C'est la vie

[aceso]

WHO: Christine + OPEN
WHAT: A catch up post.
WHEN: Kingsway 8th to the start of Harvestmere
WHERE: Skyhold + off somewhere with Korrin
NOTES: Mention of the death of a loved one possible?

Part of her wishes she could have stayed with her mother, but now that Maman was living with Uncle Pierre, Christine knew she was safe (and that her uncle wouldn't want a mage in his house). Besides, she has her duties to the Inquisition as a healer and a researcher of red lyrium. When she returns, she plans to throw herself back into her work, but the new addition to her life has other plans.

{ adventures in dog-sitting }
The dog is her mother's. She repeats this to anyone who asks after the lively little fellow, lest they think she actually chose to adopt him of her own volition. Oh, no. This duty was put on her by a woman blubbering into her handkerchief, asking what was to become of her precious Poncelet because her brother wouldn't allow her to bring him. Uncle Pierre is a real ass. But Christine takes this very seriously despite her dislike of ill-behaved canines. She watches little Ponce like a hawk, and it takes awhile for her to warm to the idea of anyone else looking after him. But she does give in because she needs to work without a yapping dog at her heels. One day finds her marching after the prancing dog holding a broken leash in one hand.

"Ponce, sit. Sit." But every time she approaches to try and catch him, the dog scrambles further back, thinking it's a game. The poor thing has spent its life with a sickly woman who never played more than tug-of-war with him. It's time to have some fun.


{ at the healing tents }
It's business as usual for this healer. Christine spents her day attending to patients, both bedridden and walk ins. When not doing that, she can be found in a tent with an opened flap, mixing up potions or poultices. It's quiet, repetitive work that leaves far too much time for thinking. Thinking about her father and the opportunity she missed to ever know him. She has gotten most of her tears out, but at times she stares off into space, tears collecting in the corners of her eyes. Sometimes Ponce can be seen sleeping on a pillow in the corner, his leash looped under a chair leg so he doesn't run away. Whenever someone enters, however, he wakes up and starts barking at the stranger.


{ creating a spirit blade }
Once she returns from visiting her mother, Christine throws herself into as much as possible, and one of those things is becoming a Knight-Enchanter. She's watched Korrin wield her blade and has seen how long her barrier can sustain itself. It's something she wants to pursue, so she makes contact with Commander Helaine and is impressed with her forward manner. She's instructed on the book to read and given two kinds of items she must collect to form her spirit blade. The reading comes first, naturally. And once she's understood everything written, she and Korrin head out to gather the supplies. First is the Exalted Plains for lazurite. No one can blame her for putting off a return to the Fallow Mire for wisp essence.


{ learning to ride a horse }
Another skill Christine wants to have is learning to ride on her own. She knows it's terribly inconvenient to always be asking others on missions to let her ride with them. Her first lesson is with one of Master Dennet's apprentices and she's grateful he starts her out on a very tame mare. She does her best to follow instructions, but can't help being stiff on the horse's back for fear of falling off. If others approach, her voice is high and breathy as if she may be in danger of passing out or at the very least shrieking at any unexpected movement.

Once the lesson is over and her feet are on solid ground again, she's more amenable to chatting and explaining why she wishes to learn.

Comments

[aceso]

There's a buzzing sound in her ears as she descends from the horse and she has to find a place to lean against because her legs feel like they may give out from under her. It feels ridiculous to be so frightened of this, but she is a worrier by nature and she sees herself being thrown and hitting her head off the ground.

Eventually she calms down and moves over to where Bruce is being given some special attention.

"How nice you have someone to do your hair for you," she states dryly.

[amygdalae]

There's a sigh at that, the exasperation all too audible in it as Bruce attempts to get the dracolisk to stop - but of course it doesn't, and Bruce gives up for the moment with a sigh.

"I think losing my hair is more probable than anything else," he returns, voice equally dry. Now that it's not being hindered anymore the dracolisk happily presses its snout into his hair, and needless to say it gives off a very interesting picture of Bruce right now.

Bruce pointedly ignores it as he continues to speak with Christine. "How was your lesson?" Since it's not like he couldn't not notice it anyway.

[aceso]

"Perhaps you should shave it all off, or would he simply take to licking your bare head?" The thought practically makes her shudder, and she quickly dismisses it. Her gaze shifts over towards the horses and she resists shrugging her shoulders.

