[OPEN] It's thunder and it's lightning

[amygdalae]

WHO: Bruce Not-Banner and anybody else
WHAT: Somehow its business as usual. And also a dracolisk who continues to makes his life interesting in all the best ways.
WHEN: Across all of August, 9:42 Dragon
WHERE: Orlais or Skyhold. Timey wimey ball in effect.
NOTES: Catch all and stuff for this month. Like before I'm starting in brackets, but feel free to switch around to prose and I'll follow. If you want to plot stuff or request individual starters, feel free to either PM me, get me on Plurk @ knightblazer or Discord @ knightblazer#8835.

one. fancy roads and fancier people (orlais)

[Orlais is, and will most likely never be, Bruce's cup of tea - to put it mildly. The people here felt too... fake, hiding behind their masks and whispering as if nobody could hear them, could see the way they were so clearly scheming. Things they could all so easily less do of and focus on more important things, like helping the countless people living in constant poverty. Not that he was expecting anything like that anytime soon.

The nerve of these people sometimes.

Though he is but one person Bruce does whatever he can to help still. He goes around lower districts and out into the countryside where the sick, the old and the poor need help the most, and can be easily found giving consultations for those who come to seek for it and medications to those who do need it using his own coin that he gets from working in the Inquisition.

In fact, if you're lucky (or unlucky) enough, you can chance him up in the high quarters, where he grudgingly goes up there in order to shop for all those needed herbs and medicines, some of which only can be found here in the heart of Orlais. Not that knowledge helps him sometimes, because some of these shopkeepers really want to suck people dry and Bruce finds himself having to bargain one too many times. It can get kind of draining after a while.

And yes, while he's here, he's still stuck in the armor set that the Inquisition loaned him.]

two. no more fancy streets for me (skyhold)

[Bruce never thought he'd be thinking it, but it was good to be back in Skyhold. If only because that meant he wasn't in Orlais. For now, anyway.

Either way, its good to be out of that armor.

It's easy enough to settle back into his usual routine once he's settled back down. Bruce can be found in his usual places for the most part during the day - the healing tents where he tends to most of the patients under his care, around the courtyard when he makes his daily rounds to attend to those who can't quite come to him, the gardens where he works however he can to ensure that the herbs and plants continue to flourish and for those who want to seek him out during the night - the battlements, where he dwells up there more often than not and uses those restless nights to experiment with some potion making.

On some nights though instead of the battlements he's instead in the library, perusing through numerous texts and jotting down notes in his worn leather journal. If there's at least one good thing that came out of his mage status being revealed, its at least the fact that he no longer has to sneak around just to read a magical tome or two. Not that it makes him feel any better, but it does help that the rumors around him aren't as strong as they used to be, now that the people have other things to be occupied with.

And finally, he can be sometimes found at the stables, reluctantly tending to the dracolisk he's more or less stuck with at this point. And maybe sometimes taking it out to try and train it. And speaking of that...]

three. you sir are not a dog (skyhold, stables)

--no, I said, stay.

[It's definitely a bit of a sight should one chance upon it - Bruce with a hand raised, making the universal gesture of stop towards the dracolisk that's apparently determined to follow him around. Or at least, as evidenced by Bruce dropping his hand, taking a few steps backward... and sighing when he sees the dracolisk following him still.]

I said, stay. [Bruce runs a hand through his hair and shakes his head.] You can't follow me all around Skyhold.

[He steps forward now, closer to the dracolisk, and it only backs away a little when Bruce comes it too closely for it to really be able to take a good look at its human. It snorts and flicks its tail when they both stop moving, and Bruce is left to stare at it for a good moment.]

Alright, let's try this again. [He raises his hand once more.] Stay.

[He clicks his tongue after that, slowly lowering his hand... and then the dracolisk leans back on its hindlegs, eventually assuming--well, like this.

A few moments pass as Bruce stares at what had just happened. Then he lowers his hand.

--he supposes its close enough.]

wildcard.

[Feel free to throw in your own prompt or PM/contact me to plot out stuff!]

Comments

WILDCARD DATE B)

[unbrokenoath]

[ Unfortunately for Bruce, despite his wishes, Kaisa had not, in fact, forgotten about her promise to have dinner with him. In fact, she had been asking around, and planning, and even if it was kind of an accident born of misunderstanding and confusion, the fact was, she'd asked him, he'd agreed, and she would be damned if she was going to be known as someone who had shitty dinners with people. So she makes the arrangements, and contacts Bruce to let him know the time and place.

The place, should he arrive at the time, was a little clearing surrounded on three sides by trees, and a steep drop off on the fourth, giving a fantastic view of...mountains. And more mountains. A very similar view to Skyhold, in fact. Mountains were mountains.

