Parkour!

[foxsays]

WHO: Araceli Bonaventura; open
WHAT: Climbing lesson 1: falling without breaking your neck
WHEN: After the wake; lessons can be picked up whenever
WHERE: Stables and that crumbling chunk of the battlements next to them
NOTES: lessons offered

prepwork;
A distinct advantage to her home is that when she taught herself, she had plenty of deep water to land in.  Skyhold has snow but until she has to, she's not going to go prowling the mountains in a hurry.  Skyhold does have plenty of straw from the stables and after a few tests, it's entirely sufficient to her needs and so armed with a rake, she gathers it into piles because whatever, her needs are greater and the horses can get it back later.  Anyone showing up early will have their attire inspected and be told to do a few stretches.  If demonstrations are truly needed, this is the time to ask.

falling!  (with style);
The roof of the stables themselves are low enough that it would take an exceptionally bad fall to cause an injury so that's where she bases the lesson, a ladder handily placed to help less confident climbers up and she talks them through it, the importance of breathing, of relaxing stressed several times.  The instructions are usually to stand on the edge of the roof, take a deep breath and allow her to give them a quick shove as they spread their arms and go as limp as possible to land in the straw but for those a little more confident and with at least some skill in climbing, there's the stables and hayloft to climb then up to the battlements, ropes helpfully attached because she has absolutely no desire to see someone injured in her first few days here.  Her instructions are clear, emphasis on not rushing, on looking for where your hand has to go next, to use the legs.

Everyday is leg day if it's parkour day.

warm down;
The lesson might be over but she won't let people leave without some cursory stretching at least.  They're cautioned about some stiffness the next day or so before she starts tidying up the straw into the proper place, happy enough to chat away or answer questions; if someone is willing to help clear up then she'll be in their debt because who enjoys dealing with straw, no one that's who.

Comments

[ombranera]

"Would you like to? Know, that is." Taking his word for it is something that almost everyone does at least once or twice. Taking his word, however, is so much more fun. "I would be happy to help."

[savethecat]

The truly tragic thing about the situation was nowhere in Thedas did the term 'Blue Screen of Death' exist, as computers were not a thing. Headlights also did not exist for deer to get caught in. Every applicable adage for Gorse's stammering and freezing up were lost to the sands of time.

"I. Um. Well." Zevran was attractive. And kind. Gorse liked him a lot. "I... I wouldn't want to bore you or - uh, since I wouldn't know what I was doing, uh..." Sure he was a quick learner when it came to things in the past, but would that carry over? There was also the little problem that, raised outside of the qun, Gorse... didn't exactly have the same ideas and expectations about it.

[ombranera]

"Learning is half the fun. I have been told I am a most thorough instructor if you so desire." Some he would expect this to be a manner of playing hard to get- but Gorse? Gorse has none of that guile. That is half the charm of him- the rest? An even split between his face and his sweetness. Though the muscles certainly don't hurt all that much. He peers up at Gorse through his lashes, hands resting light against his ribs. Not holding, not claiming, merely offering.

It is for Gorse to take or not at his discretion.

[savethecat]

Gorse's skin normally felt warmer than what was considered 'normal' for other races, but somehow Zevran's hands felt extremely warm against the skin of his chest. It brought a sudden awareness of his own lack of a shirt, which had never really been something he had considered before. On the one hand he very much wanted to say yes. On the other hand he also kind of wanted to run and hide for the next twenty years or so.

"I- Um. I do mean it, I really don't - I ain't never even kissed no one before."

[ombranera]

The trick here, it seems, is to go slow. Gentle. A direct counterpoint to his romp with another Qunari in the hold but there is something in Gorse that asks for sweetness- and that is something Zevran can certainly provide. Gentle as anything he slips one hand down to rest at Gorse's hip and leans up as best he can on his toes- but with their height difference he cannot truly close the distance. Merely make the offer. "We can change that as well, if you like. And only if you like. If this is making you uncomfortable- say so and I will not mention it again."

[savethecat]

It was awful tempting to take the out he was given. Gorse's stomach was twisted up in knots, but the worst of which came from the worry that if he refused now Zevran might indeed not mention it again.

It was just a kiss though, right? He'd noticed the rather cavalier attitude most people around here had to that kind of thing, which was perfectly fine. Gorse was getting used to the cultural differentials.

He still hesitated a moment longer.

"... If I'm really bad you can't laugh at me, all right?" he asked. Well, more like pleaded.

