WHO: Two Geckos + an assortment of guest stars WHAT: Summary of content WHEN: Late Bloomingtide WHERE: The Gallows, misc. Kirkwall haunts. NOTES: Will update as needed.
The view being nice isn't exactly what he was after, but that doesn't mean he can't appreciate it. He takes a few steps out, stops to look out over the wall, already mentally making note of landmarks, distances, even if something in his head still baulks at the architecture of the place.
"How did it end up with a name like that, anyway?"
The mention of the name had almost been enough for him and Seth to bolt from the cart they'd been picked up in. It wasn't exactly the most welcoming idea to throw at aliens from another reality, whether they were professional criminals or not.
By contrast, Derrica has set down her cup on the stone, begun unwrapping the soft cloth around her late night snack. Her gaze drops, holds on her hands as she weighs up the question.
He is a Rifter. He has a right to know, but it's such a tangled history.
She wishes Holden were here. Maybe he would know better how to say all of this.
"Kirkwall was part of Tevinter, before it was part of the Free Marches," Derrica begins, reaching to set her cup in front of him. Just in case. "The Gallows Fortress was where slaves passed through, before they were sold through the Imperium. I don't know who named it, but I imagine it was fitting."
She smooths her fingers along the hem of the cloth, before continuing, "I think the people who decided to keep their mages confined in this place weren't unaware of that history when they chose it."
She's only halfway through her answer when Richard realises how dumb a question it was. That the place hadn't ended up with a name like The Gallows for shits and giggles, but because it had, at some point, housed a gallows. This wouldn't be the first time Richard's stumbled into the painful history of a people that he was now entangled with, and he can't help but be reminded of Kisa, a little, in the way this woman holds herself as she recounts it.
He's silent, for a moment, after she's finished, reaching for the cup, gently setting it back down in front of her. It's not cold enough here to bother him, yet.
"But they've kept the name, even though it's HQ for this now." This accompanied with a quiet flash of the green in his palm. Was it honouring the past, or lingering in it?
"This was a Circle until only six or seven years ago," Derrica tells him, nudging the bread and cheese, the bunch of grapes, towards him in silent offer. The explanation comes without Richie needing to ask: "A Circle is what it's called in Thedas when a place is meant to sequester mages. Kirkwall choose this fortress."
No one had thought to rename it then. No one had brought up the idea of renaming it when it had been made to house the Inquisition, then turned over to house Riftwatch.
Derrica wonders how many care for the history of his place. It's an easy thing to ignore, when it's set out to sea.
"It's only on loan to Riftwatch. I think they'll wait to decide what to make of the name until the war is over and they know whether or not the Circles are to be reinstated."
A place to sequester mages called the Gallows. Richard doesn't need the details of that spelled out, nor the threads running through it to the idea of the name not needing to be changed if the Circles were reinstated.
"And how many mages are fighting for them in this war?"
He takes a grape, to be polite, but doesn't eat it yet. He's focussed, now, watching her face.
Maybe someone knows exactly the number of mages that had joined the rebellion, and how many of them had gone on to the Inquisition, how many had splintered, how many were breaking for the opposite side.
Derrica doesn't. She also doesn't care to ask.
"A lot of us. Some are part of the Inquisition, and you'll find them on the Exalted March. Some are here. And some are keeping out of it, or choosing other paths for themselves."
A beat, before she adds, "You should know, the Chantry regards Rifters almost the same as they regard mages."
He hadn't really been after an exact number. Just confirmation on his suspicions that there were some - and she's confirmed even further than that, the us that slides in there. Of course there wouldn't be any visible signs of it, just like there were currently no visible signs of him being a culebra.
But he has an extra on top of that now. He lifts his hand at her mention of Rifters, looking at the green splinter that definitely did visibly mark him. His mouth presses, wry irritation.
"So we fight their war, then they maybe stick us in places like this."
Not like this, how it was now. But however it had been to get the name Gallows.
Observing his study of his anchor, Holden comes to Derrica's mind. There is little similarity between these two men. There is only the fact that Derrica desperately wishes she could send Richie his way.
She misses him. Always, but these moments are a painful reminder.
A sip from her cup, gathering herself, before she settles on what to say next.
"No," Derrica corrects gently. "We fight their war, and then we return to fighting them."
Whether this is a comfort or not—
Well, it depends on the Rifter, she's found. Thedas is a big continent, but a shard is not an easy thing to hide.
The apology would almost be a surprise, if she hadn't already given the impression of being that kind of person: offering more understanding and care in a situation than most. There's a backbone in there, though, that certainty in what was going to come and what she was going to do about it. He watches her and realises he's trying to avoid comparing her to Kate, abruptly reaches for another grape like the motion will knock the realisation and everything attached away.
"I prefer knowing what we're dealing with. I don't like being blindsided."
He pops the grape in his mouth, glancing up at the unfamiliar sky.
