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WHO: Kain and OPEN
WHAT: Catch-All for February! Letter-writing, Wintersend... and of course, the start of griffon bonding!
WHEN: The month of February/Guardian.
WHERE: Various locations in Skyhold
NOTES: Prose or brackets fine, I’ll match! No warnings, unless someone gets squashed by a griffon. Please don't get squashed by a griffon.

Warden Camp

Settled somewhere outside his tent for the moment, Kain is in the midst of writing something.

Dear Inessa, Kain starts, sure that he’ll figure out whatever else he wants to say. It seems a bit foolish. He’s still not even sure what he’s doing or what he really feels at all. He’d just thought that if he wrote it all down, he’d feel better about things.

While he’s in the midst of writing, he keeps furtively glancing up as anyone approaches. Just act casual, just… act casual. “...Nice day, isn’t it?”

Battlements

Maybe somewhere high up will be better to get his thoughts down on paper. So he’s up on the battlements, staring at the sky, and then down at the letter, which is only partially started.... Until a gust of wind comes along and starts blowing the paper away. He cries out in alarm, scrambling to grab it, running along the battlements as he chases after it…

Wintersend: Around Skyhold

Though Kain isn’t much for cheerful celebrations, he does realize what day it is when a large box arrives from his friends back home. Which means he has to go off and visit the merchants to buy a couple small gifts for people.

So, he’s got his arms full of stuff when he very nearly walks into whoever’s approaching, catching himself at just the last minute.

“Pardon me.”

Griffons

“You’ve all grown so much. Imagine... soon some among us might be riding you, if you'll allow it.” Kain walks from griffon to griffon, pausing to admire or pet them on occasion, if they’ll let him. Some do, and some don’t. Some really don’t. He values his fingers far too much to dare attempting much with Buttons, for example. He's also careful to watch his fingers with Buggie, he's brought an extra treat for Chawcey, and he's sure to… have an extra cloth on hand when he pets Slobbaface.

Potato of all of them seems especially excited to see him lately, and today is no exception. He can't resist giving her an extra treat. Make that two.

“What is it, girl? You- well, all right… if you insist…”

The griffon is very suddenly making happy noises as she attempts to rest her entire self against Kain… though she’s most definitely a bit big for that now.

Other?

If you want another prompt let me know... or just throw something on here, it's all good with me!

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While Kain spoke, the Doctor started to properly pet Butterball. "I can see how having them would be so important to you."

He was quiet for a moment or two. He had so many questions. But didn't want to offend anyone.

"Forgive me. There are a lot of... titles that are used here. I get them all muddled up. What are the differences between: the Templars, the Seekers, and the Grey Wardens?"

Because in some ways, they all seem rather similar. He knows there are drastic differences to, but it made for conversation to simply ask people.

Potato settles herself beside Kain, clearly not inclined to go anywhere else at the moment, just happy to settle herself near him while he's here. It means a lot to him, and gives him hope for their continued relationship.

He glances over, knowing these are probably common questions from rifters, and understandably so. "We do seem to have a good share of various fighting-related orders, don't we? I understand the confusion. We Grey Wardens dedicate our lives to fighting darkspawn in particular... and we're the best defense that the world has when a Blight happens. That's when the darkspawn get especially strengthened by the appearance of an Archdemon. Templars serve the purpose of... keeping mages in check, ensuring that magic doesn't become a threat. They're tied to the Chantry. The Seekers are a step above the Templars, their purpose is to prevent corruption among the Templars, and also to deal with especially difficult magical threats."

That's the basics, anyway. Kain will be the first to admit that the Templars and Seekers can go overboard, that protecting against magical threats isn't as... straightforward as protecting against actual known evil like darkspawn.

The Doctor is trying to connect the ideas to what he already knows. It's not as easy as it sounds.

"So. Like a game of Chess. Templars are like the Bishops. Seekers are like the Knights. And Grey wardens are like the... Rooks."

He almost said Pawns, but he didn't want to offend the other man. The Doctor finds the pawns to be the best pieces himself...

"I rather prefer to be a Knight, myself, though the other comparisons probably aren't bad. It seems too, that we have different names for some of the pieces, though... that's interesting. It seems the game of chess is one of the things our worlds have in common."

