OPEN: this will be a better year

[faderifting]

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: First Day
WHEN: Wintermarch 1 (forward-dated)
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Scouts from both the Western Approach and Emprise du Lion are welcome (but not required) to have returned to Skyhold in time for this event.

There have been better First Day feasts, and less crowded ones, and cheerier ones. It isn't a good year for many to look back on, and this one isn't starting any better. Reports from both Eastern and Western Orlais are grim. Many in the Inquisition can't afford to take more than a few hours away from their work, if that.

But for those who can, the ambassador does her best. At lunchtime some tables, hot food, and finery are reserved for visiting nobility and wealthy pilgrims--cause for grumbling in some quarters, perhaps, but they're the people filling the Inquisition's coffers, and allowances must be made--but there's plenty of stew, bread, and ale for everyone, even with the soldiers and refugees who stay outside the fortress invited inside for the holiday. The recently repaired garden and its carefully tended plants aren't off limits, but anyone noisy and holding a drink will be stopped at the door; the battlements, with their potential for deadly falls, are blocked by Inquisition guards. But the courtyards brim with people, most of them happy despite the possibility that the world might end before another First Day arrives.

If the courtyards are too full of tipsy visitors for comfort, there's also the valley beyond the fortress, expansive, barren, and covered in snow. By the river the soldiers help the refugees make a bonfire larger than would ever be allowed inside Skyhold's walls, and some lend their shields to use as sleds down the embankments. A group of scouts start the most intense game of hide and seek Thedas has ever seen, with snowballs to the face for whoever is found first. In the camp, a refugee girl with her hand wrapped in a green scarf chases other children around the tents, shouting raaar, I'm from the rifts!

Comments

Kas

[issala]

Kas is doing his very best to stay cool and collected like the adult he wants to be, but shield sledding and other games are so very tempting. It had been a long time since he'd done anything just for fun, after all.

Courtyard

There's food, though, and food isn't socially age-restricted at all. He was getting up into a more normal weight during the months he'd spent in Skyhold, but that didn't mean he couldn't indulge. The stew smelled delicious, after all.

Picking out a small bowl for himself and then grabbing some bread and other goodies, the small qunari makes his way through the crowd to find a less busy place to eat.

Sorry if he bumps into you!

Bonfire

It was a really impressive bonfire, he had to admit that. It was nice and warm, too, which helped a bit for his cold hands and nose. Staring up into the fires, he felt nice and relaxed for a moment, just enjoying the sounds of the people around him being happy.

Then the girl with the scarf bumped into him, waving it at him with a grin.

"If you're a Rifter, then I'm the Arishok," Kas quips at her, but he's trying to hold back a smile. Big, strong adult, remember?

His sarcasm is not met with pouting however, and suddenly there are more kids advancing on him, grabbing snowballs and proclaiming that they're the Champion of Kirkwall and her friends and he's going down.

...and that was how Kas ended up in a huge snowball fight and finally letting himself be a kid.

Bonfire

[gatheringstorm]

That snowball fight has a spectator, as Korrin sips at her drink with a grin. She won't barge in, wanting to let Kas be a kid on his own, with other kids. Still, when they're all tired and soaked, she'll wave him over with a steaming cup to offer him.

"Here, warm up. Then I want a sledding partner. One of those soldiers has an enormous greatshield, and I think it'd be perfect for people our size."

[issala]

Kas is wet and exhausted and he's pretty sure the Arishok was dead from the way the kids were cheering, but he's... strangely happy. Brushing snow from places he hardly knew he had, he then notices Korrin and his face turns very dark grey-pink.

Yet she's not admonishing him, but giving him a nice warm cup to drink from and a new challenge. It makes him beam, and he sips the drink a little too fast. Cringing, he then puts a bit of snow on his tongue before answering.

"You're on!"

[gatheringstorm]

Having done similarly before, Korrin can't fault him for burning himself. Her lips twitch, but she refrains from chuckling. That smile of hers widens and she nods, getting back to her feet. They still ache a little, but this will be worth it.

"Good. Everyone's busy showing off, and I can't let that go unchallenged. I'm sure we can find a better sledding spot than what they've come up with, and show them how it's done."

[issala]

He stands there for a moment, enjoying the hot drink now that it wasn't cooking his tongue - and giving the bonfire an opportunity to dry up his clothing a bit. He's pretty sure he's got snow in his scout hood, but there would just be more in it soon.

Listening to Korrin, he can't help grinning a bit. He never did sledding as a little kid, as Rivain wasn't exactly known for their snow - but a few winters in Ferelden and you had to sled or die in some cases.

