[Open]

[eternalsquire]

WHO: Kif Kroker/Kiflas Croquet and you!
WHAT: Kif is back in Skyhold and getting back to doing all of Zapp's chores.
WHEN: Second half of Harvestmere, after he returns from Crestwood
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: None as of yet.

1. On the way to the laundry

See an elf. See a shorter-than-average elf. See a basically tiny elf, struggling under a pile of laundry that looks like it weighs more than he does soaking wet. Under it, he can be heard muttering about all sorts of various things, most of them centered around 'self-obsessed overlarge pompous poppinjays' and the like. Will he make it down under his own power? This is a good question.

2. In the stables

Kif sighs heavily, looking into one stall in particular. It's not even that he minds having this mount; she's efficient and she's easy enough to climb up and ride. The problem is that she's a tiny pony and he looks ridiculous with her.

All the same, he's not upset with her. She does her job. And she's more than he could have afforded on his own, so after he's done sighing he's going inside and gently starting to brush her and get her ready for a ride. He'll deal with Zapp's monstrosity later.

3. In the tavern

It's hard to be social. It's hard to deal with people he doesn't know. Back in Halamshiral he knew generally how people would react. Here, there are so many unknowns, and so many faces that seem friendly without reason.

His best attempt at being around people involves this, sipping water in a mug and sitting in the corner of the tavern trying very hard to look like he's happy to be here.

4. Wildcard me

[ooc: Want something you don't see here? Hit me up on Plurk at Nadat or Discord at Nadat#4647. Kif isn't a social butterfly but I can give him reasons to be places/do things.]

Comments

[eternalsquire]

Fine animal. Kif looked around to make sure the giant was addressing him and not someone else before giving the... human? Hornless qunari? a bemused look.

"She's mine, yes." Fine, he's not sure. She probably thinks so, bumping his arm looking for a treat, and he pulls out some apple slices for her. "Given to me so I didn't have to walk everywhere since we were going traveling. To here."

Kif doesn't sound that impressed about being here, but who would be, in his opinion? It's drafty and old.

[conqueredhearts]

Iskandar laughed at the reaction he was getting. "And what is so wrong with this place? It is quite splendid if you ask me!"

Apparently it was this man who was impressed with this place and about being here. Then again impressing Iskandar wasn't all that difficult...

"This is a fine operation they've set up!"

[eternalsquire]

"...Have you seen a city?" Plenty of people around here seem to be used to the country, and to them, Skyhold probably seems very impressive. Kif has been all over Orlais; this doesn't really stand up.

[conqueredhearts]

"As a King I'd say I have. Not to mention all the cities I conquered and the city I was in before I was brought to these lands through the rift. It would make all cities here pale in comparison." So he had a lot of information to fall back on. Yep.

[eternalsquire]

"A king." His voice is dry, doubting... until it clicks. Kif straightens up, eyes narrowing a little. "You're a rifter?"

From what he's heard, rifters are dangerous and unpredictable. He's not sure how safe he is in the stables right now.

[conqueredhearts]

"Of course." He held up his hand with the shard in it before giving him a smile. "No need to worry though. I mean you no harm."

He waved his other hand as if to dismiss the very idea that he might be dangerous before leaning on the door to the stall. "What is the name of your dear friend?"

[eternalsquire]

Stories haven't said anything about cheerful or working to keep someone from being frightened. Kif frowns at the man's shard before glancing back at his little pony.

"Dainty," he says. "It's not her fault she's so small. I think Brannigan meant her as a joke about my size, but she carries me, at least."

And she's his. He doesn't have a lot that is genuinely his.

[conqueredhearts]

"Hm? What is wrong with your size?"

He saw nothing wrong with it. Lots of people were on the smaller side of things. Besides, he looked average enough.

"May I come in with you to meet her?"

[eternalsquire]

To someone this large, small probably is just small, Kif realizes. He might not look smaller than usual to the man.

"I'm shorter than a lot of elves." He pauses and looks back at Dainty before slowly nodding. "Don't move too fast. She's used to loud, but not anyone as big as you."

[conqueredhearts]

"Are you?" He tilted his head to study him a moment then shrugged. "You seem perfectly fine to me."

Calmly, he slipped in with the pair then actually sat down on the ground to lower his height somewhat. With that he held out his hand and stayed still, just offering the small pony a warm look as he lowered his voice to make himself less intimidating. "There. I won't hurt you, little one. I'm just here to visit."

