Open

[the_effect_she_has]

WHO: Katniss Everdeen, and Innocent Bystanders (aka you)
WHAT: Katniss 'performs' at the training grounds of Skyhold.
WHEN: Covering a few hours span.
WHERE: Training grounds, then Skyhold.
NOTES: Warnings for mild violence, slight classism, and the death of innocent apples.

The sun was starting to dip into the afternoon, when a young woman finally crested over the mountain path, and found herself in the valley of Skyhold. She paused at the crest of the hill, weariness and despair taking a brief pause as she stared in open amazement at the fortress itself ... and the army waiting below. They must have filled the entire valley, and temporary structures were already popping up all along the bridge.

There was a wheeze from behind her, and she turned to raise one dark eyebrow at the horse she was leading by the reins. "Ye-es, I know. You're hungry, you're thirsty, you've been that way since we left our last camp. Don't worry, I hear Master Dennet is around here somewhere ... he'll spoil you to your heart's content, you big baby."

A hiss answered that, and she glowered at one of her saddlebags, where Buttercup, the cat, glowered back at her. "I don't even want to hear it from you, demon-cat. You got to ride all the way."

She tugged on the reins, shifting her bow over her shoulder a little more, clicking her tongue softly as the unlikely trio continued to travel down into the valley. It did not take long to at least find some of the horse master's assistants to watch out for Haymitch (and she warned them fiercely against messing with Buttercup.). Katniss herself grabbed a quiver, and unhooked the other saddlebag to carry along with her as she made her way through the camp itself. She spoke little, only pausing one sister to ask where the lines for recruitment were.

Yet for as little as she spoke, she garnered sideways glances. To her travel-stained clothes, to old bow upon her back and the quiver of homemade arrows over her shoulder. The dark hair, braided over one shoulder that was coming out in wisps. Whispers, a few smirks. Another country bumpkin, coming to 'aid the Inquisition'.

Most of the soldiers were quiet in their condemnation, or remembered when they too came to the Inquisition with straw in their hair and fire in their bellies, but there were a few that could not resist the snide remarks. There was not a flicker of emotion across the young woman's face, outside of her eyes narrowing slightly. She did not stop and respond to a single cat-call, and her expression was a mask of apathy as she stepped into line with a half a dozen others to where the registration was. There appeared to be practice dummies for one and all to show their various weapon skills. The young woman watched, almost bored, as each new 'recruit' stepped up to the dummies. Some weren't half bad. Others were ... quickly mocked to go help the Inquisition as part of the kitchen or working staff. She continued to watch, her eyes narrowing further when one young woman left in tears, and an old man left with his head bowed.

Her fist clenched, slightly, around her bow, and she noted those behind her melted away, not wishing to be humiliated. She stood her ground, however, and stepped forward to face two bored looking soldiers - one wearing the Templar armor, and the other wearing the stripes of a Lieutenant. Both of them were eating their lunch, and neither one of them looked impressed with the young woman.

Which was fine. She wasn't much impressed with them either.

"Name." Asked the lieutenant flatly.

"Katniss Everdeen." Was her equally flat reply.

"Nation of Origin." Came the next bored question.

"Fereldan by one parent, unknown by the other." Came her now faintly tart response. When the lieutenant frowned at her, she stated, "My mother was Dalish."

"Oh ... flat-ear then." Said the Lieutenant, writing that down on the form in front of him, not seeing the cold flash of anger that came through steel-colored eyes. "Right, and you're ...some sort of archer?"

"Yes. I am some kind of archer." Was her quiet reply.

The templar snorted. "We'll be the judge of that. Your performance will be judged on a scale of one through ten, for accuracy and speed."

Katniss Everdeen said nothing, merely unhooked her bow from her back and went to stand in front of the first practice dummy. All around her, murmurs were raising, quiet laughs. The two soldiers munching on their lunch...

