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

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[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!]

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[ 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! ]

[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.]

"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.

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.

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."

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.

"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.

When Anders turns back to whatever he's doing Bruce cautiously moves in as well, heading for one of the other tables at the side as the other speaks. With every word that Anders says Bruce can feel the dread building up inside of him. Anders already knew one too many things about him; Bruce did not want Anders of all people to know yet another thing he'd rather keep secret for many reasons.

"I don't have a ring of any sort, if that's what you're asking," he says - almost snaps, really, but he can keep himself polite enough. For now. "Not that I needed to know, but--thanks for telling me, I suppose."

Time to cut that conversation short before it went on any further. Bruce stares down at the table he's at, only absently making a tally of the herbs that were laid out there. What did he come for again... right. He needed to take some stuff for his latest batch of poultice.

He keeps quiet as he reaches for the herbs that he needs, hoping that the silence is enough for Anders to get the hint to stop speaking about the 'singing' and whatnot. It is more than a little unnerving.

(On second thought, he really should have realized this. Spirits were always sensitive to lyrium.)

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.'

Well that had been... something. Bruce's only indication of his surprise was a blink, but that was more than enough. It's not like he can claim to know her well, but still--that wasn't what he had expected, from what he did know of her.

Then again, its not like Bruce is keeping tabs on her. If anything, she's taken to the Inquisition much better than he ever had.

"I can manage myself," he says again, through now its gentler. "But I appreciate the offer, nonetheless. Just give me a moment to wrap this up."

"Yes, I clearly thought you were wearing an invisible ring the entire time." His voice practically drips sarcasm.

Hints are for people who can read between the lines and who can even talk between the lines. Therefore, they're not for Anders.

"Is there some sort of pendant you wear under your shirt? Or... I actually didn't give it much thought, before."

He doesn't really know why Anders is so fixated on this, but at least this is a question is a simple answer.

"Wearing anything flashy is only just asking for trouble." Not to mention keeping any mementos would just weigh him down. He couldn't afford that, not during his days on the run, and now there just was no reason to let himself hold onto anything. One way or another the Inquisition, too, would end. Nothing lasts forever, or for long. Only the certainly of the chaos that Thedas was always embroiled in.

It's less fixation and more he doesn't know what else to say when Bruce is being... Bruce.

"Or it's expressing individuality. A personal life. Interests. You know, things that aren't being broody and upset and stifling one's gifts." He doesn't get Bruce. He'd say he's not sure that he wants to, but he's aware that that isn't true. Most of the people he sees constantly he'd like to at least have some grasp of. Bruce is a mystery. "Have you tried it?"

[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.]

Broody and upset? Is that really what Anders thought of him? Bruce is almost inclined to say something otherwise but then thinks the better of it. It's not like he needs Anders's approval of all things to justify himself. That'd be ridiculous.

"I don't think that really concerns you," he returns rather pointedly, not even bothering to look at the other since really, working on the herbs was far more important than entertaining him. "But I do have a personal life, thank you very much." A personal life that was personal for a reason and so Anders had zero reason to come and pry into it.

"And I'm sure it's a fantastic one." His voice doesn't sound sure. What even did Bruce do? He didn't use his magic, didn't wear anything flashy, wasn't warm or open... but at the same time, isn't that for the better? He carries Rage. Being close to people could be dangerous.

Anders exhales. "What are you making?" If the man's going to be here, they might as well talk. Or Bruce can leave. Anders doesn't really have a preference.

[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.

Bruce manages to suppress a snort on his own end. Frankly, its really not up to Anders to judge him, considering his track record. Not that Bruce himself is any better, but he's never claimed himself to be a saint either. (Or decide to blow up a Chantry in the name of 'freedom', but he knew when to stop beating dead horse no matter how easy it was.)

But work. At least that was an easier topic to discuss. "Some poultices for cuts," he replies simply, putting his needed herbs into a mortar, pestle at the ready. Work was safe to talk about, for the most part. As long as he wasn't nagged at to use magic again because he really didn't want to hear that.

[ 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?

She nodded her head, folding her arms over her chest as she looked off at the distance.

"All right. I'll be here." So she goes quiet, almost invisible, her eyes half-lidded as she listened to everything around her. Picking up odd bits of information to send along to Leliana, while she waited for Bruce to finish with his bargaining.

Even this, however, was useful.

[Bruce blinks - at the wood shavings, the... whatever it is that she had just casually tossed away, the knife--

He really hopes she keeps that knife away safely.

There's a moment in between Kaisa's words and Bruce actually registering them, but once that passes he blinks again and actually opens his mouth to respond.]

The food's-- [Um. Ferelden?] --fine. It's very-- [Ferelden.] --quaint.

[Pause.]

And I'm fine.

[Another pause. Bruce probably figures its best to actually not stand around like an idiot so he goes to the mat and settles down on a spot that 1) doesn't have remains of wood shavings on them 2) isn't occupied by the food and 3) isn't too near where Kaisa is sitting. That at least doesn't take too long, but once he sits Bruce has to stop himself from fidgeting.

He really is kind of over his head here, he thinks. Maybe saying no had been the better idea.]

Bruce stares at her a little more when she goes silent. It's not as if she was a loud person by any means - he knew that she was a good hunter, and knowing how to be quiet was part of it. But this was more than that. This was... it reminded him strongly of himself, the times when he kept his head low and strained his senses, trying to listen and see what he need, to be ready for danger from Templars nearby.

She really had changed quite a fair bit from how he once knew her. Or maybe it was...

Well, it didn't matter. Bruce turns back to the merchant and closes the deal, managing to haggle to a more acceptable price, even if it still could be lower. But he takes his victories where he can.

The merchant bundles up all the herbs together for Bruce to take, which he does and then proceeds to put in his bag (because of course it's here with him, he's here to buy things after all.) Once that's all done he thanks the merchant and finally turns back to Katniss, clearing his throat. "Alright, I'm finished."

[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?

It is very much the same thing, Bruce. In fact, when he returns to her side, she has her eyes closed, as if listening very intently to the couple standing a few feet behind her.

She looks up only when he speaks to her, then nods her head. She gestures to the cart she's pulling along, "You can throw your stuff in with mine. Where else are you going?"

[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.]

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

WILDCARD DATE B)

this couldn't possibly go wrong

Bartering

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Wildcard

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Because the dracolisk is always their icebreaker.

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yesssss