ιѕαвєℓα (rivaini) wrote in valloic, @ 2020-08-17 09:37:00 |
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Entry tags: | !: action/thread/log, ₴ inactive: isabela |
WHO: Isabela & Hawke
WHAT: A little girl talk, a little planning a week-long debauchery celebration
WHERE: The Black Emporium
WHEN: Monday morning
WARNINGS: Very little
STATUS: Complete
As far as workplaces went, the Black Emporium wasn’t bad at all - it was a little piece of home, anyway, chock-full of all sorts of bits and bobs and odds and ends; even the air in the shop smelled like magic, or something different than the usual, anyway, frankincense and roses - it was a good place to traverse the many delicate and expensive bottles, hand-crafted glass, antique candelabras. Rare books and rare oils too - useful things, crafting materials, for cobbling together potions or armor or whatever else. Enchanted items for your pleasure too, in fact. Provided you were let in. Provided you had an appointment. The magical artifacts weren’t anything to mess around with, Isabela knew that much. She wasn’t a mage, so she let Dorian handle that sorting and organising, and she handled the sales. Once it was explained to her what an item did, she could quote a price - and the rich twats who came into the shoppe could either take it or leave it, and given the fact that she was always armed with a blade and didn’t appreciate people wasting her time, they almost always took it. She’d just come out from the back (where it was dark and dingy and grimy, perfect for conducting shady business) and her stomach rumbled audibly, once she set down a box of doo-dads (these would go near the Mirror of Transformation, which she wouldn’t be touching, she’d just work around it - she liked her face just fine). “Is it lunchtime yet?” she asked, since that seemed to be a relevant issue at the moment. Besides the goings-on of other drama. --- There was an argument that could be made that now she had Dorian to fall back on with Skyhold, Hawke could technically go back to patrols. But honestly, she liked the wheeling and dealing that the Emporium provided, she had Varric to thank for that, and she did actually enjoy being hands on with the fortress (beyond ensuring it was a safe point if shit ever hit the fan). She’d deny it and she’d shoved paperwork on whoever she could that wasn’t her but now that her mind was somewhat calm and she’d accepted this place took as much as it gave she didn’t actually want to keep having a sword in her hand all the time. It’d be like a job then, and she’d hate that. She’d kept one eye on ‘Bela but had let her have her space. Hawke understood that need. But when she came out of the back she took the opportunity. ‘Bela would tell her off if she was pushed. “It can be. Fun fact about owning a place, I get to decide when things happen.” She leaned against one of the railings and crossed her arms. “Do you want to talk, or do you want to just not? Because your in laws exploded, and that’s probably a little rough.” Not that hawke wasn’t above ignoring things, but she did want to make the offer. “We can always discuss Satinalia too though.” --- Oh, balls. The floorboards creaked all ghost-like as Bela headed for one of the rickety old chairs, plopping down into it (at least dust didn’t scatter in a stormcloud - they’d cleaned the shoppe pretty thoroughly when it arrived in Vallo) and letting her shoulders slump for a moment. She glanced up at the ivy crawling every which way in the place, as if that would hold some answers. It didn’t. “We can talk about Satinalia too,” she promised, fidgeting a little. “But - I suppose the other stuff is also relevant.” She’d just switch to the week-long celebration of debauchery and lavish food and music whenever discussing Diego’s family got to be too much. Wouldn’t take long, most likely (and nevermind that Hawke was probably the only person who got away with referring to them as the in-laws, without Bela screaming and running away). “I understand why they exploded, but it’s hard on him, you know? When he’s got to go literally chase after them because they’re utterly shit-faced.” Rum used to be her drink of choice, she liked the cinnamon burn of it and her blood was properly comprised of the stuff, but Diego didn’t drink and she’d also cut back to help support Hawke - so now, on the outside looking in, she just cringed about all of it. -- Had ‘Bela told her to cool it with the in law jokes, Hawke would have, still would. But it was as good a way to reference them as any. And granted she could make some sort of quip about fires and keeping them contained, but that felt low and pretty unfair to say. Hawke might be master of ill timed jokes, but she knew when not to do that. “Hm,” Hawke would let ‘Bela take charge here and say as much, or as little, as she needed. Thus the offer of the proposed planning. “The responsible sibling. Think Beth has a literal shit ton of stories there.” She moved to a chair near ‘Bela and sat down. She wasn’t about to pry on exactly what had happened, it had sounded like A Lot and for her own sanity she could only fight so many battles, so she crossed her arms. “Hard on you too I bet. You know you’re both always welcome at ours right? To escape from the madness. And I fully realize the irony in my saying this, but he doesn’t have to put out all the fires. Good on him for doing it, he obviously loves them a lot, but if either of you need a moment to breathe and not be responsible that can be arranged. Granted, I get it. If you can’t save the world, save the ones you love, right?” --- “Aye,” Bela rolled those amber-gold eyes, a shade of firewhiskey, but she agreed. “Unfortunately, he