faderift | (no subject)

WHO: Kain and YOU
WHAT: Open post for the month! Dracolisk bonding, dumb parrot bonding, shard… curiosity, cute Warden creatures
WHEN: Earlier part of Firstfall
WHERE: All around Skyhold… stables, training grounds, tavern, wherever the griffons are
NOTES: N/A

[Stables]

[Kain has been hanging around the stables lately, watching people come and go with their mounts. He’d lost his own not too long ago, sadly, so he’s been on the lookout for a new one. There are of course the nuggalopes now, and he doesn’t count that option out. It might be really nice to have a large war-beast of sorts.]

[But first, he makes his way toward a lovely looking hunter shade dracolisk. One who he’s been visiting a lot lately. At the moment, she has no official owner. She’s in excellent shape, her previous owner supposedly did great caring for her, and she’s been looked after very well since too.]

[He holds an apple out toward her.]

Hello, girl… how are you today?

[Training Grounds]

[Kain is going all out with his training as always, giving it his all. He pauses eventually for a short break, stretching and catching his breath. He even takes his Grey Warden helmet off for a moment, shaking out his long golden hair. As he’s doing this, something swoops down from above to land right in the middle of that hair... It's a bird, a bright blue parrot with yellow spots near its eyes and mouth. It screeches a greeting.]

”Andraste’s perky tits!!!”

[All Kain does is simply shift his gaze upward. Maybe this needs an explanation? Maybe it doesn’t. He simply sighs heavily.]

Oh. It’s you.

[Tavern: pick an option!]

[Kain is mostly keeping to himself, drinking and brooding. There's a lot on his mind, even though he's supposedly in here to relax a little. He isn’t the best at ‘relaxation’, but he’s giving it his best attempt. When someone approaches, he’ll react slightly differently based on whether he notices a shard or not (he won’t ask if he can’t see it, after all, he hides his own under gloves).]

[Tavern A. Shardbearer]

[Watching curiously, Kain doesn’t say anything at first. But that distinct green glow is hard to miss.]

Was it hard to get used to? That shard...

[Tavern B. No Shard]

[Kain gives a nod in greeting as the other person approaches. He's perhaps had a few drinks by now, as is evident by the random question.]

If we close the rifts, do you think those shards will disappear from people's hands?

[Wherever they keep the Griffons!]

[Yet again, he can’t sleep.]

[That’s a regular occurrence after the recurring nightmares, which have been worse over the past year or so. This time, Kain gets up and heads off toward where the griffons are kept. He’s quiet as he enters the area, so as not to disturb them. He really enjoys seeing them, finding it especially comforting to see such an important symbol of the Wardens alive and thriving here...]

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I have yet to decide. [Though he's often thought it over while he's here.] I suppose Carinus is far too obvious a choice? I've also considered Richaud, for my father... It's either a great Warden or something fierce and powerful, perhaps related to the sky. Storm. Tempest. Something like that.

[She nods, a slight twitch of the lips at Kain's choice. Yes, she had considered he'd say that.]

It's alright, the only name I've had so far is Shartan. Every elf with a pet likely has that as a name for them, or Garahel. I never said I was that creative when it comes to names.

Nor I. But at least they're good names, strong ones. I'd rather that than something childish or silly. These griffons are the past... and future of the Wardens. They deserve the utmost respect.

[Even if right now, they're just sleepy and cuddly and adorable looking as they rest alongside each other. But someday, they'll be fierce creatures striking fear into their enemies' hearts. Soon enough!]

[As though in response, one of the griffons peeps drowsily at them.]

It'd almost be like another Joining, right? Either we're accepted...or not, and reap the consequences. That's why I want to keep up the exposure now, increase our chances. Or at least my changes of being near one without their hackles rising.

[Her lips twitch.] The First Warden must be beyond furious, to have them beyond his grasp.

[Awww... Kain can't help it, he actually genuinely smiles toward the little creature when it makes that little peep. It seems winged creatures are one way to melt his cold heart.]

I'd be more afraid of failure with them than the Joining. You're right, the more that we come and let them see us as friendly, the more likely they are to accept us one day.

A shame for the First Warden, but if he truly wanted to see them for himself, he would make the effort to get more involved.

[Her eyes narrow at the thought, hardening.]

I'd rather have him rotting in the ground first.

[Said with unusual venom for the ever-calm Inessa, but after Weisshaupt and then the Anderfels takeover, can anyone really blame her?]

He doesn't deserve the honor, not after what he's done.

I know. And yet... he's still somehow First Warden.

[Could he redeem himself if he stopped taking over places and behaved like a proper Warden? Well. Probably not.]

At least it's unlikely he'll ever be able to get ahold of them. He apparently has other things in mind.