[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

[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.