Close your eyes. Exhale. You are the target. Were the words echoing through her mind. Her eyes snapped open, her fingers released the arrow and it sang through the air where it landed dead center of the practice dummy.

Around her, there were faint murmurs of surprise, and approval. From behind her, there was ... still munching, and the two officers talking with one another and ignoring her. Her shoulders setting a little, she moved ten paces back, and then to the right. Taking aim. Exhale. Thwack. Right in the center of target again.

Behind her, she could hear the two officers still jawing at one another.

"...s'not bad."

"S'not a challege! It's a bloody *crunch* steady target at bloody twenty paces. My infirm granny could make that shot. But really, what can you expect from a bloody blunt-ear - "

The officer's words were cut off when Katniss suddenly turned, bow in hand, and let loose an arrow that flew right through the apple he was waving through the air, sending it into a barrel twenty feet behind. The templar let out a faint noise 'Ah!' before the chicken leg he was holding was ripped from his grip by another arrow, sending it flying behind him. Katniss began run backwards, notching another arrow as she went. Shooting as she moved, she clipped their tin mugs over their laps, sinking into the barrels behind them once more. All the way back to a pile of crates about fifty paces from the targets - one hundred paces from the table itself. Both men had the training to drop to the ground and push the table up, to use as a shield, and as they did, two more arrows flew and struck the table, twice.

Silence fell over the training grounds.

Then there was the sound of someone jumping down off of a height, and booted feet moved over to the table. The sound of fingers scrapping against the ground to pick something up, and then a continued course to the table. The lieutenant and the templar stood, hands going for their swords, but all Katniss Everdeen did at this point was to hook her bow to her back, and in the other hand hold the half spilled inkwell. She put one booted foot to the table, sending it upright with a groan.

The two arrows, neatly piercing Katniss's own application for service -- and the quill. She plucked the quill out, and put the inkwell down on the table, and tore the paper free. Then she wrote '10' in large handwriting. She put it down before the two soldiers, looking from one to the other ... and bowed. Deeply.