[eternalsquire]

It was surprisingly kind for someone to reach out to his little pony. Most of the time she just got snorted at, and Kif watched Iskandar like a hawk. ...Like a rather talonless hawk.

Dainty leaned forward and nosed Iskandar's palm, searching for carrots or sugar cubes or apple cores. After a moment, Kif steps over to the giant and offers him an apple core, one salvaged from Zapp's tray after lunch.

"You could give her this."

[conqueredhearts]

He looked over at the offered apple core and smiled before taking it. "Attractive and ready to supply. I like that."

After giving him a wink, he turned back to the little horse to hold the apple core out to her. It was lovely to see her eat it and he ran his hand over her nose while she did, admiring her coat and even the length of her lashes. She was a beautiful little creature, she really was.

[eternalsquire]

For several moments Kif was confused. Who was Iskandar talking about? And then it clicked with the wink and he froze. Him? No. No, he'd misheard. Attentive and ready to supply. That was Kif. He breathes out a sigh of relief.

"A squire has to be attentive," he agrees. Dainty seems at ease with Iskandar too, so Kif moves to her side to start brushing her.

[conqueredhearts]

"A squire? So that is why you are so ready with that apple core!" He laughed lightly then looked back at Dainty. She seemed to be enjoying herself here, having no problems with him. A good thing too because he was quite fond of her already.

"Do you not often receive compliments, by the way? You seemed so shocked!" He looked over at him with a tilt of his head. "Surely someone must have pointed out to you that you have wonderfully beautiful features."

[eternalsquire]

He froze again, mouth open. He hadn't misheard. The human was complimenting how he looked, and it was a first in every way.

"Um," he said when he finds his voice. "No?" Was he being mocked? Normally there was an audience when someone was mocking him, though. And he'd never had someone mock him who was feeding his horse or helping him in any way. Just in case, Kif glances around to see if there are people peering through the gaps in the slats of the horse's stall. No one else seems to be there.

"I don't." He doesn't want to upset the giant man. Iskandar could probably break him in half. "I've been told the opposite. Often. So forgive me for not reacting... how you expected?"

[conqueredhearts]

He frowned at the idea of anyone telling this beautiful creature that he was the opposite. He certainly did not deserve that sort of treatment. No one did in his opinion. Was this because he was an elf? It had been obvious that people seemed to look at elves in a different light. One he really was not fond of.

"You do not have to apologize for that. It is others who should apologize instead for the way that they have treated you."

Iskandar patted the small horse's nose before looking to Kif and reaching out to rest a large hand on his shoulder. Nothing more than that since he didn't want to push the little man too far since he'd just confessed he wasn't used to this. "Let me assure you that I find you to be a very beautiful man. I am completely honest about my attraction towards you."

With that he smiled and went back to just petting the pony. No mockery here. He was completely serious.

[eternalsquire]

The frown is more along the lines of what Kif expects... and the words are just about as far from it as possible. The hand might be even more so. It's warm, large, and added to the look on the human's face, makes it the words feel honest. Honest attraction, from a human. A human man, no less. Kif has no idea how he feels about this. Sure, he's had his moments of small crushes on passing elf women who then proceeded to not notice him at all, but they'd been... fleeting. Safe. He'd known nothing would come of it so he'd watched them and sighed and moved on.

Now someone's actually interested, and Kif's feeling as capable of holding a conversation as his pony right now. ...Less, because at least his pony isn't standing awkwardly staring. Instead, she's making a noise of appreciation and bumping Iskandar's hand as if it belonged on her.

His pony has greater social skills than he does. If Kif had any self-esteem left to crush, that might do it.

"Oh." There. That's a word. Better than Dainty could manage. Take that, pony. ...Don't take that, pony, because he does appreciate her carrying him places and he feels a little guilty. "I don't know what to say to that. No one's, um. I didn't even know people were ever that... blunt."

[conqueredhearts]

"I have been blunt my entire life. I decided early on that people would either like what I had to say or they would not so why should I be caught up in the details of it when I could enjoy the good of life instead?" Iskandar gave the elf yet another warm smile. Really it was like he just couldn't turn that off and they were just going to keep on coming. Hopefully Kif was ready to receive a lot of them in the future.

"I can say that I am pleased to be the first to say such things to you though. This means I have a chance of you remembering me and keeping me in your thoughts." He gave him a wink then gave his shoulder a pat. "Ah but I promise I will not push you into anything you are not comfortable with attraction on my part or no. Such things should be wanted by all to be enjoyed."

