faderift | In the summer, I remember

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In the summer, I remember

WHO: Thranduil, Legolas, anyone good with a bow or who enjoys the wine on offer.
WHAT: ROOTY TOOTY POINT N SHOOTY ARCHERY CONTEST
WHEN: 8th of Bloomingtide, midmorning until sunset.
WHERE: Valley
NOTES: log for a friendly wager!

The eighth of Bloomingtide began as a chilly morning; not quite cold enough to leave frost on the budding flowers and fresh-sprouted plants in the heights of Skyhold, but nearly, nearly.

By the time the sun was been in the sky for a few hours, most of the early-morning chill had burned off, leaving a day that promised to be nearly too-hot for those who would be stuck in full-plate and in direct sunlight. Thranduil wasn’t expecting any to come clanking down to his little fete, but had none the less secured a spot in the shade. Varric had apparently found him while he was still working on organizing—the target launchers are set neatly in line with everything else. Along the clay pigeon launchers were the standard, stock targets, blindfolds—and on a table off to the side was a few bottles of sweet wine beside loaves of brown bread and hard cheeses.

The contest did not pretend to be anything other than what it was; a chance to meet, and mingle, and possibly show off archery skills. The purses wrested next to the wine and cheese and Thranduil himself. He had found a chair to rest in while waiting for the contestants to arrive, dressed plainer than he had so far allowed himself to be seen. On his fingers, four rings glittered—but his confidence in Legolas was so absolute, he doubted he would lose even one before the days was out.

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While he might not have much of a survival instinct, he does in fact have one, and it did tell him that streaking around the shooting grounds was a bad idea. No, he would keep back and to the side of the shooting range. He had been shot at it before, and he didn't think an arrow would feel any better than a phaser beam.

"Legolas," he said, looking around and nodding to where he can see the elf in the distance. "I arrived through the Fade with him, and he kind of saved my butt. He's also the only one who's skill I have any gauge for, so...." A shrug and a cheerful grin, sneaking a quick ripped piece of bread off Sam's plate and popping it between his lips.

The stolen piece of bread is noticed too late, Sam's head turning downwards towards his plate then back up to Kirk only to see the bread disappear behind a grin. He tries to frown, but it probably comes off more of a pout. "It seems everyone is tempted to steal from me today. First my fruits and now my bread." He shakes his head lightly, grabbing the other piece and taking a bite before Kirk can steal that as well.

His eyes turn towards the mentioned elf, a brow raising as he watches him shoot. "I've only met him once. My bets on Varric or maybe even Sera though. They're quite skilled."

"Well, the fruits I plan to take from you aren't meant to be plucked in public," he smirked, winking at Sam. "So never fear, they are safe for the moment." He laughed and did not try to take more, content with his wine for now and what he had already eaten, though no doubt he would be going back for more.

Kirk didn't know it, but Legolas wasn't actually competing, but he would make bets whenever the elf was challenged - to those who wanted to. "Huh. I'll have to watch them and see. Frankly I'm just impressed with anyone here, since I can't shoot an arrow to save my life." A phrase that was oddly literal here.

He had set himself up for that he suppose, but that doesn't stop him from choking around the bread in his mouth in surprise at Kirk's words. Sam coughs lightly into his hand in front of his mouth, eyes a little wide as he peers at that smirk, cheeks going a bit red. "That wasn't the kind of fruit I was referring to," he mutters lightly, coughing a few more times, shaking his head in some amusement.

"I'm not much of an archer myself." Throwing around spells sure, an arrow though, no. "Can always learn. There are plenty of people here you can probably ask obviously."

Kirk reached out and smacked his back to help keep him from choking, because that really would be a shame. He doesn't look at all sorry, though. In fact his lips were curled into a delighted little smirk, and those blue eyes sparkled with far to much glee.

"I know, but I feel like I'm already impeding on you teaching me the staff," he admitted. It wasn't like home, where lessons could be bought and paid for and that was that person's only job. Here, everyone had other concerns, and he did not wish to be a burden. Though, he knew by not expanding his skills, he would continue to be one. It was an uncomfortable position to be in. "One thing to master at a time, I think."

A shame and probably embarrassing. Survived the Conclave, Haven, and various other things, and instead dies by choking on bread because of a dirty joke. He'd have to haunt you Kirk.

"I have to practice it anyways, and it's not like you're the only person I'm teaching. It's no issue." Well not with staves, he was helping with magic, but he was certainly not teaching Kirk that - honestly Kirk seemed like he might freak if he started using magic. "Doesn't hurt to have a couple things to jump between. Feel stuck with one and work on another."

Well, there were much worse people to haunt him. At least his ghost would be adorable, and it would certainly be interesting to see if he could make a ghost blush.

