faderift | In the turning of the seasons, in life and death

WHO: Church, Malcolm, Rachette, YOU
WHAT: Present timeline catch-all
WHEN: Guardian /wiggly hand
WHERE: Up down all around Skyhold
NOTES: Nab me on plurk if you want a specific starter

Church is starting to spend a lot more time in the tavern than he ever did before. Sometimes he's just hanging around, taking some notes. Sometimes he's cleaning up tables with a rag. Sometimes you can actually see him in the back doing what may or may not be actual work. Crazy! He's also spending quite a bit of time around the stables, trying really hard not to look intimidated by the steeds, learning to put on saddles, and you may even see him up on one. This is madness. This is Skyhold.

Rachette does a lot of training, whether it's with her blades, doing her best to cut up a dummy, or doing sick backflips off walls or generally trying to get her parkour on, or at a table with a bunch of scrap fiddling with traps. She's also fond of going out hunting. You can perhaps find her debating with a merchant about the price of turning a rabbit pelt into a pair of gloves or a nice hat. She sometimes hangs nearby classes without trying to look like she's actually sitting in. Learning but not like...being a nerd okay shut up who likes learning not her.

Malcolm hovers around the healer tents more than he ever usually does, either visiting those injured or getting injuries checked up on. He also seems to be making a point of starting to see if there's anything he can do to help despite not being a healer. His training has more to do with keeping the skills he does have sharp, whether through archery (where he has an interesting new bow that hasn't made an appearance yet), or working out, or sparring. He's willing to give advice to people that seek it. And as ever, there's always some point where he can be seen around the kennels or otherwise being with is poodle companion Milady, playing, training, being at least mildly adorable.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Milady's been around the kennels long enough to not be intimidated by the likes of a mabari anymore, no matter how big. Jayne was a good dog-buddy, after all. She runs in a little circle, whole body wiggling.

Malcolm, on the other hand, raises a dubious eyebrow once the damp blur clearly becomes Garahel. "You know dripping like that you're going to get mud everywhere. And then she'll have to wash you up even more."

Garahel watches Milady and, if she stays still long enough, happily nuzzles her. She might get some of the suds, but oh well. He looks up and whines at Malcolm, though, clearly not thrilled at that prospect.

Neither does Inessa, whose pace has quickened trying to catch up. "Garahel! What are you--no, don't get her wet, too! Ugh, stay still for once and this will go much faster!" She levels a stern look at Garahel, who whines again and looks down, before glancing over to Malcolm. "Sorry about that. One of the pups escaped and he took the opportunity to do the same."

It's hard to catch an excited Milady standing still, but dogs do always like to stop and sniff. She sneezes a little, shaking her head, why bubbles, what suds, why have you betrayed her!

Malcolm has to chuckle at the spectacle. He'll always be Fereldan at heart. Despite the damp and the suds, he rubs Garahel between the ears. "Might be easier to tie him to something, unless he's just going to bite right through it. It's not a punishment, you silly thing. Nobody wants to smell dirty dog for longer than they have to."

But why not? Garahel huffs but seems appeased at the head-rubbing. Inessa bends down to pat Milady soothingly. "I'm sorry he's so inconsiderate, Milday. That wasn't fair to you."

Standing straight again, she sighs. "I prefer not to do that to him, but at this rate I just might. Treats don't seem to be incentive enough to stay still, not always. And if he has friends nearby...well, you've seen the result." Anything for a distraction.

What's that? Attention? From another person? Even though it's not exactly an invitation to play like Garahel's approach, she'll take it with an enthusiastic wiggle, leaning into the petting until it's gone.

"Could always make it a bit of a play date. Two at once." Poodle is not mabari. For as smart as she is, Milady isn't quite preternaturally intelligent enough to understand the context of the conversation. She merely perks at 'play', and settles for prancing around her mabari cohort when he shushes her with 'plus tard'.

"Or get someone to help hold him down and get it over with quicker. Though I can only imagine how much more slippery he is when wet than usual."

Aw, Milady. So sweet, and less likely to knock Inessa over than a certain mabari. She can appreciate that.

Of course Garahel knows exactly what's said and he barks happily, wagging his tail. Inessa raises an eyebrow, considering it. "Oh, he's quite slippery, it's a hassle holding onto him even for someone who can match his strength. But I like the play date idea. It would provide a much-needed distraction for him, perhaps even long enough for me to finish the task at hand."

She'll still tear a throat out if commanded to, but she looks so much nicer when she's not covered in blood. Covered in mud, maybe!

"I promise she's much better about a bath. Her breed can be quite adept in water. Alas, I don't take her hunting for waterfowl. Hunting for Venatori on the other hand..." See the above statement re: throats. "Yes, I think that can be arranged. She does get along with most of the mabari so well. I think she'd manage to get along with a druffalo if you gave her enough time."

Garahel growls softly at mention of the Venatori, but quickly returns his attention to Milady, not wanting to derail playtime. Inessa laughs softly at Malcolm's assessment.

"I can see that. Everyone likes you, don't they Milady?" She smiles at the dog, then looks to her own, her tone a bit sterner since he did just make an escape attempt. "Alright, time to finish you off. No running this time, or it'll just be Milady that gets treats and not you."

Garahel huffs at that, but he nudges his friend gently, leading back to where Inessa was washing him.

Everyone likes the well-behaved living exclamation point, it's true. She might not understand the words being said, but somehow she manages to poodle preen nevertheless.

Treats though. What dog doesn't understand treats. She takes a few eager steps beside Garahel before looking to Malcolm, who laughs gently and makes a motion to go on.

"Do you use kaddis on him? I hear that can be a pain to wash off."

Inessa nods as gestures for Garahel to lead the way back to his washing spot. "That's very true, but I consider the extra protection to be well worth the effort. It's not an everyday habit unless we're out on a mission; here, there is little reason for it when he spends is days napping in the library and playing fetch in the courtyard."

In the turning of the seasons, in life and death

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