[OPEN]

[slipshot]

WHO: Gavin, Peter, and OPEN~
WHAT: Peter is trying to teach Gavin to read, and Gavin is getting distracted by literally everything, and everyone.
WHEN: A few times, as the lessons are semi-regular, in the days following the wake.
WHERE: in the weird little library in the basement
NOTES: Ridiculous hijinks



He was doing his best. He really was. But Gavin had the attention span of a goldfish, and trying to sit still for long periods focusing on something he found difficult was worse.

He'd never really figured out how to read. Every time he tried the runes would seem to move around on their own, or flip over, and it was extremely frustrating. Peter, however, was absolutely determined that Gavin should learn to read properly and stop defacing the community bulletin boards with his scribbled drawings.

They'd managed to scramble a few books together for the purpose, and some sheets of parchment, and Gavin was working on drawing a surprisingly well rendered butt as Peter was pulling out the next text to start with.

As soon as Gavin happened to see anyone wandering by, he called out and waved them over.

Comments

[salvatore_underfoot]

"Is that so?" Salvatore chuckles, sliding a ribbed between the pages of his book before closing it and tucking it under one arm. He gives a nod of greeting to who he assumes must be Peter. "What are you doing that is so torturous that you need my intervention?"

Peter has dropped so i'll just continue without him!

[slipshot]

"Peter has been attempting to teach me to read," Gavin admitted with a lopsided, if slightly shameful, smile. "He is not the first, and I am sure he won't be the last, but he is, so far, the most patient with it. Patient, and tyrannical."

[salvatore_underfoot]

"Ahh." Salvatore nods in understanding. "How long have you been at it? One hour? Two?"

[slipshot]

"A week," He said, feigning misery as Peter rolled his eyes at him. "An eternity, an age, a millennia. What have you been doing, Salvatore of nothing notable, and please tell me it is a hundred times more fascinating than my dreary trudge."

[salvatore_underfoot]

"A whole week?" All the pity coming your way. "You do need a break. Unfortunately, I can't say I am doing anything very fascinating. Unless you think research is exciting. You should get up and take a walk. It isn't healthy to stay cooped up for too long." He gives Peter a playfully stern look.

[slipshot]

"Are you offering yourself as a chaperone?" Gavin asked in a teasing lilt. "I think I could find just about anything fascinating, at the moment. What are you researching?"

[salvatore_underfoot]

"Of course I'll accompany you. I could use a break myself." He takes a step back from the table and tips his head toward the door. He sets the book down, the title facing downward. "Ah, nothing very interesting. The Fade. Spirits. That sort of thing."

[slipshot]

"How is that not interesting? Considering our current predicament," Gavin said, hopping out of the chair and making Peter sigh as he offered a wave, following Salvatore out. Even if the man had left the book title up, it was unlikely that he'd be able to read it without careful study.

[salvatore_underfoot]

"Right, right. Of course. Your friend doesn't want to come?" He gives Peter a little wave as well as he slips out the door with Gavin. "Anyway, I suppose it depends on how you feel about necromancy." He watches the elf from the corner of his eye. Most people seemed to mind, at least a little.

[slipshot]

"Necromancy?" He asked, the word meaning absolutely nothing to him. He wasn't a mage, and it wasn't as if the mages in his clan discussed their work a lot in front of him.

"I can't say I feel anything, since I have no idea what that is."

[salvatore_underfoot]

"Ah. It's spirits, death. That sort of thing. Not very important." He waves a hand around. "Tell me what you do when you're not trapped in the library."

[slipshot]

"Well that doesn't sound morbid at all," Gavin said, a mild tease. But he'll take the bait. "I'm a scout, normally, though I admit there hasn't been a lot of scouting since we've come up here from Haven." He said it as if they just decided to walk up the mountain, rather than were forced out by a crazy, blight ridden immortal Tevinter mage from beyond the Fade.

"Otherwise I help out, mostly. Building the walls, guarding the walls - well, lots of things with walls. Are you hungry?" He asked suddenly as they happened to walk by the entrance to the kitchens.

[salvatore_underfoot]

"Oh, uh." He stops on whatever he was about to say and looks to the kitchen door. "I could do with something to eat, sure." He changes direction, but lets Gavin enter the kitchen first. "I try to help out with the building too. But mostly they just send me on errands."

[slipshot]

Gavin grins and holds up a hand.

"Great. Wait here, one second -" He says, and then before Salvatore can reply slips into the kitchen before he can. The cook has her back turned and he casually walks over to the table, grabs two large pieces of cheese, and then immediately turns and quickly walks right back out the way he came. That's when the cook looks up.

"Gavin? Gavin! YOU GET RIGHT BACK HERE THIS INSTANT."

Gavin grabs Salvatore's sleeve as he walks past, and grins at him. "Okay, now run."

[salvatore_underfoot]

"Um, sure..." Confused, Sal does as he's bid, waiting at the door and hoping Gavin won't take too long. He's not a patient man. In fact, it only takes three seconds before he puffs his cheeks and starts rocking on his heels.

He looks up sharply when he hears the shouting, and feels even more confused as Gavin snags his sleeve. No questioning. He doesn't even look back as he breaks into a run. "Is this a habit of yours?"

[slipshot]

"I will neither confirm nor deny this," Gavin says with a breathless laugh as he streaks around the corner, still holding on to Salvatore's sleeve, and skids down the steps out into the garden, before pulling him into an alcove to hide up against a pillar. Luckily for the both of them - the Cook, too used to Gavin's antics - has given up the chase and gone back to grumbling in the kitchen.

Peeking out to make sure it was safe, Gavin grinned and handed Salvatore his piece of cheese.

[salvatore_underfoot]

Sal keeps up as best he can with his sleeve captured, nearly tripping down the steps, but not, and they can both thank the Maker for that. "I think actions speak for themselves."

He takes the cheese with a nod of thanks, breathing hard and laughing. "This wasn't the walk I was expecting. But far more exciting."