[closed]

[slipshot]

WHO: Gavin, Zevran and Bruce
WHAT: Zevran, Bruce and Gavin take a supply run back to the mire.
WHEN: Nowish
WHERE: On the road to the Fallow Mire
NOTES: Ridiculousness? probably ridiculousness.

Supply runs were never the most fun. The baggage train inevitably meant that the pace was not even a third of what Gavin would keep on his own, even though they were mounted, and they had to spend a good deal of their time making sure the animals carrying the supplies didn't somehow wander off. Usually it bored Gavin to absolute tears until he just sort of started making up reasons to go scouting ahead.

This time, though, there were only the three of them - so he really couldn't afford to take his eye off the bags - and the other two happened to be friends, so it wasn't nearly as bad a journey as it could have been otherwise. That didn't stop Gavin from being as restless as all hell, from being unable to sit in his saddle or to keep him from singing (badly) to himself to just past the time, but it helped.

It would take two days, to march down there, leaving just after dawn on the first day, camping just after nightfall, and leaving at dawn again. That would see them getting in to the camp in the Fallow Mire just a few hours after dusk.

When they camped for the night, Gavin was all too happily to be doing anything other than riding a damned horse, so set up the tent all too happily and then dragged a bunch of dry wood back for the fire.

"We should probably take some of this wood with us - there's so little dry stuff in the Mire."

Comments

i think you mean ANGST of the silent sort

[amygdalae]

It was the first time Bruce had stepped out of Skyhold ever since arriving there, and he had to admit that being able to come out was rather refreshing. As much as he liked his work within the confines of the fortress, there was only so long he could let himself remain in one spot. The years of constantly having to move around still had their effects on him.

And of course, there was the whole other issue that he was travelling with Gavin and Zevran. The move to Skyhold aside, Bruce hadn't... really traveled with people much; when he was on the run he was alone for obvious reasons, and never allowed himself to travel with others. Of course, during Haven there were several trips with Harding, but that was different - not to mention shorter. This was a whole different thing entirely.

He didn't show it, but Bruce was on edge. Travelling with people who knew him explicitly by name was something he had always tried to avoid (too many complications with... things), but this time there was no way around it. And there was that whole incident with Zevran just a few days prior...

Well. All he could do was to deal with it the best he could, just as with everything else.

"If we can manage it," Bruce replied as he glanced up at Gavin from where he was crouched on the ground to make a base for their campfire, managing a smile. "Otherwise I suppose we can try to gather more when the chance presents itself."

[ombranera]

"We would have to wrap it in the oiled canvas and move the bags of rice to layer inside to keep it dry." For himself- the maudlin that had snagged him a few days before had come and gone. He was more himself for it and moer aware of his own peculiarities. Gavin was, as ever, welcome company. Bruce was something of a surprise- not an entirely welcome one. The man presented himself to be far too much of a puzzle and while they had been friendly before- Zevran took care not to linger too long in his company should Gavin need to scout ahead or search for firewood.

Whatever lay at the root of Bruce's strangeness, it was a complication he had no time to mind.

If left alone in Bruce's company he polished or sharpened his daggers. Pointedly. Even know he buffed a whetstone along the edge of a thin blade, speaking more to Gavin than to Bruce.

[slipshot]

Gavin wasn't always the most observant, when it came to relationships between other people, but it was hard not to notice the slightly icy chill that had descended upon the company, though he had absolutely no idea where it had come from or what had caused it.

"I think it's worth it," Gavin said, acknowledging the amount of work it would take. "But it's better to grab it now, rather than later. The weather is only going to get worse, the further south we go."

He carefully laid them down on a dry patch of earth, before selecting a few to build up the campfire. "I didn't see any game out there, I'm afraid. So just rations for us tonight."

[amygdalae]

Being ignored was something Bruce was used to. In fact he rather preferred that since attention was something he always shied from. But the iciness he could almost feel from Zevran was unnerving in its own way, especially considering the fact that he was an assassin and generally was more open about company. Bruce just hoped that this tenseness wasn't going to end to a place anybody would regret, for their sake more than his own.

He gave a nod to Gavin's words, glancing over to the rest of the supplies that they were bringing along with them over to the Mire. "I'll do the wrapping, then, once you've got them."

