[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

Kitchen

[ombranera]

"Oh good, an extra pair of hands. Toro-" Zevran calls over his shoulder, one arm tucked around the infant resting against his hip, all wide eyes and blond curls and grabbing hands. "Could you do me the favor of fetching the- yes, Lucci, he is very large and very strong please do not lean quite so much-"

Said child was leaning around Zevran's shoulder to keep the great horned man in his line of sight, grey eyes curious as Zevran attempts to hold him steady. "If you could grab the sliced sausage from the table?"

It would go into the pot of comfort food he was very much preparing for himself- and whomever might wish a bowl so long as it lasted.

[onlyhymns]

Cade was not comfortable around Qunari. Not Vashoth, not Qunari with the capital Q, they all frightened him and stressed him out and if he could have one wish granted of Skyhold, they would just not be here at all. Although... the same would go for the apostates, most of the Dalish, in fact a lot of the other Templars, and the less amicable city elves. The dwarves could stay, except Varric. ... and then Cade could just sit by himself on the battlements and have quiet and not be afraid of anything for a while.

But instead he was. And he was eating alone, up atop one of the broken battlements, sitting on the ground and peering through a missing chunk of stone to watch the keep's hustle and bustle below. He was enjoying the safety of seeing without being seen, at least until heavy footsteps startled him out of his reverie. And there was a Qunari. The biggest damn one he'd ever seen, and the one he knew to have a reputation for violence, who paraded around shirtless like some kind of beast.
Having the Iron Bull abruptly in his periphery meant a sudden lurch of panic in Cade's mind, and he leapt to his feet with a start, immediately going on the defensive despite having no legitimate reason to do so. Cade was easily convinced he was about to die, even if the other party was literally just walking by.

[qunari]

Yeah, alright. That's cute as shit.

Bull chuckles as he moves to oblige, wiggling his fingers at the kid as he stares up at him. Elves and their big eyes. Still, he'll be a looker when he gets older, if his daddy's anything to go by.

When he gets closer, a whiff is given to the pot of assorted boiling ingredients, a familiar spice wafting up. "Hnnn. Haven't smelled that in a damn long time," he rumbles, before handing the sausage over as best he can. It looks like Zevran's juggling a fair bit as it is.

"Anything else you need grabbed?"

[ombranera]

"I was feeling a touch homesick and while we do have Antivan Chefs, sometimes you wish to make something from home yourself, yes?." It is not quite the same as the traditional lentil and sausage stew, but it is as close as he might come without finding an Antivan butcher. "Grazie."

Into the pot went the sausage and up, again, went the hands of Lucci, grabbing in the direction of those wiggling fingers. "If you do not mind that he will likely attempt to grab your horns or eyepatch? Having you handle Lucci while I finish this would be most appreciated."

[qunari]

He knew enough about Cade to know the man was a mess. He'd caused a fair bit of trouble, less out of malice than out of fear and ignorance, but fear and ignorance were perfectly capable of causing all the harm in the world.

Whatever judgement he might have are his. His job? Keep a low profile, staying out of trouble, and sending relevant judgement on up the ladder when called upon to do so. Hard to keep an eye on the problematic ones if they run every time they see you coming.

"Easy." Bull snorted softly, lifting a hand and waving it in a gentle, placating manner. "I already ate today."

[qunari]

"Yeah, no problem."

That's an insane amount of trust Zevran's showing, but they've been through enough by now. He's not about to drop the kid in the pot, or anything like that. Still, he's tiny enough to sit on Bull's palm, if he were so inclined.

Instead he crooks him into one arm, wiggling a finger stump at him. "I know, I know. I'm a looker," he chuckles, smirking down at the infant and letting him grasp hold if he wants. Whatever keeps him occupied.

[ombranera]

There is, for a moment, the usual strange twist of both anxious fear and relief in Zevran's gut to hand his child off. Today is one of the days when he does not mind being a parent, when it is not quite so strange and jarring. A good day to say the least. But there is still a large part of him that remains uncertain.

And a large part that knows full well how easily an infant can find its death in capable hands.

He gives himself a moment to simply observe them, stirring the bot, good eye warm albeit critical before he resumes his task. Bull knows what would befall him should he do harm to anyone Zevran cares for. His son is no exception. Lucci, oblivious, squeals happily and reaches up to grasp that large finger with both hands, babbling nonsensically.

