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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?

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[She doesn't say anything, but she ... does something she would never do with another person. She reaches out, and grabs his hands, and squeezes as tightly as she could.]

You couldn't. You would have been in danger. And I ... I can't stand over another grave, Bruce. So - you're going to stay alive. [Her smile is bitter.] And I am going to stay alive to make sure you stay that way.

[For a moment there's faint hint of surprise on Bruce's face, but that's quick to vanish, replaced with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes no matter how he tries.

Oh, Katniss. If only she knew.

(But he would never tell her.)]

I'd rather have you try to stay alive for something better. [Is what he says instead, gaze averting from hers because he really doesn't deserve this kind of--loyalty.] You know what I am, Katniss. I'm not worth that kind of sacrifice.

[She hasn't forgotten that touch is not something he does - it is not something she does either. But he is a link to this world, and one of the few friends she made ... and apparently kept. That was still alive, at this rate.

(There are other ways to find out, Bruce.)]

There is nothing better. [And yes, that is a yawning emptiness in that voice, a despair that is one step away from jumping off the ramparts, as she pulls away. But her mouth twists.] Don't be an idiot. Of course you are.

[Bruce really, really doesn't think himself worthy at all of whatever Katniss is offering to him like this, but he also knows better than to argue. He knows when she's set and he knows that she's not going to back down on this. And if this helps her, then who is he to argue?]

Just... don't do anything foolish. [He tries for another smile, and this time its a bit more genuine.] I wouldn't be terribly pleased if you went and got yourself killed right after we meet each other again.

[Then Bruce was blind, and Katniss would be happy to tell him so. Again and again, if necessary. Honestly how someone so smart could be so stupid about himself, she had no idea.]

[She sighed, deeply, before she arched an eyebrow at him.] As long as you don't go off and do anything foolish that I'll have to come in and save you? Then we'll be fine.

[One corner of her mouth lifted, before she looked at him. Hard.] Have you eaten?

[Well then they were in agreement - sort of, anyway. Bruce bites down a sigh and he nods, not wanting to get into any sort of argument. Especially not with Katniss.

At the question, though, Bruce just purses his lips, doing his best not to make a face.] Not yet. I had a lot of patients to attend to in the evening. [And he had only really just finished, to be entirely honest.]

[That was because he knew that unless he had undeniable logic? She was going to win out of pure stubbornness.

She smirked, faintly, shoving down her sadness because he looked like he was trying to make his way through sour berries.] Well, you aren't going to be any good to them if you pass out.

[Bruce bites down a sigh because really, he won't faint just from a lack of one meal - he knows himself better than anybody else - but its true that he should eat, so.]

I'll get something from the kitchens once I've put down my things back in my tent. [He's still carrying it all with him, and Bruce isn't going to bring all of his things into the kitchens and risk either them or the food getting contaminated.]

[Maybe not, but honestly, why make yourself more tired by not eating. She also has a thing about food - she loves it and thinks other people should enjoy it as well.]

[She raised an eyebrow at him.] So of I follow you to the tents, will that mean ... I can kidnap you into eating with me? [She tilted her entire head, giving him a little smirk.]

[Bruce raises an eyebrow back in turn, mostly at her choice of words more than anything else.]

I'm not entirely sure about the kidnapping part, but you're free to eat with me.

I was just going to kidnap you if you made more excuses. Since there are no excuses, there is no need to kidnap.

[She shifted, so he could lead the way. Curiosity finally was getting the better of her.]

How long have you been here? With them?

[Since Katniss is still new to the place Bruce is more than willing to lead her around, and so he makes his way to the kitchens, making sure that she follows behind.

At the question he thinks about it for a bit, tracking the dates before he answers.] A couple of months. The Inquisition had just made its place in Haven when I joined, so its been a while.

[Katniss followed in step behind him, tucking her hands into her leather coat. She looked over at him, her gaze musing.] Did you know the Herald of Andraste?

[She's heard the tales. They've all heard the tales.]

[It would be a lie if Bruce hadn't expected that question. When you were here long enough it became a thing when new people joined - and perhaps especially even moreso now, after her passing.

There's a beat that lasts perhaps a moment too long, and then Bruce shakes his head.] I've seen her around back in Haven, but I didn't really get the chance to talk to her.

[He was just a mere surgeon at all, and one who was lying to hide himself at that. What reason did he ever have to talk to somebody like Evelyn Trevelyan?]

[Well, Katniss owed the Herald a great deal. She had cleared out the mages and templars who had killed her sister. Katniss would never be able to repay that debt now to her personally, so she would join the Herald's cause instead.]

Hm, well, there are enough heroes and legends walking around here to fill a book -- but there are thousands here. No one could meet them all. [Her tone is contemplative.] I wonder what she was like.

[Who were you, Herald? And why did the Maker take you so soon? Questions that were going to haunt a lot of people, Katniss imagined.

Still, more important matters...] Have you made friends?

She was a great woman. One who passed on far too soon.

[Just like so many other people who deserved to live instead of him. There were still so many days Bruce couldn't help but wonder why he was allowed to live still despite what he was, what he had done. It just wasn't fair to them.

Of course, he doesn't say any of that. There's no point in it, and Bruce knows better than to say stuff like this to Katniss. Instead he just glances over to her and gives her what is hopefully a reassuring smile.] There are some people who I talk with on a regular basis.

[...that counts, right?]

Well, a lot of people did that. [Katniss sighed softly, thinking of her father. Prim. All the people in their little hamlet who had lost their lives.

Their lives had to have had meaning. Evelyn Trevelyan's life had to have meaning. There couldn't be all this senseless tragedy ... for nothing.

She couldn't keep living in a world where none of it made sense.]

Talk to like, 'hello, how are you?' or, 'we sit and share food together and conversation?'

[Bruce can only hum in agreement, trying to steer his mind away from that. If he dwelled too long on it Katniss would probably only notice, and that was the last thing he wanted.]

A bit of both? [He replies with a shrug.] I'm not entirely sure where your scale lies with conversations.

[Sooner or later, Bruce, Katniss is going to catch you out. That will be a sad, sad day for both of them.]

...It's me, Bruce. Most people come to me and start talking. [Is her dry response.] I'm not exactly popular.

Doesn't mean you can't go to them and start talking yourself.

[He replies with one pointedly raised eyebrow. Really, Katniss, he doesn't need to say anything more here.]

Oh really? About what? It's not like I could go up to any of them and say, 'Oh hello, I can shoot a fennec through the eye from a hundred paces', or, 'do you know how to use animal fat to make candles? I do!'

[She sighs, quietly, and her gaze is suddenly pulled upwards, towards the ramparts.] ...even if I wanted to, what could I say to someone who I honestly admired?

[Bruce listens to her words without complaint, in a way understanding but still--he wants to encourage her. She's already been through a lot and deserves something good.]

I think... [He starts, trailing off, glancing up to follow her gaze up to the ramparts.] I think you should just be yourself. Don't pretend to be somebody else just for others.

[She folds her arms over her stomach, looking back at him. Her grey eyes were quiet, serious.]

... I don't even know who I am, anymore. Not really. Do you?

I can't give you an answer.

[Not being he's an ass or anything, but he thinks if he gives an answer it won't help her at all.]

It's something you need to find out for yourself.

[A child would have protested, said it wasn't fair. Katniss only nodded, because really, who else would figure it out but her?

She did note that he had not answered about himself -- and that worried her.

How bad was it, now?]

...Let's just eat. I can worry about my soul later.

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