[OPEN] Welcome Back! Now Take a Bath.

[scalethewall]

WHO: Blackwall and you!
WHAT: Blackwall returns to Skyhold after being away for a few months
WHEN: Current?
WHERE: Around Skyhold, mostly the stables and the tavern
NOTES: none that I can think of... his intro is over here. prose or brackets are fine

i. Just arrived
It's midday when Blackwall and the small group of scouts and soldiers who'd been with him in the Storm Coast are spotted by one of Skyhold's lookouts making their way back up the mountain road. They're definitely not in a rush, but getting inside of the fortress' high walls and out of the whipping mountain winds is a relief. After weeks in the constant drizzle of the Storm Coast, dry clothing felt like an unattainable fantasy.

Muddy, damp, and worn out, Blackwall was looking even more unkempt and wild than when he'd first arrived in Haven. The Storm Coast seemed to have that affect on people; the others with him didn't look like they'd fared much better. He's a little surprised at how glad he is to be back, but why wouldn't he be? A change of clothes into something that isn't already soaked through with rain and a proper place to enjoy a drink, what's not to love?

ii. Sparring/Beating up practice dummies close to the stables
It doesn't take Blackwall long at all to fall back into a routine, which means getting some time in with a dull sword and a stuffed potato sack on a stick meant to look like a person. It's unusual for him to be in anything less than his full armor, which includes the puffy gambeson he always wears, but it's still hung up to dry by the fire in the stables, so this morning he's settled for a loose tunic and trousers.

Unlike some of the others whacking away at the dummies, his movements are calm and devoid of emotion, simply going through training exercises and focusing on form and technique. Training exercises are all well and good, but if someone actually offered to spar he'd be hard pressed to turn them down, especially after fighting nothing but bears and spiders in the mud for the past few weeks.

iii. Tavern
"Oh, pardon me," Blackwall offers, managing to sound completely genuine while fighting back a chuckle. It's late evening and the tavern is apparently the place to be. It's surprisingly easy to misjudge how close you are to someone after a few drinks and Blackwall misses the mark as he leans over the counter to signal for another pint, bumping a few people.

"Ale, like the last one," He tells the barkeep when he gets their attention before offering a slightly intoxicated smile while waiting.

iv. or choose your own adventure!
[Walking around Skyhold or find him in the stables... demand he come tour the Warden encampment and watch him squirm, or comment about how much he needs a haircut. I'm down for all the things :3]

Comments

[scalethewall]

Blackwall straightens up, dropping his guard as he paused to look at the stranger. He definitely didn't know her, but she looked... oddly familiar. Where had he seen a red headed guardswoman like her before? He'd place it... eventually.

"I think, I could be convinced," Unlike her, he wasn't wearing any armor, just the practice shield at the moment, "Long as you aren't going to beat me to a pulp mercilessly like Cassandra does."

He went over to the water pump to get a quick drink, studying her as he did so. Cassandra... "Maker's balls. You're the lass on the front of those books she reads. Uh... or... you know... you look just like her."

[shieldwalls]

"I will try not to." She sees that he is without armor, where she is armored from head to toe -- as per usual, rarely even in Skyhold does she opt for more casual wear.

And there it is. Aveline, who had been getting into a stance, drops her arms, sword going to her side. What did she do to deserve this? "That would be because the author drew inspiration from me, without my given permission." Something, she is not too happy about -- even now, some time after their publication. "Usually I'm recognized as one of Hawke's friends or Guard Captain, but you're the second one to place me from those books since I've got here."

[scalethewall]

"Varric did? So you're-? Huh. Well, then, if his high praise of you is anything to go by, I already know who will be winning these sparring matches," He offers her a warm smile filled with nothing but respect. Varric liked to talk and exaggerate, but the way he spoke of the 'Guard Captain', his tone maybe, hinted that even if only a fraction of what he said was true, she was still one ferocious lady.

"Warden Blackwall," He offers, since now he knows who she is, it seemed only fair she knew the same.

[shieldwalls]

"I don't know about that. You have never seen me fight, nor I you." Still, there's a smile on the corner of her lips -- it's not arrogance, Aveline knows her skills, and the praise... well, the exaggeration is sometimes not a wanted one, but this one she can let slide. And perhaps, next time she has to yell at Varric for something she will go easier on him.

Maybe.

"I have heard mention of that name here. Well met, Warden Blackwall. You know who I am, already."

[scalethewall]

"True, I haven't. But Varric's never hesitated to let me know how much stronger than me you are," He's still grinning, "And you've certainly the breeding for it. He mentioned you were the daughter of a Chevalier. And named after a knight."

Of course, he has no idea her name is a touchy subject.

Her story was a bit of a mystery to him. The daughter of a chevalier and yet she'd wound up in a place like Kirkwall. He'd spent enough time in Orlais for that to strike him as odd.

"Oh? Nothing too bad, I hope."

[shieldwalls]

"He could be lying -- Varric is known to be full of shit." The look on her face fades. While she could hardly expect a complete stranger (even one that has read of her, heard of her from Varric) to know, that yes, the name is indeed a touchy subject -- her eyes still narrow. "He's right about that. My father was a Chevalier before he was exiled from Orlais. But everyone brings up the name." Her neutral tone does not betray her feelings on the subject, she hopes.

It's an odd thing. How many Fereldens with Orleasian names live in the Free Marches, after all?

"No, nothing bad. Just talk in the tavern about you having an impressive beard. They were correct, I see."

[scalethewall]

"A safe assumption to make. There's not much he doesn't sneak a few lies into," He says fondly. Varric was a permanent fixture in the Skyhold tavern and Blackwall had always enjoyed the dwarf's stories.

"Really? That's the talk in the tavern?" He asks, raising an eyebrow, "Sounds much too generous, but I'll take it."

"So, if you're Varric's Aveline, what brings you here? I'd think Kirkwall would need it's guard captain now more than ever, though I certainly can't argue that the rifts are slightly more pressing than rebuilding a city..."

[shieldwalls]

Aveline is silent, it's a question that she too has asked herself many a time. But the reason is clear, and he's right. "It does, but they have a fine guard to keep things running in my absence." She has faith in her own. This is temporary, but for as long as it takes. "What happened before, the Chantry... Starkhaven trying to take us over. Kirkwall has suffered, but it continues to rebuild. The people are resilient."

A look crosses her face. The threat from a former ally is gone, but it is not yet forgiven or forgotten.

"It won't really matter, though, will it? If these rifts continue, if this jumped up darkspawn magister wins, it will be for nothing."

It means they'll still suffer. Being here, helping -- even if it's just training soldiers, or fighting demons. It's still something.

[scalethewall]

He nods, "Just as I figured. It's pointless to win the battle in Kirkwall if we lose the war to Corypheus. He wins, and none of it mattered at all."

In hindsight, it'd been a fairly stupid question. Honestly, he was surprised even more people hadn't shown up at Skyhold's doors offering any help they could, but maybe they simply didn't believe there was any way to fight the holes punched into the sky.

"The Inquisition is lucky to have you, m'lady. And I'm sure Varric appreciates seeing another familiar face. He strikes me as the type who likes to keep tabs on his friends."

[shieldwalls]

"Precisely. I may not be able to help with the rifts, or do what the wardens can. But I can fight demons, and help train soldiers." And her friends are here. Sitting back at home while they risked their lives... she couldn't do it.

At that, Aveline shakes her head. "Thank you. And you wouldn't be wrong about that. He always had his contacts watching out for us when everyone was there... I know Merrill alone used to cost him a fortune in that."