It's a help, Derrica thinks. Thedas seems to always be strange in a way that is very different than what Rifters expect, but it seems there is always some similarity to be found. (Rarely are those flattering or positive similarities, but.) She folds over the edge of the cloth, food going untouched for the moment.
"Were you fighting a war, where you came from?"
Or fighting something. Maybe not a war, but something close. A battle of a sorts.
He gives it a moments consideration, weighing up ideas on what war looks like, the situations they'd had to deal with, the final showdown in a tiny, dusty town.
"Could say we'd just finished one."
And been able to walk off into the sunset afterwards.
"Then maybe you'll have some insight as to what we should be doing here."
Ha, ha.
It's not exactly a joke. Rifters bring a wholly new viewpoint with them. Holden had often seen things Derrica couldn't. Ellie and Abby both had such specific approaches to the work done here. And this man, as careful and precise as he has already shown himself to be, may well offer something similar.
But if they've been shown nothing so far, it's that Corypheus and all his armies are going to require more than the inventiveness of any one person.
Like he'd say no to that. Looking at a plan and finding what was wrong, or what could be better, that was what he did. Whether he and Seth were really going to get involved in this war or not, he'd probably catch something that needed adjusting at some point.
But he won't entirely ignore the learning curve they were dealing with.
"You're a few hundred years behind, technology wise. Makes the fighting kind of different."
It's only by the grace of James Holden that Derrica has any context for this statement.
"We can teach you," she volunteers instead, rather than pile up questions as to the exact nature of technology and how it might apply. She has some idea of it. She also knows that questions don't always lead to clarity, and Richard is still new to her. Too new to put the burden of explaining such things onto him.
"But that's only if you want to fight. Some don't."
No judgement in that statement. Rifters get so few choices in their presence here. How can anyone begrudge them the very few things they do get to decide on?
He shrugs a little at that. No, he and Seth haven't really figured out how they're playing this whole set up, but Richard isn't ever going to turn down the chance to gain more skills. And then there was the whole circles thing, as she'd so gently charted out for him.
"You weren't really making it sound like we'd have a choice about it, further down the line."
If not the war, then for their own personal freedom.
An opinion, yes. There are people who would disagree, even within Riftwatch. But it feels so inevitable to her. Nothing has shown her otherwise.
"But for now, while Corypheus is a bigger threat and you are among us, you have the option to stay here and never take on a mission, or a fight. Rifters have that option."
One of the few choices afforded to them, really. Not a single Rifter chose to come, and none of them can leave of their own accord. This is the one small grace Riftwatch can offer, even if Derrica knows how begrudged it is in some corners.
"Until the big bad comes knocking on the door, and we have to fight anyway."
It follows on neatly at the end of her statement. Her opinion of the circles coming for Rifters might be just that, an opinion, but from what Richard knew of Corypheus, it was way more of a certainty. He tips his head slightly.
"I get it. You're trying to give us an out. It's a nice thought."
But Seth was already going to be looking for excuses, high and low, just like he had with Amaru. And just like with Amaru, there didn't really look to be a reliable, long-term exit from the potential consequences of things going sideways. So: better to stick around. Make sure they didn't go sideways.
Someday, Corypheus would not longer be a threat. Derrica never doubts of their victory against Tevinter.
But she knows that once they manage that victory, the Chantry will remember that they were in the process of waging a different war. And Kostos' warnings never leave her. They had not been winning, not then.
"If it was a real option, maybe." Maybe not. There was enough going on here to keep him interested, but there was Seth to consider. Not just in his preferences, which would be, of course, to get out of an involvement at all, but his safety. He wasn't a culebra. He couldn't survive as much as Richard could.
Luckily he doesn't have to think about that too much, because there isn't an option to consider.
"But you don't get to bail on a tsunami - sooner or later, your feet are gonna get wet."
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no subject
"How did it end up with a name like that, anyway?"
The mention of the name had almost been enough for him and Seth to bolt from the cart they'd been picked up in. It wasn't exactly the most welcoming idea to throw at aliens from another reality, whether they were professional criminals or not.
no subject
He is a Rifter. He has a right to know, but it's such a tangled history.
She wishes Holden were here. Maybe he would know better how to say all of this.
"Kirkwall was part of Tevinter, before it was part of the Free Marches," Derrica begins, reaching to set her cup in front of him. Just in case. "The Gallows Fortress was where slaves passed through, before they were sold through the Imperium. I don't know who named it, but I imagine it was fitting."
She smooths her fingers along the hem of the cloth, before continuing, "I think the people who decided to keep their mages confined in this place weren't unaware of that history when they chose it."
no subject
He's silent, for a moment, after she's finished, reaching for the cup, gently setting it back down in front of her. It's not cold enough here to bother him, yet.
"But they've kept the name, even though it's HQ for this now." This accompanied with a quiet flash of the green in his palm. Was it honouring the past, or lingering in it?
no subject
No one had thought to rename it then. No one had brought up the idea of renaming it when it had been made to house the Inquisition, then turned over to house Riftwatch.
Derrica wonders how many care for the history of his place. It's an easy thing to ignore, when it's set out to sea.
