![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[ He slots this into what he's already heard from her—that the circus cared for her after her mother died for as long as they were able, that she was recruited when she was eleven, that the remnants of her troupe are out there somewhere but likely wouldn't recognize her except by her resemblance to her mother.
And he considers the quick segue into another topic, and ignores it to insist on saying, ]
I'm really sorry that that happened.
And he considers the quick segue into another topic, and ignores it to insist on saying, ]
I'm really sorry that that happened.
[ A breath—
He doesn't know what Byerly might have said to her out of his earshot, about saving or not saving everyone. He can imagine him saying they should as easily as he can imagine him saying it's impossible—the constant ebb and flow between his cynicism and earnestness.
But. ]
Knowing something and accepting it emotionally are two different things. No? He was never like us. He was hired on in his twenties. And before he came to Kirkwall, he had only killed twice. Once to protect someone, when he was younger, and then that man right before he came here. Self-defense, but he still he took it so hard. He was an information gatherer, not an assassin. He was never numbed to it. And I'm glad.
He doesn't know what Byerly might have said to her out of his earshot, about saving or not saving everyone. He can imagine him saying they should as easily as he can imagine him saying it's impossible—the constant ebb and flow between his cynicism and earnestness.
But. ]
Knowing something and accepting it emotionally are two different things. No? He was never like us. He was hired on in his twenties. And before he came to Kirkwall, he had only killed twice. Once to protect someone, when he was younger, and then that man right before he came here. Self-defense, but he still he took it so hard. He was an information gatherer, not an assassin. He was never numbed to it. And I'm glad.
[ to say that ness is nervous to have this conversation is an understatement, but julius wasn't wrong that it needs to be had. there's a reason, though, that she's waited this long to bring it up, and it's that she needed time to rehearse. ]
Scoutmaster, this is Quartermaster Tavane speaking. May I have a few minutes of your time for an in-person meeting? It doesn't directly relate to our work, but it is, um. Relevant, I should think.
[ A knock-knock on the door to the Scouting office. ]
Scoutmaster? You in here? [ Clarisse is half-hoping that Yseult is in there so she can get the information she needs, but half-hoping that the room is empty. After the past week, coming face to face with anyone in Riftwatch but especially one of the div heads feels like it's gonna be emotionally taxing. ]
Scoutmaster? You in here? [ Clarisse is half-hoping that Yseult is in there so she can get the information she needs, but half-hoping that the room is empty. After the past week, coming face to face with anyone in Riftwatch but especially one of the div heads feels like it's gonna be emotionally taxing. ]
[ She doesn't have to linger in suspense. ]
Come in, [ Yseult calls. She's at her desk, tucking her crystal on its chain back into the neck of her sweater. ] What can I help you with, Miss-- [ the pause is only a beat but makes her brow furrow and lips thin in irritation. This should not still be happening! She finds one name, at least. ] Clarisse.
Come in, [ Yseult calls. She's at her desk, tucking her crystal on its chain back into the neck of her sweater. ] What can I help you with, Miss-- [ the pause is only a beat but makes her brow furrow and lips thin in irritation. This should not still be happening! She finds one name, at least. ] Clarisse.
[ Yseult remembers her name. Okay, that's a good sign. Clarisse relaxes a tiny bit. Marginally. ]
I was talking to Benedict just now and realized that I... can't remember where we went last week, or what happened to Isaac there. [ The fact that she is essentially admitting that they left him behind and that she doesn't know if he's even alive isn't lost on her, and she's kind of freaking out about it, but doing her best not to show that aside from the fact that her palms are suddenly sweaty as hell. ]
And—that has to be something to do with what happened here. Everyone forgetting us, I mean, that has to be connected somehow. And he suggested we look here for the location of the mission.
[ Of course, Benedict isn't with her now. He's breaking into Isaac's room. ]
I was talking to Benedict just now and realized that I... can't remember where we went last week, or what happened to Isaac there. [ The fact that she is essentially admitting that they left him behind and that she doesn't know if he's even alive isn't lost on her, and she's kind of freaking out about it, but doing her best not to show that aside from the fact that her palms are suddenly sweaty as hell. ]
And—that has to be something to do with what happened here. Everyone forgetting us, I mean, that has to be connected somehow. And he suggested we look here for the location of the mission.
[ Of course, Benedict isn't with her now. He's breaking into Isaac's room. ]
[ There are two chairs available in front of Yseult's desk but Clarisse doesn't strike her as someone who will be made less tense by sitting. Instead of gesturing her toward them, she folds her hands and leans onto her forearms. ]
A connection does seem likely. What do you remember about this mission, and about Isaac? [ Two things she is searching her own mind for right now and coming up empty on, not that she intends to say so. ]
A connection does seem likely. What do you remember about this mission, and about Isaac? [ Two things she is searching her own mind for right now and coming up empty on, not that she intends to say so. ]
Edited 2025-01-25 19:14 (UTC)
[ A fair assessment. She's gonna stand right here and look stressed af. ]
I remember we were going to mess with some kind of Venatori experiment. And I remember that something happened before we were ready for it. I... remember Isaac being there with us, but everything's foggy. The specifics of what happened, I mean, or how we ended up leaving. On the way back it felt like we'd done the job, we weren't—we weren't worried we were being followed or upset because we'd missed something.