"It was very informative. Beyond that, I was not thrown, so I suppose it was a success."

[amygdalae]

The thought does make Bruce laugh a little, surprisingly. "Maybe I might try that one day." Probably not while they're all still up here in Skyhold, though - he doesn't want his ears to freeze off.

It was nice to know that she was making progress though. "Think you'll be up to riding a horse by yourself the next time you leave Skyhold?"

[aceso]

"That depends entirely on when I will next leave and how far we will be traveling." But that's not really an answer, is it? She shifts her weight to one hip and crosses her arms, giving the horses a good look.

"But perhaps. If I spend a little time here everyday, then perhaps. I am sure you had riding experience before coming across this one, no?"

[amygdalae]

"Just take it slowly," he gives the best advice... which probably isn't the best, honestly, but Bruce has never claimed to be an expert. "Maybe set Redcliffe as your first milestone."

The dracolisk snorts from where its snort is in his hair, the sensation of it causing Bruce to make a mild face. It passes quickly though, and at her next question nods.

"Enough to know what to do and what not to do, mostly." He had to learn back when he went from his old Circle to Harlem because the Knight-Commander there was hardly one for pampered mages. "I wouldn't dare call myself an expert by any means."

[aceso]

"I don't anyone in Redcliffe wishes to see the likes of me again," she answers simply. Though it is a bit of an exaggeration. She's stopped in Redcliffe a few times since the rebels took refuge there.

"I think an expert can fight from horseback and steer with their legs," Christine agrees. "I certainly have no need to become that skilled."

[amygdalae]

A wry smile appears on Bruce's face at those words. "I never said you needed to enter the place." She could always just ride to there and then... well, it was her choice on what she wanted to do. All he was doing was giving a hopefulyl helpful suggestion.

Still, its the next part that has more of a response from him. "It would be useful, I assume, but I doubt any of us have that kind of time to practice to be that good." What with the work they constantly have - sometimes it feels like a miracle that they can actually have any time to themselves at all.

[aceso]

"You never implied otherwise," she answers with a hint of a smile. Rare for her these days, but she can still tease now and again. The events in Orlais haven't ground her down into dust and she won't let that happen either.

"I agree. Horseback riding is a good skill to have. But anything as impressive as what I've said would take too much time away from other things."

[amygdalae]

She certainly got him there. The smile stays there for a moment more, and he nods in agreement to her next words.

"I mean, if you want to be a Chevalier, then it might be of use." A small shrug as he says that. "Maybe something to consider for the future?" Its hard to say if he's actually serious or not - Bruce is doing a pretty good job at keeping a very straight face right now.

[aceso]

"I think I would rather eat shoe leather than become a Chevalier," Christine replies. In fact, she has a rather low opinion of the Empress right now, based on what happened to her father, fighting in a war on behalf of bickering, power-hungry cousins.

"Learning to stay on and steer the horse is all I need. That and to stop."

[amygdalae]

Bruce could understand where she was coming from - and in a way he could share her opinion on the matter as well. Though he himself never had experienced loss in that manner, the fact that the civil war was still a thing despite... everything that was going on was always something that he could never agree with. It was ridiculous, more than anything else.

Though this was hardly the time and place for such thoughts. "Sounds like that's more than enough to me." Another shrug. "And I'm sure your hands will be full enough just learning those."

[aceso]

"I believe so. I do like to stay busy." It keeps her mind off the terrible things happening in the world.

"And what of yourself? Anything new and interesting in your life?"

[amygdalae]

That went for both of them, he supposed. He could easily relate to that too.

At the question he gives a small shake of his head. "Not really. It's pretty much been the same for me." And its hard to say if that exactly was a good thing or a bad one. Good that it was 'normal'... and bad that there was actually a 'normal' now for him. It meant... too many things for me.

[aceso]

"Ah, well there is nothing wrong with that. Not all surprises are welcome." She nods towards the healers' tents.

"I should return to my duties now."

[amygdalae]

Definitely not all surprises. Bruce gives a nod of his own, inclining his head at the last part of her words.

"Of course," he replies easily. "Please, don't let me keep you away." He casts a quick glance towards the dracolisk(s) and lets out a huff. He'd like to go back to his work too, but he should probably deal with them for a while longer. "I guess I'll be seeing you around then."