Kaisa had laid out a blanket in the grass, with a basket full of bread, cheese, and smoked meat, because that's the kind of food Kaisa finds particularly fetching. She's very Fereldan. And to the side of the basket, a bunch of bottles, some of ale, some of cider (in case he didn't drink), and one of (cheap) wine. She really had no idea what he drank, and if they didn't drink it, she could always have it later.

Kaisa herself was hanging out on the blanket, her dog absent for now. Instead, she was working on an attempt at wood carving, what appeared to be a very basic attempt at the flames of Andraste. Yay Andraste! ]

this couldn't possibly go wrong

[amygdalae]

[When Bruce first got the message, honestly he kind of wanted to ignore it. Maybe pretend it didn't get through or something. These crystals didn't seem to work the way they should half the damn time anyway from what he's seen of them.

But--well. It's not as if she's a bad person by any means, and he did say 'yes' when he could have easily said 'no'. (Probably.) The least he can do is to try and see this through somehow. He knows eventually he'll have to tell her the facts and lay it clearly. Maybe after this... dinner.

He revises the 'maybe' to 'probably' when he gets to the location that Kaisa asked him to go. Of course, he comes on time before he's not a guy to be late for appointments in order to be polite to the other party. The sight that greets him is certainly... something, to put it mildly, and Bruce kind of has to pause and stare a little. The laid out blanket, the food (very Ferelden, he notices), the scenery--its all quite, uh, picturesque.]

[unbrokenoath]

[ Kaisa doesn't half ass this kind of stuff, okay.

When she hears the crunch in the grass of someone approaching, she glances up, resting her knife at her side. Seeing that it was, indeed, Bruce, and not some nosy busybody, or a darkspawn, or Corypheus, she flashes him a dazzling smile, quickly sweeping her wood shavings off the blanket, tossing the half-finished Andrastian symbol next to the knife. ]

Hey! I hope the food's okay. I can't...really...cook that well, but! I figured everyone likes cheese and meat, right? Even Orlesians, except they have this fancy cheese that aged in a sacred cave and meat from virgin royal nugs or whatever.

[ That probably isn't good date conversation. Damn, she should've gotten Nate to school her on that, too. ]

Aaaanyway, how're you?

Bartering

[the_effect_she_has]

"Honestly, I don't know why I ever leave you alone anywhere." Is Katniss's dry reply, as she comes upon Bruce trying to bargain over herbs in the higher quarter. She's wearing her leathers today, and along with her is a cart of all kinds of treasures for the merchants. Furs for the clothiers, bone for the crafters, and animal fats and the like for all unsundry.

Right now, she's heading off to find somewhere to sell the last of her animal teeth - perhaps to some disturbing Orlesian jeweler, as she eyes the merchant giving Bruce a hard time.

"How much is he asking for?" She asks, flashing the Inquisition pin on her cloak.

[amygdalae]

Bruce turns to see Katniss when he hears her familiar voice... although her words don't give him much comfort.

"Because I can actually take care of myself," he returns with just the smallest hint of dryness in his tone as she walks over next to him - and opposite of the unwilling merchant who only seemed more annoyed at the presence of another bargainer.

Bruce does his best not to sigh when she asks the question. "I can handle this myself, you know. You don't need to do this for me." Also he really didn't want to frustrate the merchant, because some of these herbs weren't available anywhere else and he knew some people who needed them as soon as possible.

[the_effect_she_has]

The Katniss of nine months ago would have argued, would have pushed and would have probably annoyed the Maker's Balls out of the merchant. This Katniss just gives them both a quiet, thoughtful look, and then just shrugs.

"All right." She nods at her cart, then at the herb merchant, "I've got trade if you want it, but I can move on if you don't. No skin off my nose."

A crooked smile - is that actual charm? - before she goes back to her default expression of 'uncaring young person apathy.'

Wildcard

[justice_is_blond]

It's not uncommon for him to be working very early. Anders doesn't sleep that well even with Nate beside him, and there's always something to do. It's also not entirely uncommon for someone to come into the tent he's working in, but that it's Bruce gets a start before Anders shakes his head.

"Maker. You've gotten far more qui--" He breaks off, looking past Bruce, before shaking his head again. "No, you haven't. It's that I can no longer hear the damn singing Justice was always hearing near you. Between that and the simmering... friend... you used to be very noisy."

[amygdalae]

Bruce always keeps odd hours - or at least hours that weren't quite standard. Sleep is always elusive for Bruce even at the best of times, and without the previous ways and company that he had the best way to keep his mind occupied was to work.

--still, the last person he had expected to see was Anders, and Bruce hesitates and almost decides to take off before Anders does actually notice him. Ever since having heard that Justice had been expelled from Anders Bruce's own feelings had been... complicated. On one had he is glad that Anders has gotten rid of the spirit giving him issues, but on the other...

