[Open] You're out of time

[judgemewhole]

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.

Comments

Tavern

[el_tybs]

"You're a lot better singer then Burns makes you out to be." There's a smile on Sam's face as he comes up along the side of James's chair, taking a moment to eye the man's current state of dress with a quirked eyebrow. "I also don't believe I've ever seen you in anything but armor and formal attire. Everything alright?" The clothing alone isn't enough to make him ask that, but rather the fact that there's a couple bottles of wine sitting there on the table as well.

Re: Tavern

[judgemewhole]

"Well, Burns likes to make himself the hero in every tale. To hear him tell it, he's most likely the lost talent of Orlesian Theater." James snorted, as he saluted Sam with his glass. He eyed himself, and then the bottles, then added, "Are you not always telling me to relax?"

[el_tybs]

"Not 'always'," he points out, reaching out to push one of the bottles back with a couple fingers so that he could read the label, not that he really cared what it was. "I'd commend you for actually doing so, but... in my experience going through two bottles - onto a third? - on your own doesn't really signify someone who is relaxed."

[judgemewhole]

"Well, a great deal of time." James stated, leaning his face on his hands as he watched the younger man read the labels. The wine isn't top shelf, but it isn't the cheap stuff either. A faint snort, as he picked up the cup in his hand.

"Better three bottles in instead of three hits into breaking Anders's nose."

[el_tybs]

Not like Sam would be able to tell, top shelf or not. He's gotten a bit more used to drinking alcohol, but wine was certainly not something he enjoyed.

The mention of Anders has the mage looking away from the bottle, brow raised with a concerned look on his face. "I know Anders isn't a favorite for everyone, but why would you be breaking his nose?"

[judgemewhole]

"Because he goes out of his way to villainize Templars where-ever he goes. He acts like goddamned martyr even if he hasn't died for the cause. Even while his attempt at 'mage freedom' ended up with more dead than I care to count - " He stopped himself, because Sam didn't deserve all this vitrol, and exhaled.

"I carry the burden of every templar that has ever struck another mage, Sam. That put Anders in those chains, that abused their powers. Sometimes ... sometimes it is just too much to bear." He rubbed his face, "Especially when Anders is being an annoying twat and trying to heal Cade when Cade doesn't want anything to do with him."

[el_tybs]

He knows it isn't towards him, but the outburst still has Sam raising a brow - guess the wine hadn't really done the job for 'relaxing'. Seemed to be the same story anywhere when it came to Anders, but yeah, he could see why James was frustrated, especially he happened to be the thing Anders didn't like.

Sighing, Sam lets the bottle settle back on the table and pulls out the chair across from Norrington, flopping down into it with a bit of grunt. "I can certainly relate." Not with Anders specifically but he certainly knows the feeling of being judged purely based on the group he was associated with - people had been doing it to mages for ages now. Not that he's belittling James's situation, or thinks any less of it, but it certainly shows how people haven't learned and keep the cycle going.

"... Why was Anders trying to heal Cade?" Cade was hurt? Again?

[judgemewhole]

Honestly, that statement causes James to relax more. He knows mages can relate - he knows they carry the same kind of stigma. He has tried - still tries - to simply see them as people and not as walking weapons. For the most part, he hopes he succeeds. Especially since he is so close to Sam, since they spent so many years together at Ostwick. Sam is one of the people that James sees not only as an equal, but as family.

So if Sam can relate, then James feels comfort.

He sighed, "Cade had gotten hurt during the attack at the Winter Palace. His leg was healing, slowly, but he had left the tents to get some air. Anders followed him and tried to make him go back to his tent. It ended, as all things with Cade and Anders do, badly. No one was hurt, but Cade was glyphed into place and Anders's life was threatened - Cade told him that if he touched him that he would kill him."

[el_tybs]

Sam takes in a slow, inhale through his nose after he's told about the situation, lips thinning as it eventually gets to where he was hoping it hadn't gone. Nope. Excessive force and life threatening. Grand.

"Sounds like every time I hear about Cade he's gotten injured... and either threatened someone or had someone threaten him." That being said Sam takes a small sip of his drink, mulling over the information. "Does Cade have anything against Anders specifically, or was it just he happened to be the healer trying to get him back to bed? Either case it sounds like they're both in the wrong."

[judgemewhole]

James snorted as he lifted his cup to his mouth, "Is it bad that every single time I hear - 'Commander, I need to speak to you,' I answer with, 'What did Cade do now?'" There is a longer pause there, before he stated simply, "Cade was in Kirkwall, when Anders blew up the Chantry. He was one of Meredith's Lieutenants."

Which should say a lot about the situation.

[el_tybs]

That earns James a snort. "Do you really? That seems pretty bad. He causes that much trouble?" Seemed like any time he heard or saw Cade he was in trouble or injured, or both.

"Ah." Yeah, that certainly spoke a few volumes. "So I take it that you had to be there? What did you do?"

[judgemewhole]

"He seems to fall into it." Is James's almost helpless answer. "Whereever he goes, he seems to trip face first into disaster. I am at my wit's end."

He sighed, rubbing his face, "I made Cade apologize, of course, but this was after a rather unapologetic apology from Cade. Which turned into a bigger problem where Nathaniel Howe stated he would have to let the death threat stand ... and I panicked. I admit it. All I could think of was the Seekers ....did I ever tell you, that when Cade first attacked Beleth that they wanted to kill him, right there and then? Even after she said she provoked him?"

He shuddered, actually shuddered, at the memory. "They are looking for any excuse to wipe us out, those two."

[el_tybs]

Well... shit. No wonder James was stressed.

Sam is trying his best not to look horrified, but honestly he is as with each thing James tells him only seems to get worse and worse. By the time Howe is mentioned, Sam has put his mug down and has a hand over his mouth as he leans on his arm, eyes narrowed and wide as he listens. He knew things were rough between certain people or groups still, but he hasn't been witness to much of it as of late.

"Wait... who? The Seekers?" James has mentioned so many at this point he isn't sure which group he's referring to now - the ones wanting to wipe them out.