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WHO: Kain and OPEN (+ one closed prompt for Inessa)
WHAT: Talking about that Thing that happened... Getting new armor, hauling stuff to a new place, dealing with an annoying parrot, other random stuff for the month.
WHEN: Catch-all throughout the month (Inessa's prompt backdated!)
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Nah, but will update if something comes up. Prose or brackets fine as always!

1. For Inessa: Awkwardness!

They can't avoid each other forever. Though Kain did a pretty good job of it after they'd returned from the dragon battle. Will she think it some heat of the moment act? Does she understand what it had really meant? He's not so sure he even understands, himself...

Kain has kept himself busy, mostly with training and just avoiding places where Inessa normally goes. He just doesn't know what to do or say, how to proceed from here. Everything will change after what he'd done, won't it? But eventually, inevitably, they cross paths one day in the Gallows, as Kain is hauling some stuff out of the room he'd been assigned... He's also (appropriately enough) wearing his newly redone dragonscale Warden armor.

2. Dragon Armor, Armory

This is the day. Kain is like a child on Wintersend as he gets up and scrambles to get to the armory. He's had his Warden armor redone with dragonscale, taken from the very dragon that the group had slain together. Once there and once he's paid for it and has it in hand, he just spends a long moment looking it over, and stroking the scales on the chest piece admiringly.

"A worthy opponent..."

3. Moving?, Gallows

It looks suspiciously like Kain is leaving, as he's continually hauling boxes and bags full of his stuff out of the Gallows. He's still planning to keep some sort of back-up dwelling space or at least office in town, for whenever that's needed. But he wants to make his new place as comfortable and home-like as possible.

He's hauling along a trunk at the moment. Until he loses his grip... The trunk falls solidly to the ground on its side and the top opens, revealing a diverse collection of dragon-shaped Orlesian masks inside. One falls out, but fortunately it doesn't break.

"I knew I should have gotten that trunk repaired." He grumbles as he picks up the mask to look it over.

4. Chaos in Kirkwall, near the Chantry memorial

A bunch of raised voices catch Kain's attention. He approaches the area cautiously, wondering if he's about to get swept up in a fight. It's... a pretty bad scene, with people shouting and pointing fingers at each other.

"He called me an awful name, he did!" one woman shouts dramatically.

"Well, she blasphemed the name of Andraste!" a man adds.

A woman fires right back at him. "I heard you shouting dreadful things during a service the other day."

It's not his problem, this is an area where uptight religious folk tend to gather anyway. But as the squabble continues, Kain hears a burst of familiar laughter nearby. He glances around, then finally up on a building where none other than Bastard is perched. It all suddenly clicks. Kain sighs heavily, putting a hand to his face. Why did that bird follow him here, again?

5. Wildcard

Kain can often be found training, as always trying to strengthen himself, and trying out his new dragonscale armor. He also frequently takes care of Potato the griffon, making sure to ride her often, usually landing somewhere outside of the city for a break after they've flown a bit. Most anywhere in Kirkwall works for any other random ideas!

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It wasn't that she was actively avoiding Kain, exactly, but there's always so much to be done and Inessa can't help it if he hasn't visited her usual haunts. Privately, she waves between relief and disappointment...but this can't go on forever and she knows it. So (figuring that since he took the initiative earlier, it was time for her to return the favor) it is that Inessa heads over to his quarters in the Gallows, for once without Garahel. An audience couldn't be helped last time; she isn't interested in one now, however. Her own armor bears signs of their dragonslaying, sporting new gloves and boots. The dragonbone armor is new as well, though one might not be able to tell since she stuck to the silverite coating.

Upon spotting Kain, Inessa's hesitation vanishes as she spots him...wait, what? Her eyes narrow at his hauling out a trunk along with various other things. "You're moving out? Why?" Her voice rises in shock, her stride a little quicker than a moment ago. Her heart sinks, wondering if this is because of earlier. Had the awkwardness lasted too long?

Ah. Caught. Though Kain realizes he should have said something earlier, now that he thinks about it. This wouldn't be the first time he'd meant to leave without saying anything to anyone. It's kind of a bad habit of his. For now, he just sets down the box he's carrying and then shakes his head.