Best not to dwell on that. There was something else that had gotten his attention, anyway.

"Singing?" he asks with a suspicious frown. He doesn't want to presume, but knowing everything... he has to be careful. After all the demon was just one of many things that Bruce had resolved to keep hidden, for many reasons.

[justice_is_blond]

"Singing," he confirms, returning to the herbs he'd been working on. "Most of the time it was underneath the other, but every now and then, when we were close and you weren't fuming about one thing or another, I could hear it through him. It was... Mm."

What works as a comparison? Bruce had been complicated the whole time, really. "He'd a ring, once, back when he had Kristoff's body, and the song was similar to that. He never told me what it was about the ring, as far as I can recall. Otherwise, you were mostly a buzz. Like a bee hive that's been turned over."

The song is probably somehow connected to Rage too, if they're being honest. That's what happens when you're weak enough to let a demon in.

[madame_de_fer]

[Bruce is not the only patron browsing the wares of the local herbalists. Vivienne strolls in as if she owns the building, with her mind set on finding a replacement for primaetas root. Dried redmoss might perhaps suit if attained from a particular source, though there are concerns of its toxicity to be considered.

On sighting Bruce and his attempts at wresting needed medicinal herbs for something less than an empress' ransom, she folds her arms and fixes her gaze on the merchant. Never let it be said she's unwilling to use her pull to benefit the Inquisition and its agents.]

Ah, Bruce, there you are. [First name. It should get him better prices and respect.] Have you found what you were after yet, my dear? Shall we look elsewhere?

[Not that she has a clue what he's after but if she can smooth that transaction just by being around, so much the better.]

[amygdalae]

[Had he less anger management issues, Bruce would have been seriously tempted to do something extreme going by just how much the merchant wants from him. He can see the way he eyes the crest emblazoned on his armor, which as much as it helps it also hurts him sometimes - and its certainly hurting him now.

He starts to try and bargain some more, but before he opens his mouth to speak a familiar voice sounds, and Bruce turns back to see the Iron Lady herself heading towards him.]

Ah--madam. [Bruce inclines his head in her general direction as he hears the merchant spluttering at his counter. It only takes a moment for him to realize where she's going with this, even if he isn't entirely sure why.] Just give me a moment, I need to finalize my deal here and we can be on our way.

[madame_de_fer]

Of course, darling.

[The merchant is still sputtering at his counter and Vivienne levels him a cool look from under her mask for his troubles. The price is outrageous and everyone in the room knows it.]

I'm so pleased you found a reasonable provider at last. Orlais is at war within itself, the Veil has been ripped open, and people are more concerned with lining their pockets than securing the peace. It's simply dreadful.

[Looking at you merchant. Offer something better. Or else.]

Because the dracolisk is always their icebreaker.

[bookish_lioness]

[At first, it sounds as though someone is talking to a dog, and Hermione wonders if Bruce had managed to get his hands on one of the mabari pups that have been running around. The thought is endearing, but catching sight of what's actually transpiring is no less so, really.

Though she tries her best to be quiet so as not to disturb either one of them, she can't help letting out a small chuckle when she sees the dracolisk actually sitting down like that, and she steps in a little closer, though not nearly enough to close the distance.]

The pair of you are in training, are you?

yesssss

[amygdalae]

[Bruce hears the chuckle but he is more concerned with the dracolisk at the moment so he doesn't give it much thought. When she actually speaks though Bruce finally turns to her, looking just a little bit weary but mostly just exasperated at the whole situation.]

Just trying to get it to stop following me all around Skyhold. [Sure, maybe the courtyards are fine, but what happens when Bruce goes into the caste? Up the battlements? Into the gardens?? The last thing he wants is for it to go trampling all over the plants there because that wouldn't end well.] At least its finally decided to stop breaking itself out of the stables.

[...well, it still does it once in a while. But its still an improvement from before.]

[bookish_lioness]

You have to be patient. After all, you're the friendliest face it knows, so it stands to reason that it wouldn't want you too far.

[She does approach now, not nearly as fearful of the dracolisk as she'd been when she'd first seen it, though she still does have that respectful air about her. As before, she reaches her hand out, not banking on it having remembered her by sight and much preferring to play it safe and let it get re-accustomed to her presence.]

Maybe "it" is really a "she" and she's taken a bit of a shine to you.

[Now she's visibly teasing, Bruce. You know you should lighten up when even Hermione's taken to teasing you a bit.]

Three, and who knows when in the timeline this is.

[slipshot]

[A chuckle came from above, where Gavin was perched on the roof of the stables, eating a hot bun.]

Well, that's an interpretation, I suppose. Where did you find him, Bruce?

timey wimeeeey

[amygdalae]

[...well, there's a familiar face.]

