The Roof, Monday Morning

[cracksmostly]

So. Merrill had discovered the roof, and more relevant to her interests, the rooftop garden. This had been entirely by accident, as she'd been trying to get from her dorm room to the preserve at the time, and don't ask how exactly point A led to point C by way of missing point B because she'd been a little too lost in her thoughts at the time and certainly wouldn't be able to tell you. It was fine, though, since tending the spiky little plants was a job that appealed to her. It'd worked out well as far as she was concerned.

Having finished with that, she settled down near the edge of the roof, not too far away from the garden. It wasn't the same as being out in the preserve, but still quieter up here than in the dorms.

Somehow, at some point in the last week or so and equally by accident, she had also managed to find the library -- that accounted for the small stack of books beside her. They were all supposed to pertain to elven history, but whether she'd find anything useful in them was entirely up in the air -- so far none of them seemed to be the elven history of her world. She was determined to go through all of them thoroughly, though, and then when she was done she'd turn them in and check out a few more, and so on.

Safe to say that, ever since she'd met that Witch of the Wilds at the party a few weekends back, she was just a little tiny bit obsessed with the idea of finding and restoring an eluvian. It was her duty to preserve and recover what she could of the elves' lost culture, and this? This would definitely count.

[OOC: Open? Definitely open.]

Comments

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra was attracted by the sudden appearance of an aggravation of Thedosians was still mildly annoyed at Garik. She felt it might be prudent to get some air and cope with her own grievances.

So she had wandered up to the roof to do just that.

She came to a stop when she reached the end of the stairs. "Elf."

[cracksmostly]

"Seeker," Merrill replied, with a slightly dubious nod, though it was still a comparatively cordial greeting. Hello to you too, Cassandra!

[seeks_truth]

"I see you have found the roof," Cassandra said.

It made for a rather terrible greeting, but she was not entirely sure what to do with a rogue elvish apostate.

[cracksmostly]

Well, who was, really.

"I meant to go to the preserve, but I got lost," Merrill explained, matter-of-factly. "But it isn't so bad up here, and I like the view. Is that why you're here?"

She could see it being an attraction, yes.

[seeks_truth]

"I-- yes," Cassandra admitted. Almost grudgingly, though Merrill had so far proven herself to be the least vexing of the Thedosians on the island. "It is a good place to compose one's self - or simply get a breath of air. So I... came here to do so."

[cracksmostly]

"Well, there's plenty of room," Merrill said, nodding. "Do you come up here often?"

[seeks_truth]

"Not often, no," Cassandra said. "But occasionally."

She fidgeted in a way she would've preferred not to. "You do realize the preserve is down, and the roof is up?"

[cracksmostly]

"Oh, well, I didn't really have to be there for any reason, and I found this place, so it's fine that I went the wrong way," Merrill said lightly, and patted one of the plant containers. "It's probably better if I don't take the books out to the woods."

[seeks_truth]

"It would likely give them a better chance of remaining intact," Cassandra agreed, looking at said plant. "Which the librarian would appreciate. Still, if you have such trouble finding your way on the grounds, perhaps it would be best to ask another student to accompany you?"

[good_for_six]

"Cassie!" Because they were totally at a place they could use nicknames. Yep. "What's this I hear about quality reading?"

Well, she had someone else to be annoyed at now?

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra let out an ugh before she as much as turned around to face Isabela. "None of your business," she said flatly.

[good_for_six]

"If there's decent smut to be read it's my business," Isabela cheerfully argued. "I'm a great connoisseur of the form."

Also philosophical texts, but there was no need to go spreading that around.

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra had already decided weeks ago that it was vitally important she keep this one away from Garik. She now felt even better about this decision.

"Then you will read your smut elsewhere," she said. "I am not interested."

[good_for_six]

That narrative was just inviting trouble.

"But you're the one who knows where the scandalous stuff is and I've always found it better shared."

[seeks_truth]

"I do not know of anything scandalous," Cassandra said.

Now that would have been a lie even before she met Face. Cough.

"And even if I did, I believe that is the kind of material to be enjoyed in private."

[good_for_six]

"...ooh, was your sparkly boy giving you a public reading, then? Is that what the radio was on about?"

No jury in the world would convict you, Cass.

[seeks_truth]

Beautiful, wonderful visions of punching Isabela danced before Cassandra's eyes. Unfortunately she was well aware of her habit of - cough - overdoing such things when she got started, and so she relented.

"Perhaps you should spend less time on idle gossip, and more time on making something of yourself."

[not_every_mage]

"Well-spotted, Cassandra," Anders grinned. "Merrill is an elf. Your vision is flawless."

[seeks_truth]

"Mage," Cassandra said flatly.

Whether it was a greeting, or a way to spite him within the context of the conversation-- the answer was yes.

[not_every_mage]

Anders nodded, biting back a smile. "Seeker," he informed Cassandra calmly, then began pointing at various things around the roof. "Bird. Tree. Pebbles. Spiky plant. Isabela's cleavage. Any other objects we should name today?"

... he liked spiting her far too much, really.

[seeks_truth]

She ignored him. It was the only sane course. "What have you been doing of late?" Cassandra asked, not expecting a particularly intricate answer. Still. There was only so much radio could tell her about his movements.

[not_every_mage]

"Naming things," Anders told her, unable to let anything go that easily, and then shrugged. "Also, class, and work, and trying to convince Lachlan to be a proper familiar."

He paused, trying to decide if Cassandra deserved any more details, and gave her one.

"I met my future king the other weekend, when all the guests were about. He said hello."

This was not strictly accurate, no, but he didn't think Cassandra's ego needed to hear the 'right hand of the divine' bit.

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra's ego was somewhat smaller than one expected in some of the strangest places.

"Your future king?" she said skeptically. "Who, Cailan?"

[not_every_mage]

"His little brother. Maric has a bastard somewhere, or will have." Anders wasn't entirely clear on the timeline. "... which is information I'm sure someone would pay me well for at home, so it's a pity I'm here. Anyhow, Alistair didn't seem like an entirely bad sort, even if he was a Templar once."

[seeks_truth]

"It would not surprise me if he did," Cassandra said mildly. "The tales of Maric are not always kind."

A pause.

"And there is little wrong with Templars. There are many good people among their stock."