faderift | [Open] Time for some enjoyment

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[Open] Time for some enjoyment

WHO: Iskandar and OPEN
WHAT: Iskandar is here to have a good time. Join him?
WHEN: Throughout Drakonis
WHERE: Skyhold and other fun places
NOTES: Probably lots of cute times. Maybe some sad times depending on the threads. But mostly a lot of cute and loud affection. Because Iskandar.

A. It's a new dog!

He'd been wanting one since first seeing the mabari. Now he had one of his own. A fine pup who tended to spend much of his time tripping over his own feet but was ever eager to be with and please the large man. Really he'd been told that an older dog would be recommended but they'd laid eyes on each other and that had been that. After all, once that bond was formed there simply was no going back.

And so one could find him with a puppy in one of the more open areas. They were training and it seemed that the puppy was at least rather intelligent at picking up on things! So long as Iskandar used his native tongue for the commands, something he'd decided to do just to solidify their bond further.

"Heh. What a clever boy you are, my Achilles Alexander!" The pup gave a bark and then happily ate up the piece of meat that he was given. And yes, Iskandar sure had named this dog after himself.

B. Training is important

The best way to perfect how one used their adjusted powers was to, well, use them. So he was around the training grounds to work with the couple of them that he felt could safely be done here. Name the teleportation and invisibility ones. So it was easy enough to spot him standing in one location only to reappear in another. At times he frowned and rubbed his beard as he considered what he'd been doing before trying again.

One could feel free to interrupt him though. He wasn't needing the concentration to do this really.

C. Memories rise to the surface

There were times when even Iskandar needed a moment to reflect, to think on the sadder days. Though he never regretted any of them that hardly meant they didn't weight on his heart. Many had been lost under his command or had given up much to follow him. Then there were times when he remembered Hephaestion and how perhaps he would never see him again. Or that his son would be someone he'd never lay eyes on.

So he was in the gardens with a kitten and a mabari pup curled up together on his lap. Both were sound asleep as if they'd been playing hard until that moment. He smiled down at them fondly, stroked their soft ears as he admired their pure innocence.

"It has been long since I had your purity, little ones."

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For all his training, when it comes to pups, Garahel is nothing but a huge pushover. He seems completely at ease with the puppy's climbing efforts, even with the bite itself. In response, he rolls over onto his back, careful not to crush Achilles Alexander but instead enthusiastically nuzzling him.

Inessa laughs and nods. "Oh believe me, he doesn't mind your pup just as he is now. I took him to see the new mabari litter last year, and you never saw such enthusiasm. He seems to love the energy of the very young, though if I'm honest, he's never entirely lost it himself."

In her more reckless years, it's a fair bet that Korrin might have suggested going all-out even without a Barrier as protection. Fortunately, that kind of enthusiasm has been tempered, at least partly because she has to set a good example as a Councilor and also not wanting to incur the wrath of a tiny, furious rifter woman.

"Excellent. Let's head to the sparring ring, then, unless you need a moment to get something."

"Pretty sure that if you talked to some dwarves they'd look at me and see right through me. Y'know, then there'd maybe be a bit of explaining and, how embarrassing, 'I can't believe it's not a real dwarf', some shite like that." Yngvi shrugs, not really bothered by it though it'd depend on if it was work on not. Trade happens after all so they'd see him if he was bringing some fancy surface goods down for them because the Carta greases all the right wheels. "But, I'm a dwarf, just don't give a shit about all the Orzammar shit. Because it's a load of shit."

Lesson one about Thedas: there's a lot of people looking down at you so you need to just kick the legs out from under them and take none of their shit or you'll be going nowhere in life.

Or you do what the wild untamed Yngvi does: you're Carta right in the marrow of your bones so the lies and the truths all blend together just the right way to make a very distinct and potent vintage.

