faderift | Open | Hanging out with a King

Entry tags:

Open | Hanging out with a King

WHO: Iskandar and anyone who runs across him
WHAT: Iskandar is just spending some time doing various things and enjoying old and new friends along the way
WHEN: Last half of Firstfall
WHERE: Around Skyhold
NOTES: Probably nothing but will add as needed

Stables

One place that people could be sure to find Iskandar was at the stables. He was here a great deal since this was where his horse was and where he'd really been sleeping. When people weren't interested in sharing their beds with him anyway. That was something that certainly happened plenty since he was very large and warm. But for today he was currently seated near a wall, singing softly in a language many natives wouldn't recognize. Perhaps many Rifters wouldn't either. After all, it was his native tongue and there weren't going to be many familiar with Ancient Macedonian.

In his hands was a saddle which he had over one knee while he rubbed the leather down with an oil to keep it looking beautiful. Perhaps most Kings would find someone else to do this but this was something Iskandar had always preferred to do himself. There was just something so relaxing about it. Of course, this didn't stop him from noticing company when it arrived and he smiled at the new arrival, still singing as he did.

Library

It likely wasn't common to see a giant man enjoying so many books but there he was on the floor of the library with a nice pile of them around him. The subjects varied but it was clear he really was reading through them. In his hands right now was what looked like something about the histories of some land and he was scratching his chin as he read through it. Now and then he made a small hum in thought before he finally closed the book and went to stretch, pausing only a moment to smile.

"Ah did you want to read this one?"

Tavern

One of Iskandar's favorite places to be was the tavern. It was here he learned many of the songs of these lands and where he watched people just live. It was fascinating to say the least but it did have him developing a burning desire of sorts. One that was like an itch he couldn't quite reach. He was really going to have to take care of that soon. Which was why he went to sit near the first person that he saw that had a seat available.

At least the first thing he gave was a smile.

"Would you happen to know where one could obtain a harp or lyre?" Yes, he really was going to need one soon.

[ooc: This is an example of what Iskandar's voice would sound like. For obvious reasons this is not what he's singing. This is just to give you an idea of what the tone and such would be!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Students."

The weariness in Waver's voice made the whole thing so much more dramatic than it was. "One in particular."

Now he was pouting but not for the reason Waver might think. On no it was way more stupid than that.

"I thought it was a special look just for me."

"Flat outranks you by leaps and bounds."

It was almost a miracle that someone who wasn't Iskandar could even get on Waver's nerves-and-shit-list, but Flat was a very special boy.

He stared at him for a moment or so. Like he was waiting for some other bit of information to be revealed. When it wasn't, he decided he should just ask.

"His name is Flat?"

"Yep," Waver said. "Among many other bizarre facts about him, including teaching Kayneth's mystic code to swear, is the fact his parents named him Flat."

There was a long pause. A long one. Then Iskandar was laughing loudly, head thrown back to release the sound into the world. "I know not who this boy is but I like him already!"

"You would," Waver said, his tone making it clear that Flat was in fact the biggest pain in the ass in his life, up and beyond even Iskandar himself. That was a feat, and not one Waver ever discussed with another soul.

"The boy is a genius of magecraft, but zero common sense. Worse, he has zero survival instinct, and you've seen what magi are like. I refuse to graduate him until he levels up in either one or both of those field."

"The more you say the more I like. I'm sure you find him difficult but I find him to potentially be one of the greatest of your students. He could become your pride one day if you keep up with him."

Probably not what Waver wanted to hear but it was what Iskandar intended to stand by.

Waver fought back a sharp laugh, only for it to fail. The laugh came out as a choking noise instead, too entertained by the concept and equally horrified.

"I think not!" he managed after a moment. "Iskandar, you don't get how much of an issue Flat is. He can't look after himself for a moment, and that's in spite of all attempts to make it otherwise!"

"In spite? I'm not sure I understand the problem outside of you finding him highly vexing."