He expects something like magic to be more or less universal, it's just a given to him that it exists. Though something as random as a game existing on other worlds... that's very peculiar for sure.

The Doctor smirks. He made the right choice in not saying 'pawn' then.

"Of course you would."

The Doctor is aware that some people get the piece confused with how the piece can move.

"Oh, you might call it a 'castle'?"

Since that's what it looks like. Doesn't matter to him.

That's one way in which Kain is all too obvious... he pretty much lives and breathes the whole notion of being a knight of sorts. He's that devoted to being a Warden, that's for sure.

"Yes, that sounds right... and the piece that has the dome on it is the mage... and so forth. The Qunari have their own words for many of the pieces too. I wonder how many worlds have this game in common, though." Or any other games or customs, for that matter. Dragons aren't the only thing many worlds apparently share with theirs.

"Every world I've been to has it's own reiteration of it."

Which is saying something in his case. He smiles at the animal before him.

"Sort of like Griffons."

"How many worlds have you been to, anyway?" He remembers he'd mentioned some things about traveling a great deal, but not he really has to wonder. He raises an eyebrow, also curious about the griffon remark. "And they really all have griffons?"

"Tens of thousands. Hundreds of thousands. I don't really keep count."

Yup he did say numbers that big. And he's lying about keeping count. He always keeps count. He looks over at Kain.

"Griffons in one form or another, yes."

He'll just not mention that on some of those, griffons are imaginary.

"That's a lot of traveling... do you ever tire of it? Or ever want to return home? Though... I can see where it would be rather exciting... visiting strange, new worlds...." Kain himself hasn't really spent much time back home since he'd joined the Wardens, so in a way he can understand the appeal of being away. Though, he can't imagine being so far removed from home that it's near impossible to actually return.

"I'd heard of dragons on other worlds... but not yet about griffons. It's good to know that they, too, appear elsewhere. They're such remarkable creatures."

"I've been doing it for billions of years. So, if I haven't yet, I doubt I will."

His expression might have turned dark at the mention of returning home. Both his homes are pain-filled now: Gallifrey and Darillium. He looked to the sky. "Not that it matters, since I seem reasonably stuck here, but I'd rather travel."

Which is why being stuck here is very problematic for him. He nods and his expression softens again as the conversation returns to the Griffons.

"They are amazing creatures. Though, they are not called Griffons everywhere. So sometimes I've stumbled across them without expecting to."

"That's... a long time. How is that possible, that you've lived for so long?" Rifters sure are fascinating, aren't they? Kain is learning a lot about their other worlds, most of it still seems so unusual to him. But the Doctor seems to have one of the strangest backgrounds of all. "Who knows, perhaps one day we'll find a means for everyone to leave this place..." He knows that it's... sort of possible, there are stories about rifters who've vanished, but he's wary to trust that they've really gone home.

He nods in agreement about the 'amazing' part. "They really are. Do they differ much in these other worlds, where their names are different?" After all, he's heard about dragons varying considerably, he can only assume the same is true of griffons too.

"It's a long story... well, no, it's actually a story that lasted about a week, just repeated for a hell of a long time."

If Kain knew the story (or if the Doctor were currently willing to tell it) that statement would make perfect sense.

"If I had my ship here, I could pop everyone home to their proper times and places before tea."

He misses the TARDIS. Desperately. And not just because she could get him home...

"Oh, well, yes. There's one planet where it's more the cross of a finch and a house-cat. Though, the finch was a bit bigger than most people are used to and the cat a big smaller, but they were the griffons of that planet."

"It sounds like something worth telling... if not now, perhaps someday over drinks." It sounds like the kind of thing which would go over well when told in a tavern, anyway. The Doctor truly is a mysterious voyager, isn't he? Kain raises an eyebrow. "What kind of ship can travel to other worlds? How is that even possible? Does it... float to other seas somehow?"

Because of course, there's only one thing Kain thinks of when he thinks "ship."

"That sounds like a fascinating creature, I wouldn't mind coming across one of those... or seeing anything of the griffons and dragons of other worlds."

"A lot of drinks. And from what I've had here so far, nothing here is strong enough to get me to tell it. At least not yet."

It's the story of torture. And no one here wants to hear that anyway. Because they think they have it the worst ever.