Then she turned on her heel, the crowd of soldiers and workers parting before her.

~~~~

Hours later, if one were to come looking for the Some Kind Of Archer Girl, they'll find her on the walls of Skyhold, looking off to the distant mountains. Her belongings are with her, as is her rather grumpy cat, her bow resting against the wall. Her expression is tense, certainly, but anyone clever (or suicidal) enough should know how to approach two angry predators, yes?

Comments

[perseverances]

Sometimes, Cullen's oddly surprised at what comes busting through his office doors. This time it was two soldiers going on and on about some girl who had insulted them down near the training dummies. He had cut them off mid-story, however, because unbeknownst to them, he had been down there to check in on a few things and had seen the entire thing. Cullen's not often impressed; he's seen and fought alongside the the best of what Thedas has to offer. But color him impressed with her performance. Not many can boast that kind of talent.

He's not searching for her when he comes upon her, but it does seem like it was the right time and place as any. He comes from the left, hands clasped behind his back. "Where did you learn to shoot?"

[the_effect_she_has]

Well, that way was effective - no clever remarks, no 'Hey there!'. Right to the meat of the matter - ugh, Katniss, don't think about food. She sighed, sending a lock of hair away from her face, before she pushed up from her leaning position to turn and face the male speaker behind her. She lifted her head, ready to set her expression back into cold apathy. A cold apathy that stumbled over itself when she found herself looking at a tall, blonde man - well armored with some sort odd lion mantle, standing at parade rest which just, well emphasized that he was well.. ah, fit. Warm brown eyes fixed on her, attached to a handsome, if not tired face, a scar marring his upper lip.

Words, even short blunt ones, failed her for a moment.

Luckily, or unluckily, Buttercup hissed from his cozy nest inside the saddle-bag, pulling Katniss back towards reality abruptly as she turned towards the feline with a fierce, "Down, demon-cat!" Then, recalling where she was - what she was trying to join - she cleared her throat as she faced the man again. "He's ... not really a demon. He just doesn't like people much."

Folding her arms over her stomach, she met his gaze and managed to pull the sheepishness out of her tone and hope to the bloody Maker her cheeks weren't red. Answering the question with the same frankness that it had been asked.

"My father. He was a hunter, around Redcliffe and the Hinterlands. Taught me everything I know ....including how to shoot. I held my first bow when I was four." She paused, before her lips twisted faintly with a quiet humor she hadn't felt in a while, as one hand reached out to touch her long bow on the wall, "Clearly, it was a lot smaller."

[perseverances]

"I should hope not. We've got enough demons from the breach. Though I'm sure your cat would fit right in." He's even funny, too. Look! He's attempting jokes, and there might even be a smile.

If her cheeks were red, which they weren't, Cullen wouldn't notice. He's sadly oblivious to most of that sort of thing until it was outright directed at him. So she's safe, for now. He nods at her words, staying silent for a moment longer. "And you're how old now?"

Age is not a deciding factor in joining the Inquisition, mind you, but he'd like to know the age of the girl who just schooled some of his soldiers. It would be clear motivation for them to pick up the pace in their own training.

[the_effect_she_has]

She let out a surprised laugh, her lips curving up into a grin. "Oh, there is little doubt of that."

Yes, that is a smile, and one that makes that talking thing rather difficult for her again. Oh, do that again, please. She breathed out, and back in, before his question registered with her. She straightened a little, meeting his gaze evenly. One corner of her mouth twisted into a smirk. "If you are checking to make sure that your fellow soldiers weren't humiliated by a very tall twelve year old ... I am twenty. I will be twenty-one in Wintermarch. So as you can see ..."

She turned around slowly, before facing him again, "They have been humiliated by a full-grown woman. They can have some of their dignity back."

[perseverances]

"Still significantly younger than most of our soldiers. They don't like to be shown up by anyone, honestly."

He turns to look over the wall, at the sprawling expanse in which Skyhold sits in the middle of. If there was one thing about Thedas, it was quite beautiful to look at. "If you're still interested, you should seek out Scout Harding. She could use a bow arm like yours."

[the_effect_she_has]

"Well, then I guess they should start getting better then." Came her fairly dry reply, before she followed his gaze out to Skyhold, and then out to the mountains once more.

She sighed, quietly, "I'm interested, certainly, but there's no way the Commander is going to accept me after I made two of his soldiers look like idiots. Even if they were idiots."

She frowned for a moment, looking back at him, "Wait, Lace Harding?"

[perseverances]