"Loghain probably isn't, don't know much about politics," he's sort of lying, he knows less about doglord politics than he does about the intricacies of dwarven and Free Marcher politics, and a decent bit of Orlesian because that's where the big money jobs are, "but the whole thing about him being a big dirty traitor probably knocked the polish off. I mean that'd do it, yeah? Civil war in the country you saved once, doesn't look great for a man. Not a human at least. Might get away with that in Orzammar but they're a shower of pricks who'd buy and sell their brother to a genlock if they'd get a good price." He smiles, all teeth, an almost civilised thing like the honey badger someone thought would be fine to bring into the house.

Fishing a treat out of a not nug-filled pocket because he's still finding these things from the days when there was Asher's mabari in his life, he offers it out the pup. Peace offering since no, he really does need all of his nugs. "You sure? Orzammar dwarves and surface dwarves, it's a whole thing. Sure that someone what fell out of a sky vagina," rest in peace Asher, he'll keep calling them that in your memory, "cares about that shit? I mean why would you even care? Dwarves are funny, we all look the same to everyone."

"Indeed, to exist in this world is to change it," he agreed. "Even in small ways."

Change was, after all, the nature of life and death, like the echo that sets off an avalanche.

"I have never heard of a cat and dog with a surname, however."

"Of course you did," he says with a sigh, though there is some amusement on his face. Something outrageous as naming literally everything after yourself was definitely something Iskandar did.

In the time Iskandar added the supplies to the fire and started to feed Alexander, Sam found himself a spot near the fire. A spot close to where Iskandar sat, but there was still a small space between them, mostly because he had learned that he would get run over or sat on if the pup decided he wanted to be the middle of attention.

No sooner as he had settled down he looks up, blinking at his companion at the sudden question. He supposes it isn't sudden considering Iskandar has waited to ask him since he's come back. "Tired," he finally says, meaning it both physically and mentally, letting out a heavy sigh and looking at the fire.

If there was anything Iskandar could have said to make Hermione stop struggling or fighting him on this, that had been it. She knew how he felt about his son, and for him to liken her to a daughter took her aback so soundly that she couldn't bring herself to respond for a time, even if he clearly hadn't meant anything somber by it.

Though she continued to feel uncomfortable and a bit embarrassed riding along on his shoulders like that, Hermione said nothing to that effect and only looked down at his great ginger head as he spoke. She almost reached for the basket when he held it up and insisted that she hold it, but then she realized that it wouldn't exactly take any weight off of his shoulders if she did that.

"I suppose that would depend on whether you plan on making this some sort of regular occurrence."

"Yes. I could tell. Would you like to tell me about it?"

Sitting next to him, he gave him the chance to seek strength from him if he needed it. Honestly he had a feeling that he truly did. Far better that he provide that for him than to let Sam just suffer on his own. They were friends and lovers. That meant the least he could do was help him to carry the burden. Besides, it was simply in his nature and how he'd ruled when he was King.

"You can take all the time you need."

"I don't see why we couldn't. I love the time I spend with you."

A little bark appeared at his feet and he laughed as he looked down to where there was a mabari puppy bouncing around. He'd sat back like a good dog and was now following his master like a good dog. Really he was so impressed with how intelligent he was.

"Look, Achilles Alexander would love if you would join us for more of these."

He laughed again then turned his head to look at her. "It would be good to spend time together, don't you think?"

"He wouldn't have. You are right."

He had such a fond look on his face as he shifted so he could rest his head where Jim had put it. Breathing in his scent, he let out a sigh. Though he was not someone to ask for comfort, he always accepted it when it was given like this. After all, even he could use some now and then.

"He was a beautiful man, my Hephaestion. I feel you would have liked him."

"A surname? No. This is one name. Both share my name and one also has the name of my oldest and dearest friend while the other also has the name of my favorite hero from my favorite story."

He chuckled a bit.

"Surnames are not so common in the time I was born into. However, many names and titles were common for the great heroes and Kings."

"We will have to make sure they spend more time together as mine grows! It shall be good for them both to have such friendships in their lives." He already loved the antics they were having as the puppy barked at him then jumped to try to get on his barrel chest before falling over. Obviously that was too big a jump for his clumsy feet. He blinked then shook himself off and bounced over to go tugging at his ear again instead.

"After all, we have no need to encourage what is already happening here. Apparently they are quite content to figure it out on their own!"

