[ OPEN ] Take a Break

[fleurdesel]

WHO: Adelaide & The Healers of the Inquisition & friends
WHAT: Informal gathering, refreshments offered.
WHEN: nowish
WHERE: Skyhold, Orlesian Healing Tents
NOTES: Drinking, swearing, bitching about troublesome patients, etc. Announcement post here

It has been a difficult few months for the Inquisition- terrible battles, dangerous missions, strange illnesses. The Healers are well overdue a moment of semi-organized rest and relaxation. Much as she had before on behalf of the mages nearly a year ago, Adelaide takes the time to arrange for said respite. The Orlesian healing tents have been cleared of the potions, bandages, and poultices in favor of chairs, cushions, and braziers. Lanterns and the odd throw of fur or knit wool warm the space. Having more time to settle in and become established- there is more room, more places to sit, more tables propped up for holding glasses and mugs. The space is open, warm, and inviting with an elegant assortment of copper mugs and porcelain cups set around flat side tables arranged with an assortment of teas, honey, and small pots of cubed sugar and carafes of cream bribed from the kitchen. To one side there are bottles of wine and a small keg or two of ale and mead, tankards and glasses waiting. There are dried fruits and hard cheeses, dried meat and hard crusted bread, butter and sausage and a few odd baked tarts here and there. Across the entrance to the tents there is a sign:

Must be a healer or a friend of a healer for entry. Unless urgent (imminent death) no patients will be taken at this time.

Tacked below was a list of rules:

• NO WORKING
• Tea and coffee are to the left, wine on the right, food in the center. Please keep things in their proper place.
• Don't hog the wine
• Don't hog the tea
• Don't hog the coffee
• Don't hog the food
• Serve yourself and whoever else is waiting for a glass
• If you finish a bottle open a new one, don't recork it for someone else to find
• Brew a fresh pot of coffee or tea when you finish what is available
• Clean up after yourselves

Comments

[circleprodigy]

Well, hello there little fluffy dog. The mabari at Inessa's side perks up and barks back, tail wagging enthusiastically in turn. For his part, Garahel's response is pure friendliness, though if the dog doesn't like mabari, Inessa will keep him back. As it is, she rests a hand on him.

"No barking in here, Garahel. Let's let people hear themselves talk." Her smile is sheepish as she looks over to Christine, nodding. "I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with such a companion. I'd worried about bringing him, but he's usually manageable."

[aceso]

Immediately on alert, the little dog goes stiff and starts barking at this monstrosity of a creature. Who invited the bear? No bears allowed, you bear-sized creature! Though obviously this little fluffy dog also thinks he's bigger than he is, to bark at a mabari.

"Ponce, no." Christine scolds, struggling to put down her wine without spilling any before wrapping an arm around the dog before he can lunge.

"I would not call him a companion," Christine says. "More a nuisance. I could never use the word manageable in relation to him."

[circleprodigy]

Garahel tilts his head and makes a questioning noise, confused at the little dog's attitude the same way a bear might be puzzled at an attack from a fennec. Inessa, on the other hand, is somewhat amused. "That's a brave one. Might he be partial to mabari treats? If it would help settle him down, I can be generous."

She reaches into her belt pouch, ready to act if Christine gives the word. Garahel whines at notion of sharing, but she ignores him. If it gets the little one to calm down, then she's fine with generosity.

[aceso]

"I honestly do not know. He was rather spoiled by my mother." It won't surprise her if he turns up his nose at Ferelden treats in the hopes of something more decadent. But Christine nods her head and looks down at the dog, curious what he'll think. Ponce keeps wagging his tail, now more interested in the lady with her hand reaching for something than by the large bear-thing that may be a dog. He's not sure yet. If Christine lets him go, he's going to investigate by sniffing the bear-thing's butt.

[circleprodigy]

"Oh, dear. That must be quite a challenge."

Butt-sniffing, commence! Garahel doesn't seem to mind the small dog investigating, likely doing the same. Inessa draws out a pair of mabari treats, one for Ponce and one for Garahel. Then no one has a right to complain about a lack of them. Crouching, she offers. "Hello, there. Hungry?" Garahel sure is, and he inhales his promptly, of course.

[aceso]

Ponce pauses and sniffs at the treat. Then he takes a step back, looking up at her like this was not the caviar he ordered, miss elf lady.

"I think he is being picky," Christine says, shaking her head. "I do know he likes soft, chewy treats. But hard, crunchy things? I guess not."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa chuckles, not offended. "Fair enough. I'm not too surprised, given that mabari treats weren't in abundance when I visited Orlais." She tucks back the treat, to Garahel's dismay. But that dismay soon turns into curiosity as his attention is diverted back to sniffing at his new furry companion. "Hopefully the kitchen staff here will be able to provide to his satisfaction. I only know how to make the one kind, for now."

But a picky dog is a challenge and maybe Inessa will accept it at some point, because she can.

[aceso]

Ponce skitters back from the mabari, ears back before he moves around Garahel in a wide circle, trying to get behind him. You know, to sniff those hindquarters and see where the mabari has been.

"I do hope so. I have tried many things so far, and at the top of the list is bread and apples."