"Well... yes... and no. I know I'll need a place here, but at the same time, I've been in need of some space from this city." As he knows she's aware of. He hates stifling places like this, feeling almost confined by so many people around, and so little wilderness. "I've decided to claim that dragon's cave for my own. It's isolated enough to be safe, and yet still reachable. I promise, I wasn't fleeing or hiding." He pauses, hesitates, then reddens. Even complimenting her seems... different... now, but he's so enamored with the way she looks in dragon-based armor. "Your armor... it looks incredible."

Inessa doesn't look quite mollified, and the compliment is noted, but she's too focused on the evidence before her to give it more than a cursory response at the moment. "Thank you, yours as well. But--the dragon's cave, really? Isn't that a bit far for emergencies? And do you even have the clearance?"

Is that a thing yet? Inessa hasn't even bothered to find out for herself, more or less content with her quarters at the Gallows and busy there. She fidgets, realizing she should have thought of it as a possibility for Kain. It does make sense for him, but the idea of him being that far away, even with the crystals...well, it's not an appealing one.

Kain sighs. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t said anything, he’d known it probably wouldn’t go over well. It’s not that he wants to upset her, though. That’s the last thing he wants. Especially not now… not when he’s… realized those feelings more than ever. But what did she think? Had she just simply been swept up in the excitement of that moment or… maybe could there in fact be something more there…

“I don’t anticipate any emergencies.” Famous terrifying Kain words there. “I’ve also been granted the necessary permission… I would never break ranks or behave irresponsibly for a Warden, you know that. Besides, I’ll still be around, I promise… and… people who are important to me are always welcome to visit.” He reddens and looks away. “When I had everything settled I was hoping to invite you over.”

Just them. No one else. Well, Garahel, of course, is always a given, but no other people.

Her lips form a thin line at that line about emergencies, definitely not appeased by such thoughtless behavior. "Need I remind you that you didn't anticipate any emergencies with the dragon, that first time? You need to do better than that, Kain."

But that blush and averted gaze don't go unnoticed, and her own usually pale cheeks are somewhat pink now. She clears her throat, forcing herself to speak up again. "You'd do that? I thought you...well, it seemed as though you were avoiding me." In her desire to give space rather than pester, she's begun to think it was just that, a fluke. And perhaps a fluke that he regrets.

"Ah, right... that. I promise, nothing like that will happen again. I know better now." Well. So he says. He just wants to reassure her... or perhaps even both of them... that he won't make the same mistake again. Going up against that dragon alone had nearly cost him his life. But... it's not the first time he's had such an experience, even if it's usually against something else, like a bear.

Kain nods seriously after that. "I mean it. I really would like to have you there with me. There's no one else's company who I'd appreciate as much. But... but no..." He steps a little closer, clears his throat nervously, and looks away, downward. "It's just that I... I wasn't sure. I thought that perhaps I'd done the wrong thing..." This sure is hard to talk about. She'd seemed into it at the time, but... he's not completely certain. Maybe she'd been simply swept up in the moment and nothing more.

Inessa seems mildly appeased by that promise, certain he'll want to follow through with it and hoping he'll be able to do so. As long as he doesn't treat his life so cavalierly, she can refrain from disapproval. Their lives are dangerous enough that she won't be upset over every injury gained.

Where is Garahel as a safe distraction when she needs him? Sadly, he's nowhere in sight and she can almost hear Ciri's heavy sigh at such thoughts. It's far easier to discuss projects and darkspawn and nearly anything else other than matters of the heart...but Kain did make the first step. Fairness dictates that she give him an honest and direct response. So while he moves in a little more, she allows it and shakes her head. "You didn't. You may have caught me off-guard, but that was more due to the circumstances." Right after a dragon-slaying, in front of others? She hadn't anticipated that at all, though perhaps she should have done so.

Clasping her hands together to give them something to do, her expression grows apologetic. "I'm not very good at this, I'm afraid. Such bonds were never encouraged in the Circle, and after some bad luck, I learned to focus on my magic and ambition. That has carried over into the Grey Wardens. While it's not entirely new territory, it's...been some time. And not something I'd truly expected to find, to be honest. Not here or now. But...I'm not unwilling to see where it leads."

That’s one of many things he likes about Inessa. She respects him. She never nags. Sure, she may turn a disapproving Look once in a while, but that’s usually the extent of it. She understands him like no one else, as he feels he understands her.

