OPEN | We're all told to dance but we never pick the tune

[pinprick]

WHO: Nathaniel Howe and YOU
WHAT: Open log
WHEN: Wintermarch and Guardian
WHERE: The Kestrel House & Camp Shady
NOTES: Reading aloud of bad smutty romance novel.

Camp Shady

It's proper winter, which is aggravating the crap out of Nathaniel's rheumatism. On good days, he can practice with weapons. On bad days, he is wrapped up in layers of blankets and writing or drawing with a grimace on his face. Every day he reads reports from Warden scouts, scouring the world for signs of the Architect. Most leads become dead ends.

The Kestrel House

On one truly abysmal day, Nathaniel doesn't get out of bed. Every movement creates agony. He stays in the barracks wing with curtains drawn around the bed he and Anders share, sometimes rolling out to make tea at the fire. He is very pale to anyone who sees him, but makes no sound or complaint.

Closed to Anders

At the end of one of the bad days, Anders arrives back at the Kestrel House to find Nathaniel inside, working on a drawing. He glances up and gestures for him to come closer.

"I've something to show you."

Comments

camp shady;

[inagutterson]

Technically, Yngvi isn't a stranger to Camp Shady. Back when Asher was first around, when they all realised that 'hold the fuck up why is there someone else with Nasir's face here' it was Yngvi and Gunnar that did some poking about. Then of course Asher died, everyone left, and since Yngvi's come back he's had shit to do and much more of Skyhold to explore. But it's been a while since the Wardens got looked at. Wardens need looking at because if people are good with Orzammar then what else are they good with.

So hello, here he is, combat rolling in which he usually only does if someone gets too close to a certain Orlesian noblewoman that writes her observations, remaining in his crouch. A nug trundles in behind him. (It's one of the four that Yngvi bothered to actually name.)

He was not expecting a person to be here because this is the price you pay for not having a brother to do your intel for you. "The fuck are you?" Said as if he is the wounded party, as if he has done nothing wrong, as if barreling into the life of a stranger at maximum velocity and with stylish élan is how you do things.

[pinprick]

Nathaniel turns to the dwarf and gives him a glower. A quiet glower that dares him to ask that again. He says nothing. He's had a rough enough day that he doesn't feel like he owes this little shit anything more than a Look of Death.

[mr brightside intensifies]

[inagutterson]

You know how you shouldn't prod sleeping bears? You shouldn't dare unruly dwarves that came out their cage and they've been doing just fine of the undercity.

"Mate." The 'oi' is implied. "Mate, the fuck are you?"

The nug peers up with those endless black eyes that you should not stare into because you will be lost, they are fathomless, they have witnessed such terrible things in such a short life already. But please look as the dwarf gets up, a short dwarf even by dwarf standards, as Kirkwall as they come.

"Are you the representative of the Warden crafters guild? You the contact?"

[pinprick]

Wait, what?

Nathaniel's face barely changes. He lifts his chin a bit and keeps glowering. Saying anything now would be interrupting a certain natural order. Maybe the Little Shit will explain without being held up by his ankles.

[inagutterson]

What is this even, who are you? Is this what golems look like when the humans think they can do it? Actually they probably would because humans are weird in various stages, and if there are humans who would crack the golem thing then it'd probably be Wardens.

Shifty buggers.

"Do you," he tries because no one can say he doesn't try, "speak." Even throws in a mime with both hands but they look more pincer-y than anything. "Parsley voos Orlesian?"

(By the way his Orlesian is shit and got dragged through the Kirkwall gutter.)