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

[That uncertainty causes equal amounts of concern and amusement for Hermione, oddly enough. She's amused that such a simple thing would make him react like that, but at the same time... well... he's acting like that. That's not necessarily a good thing.]

Try not to sound so enthusiastic about it. Or realize that you're perfectly allowed to tell me no.

[it's okay Hermione he's just unused to people actively seeking his company. It's kind of a thing with him.]

It's alright, really. [ATTEMPTS TO WAVE IT OFF.] Don't worry about me.-

[He should get used to it. Especially if they end up spending more time together because seriously, Bruce, being alone for long periods of time sucks and will probably get you attacked by a troll or something.]

I will so be worried, if I'm pushing against your comfort zones! [If nothing else, at least she says it with a laugh. Sure, she'll drag him beyond his limits sometimes, but she knows when to leave things be out of propriety's sake.] But since you're very clearly an adult, I'll trust you to be able to tell me to shove off if you really need to. For the record, I'd appreciate it being said more politely, but the gist is the same.

[He's fine he's managed this for ears he can totally do it. ...and if a troll attacks it probably wouldn't end well for the troll, let's be honest.]

...I'll take that into consideration. [You know the more you say its okay the less Bruce wants to do it, right? He's terrible like that.] I do appreciate the gesture.

[Troll attacks are serious business, Bruce. Hermione isn't going to let him face one down on his own, even if he's technically never really on his own.

Of course. [She can't tell if she's getting on his nerves or if he's just being overly polite, but in any event, Hermione knows not to push her luck. There's no sense in them talking around in circles.] At any rate, thank you for the short introduction to dracolisk riding. I appreciated not being trampled, and I look forward to more of that in the future.

[It takes a lot to get on Bruce's nerves, honestly. She's totally fine in his book. He just needs time.]

I'm glad to be able to help. [And he does sound genuine at that - helping people in any fashion is something he's always wanted to do.] As long as you've learned something, its the best I can hope for.

[Given that she doesn't have any exams to study for here, she's got nothing but time. So he can take as much of it as he needs, if it'll eventually quell the awkwardness.]

It would have been very hard not to have learned anything at all, given how straightforward you are. But you'll let me know when you have a bit more free time in your schedule, won't you? I don't want to have to come 'round looking for you after noticing months have gone by without a word.

[Granted, she doesn't want to be here months down the line, but that's another story.]

[Bruce certainly hopes that the Rifters won;t have to stay here for months either - but then there are some who have been here for nearly a year already, so its hard to keep up that optimism. For their sake rather than those of the people who did live in Thedas, he did hope they would be able to return in time. This wasn't a life any of them deserved to be stuck with.]

I'll do my best on that account. [No promises, since he doesn't want to give her false hope. But he would try to keep it in mind as much as he could.] Though you're free to find me if you need to. I'll do my best to be available then.

[At this point, Hermione is willing to accept that getting home may take a bit of time. Months is only a possibility because she's already been here months. She'd hate to think of what will happen once she's been here for years.

Hopefully, she'll never find that out.]

If I find you, we'll talk. But I wouldn't come looking for you, unless it was only to check in and make sure you're all right.

[Bruce very much does not want the Rifters to be stuck here for years. Even as much as he knows that the possibility of it is there... its still better to not dwell on it. Thinking about it just makes it worse.

Focus on the present. That's what he needs to do now.]

As long as you are comfortable. [Because that's the most important thing.]

Well, you haven't made me uncomfortable. I'm assuming I'd know it if that had been your intent at any point in all this.

[She's clever enough to leave someone well enough alone if he's obviously giving off those sorts of vibes, but given that Bruce has tolerated her company this long, she thinks it's safe to say that he doesn't detest her. Which is good, since most of the more standoffish natives are that way largely because of their distaste for rifters.]

For now, thank you. I appreciate every distraction I can get hereabouts. Especially when it's as relatively innocuous as learning to ride an animal that seems to like me well enough.

[In a strange way, Bruce does find some sort of camaraderie with the Rifters - or at least the ones he has talked to. He can sort of relate to that feeling of isolation, of not belonging anywhere. And while they are all certainly a strange group of people, for the most part he just sees them as an unfortunate bunch caught in a situation beyond their control. They are all doing their best to try and help though, which is enough for Bruce to appreciate them. And its always interesting, hearing their stories and learning about the places they hail from.

And sometimes, it almost makes him wonder how he himself would have turned out, had he not been born into this particular... place. Its so hard to imagine, but...]

I'm glad I can help. [A tiny smile as he says that.] And I'm sure... the dracolisk would appreciate more of your company as well.

[As far as Hermione's been able to tell, Bruce is an average enough sort of person, even if he's not necessarily as extroverted as some of the people she's met. But she doesn't need bubbly behavior, especially not if the person in question is competent enough. And Bruce has certainly proven to be that, if nothing else.]

Only the dracolisk? [Again, she's teasing. She's not much for it, but when it's light-hearted enough, there's no harm to it.] I won't disappoint. Take care of yourself, Bruce. And of our friend. I'd like more visits with him, if I can manage it.

It's always in the stables, so you can always pop by even if I'm not around. [It's not like Bruce has time for it 24/7 after all.

But, yes. Anyway.]

You take care of yourself as well. I'm sure I'll see you around.

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

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