“They weren’t the circumstances I would have chosen, admittedly. It just… felt right at the time. And I’d been thinking about doing something like that for a long, long time. I’d only… just then did I finally summon up the courage to do so.” He’d do it all again, if it came to it, though maybe without the audience. In fact… hm. Maybe that’s something he ought to consider. But he’ll give it a moment, first…

He nods in understanding. “And for me… despite having more opportunities than within a Circle, my heart was set for a long time on someone I couldn’t have. I’ve…” It’s just as hard to talk about this, but he’s making an effort now. “I’ve been afraid. I’ve been so afraid of another rejection that I held back from even trying, with you.” His heart couldn’t handle yet more rejection. He’d have broken if she’d pushed him away. But she hadn’t. Ness, I… we… Could we try that again? Now, without the people around, I mean?”

He wants to be sure it wasn’t just some fluke, feelings that were going overboard thanks to the dragon-slaying.

There's a moment of silence, as Inessa gathers her thoughts. "...only if you're entirely certain your heart is no longer set elsewhere. I don't want to just be a warm body, Kain." It wouldn't break her, but it would firmly close the door now wedged open by semi-recent events. She's careful with her heart, and she won't give it to just anyone, especially as a consolation prize. Given how much Kain tends to overthink things, she's supposing that has to be a good sign in this case. Still, she needs to hear it.

"I'm certain." He answers with confidence to that. Part of the reason it had taken him so long was because he wanted to be sure, he had to really examine his innermost feelings. He'd had to let go of the past and finally start moving forward. It was only after that whole dragon battle that he'd truly, finally felt free of the burdens of that past.

"I'm more certain now than I ever was. It took time for me to realize it... to fully appreciate it... but now I know for sure. It's... it's you that I want, and no one else." His heart is pounding as he finally says things that he's held back for a very long time. This makes it all feel much more real than ever before.

"Good answer." Inessa's lips curve in a smile, relieved to have gotten that out in the open. It's one of the reasons why she's held back, not wanting to be anyone's replacement. As though she could possibly live up to a human noblewoman, even a mage one. "As long as you're certain, then...yes. We can try that again, without the audience."

Before there's a chance to lose her nerves, she steps in a bit closer and leans up to initiate.

It was something Kain wanted to be certain of, as well. But Inessa isn't Rosa, nor does he want her to be. He wants her, for herself, for who she is. It feels so liberating, to finally let go of the past... and to think of a possible future yet to come. He nods agreement, but doesn't bother to say anything else just yet. Not when she takes the initiative like that.

Kain feels immensely encouraged when she does that. His arms go up to wrap around her, as his lips meet hers eagerly. He's been waiting for this moment, to prove to himself that it was no fluke.

Right now, just as they are, it's almost terrifying easy for Inessa to finally let go of her own past. For once, those lectures and warnings that were drilled into her until she could recite them on her own just...fade away. They cease to matter, every single one of them. It's not even defiance, when there's nothing left to defy. The Circles are gone, the Grey Wardens had never forbade such attachments, and the bad luck of the past...perhaps it's truly in the past, now.

That characteristic reserve begins to fade as Kain responds, warming up to the kiss in a way that she hadn't had the chance to with the earlier one. She automatically wraps her arms around his neck, leaning up a little to more easily ignore the height difference. His enthusiasm is returned in full measure, as though making up for lost time.

Kain seriously hopes that his own bad luck is gone as well. He'd spent years pining for someone he could never have. Then, later, he'd decided he would never have someone for himself... that he would never deserve it, for one thing. For another, as a Warden he'd figured he didn't want to burden someone with a relationship doomed to end early. But with a fellow Warden, one who has no other love in her life to stand in the way... finally, it seems he's found someone right for him.

Just like her, Kain finally stops holding back for that moment, for once letting his true feelings to the surface. He deepens the kiss, letting it linger for as long as he possibly can. He lets himself enjoy the sensation, her warmth and taste, everything about her. When the moment finally comes that he needs some air, he's reluctant to part from her too far, letting his forehead rest against hers.

At some point, yes, air is definitely needed. Inessa fights it at first, reluctant to let go and end that particular moment when the sensation of his lips against her is as thrilling as last time. And yet, the fact that there can be more such moments, as many as they prefer, finally spurs her to ease back as he does. She closes her eyes briefly, savoring that closeness even as she can't quite breathe enough to speak yet, those normally pale cheeks quite flushed.

Kain lets the silence linger for a bit, not really having words to fully express how he's feeling. His heart is soaring, though, and it's better than even being upon a griffon's back. So it wasn't just a one time thing. That much is also clear. Whatever spark had been there as a result of that dragon battle... it's back again for sure, and even without that battle's help.