"The Commander just accepted you." He's still getting used to the title, to the position, of Commander, but he's starting to fill the shoes properly. "Commander Cullen Rutherford, at your service." He'd bow, but it'd be pitiful.

"Yes, if I remember correctly, that is her name. Is there something wrong?"

[the_effect_she_has]

"...The - " She is very, very glad that she is not the kind of person who gapes with their mouth open, or like some of the village girls, twitters like an idiot. She just stares at him for a moment, because, well. Of course she knows about Commander, former Knight-Captain Cullen Rutherford. She's only read the Tale of the Champion twenty times.

She just didn't expect him to be ... well. So damned everything.

Reality taps her on the head, and she puts herself out of her daze. Her eyes narrow, "You'll take me - just as I am? I'll warn you, I'm not the sort to kow-tow to lunk-heads, and I will take to task anyone who says 'knife-ear' around me, whether they're referring to me or anyone else. I despise bullies."

She lifts her chin up a little more, "... and absolutely not. We grew up in the same region of the Hinterlands. She's always been a hero of mine. It would be an honor to serve under her, and you." Wait, that came out ... lower than she intended.

[perseverances]

"I'll take you just as you are, as long as you cause no trouble and use that bow arm for the good of the Inquisition." A pause. "And should anyone call you knife-ear you report them to me. I'll have no discrimination among the Inquisition. We are all equal here."

Good. She at least knows of Harding, and if the way she acted earlier is any indication of how she'll be of use on the field, they should have no issues. "Welcome to the Inquisition."

Skyhold Walls

[demonicbeauty]

Ariadne had to admit that she was getting stir-crazy. It was a new feeling to her, having grown up largely outside of city walls. Admittedly, there was plenty to see and do in Skyhold itself. Every person she met was fascinating. And there were new trees and new creatures and new scents to explore. But in spite of all that, she felt the walls beginning to close in on her. It was the same sort of tension that filled Valeria, now that the Red Dragon was preparing for his final advance. But the difference was that there was no clear enemy she could prepare to face. It was just an endless sense of oppression.

It didn't help matters that she was being treated as either a curiosity or a threat. The only people in Skyhold she seemed to get along with were the children who, after daring one another to get close to her could easily be amused by her flute and by her easy smile.

Being up on the walls helped.

There was something to high places. It reminded her of what it felt like to fly. And the jagged, angry scars on her back ached a little whenever she climbed up to the highest of heights. A part of her wished she could simply step over the ledge and soar. She'd known what she was giving up when she traded her wings in for a normal, Human life. But it had never hurt so bad. Not until she fell into this world.

And so it was that she was standing on the ledge of one of the walls, in such meditation, when a peculiar scent caught her attention. A cat. Alastrians shared a certain strange kinship with felines. Probably out of mutual attraction to high-up places. But catching a cat's scent up on the walls was a bit strange. Strange enough to make her look away from the wide open world beyond the boundaries of Skyhold.

Re: Skyhold Walls

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss herself was looking off to the distant mountains - and she too was wishing she could leap off the ledge and send herself soaring. Most of that was, of course, wanting to hit the ground as hard as possible to take her from this life - this life that was not much of one. Yet here she was, merely looking, standing on the ledge in more ways than one. What had Mother Hannah called it? The edge of this world was a metaphor for what was in her heart.

It was on the edge of this despair, where she looked at the ground and wondered what it would feel like to fly for a moment before finally joining her father, and Prim at the Maker's side (or her mother with Fa'lon Din), when Buttercup let out a quiet 'yowl', and suddenly took off. Katniss turned abruptly, before she sighed and headed after the cat, mild aggravation taking over.

"Come back here you stupid cat -- we haven't even found a place for you to wander back to yet." She grumbled, chasing after the evil yellow beast, who made a bee-line straight towards another woman, out here on the walls. Katniss let out another curse, before she waved her hand, "Just give him the food! He bites!"

[demonicbeauty]

In many ways, cats were easier than humanoids. They relied more on basic instinct than in hidden agendas. That's how Ariadne imagined her people had once been, before pack politics came to them. And that she blamed largely on the influence of Humans and Elves.

But there was no need to ruminate on that right now. Not when there was a fuzzy new friend to consider.

Ariadne hopped neatly off of the ledge, dropping down to one knee as the cat came racing at her. "Well, hello," she said, holding out her hand, palm open and exposed, for the cat to sniff. Ariadne's voice was light and girlish, a bit younger than the rest of her. In more ways than one, she lived up to her nickname: Airy. Everything she did had a floaty quality to it.