Like when running from the guards down a snowy rooftop.

Putting the empty cup down, he stretches a bit and then pumps himself up for sledding. "Alright, lets do this!"

[gatheringstorm]

Chuckling at his enthusiasm, Korrin indicates to follow her. The soldier seems slightly hesitant upon realizing that not one but two Vasthoth want to sled upon his shield, but thinks better of protesting. Besides, it's silverite and thus sturdy. Korrin indicates for Kas to pick up one end as she does likewise.

"Alright, where should we place this?"

[issala]

The teen grabs the other end, giving the soldier a grin before he pulls it and Korrin over towards the steepest hill. "Over here!" Big strong men needed a big challenge, after all. He was so ready to do this, excitement clear in his young face.

It was a blessing to just be a kid for once.

Bonfire

[girlinthebox]

The fight looks exciting, but River knows better than to step into the middle of the fray. The smart place to be is the outer edge, the better to duck out of view when one of those snowballs hits the Vashoth in the back of the head.

Of course, the wall of snow that she's hiding behind might be a give away all on its own, but she's ducked very low behind it, already gathering up more and waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

[issala]

It's a flank attack! Kas is already bombarded with the kids, and now someone else joined in!

Backing off a bit, he grabs as much snow as he can get while the snow balls are still raining, and carries it over to the snow mound to drop it all on River. "Hah!"

It...wasn't exactly the kid he was expecting, though. Whoops.

[girlinthebox]

The cold makes her squeal, hopping up and shaking the snow out of her hair, feeling it creep down the edge of her boots, before digging into a handful of the stuff and shoveling it back at her attacker.

Kid or not, she's putting in with the same enthusiasm as the rest of them, and such an attack will not go without response!

[issala]

Kas is halfway through a 'sorry' when his face is filled with snow. He sputters with surprise, backing off a bit and nearly falling backwards over the snow wall. Wiping it off, he gives River a surprised look.

She was playing?

Another breath, and then he's grabbing more snow to throw on her.

[girlinthebox]

She lets out another squeak, before diving for cover, scooping up snow as she goes and hurling it back at the Vashoth with ringing laughter. She nearly slips, but it hardly seems to matter, darting out from under the wrathful rain of the enemy.

Her brother and she had once played together like this, before things became what they were. Some part of her longed for those simpler days. This? Was a welcome respite from everything that had been heaped upon them.

Getting to be a kid again came highly recommended.

[issala]

He's soon laughing as well (but don't make him admit that), throwing snow at River and scrambling to not fall over as she returns the favor. As soon as he's out of a good handful, Kas backs off and hurries to find cover behind another snowbank.

"I'll get you!" He calls out, starting to build himself an arsenal of snowballs that he could lob over at her and the other kids.

This was a real relief, honestly. It reminded him of some less painful winter days on the streets, he and a few other urchins having a bit of fun to warm up.

courtyard;

[foxsays]

It's not that she actually means to bump into Kas of all people, it's just that she's busy trying to juggle a few things at once with so many people around and a fox underfoot always complicates matters. She's likely as much to blame when she bumps into someone seeing as she's going backwards but still.

At least she doesn't spill the wine, that'd be a terrible waste but she does swear, more out of surprise than any malice.

"Forgive me, it was not..." It trails off when she finishes turning, the smile on her face twisting before she salvages it. "My apologies, nothing spilled or damaged?"

[issala]

Trying to avoid other people thankfully also meant he was keeping an eye on his food, so when he's bumped into, it's not a disaster. Just a bit of gravy on his fingers.

It's more of a disaster to see who it is, and Kas' eyes widen. Shit, the Rifter girl. The Rifter girl Korrin liked, and who he'd been a right ass to.

"Uh... no... it's... um... it's good," he stammers, trying to keep his voice level. The teen knows he should be apologizing or something for before, but that would be unmanly, right?

[foxsays]

With Korrin only just back and knowing that they've got a few serious chats to come, she isn't really much better, opening and closing her mouth a few times as she tries to figure out what she should actually say.

Kas is dear to Korrin, she's dear to Korrin, there's a peace to be maintained because she never wants to come between anyone.

"It's good that everyone managed to return before the year here came to an end, no? Especially Korrin."

[issala]

"Y-yeah," he agrees, sucking his fingers clean of the gravy while pointedly not looking her in the eyes. "I'm... uh... glad she's okay." The teen then adds, sincerity in his voice despite the awkward stammer. It seemed they both cared deeply about Korrin, no matter how much Kas would deny it if asked.

