Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby

[issala]

WHO: Kas & OPEN
WHAT: Catch-all
WHEN: From his return from Orlais and to the end of the month.
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Come get your tiny qunari CR!

ARCHERY RANGE

It had been a year since Kas had arrived at Skyhold and started his training. Wielding a bow had been weird as hell at first, but now it just felt... right. Just like the knives he carried instead of the pathetic shiv he had arrived with, the bow now felt like it was just an extension of him. He also hit his targets pretty well these days, thanks to pushing himself immensely.

(Desperate to matter.)

You can find him at the range almost every day, practicing shots and getting acquainted with the standard Inquisition bow again after he had broken Metaari's. He takes a break now and then, for a bit of water or a sandwich - and maybe a chat.

STABLES

Sometimes, Kas can also be found inside or outside the stables, trying to wrangle a long-legged and somewhat awkward-looking dracolisk with eye-searing hide colors. (Because of course the teen has to try to learn his riding skills with a sharp-teethed predator rather than a fluffy pony.)

It seems young, perhaps a yearling or so, so they're at least equal in their complete confusion about everything mount-related. They're pretty equally stubborn, too, so there might be some shouting and impressive falls from the stable area now and then. (He might need a healer for those scrapes.)

Most of the time, however, Kas is just desperately trying to stay in the saddle as the dracolisk lumbers around with a confused look. Who was this idiot on her back?

RAMPARTS

If you want to be sure to find the young qunari, the ramparts at night is the best bet. He can be found sitting on broken areas of the wall, watching the stars or the sun disappearing behind the mountains. He seems to use this time to just think and go over the day, but isn't opposed to a bit of company now and then.

Especially not if you bring something hot to drink.

PICK YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

[Make up your own thing or message me for a starter!]

Comments

[gatheringstorm]

"Ataashi, huh? I like that." Korrin reaches up to pat the dracolisk, then slips some dried jerky from her pocket. "Is this what you want, hm?" She darts at look to Kas as the dracolisk's attention is snared; now's a great time to try placing that saddle.

[issala]

The dracolisk happily takes the jerky, pushing her head against Korrin to sniff her.

Kas is quick to take the hint, thankfully, and hurries to get the saddle. Sneaking over, he gingerly places the saddle on the dracolisk and leans down to grab the girdle and strap it tight. When the mount doesn't even bat an eye at it all, Kas throws his arms up again.

"Really? I gave you a whole squirrel but you don't behave for me?!"

[gatheringstorm]

That gets Korrin to laugh, allowing the dracolisk to sniff her and petting her soothingly in response. "Maybe she wanted something different? That or she likes the extra attention. Some dracolisks can be more social than others. That, or she's just being a snot while she susses you out."

[issala]

"Ugh. Definitely a snot." Kas does pat her neck a little bit, proving he wasn't as irritated as he seemed. Now he just had to lead her outside and get up.

...fuck, he would have to 'ride' in front of Korrin, wasn't he?

[gatheringstorm]

Noting that hesitation, Korrin tilts her head. "Need some time alone to get used to her? It's alright to say so, I don't mind. I just came over because I didn't know what the hell was happening over here."

[issala]

"Uh... no, it's fine. We've been at this for a few days." There's a pause as he starts leading the dracolisk outside, grasping the reins and trying to make her stand still for mounting.

"Don't laugh!"

[gatheringstorm]

"I won't! Try to do it quick, in one smooth motion. Then she won't have time to jerk you around." Though Korrin will help by giving her more jerky to get distracted by for the time being. Ataashi won't always have that incentive, but with a lack of friends' mabaris to spoil, the Vashoth woman can't help but give in now.

[issala]

Quick and smooth wasn't really that easy for the teen. He starts by putting the wrong foot in the stirrup, thankfully realizing that before swinging up on the dracolisk backwards.

Fixing his mistake, Kas still finds himself a little unsteady, having to jump on one foot when the beast moves and snorts in Korrin's hair.

...and then finally he manages to push himself up, using all the rogue dexterity he can muster to swing his leg over and sit in the saddle. It makes him grin, looking at Korrin in triumph.