The Approach. [Another deep sigh, and Bruce stares at the dracolisk for a moment before he turns away to face Gavin. He will... continue to deal with that later.] And I didn't 'find' it so much as it deciding to hang around me for some reason I can't fathom.

Re: timey wimeeeey

[slipshot]

Well, perhaps he decided he liked you? [He finished the bun and slipped off the roof - slip being the telling word - and shook off the dust once he righted himself on the ground.]

Is he friendly?

much awkward such unsure very adelaide wow

[amygdalae]

[Bruce hasn't really spoken to Adelaide much since the events at the Approach. Aside from that One Conversation and the few lessons he's been 'asked' to give they haven't really so much as seen each other. And honestly Bruce is fine with that - if anything, its worked out for the best. She has her own life to deal with and doesn't need his problems to add onto hers like it had already once before.

But with Lucas' parting words the other night Bruce can't exactly turn back from his promises either. So here he is, with some tea that he remembers Adelaide liking and standing outside her tent, feeling incredibly unsure about everything. He knows logically it isn't hard - just walk in, put down the tea and take his leave but

well

It's hard.]

library.

[fightingale]

( Bruce was a mage.

This was information that was no longer new to her, but remained just faintly galling. In the grand scheme of secrets that troubled her, concealing ones status as a mage was by far one of the more forgivable. To lie to survive, to protect oneself, that was the nature of any person. Mages needed to do that more than most, it could be said. And yet, it was still a secret kept, a shadow that she had not anticipated, and that displeases her. Of all places in Thedas, she would like to believe that the Inquisition was such a place that mages might be better at ease being open as to who they are, and their true gifts.

She had been mistaken, and perhaps their caution was well justified.

Even so, when she sees Bruce in the library she almost keeps walking, before turning to approach him. A little nug trots at her heels, skittering past her feet as she stops to investigate this person. )

It has been some time. I believe thanks are owed.

( what with all that helping to save her life, and all. )

[amygdalae]

[Bruce always knew that keeping his status as a mage hidden would have consequences. Just because people understood didn't mean that he was going to get away from this scott-free. It didn't change the fact that he had lied blatantly to everyone, that he hid parts of himself away from others... and as certain people said, hid things that could have helped instead.

Still, he's made his choice. Now he has to live through the consequences of it.

The nug is not what he expects first, especially considering that they're in the library. Bruce pauses and glances down at the little creature as it snuffles at his feet. He almost starts to bend down and pick it up, but a familiar voice speaks to him and Bruce pauses, glancing up to see Sister Nightingale of all people approaching him. On one hand, its good to see her up properly now especially considering the state he saw her in last, but on the other...]

Sister Nightingale. [A polite inclination of his head.] You don't have to thank me. I was only doing what was needed of me.

[The Inquisition needed her, and so where Bruce could help within his power, he would do so.]

[fightingale]

And yet, the implications for me were considerable.

( She is not a popular person, that she knows. Leliana has done little to endear herself to the hearts of those in and beyond the Inquisition, personally. It is the voice for mages and for elves that was being saved (ironically, given the reason for which the Thorns had struck at her).

Orders might be orders, and might be a matter of requirement, and yet she is grateful all the same. Grateful that the causes to which she is dedicated were aided by her survival, if nothing else. )

I could not let the efforts go unacknowledged. ( and then just the faintest suggestion of a smile. ) Especially when it seems all had to endure the presence of the Elder Tree.

gardens - totally meant to tag this two weeks ago.

[failedfirst]

[Velanna usually prefers to go to the forest to find her ingredients for potions and poultices, but there are just some herbs that don't grow outside of the gardens. At least not within a day's walk. She's quiet when she comes up on Bruce working. They've met once before, during the magical sickness that had spread across Skyhold, but she wouldn't expect him to remember her.]

It is rare to find a healer that grows their own herbs, I always assumed it was because most don't know how. Where did you learn?

[yes this is totally how she thinks polite small talk works]

its okay!! lmk if you need boomerangs i will do my best

[amygdalae]

[Bruce very certainly remembers Velanna, especially considering her status as a Grey Warden. Its hard to forget somebody like her as well for the most part, even if they haven't talked much at all. She still has a presence that is hard to ignore.

So when she approaches him its not that hard to sense her despite her quietness. He keeps on working in the gardens, and at her words he glances up, looking entirely nonplussed by her question.]

Trial and error, mostly. [There's a small shrug as he says that.] And maybe one too many books.

two days till the end of the month i'll probably be ok sob

[failedfirst]

Books can be helpful. The Botanical Compendium is my personal favorite. [She crouches down in front of one of the plants, absently checking the soil with her fingers.]

I met the author, she is one of the best in the field. [Of course Velanna would like a grumpy old mage woman.]