[Open] You're out of time

[judgemewhole]

WHO: James Norrington and You.
WHAT: Even Knight Commanders need to blow off steam
WHEN: Backdated to after 'Can't We All Just Get Along?'
WHERE: Skyhold proper - courtyard and Herald's Rest
NOTES: Warnings for violence, possible R-rated actions of sexual nature, and a Templar cursing like an Antivan sailor.

To say that Knight Commander Norrington came back from the Warden Camp in a 'mood' was something of an understatement. The moment he entered Skyhold proper, he was pulling on his full Templar armor, grabbing his sword and shield, and going directly to the practice dummies.

Later on, one could find him in the Herald's Rest. There are at least two bottles of wine in front of him, and he is not dressed in uniform. In fact, he's dressed down to the point of just tunics and breeches, singing softly to the song that the bard is belting away in the front of the tavern. He looks like he could use the company - or at least another bottle of wine if you are inclined.

Comments

Closed to Alistair

[judgemewhole]

By the time that Alistair wanders into the yard, Norrington has hacked his way through two practice dummies already. One of them is missing their head, and the other one looks like James just used it to stab as many times as he could with precision.

The Knight Commander is working diligently on destroying the third one, when he catches sight of Alistair. Something flickers in his gaze, but he lifts his chin up in a brief sort of greeting, before he went back to destroying the dummy with dark focus.

[byblow]

Alistair isn't quite wandering, because wandering around Skyhold isn't something Wardens are allowed to do much anymore. Lingering too long with no apparent purpose might make Seeker Pentaghast tetchy. So he's specifically on his way from the library, a borrowed book tucked under one arm—an arm large enough that the book is nearly hidden, so maybe no one will tease him about it—and on his way to speak to someone specific when he sees James.

At first he returns the greeting in kind. Raised chin. Very manly.

But at second glance, Norrington looks like a man who's either in need of a chat or in need of some heckling. Alistair changes his trajectory to come closer.

"Good, good, kill it," he says. "That one insulted my mother."

[judgemewhole]

James grunts, quite possibly the shortest communication he's ever given Alistair, and he shoots a suspicious look over at the other man, until he swivels around and slices off the dummies arm.

Then with all due sarcasm, he salutes the other man with his sword, "Hopefully that's avenged your honor."

[byblow]

"I think to really avenge me, we'd need to feed the body to cats," Alistair says, coming to a stop a short and conversational distance away, "but I'll let it lie. Thank you, Ser."

He examines the dummy. Then the other two.

"Bad day?"

[killedwithlove]

Cole fears Templars.

But Cole will still help a Templar who is clearly in need of it. He takes a hip flask from a visiting dignitary who has passed out in his room and takes it down to the bar, sidling up next to Norrington and silently offering the flask to him.

There's a rather nice whiskey inside of the silver, engraved flask which is very clearly not Cole's.

[judgemewhole]

At this point, James is rather deep into his bottle of wine and he's leaning his face into his hand as he sings under his breath. When the flask appears out of the corner of his eye, he jerks, but only a little.

Then he blinks at the young man sitting next to him. Where did - ah, nevermind. He did not care, this evening. Blood mages could be dancing around him naked. He reached over, took the flask and saluted the young man.

"My thanks, serah."

[killedwithlove]

"Through the door." He points back at the main entrance, which is clearly how he came in.

"I'm not a blood mage. I'm not an anything mage," Cole clarifies him. "And I'm not 'serah', or 'ser' or anything but Cole. I don't know how else to help. I'm sorry."

[judgemewhole]

James started, because the boy literally just pulled every thought out of his head - blood mage! - but then he said he wasn't a mage and ... and ... wait.

"Cole? I've heard that name before." A frown, "You're that ... strange boy, who helps everyone. Why - ah - why are you helping me?"

[wardeneructate]

Someone bumped into a certain dwarf which caused said dwarf to stumble back into a certain Templar. Not that he knew it was a Templar. Ancestors all these humans could look alike sometimes anyway. Especially the men who didn't even have some nice breasts to help him distinguish them. Well anyway, there he was bumping into him and all that jostling caused a great big fart to pass from him.

