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WHO: Nerva Lecuyer and literally anyone who wants in on the fun
WHAT: A Templar escorting two Tranquil arrives at Skyhold
WHEN: From nowish and open to people as they come back from the Mire
WHERE: The courtyard
NOTES: lots of hatred

It was incredibly cold, and getting colder, but the deep fur cloak around her shoulders insulated her armour and kept most of the wind off, so it was bearable. Her charges, however - two Tranquil that she had rescued as she fled from the Templars - were difficult. They would not mind the cold even if it was killing them, so she had to be extra vigilant in checking them over for frostbite every night that they made camp. When they finally made it to Skyhold, her soul was as exhausted as her body, and she only made a very cursory introduction before pleading for a place to lay her head, and for protection for the Tranquil. Once she had both, she slept for a long time.

The next morning was bright and clear, and the air felt warmer in the castle despite the early winter that stormed in the mountains around them. She was at a loss, for a few minutes, as to what she should be doing - the entire Inquistion unfamiliar and disconcerting. So few templars, and so many mages, coming and going freely, with no regulation or safety structures in place...

She would take her concerns directly to the leaders of the Inquisition, once she better understood the situation. Until then, it was time to get her bearings.

Training in the courtyard made things easier - let her take her mind off of everything and focus only on shield and blade. She had to pause, however, as she found that her two charges were watching her, waiting for orders.

"The Inquisition is our Order now," she told them solemnly. "You do not report to me, but I am at your disposal if you are in need of any assistance." She knew that assistance would never be requested, but she would offer it again, when she saw them.

Later, she would spend a long time in the Chantry, trying to find some kind of guidance.

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Even though it wasn't technically her job any more, Nerva kept a close eye on her Tranquil charges - checking on them daily, to make sure they weren't being harassed, or mistreated. Or ignored. So when she arrived to check on them in the garden, only to find someone else helping them as they worked, she was a little taken aback.

As she walked over, the two Tranquil looked up, greeting her in their calm, inflectionless voices, and went back to work while she frowned at Bruce. For a moment, she even wondered if he was another Tranquil.

"We have not met, but I hope that I am greeting you in friendship. I am Nerva."

If the footsteps weren't evident enough, the Tranquil pausing in their duties to greet the newcomer was enough to clue Bruce in that somebody else was here. When he heard her speak to him, Bruce straightened up from where he had been crouched on the ground and looked at her, immediately spotting the Templar attire that she wore.

"Bruce." He returned mildly, inclining his head in equal politeness. "It's a pleasure, Ser Nerva."

She bowed her head in return, but despite his mild response, he was obviously not a Tranquil. No one could quite match their tonelessness, if they had any connection with their emotions at all.

"Likewise," She replied, though pleasure was probably not an accurate description. Relief, perhaps. Some form of gratefulness.

"I am glad to see that there are those here who do not fear them," She murmured thoughtfully. "Or simply ignore them. It gives me hope that I have brought them to the right place after all."

Bruce could easily see why people wouldn't like the Tranquil, but for Bruce he was rather the opposite. They were pleasant enough to be with, and their quiet and lack of emotions sometimes was what he needed. There were always days for him where trying to be 'human' was much harder than it was and the Tranquil gave him the respite that he needed, when the privacy of his tent wasn't enough.

"The Inquisition is supposed to be a safe place for all, regardless of whomever you are," he said, voice still quiet as he glanced at one of the Tranquil that was working hard. "They may be different, but they're still people just like everyone else."

And certainly much better than him.

Nerva didn't smile all that often - she thought it undermined her authority - but she let herself then, just a small one. "They're better people than most could ever hope to be," She agreed, her voice low for just the two of them. "It is a sacrifice few would be willing to make, but both of my charges took that sacrifice willingly, and with grace, to protect those around them. They deserve respect. It is a joy, to know that there are those that would give it."

She paused for a moment, actually looking serene as she let herself relax.

"There are many places that claim to be safe, or places of peace, that fail to meet that goal."

Bruce's response to her words was a small nod. No matter what others thought of the Tranquil, or what he personally felt for them, the decision to become as such was never an easy thing. There were those that were forced, yes, but those were--it was another thing entirely. These ones, at least, deserved his own brand of respect and sympathy.

"It's a noble goal, but a hard one." It's an admission to her, as Bruce turned back to look at the Templar, inclining his head once more. "But they're trying their best, as most of us can only do in times like these."

She nodded, the smile slipping into a small frown, her brows pulling down between her eyes.