Waver certainly had made that point clear. However, Iskandar felt that perhaps he was missing some information on what made the boy so useless. Such mentality usually was a sign of genius and creativity as far as he could tell. The sort of thing to be nurtured, right?

Waver threw his hands up in the air. Everyone at Clock Tower understood the problem that was Flat. That he couldn't articulate it to Iskandar was a bother.

"Just," he sighed, giving up. "Trust me. He's a reckless idiot, but more airheaded and prone to forgetting entirely about his safety and that of others."

He really couldn't tell how much of this was just general irritation and how much was Waver identifying a real problem. Without meeting the boy himself he only had words to go by. Which really weren't telling him much aside from the fact that Waver was annoyed. Given how easy it was to get the man to feel that way...

"If you say so. But I suppose time will tell. He could become very great in the passing years."

"If he lives that long."

It was one reason Waver had decided to hold Flat back, truth be told. Perhaps it was a bit coddling, but Waver had a definite sense of responsibility towards ensuring his students could look after themselves in the mage world, and Flat wasn't at that point yet, plain and simple.

"Mmmm. You really do lack faith in this boy."

He thought about things a moment longer then went to rest a hand on Waver's shoulder. Not out of sympathy though obviously.

"Tell me more of your other students. I want to learn more of what you do."

"Well, I've told you about Gray," Waver said, pausing to think of who else to talk-- oh.

"Luvia is a nightmare, but in a different way. Have you ever heard of a teacher whose student once put a bounty on their head?"

"Not a teacher but I have heard of such things many times before."

He did come from an ancient world where such things were rather common place. "Did this Luvia do this with you?"

"Mm," Waver nodded in confirmation. "There was a matter Reines had me investigate where Luvia was as well, and it ended up being over a will inheritance. So--"

He trailed off, then gave a little shrug. "Honestly. At that point I had been threatened before, so it wasn't even like she was doing it in an interesting or creative manner. If anything, I was a little underwhelmed by the attempt. There's a cliche in there, having someone killed over that sort of situation."

"I take it that it rather ended poorly for her then. Seems a rather foolish thing to do really. However, people do rather strange things when it comes to matters of money."

He'd never been greedy in such a fashion so he was not so familiar with that aspect. All the same he had seen people who were this way and what a corrupting influence it was to the soul.

"She just declared herself my student after Gray and I managed to mitigate the situation we were all in - it was a trap of sorts - and I've been stuck with her ever since."

Waver shook his head, laughing bitterly. "Then there's Tohsaka. She and Luvia are the two most destructive students in the entire Clock Tower."

"Oh? What is this Tohsaka like? Is she similar to Luvia?"

They seemed rivals or allies with the way he spoke of her. Though he didn't feel it right to assume that much without more information on the matter.

"Similar enough in personality. Hot headed, impulsive, and while talented, she can make an occasional dumb mistake. The two are--"

He paused, then snapped his fingers.

"You and Darius. That's who they are. And I have to keep them in line."

"I see! Then there is some respect there but a certain rivalry for power."

He grinned, pleased to have an understanding of just what Waver was referring to. Using himself and Darius had been a brilliant move. "Ah but that must cause some troublesome conflicts for you at the same time."

"Very, very minimal respect. Mostly it is about power, and one-up man ship.

Waver's smile thinned at the mention of himself. "You don't know the half of it. They've wrecked entire classrooms with magecraft before, and it isn't unusual for them to just flat out wrestle in the damn hallways."

He threw his head back for another laugh.

"If they are that bad I have a feeling they are similar to children who hate each other more than Darius and I. We had great respect for each other and he presented me with a trial worthy of facing. I admire such a man to this day and am forever pleased with what he gifted to me in combat."

"In intensity remains," Waver said, his eyes far away and remembering the last round of damage he had to deal with.

"We're all hoping it will mellow out, if only for the structural integrity of the buildings."

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