"If I can find a way to get her here, then maybe I could take you on a trip. Since it sounds like you are less afraid of my stories and more interested in them."

Afraid might be a little strong, but the Doctor really hadn't made friends here. And it's as much because of people's lack of trust as it is his personality. He smiles as Kain makes his observation. The Doctor too often forgets to explain things using the words of others. But Kain, well, he's good at directing it.

"You might say it floats on other seas. In the way that animals who fly find the right winds so they don't have to work as hard, my ship has the ability to find similar currents that exist between the stars."

That almost hurt. Because that's not really how the TARDIS or Vortex worked, but it was a close enough comparison for this conversation.

Edited 2017-03-15 13:57 (UTC)

"I understand. No need to tell something like that unless you truly want to." At least Kain gathers what he means when he says that, knowing well what it's like to have a dark story that's not exactly pleasant to tell about. He isn't one to push when he knows it's like that, anyway.

Kain nods fondly. "I would be interested, yes. I personally find it's not worth it to live in fear." He prides himself on being courageous and willing to face anything, no matter how strange or dark. It's what he does, as a Grey Warden, his utmost duty. Though compared to some, he probably is a little more willing to venture into something like this.

"It flies... between the stars...?" That sure is hard to wrap his head around, but he's definitely impressed. "The view from there must be stunning... to venture so far into the sky..."

The Doctor only nods his thanks. And he smiles fondly as Kain continues to talk about himself and how he thinks of what travelling in space must be like.

"It's the most amazing thing I've ever experienced. It's why, even when I end up in places like this, I continue to do it."

There's a calmness to the Doctor that probably hasn't really been seen before. He really does belong with his TARDIS among the stars and even though he doesn't have that now - and misses it terribly - thinking about it, about getting back to it, clearly affects him.

"I can see why you would. So how could that even be possible? Building a ship that rides into the stars, it sounds... remarkable, though I can hardly fathom it." Yes, unfortunately Thedas doesn't have man-made air travel of any sort, so he has a hard time wrapping his head around it. But it really interests him. The sky has long held his fascination.

But then he considers something about the way the Doctor had spoken and adds, "Forgive me, this seems to be something that perhaps you'd rather not dwell on."

He offers a reflective smile at the questions. "It's just something my people do. It's hard to answer more detailed than that given the lack of technology here. The memories are good ones. It's fine."

Because he's always fine. Even when he's not. Clearly Lucy was right to tell him to 'keep it real.'

"I suppose you're right. It seems like it would be hard to understand, as well. Technology is still so strange to me... and I still find it hard to fathom that it's not powered somehow by magic." Yet, there are worlds without magic and with technology. So strange.

"Well... all right, if you say so. I'm not one to pry when it's better not to, of course."

"And I find it hard to find a place where magic exists. I still think it's all science."

Which is all he'll say about it. He doesn't really want another argument about science.

"I...appreciate it."

For all the saving the Doctor does, his own story is rather depressing.

"I sometimes wonder if it's easier in those worlds without magic... or harder in some ways, who knows?" But he won't argue, anyway. He's no mage, so he's not too set in debating anything. But it's something he finds strange to consider. Mages have it hard here in many ways, even if magic gives them great power.

"And it's no problem. We all have things from our pasts that we'd rather leave unsaid." He sure has a lot of that, stuff he won't bother to mention anytime soon.

"There's a saying on Earth - a planet where I'm from. 'Life means suffering'. So I'm not sure that 'easier' or 'harder' matters."

Okay, so he really should probably explain the positive aspects of Buddhism, but that doesn't seem to matter right now, because this statement actually answers both of Kain's points and he goes for the easy route.

"Hm. That seems... apt. That may as well be Thedas' saying as well." Or, really, he would adapt it himself. He's not one to shy away from hardships or to look at reality too optimistically. "Maybe that's true everywhere, then... Unless you've stumbled across any worlds that are free of suffering. But I somehow doubt that's possible."

There would be something else, he's sure, some other struggle to take the place of the one the mages face now.

"Quite probably. I haven't found any place free of struggle and suffering, but everywhere seems to deal with it in different ways."

For as much as people here will probably witness the Doctor fighting, he hates himself for it every time he has to do it.