"It's only on loan to Riftwatch. I think they'll wait to decide what to make of the name until the war is over and they know whether or not the Circles are to be reinstated."
no subject
"And how many mages are fighting for them in this war?"
He takes a grape, to be polite, but doesn't eat it yet. He's focussed, now, watching her face.
no subject
Maybe someone knows exactly the number of mages that had joined the rebellion, and how many of them had gone on to the Inquisition, how many had splintered, how many were breaking for the opposite side.
Derrica doesn't. She also doesn't care to ask.
"A lot of us. Some are part of the Inquisition, and you'll find them on the Exalted March. Some are here. And some are keeping out of it, or choosing other paths for themselves."
A beat, before she adds, "You should know, the Chantry regards Rifters almost the same as they regard mages."
no subject
But he has an extra on top of that now. He lifts his hand at her mention of Rifters, looking at the green splinter that definitely did visibly mark him. His mouth presses, wry irritation.
"So we fight their war, then they maybe stick us in places like this."
Not like this, how it was now. But however it had been to get the name Gallows.
no subject
She misses him. Always, but these moments are a painful reminder.
A sip from her cup, gathering herself, before she settles on what to say next.
"No," Derrica corrects gently. "We fight their war, and then we return to fighting them."
Whether this is a comfort or not—
Well, it depends on the Rifter, she's found. Thedas is a big continent, but a shard is not an easy thing to hide.
no subject
"Not going to just stay put and let them round you up, huh?"
no subject
Unwavering.
It is noted, his reaction. He is steadier in his response than some have been in the past, but still—
"I'm sorry. I know it is a lot to take in, when you are already in a strange place."
no subject
"I prefer knowing what we're dealing with. I don't like being blindsided."
He pops the grape in his mouth, glancing up at the unfamiliar sky.
"And you could say I'm used to strange."
As much of an oxymoron as that was.
that's a good icon js
Even Holden, in his way.
It's a help, Derrica thinks. Thedas seems to always be strange in a way that is very different than what Rifters expect, but it seems there is always some similarity to be found. (Rarely are those flattering or positive similarities, but.) She folds over the edge of the cloth, food going untouched for the moment.
"Were you fighting a war, where you came from?"
Or fighting something. Maybe not a war, but something close. A battle of a sorts.
they all are
"Could say we'd just finished one."
And been able to walk off into the sunset afterwards.
true
Ha, ha.
It's not exactly a joke. Rifters bring a wholly new viewpoint with them. Holden had often seen things Derrica couldn't. Ellie and Abby both had such specific approaches to the work done here. And this man, as careful and precise as he has already shown himself to be, may well offer something similar.
But if they've been shown nothing so far, it's that Corypheus and all his armies are going to require more than the inventiveness of any one person.
no subject
Like he'd say no to that. Looking at a plan and finding what was wrong, or what could be better, that was what he did. Whether he and Seth were really going to get involved in this war or not, he'd probably catch something that needed adjusting at some point.
But he won't entirely ignore the learning curve they were dealing with.
"You're a few hundred years behind, technology wise. Makes the fighting kind of different."
That and the lack of culebra.
no subject
"We can teach you," she volunteers instead, rather than pile up questions as to the exact nature of technology and how it might apply. She has some idea of it. She also knows that questions don't always lead to clarity, and Richard is still new to her. Too new to put the burden of explaining such things onto him.
"But that's only if you want to fight. Some don't."
No judgement in that statement. Rifters get so few choices in their presence here. How can anyone begrudge them the very few things they do get to decide on?
no subject
"You weren't really making it sound like we'd have a choice about it, further down the line."
If not the war, then for their own personal freedom.
no subject
An opinion, yes. There are people who would disagree, even within Riftwatch. But it feels so inevitable to her. Nothing has shown her otherwise.
"But for now, while Corypheus is a bigger threat and you are among us, you have the option to stay here and never take on a mission, or a fight. Rifters have that option."
One of the few choices afforded to them, really. Not a single Rifter chose to come, and none of them can leave of their own accord. This is the one small grace Riftwatch can offer, even if Derrica knows how begrudged it is in some corners.
no subject
It follows on neatly at the end of her statement. Her opinion of the circles coming for Rifters might be just that, an opinion, but from what Richard knew of Corypheus, it was way more of a certainty. He tips his head slightly.
"I get it. You're trying to give us an out. It's a nice thought."
But Seth was already going to be looking for excuses, high and low, just like he had with Amaru. And just like with Amaru, there didn't really look to be a reliable, long-term exit from the potential consequences of things going sideways. So: better to stick around. Make sure they didn't go sideways.
no subject
But she knows that once they manage that victory, the Chantry will remember that they were in the process of waging a different war. And Kostos' warnings never leave her. They had not been winning, not then.
"And you aren't interested in taking it?"
no subject
Luckily he doesn't have to think about that too much, because there isn't an option to consider.
"But you don't get to bail on a tsunami - sooner or later, your feet are gonna get wet."