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

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Vivienne knows first hand about looking out for herself. It's her first priority, one that she never ever raises aloud, though someone observant enough might know it as well. Only a fool would mention it. She's pragmatic, however, and takes the broad view, the long view, in most cases and would openly confess to the Inquisition, and thereby all of Thedas, as her highest priority.]

Mostly. [Let's not discuss the dreadful state of the elven areas in front of strange ears, though. Not that Vivienne blames Celene for making a necessary move. It's the Game. What was that about priorities?] The civil war has done a great deal of damage in destabilizing Orlais in more ways than many realize. The loss of life is dreadful, resources are spent and wasted maintaining the fighting, swathes of property trampled or destroyed. Halamshiral has been spared the worst of it, thank the Maker.

[Oh and is that Bruce's order all bundled up? That poor merchant truly is quaking in his boots and anxious to shuffle them out. ~~Clearly it's Vivienne's striking hat. So amazing it's intimidating.~~]

[Bruce honestly cares little for his own reputation, per se - if he ever had any at all - but he understands and respects enough about others and what they feel is important to them, even if privately he thinks all these fame and reputation stuff is all kind of... unnecessary. Though he could easily be speaking from his own past experiences. His own attempts at being more had only brought him pain and suffering.

This wasn't the place or time to think about that though. Bruce goes on to take the bundle that the merchant has wrapped up for him and gives his payment, right down to the exact coin, remaining polite enough to give his thanks despite the irritation he had caused in Bruce earlier.]

Halamshiral is the heart of Orlais. It wouldn't bode well for the nation if it was so heavily affected by the civil unrest. [Though of course, Halamshiral is where the unrest started from in the first place, so...] But it would be good for everyone if it could be resolved sooner rather than later, especially when there are more important things to be concerned about.

[Things like the Rift. And Corypheus.]

[Precisely those things. Vivienne is pleased to see that Bruce continues to have his priorities in order.]

Exactly so. For those very reasons we must successfully stabilize the area, lest our enemy use the discord to further his plans.

[Once they are well and clear from the shop, and only then, she chooses to broach a subject on her mind for some time.]

As a lesser matter drawing my attention, there is a small personal project of mine I've need of advice with. Are you at all familiar with primaetas root, my dear?

[At least on that point he can agree with her. Bruce nods to show as such, falling silent after that as they both take their leave away from the store.

For the most part he's content with maintaining this silence - at least up until Vivienne speaks once more and the content of her question intrigues him a little.]

I--yes. [A blink.] Didn't that go extinct during the Second Blight?

Indeed. That is my understanding of it. A pity, truly, as what reading I've been able to find on it indicates it would prove a highly beneficial ingredient for potions.

I confess, I've been dabbling in some alchemy of late and it seems primaetas root would be the best option. Barring that, can you think of another plant that might have similar properties I could use as a replacement?

[Bruce kinda wants to ask what Vivienne wants something like primaetas root for, but he has a feeling its better to just not know. Besides, it is none of his business.]

Elfroot is always a standard, though if you need something that could be as strong as primaetas root had been... [He trails off, racking his brain for a moment.] Perhaps Elfroot and Arbor's Blessing, further enhanced with Lifestones. Though I doubt there can ever be anything that was as potent as primaetas root.

[She hums quietly, considering that recommendation.]

Lifestones. I had not considered those. I believe I shall test that out next.

[Which means yes she's dabbled already with Elfroot and a smidgen of Arbor's Blessing. She needs this formula to work out exactly perfect.]

Thank you so much, my dear. Do let me know if there is anything I might do for you in kind.

[Bruce would be surprised if she hadn't already tried the usual stuff for... whatever it is that she's making. But at least it's clearly important, since its clear how hard she's been working on it, and Bruce isn't going to look down on that.]

You've already helped me more than enough, madam. [Polite incline of his head here.] Trying to return the favor is the least I can do to repay you. Don't hesitate to find me too should you think my help will be of use.

[Some day, Vivienne might tell Bruce what she's working on. She might even allow him to help. Perhaps. She keeps so much to herself as a matter of self-protection that allowing anyone in is almost impossible.]

I promise you that I shall, should I find the need.

[Bruce doesn't mind if he doesn't know - though knowing would be helpful for him to aid her better. But he respects her privacy, and if she doesn't want to talk about it, then its her choice.

he gives a small nod.] I'll take my leave from now then, madam, unless you need my help for anything else..?

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

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bruce is too smooth for this shit ...also i'm making shit up so let me know if I need to edit

you're completely fine!

\o/

<3

shit i thought i had tagged this >_< SORRY

nooooooooo! you're fine!

orz ty