[open] you're like a mirror, reflecting me

[qunari]

WHO: Iron Bull and all comers. That means you. Yes, you.
WHAT: Keeping the fort down at Skyhold.
WHEN: End of Kingsway (August)
WHERE: Sparring Ring, Tavern, and other varied locations around Skyhold.
NOTES: n/a, will add as needed.

He was going to need to find something to fight, soon.

Not that a break wasn't nice and all, but after being laid up months ago with that shit that had happened in the Fade, and sitting out all the bullshit going on in Halamshiral, Bull was getting restless. An itch was building that was hard pressed to find a good outlet for scratching. Next big fight that came rolling around? You weren't going to be able to keep him from going.

Some of the newer recruits could use some breaking in, so Bull would occasionally take a break from the training of his own Chargers to take on anyone who thought they might be able to handle themselves in the ring against him. And of course, any sore feelings would find a balm in quickly being offered a jovial pat on the arm and a drink in the Herald's Rest, where Bull occupied his usual corner.

But that restlessness saw him wandering a little more than he was generally prone to. Taking in the battlements, straying towards the garden in the keep's courtyard, poking his head into the library or the rookery, or stealing into the kitchen for a few midday snacks. And hey, if they needed anything heavy moved around the larder, fair was fair.

Comments

[qunari]

"Wouldn't recommend getting too close to the stables, then."

Smirking, Bull turns his good eye to the surrounding vegetation, the scent of the herbs wafting over them in the light breeze that sweeps through the cloistered courtyard.

"Picked a good spot."

[theproperglove]

"I have been coming to the gardens more lately," she says, somewhat confused as to why Bull would need to suggest she should stay away from the stables. Josephine has never much liked horses.

"Do you come out here often?"

[onlyhymns]

This elicits a sigh, and Cade's pale face colors a bit as he nods. "It seems to be the only thing I have a talent for," he admits, some of the humor leaving him.

[qunari]

"No one is, to start. Under the Qun, you'd be watched by the Tamassran's to see what job you'd be best suited for, and that's what they'd have you training for. Right up until the day they found out you have magic."

He shakes his head. "It's rough. Having all that expectation pulled out from under you. Can't imagine it's much different down here."

[qunari]

There's a deep, rumbling chuckle. "Yeah. Tends to be the way."

He's not gonna pry. Not like he can't suss out what's going on from any number of directions. Good for him. Bull's found himself in a similarly comfortable situation, and it's enough that they've found something good, something that works for them.

The difference it's made in Zevran is clear enough, even for someone who wasn't trained to look for those cues in people.

[qunari]

Bull's eyebrow quirks higher over his eyepatch. "Nah. Might've come more, if I knew the view was gonna be this pretty."

Because hey, who doesn't like flowers? Underhanded flirting? Never. How could you even consider such a thing.

[qunari]

"Pretty sure that's not true. Everyone's got a use."

Bull cocks his head slightly. "Heard you're a hell of a fighter. That's not nothing."

[el_tybs]

Put like that it sounded like there was some stuff that was similar to life down here. "I'd say that down here it's the opposite. A lot of expectation is put on you when they find out about magic."

But they weren't here to talk about magic. "So what kind of training were you talking about?"

[onlyhymns]

Cade lifts his eyes to meet Bull's, visibly surprised, and for once not dismayed. At least not right away; after all, there's a reason he has that reputation, and is now stripped of any weapons or combat duty.

"I was," he concedes, with some difficulty, "...but it's too much. I'm too..." How to say it, without outright calling himself crazy. "...when I've started, I can't stop." He purses his lips and looks down.
"I'm dangerous."

[qunari]

"Yeah."

He doesn't argue the fact. Doesn't need to. On this, the kid's not crazy. He understands the risk he poses just fine. That level of self-awareness, though? That's a little encouraging.

Bull lifts his chin. "I was at that point, once. Remember what it felt like. Not a pretty place."

[onlyhymns]

Curious. Cade never thought he'd have something in common with a Qunari, but here they are. At the back of his mind, he has the decency to be a little ashamed of his prejudice.

He looks up at him, curious but guarded, and gives a hesitant nod. Then, mustering some courage, he clears his throat and asks, "..how did you...?" Clearly it didn't last forever.

[theproperglove]

"The gardens are flourishing more than I had anticipated," Josephine muses in response, but there's a sly curve to her smile that suggests she knows exactly what he's referring to. "It is good to know that such beauty can still exist even in this climate."

It's not clear whether she's referring to the freezing Frostbacks, or the state of the world in general.

[qunari]

"Say you run across one of those red templars, and he silences you. What do you do?"

