OPEN - I'm gonna do my best to take my place in the sun

[mythalenaste]

WHO: Pel Ashara and YOU
WHAT: Catch-all/open post for May/Bloomingtide
WHEN: All month
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Will update with any warnings as needed.

1 - Outskirts



A grey wolf is haunting the slopes outside of Skyhold.

She doesn't appear to be stalking anything. She is simply roaming the hillside, taking in her surroundings, occasionally sniffing something out. Her yellow eyes do not search; she is only taking everything in, as if she is discovering the world.

She hears and smells you before she sees you, and isn't worried, though her ears turn to listen. If you come closer, she will look up at you, waiting for you to do something to make her reveal herself.

2 - Library

The hour is absurdly late, but she can't sleep knowing this paragraph is not written. More accurately, it has been written a great many times, but she doesn't quite like any of them.

You might find her toiling. You might find her asleep on top of her own drafts.

3 - Hot spring

For whatever reason, you have just arrived, are in whatever state of dress or undress as you are in, when the water is disturbed and Pel's head pops out. She wasn't under longer than fifteen or twenty seconds--not long enough for you to get much done, but long enough for her to, perhaps, surprise you a bit. Though she looks surprised herself, seeing you.

4 - Wildcard

Pel's Daily Schedule

Comments

[mythalenaste]

She pauses, side-eyeing him a bit as if this way she can determine whether being a mage makes a difference to him. But Grey Wardens are supposed to be different. Grey Wardens have both elves and mages. But recently she was attacked for being both, so it takes a moment to gather herself. Remind herself not to be hostile and afraid of everyone.

"Yes. I'm a mage. And neither offends me. It's just a bit odd."

[scalethewall]

Although he ultimately had supported the idea of Circles, he'd fought alongside and against plenty of mages. He didn't really have any experiences that swayed him towards a blanket opinion of all mages, though he was wary of them, as one was taught to be.

"The Dalish don't really use either, do they?"

He looks thoughtful a moment, "So... you're Dalish. A Dalish mage. And you're writing a book about Elven magic? Isn't that a little, uh, I don't know- I just thought the Dalish liked to keep their secrets amongst themselves."

[mythalenaste]

"My book's about our culture, not our magic. Might help take away some of the power of imagination from the people who demonize us. I haven't shared any of our secrets."

If she sounds a little stiff, defensive, it's not strictly Blackwall's fault.

[scalethewall]

"Ah, no secrets being being spilled then? Wouldn't want to get yourself exiled, or whatever it is you lot do," He says with a lopsided smile and a wink.

He's obviously teasing her, but he should've known better. The Dalish rarely found their mistrust of outsiders very amusing. In fact, there didn't seem to be too many things the Dalish weren't touchy about.

[mythalenaste]

It takes her a second to figure out the tease in there. Then, she relaxes and gives a wan smile, a mere tightening of her lips that barely makes it to her eyes.

"Well, if we gave our knowledge out to other people, we'd have none left for ourselves," she deadpans. "Is that what you want?"

[scalethewall]

"Oh, no, no," He says with a laugh, raising his hands in surrender, "I'm not foolish enough to want anything from the Dalish. Especially not secrets. I might be a warden but I still value my life a tiny bit."

[mythalenaste]

An easier smile comes then. All right. He really is cool.

"It's good to know Wardens understand about secrets. Dirthamen knows you have plenty of your own."

She peers at the rocking-gryphon.

"Do you have children?" She's heard in no uncertain terms that Wardens can't have children--after they join the order. Before, though...

[scalethewall]

"Do I...?" The question makes him fumble in surprise until he turns and realizes the source of her curiosity. Well, that was a relief.

"No," He chuckles, shaking his head, "No... well... not that I know of. I hope not. Uh, but no, a lot of refugees have ended up in Skyhold. A lot of children. I thought it might be nice for them to have some toys. Times like these, children are forced to grow up fast enough as it is. And it's something to keep me busy."

[mythalenaste]

That's...one of the most beautiful things she's ever heard. It's the kind of thing her aunt might have said. She grins--a rare thing, so self-conscious she is of how her smile looks--picturing a magnificent toy like that in a Dalish camp.

"I wish I was good at making toys," she says, a tendril of wist in her voice. "I can tie loops of bark to a stick to make play swords, but that's as clever as I'm capable of. Yarn keeps people warm, but it doesn't make things normal."

[scalethewall]

"Nah. You're good at making useful things, things that keep people from freezing. Much more important. It's hard to play with little toy soldiers or wooden blocks when you've got frostbite," He adamantly believes what he's saying. Although, he does want to give the children in the camp something to play with, the woodworking feels almost therapeutic. It's for him as much as it is for them, if not more so.

"Anyway, children rarely need toys to be able to play. A stick is as good as a carved wooden sword."

[mythalenaste]

A giggle. "It really is. The Dalish travel so much, we don't keep much in the way of toys. Little things, sometimes. But we never really felt like we lacked toys. Anything in the woods was a toy that wouldn't bite you or sting you."

[scalethewall]

Travel wasn't an excuse for his own childhood. Toys probably hadn't been given much thought and then he was old enough to help with work. Still, every child found time for play no matter what.

"I can't say for certain, but I don't remember any toys besides the family dog and maybe the neighbor's chickens when I was young. A little older, I remember using sticks for swords.

Still, it'd be nice if they had something..."

[mythalenaste]

"I think it's wonderful." And Pel doesn't say things she doesn't mean, or exaggerate. Not that Blackwall has any way of knowing it. It's a good man that decides to spend his free time on children that aren't his.