When Gavin starts work on building the campfire Bruce pulls away and backs off, letting Gavin have his space. "I'll go get the rations," he says before turning around and walking to the tent they had set up, passing by Zevran on the way over.

[ombranera]

Zevran flipped the dagger around in his hand to hold the tip, deigning to tilt it in a fluid, controlled gesture to tap Bruce's arm as he passed by. "Do not forget the waterskins."

Cool and civil as could possibly be. He even smiled.

It was not, if either of them could note, an unpleasant smile. If anything it was friendly.

"It would be terrible if we became ill from thirst before we walk to our waterlogged graves."

[amygdalae]

Bruce paused a little at the tap, looking down to Zevran as he asked for the waterskins. The smile that the elf gave, as friendly as it was, didn't seem--well. It was easy enough to sense how false it was.

There was another pause, but eventually Bruce gave a nod to acknowledge Zevran's words, and he continued his way back to the tent to get the needed items.

[slipshot]

Gavin blinked, looking over at them - it was impossible not to notice that there was something... well, weird, going on, but Creators help him if he had any idea what it was. He pushed the feeling down. They were just being friendly. Sort of. Maybe they didn't know each other well?

He finished the fire and lit it, standing back as the flames finally took, and letting his shoulders relax. "There. Much better. At least we'll be warm on our way to waterlogged graves."

[ombranera]

Nothing. No smirk, no wince, no glare. Nothing. What manner of man was Bruce to take such insolence in stride? Perhaps he should not pick or poke or prod quite so much but Bruce had revealed himself to be a puzzle. And if there was one thing Zevran could not stand it was someone being more mysterious and strange than him.

It was his role in the tale, no one else's.

"Warm and quite cozy- for we only have the one tent, yes?"

[amygdalae]

Bruce returned quickly enough with the rations as well as the waterskins that Zevran asked for, and wordlessly passed it around to both of them before he went and settled back down in a spot away from the two of them, pointedly keeping his personal spare. As much as they were both good people, Bruce didn't exactly feel comfortable being physically close to either of them.

Not that it was their fault - Bruce was well aware that the problem lay with him alone.

"We should probably rotate watches just to ensure that nothing happens," he spoke up. "I can take first watch so you two can rest." Since they were the ones who did the fighting and actual physical stuff, they needed the rest more than he did. And he had managed with far less, anyway, so he would be alright.

[slipshot]

"Just the one," Gavin agreed with a nod, not thinking about puzzles or mysteries so much as having a feeling that something was off and not being able to put his finger on it.

When Bruce joined them and so clearly sat so far away, Gavin raised an eyebow. Usually Bruce didn't mind his company... Was it an elf thing? Or Zevran? He couldn't help the slight droop to his ears, though when he spoke the tone was light and easy.

"I'll take second watch," he agreed with a nod. "If we do three hours each that should let the others get decent rest."

[ombranera]

"I suppose that leaves the dawn watch for me, how kind." Not he drooping ears. Wonderful. Zevran sighed faintly, tipping over to bump his shoulder against Gavin's. This strangeness did not need to twist with him so; but he should have expected for the young elf to be sensitive to such things.

Though this arrangement would leave he and Bruce in a tent alone for three hours. probably not what the Surgeon intended.

"At least it has not become so wet and miserable just yet."

[amygdalae]

Bruce nodded without a word, although inside he did have some turmoil about having to be alone with Zevran for three hours; considering how things went down the last time they spoke it was clear that they weren't exactly on friendly terms. Bruce wasn't looking for conflict, but he couldn't be sure if Zevran would avoid it either. So far things had been okay, but...

He took in a breath and stopped his thoughts before they went off too far. Just three hours. Three little hours, almost nothing at all. He could do it. Three hours and it would be over and then they could all move on without needing to look back.

He really should have thought this through.

[slipshot]

The shoulder bump distracted him enough that his ears resumed their proper, upright status, and he bumped softly back. "I can take morning watch if you'd rather," He teased Zevran. "I wouldn't want to disturb your beauty sleep."

He leaned over to poke a stick into the fire. "The horses should be okay - I gave them their oat bags already, though we might want to check the Grey later. There's something off with his front leg."

