faderift | 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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Merrill folds immediately, down on her knees to pet Jayne behind the ears and down his neck. Barkley, meanwhile, is trying to sniff the other dog before getting distracted by Mal's approach. Now it's his turn to try and seek scritches, practically bouncing alongside Mal's feet with little excited yips.

"Well, I like him! I never did get to thank him properly for chasing those dragonlings for me." And so she gives the dog a kiss right on his forehead. "Oh- I never got to thank you, either! We were all so excited about doing it, it slipped my mind! Are you competing today?"

If you also want a kiss, Mal, you're going to have to keep your dog from dragging her back down for more cuddles.

As much shit as he gives others for spoiling his mabari or for feed'n Jayne- he drops down in a heartbeat to scratch the little so and so's ears. Sure it's an Orlesian dog but it's still a DOG and he is, at his core, Fereldan. Dogs get attention and snacks.

Like a little bit of jerky from his pocket.

"It was my pleasure. Thanks for keep'n me and Jayne from gett'n et. I been bit by a dragonling before, can't imagine what a big 'un would feel like."

Hey, he's only half Orlesian dog. The rest of him is all mutt. Either way, he's Skyhold born and bred, not to mention more than excited to meet a new person who is willing to scratch him and give him treats. His tail is so large and his puppy body is so small that Barkely ends up wiggling his entire body instead of just wagging his tail.

"I think they'd probably just swallow us whole, if they could."

Giving Jayne another kiss, this one on his nose, she shifts just enough to make sure she can see both Mal and Barkley while still being able to scratch the mabari behind the ears. "But we kept that from happening! For us and everyone else in the Emprise." Beat. "Hopefully we took care of all the smaller ones."

"Ain't you a curious look'n thing?" Too small to be a proper dog but a damn adorable one none the less. Mal loses a little time petting Barkely and making sure he gets a few bites in before Jayne realizes he's got some meat out.

Which won't be long, really.

"Most likely." He peers up from where he's tugging on one end of the Jerky, Barkley gamely tugging back and tearing off little bits for himself. Mal ought to admit he's more than a little charmed. "You keep do'n that he's gonna follow you home tonight."

As curious as Merrill, though she perhaps doesn't look as curious. She's lacking a furry tail, for starters.

Jayne turns his head to look for the source of the meat smell, but then Merrill gets in a good scratch under his chin and he sighs, leaning his weight into her slightly. It's heavier than she expected and Merrill laughs, catching herself with her opposite hand. "Well, I wouldn't mind! The more the merrier!"

That came out wrong.

Mal snorts a soft laugh and reaches out to hook a hand around Jayne's shoulder, tugging gently to have him ease up. "Calm down, now. You're gonna crush her. I'm sorry, Merrill. He just can't help himself around pretty girls."

Something they kinda have in common, really.

She laughs with him, ducking her head at the compliment. A bit of red creeps up her cheeks and to the tips of her ears, and Merrill very studiously keeps rubbing Jayne behind the ears.

"Well, he's polite enough about it. And I like the both of you, so it's not like it's unwelcome." Dog cuddles are never unwelcome.

"We like you both plenty too, Miss Merrill." Jayne likes anyone what gives him attention and keeps him from gett'n bit in a fight and Mal- well. He's got a soft spot for bright, capable, and bubbly.

"Oh! Well- good." Now she's blushing even harder. Friends! "Barkley seems to like you too." Barkley is also currently trying to climb underneath Jayne out of pure excitement.

"I thought I might be lonely when I came to Skyhold, even though I'd be seeing old friends- but there are so many people here that have become like a clan all over again. It's been... well, terrifying ancient darkspawn magister aside, it's been fantastic."

"Jayne may or may not think he's somth'n to eat." Mal hisself ain't all that sure. Hardly any meat on the thing and Jayne does take a moment to sniff and whuff at Barkley's fur, leaving Mal room to turn his attention to Merrill.

"...Y'know, I kinda agree? I live with my Crew for the mostpart- be'n away from 'em is a little lonely but I've met some good folk here. Even with the whole. World end'n business."

There's a pause. "Jayne, please do not eat Barkley." There, that'll do it.

"It's good to be with friends when things are bad, whether they're old or new." She smiles at him, softer now. "And eventually even our new friends will be old ones. Maybe not the same thing as crew, or clan, but- maybe close enough."

Jayne blinks at Merrill for a moment, peers down at Barkley, and gives the dog an experimental lick. Is she sure he is not a food? He smells like a food.

"I don't know much 'bout the Dalish but- it ain't easy for y'all, away from your folk, is it? People don't much understand then there's all these tall humans think'n they know 'bout you and look'n at you all funny for not want'n to wear shoes and some such- which I don't rightly mind. You've got adorable toes."

Barkley lets out a startled, high-pitched bark and scrambles to try and face Jayne. Excuse you!! Not a food.

"Well. I haven't been with my clan in- ten years, now." Her smile is sad, though it does flicker a bit brighter with the toe comment. "Hawke and our friends, they became my clan."

But smell like a food! Jayne whuffs softly and dips his chin, butting Barkely on the top of the head. Fine. Not a food.

Will want a food later.

"Good. People need people. Now and then someone goes all lone wolf but- we need folk. S'how we're made." Says one of the aforementioned attempted and rehabilitated lone wolf sorts. He's learned, sorta.

Jayne, not everything smaller than you is a food. Barkley whuffs back before deciding the best course of action is to be so cute that Jayne doesn't want to eat him, rolling onto his back and showing the larger dog his belly.

"There are some of them here, at least. And some of the elves from the alienage in Kirkwall, and- well, like I said. I'm making new friends." New clan. "Plus I probably couldn't have had a dog with the Dalish."

This is acceptable. Jayne flops down and nudges Barkely with his nose. No eat. Maybe play. Maybe.

"That would be a downright shame. Never have I ever seen someone so pleased and proud of their pup, and I'm Fereldan." Even if he don't much talk like one. "Suppose you count Jayne among 'em too, huh? He's a friendly sort."

Wiggling, Barkley lets out a little whine. Yes play. Play is good!

Merrill laughs, smiling over at the two dogs. She certainly adores the pup, that's for sure. "Oh, absolutely. And I don't mind that human he tends to bring with him, either."

In the summer, I remember

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