and the rest of the family seem to get roped into saving the world pretty frequently. Like we did.” Ah, fond memories. Then there were also the time jumps that were all knotted together like a game of cat’s cradle - she wasn’t sure that could ever be figured out, nor could anyone assess how much damage had truly been done. It was just A Lot, to be certain. She paused, pulling jet black hair over her shoulder, fingers absently combing at the ends. “They all got...new memories, apparently? Like in a dream but it wasn’t just something their brain made up. It was real. So now they’re all just struggling. I sort of tend to believe that he doesn’t have to put out all the fires too, though. It’s just difficult to know when to step in and when to let it go.” Bela was the sort of let most things go - she wasn’t anyone’s nanny, and was fiercely independent, but those years traipsing around Kirkwall and elsewhere with Hawke and the rest of the family showed her that some things were worth fighting for. “We could do something though, with you and Anders?” she glanced up. “Maybe arrange for another night of Wicked Grace? Or go for a hike, see a movie at the cinema. Anything to get his mind off it a little and not always in the family bubble.” -- Hawke bit her tongue; she hadn’t quite as much saved the world as doom it to the chaos of an ancient magister, and the quasi immortal shitheel that was taking advantage of the fall out from all that. ‘Bela didn’t need that right now. ‘Bela needed support. “Destiny is bullshit,” she gave with a sigh. Privately she was pleased she wasn’t subjected to any new memories, but Maker only knew there. That was a whole new set of things to worry about. So she just didn’t. “That can’t be easy. And trust me as Champion of not knowing when to actually let things go and not hold onto impossible things? I get it.” Kirkwall was her failure. She could have done more. “‘Course,” She could convince Anders to do something normal. She’d earned her title as distraction there, even though in this case it was fairly validated. “Just let me know when and I’ll arrange it. We’ll find something utterly ridiculous to see we can all make fun of and we’ll do cards.” Smiling she reached over to take one of ‘Bela’s hands. “It’ll be alright. I know it’s a bullshit platitude but it will be. Even if I have to make it. Somehow.” --- Bela chuckled a little. “Thanks, love - I said the same thing, and bullshit platitude it may be, but it’s true,” she sighed, reaching over and giving Hawke’s hand a pat. The next part she sort of hesitated about, because it was still weird for her and she was both elated and terrified - but she supposed that was what a lot of relationship milestones were about. “He asked me to move in with him,” she added carefully. “Is it - so I suppose we’d be neighbours? You wouldn’t mind terribly, me not living at Skyhold?” Diego was just too used to modern amenities to give those up and while Skyhold had its modern additions, it was still a fortress from days long gone. Plus there was the fact that, back in Kirkwall, Isabela had been with (Garrett) Hawke for years and years and never moved in with him, preferring her own space. She wasn’t certain why she’d changed her mind about it now - maybe because she’d grown from then too, and her current relationship didn’t have to be an echo of the last one. -- Smiling she went to take ‘Bela’s hand so she could curl her fingers around the other woman’s. This was the sort of thing she’d missed when she’d worked with the Inquisition, and after they’d all broken apart. The sense of family. Belonging. Having one another’s back. The other question was almost normal really. If you didn’t know ‘Bela. They’d all valued their space and been fiercely protective of whatever they had been able to carve out, plus Hawke had a sneaking suspicion ‘Bela was more asking for a bit of confirmation. Hawke didn’t really know how ‘Bela and her Hawke, but she knew if it was her who’d stayed behind she’d have wanted those left behind to be happy. And she could tell ‘Bela was. “Oh, Neighbours, this means I can come bother whenever I like.” She actually wouldn’t but now things were a bit more steady terribly ill timed jokes seemed the way to go. “I’m going to learn how to duck real well.” She’d seen Diego move, and she knew ‘Bela. “and ‘course I won’t mind.” She gave with a wave. “With the Waypoints it’s easy. Plus it’s not like I can really blame you for picking the apartments. You couldn’t pry me from my conveniently hot water. I’ll even help you move your things.” She smiled then, “I’m really glad you found him.” She always was when those she cared for found happiness. She had some of her own, so she wanted to spread it. “It’s good to see you smile. Actually smile I mean. You’ve earned that.” --- The contact helped, the reassuring pressure of Hawke’s hand - it was sort of grounding for Bela, and she needed that. Otherwise she’d just go sailing (she’d steal a ship if she had to - wouldn’t be the first time), seeking solace in the arms of the open sea. The ocean was beautiful in all her glory, and Isabela loved her briny mistress - but it was a depressing love, an unrequited love. The sea couldn’t love in return, and she wouldn’t love the likes of Bela when she was dead and gone. Those days and nights at sea carved out sort of an emptiness for pirates, leaving nothing but dirt swirling in a heart that had gone creaky and hollow - it was different, now that she’d experienced love of all types, romantic and familial and the love of friendship. “You’ve earned it too,” she insisted. “Running around solving everyone’s problems and all - I’m glad you’ve taken some time for