She glanced up at the woman who followed after the cat. Not someone she'd seen, cooped up behind the walls before. New people always excited Ariadne. Especially when they came with new scents. "I don't have any food," she admitted, almost apologetic.

[the_effect_she_has]

Cats were easier than people. Just in the case of Buttercup, that ease came with, he didn't like you and now was going to attack you viciously. Which was Katniss's concern, and why she was still in a fast, flat out run.

She needn't have worried - Buttercup sniffed the woman's hand, deemed her to be acceptable, and immediately butted against her hand hard. Demanding loving tribute for his being Buttercup, naturally.

Katniss skidded to a halt, her grey eyes going wide, before she huffed out a light breath in surprise, "Well ... then I don't know why he's not gnawing your arm off. He doesn't like people."

[demonicbeauty]

Maybe it was because Ariadne didn't exactly qualify as 'people' in the traditional sense, back home. Who could say? She wasn't back home, so she didn't think of it that way.

Instead, she happily gave Buttercup the affection he demanded, running her fingers lightly over the velvety fur between his ears, before she began to scritch that hard-to-reach spot on the back of his neck.

She offered the woman a smile. It was puzzling to see someone else with gray eyes who didn't smell like an Alastrian, but she was getting used to strange things. "I don't think he's hungry," she supplied. "Just looking for someone to nuzzle, I guess." Beneath her fingers, she felt the soft hum of a purring cat. "What's his name?"

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss snorted slightly, as she folded her arms across her chest and got closer to the young woman and the cat, who was actually purring. Something he only did when he got to sleep atop Katniss, a new development for the both of them.

"The day that cat isn't hungry is the day I'll grow a tail and cat ears myself." She stated dryly, before she looked down at the cat with a mix of aggravation and just a hint of affection, "His given name is Buttercup. I call him demon-cat. He seems pleased with both."

Buttercup's answer was to twist to look at Katniss with a superior 'mft', as he sat down on his furry behind in front of Ariadne. Katniss narrowed her gaze at the cat, "Yes, she likes you. Just wait until she gets to know you."

[demonicbeauty]

It was strange, the way that people threw around the word 'demon.' It was, in some ways, very similar to home. And left something of a bad taste in Ariadne's mouth. But she had no right to judge.

Gently, she scooped up the cat, cradling it in her arms the way she often saw humanoid parents holding their children--belly exposed. Careful not to jostle him, she stood up, letting her fingers trace invisible patterns across his chest and stomach.

"I like Buttercup," she said. "There's a flower back home with that name." The cat, at least, didn't care about the glowing shard in her hand. It's a beautiful shade of yellow. Helps treat fever."

[the_effect_she_has]

Well, in Buttercup's defense, it was an apt name. He wasn't a friendly cat, but he attracted all the nicest people. Rather like his current owner, come to think of it.

Katniss winced and put her hand out as she picked up the cat, saying, "No - wait - don't - "

And Buttercup, living up to Katniss's name for him, batted gently at Ariadne's hand and completely uncaring about the shard, grabbed her hand and bit the flesh of her palm as hard as his little fangs could.

Katniss uttered a curse in elvish, going to grab for the cat, "Damnit, demon cat! He may be a Buttercup but he acts like a little mean beast! Are you all right?"

many hours later...

[amygdalae]

[The commotion that happened on the training grounds was impossible to miss, really. Bruce hadn't been anywhere near it, but it had been on a number of people's lips - especially some of the guards that Bruce had to go around and check up on. It wasn't long before he had a full story, including a name he hadn't heard in quite some time.

In a way, he shouldn't be entirely surprised - he had been around so many places that sometimes it was a surprise that he didn't recognize more people. But his tendency to hide away and stick to the shadows probably explained that.

Part of him wanted to seek her out, but he refrained from doing so, instead sticking to his usual duties. As good as it had been to see her, their parting wasn't exactly--pleasant, to put it mildly. They did leave on good terms, yes, but the circumstances around it wasn't exactly one that he wanted to remember.]

Re: many hours later...

[the_effect_she_has]

[Perhaps they never would have met, if Katniss's stomach hadn't insisted that she go searching for food. She had already found herself an abandoned tower after darkness had started to fall (and she had assured herself and Buttercup that the territory was theirs.). She started to clean it, purely from habit, and then after she was done, realized that she herself was now even more filthy -- and hungry.