He knew Sam did not mean with the staves, which still made him feel like he was being something of an imposition. He was trading his own skills in self-defense for them, but even so. And yes, one had better hope that Kirk did not develop magic. The amount of mischief he could get into with magic... Skyhold would be gripped in terror for all the days he remained there.

"Maybe," he agreed slowly, though he sounded unconvinced. "I think I should start with something like riding before I move to the bow, though." In case you didn't know, Sam, he doesn't really know how to ride a horse or whatever else you have in that stable.

Perhaps bashful, but he's pretty sure you cannot make a ghost blush.

He can tell that Kirk isn't convinced, which has him nudging the Rifter with an elbow. "Seriously, it's fine, Kirk. I like teaching you." That's for sure since Kirk always made lessons interesting - both during and after. "Riding - really? And here I thought you were a professional rider." The tease isn't without a smirk and perhaps a tiny bit of a flush to his cheeks referring to one particular time. Could have fooled him, Kirk.

Hopefully they do not have to put that to the test any time soon, but if they were did - Kirk thinks he can make it happen.

A laugh is pulled out of him at that and a cant of his brows, because wow Sam. That was forward, wasn't it? Not that he wasn't pleased. Far from. His lips curled in that most flirtatious of smiles, nudging the other man. "I never said what I rode, only that I could ride," he reminded him, letting his voice take on just a hint of huskiness.

"But I'm glad you enjoy teaching me. I've been enjoying our lessons." His words were honestly sincere - enjoying the challenge of learning something new, and then also teaching Sam in turn (on a number of subjects).

Yeah, he would really like not dying, thanks. He's also pretty sure he'd be a spirit so it would be pretty hard.

Was that forward? Well it seemed that Kirk certainly enjoyed hearing it either way. "Oh really? I'm pretty sure you said it had been a while since you 'rode a stallion'." Yes, he gets that he wasn't actually referring to that kind of riding, but it still counts.

He's sure Kirk is enjoying some lessons more than others - he knows he is - but it's still good to hear. "Think you're getting a better hang of things?"

Well, he's done the impossible before.

"Well, that statement was true," he huffed out a laugh, nudging Sam with his shoulders. "I was left a little sore, but I think I'll get over being saddle sore after a few more rides."

It was true, he might be enjoying some parts of their lessons more than others, but he enjoyed all of them to some degree.

"I think so," he nodded. "You can test me after the competition, if you like. I'm fairly sure I fixed the issues with my grip."

Sam flushes slightly at the nudging and the mention of being 'saddle' sore. "I did offer to help with the soreness," he points out.

"Honestly I'm surprised you had issues with your 'grip'." Sam takes that moment to nudge Kirk right back. "Yeah, we can certainly take some time to see your progression after this."

"You did. I think I might need help with it tonight," he grinned, brushing his fingers against Sam's in a more intimate gesture, brief though it was.

"The staff is a bit less responsive than some other things," he smirked. "But I would appreciate it. I want your opinion on if you think I'm good enough to practically defend myself. I would like to travel outside of Skyhold sometime soon if I could, but I don't want to burden others with an extra task like protecting me."

"Oh?" Kirk's suggestive words and slide of fingers against him have Sam's cheeks growing a bit warmer, and the mage clears his throat a bit.

The mention of wanting to get out of Skyhold certainly grabs his attention, reddened cheeks forgotten for a time. "That isn't going to stop anyone from doing just that. That is one of my main roles out on the field after all - protecting our members."

"No, I know," he said, rubbing at his wrist. "I wouldn't expect less. Yes, we should protect each other - but that's just it. I want to be able to protect, not just be protected."

He didn't like it, not being able to defend the things he cared about, the people he cared about.

For a moment Sam just regards the other man, eyes looking down at the motion by his wrist for a moment then looking back up to Kirk's face. Reaching over he lightly bumps his knuckles against Kirk's arm.

"I understand that. Best way to help is that you're able to protect yourself first and foremost, which you're getting better at. Course we'll have to work on dealing with magic a bit more if you're that worried about it all." Right now they had been barely working with that, and out on the field... there would be plenty of it.

"Have you talked to anyone about your shard? I know it bothers you, but... it's safer knowing about it than not. It's also the only things able to close those rifts we run into, that'll help a lot of people."

"Magic," he growled, pursing his lips and letting out a disgruntled sound at the notion of having to deal with such a thing, though he could not deny that the people here were able to do some astounding things. Whether or not it was magic was up for debate, but he couldn't deny that there was some ability.

"As if being dumped here wasn't complicated enough."

His thumb brushed where the shard was again, like pressing at a loose tooth - unable to quite leave it alone, curious of the sensation it created.

"No, I haven't talked to anyone really," he admitted. "I haven't quite seen the point. Most people don't seem to understand them or why they're here or on us. I'm not even sure I could close a Rift if it appeared, either. After all, I don't have magic where I'm from, so I doubt I would manifest it here."