"I do not. I have my sword here with me and my own abilities are always a part of who I am." And this would be a good chance for him to test out some with someone he could have a friendly spar with. Perhaps neither of them needed someone to work with for these things but there was just something so satisfying about doing such things with trusted companions.

"Establish your barrier and let us have our fun."

"I feel as if you are speaking of something else entirely now. After all, I did not say I ignored the flaw of my favorite hero."

At least he was assuming that the Doctor was talking about something else. To him it had almost seemed like that statement hadn't quite matched up with what they were currently talking about.

He laughed at the sudden move and twisted so he could avoid the blade that was coming for his side. It wasn't out of mockery though. No, he was actually very impressed with his former Master and now student. That sort of instinct was not easy to pick up on but Waver was learning what it took to use these blades just as he'd intended.

"Yes. Like that. You are learning, boy!"

Well that was a lot of words but what he got out of that was that Yngvi had lived a very different life from the typical dwarf. So he wasn't going to learn the same thing that he might from others. Honestly though he wasn't sure that the dwarf understood that this was exactly the sort of thing that he wanted. He didn't want to know just about dwarves in general but what they were like through the eyes of the very people who had lived those lives.

"I don't think you all look the same. But I still care to know more about you and your experiences. For they are your own and you have lived them to this point. That makes them important in my eyes as well as a key to understanding more about this world and the people who live in it."

Iskandar gave him a smile. "If you like you can even ask me anything about myself and my own world. I will gladly answer anything for you no matter how ridiculous you might like to make the question. Does this seem fair trade?"

He offers a small, slightly grim smile.

"No, you didn't. I'm sorry. It happens a lot to me these days. I think faster than the conversation happens."

He taps the side of his head.

"I changed gears without mentioning out loud that it happened. Honestly, it's why I keep to myself. Conversations are difficult when that happens."

"I would absolutely adore the opportunity for more playdates." Inessa chuckles and reaches over to rub the pup's head as Garahel seems content with being a chew toy. "So feisty! But it's better to expend as much energy as possible before bedtime. I learned the hard way how it is to try and sleep in the company of an under-exercised pup. Fortunately, that is a mistake I haven't repeated in a long time."

She shakes her head, a rueful smile on her lips. "This is perfect; with the company of another, they'll tire themselves out easily enough. It will only be easier as her grows and Garahel can be a little less gentle with him."

"Hell, yeah. Let's have at."

Korrin flashes a grin as she picks up her staff and heads to the sparring ring, empty though she has a way of getting people to leave it when she's around. An audience is inevitable, though. When he's close enough, she casts the Barrier spell, the magic settling over them both though she's aware that for his sake, it'll have to be cast regularly. That done, she settles into a combat stance and takes out her spirit blade hilt. When he's close enough, the flick of a wrist will cause it to reappear.

"Now if you'd let me land a sodding hit!"

Waver pivoted on his heel, returning to a defensive position. He wanted a moment to recalculate, even if that wouldn't happen in real combat.

Sam definitely knows he has that option, certainly wants to take it, but he knows if he does that he might not find the strength to say what's on his mind. He knows he has to say it at some point, but how do you go about bringing up something like this? He couldn't when he first got back from the future... it had been too fresh, too raw.

"No... yes..."

Sighing again, Sam pulls his leg back so that he could lean on it slightly, arms crossed over his knee while he pressed the lower half of his face into his arms. "I saw and learned a lot during the time I was away..." he starts, but stops, brows furrowing as the words get choked in his throat. With the palm of one of his hands he rubs at one of his eyes quickly and takes a few calming breathes.

"I had to watch you and Jim die... and I couldn't do anything about it..."

Yngvi stares. For a long enough time that it's either rude of worrying. Just right through Iskandar and into the Void itself possibly because where to begin. Where ever. He'd need to go ask Korrin as someone with trusted opinions on how weird rifters generally tended to be.

