crickets.] ... I guess it's pretty corny. They're tasty, though.

[A name to go with it. But a name that didn't appear to be particularly useful. Her brow creases - lightly, delicately, a movement trained to not cause wrinkles since her earliest years.

She does, however, take one of the treats and holds it in her hands trying not to look like she was examining the offering. From a distance it smelled sweet, and she couldn't insult him by taking a more obvious sniff before nibbling the corner.

Her eyes widen in surprise, and then drift half-shut in pleasure]

What is in this? It's delightful!

You've really never had one before? I figured these were kinda staple, no matter where you're from. [He scoots over and offers her a fork with a marshmallow on it.] It's just cookie, chocolate, and marshmallow. Here, hold that over the fire and I'll show you how to assemble it.

[He breaks off two squares of graham cracker and a block of chocolate and holds them up, then points at the marshmallow.] When it's toasted on the outside and squishy on the inside, then it's done, and you put it on top of the chocolate, and then you smush the other graham cracker down so it's like a sandwich.

[Varric's just kinda exploring, getting to know the nooks and crannies of the ship and its residents when he finds himself... here.]

Oh. [His eyebrows shoot up, and then he can't help but grin a bit. HE KNOWS WHAT THIS IS.] Hi. Hope I didn't interrupt anything.

[She reads the look in his eye and glosses over it, ignoring the thrill it gave her for the moment.

Since she had just been trying to figure out exactly how one would enact correspondence here - the rules and social requirements of it - she moved on easily.]

Hello, I was doing nothing important. Would you like to come in?

Sure.

[Oh, Phédre. It's been a while since Varric was around someone who was perhaps less than wholesome.]

Varric Tethras-- rogue, storyteller, occasional stowaway. And what might be the name of the lovely creature before me?

Tourist Mingle!

no subject

Post shuffle

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

s'mores

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

s'mores

no subject

no subject

office oh boy

Re: office oh boy

no subject