[ Nothing seemed wrong until they'd gotten back to Kirkwall, where it had initially seemed more likely that something bad had happened in the Gallows than to the returning group. ]
I remember we were going to mess with some kind of Venatori experiment. And I remember that something happened before we were ready for it. I... remember Isaac being there with us, but everything's foggy. The specifics of what happened, I mean, or how we ended up leaving. On the way back it felt like we'd done the job, we weren't—we weren't worried we were being followed or upset because we'd missed something.
[ Nothing seemed wrong until they'd gotten back to Kirkwall, where it had initially seemed more likely that something bad had happened in the Gallows than to the returning group. ]
[ A small leather-bound notebook sits to the left of the blotter on Yseult's desk; she reaches for it now, extracts the stub of pencil tucked between its pages, and makes a a couple quick notes. This seems like a situation where written records are more necessary than usual. ]
Think back earlier, [ she prompts, a circling gesture with the pencil ] what's the last thing you remember clearly? Do you remember setting out on the mission? Packing for it?
Think back earlier, [ she prompts, a circling gesture with the pencil ] what's the last thing you remember clearly? Do you remember setting out on the mission? Packing for it?
[ Think back. When Clarisse tries to remember the trip out, it's hazy. Horses, her pack, group chatter she can't recall the specifics of. Packing... ]
I remember packing. Cold weather clothes. I think we went west, but not too far. Maybe Orlais.
I remember packing. Cold weather clothes. I think we went west, but not too far. Maybe Orlais.
That narrows it down.
[ Not sarcastic. Yseult rises, steps around her desk with a swish of skirts (wool, marine blue) to cross to the map table against the wall. Several maps are already unrolled across it, held down by smooth stone markers at the corners. She extracts the second one down and moves it to the top, a map of western Thedas, Kirkwall at the righthand margin. ]
If you packed for cold weather, it was either in the mountains, [ she sweeps a hand across the Blasted Hills climbing up into the Hunterhorns ] or west south-west. A Venatori experiment of any size or importance would likely require more security than they'd find in the Fields of Ghislain or the area around Val Royeaux. The mountains, then, or maybe the marshes. Do you recall how you traveled there?
[ Not sarcastic. Yseult rises, steps around her desk with a swish of skirts (wool, marine blue) to cross to the map table against the wall. Several maps are already unrolled across it, held down by smooth stone markers at the corners. She extracts the second one down and moves it to the top, a map of western Thedas, Kirkwall at the righthand margin. ]
If you packed for cold weather, it was either in the mountains, [ she sweeps a hand across the Blasted Hills climbing up into the Hunterhorns ] or west south-west. A Venatori experiment of any size or importance would likely require more security than they'd find in the Fields of Ghislain or the area around Val Royeaux. The mountains, then, or maybe the marshes. Do you recall how you traveled there?
Edited 2025-02-06 01:24 (UTC)
[ Stepping over to stand closer to the map, and watching the place Yseult is sweeping a hand over, Clarisse sounds confident when she answers, ] Horseback.
[ This, at least, she knows for certain because of the way they came back to the Gallows (tried to, anyway). On foot at the docks, waiting for the ferry to cross. If they'd taken griffons they would have that step entirely, and who knows how they would have been greeted when they'd landed. At least waiting together for the ferry meant they were in a group when they realized something had gone wrong. ]
[ This, at least, she knows for certain because of the way they came back to the Gallows (tried to, anyway). On foot at the docks, waiting for the ferry to cross. If they'd taken griffons they would have that step entirely, and who knows how they would have been greeted when they'd landed. At least waiting together for the ferry meant they were in a group when they realized something had gone wrong. ]
[ Of course, they'd arrived at the Gallows ferry, not emerged from the Crossroads (that would have been even more of a security nightmare). ]
Too far to ride from the Hunterhorns when there's an eluvian. Did you bring a pack back with you? If you've mud on your things we might be able to tell if it's come from the Nahashin. I'll check my files for activity in that area. We should check Research as well. Have you spoken with Cosima?
Too far to ride from the Hunterhorns when there's an eluvian. Did you bring a pack back with you? If you've mud on your things we might be able to tell if it's come from the Nahashin. I'll check my files for activity in that area. We should check Research as well. Have you spoken with Cosima?
Yeah, I had one. I'll take a look at it. [ She's not sure if it would still have mud on it after her impromptu swim in the harbor, but she'll check anyway.
And as for Cosima, ] I haven't talked to anyone yet except for you and Benedict. We should gather the others who went on the mission, too, right? Maybe they'll remember more than I do, or different details.
And as for Cosima, ] I haven't talked to anyone yet except for you and Benedict. We should gather the others who went on the mission, too, right? Maybe they'll remember more than I do, or different details.
[ Yseult nods and returns to her desk, spreading open her notebook bracing her weight on a straight arm. ]
Yes, we should. Remind me of everyone you recall joining the mission. [ She'll jot down their names before asking ] Why did you come to me first?
Yes, we should. Remind me of everyone you recall joining the mission. [ She'll jot down their names before asking ] Why did you come to me first?
[ She's tapping her fingers on the desk, very lightly. ]
Benedict suggested it. We figured you'd be likely to know where we went. Or to be able to figure it out, at least. [ And they were right, so! ]
Benedict suggested it. We figured you'd be likely to know where we went. Or to be able to figure it out, at least. [ And they were right, so! ]
Page 55 of 55