"Unfortunately it is times like these that too many do as they see best only for themselves." As she'd learned all too well, in the recent months. "Or when goals that were once noble become corrupted. But I am happy to lend my arm to the Inquisition - for as long as it takes." She looked up at him again. "What has brought you here? Are you a gardener?"

It was a noble goal, and one Bruce could agree with. He nodded again, then paused at her question, silent for a moment before he shook his head.

"No, nothing like that," he replied, a quiet apology in his tone. "I work here as a surgeon, but I help around wherever I can, should I have the time to."

"Ah, forgive me for the assumption," She said with a stiff bow of her head. "I forget that this castle is populated first and foremost by its army - of course those with other duties would share those that would normally be governed by other means. I doubt we have any here who could call themselves only gardeners."

"I am sure your skills are appreciated, with the need that the Inquisition must generate for them."

"Oh, no, its alright," Bruce quickly assured her, hardly bothered at all with the mistake. Truthfully it was kind of nice to think of himself as a gardener - at least then he was only really helping to grow life, rather than having to witness death, or to take it with his own two hands. "It would be nice if we did have some proper gardeners in the future, but for now we're all just making do with what we have on hand."

He gave a tiny smile after saying that, not really wanting to comment on the rest of her words - after all for Bruce he came here to offer his services for himself more than anything else. It was hardly as noble as other people would have thought.

The smile, however small, had the effect of calming her, slightly, and she relaxed enough to turn her eyes from him and down to the plot of land that he and the tranquil were working.

"... Yes. I did not truly know what to expect, on my way here. But I should have. The Inquisition is an army, like any other. There is little room for men whose only mind it to tend flowers." Her voice softened slightly - the Orlesian accent relaxing into something more mixed and murky, as she was no longer truly aware of it.

"I only hope that this army remembers its purpose, and keeps to its calling."

As much as Bruce didn't like to think about it, her words were true - the Inquisition was a military force as much as it was trying to do good, and with his history Bruce generally wasn't a fan of anything that involved weapons and violence. But it was a necessary evil, and right now the Inquisition was here because of the greater threat that was Corypheus. Words were barely going to work on a person such as that.

"As long as there's still the giant hole up in the sky, I think everyone will remember why we're here," he returns wryly, absently fiddling with his hands. Everyone was here to help make this place better, one way or another, and it was important to remember that. Or at least it was important for Bruce to remember that.

She nodded in agreement - or at least in acknowledgement. It was unclear if she believed what he said, but she heard it, at least.

"One can hope. Though I worry for the discipline of this venture, often." Her frown deepened. "They keep strange allies."

It did not even occur to her, that from most people's perspective, a proud templar was probably a very strange ally in itself.

Even with that, Bruce couldn't blame her for her comment; from the outside it would see that the Inquisition had a strange collection of forces. From humans to elves and even Qunari - clearly an uncommon sight.

"We're all threatened by the same danger that can possibly destroy Thedas itself if its not stopped," he said, glancing down at his hands for a moment. "At this time, boundaries aren't what they usually are. We're here for a common cause."

She sighed then, but nodded, unable to keep the real trace of worry from twitching in her brow.

"A common cause... If one I cannot even hope to understand. But the sky must be set to rights, and if that requires more... leniency than I would otherwise think wise to give, then so be it."

"Things are quite different from what many of us are used to." That, Bruce had to agree - even with his own experiences the Inquisition was undeniably something very different from the norm. And if he found it strange, others would easily find it even stranger.

He looked back up to the Templar and gave her a small smile. "It's a time of change for many of us, one way or another. But I'm sure we'll weather through it the best we can."

She frowned down at him, her brow twitching as she tried to assess whether or not the smile was a mocking one, but seemed to decide that it was intended as presented. She didn't smile back, but she nodded.

"Yes. I should hope. And I hope that the Tranquil meet which such dignity from the rest as you have afforded them. You have my thanks, and my shield, if you should require it."

"Ah--its no problem at all. Think nothing of it." Bruce raised his hands up with his palms facing towards her as he said that. As much as he appreciated the offer he really didn't want anybody to feel like they owed him anything - he didn't deserve something like that.

"I think much of it. Kindness and decency is difficult to come by, in this age." It was said with a solemnity. "It is only right, to offer what I can in return. But I shall take my leave, and allow you to return undisturbed to your work."

Bruce nods back, continuing to smile as he replied in turn. "And I don't want to hold you up either. I'm sure we'll see each other around, in time."

She nods, and doesn't smile, but she does offer him a tight bow and a fight raised to her chest. "Good luck with your work," She offers, before giving a short bow to each of the Tranquil as well, and then taking her leave.

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