[circleprodigy]

"Garahel, stay." Inessa's firm tone has the mabari snapping to attention, still trying to see Ponce but ending the intrusiveness for right now. She rewards him with some behind the ear scratching.

"The baked apple tarts ought to suit him, then. And I'm the last person to pass judgment on catering to canine whims, as you might guess. I never thought to have one of my own, not in the Circle. Now, I can't imagine life without the bottomless pit." Said bottomless pit pants happily, just glad to be included.

[aceso]

The way the mabari listens to his mistress gives Christine a tiny stab of jealousy in her chest. Is it a Fereldan thing? Are they naturally better at getting dogs to listen to them? She isn't sure if it's that or if Ponce is simply impossible to deal with, no matter who his owner is.

"There is an idea. Though I do wonder if it would not rot out his teeth. Perhaps as a very special treat, if he is a good boy." The dog's ears perk up and he prances over to Christine. He's a good boy, yes. That's what Christine's mother always used to call him and then she'd give him cuddles. But Christine just sighs and sips her wine. Ponce wags his tail and barks. Cuddles, please.

"I have never wished to own a pet. It has been an adjustment."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa can take no real credit, or at least she wouldn't if asked. Mabari are an obedient, intelligent breed and Garahel had imprinted on her, deciding to follow her in (nearly) all things. Unless she's wildly wrong about Ponce's origins, he lacks the magical breeding given to mabari, and the benefits those include. And he could just be impossibly spoiled, yes.

Observing the smaller dog but not offering to cuddle unless it specifically approaches her, she instead strokes the top of her mabari's head, an he sits down o his hind legs. "I'm certain it has, though at least his small size is a point in his favor? Try getting a willful mabari to move if he doesn't want it. At bathtime? He's impossible."

There's a soft whine from Garahel, who still remembers Ciri's attempt to get him clean. "I can try to give advice, though I'm only familiar with Garahel's breed to any real extent. Some aspects might overlap, others won't."

[aceso]

"His small size just makes him harder to catch," she grumbles, though she does gesture with her wine glass. "However, I see your point. I do not envy you trying to move him. And please; anything you think might help."

[circleprodigy]

"The younger he is, the more trainable he ought to be. If he's been extremely spoiled into adulthood, I'm afraid that unlearning bad habits will be very difficult. The best thing I can suggest is to remain firm every time, no matter the whining or big eyes. Once you make an exception, it's easy for them to believe that the rules don't matter anymore."

Inessa takes a sip of her tea, observing Garahel with Ponce. As long as the former doesn't cause the latter to bark constantly, she'll leave them alone. Otherwise, it's not worth giving the other healers a headache. "And I know it's tempting, but luring him back with treats will just encourage him to run off again. He'll think it a reward, which I realized when Garahel here was a feisty pup who would not stay still. Now he knows he won't get treats unless he stays near me, and behaves himself."

[aceso]

That makes sense. No doubt her mother gave in to anything the dog wanted. Christine listens, willing to be the pupil in a situation where she has no experience.

"I see. I should give treats for when he is quiet, and listens to what I say, but not as a means to draw him back over."

[circleprodigy]

"Precisely. Never bribe, not when that has likely been at the root of many bad habits. He can learn that running away is a prelude to nothing worthwhile, whereas obedience earns some reward. It might take him some time, but with some patience, hopefully the effort will bear fruit." Inessa glances down to Ponce, then smiles at Garahel plopping down by him, still large in comparison even then.

[aceso]

Ponce seems to have settled down a little, but only so far as not growling at Garahel. He still seems ill at ease around the big creature, and he can't seem to stand still. He meanders around the ladies, afraid of being caught off guard if Garahel tries anything. Finally, Christine sets down her wine and picks Ponce up, settling him in her lap.

"It is difficult to have patience with him, but I will try. Thank you. This has been most helpful."

[circleprodigy]

"You're welcome. I can only hope it will take root, though I'd suggest asking the various dog-trainers available, as well. They might have more to say on the subject, and have better ideas." Inessa can only say what works for Garahel, after all. She's not going to pretend that she has a wide range of experience with canines.

[aceso]

"I doubt they know how to handle an Orlesian dog," she says, and it's meant without any derision towards those trainers. "They must handle litters from birth and are able to mold them into what they need to be. This dog has spent his life so far chasing toys around a sofa." Ponce looks up at her like he knows what she's saying about him. Then he puts a paw on her chest and pushes himself up to sniff at her face. She turns her head aside and resettles him down in her lap.

"No. I know where your tongue has been." Her mother may have allowed kisses, but Christine sure isn't.

[circleprodigy]

Fairly certain that wasn't a snub, Inessa just nods as she glances down and shakes her head, a small smile tugging her her lips. "It seems shamelessness knows no breed boundaries. I suppose you have a fair point. Breeds with lifelong training are a world away from those without. Hopefully all that's needed is some time for you two to get used to each other."

Of course, at that, Garahel has to paw at her and continues her head-scratching. "So greedy."

[aceso]

"I do hope that is the case." Though Christine doesn't really want to end up liking the dog. All the grief she's given Sam for being a dog-lord would just come back to bite her.

For now, however, she's made Ponce sit still on her lap so she and Inessa can continue to converse.

[ ooc: is handwaving the rest okay? ]

[circleprodigy]

[ooc: Sounds good!]