Finally, after another few moments, he smiles. "So... it was real. And better than I'd have imagined." He looks at her, still cautious even if he suddenly feels much more hopeful now. "I... Does this mean... What will this mean, for us? I'd certainly... I'd like more of that to happen. That is. If you do." Oh, god, he's so awkward about this. But he needs certainty, now, he can't go on just assuming things.

One breath at a time, Inessa manages to regain her composure...or as much of it as possible. That lingering closeness makes it difficult to return to reserved formality, though she isn't actually bothered by either circumstance or result. There's a small smile lingering on her lips, likewise relieved that there's more to them than one interrupted kiss in front of a dead dragon and others.

The remaining caution has her chuckling, not unkindly. It's rather endearing that he cares enough to ask directly, however awkward. Honestly, she's pretty sure that awkwardness is mutual, but knowing they're both fumbling in the dark about this makes it easier to manage. "I would, too. Though perhaps not after every dragonslaying. I'm much more willing without an audience."

it does make it a little easier, knowing she's just as awkward and inexperienced as he is. He's had a few encounters with women, especially that night back in Orlais when his friend Edge had seen fit to get him to a brothel. There were some popular dancing ladies back there that he and Cecil frequently went to see. But none of this is the same. None of this involved any true feelings. He's never had them returned before.

It's all new territory. He's still anxious, still a bit scared he'll ruin it all... but those feelings are lessening now. Kain smiles at her again. "I can't promise I won't get excited after another dragonslaying... but for your sake, I'll be glad to whisk us away to privacy as soon as possible. And... I'll be glad to do this sort of thing, anytime you wish it, otherwise. Anything... anything you want of me..."

To that she responds with a light, playful shove. "In that case, I ask you to consider not losing yourself in that new getaway you just claimed. I understand you need the outlet, but remember that we have a purpose here...and I don't yet have permission to be anywhere else." Even if she did...well, she's in the Research division which means libraries and whatnot. Aka, not the wilderness. "That doesn't mean I won't ask, but moderation is necessary. I should like to see you more than just in passing, Kain."

That definitely gets Kain thinking about his decision. It was the right one, for his own sanity's sake, but he doesn't want to put much distance between them, either. He nods agreement.

"That's a promise I can keep without question. I swear it. Now that we're..." He isn't sure how to say it, and falters a moment. "...well... you know, we're... If we're to be a couple... I don't want to let you get lonely without me. You're still always welcome to come join me at times when you can, as well. And I'll be glad to stay here at any time you want me... to be here."

If this hadn't happened between them, he might well have gone on to isolate himself more than ever. Now that the dragon's den has been even better converted into a dwelling space... he's less inclined to leave it. But now he has a reason to be among civilization some more, for Inessa's sake.

Inessa's smile is one of sympathy and warmth as Kain struggles to say what they are to each other. The newness of it all is awkward to navigate, but they'll deal with it and hopefully move on to better things. She relaxes a touch at that promise, not surprised but still gratified that he isn't going to launch himself into hermitdom. That's rewarded with her leaning up for a brief, feather-light kiss.

"And I'm glad to hear it. I'll make a request soon, that I promise. I can't say I'll be able to take advantage of it as often as I would like, but...I'll try." If Kain can check himself against his urge to isolate himself, she can check herself against her constant researching. Fair is fair.

It's very new and very awkward, but he'll learn, he's determined to. As long as he can make her happy... that's all that really matters much to him. He's relieved right now that he was able to do and say the right things.

"I'll look forward to it. You'll always be welcome there... In fact... It could be considered as much your place as mine. You helped me evict the former occupant, after all. And, as much as I get tired of others' company, I could never feel that way about yours." He smiles, adding, "Well, and Garahel's company, too, of course."

"I'm sure he'll be pleased when I inform him of that." Inessa chuckles, glad she didn't bring him with her after all. He doesn't need to bear witness to everything. "I can let you finish up here...unless you would like some assistance?"

Yes, it would have been pretty distracting having Garahel around, for this moment. But Kain can almost imagine the mabari giving his approval... he's never paid it much mind before, but he's always sort of been for them being together, hasn't he?

"I'm sure he will... and he'll be pleased for the both of us, I'm sure." He looks at his things, then toward Inessa and nods. "Some help would be appreciated. I'm almost done, but it'll make the work go faster."

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