[open] got tired of wastin gas livin above the planet

[onlyhymns]

WHO: Ser Cade and yoooouuu
WHAT: Futzing about, trying to suck less, possibly failing
WHEN: Before he leaves for Kinloch Hold and everyone's dreams are broken
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Lemme know if you want a specific starter! Also negative CR is always welcome (read: inevitable), so please don't be afraid to either provoke it or ask me how it could be provoked on my end.

He's here, he's fairly anti-queer, he's not quite as vanished as he always tries to be but considerably moreso than the average person!

Cade can be found in a variety of places for those who care to look or just happen upon him accidentally, for better or worse. One of such locations is

the library, where he can occasionally be found curled up in a chair with a dessert of some kind and a smutty romance novel that he'll pretend is anything but. He'd take them to his room, but that seems a whole lot more sinful so maybe not.

The kitchen is where he acquires the aforementioned sugary snacks, for which he has a particular fondness. One of the cooks likes him, which raises the Likes Cade tally to about four.

Another such place is the Herald's Rest, where he is That Guy In the Corner, but less mysterious and brooding and more awkward and afraid someone's going to demand his lunch money. He averts his eyes from most people, but will talk to them if they approach and have a stronger personality than his own (which isn't hard).

In the courtyard, on his breaks, he can often be found sitting against a wall and fiddling relentlessly with a puzzle box. It can be funny to watch, especially when he gets super frustrated and goes red all the way to his ears. Life's hard.


Lastly, those who have busienss with Seeker Darton or Knight-Commander Norrington will first have to penetrate the receptionist's desk, wherein Cade is at his most dutiful and confident unless someone deliberately tries to make him uncomfortable. Which they never would, that's ridiculous.
(Do not actually penetrate the desk.)

[If none of those make you happy, toss me a PM and we can set up a starter. Or give me a wildcard if you like!]

Comments

[arlathvhen]

That is exactly one whole step up. Not enough for Beleth to stop staring at him like he has just managed to dig the bar of standards Beleth sets for human conduct lower than what she assumed was physically possible. But. Enough not to just turn around and stomp off. Which, honestly, Cade may have preferred.

"My face is saved from being funny...by my vallaslin," She clarifies, crossing her arms. "I'm sure the Creators are pleased at such a recommendation. If I had been a city elf, I suppose I would have just had to resign myself to an unfortunate face?"

[onlyhymns]

To be fair, this is the person who thought she was a servant for the first several times he met her. ...and then beat her half to death in the same trip. If her standards for Cade are above bare minimum, she may be deluding herself.
However, he knows when he's done wrong. Unfortunately, he just doesn't know how to undo it.
"...no," he says lamely, "I'm.. that's not what I said." He seems to recede into himself, his shoulders hunching as though he wants to curl into a ball and disappear.

[arlathvhen]

She probably is deluding herself, she realizes, and it's a rather frustrating realization. Both that she expects more out of him, and that he can't live up to even those expectations. She wants to grab him and shake him until whatever makes him so damn socially incompetent falls out, but--well. Even if that were possible, it would be a terrible idea.

It doesn't help that he's now doing that thing where he looks like a kicked puppy, and now she has to deal with guilt and frustration. Because she's the bad person for wanting him to say something a little kinder than noting 'lines' on her face. Sylaise, grant her strength.

Now she has to decide what to do about this, exactly. Walking away would certainly be the easiest option, and she wouldn't have to deal with...all of this. But. But. Leaving Cade here like this, knowing he'd done wrong and that someone was ditching him again because of it...Ugh. Ugh!!!

"When you want to compliment someone," She starts out, because damb it, if he has to learn than she might as well be the teacher, "You pick out features that you like, and say nice things about them. For instance--" She opens her eyes, and turns to look at Cade. "I like how curly your hair is, with all the little ringlets. I think it looks nice."

[onlyhymns]

Of course, if Cade knew all the trouble he's causing in Beleth's mind, he'd feel even worse. Perhaps it's better this way.
"I know," he says in a sigh of resignation, but is caught off-guard when she compliments him. He looks at her for a moment, touches his head, and goes red again. "...thanks," he whispers.
Should he compliment her back? Is that appropriate, under the circumstances?
"I... didn't mean anything bad. ...about your face." He's trying, at least. "Um, it's nice. Your face."

[arlathvhen]

"That...is a start," She allows. It's not a great start, it's kind of the limp-wristed handshake version of a compliment, but...everything needs a start to get anywhere, right? "And--um. Thank you." She adds quickly, because she's not rude.

"It also helps if you pick out individual traits about what you're complimenting. Like how I noted the ringlets in your hair. It makes it feel more personalized. So the other person knows you're not just blathering, but that you've studied them, and thought on this before you said anything. Though..." She glances up at him again, expression thoughtful. "I think your biggest issue is that you don't sound confident in what you're saying. If you sound unsure when you say something nice to someone, then how can they be sure that you really feel that way?"

It's...a little odd, giving instructions like this. But the man needs to know, before he tries it on someone who isn't her. "You can also compare their features to something else--something that's flattering, mind you. Like--your eyes are the color of cornflowers. Flowers are pretty, so comparing your eyes to flowers says that they're pretty, too."