[ombranera]

"I would never." The mocking of unskilled virgins is, as a friend might say, a dick move. The mocking of experienced and still horrible at lovemaking individuals? Entirely warranted. But this is not that and he must admit, Gorse all flustered and flushed is quite endearing- and there is some thrill to be had in being someone's first anything. Kiss, tumble, what have you. Normally Zevran does not handle virgins as it leaves expectations far too high for those that may come after him.

But someone such as Gorse? Deserves to have those high standards. "You have my word."

[savethecat]

"Thank you," Gorse says and the sincerity in those two words really can't be measured. He feels a bit silly for getting so worked up and embarrassed over a thing that no one else seemed to be concerned over, but... well, it concerned him.

So what if his heart felt like it was lurching a bit when he leaned down to be close enough to be within Zevran's easy reach.

[ombranera]

Gentle. Sweet. It is not how he usually does things but- for this? He can try. It is reason enough to bring his hands up to cradle Gorse's face in his hand, cupping his jaw as he would the most tender of lovers before leaning in. Chaste at first, the barest press of lips to lips so all may become acquainted and accustomed to the sensation before he leaned in to offer a firmer pressure. More warmth. The beginnings of movement.

[savethecat]

Gorse is still nervous, but little by little it eases with Zevran's gentleness. At first he tries to just enjoy the sensation, all new and unfamiliar, then as he becomes more accustomed to it, to follow along and match Zevran's movements. Zevran is being kind enough to teach him after all, he might as well learn, though the actual pitch and reasoning are sort of bleeding away from his mind during the process.

[ombranera]

Curious as to whether or not the ears were as much a thing for Gorse as they are for himself and seemed to be for Taas, Zevran lets his hands slip back a touch further, teasing at the fine, pointed tips with one while curling around the nape of his neck with the other. Taking charge, guiding, easing Gorse into this little by little as his tongue came into play, darting out to wet their lips.

[savethecat]

Ears were, apparently, a thing. This is a surprise for the Vashoth, the pleasant feeling he gets when Zevran's fingers trace along the skin leading to a shiver from him. "Oh-"

[ombranera]

"Oh?" He pulls back enough, resting their foreheads together to better hear more from Gorse. "Good, yes?"

Better than good. He keeps his touch light, stroking shell of Gorse's ear. Slow and gentle- this is new. All of this is new.

[savethecat]

Gorse blinked a few times, the slow sort of dizzy kind. Zevran was much too close to focus properly on, though Gorse had to wonder if he'd never noticed before the bright copper shade his eyes were.

"Um. Y-yeah. Yes."

Very yes. He has to close his eyes for a moment and just focus on catching his breath, his hear pounding like he's just run a me.

[ombranera]

Taking pity he slowed the idle stroking to a stop, leaning in to brush their lips together sweetly instead. A bare brush of contact before he lets his hands settle in Gorse's hair to play with the strands that were escaping from his bun. "For someone that has never kissed before? You are a natural, Ciccia."

Uncertain? Surely. But no fumbling, no rushing, no awkward biting- it had been quite sweet.

[savethecat]

The blush deepened at the compliment, even as he smiled a bit from it, pleased to have done well. He was a bit relieved that Zevran had moved his hand to his hair instead - not that Gorse had disliked it, he very much had liked it. Maybe a little too much for being in public. He was feeling very self-conscious.

"Thank you. I mean, um. You're- it's because you're a good teacher. Uh. I should probably go help finish clean up. Maybe."

This might not be much for most people, just relatively chaste kissing, but it was quite a bit for Gorse to take in all at once.

[ombranera]

Now that was a good look for him- a very good look. He hadn't had quite so shy and expressive a partner in- well. A solid few years or so. Someone so lovely normally wasn't quite so unspoilt.

Perhaps he shouldn't ruin Gorse.

He would leave anything further up to the Vashoth, that was most fair. Zevran sank back on his heels and dropped his hands to Gorse's, bringing them up to kiss his knuckles. "I shall see you again later, yes? I've more tales from the fifth blight to tell if you are of a mind to hear them."

[savethecat]

"Yes," Gorse said, probably a little too quickly. He didn't want Zevran to get the wrong idea about his temporary fleeing, though. He needed a breather now but he was happy to continue later on when he didn't feel so ... off-kilter.

"I mean, um. Yes. I'd like that."

[ombranera]

"Until then, Ciccia." Another kiss pressed to the back of Gorse's hands before he takes his leave. That had gone better than expected to be sure- and he may have wrangled a pleasant evening's company out of it as well. Marvelous.