CLOSED | oh the mountaintop, oh the visions stopped

[alankazam]

 

WHO: Alan + Kain, Cade, Jehan, Thranduil, Others
WHAT: Catchall for closed prompts. HMU on Plurk if you want one!
WHEN: Now-ish
WHERE: Around Skyhold
NOTES: Fantasy drug use in one prompt.

He's gone a week, perhaps two.

The absence was unannounced, as is his return. He just slips back into routine one day as though he'd never left. Explanations aren't forthcoming: Backwoods apostates aren't exactly known for their reliability, and he doesn't intend to question that narrative.

His space in the barracks stays empty, day or night.

Comments

KAIN | cw: aforementioned fantasy drug use

[alankazam]

The cave’s been lived in.

There's a firepit dug out with the signs of recent use, and walls scraped in strange sweeps of charcoal like smoke, like wings. Tracks scatter here and there: Perhaps a dog with big paws.

A long stretch of branch has been stripped of bark, strapped to a makeshift frame. Closer to the fire, the rocks are swept clear, spread with stolen blankets.

That's where Alan waits for him, spitting a rabbit over the flames.

He looks. Well. He kind of looks like shit. More of it than usual, anyway. The circles beneath his eyes are dark, fingernails still crusted with dried bunny blood, and there's a leaf or two tangled in his hair.

If he’s considered the impression this might give — say, 'insane forest hobo' — he offers no sign, just glances up with a (faintly relieved) nod.

"No one will bother us here."

The words are calm, but intent. He needs this right now.

[in_death_sacrifice]

After finishing the last round of training for the day, Kain checks his tent to be sure everything is in order, grabbing the concoction that he'd been saving for this moment. The aquae lucidius has been prepared, of course, with just the right amount of wyvern venom mixed in with the liquor. It's one of the things that has to be done carefully, just a drop and it's all set. After grabbing that, he takes off to get to the agreed upon meeting place.

It doesn't take long to find his way to the cave. It's just far enough away that they shouldn't run into any trouble. This sort of thing is always best done without the risk of interruptions, after all.

"Good, then we should have no difficulty." He comes in to join him by the fire, taking a glance and noting his state as he does that. "Apparently we had good timing with this... Had a rough time lately?"

[alankazam]

Alan shrugs — a stiff edgy movement that best boils down to yes — and shifts to make room.

"I’m sorry about the classes. I should have said something." He was a little busy not speaking to anyone, about anything, but he knows the inconvenience. "I... lost track of time."

An afterthought:

"How have you been keeping?" Alan looks over sidelong, seems to be avoiding Kain's eyes. "It'll be done soon. If you're hungry."

[in_death_sacrifice]

Kain sighs, glad to be relaxing finally. He's been... busy, in his way. There's always more than enough to keep busy with. As he settles in, he glances over at Alan. At least he's not one prone to flying off the handle when plans go awry. "That's fine... I would appreciate knowing, next time, but I was able to manage well enough."

He's curious about what's been going on, why he seems in such disarray, but one thing at a time. "I've been well enough. There's been a lot going on, and now that I've begun training one of the griffons more closely... I've barely stayed in place, myself. Though it seems you've had a rougher time of it, lately."

[alankazam]

"Which one? The screaming one?"

He means Buttons, but really, they all scream. It's (as Merrill would say) delightful. Alan considers a moment, deciding whether to try for an explanation. Whether it's worth it. He prods the rabbit, before answering,

"It was all too close." Too overwhelming. Too many people asking too much of him. Kain smells the same as any warden, but it's different. Like Anders, there's some shred of safety to Alan's conception of him, the idea that they're in this at least a little together. "I had to get away for a bit."

His eyes slip shut. Somewhat dreamily:

"It's nearly spring in the low valleys. Everything's waking up. It's — simpler."

[in_death_sacrifice]

"Probably not the one you're thinking of." Yes, they do all scream, but they all have such distinct, remarkable personalities. So he can somewhat narrow it down, from being around them all so much. "Potato. She enjoys flying a great deal, fortunately, and is very agile. Though she can be a little... too affectionate. She forgets her size at times." Lap griffons are just never a good idea, sadly.

Listening thoughtfully, Kain wonders about things, but he knows well to only pry as much as people want to be pried. "I don't blame you, in many ways. Being around all these people constantly can be a burden. I prefer camping in the mountains, myself. I hope that you got what you needed, from your time away?"

[alankazam]

The mountains are anything but simple at the moment. He loves this place, but that love owns jagged edges.

"I think so," If he still wants to hurt Alistair, he at least knows that he won't. "You'd never flown before."

Half a statement, half a question. He eyes Kain. Probably, it's something that should be obvious, not the sort of thing one has to assume. But he's so used to the sky, it's difficult at times, to remember what it means to the landbound.

[in_death_sacrifice]

Kain gets a wistful expression as he considers that statement. For how long had he dreamed of the sky, the wind in his face, and nothing but air beneath him, with the ground so distant below...?

"I hadn't, I'm afraid. It's all I've ever wanted... I fantasized about riding upon griffons, even dragons, even flying myself... but they were only childish fantasies. I'd become resigned to it never happening." He even smiles faintly, this is one of the few things that seems to make him genuinely happy. "And then it happened. The first time we took off into the sky was the most incredible moment of my life..."