[onlyhymns]

"I know," Cade says again, a bit more impatiently-- he rolls his eyes to boot, definitely making a good impression. "...I know what a compliment is." Which isn't to say why he's apparently incapable of giving one, but this just got way more awkward than he's competent at dealing with.
"I'm just..." He glances around conspicuously, shuffling his feet and hunching his shoulders, "...I'm not sure I should." Merrick could be around any corner. Or anyone else who disapproves, really.

[arlathvhen]

She's not sure if she's more affronted at the guff he's giving her, or impressed that he's bothering to try to give her it in the first place. After some thought, she decides on affronted, and raises an eyebrow at him.

"I know what a backflip is, but that doesn't mean I can do it with any skill or grace." She informs him primly, placing a hand on her waist. "Nor does it mean that I should sass someone who's trying to give me tips." She pauses for a moment, and shrugs, turning to casually look over Skyhold. She doesn't really care. Look how much she doesn't care.

"But, I mean, you're hardly obligated to take my advice, or to compliment me, or...whatever." She waves her hand around flippantly. "...I just wanted to make sure you didn't get yourself in trouble if you ever try it on another girl in the future."

[onlyhymns]

Cade furrows his brow when the guff is given back-- he's not about to get violent of course, since in a matter of speaking that isn't in his nature. He is, however, content to be a pissy baby when someone takes this tone with him.
"I'm not sassing you," he mumbles indignantly, and looks away with a face like 'can you believe this' even though nobody else is there. When she concludes, he has a quick answer.
"That's not likely to happen," he informs her, probably the most direct thing he's ever said.

[arlathvhen]

Well, she can think of a variety of answers to that, ranging from far kinder than he deserves, to rude, to outright malevolent. She certainly doesn't feel particularly motivated to soothe his feelings anymore, not while he's being a little shit, but she went through enough trouble already that she would feel like her time would be wasted if she just stomped off right then and there.

So, instead, she makes her tone slightly more amicable, but still raises an eyebrow when she turns back to face him. "Yes, you are. You're sassing me right now." Then she pauses, and lifts a hand up and shrugs.

"I think I prefer this to you not even looking me in the face, though."

[onlyhymns]

He doesn't know what to do with this information. Sassing is a thing one does to one's superiors, which he wouldn't dream of; this is just... Cade frowns as he deliberates. It's a disagreement, and though he's not bold enough to have had many, he's pretty sure they're supposed to be like this. And here he thought she'd summoned him out to...
...what did she want? Besides, you know. The things she said in the letter.
Cade pouts for several more seconds before his irritation fizzles, and he rolls his eyes again, but in a more self-effacing way. "Sorry," he grumbles, hesitates, and adds, "...I don't know what to say."

[arlathvhen]

Beleth's lips twist, but Cade's lessened anger serves to diffuse hers--she can admit that she's not totally innocent here, without taking the hit to her pride. Even if he doesn't sound that apologetic, it's close enough. She slides a hand through her hair, then sighs, glancing off to the side.

"I'm sorry, too. I was being argumentative when I didn't need to be." She reaches over to pat his arm consolingly. "I know you were just trying to be nice. I just--Well." She shrugs. "I'm sorry, Cade. But you don't have to say anything else." She glances down, and gives one more shrug for good measure. "I just, um--I had wanted to apologize to your face. And then I started arguing."

[onlyhymns]

Cade watches her carefully as she pats his arm, but allows it, and doesn't even flinch-- either he's improving or he's just getting better at controlling himself, both of which are arguably good things.
"It's all right," he concedes quietly, on-edge since both of them are apologizing and he isn't even sure anymore whether either one has anything to apologize about. It's frightening, not knowing.
Clearing his throat, he takes a gamble. "...your face is nice."

[arlathvhen]

She looks up at him when he finally gives a compliment that isn't completely terrible, and he's rewarded for his efforts by a flash of a grin, and Beleth ducking her head sheepishly, looking rather pleased. Even though this probably counts as bullying him into complimenting her?? Whatever. It's still nice.

"Thank you. Um--So is yours. Just so you know."

[onlyhymns]

Bullying Cade into doing things isn't as difficult or as cruel as one might think. That's more or less how he's gotten as far as he has: through being bullied, in some way or another. It's necessary and he appreciates it.
Even if he's a little piss about it sometimes.
"...thanks," he says hesitantly, going a bright red and then angling his face upward, looking over the top of her head so she can't see him too clearly.

[arlathvhen]

Beleth doesn't even notice his face, or him attempting to hide it, because she's far too occupied with staring intently at the ground. It's a pretty interesting ground. Well, stone. It's great stone. Really. Solid.

"Um. It's not a problem. I'm, ah...going to. Go. Now. If that's alright." Smooth. Beleth is truly the epitome of the eloquent and accomplished bard.

[onlyhymns]

"Um," Cade begins, but doesn't stop her. "...all right." He'll still wait for her to go before he does, however, since he's trying to get better about walking out on people.