Death probably smelled better than that fart. Oghren probably smelled better than that fart. Poor Templar. Now he had to smell it.

"Heh. Sorry about that. Looks like it got shaken loose." He had himself a sniff of it. "Yep, those are those pickled eggs I ate earlier. Smells just like them."

He chuckled then just sat himself down at the table, sliding an ale over to him as he called for another for himself. Given how much time he spent here, it really wasn't difficult to get one. Good thing about being a cheerful (even if he was smelly) drunk, the people wanted to keep his business. "So who are you and what are you drinking away?"

[judgemewhole]

The first thing he noted was that he was jostled -- and such, was jostled with wine so the wine spilled. He let out a curse, "Maker's balls, what in the name of - Auuuuugh!"

He covered his mouth, his eyes watering, as the smell hit him and everything he drank was trying to come up. He went over to the window and slapped open the shutters, so he could breath in the cool night air. Once he was sure he wasn't going to vomit, he turned to glower at the dwarf.

"What sort of - " He sucked in a breath. The dwarf apologized, and brought him another drink. That was ... at least worth his courtesy.

"Your apology is accepted -- although I think you ought to consider your eating habits." He sits back down, and pulls the ale towards him, before eying him, "James Norrington, and I am attempting to dull my anger with wine."

[wardeneructate]

"Eh the smell seems to keep the ladies coming so I think I'll just keep eating what makes my tongue the happiest then just use that same tongue to keep them happy too." He chuckled a bit into his drink. "If you know what I mean."

A swallow of ale later and he let out a little burp as he eyed the other man. "Wine, huh? Not the sort of thing you want to drown in if you ask me. As an expert in the drinking things away thing, I'd say you want the ale that tastes the most like piss. Gets you pickled and then you don't have to hate yourself for wasting the good stuff on sodding emotions."

He would really know, by the way. He'd been drinking problems away for years now. "Name's Oghren, by the way."

[judgemewhole]

"I'm not sure if they keep coming back for the smell ... perhaps simply it is the persona of a man who truly takes everything as it is. Terrible smells and hygiene included." Was James's tart answer, then makes a face at the last statement, "I am afraid to say - yes. Yes I do know."

He takes another swallow of wine, before he shakes his head, "Yes, but then I am miserable because I've drank piss-poor ale, and then probably vomited it, and it will taste just as bad coming up as it is going down. If I am going to drink - I am at least going to enjoy that experience."

A .... long pause, "Warden Oghren? One of the Companions of the Hero of Fereldan?"

[conqueredhearts]

Well, he'd been walking by the practice dummies with his mabari pup at his side when he saw the frustrated workings of the man. Blinking a few times, he went over to him and set his hands on his hips to watch a few more blows. Someone looked irritated. To say the least. With a tilt of his head, he considered before looking down at the pup who looked back up at him.

"Mm. I'd say you are right. That is some intense emotion." Turning his attention back to the man before him, he offered a smile. "My friend! Perhaps it would help you to have a partner to spar with. I could certainly offer myself for this."

[judgemewhole]

James slammed his shield into the dummy again, making it rock right off the wooden post, when he heard the booming voice of - who else? - Iskander. His own mabari, Interceptor, lifted his head from where he was taking a nap in the shadow, and gave a friendly bark to the other mabari, and the man before them.

James himself merely grunted, eyed the other man up and down for a second, before he stated simply, "Without armor?"

[conqueredhearts]

That made him blink and he looked at himself. Just some casual clothes of these lands that he'd had made for him. He considered them a moment longer before looking up again.

"Well my armor is leather so I'd think it would be similar. If you would be more comfortable I can certainly go change." As this was discussed, his pup gave a little back and then let his tongue hang out of the side of his mouth. Obviously he wanted to go meet the other mabari but was waiting for Iskandar to say it was alright. One could tell how eager he was with how he'd stand up then sit back down then wiggle then stand again.

[judgemewhole]

"I would feel more comfortable." Is the firm response. Despite the ... entire 'How can you even exist in this realm?' feeling about Iskander, James considered him a good man, and the beginnings of friendship were there. It would hardly do him any good if he clobbered the man into the ground.