yourself here, some space for yourself to be with the person you love.” Alright, that was enough sap - Isabela could only handle so much before she’d come down with a case of hives or something. “Now that I’m about to upchuck - what about Satinalia? You’ve already been recruiting some help?” They could pick a week to hold the festivities, at the very least - nail in a date. That would be something to work toward. --- Had she earned it though? She’d doomed their world, hadn’t she? But still she knew not to argue it. She was being selfish, claiming as much of Anders as she possibly could and not regretting a single instant of it. “It is nice to get to do that. To have him.” She added with a smile. She chuckled then and released ‘Bela. She wasn’t about to push for more mushy stuff. ‘Bela was a lot sweeter then she gave herself credit for, but Hawke would never push. “Have, yes. That one kid with the baking he’s on board. I’m thinking of a large center piece baked dragon, something impressive. Because one, well dragons I don’t know why none of you are as excited as me about them, and two and I cannot stress this enough but fuck the Chantry. He seems keen for it and that kid can bake. I’m tempted to just install him in Skyhold’s kitchens. Gowns and masks people can get on their own once we explain the concept behind it. There’s a few regular cooks I’m eyeing for the feast itself, and I’m thinking more than one if we want to do it proper.” Despite claiming she had no head for this, her Mother had instilled a few things in her. Hawke just didn’t like bringing up the proper noble part of her. “We’ll need a voting system for the fool and to touch base with the DOA and the local politics to see how much of the ‘gets to rule for a day’ thing we’ll be allowed to do. I think as long as we get to keep it silly and whatever rules they toss out aren’t hurtful or lasting we can make a case for it. We can do the present part too, either explain it to the rest and let them decide if they want to do that or keep it between us.” “The where is easy. Skyhold has two large spaces we can use and the fool can sit over it all in that throne of the Inquisitors, which I never got one what the fuck.” She waved her hand, “when well Satinalia’s supposed to be the beginning of the month so if we take the first week of the month it correlates to here it should work. We’ll need decorations and I’m thinking Jester for those. I’ll talk to Dorian to see if he knows more about Zazikel before you know It turned all shitty on us and how we might incorporate it.” she’d spent some time on this. It was a very good distraction. --- Oooh, colour Isabela impressed. Hawke and her party-planning skills - but Bela was always glad to help, since she didn’t want her dear friend having to deal with it all on her own. And she certainly didn’t believe any Hawke doomed the world, any world - things would have unfolded as they did, with or without her, in some way or another; there were many threats to the world at large starting to bubble and simmer beneath Hawke’s nose during their time in Kirkwall, but there was little she personally could do about them, and eventually they boiled over. The fact that none of them had to deal with that particular brand of shit here was nice, admittedly. “You’ve really thought about this already, haven’t you?” she grinned, and was pleased by all the detail - it really was a good distraction, and it was doing something grand for everyone in Vallo, and the Outlanders did seem to enjoy a good party. “First week in November, then? That’s when it correlates, I believe,” she said. “Probably need to go to the DOA as soon as possible though - politics always take awhile to hammer out.” But she couldn’t picture any elected Fool making decisions to the detriment of others - if that happened, they’d just knock him or her off their pedestal. This was supposed to be fun. -- Hawke sighed and nodded. “Mother is so pleased right now. She’s telling the Maker, well probably Andraste, how well I’m doing and how she always knew I had it in me.” It was helpfully ignoring how there was a tower Hawke wanted to tear down with her teeth, and couldn’t. “All those lessons stuck. Despite my best effort.” She nodded and took out her device, making a few notes and seeing who in the DOA she could approach about this. She’d worked for them so she was reasonably sure she could sell this. She just had to find a way to phrase it. She’d always been blunt, so politics weren’t her strongest suit. “I’m probably forgetting loads though. It’s always the little details that escape you.” --- “We’ve got plenty of time to hammer those out too,” Bela assured. “Everytime I think of something off the top of my head, I’ll make note of it. Make a list.” She also took out her device, and while she tended to prefer the journals to write in for communication purposes, the little talky boxes were a lot smaller and easier to carry around. So she just opened up a draft note and typed in a few things, in bullet points. There, list started. “Alright, now I’ve got to get back to work - the proprietor of this place will get all snippy with me if I don’t do the job.” There was a twinkle in her eyes at that; of course she was teasing. --- “Oh, aye,” she added as she rose. “Real hard one, she is. Making you do all the things she doesn’t want.” It was easy to tease, easy to fall into habits like that. “Wouldn’t blame you for ensuring she stays happy. But you know. No one’s getting cursed so it’s a plus from the last guy.” Smiling she walked over to kiss ‘Bela’s forehead. It was a simple gesture of unending affection. Hawke was never happier as when she had those she could care for. |