"She told me you and her are... friends and stuff. I didn't know." That is as close to a 'sorry' he's ever going to get. Take it or leave it, Ara.

[foxsays]

"I don't know what red lyrium is," or regular lyrium actually so she'll probably have to make a point of finding that out pretty soon, "but there are some awful people in this world who need to pay for harming innocents in such a way." Particularly what sound like people already struggling. And for those who had to witness it and retreat.

Perhaps surprisingly, her cheeks go red and she looks down at her boots for a moment, but she didn't know what Korrin might have said to others about them. "It's early days but I care for her a great deal, she told me that the two of you were close too and I have no desire to come between that. And I did not know your age, you are so tall, I think I took you for older than you are." Or he's tall compared to her and that was pretty much the best way for her to figure out ages back home running around with thieves.

[issala]

"Lyrium is... weird, even when it isn't red. The red part just makes it creepier." He had missed Korrin's crytal post about it, and that was probably a good thing. All he knew came from rumors.

Rumors alone already made him feel sick.

Then he notices how she looks and blushes when he mentions Korrin and he flushes a bit as well. Oh. Kas might be a stubborn brat, but he wasn't stupid. He's not sure if to he happy for Korrin or wigged out that she liked a Rifter in that way... but then it all crashes and burns with Araceli's next words.

"W-what does my age got to do with anything?!" He snarls, glaring at her. "I'm not a kid!"

Courtyard

[arlathvhen]

He almost bumped into her--But Beleth is a rogue, and she may not be the most graceful scout in the Inquisition, but when she is nearly ran into by a qunari, she manages to hop back, arms darting out to grab at the bowl, not taking it from his hands, but stabilizing it, making sure that it's not dumping hot soup on her. Once she's positive that she won't be taking an impromptu bath, her eyes flick up to the actual person.

She's...pretty sure he's a qunari. Grey skin, horns. Pretty standard qunari stuff. But she's never seen such a scrawny qunari before. Well, he was still taller than her, but everyone was taller than her.

"A-Ah--! Sorry....Are you alright?"

[issala]

He's a second from growling at her, ready to fight for his food when he realizes that she's just making sure he doesn't spill it on her and himself. Whoops. Still, he pulls it away irritatedly and glares at the elf.

She was... well, cute. And a fellow scout, it looked like. It takes some of his abrasive and angry posturing off, even if he still grumbles and looks away. "I'm fine."

[arlathvhen]

Beleth is left utterly baffled by his behavior, by the idea that she might have stolen his food. Not because she'd grown up in an area of plentiful food, but because the Dalish simply didn't steal food from one another. Some of the more aggressive clans might loot foodstuffs from the humans, but that was different than swiping it from someone's mouth.

She immediately shrinks back, hunching slightly, trying to look smaller than she already is. "I'm--um. I'm sorry. I must have been in the way. I know it can be hard to see me..." She vaguely gestured to the ground and herself. She was short, plenty of people overlooked her. "I should've been more careful. Sorry." The go-to for an irritated person, apologize a lot and look sad. Sometimes it worked, at the least, it rarely got her into more trouble.

"Um--did you lose any stew? I can get you more." Look. Look at those big eyes, Kas. They are big, sad eyes.

[issala]

Shit. Shit, he made the cute elf feel bad. Why was he such a disaster? Kas looks both ashamed and uncomfortable, trying to not look at those big, sad eyes. "It's... okay. I didn't lose anything." The teen replies, trying to not sound as annoyed as before.

He's not even sure who's fault it was any more. All that mattered was that she didn't start crying or something. Kas is not sure if he could handle crying girls.

"I'm Kas," he adds, just in case that in some way would help.

[arlathvhen]

Luckily for everyone involved, Beleth doesn't cry. She looks mollified by his words--or at least, the way that he looked like he definitely wasn't going to be yelling at her or anything. His anger has subsided into...feeling bad, which was a step up. She gives him a thin smile, looking a little more at ease, though still a bit nervous.

"Okay. I'm glad. Um--I'm Beleth Ashara. It's nice to meet you--Or, um. Bump into you. I guess." The nervous little smile grew a little bit. Haha, Creators, she was hilarious.

[issala]

He breathes a sigh or relief when she doesn't start sobbing into his stew, and then gives her a closer look. Elves were good, he'd run with a lot of elves... but dalish elves were new. The tattoos kind of reminded him of vitaar.

"I'm Kas," he starts, a little awkwardly. "Nice to meet you?"

Nailed it.