"He is figuring out words little by little. I am half certain he said 'papa' yesterday but I cannot tell."

[onlyhymns]

Cade had to take a moment to slow his breath and his heart rate, still eyeing the man with distrust despite the reassurance. A moment later, he realized that in standing so quickly he had knocked half his food off the battlement, and, briefly ignoring Bull, he leaned to peer over to where it had fallen.
Onto a practice dummy. And the person using it.
Another Templar, incidentally, and he turned to shout something unkind as Cade quickly slid back behind the parapet, suddenly wishing he'd never thought to come up here. Then, remembering what had startled him in the first place, his eyes sullenly lifted to the huge and supposedly peaceful Qunari again, as if to say oh hello, you're still here.
"Sorry," came his defeated mutter, perhaps to Bull, perhaps to the Templar below who couldn't hear him, or perhaps just to the world at large.

Herald's Rest

[colecomfort]

"Horns itching, waiting for spurs at my sides, spoiling for the fight."

Cole joined him in the corner, sometimes. Not often, but often enough that it wouldn't be too startling to suddenly notice him, sat with his legs curled up under him by the wall.

He looked out at the mingling crowd.

"Would it help if there was a brawl?"

[qunari]

It was still a little startling, even after all this time, but he doesn't jump. Just glanced down quick into the corner the kid had popped in before he grunted, eye straying back to the tavern at large.

"Maybe. Might hurt more than it helped, though. Don't go getting any ideas."

An eyebrow arched at the ghostly young man. Giving the kid licence to mess with people's heads just seemed wrong, no matter what hilarious shenanigans might ensue.

[qunari]

Nothing to fear here, Zevran. The babe gets his absolute attention, and he's more than aware of his own strength. There's a hum, but he doesn't look up quite yet. "Soon as he figures out what noises get him attention, he'll put it together. Got a feeling this one's gonna be a talker."

Bull grunts, wiggling his finger in the baby's grasp, letting him paw at him for a while before ducking his hand lower to gently tickle his belly.

"Aha! Let your guard down, didn't you? Yeah, I'm onto you..."

[ombranera]

"Take after me, you mean?" Zevran crackles a soft laugh, stirring in the spices, parsnips, and lentils with a steady hand. Truly he has given up on looking too far ahead. Taking this one day at a time? Seems to be working for them. Especially since Lucci's first tooth finally cut free of his gums, giving his smile a lone shine of white.

The boy's babbling cracks upward into bright burbles of laughter, fat hands flailing. "I am fortunate that he is such a friendly child. He likes people."

[colecomfort]

"I would take their daggers. Nobody would get too hurt." But he wasn't going to make a move without the Iron Bull's go-ahead.

His attention honed in on one figure in particular. "That soldier already wants to punch someone. But he doesn't know who yet."

[qunari]

"Hey. I'm not the one wearing your lunch right now."

'Peaceful' might be a stretch. Bull loved a fight, that was true. But he wasn't going to go picking one with anyone who crossed his path. Just the ones who had it coming, and who tended to be pretty transparent around here.

Cade was a whole bundle of under-the-surface issues, though. Maybe not a bad person, but definitely messed up.

Tavern, for now

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin hasn't been seen in the tavern for a while. Ever since returning at the end of last month, she's been more or less glued to the healing tents, watching over Asher. When he finally died, he left with an entourage, bound for an Avvar hold a short distance away. That was a week ago, more or less, and now she finally turns her steps to the tavern.

Her heart doesn't seem to be in it, though. Normally, she'll go around, buy drinks for people -after the Fade, that even started to include Bull- and join in on all the drinking songs. Now, though, she perches at the bar and stares into her drink as though not sure what to do with it. It's too strange to be here, realizing that the days of her and Asher and Mal being an annoying trio is done. But she can't bring herself to leave, not knowing what else to do with herself right now.

She only looks up at the sound of a heavy tread approaching the bar. "Oh. Hey."

[onlyhymns]

Fair enough.
Cade actually nearly cracked a smirk at that, but then he remembered who he was addressing and stilled it. Qunari. Giant Qunari, up here on the battlements. Spying? Some other mischief? Cade wasn't in any position to stop anything, but he felt uneasy all the same.

"What's, um," he began, stopped, cleared his throat, and proceeded, "your business up here?"

[qunari]

"Hey."