[gatheringstorm]

The snorting from the dracolisk gets a chuckle from Korrin, who doesn't seem to mind as long as it's not gnawing on her hair. That's where she draws the line at friendliness. When Kas finally manages to sit in the saddle, she beams at him.

"Well done. The more you do that, the more she'll get used to it. Isn't that right, Ataashi?"

[issala]

Ataashi snorts again, and then dances to the side with the teen on top of her. Kas barely manages to hold on as the body under him moves sideways, and without a mane to grab, he has to reach for one of the spikes instead.

The dracolisk doesn't seem to like that, and digs her claws into the ground before doing a full-body shake - like a dog getting rid of water.

That's the last straw for the teen's balance and Kas is unceremoniously dumped on the side of the mount with an 'ooof'.

"Dammit!"

[gatheringstorm]

Sighing, Korrin moves to steady Ataashi, gently chiding. "He wasn't going to hurt you, silly thing. But yeah, don't grab their spikes. Just tug on their reigns or, if nothing else, their horns. They won't care for that much either, but it'll be hated less."

[issala]

"I can't reach her horn spike things," Kas says with a sigh as he gets up on his feet and brushes off his pants. "I guess I'll go with the reins."

Walking up to the dracolisk, he grabs said reins and starts the journey of getting up on her back again. As soon as he is, he looks quite determined to stay on. "Alright... now walk." The teen taps the mount slightly with his heels, and Ataashi scoffs and digs her claws in deeper into the ground, not budging.

"Aw, come on!"

[gatheringstorm]

"...are you sure you want this one? There has to be a less stubborn dracolisk out there. Well, probably." Korrin won't ride them anyway, their spindly legs creep her out and she can't imagine them supporting her very well. But still, if Kas wants one he should at least be able to get one that cooperates.

[issala]

He stubbornly sticks his chin out at that, looking at Korrin. "Yeah! She was all alone in her herd, Korrin. I couldn't just leave her like that, the owner said he'd put her down."

AKA, he had been hustled.

Sighing, the teen slumps a bit in the saddle. "...I was hoping I could learn really well together so we both could be on journeys and I wouldn't fall off all the time."

[gatheringstorm]

...yeah, he had been hustled, but if he's that insistent, Korrin can't bring herself to do anything but help him. Sigh. She steps over and pats his arm before leveling her gaze at the stubborn dracolisk.

"These things can take time, but I think I know someone who can help. One of the Grey Wardens I know has a pretty good rapport with dracolisks. He might be able to get through to her for you."

[issala]

He perks up a bit at that and nods. "That would be good... I mean she's not mean or anything... she just doesn't want to listen."

Kas pats the dracolisk's neck again before he digs his heels in a little more. Ataashi grunts and takes a few steps forward, and the teen beams. It worked!

...then she bucks and he's on the ground with a sore ass.

[gatheringstorm]

Sighing, Korrin goes over to help him up. "They never want to listen, at first. It takes time and a lot of ass bruises. But I'll see if we can cut down on those, for your sake. Ataashi, you just talked yourself out of another treat, I hope you know."

[issala]

Kas groans and gets up, shaking his head. "I must be doing something wrong, right?" Something he could fix.

[gatheringstorm]

"Eh...maybe, maybe not. Look, about how about taking a snack break? Let Ataashi settle down and we can try again later." And she'll make a mental note to ask Kain soon, before Kas gets too frustrated.

[issala]

He groans again but reaches to remove the saddle from the annoyed creature. At least she stays still for this, which just makes Kas roll his eyes harder.

Petting the scaled neck a bit, he takes the reins to lead her back into the stable. "You gotta behave, okay? I saved you!" Kas tells the beast before looking over to Korrin.

"There better be jam in this snack break."

[gatheringstorm]

"Absolutely. Tons of it." Now that she's said as much, Korrin could do with some herself. But don't worry, Kas, you'll still get most of it. She gives Ataashi a firm stare before guiding her rider out of the stable.