One more pat and then he leaned closer to him. "Ah! When you are done with her care would you like to meet my Bucephalus?"

[eternalsquire]

That was not an approach he could afford to take, and it was a bitter thought. If the people around him didn't like what he had to say, he could suffer for it, or his family could. The smile muted the sting a little, but enjoying the good life seemed very far beyond what Kif could hope for.

The pats were nice, though.

"I couldn't forget you." Even if he wanted to, but thankfully he did't. "I don't, I'm not uncomfortable. I need... I need time to process."

All of this was too new, and Kif had honestly never contemplated being with another man before. It just hadn't crossed his mind. Iskandar wasn't helping with the confusion either with being so near. Kif nodded in response to the question and finished brushing Dainty before putting away the comb and giving her food and water one more check.

"As long as he doesn't step on me I'd like to meet him." This man's Bucephalus, whom Kif is assuming is a horse, would have to be massive.

[conqueredhearts]

"Take all the time that you need, my friend. I would not push you to accept anything. It would hardly be fair."

Iskandar moved back so that way he could let the little elf finish his work. He knew that he could be very large and while he easily towered over both pony and elf that hardly meant he should get in the way! Especially when there was the care of another creature to be done.

"He will not step on you. If anything he will wonder if you are there to admire him and treat him. He thoroughly enjoys both." The man laughed at that and got up to brush himself off.

"I have treats you can give him so we will be covered there."

[eternalsquire]

He was also not used to this level of consideration. That fact alone left him watching Iskandar step away while weighing the man's words. He really wanted Kif to be comfortable. His gaze was still considering as he gestured for Iskandar to lead the way to his horse's stall.

"He sounds like he suits you well, then." The man admired easily. He'd have to, to find Kif attractive. "My Chevalier's horse seeks treats too. That's why I keep them on me when we're going places; Zapp won't and I don't want the horse to have to deal with him without them."

Animals didn't deserve that.

"Is he in the stable here?"

[conqueredhearts]

"He will not keep treats for his companion?" He frowned in disapproval before turning that look back to a smile as they made the way to his horse. Who was in the stable here so there was no need to answer that question.

The large black horse immediately stretched his head forward to seek the attention of his master. Iskandar smiled at him fondly and stroked his nose, murmuring something in his native tongue before actually leaning forward to press a kiss to his head. Bucephalus seemed pleased and bumped the man who laughed softly before looking to the stranger.

"Don't be afraid, my friend. Come greet my wonderful companion. He has been with me for a very long time and has carried me across many lands and through many battles."

[eternalsquire]

What would it be like to squire for this man instead, Kif wondered, the one who gave affection easily and clearly cared for his animal, one who probably didn't use and discard everything and everyone around him? The train of thought iwas dangerous. This was something he can't have, and it didn't do him any good to think about that.

Instead Kif took a breath and reached up... and up, to rub the horse's nose.

"You value him," he stated. "And no. Brannigan... That's one of my jobs, because he can't be bothered. He can't be bothered by a lot. That's why he has me, really. I do the work, and this way my family is better off than they would be otherwise."

[conqueredhearts]

"Mmmm...I find I dislike this master of yours. To treat you and his own horse in such fashions leaves a great distaste in my mouth." Both of them deserved far better in his opinion. Were this elf serving him he would treat him very differently. Certainly it would be seen as odd in this land but he found he didn't care about that in the slightest.

Iskandar shook his head, aware he could not just take a man's servant away. It was wrong and not his place. It was one thing for the other man to release Kif and for him to pick him up and another to steal him away. Things of this nature had to be done correctly. A conqueror he was but he knew that.

Fetching a treat, he offered a piece of apple to Kif to feed to his horse who was currently nosing at the elf.

[eternalsquire]

"I'm an elf, and he's a Chevalier," Kif said as if that explained everything. To him, it did. To most Thedosians it probably did.

"All he has to do is show up and swing a sword for the right lord. Anything else is a bonus. Some Chevalier aren't awful, but most of them would prefer to kill an elf than talk to them, or see them around."

As he talked, he took the apple and held it up, smiling faintly as the horse sighed and then ate it.

"Working for him means my family back in the alienage is better off than they would be. Whenever a group of drunken nobles runs through there and sets fires or beats someone, it won't be my kin. I can... deal... with him for that."