Bathing at the River

[ombranera]

Once he was certain that they weren't in a position to be ambushed and that the water was mostly of a tolerable temperature, Zevran stakes out (with rope and wood so no one falls in and drowns (Gavin) or gets lost should it get dark) a section of the bank and leads a weighted rope into the water for ease of finding their way back to the fire. With bushes and branches enough to provide privacy he strips, hands his leathers and his swords from a branch, and settles on a boulder to scrub the grit and dirt of the days travel from his skin.

He may even be whistling. Who knows?

[amygdalae]

After many days of travel Bruce was glad to finally have a chance to be able to bathe - he's never been the most conscious about himself, but as a surgeon he had his limits to how long he could withstand the lack of personal hygiene. After spending so much time in one place (Haven, then Skyhold) Bruce admittedly had to take time to get used to being out in the wild like this again. That as well as the idea of travelling with people.

Right after he had stepped out of the bushes with the intention to bathe Bruce quickly backed away once he realized that Zevran was out there. The elf had only begun to strip but it was enough to send Bruce to begin hurrying away. He should just return to the tent and wait for Zevran to be done first - that would be much easier for all.

[slipshot]

Gavin was more than ready to swim, (though he was a very competent swimmer, thanks for the vote of confidence, Zevran), and had stripped down to his small clothes back at the camp, making his way down to the water after the other two, only to be nearly run into by Bruce hurrying back. He blinked.

"Bruce? Everything alright?"

[amygdalae]

Gavin more or less appeared from seemingly nowhere and Bruce nearly crashed into him, but he stopped himself before that could happen and looked visibly startled at the other elf's appearance and subsequent question.

"Yes, I just--" A reason, he needed a reason-- "I just remembered that I--forgot. Something. Back at camp. You go ahead first."

With that being said Bruce quickly brushed by Gavin, quickly making his way back without another word.

[slipshot]

Bruce looked like he had seen a ghost, and Gavin gave him a sympathetic smile, which turned bemused as Bruce just continued on past him.

"Alright! See you in a few minutes," He called after him, shaking his head before humming and heading down to the water. Catching sight of Zevran he grinned to himself. "Well? Am I going to freeze, if I get in?" Gavin asked as he approached.

[ombranera]

"Perhaps a little." Zevran smirks over his shoulder, busy scrubbing grit from his legs. "Or perhaps a lot. You are going to have to take that risk all on your own."

Half the fun of traveling: Listening to Alistair yelp when pushed into the water. It was the simple pleasures in life.

"Did Bruce opt to stay behind and watch our things?"

[slipshot]

"He said he forgot something," Gavin said with a shrug, "But that'd he'd be right back." Okay, maybe he hadn't said that so much as Gavin had inferred it, but that was the same thing, right?

He walked up to the water, thought about dipping a toe in to check it, but instead ended up just taking a bit of a run and jumping into the deepest part of the marked off water. He came up again, spluttering and laughing and much too cold.

[ombranera]

"Somehow? I doubt that." Humans were so sensitive about nudity sometimes.

Of course Gavin's grand entrance splashed a fair bit of water on Zevran- dousing him in the frigid water enough to earn a low string of Antivan. Not entirely kind- but not angry. Gavin is young.

he must remind himself of that frequently.

Gavin is young.

[slipshot]

He scrubbed at his face, still laughing to himself, until he got all the water out of his eyes and looked up at Zevran. It was possibly the only time that his hair actually lay flat on his head - when dry it stuck up at every odd angle it could made.

"Risk accepted," he teased as he splashed through the water towards him. "You need some help?"

[ombranera]

"Wringing out my hair that I was attempting, valiantly might I add, to not get wet in the first place?" He snorted a soft laugh and motioned for Gavin to hop up on the boulder next to him, taking his braid over his shoulder and squeezing some of the water out.

[slipshot]

Gavin hopped up, shivering as his skin complained, and slid into place beside Zevran.

"I'd apologize, but then I wouldn't get a chance to play with your hair," Gavin teased, grinning. "Though I can't blame you - how long does it usually take to dry?"

[ombranera]

"When it is not damp out? About an hour." He unbound the tie at the end of his braid and flicked it back, permitting Gavin his opportunity to play. "At least you did not rinse the oil from it. I do not have much left with which to replace the treatment."