faderift | [Open] You're out of time

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[Open] You're out of time

WHO: James Norrington and You.
WHAT: Even Knight Commanders need to blow off steam
WHEN: Backdated to after 'Can't We All Just Get Along?'
WHERE: Skyhold proper - courtyard and Herald's Rest
NOTES: Warnings for violence, possible R-rated actions of sexual nature, and a Templar cursing like an Antivan sailor.

To say that Knight Commander Norrington came back from the Warden Camp in a 'mood' was something of an understatement. The moment he entered Skyhold proper, he was pulling on his full Templar armor, grabbing his sword and shield, and going directly to the practice dummies.

Later on, one could find him in the Herald's Rest. There are at least two bottles of wine in front of him, and he is not dressed in uniform. In fact, he's dressed down to the point of just tunics and breeches, singing softly to the song that the bard is belting away in the front of the tavern. He looks like he could use the company - or at least another bottle of wine if you are inclined.

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"I'm not sure if they keep coming back for the smell ... perhaps simply it is the persona of a man who truly takes everything as it is. Terrible smells and hygiene included." Was James's tart answer, then makes a face at the last statement, "I am afraid to say - yes. Yes I do know."

He takes another swallow of wine, before he shakes his head, "Yes, but then I am miserable because I've drank piss-poor ale, and then probably vomited it, and it will taste just as bad coming up as it is going down. If I am going to drink - I am at least going to enjoy that experience."

A .... long pause, "Warden Oghren? One of the Companions of the Hero of Fereldan?"

"Can't say I'm that used to that reputation yet. And I've had it for years now."

He laughed a bit though because it sure was him in the flesh. The Warden Oghren, former Companion of the Hero of Fereldan. "As for taste...I'll still take that piss-poor ale. Maybe it'll taste worse coming back up later but at least I can't say I was wasting the good stuff on anger. I'd rather swing my axe around for that. Probably why I'm a berserker."

He grinned and then actually finished his drink before ordering himself another. "Oh, by the way, only half the stories about me are true. I'll let you figure out which half."

"I am not entirely certain that your reputation took in your smell, either." James stated, but nodded towards his cup, "The drinking though, is absolutely on par from what I have heard."

He snorted softly, sipping his wine, "Did you once try to have sexual relations with a bronto and a lay sister of the Chantry at the same time?"

"Better be. I wouldn't want anyone messing that one up. Making me seem sober or something terrible like that."

Oghren burst out laughing at the question though. Mainly because he might have been the one who started that particular story in the first place. "That the version where the bronto is in the dress or the one where the bronto's got knickers on?"

"I do not think you need to worry about that. Sober, is not something I could possibly think is locked in with you."

He smirked faintly, before he took another long drink. "The one with the knickers on. Is there another one with a dress?"

"Heh. That's a good. Definitely better than the dress one. Should've come up with the knickers part sooner, if you ask me."

That really was one of his better stories though. He was pleased that one went around as far as it did. It had been one of his favorites to tell to drunk new recruits. Usually in the middle of drinking contests when he'd best them easily.

"I am having the distinct feeling that both versions might just be fiction, and they might just be fiction you've added to your already colored past."

James stated dryly, before he put his cup back on the table, his gaze narrowed, "So you also know Anders, do you not? Has he always been - like himself."

"It's a good work though. One of my best, if you ask me."

He took a drink to that. Not that it mattered because he would take a drink to just about anything really. Long as alcohol was involved he was probably there already. "Pretty boy that likes cats and chasing skirts or pants? Yep. That's normal."

"As a fabrication to get people to look at you funny? Absolutely. Not entirely certain if it is meant to be as such though."

James rolls his glass around, his green eyes distant, "Was he always this angry?"

He let out a belch and patted his stomach some. "Depends on what you think it was meant for."

Then the man was asking about Anders' anger. He took a moment to look him over and wondered what had happened there to bring that up. What he finally came up with was this, "Why? What did you do to piss him off?"

Now James's eyes narrowed, thoughtfully, "I think it is a great way to have people underestimate you -- so in battle you can destroy them."

One corner of James's mouth twisted bitterly, as he took a long drink and then answered, "I was born. Then I became a Templar. That seems to have done it."

He was going to let that first part go in favor of the part about Anders now. Mainly about how James was feeling about all of this because he certainly didn't like that sort of implication. Maybe he was no expert on Templars or Mages or their fighting or any of that mess but he at least knew Anders. Sure the sodding idiot had gotten up to all kinds of trouble while they'd been apart but that didn't change facts.

"He doesn't get made at people for being born. Sure he's got this thing about Templars but he's got his good reasons for that even if he's been a fool about it in the past. So maybe he doesn't trust you but last I checked he didn't get all sodding angry unless he had a well and good reason." He had another bit of his... Oh. He needed more. How about that. Well then. "Even if it's been awhile since I last saw him, he gets those skirts in a huff for reasons. It's why I asked what you did."

