Reaching towards adulthood?

[issala]

WHO: Kas & You!
WHAT: Catch-all for the month
WHEN: All through Justinian
WHERE: Skyhold (mostly)
NOTES: Feel free to hit me up on draiol for any specific starters!

I. Healer Tents

Since the trip to the Fade, the strange headache had returned. Now it was always there, nagging him, but at times it grew to something less tolerable and more 'knife in his brain'. Kas tried to ignore it, but eventually he had to drag himself to a healer again to get a potion or something until it calmed down.

Opening the healing tent flap after a little knock to a pole, he makes a grumbling sound as a greeting, not sure if it was a healer or another patient in the room.

II. Archery Range

The archery training was going well for the teen, and he found himself always feeling better after he had gone through his training for the day. It cleared his head better than any other things he had attempted, and came with the added bonus of actually improving something. With the hip quiver making pulling out an arrow much easier and less entangled, he was also increasing his speed.

After nailing another shot at the dummy, Kas takes a quick break to grab his water skin and wipe some sweat from his forehead. Concentrating was heavy work.

III. Herald's Rest

Better days meant better ways to entertain himself, and Kas often found himself at the Tavern playing games with other patrons. Wicked Grace, Diamondback, Checkers. Other times, he just liked listening to people talk (and maybe shyly look at girls). He didn't drink, though, which annoyed the staff a bit.

(Good thing the cook thought he was cute.)

Writing letters to his old kith had been sparse lately, the more he realized how bad it had really been there compared to the families he heard about from people like Gorse and Korrin. Still, he felt obligated to let them know he was alive now and then, and could be found scribbling on paper in the tavern when not losing his money to cards.

...it usually ended with him doodling instead.

IV. Wildcard!

Comments

[issala]

He's glad that the healer doesn't push the issue. He's not sure he can deal with his brain deciding to hurt him now and then without explanation right now. he might not be mad at Sam for it, but it still gnawed on him.

Instead he's taking out the Diamondback board. "I can teach you," he says with a little shrug. "It's not that hard, and it's a fun game."

Not as fun as Wicked Grace, but there was no encouraged cheating in Diamondback.

[el_tybs]

"If you wouldn't mind," he says, setting his mug down so that he can pull the chair out to sit. "So besides winning, what is the object of the game?" Diamondback was still a game of betting though right?

[issala]

Kas starts explaining the rules to Sam, setting up the pieces. "It's a dwarf game, so it's straightforward but real detailed." There's even a little smile in there as he finishes with the rules and offers the healer a piece to start with.

"Do you get it? Wanna play a test round?"

[el_tybs]

As Kas explains he takes sips from his drink, nodding from time to time. The rules made sense to a point, but there was so much to it that he was getting lost during some parts.

"I think I get most of it... I think I would have to play and see how the rules come into play to actually get what's going on. Go easy on me?"

[issala]

"I guess I gotta," he says with a little grin, and makes the first move. The teen is surprisingly gentle in his wrecking of the poor healer, though. It could have been a much worse defeat.

"Again?"

[el_tybs]

"I thought I said easy," he huffs with a smile, leaning back in his chair once the game is over. He supposes Kas was, but he could still complain a little, right?

"Might as well. Can't learn unless I keep playing."

[issala]

"Hey, I was plenty easy. I didn't take your last one for several moves!" The teen chuckles a little and starts putting up the board again, placing the pieces in their correct position.

"...hey Sam?" Kas starts, a little thoughtful. "You're a mage, so you've gotta have seen demons before, right?"

[el_tybs]

"Ugh, just stringing me along. Should've just made it quick and painless." The mage chuckles as well, helping with setting up the pieces - or at least trying to since he wasn't quite sure on a couple still.

"Hm?" He hums in reply at his name, still setting up pieces, but before he can place the last piece he stops. Looking up from the board he glances at Kas. "With the rifts it's been pretty common for someone to see a demon, but, yes. I've seen demons - many ways and forms now."

[issala]

"Hey, I'm learning to be a rogue. I gotta know how to play my cards right and all that." Puns in a pun on that one. The teen would have laughed, but the topic at hand wasn't a fun one.

Kas sighs slightly and tries to explain. "I was dragged into the Fade with people when the Nightmare thing attacked. There was this demon... she looked just like my mom." Korrin had to save him, even if he technically knew it couldn't have been his mom.

"She didn't have a face, though... because I can't really remember it."

[el_tybs]

"You were pulled into the Fade as well then?" That wasn't too surprising, but a bit sad to know as well. He had hoped that some people wouldn't have seen the horror that was Nightmare and that part of the Fade affected by it.

"And it's really bothering you I take it?" Whether that a demon took on the form of his mother or because he couldn't remember his mother's face was the question.

[issala]

"Yeah... and yeah." Kas looks a bit apologetic, almost. He doesn't mean to always vent to Sam, but the man was just good to talk to. "It's just really weird."

The teen takes a few of Sam's pieces with his own and puts them on the side. "I was twelve when I last saw her. You'd think I'd remember it."

[el_tybs]

He didn't so mind the venting, everyone needed to do that - even him. Course it would probably be a little different if the subject was about him, in which case that might get a bit awkward, but he'd still listen at least.

Sam sighs a bit at the information, looking down at a piece still on his side and wobbling it a bit with a finger. "It's not so strange that you wouldn't. I can't completely remember my father's or aunt's face, just general details. If or when I get to see her again I know I'll recognize her though."

[issala]

Don't worry, Sam. he's pretty good at venting about people in front of those people, so if there was a problem you'd have heard it by now. Instead it's just Kas trying to figure out himself.

"I know she's my color, but her hair is dark. Tall, too, and with curved horns. Everything else is just... blank. I just don't want there to be more things wrong with me, Sam." If he said ut wasn't so strange, then maybe he was alright.

Maybe it was just trauma or something.

[el_tybs]

Oh good. Guess one less thing to worry about then - if there was something wrong he'd know about it.

"I don't think it's wrong that you don't quite remember. The important part is that you still remember her. Like stuff she used to do for you-?" Trauma could certainly affect memory, as did time away.

[issala]

"I remember... I remember her voice. And singing." Conflicted little memories of Issala's tamassran, easily taking the place of a mother. "She liked to sing... or just hum."

It wasn't much, but it still manages to soothe him a little bit.

[el_tybs]

"Did she sing or hum anything in particular?" He would probably not know the tune, but that was not the point - focusing on the good things and the stuff Kas could remember was.

[issala]

"Just... melodies without words. Something that made you calm and happy inside without having to think" There's a little smile there, but it disappears quickly as he tries to regain his battered male pride.

[el_tybs]

So serious, Kas. "Well you're pretty lucky. My aunt is a terrible singer - humming too. You smile because it's so bad, but she's having fun so you have fun. Still, I feel bad for her kids." Sam laughs at that, leaning back some and taking another sip of his drink.