The way Kirk says 'magic' certainly has Sam raising a brow. Hey, he was the one that wanted to be able to protect himself and others, knowing how to deal against magic was kind of an important thing. "You sound like you aren't a fan of it." He's not mad, used to people not liking it, but normally that also meant they didn't like mages since, well, they used magic. It didn't seem like Kirk made that same connection though - perhaps since he wasn't from Thedas?

Normally Sam didn't touch the subject about Kirk's shard, it wasn't dire enough to press the man about it. Course now that Kirk wanted to leave Skyhold where there were rifts they couldn't really side-step around the subject much any more. It would be dangerous to go in without being prepared.

"There are actually quite a few other Rifters who never wielded magic before coming here and are able to close rifts with their shards. The shard is connected to the Fade so you do have the potential." He's silent for a moment before sighing and giving Kirk a look. "I just... want you to be prepared, Kirk. Anything can happen out there."

Kirk didn't hate mages, he hated the concept of magic - mostly because he couldn't quite explain it, and that irritated him. It was hard enough to be in a strange world, but being in one that didn't quite follow the rules he was so used to was just another thing to be irritated about. He tried not to be, but whenever magic came up - it felt like prodding him with a stick.

"It's frustrating," he shrugged. "I have to accept that it exists here, but I don't quite... understand, and that's frustrating."

He glanced down at his bound hand, frowning slightly at it as if that might provide answers. Of course it didn't, but it would have been nice. "I'm not sure how to feel about that," he huffed, looking up at him and he smiled softly. "Thanks, Sam. But you don't have to worry. This isn't my first time in a crazy situation. I'll be okay." He paused, nudging him with his shoulder. "It's nice to have company along the way though."

That probably felt like all the time then considering magic was a thing that he did. He could see that it was a strange thing for Kirk, but there wasn't a way for him to explain where magic came from besides the Fade. Magic was just... a thing, a force here in this world.

"Maybe you're just thinking too hard on it? It's a natural force here. Are there anythings where you come from that you can't explain?"

Sam watches for a time as Kirk stares at his hand, raising a brow when the man smiles at him. "Worrying is kind of my thing," he replies, smiling slightly himself. Half of it was from being a healer, the other half from just being himself - he worried. "Crazy situation, huh? Like stealing sausages?" Sam grins some at that, referring back to how they met. He believes that Kirk didn't do it, but it was still amusing to bring up from time to time.

"It is nice having company." Looking off at the contest he hums softly in thought, before giving Kirk a nudge with his arm. "Think you can give me some on the way back to the room?"

Explained that way it sounded like gravity, a force that simply was, though he knew of no way to manipulate gravity in quite the wide array of ways that mages did whatever source powered their magic. It was nothing against Sam, but it still made him twitchy and irritated because he couldn't rightly explain it. And the word 'magic' wasn't a good one in the scientific fields. It would take time for him to reconcile that word.

"Not many," he shrugged. "Are there things we come across we can't explain immediately? Yes. But generally we figure it out. The way my world has come to understand it, the universe functions across a general set of rules. We're just still figuring out every rule and the exceptions."

Still, he brushes aside that irritation for a smile at Sam's suggestion, glad to see the other becoming a bit more brazen of late. It was a good look on the younger man (he thought he was younger, anyways).

"As it happens that is one of my many talents - providing company," he said and slid his arm through Sam's. "Maybe we can get some sausages on the way. It'll get the taste of bread and cheese out of my mouth."

He's plenty brazen on certain things, but he'll definitely have to give Kirk credit when it comes to this particular subject. Not that he's going to start going around hitting on people - Kirk's different though, he's comfortable there.

Would it surprise Kirk if he wasn't younger?

"You don't like the taste of bread and cheese?" Sam grins, tilting his head at Kirk curiously as he starts to steer them away from the contest. "You think that merchant is going to sell you any?"

Probably a little. Kirk wasn't precisely old, but perhaps it was due to Sam's inexperience that he thought he was younger. It wouldn't bother him if he was older. Truth be told, Kirk liked older men. It would just be a surprise.

"I was hoping you could maybe sweet talk him while I wait out of sight," he patted Sam's arm.

Blame the Chantry and the Circles for having him stuck behind walls during his adolescence. As for age, it fit neither young or old compared to Kirk's age - if he figured it right that is.

"You mean walk up and pay him money?" The grin only gets bigger as he looks at Kirk, raising a brow amusingly. "Well if I'm going to do all the work in getting them, what do you have to offer to get some?"

He leans in close so he can whisper in Sam's ear and no one else might hear. Without so much as missing a stride, he said -

"I'll teach you a secret to growing your own sausages."

In the summer, I remember

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