faderift | (no subject)

WHO: Kain Highwind and OPEN
WHAT: Catch-all! Dracolisk bonding and brooding about the Fade-stuff
WHEN: Early half of June/Justinian (before Anders ritual 5)
WHERE: Around Skyhold, various places
NOTES: N/A, though there’s swearing if the parrot shows up

Stables

Kain heads into the stables toward the one where his dracolisk is currently waiting. Finding her off in the Western Approach had been no easy task, nor had winning her approval. But he’s managed to bring the creature back. She’s still a bit wild and stubborn, but he figures that actually means they’ll make a good pair. They've already started to bond... he doubts the dracolisk would have accompanied him back to Skyhold otherwise.

Today as he approaches to stroke her scaly neck, he catches the dracolisk’s eye. “Zephyr… that’s a good name for you. It’s about time you had one. Here. I brought you a treat...”

Outside Skyhold

Getting used to a new mount means he's got to spend plenty of time riding her. Kain takes off at a fast pace, getting a feel for how the dracolisk likes to move. He’s improved with his riding of four-legged creatures, looking confident as he rides around the surrounding area. Of course, there are some times when the dracolisk veers completely off paths… she’s got quite the mind of her own.

“Not this way!” Kain shouts in frustration, trying to bring them back to the nearest trail. Looks like he might be in for a bit of an exploration. He keeps his eyes out for signs of trouble, always wary of bears or other threats.

Tavern

Drowning his sorrows seems as good an idea as any. Many of his worst issues were shoved in his face in the Fade, and it’s all hitting him hard. He’d tried to ignore most of it as much as he could. Unfortunately, it’s getting to him.

So Kain takes a spot at the bar and orders a drink… well, two drinks. One for him, and a small one for his feathered friend. His parrot is with him, swearing cheerfully to anyone who approaches. Kain is so wrapped up in his thoughts that he doesn’t even try to silence the bird. He has a book on dragons with him, though even reading about his favorite creatures isn't doing much for him at the moment, so it's sitting there unopened.

Tower/Battlements

Up on one of his favorite high locations, Kain paces back and forth a little, before settling down. Then he takes out a map, which he starts looking over carefully. It’s a decent one, detailing both Ferelden and Orlais. He’s not sure if he really wants to leave, but he’s seriously thinking about it after the Fade. He’s too much of a danger. If he gets controlled again…

Well. It’s at least worth planning where he might go to if a need arises for him to spend some time away. He studies the map intently, occasionally pausing to just stare off into the distance.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I'm sure it won't be the last you'll see either. We've come at the right time, since it's their age of dragons..." Really, while most might be horrified to learn of that, the moment Kain had heard the phrase 'Dragon Age', he'd been excited, in his own way. Sure, he doesn't jump up and down or tend to show much enthusiasm on the surface, but it's most definitely there.

He pats Zephyr fondly. "I appreciate it. I need to know how she'll react to others, before being on some important mission of some sort..."

"That name never made much sense to me," he shook his head. "They said the dragons were extinct from hunting, so clearly there were many more atone time. Shouldn't that have been the age of dragons?" It was a puzzling thing, though it didn't matter all that much to him.

He nodded his understanding, giving her a little smile. "Seems like she'll be okay, but you're a better judge of that than me. I'm learning to ride though, so if you want a partner to take her out with, I'd be happy to join."

"I guess their return is what prompted the naming. Who knows, they may come to dominate even more over time, too." That thought doesn't seem to bother Kain the way it would others. He's always had an affinity for the scaly beasts and it's no different even on some far off world.

He nods in agreement. It takes time to get used to riding, he's found that out. "I'd like that. It wasn't long ago that I was getting used to riding four-legged mounts. Where I'm from, we typically favor large birds as mounts instead. So I try to get in all the practice I can get."

Kirk got the idea that Kain was perfectly all right with that idea, and Kirk could admit that he wouldn't mind a return of the dragons. It was sad to think of them dying out, but he hoped not to be here quite so long that he would get to find out how that turned out. No offense to Thedas, but he did want to go home at some point.

"Large birds?" he asked, curious now, and immediately thinking of an ostrich, though he doubted that was what Kain meant. "How exactly does that work?"

If a return home is possible, he'd go there too. It's been too long since he's been there, thanks to the gods' war and everything. But... if not... Well. Kain intends to make the most of this return of dragons. He'll prove he has the skills to deal with them, somehow or other.

"They're called chocobos. The most common are yellow, though there are black ones and other varieties too... They're large enough and able to support a grown man with no problems." He holds his arms out to demonstrate their size. "They're very agile creatures... very dependable."

He looked at the spread of Kain's arms and tried to imagine it, though he kept coming up with a strange cross between ostrich and a chicken. Certainly a creature like that would have more agility than a hooved animal in certain areas, so he could see the appeal. He assumed they were fast, too, if they used them in battle.

"Huh," was his comment as he pondered his mental image of the creatures. "There aren't any birds big enough to ride on in my world. Except maybe one, but I don't think you could do some comfortably or for long. They are not domestic creatures."

"Worlds can differ in such slight ways... where I'm from, there's nothing like horses or other four-legged mounts. We dragoons used to keep and ride dragons, but that's another thing entirely. The chocobos are incredibly common for everyone." He looks at Zephyr, petting her fondly. "It certainly did take some adjustment, to get used to them... but once I did, it became even easier than I'd thought."

He definitely is glad he has a mount that's really his now, too, it means he'll not only be comfortable, he'll know her, know how she handles things and so forth. To him, that sort of connection makes for a much smoother time all together.

"It's those slight ways that make it better," he smiled, looking back down to the little dragon-like creature. "Or at least keep it interesting. It would be a shame, I think, to come across a world precisely like my own. After all - nothing new to learn, right?"

"That's true, I'd say. I expected to return home, of course, but since I haven't... I may as well make the most of it and learn what I can while I'm here." For however long it lasts. It's even more important to find out all he can if this does turn out to be a longer-term stay. "At least there are plenty of challenges to face here."

"Heh, that is quite possibly the understatement of the year," he laughed brightly, though there is a touch of sadness beneath it, in realizing that they could indeed be here for quite a long time. Even, well, forever. He didn't like thinking of that particular possibility, but it was one all the same.

It really is, and Kain nods agreement. He can understand that feeling, he knows it all too well considering it’s been a while since he’s even seen his home. He’s somewhat resigned to the possibility of never returning. “Although so far… there hasn’t been a challenge I couldn’t deal with. I only hope it stays that way.”

"You and me both," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Part of my job is dealing with situations, but it doesn't mean I don't like a breather between them now and then, and I certainly don't want to end up in over my head. I think I have a much higher chance of losing it here."

"Unfortunately... that's how it is in this world, apparently. There's no end to our trials and tribulations." He's certainly more than used to it, anyway, considering the last place he'd ended up in. Kain shrugs. "But we'll all deal with it as it comes, it's not as if we have much choice in the matter, anyway."

"You may not have a choice, but how you handle it and your attitude - that is your choice," he nodded agreement, nodding down to the little dragon like mount. "I'll leave you to your bonding with her, then. Don't get into to much trouble without me." He grinned at Kain and gave the little dragon-like creature a last rub beneath her jaw before waving and heading back the way he had come.