Of course since Iskander was the king of Everything, James might just get trounced in turn. Either way - as long as he got to vent out his frustration on someone he could not hurt? He would feel ... satisfied.

He arched an eyebrow over at Interceptor, before rolling his eyes. A crack in the anger, a faint smirk, as he nodded over to the other mabari. "Go on, then."

And with that, Interceptor was over like a rocket, sniffing and barking happily.

[gatheringstorm]

It's odd to see a templar out of their uniform, but on the other hand, Korrin hopes that bodes well for keeping a relaxed atmosphere in the tavern. She's not interested in debates or bar brawls, not tonight. (And far less than some might give her credit for; it's very rare that she provokes the latter, though she'll sure as hell finish it.) Since Norrington is nearby and not making a nuisance of himself, she gestures to the bartender to include him in the round she's buying. That happens often enough, where winnings from game night are put towards making sure everyone has enough of their favorite poison.

"Give him more of whatever he's having...unless you want to switch it up, but I'm not judging if you stick to the same thing all night." The latter is said as she shifts her gaze over to Norrington while waiting for a refill on her own tankard. The gaze is an oddly sympathetic one; templars as a whole will never be on her list of favorite people, but he's one of the few that hasn't made her immediately want to head in the opposite direction. Besides, she can tell when someone's having a rough night.

[judgemewhole]

James is still humming when the Bartender brings over another bottle of wine. He eyes it for a moment, and it's clear there's a muttered conversation to which James glances over in Korrin's direction. He nods his head respectfully, and lifts the bottle in a salute.

After all, Korrin was a mage that did not make him want to throttle someone.

[gatheringstorm]

Responding in kind, Korrin lifts her tankard before downing what's left before it's refilled in a moment. At least it isn't too noisy in here yet, that she can't speak without shouting. "You have the look of a man who needs to ditch sobriety, so go nuts. We all have those days."

This doesn't seem to be one for her; she's drinking because she's mellow, not the other way round. Those days will happen, but right now the lull means she can look out for other people. James doesn't have to be the best of friends for her to give that much.

tavern

[universal_charm]

Kirk doesn't think he's ever seen James so dressed down before. Normally he sees him in some form of his templar dress. He also doesn't think he's ever seen James with quote so much alochol around him - not even at that large party near the end of the year.

After getting himself a cup, he comes over and takes a seat across from James, taking one of the bottles and pouring himself a cup.

"I didn't know you could sing, James."

Re: tavern

[judgemewhole]

James looked across the table, finishing the verse he was singing before one corner of his mouth twisted upwards, "I am a good Chantry boy, Jim. Every good Chantry boy has been made to sing once or twice, raising their voice up in chorus."

He takes another long draw off the cup in front of him, closes his eyes and sings along once more."

[universal_charm]

"Doesn't mean every good Chantry boy has a good voice. I sort of worry for the ones who are particularly angelic," he took a sip of wine, leaning his chin into one hand as he listened to James continue his song.

"You got anything else?" He leaned forward conspiratorially. "Come on, you have to know at least one dirty ditty."

Tavern

[el_tybs]

"You're a lot better singer then Burns makes you out to be." There's a smile on Sam's face as he comes up along the side of James's chair, taking a moment to eye the man's current state of dress with a quirked eyebrow. "I also don't believe I've ever seen you in anything but armor and formal attire. Everything alright?" The clothing alone isn't enough to make him ask that, but rather the fact that there's a couple bottles of wine sitting there on the table as well.

Re: Tavern

[judgemewhole]

"Well, Burns likes to make himself the hero in every tale. To hear him tell it, he's most likely the lost talent of Orlesian Theater." James snorted, as he saluted Sam with his glass. He eyed himself, and then the bottles, then added, "Are you not always telling me to relax?"

[el_tybs]

"Not 'always'," he points out, reaching out to push one of the bottles back with a couple fingers so that he could read the label, not that he really cared what it was. "I'd commend you for actually doing so, but... in my experience going through two bottles - onto a third? - on your own doesn't really signify someone who is relaxed."