He gave a snort. "Bet there was a mess that happened. And he felt some kind of injustice thing. Got him in a pissy state."

He was guessing but it sounded accurate at least.

"...You are not incorrect." James stated simply. He was not going to be honest just to make his stance the stronger one. Anders had a point about the templars that had abused him -- he just wasn't right about all templars. "He attempted to heal one of my men - a man who was in Kirkwall and did not want Anders near him. Anders tried to provide care to prove that he was not going to let his prejudices blind him, my man ... literally crawled away from him and said if Anders touched him, he would kill him. Anders used a magical glyph to keep him in place."

He sucked in a deep drink, before he stated bluntly, "It got complicated. As all things with Anders and Cade do. Nathaniel said he would put guards around your camp for Cade, and to keep Cade from being assassinated by the Seekers, I stated I would bring in a call of magical abuse. Eventually they apologized to one another, it is done and over with ... but. But. Why can't Anders just leave it well alone? He is not the mage any Templar wants to build bridges with."

And with that, came another honest answer, "Not even me. Not after what I saw in the aftermath of the explosion."

A mess had been right then. He wasn't sure what the situation was with this Cade Templar but it sounded like he might have a stone loose in his foundation. Of course he couldn't really say without meeting him and there was no telling if or when that might happen. Could be an...interesting meeting if it did. Especially if he really was a weird one.

Oghren took the time to get himself more ale before he bothered to respond though. Mainly because if this perfectly good conversation was going to get so serious then he wanted to be well and truly pissed from ale. Best way to deal with the feelings that came from that.

After a long drink, he spoke again. "You know what I'm good at? What I like to do?"

Prooooobably not where the man thought this would but he had a point he was getting to.

James frowned for a long, long moment into his cup, before he gave Oghren an incredulous look. "If the stories are anything ...fight? And drink?"

He really couldn't think of anything else. Besides be extra smelly. He had that one down pat.

"That's right. I'm a fighter. A berserker. If I can't fight for awhile then I get this itch under my skin. Makes me want to get out there and hit something. Being a Warden and this Inquisition business means I get to have my fights. The drinking is another thing." That had honestly been born of pain. Of running from how terrible his life had become after getting married to his first wife. Another sob story for another time. This part was about Anders.

"You know what he is? A healer. Bet it's why he gets so...him about others being hurt. He messed up good with that explosion thing but it still looks like it was some sort of way to fix the hurts of others. It's what he does. He fixes. Take that away from him and he'll get that itch. He's working on helping anyone, even those that he doesn't like. If the Templars were smart they'd get the rods out of their backsides and use them to help meet him. Not like Templar hands are any cleaner."

He remembered the Tower from years ago. And the whole mess that had gone on there. Taking another drink, he let out a burp then picked his nose and looked at the snot he'd picked out.

"Besides, what's the point of that old pissing contest when we're all trying to fight some sodding monster that wants to end us? Seems stupid to me and I'm usually the stupid one."

In answer, James gave him a disgruntled look, before he sighed. Then he drained the entire goblet of wine and poured himself another, his expression brooding and slightly rueful. "I will not say the Templars are without blame. I will not use the red lyrium as an excuse, and I will say that we have needed to purge the ranks for some time."

Another long swallow, "I am also well aware we are facing a threat ... far greater." He pointed a finger at Oghren, "Now, if you could tell Anders that, we might start to move in the right Maker's Be Damned Direction."

His eyes looked at the finger and then he actually batted it away. "Do I look like some messenger bird to you? Besides, you're the one saying Templars are the ones not wanting to build bridges. Sounds like he put in an effort and you lot need to pull your fingers out of whatever holes you've shoved them into for one sodding minute to try too."

Tell Anders. He wasn't some negotiator for things he wasn't involved in. Just what kind of dwarf did people take him for?

Well, it should be obvious how drunk James is, as he stares cross-eyed at the finger that just got slapped by an angry little dwarf. He went to push himself up, hiccuped once, then sat back down abruptly.

"I will discuss that with him. In ... less pointed terms. When I can stand up." Which he could not do right now.

He blinked at the man. Then blinked again. Then sighed so heavily. "Can't even hold his liquor. Someone should really help you out with that sort of thing."

He shook his head then got a grin on his face. "So how about another drink?"

...Yep. He sure was the person you wanted around when you were trying to sober up. Definitely.

"I am on my third bottle, thank you very much, Mister King of Drunk ... Nug Bottoms." James stated firmly, putting on a rather good glower that was only ruined by him saying, "Yes, all right, another drink."

Clearly, this was going to end well.

King of Drunk Nug Bottoms. Right. This man was not good at being drunk and that just meant Oghren was going to have to take advantage of that. For the sake of hilarity.

So he made sure they had more ale brought to them. "Heh. You probably won't remember how much you've had soon. It'll be great."

And sure to give Oghren great memories.

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[Open] You're out of time

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