Since there was ... ah, a certain blonde haired commander of Inquisition Forces that, maybe, just maybe, she didn't want to have see her looking even more like a country bumpkin. So she paused to clean herself at the well, then headed up towards the kitchen. That was when she spotted him - that curly dark mop, speckled with grey, was hard to miss.

He was a reminder that once upon a time, she had a fuller life. She had a home, she had Prim, and they had ... well, forcibly adopted Bruce against his will. At least for a short time.

Suddenly her chest hurt, because she wasn't alone as she called out without thinking.] Bruce!

[... when it occurred to her that perhaps he did not want to be known, here, and immediately turned her head away. Prepared to lie, if necessary, and her hand went to the hunting knife at her waist, prepared to protect him if that failed.]

[amygdalae]

[To his own shame, Bruce flinched a little when he heard the sound of Katniss' voice calling for him. Of course, it was already getting pretty late and Bruce was never one to like it when the relative silence of the night was broken, but--none of that really mattered in this, he was well aware of that.

He recovered quickly enough, however, and then slowly turned around to see her, faltering at how she herself was turning away. Considering everything it wasn't entirely surprising, but still--]

I--Katniss. [He manages after a moment's pause, but hopefully not long enough that she didn't hear it. Reunions were never a thing that Bruce dealt with, and for good reason.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[She had seen the flinch, expected she was right and was wondering how he was going to cover calling his name when he called out her name. She looked up, relief suddenly overcome by something else. Fear.

Not of him. For him.

She took the stairs down, two or three at a time, before she hit the ground running. Just to make it clear that they were friends, and she wasn't here to assassinate ... whoever they thought Bruce was, she wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged tight.

So damned tight.

She could feel the tears welling in her eyes, but she crushed them mercilessly because there was something more important going on here. She leaned back, giving him an infuriated glance, before taking him by the sleeve and dragging him off to the trees behind the well, where they couldn't be overheard.]

[She still whispered though, when she turned around, grabbing him by the coat and shaking him a little.]

What in the name of the Dread Wolf are you doing here?! This place is crawling with ... [She looked around.] You-know-whats. [Templars, more specifically.]

[amygdalae]

[Bruce let out a surprised grunt when Katniss suddenly bounded over to him and gave him a crushing hug, and after a moment's pause he returned it himself, even as awkward as it was. It had been... a long time since he did anything like this. People usually tried to forget him rather than remember him, after all.

The hug didn't last long however - after a moment she drags him out to a secluded enough corner and hisses out the inevitable question.]

It's fine, nobody knows. [He replies as quietly as possible, keeping his senses peeled out for any chance of being overheard or seen.] ...and I came here of my own volition. I'm working here as a surgeon right now.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Well, in Katniss's world he was family, and therefore he was going to get treated like it. Whether he liked it or not.

Her lips pressed ore firmly together before she took another look around.]

Well, I always wanted you to take a moment to stand still, to find someplace you could feel safe. [She gave him a tired, wry look.] I just didn't think it would be hip-deep in people who might want to try and kill you. You have the oddest ideas on safe, lethallin.

[She stood up a little straighter.] Beyond that, they'll have to get through me to get to you.

[amygdalae]

You don't... [He starts, the retort already in his lips, but he stops before he lets it go too far. No, it wasn't fair to her.

He takes in a breath and lets it out in a slow exhale before he speaks again.] I didn't come here because its safe. I came here to help. [When there are so many people so uncertain about mages the need for healers without magic was high, which is why Bruce came here. Using his magic for healing, much less to fight, is the last thing he wants to do.] Anyway, the Templars here aren't officially tied with the Order - the Inquisition was denounced by the Chantry.

[His only real concern is if there are any Templars who would actually recognize him - but so far that hasn't been the case, and he's pointedly been staying away from them unless necessary.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[Now she is the one who is silent, who looks at him searchingly. She seems like she is about to retort herself but then again - did she come here because it was safe?

No. No she most certainly has not. She bites her lip, hard, before she lets out a long sigh.] I can't begrudge you that. I can't even yell at you. [She is quiet for a moment.] And I'm not sure I like templars either way but ...

[But honestly, she came here to die and instead she's found - honor. Courage. Kindness. And now - an old friend.] But I understand. This is where you need to be.