"Right so that's a good place to start because there are castes in Orzammar because everyone lives for that, can't get enough of sorting where everyone goes and where everyone pretty much stays. It matters down there but up here? Nah. I mean you get nobles but for dwarves then unless they have a brand on their face you wouldn't know anything." People probably think some of those are just tattoos as well because humans (and some elves, looking at you Dalish) don't see anything beyond their own concerns, just 'oh look, that dwarf has a thing on their face, aren't dwarves odd'. "I mean it's all shit, you have to stay in the caste the goes with your parent of the same gender so it turns into flaming bronto shit but that's what they all roll in there but you don't talk about that. Apparently."

They don't actually do that but Yngvi says it with just enough sullen conviction that he's sold it in the past to several merchants and a few younger Avvar when Asher took him to some different holds. And Orlesians but Orlesians are, on the whole, idiots. They don't count.

"Surface dwarves are a caste to some or we aren't, I mean really it's incredible we all haven't fallen up into the sky, it's why when you're a young scamp they keep you down in the dark even up top for ten years. You need to be a certain sort of solid and rooted in things before they say 'yes, this one is ready, let him up into the world'. And that's Kirkwall, bits of Lowtown have only ever heard the most fleeting rumour of the sun whispered to them by the blood mages and the rats." Kirkwall being a living breathing thing on account of literally everything that's happened to Kirkwall.

But he has to add some sage dwarf wisdom that's going to make him sound like so many old dwarves. "Trade happens. And no trade is actually fair, you realise. That's false advertising and lies," he explains as the businessman dwarf that knows it all with an airy shrug, able to distinguish between both of those similar but different things. (Usually the difference between how much the guards manhandle you in Kirkwall.)

His fingers curled through the red locks, playing with them idly as he stroked. He hoped the other was comfortable, their height differences making it difficult to cradle him they way he could Sam. Still, he tried, and he hoped it was bringing the other some comfort.

"I'm sure I would have," he agreed fondly. "I think we could have spent many nights around a fire bemoaning having to put up with your antics." He bent his head and pressed his face into his hair briefly, muffling a quiet laugh.

Anyone who could be said to love spending time with Hermione was either a long way away or else missing completely, and she had to stay quiet for a few moments, swallowing around the knot of emotion she felt blocking her throat. The sound of the small bark below her made her look down, and while she didn't recognize the puppy or the name, she knew who it belonged to as soon as Iskandar called it by name.

"You got a mabari," she marveled softly. When had that happened? What had happened to it in the future? For that matter, what had happened to Hephaestion?

Rather than ask any of these questions that wouldn't have a proper answer, she swallowed again as she met Iskandar's eyes for a moment before furtively looking away. "I suppose it would be good to spend time with one another, while we can."

He listened to him quietly. The words were few but they said a great deal. To watch the two of them die and to be able to do nothing about it... Iskandar wrapped an arm around him to pull him right up against him, rubbing his arm slowly to allow him the solid presence of himself. Clearly Sam needed this and he wanted to be sure he could provide that for him.

"I know how it feels to watch someone precious die and be unable to do a thing about it." He wondered if he'd given his life to save him but knew now was not the time to ask that. Not the time to ask how heroic his ending had been. Sam needed to get his tale out and he needed to listen.

"Go on. Tell me more."

"I did! He is a little wonder too."

He chuckled a bit then just calmly waited for the answer to his question. The words she gave him had a sort of finality to them and he lifted a brow at that. Humming a bit, he looked forward again. There was some thought in the sound before he spoke again.

"Would you not say that is the way it is with all people you care for? That is why they become so precious and why we value the times so much. Perhaps they will move far away, perhaps they will die. There are many things that could mean we would no longer see someone we love. That is why it is good for us to spend time with those people for the future is an unpredictable thing."

He smiled warmly and carried her to the gardens. "I have lost many in my life and I love every second I spent with those people. The good and the bad. For every memory means that we were forever a part of each other."

Setting her down, he went to sit down and started to spread the food out, even pulling out a little bowl that he set near him. Immediately the puppy wobbled over and had his face in it, well aware that was his meal. He laughed and patted him before looking over at Hermione. "So I'd say that there is no need for such phrasing. With no way for us to truly know the future, we should celebrate our present."

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[Open] Time for some enjoyment

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