And Bull settles in beside her after a moment, when she doesn't dismiss him or make any sign of wanting to stay alone. If she did? He'd respect that. They're just now figuring out what the comfortable amount of distance is, anyhow.

Mourning's a tricky process in the best of circumstances. Bull cocks his head towards her once he's sitting, brow raising over his eyepatch.

"Doing alright?"

It's meant to be casual. This, too, is an offering that can be dismissed or taken up on, as she likes.

[qunari]

"Yeah. That's not uncommon. You spend enough of your life fighting, and winning, and it starts looking like the only way to deal with things where you come out on top."

Bull grunts, rubbing at the meat of his neck before glancing down again.

"How about you, kid? You ever just want to hit something?"

[qunari]

"Yeah. Be nice if that lasts while it can."

Not gonna be long before he gets old enough and he stops being 'a baby' and starts being 'an elf'. Shit gets complicated after that, and not everyone's gonna be so friendly. But that's years off yet.

Right now, Lucci's just happy for the attention, it looks like. Bull huffs, nostrils flaring, as he relinquishes his scarred hand for the baby to grab at yet again, before glancing back up at Zevran. "You holding out alright? Even the happy babies are a handful."

[ombranera]

"Here, at least, it will last awhile longer than it might in Antiva." Even if the boy might have been royalty of a sort. Were he not so obviously Zevran's child. But these are the cards they have been dealt and Zevran chooses to put those quiet fears aside in favor of stirring a measure of dry sherry into the pot.

Lucci grasps at and squeezes those massive fingers- needing two hands for just the one! But the size does not give him cause to fear. Such a brave child. Aren't they all when they are young?

"Truly? I am taking it one day at a time. Mia is of great help, my family- and how strange it is to be able to say such a thing and mean it- takes turns minding him when they can. He will be spoilt in short order I am certain. Now that at least one tooth has cut through we've hope that the rest will be swift and he will stop crying quite so much over that." Then there will be something else. But for now? Little steps.

[gatheringstorm]

It's free space, and Korrin's not about to deny anyone else a drink. Even those on her shit-list aren't going to get the better of her, not today. If any arrive, she'll just put some distance between herself and them. But Bull isn't on that list; he just occupies this nebulous space that Korrin can't define. She doesn't want to, either, figuring it's probably best that way.

She manages a quirk of her lips that could pass as a smile, though it doesn't meet her eyes. "If I said yes, would you even believe me? You could take one look at that Orlesian envoy in the corner -the one who's sitting like he has a stick up his ass- and probably pull out their sordid backstory without any effort. I can't decide whether I want to drink myself stupid or go out and fight something, so you tell me what that means." No, really. Go ahead, she's not at all sure of herself right now.

battlements

[ichaer]

Ciri comes to the battlements often in order to train. She enjoys being able to freely move along the wall, twisting and turning while going through the motions with her sword. It's tiring work but she is grateful to be tired at the end of the day since it could usually mean a decent night of rest for her. After all, the dreams have not been so bad since she left Weisshaupt but something is always seeping into the back of her mind. Reminding her of songs and Old Gods that lay underneath their world.

She twists, cartwheeling into a flip and landing crouched atop the battlements with a huff of air. Although she wants to push herself, it wouldn't be good to lose her balance up here and fall to her doom somewhere in the valley below. It's enough to get her to sit, staring outwards at the mountains and breathing in a deep breath of cold air.

"It really is pretty up here..."

gardens

[theproperglove]

Josephine is, all things considered, probably less inclined to wandering than even Bull is. It is uncommon for them to meet unintentionally, but it is one surprisingly clear day that they cross paths in the gardens, and Josephine feels it only polite to greet him.

"It's been a while since we last met," Josephine says, walking up to him with a warm smile on her face. "How have you been?"

[colecomfort]

"Birds want to nest under the tavern roof. They want to feel safe, but when they're up there, the droppings might fall onto the tables. I thump on the rafters to make them fly away."

Not the same as the soldier, then. But the answer spoke to the letter of the question.

Ring

[el_tybs]

Sam knows he isn't a match for Iron Bull, especially without magic, so he isn't crazy enough to consider even challenging him in the ring. Course that doesn't stop him from showing up and to watch from the sidelines. Surprisingly there were enough who thought they could, and it wasn't so surprising at how quickly some of them went down.

It's only when the fighting has ended that Sam actually moves to stand by the fence, brows raising as the last opponent walks off rubbing his back end. "New training regiment?"