He's not supplying a ready answer here. He wants to see what Sam will come up with on his own, crossing his arms and regarding him with one curious steel grey eye.

[qunari]

"How'd I come out of it again?"

Bull snorts. He'd been broken, knew he was broken, knew he had to be broken down the rest of the way in order to be built back up again. To be of use to anyone. Might be of benefit to someone as messed up in the head as Cade, but no guarantee it'd work.

No guarantee it wouldn't kill him, either.

"Not sure you really want to know."

[qunari]

"You wouldn't think."

Nostrils flare in a relatively quiet snort. "Place has got a feel to it, though. Like there's something in the earth. Something old. Can't decide if it's impressive or gives me the creeps, most days."

[onlyhymns]

After Bull clarifies, Cade nods shyly. Then, when it seems the information might be withheld, a new intensity comes to his eyes, and suddenly it doesn't matter anymore that he's talking to a Qunari. This is someone who understands, who could potentially offer insight on how to unbreak himself. Or at least... be less broken.

"I do," he says, his voice quiet but intense. He watches the man fixedly, imploringly.

[el_tybs]

He's actually been thinking about that lately - that and regular Templars. His magic sword won't be of any use if that happens, and for a moment he considers about getting a shorter staff to bring along just in case.

In thought for a few seconds he blinks, giving a small apology with a hand rubbing the back of his head sheepishly for doing so. "My first reaction would be getting my shortsword out and blocking anything that comes at me initially. If able I'd keep my distance, but realistically I'd have to find a way to disable it." Depending on its size of course.

[qunari]

Yeah. Maybe he does. He doesn't see an inch of this guy that doesn't want to fix himself, just lacking the knowledge. Someone like him? The Qun could do a lot of good for. But a guy like him was also far too steeped in the Chantry to ever accept the Qun fully.

Which was a shame. He might be happier for it.

"I let 'em break me down the rest of the way. Build me back up again. Wasn't fun. Wasn't easy, either. But the Qun doesn't let go of anyone who can still be of use to the community. Everyone's got a purpose, and a place. You just gotta be willing to fill that role, do whatever it takes to get right again."

[onlyhymns]

Oh. The Qun.
Again Cade feels that spike of revulsion, and perhaps it shows, but he's polite enough to know not to pick a fight about it. Not when someone is taking the time to explain something to him, something that sounds... awful, and yet...
He watches the Iron Bull with a look of contemplation, his usual dilemma of having a lot of thoughts on something and knowing how to phrase or having the confidence to say exactly none of them. Is there such a thing outside the Qun? How would that even work? Where does he sign up?

"...I..." he begins, about to say something, then wimps out at the last second. "..I see."

[qunari]

"Not a bad first instinct, though. Most mages, you take away their magic and all they've got left is a stick to swing. You've got some who know how to use it as a proper weapon, but not enough. Short-sword, though. That'll give them pause."

The corner of Bull's mouth crooked upwards in approval.

[el_tybs]

"To be fair, it's a stick with a blade at the end." At least that's what he has, and knows how to use it. Technically though he only has it for backup now that he has his magic sword. "Honestly red templars don't seem all that phased with what you pull out." The ones he's run into - thankfully they haven't thought of silencing either.

At least it seems he's given an appropriate answer. "It's because of situations like that, that I wanted to learn other weapons. Too reliant on one thing, you'll end up tripping when it's taken."

[qunari]

He can see the confusion, the revulsion -- which doesn't prickle at him personally, he knows what he is and what happened to him -- and the morbid curiosity. Cade's at a point where his system is failing him, where he isn't getting the help he needs.

And Bull hates leaving a puzzle unsolved.

"Doesn't have to be as extreme as that, though. If you want, I've got a few techniques. Might do you some good."

[qunari]

"Versatility'll keep you alive, that's for damn sure. Sounds like you've already got the right idea."

He paused, snorting softly. He's right. Their enemies don't have the same sense of caution once they fall under Corypheus's sway.

"Those templars, though. Figure we're doing them a favor, at this point. Sooner we put a stop to the shipments as a whole? The better."

[onlyhymns]

Cade looks at him, then looks away. Then back. He nods silently, but rather than offer assent right away, he clears his throat and softly asks, "what, ah... what kind of techniques?"

[el_tybs]

"That's what I figured and why I wanted to learn more then just having my magic." It wasn't just the red templars, or Cryphesus' forces that he was thinking about either, but rather what he'd do once all of this was over.

Sam nods silently in agreement that ending the shipments would be best. "It's horrible what happens to those people. The sooner that we stop that from happening to others the better."