Open log for Wintermarch

[unshadowing]

Well. Nevarra sucked. He's not entirely surprised with how things turned out, but it's still frustrating. At least they're back in Kirkwall now.

A. Not exactly a scholar

Oh yes, this is a rare sight. Carver Hawke, in the library. Reading. Well, attempting to anyway. The rather tall man is almost dwarfed by the stack of books around him; clearly he's been here for awhile, judging by the stacks and the empty plate next to him. His brow's creased in a perpetual frown as he pages through the book in front of him. Occasionally, he'll jot down something in a little piece of parchment next to him. But often he'll just cross it out later. Whatever he's trying to discern, it's not going well.

After awhile, he shoves the book away from him, blowing out a frustrated breath. Calloused hands run over his face, scrubbing at it. "I'm not cut out for this," he mutters.

B. Gotta keep in shape

Now this is much more his style. Despite the cold weather, Carver's still outside, practicing his sword form. He whet his blade plenty on the undead that swarmed them in the Grand Necropolis, but that doesn't mean he gets to slack off. And really, it's more something to just keep his mind occupied and feel somewhat productive. For now, he's practicing on one of the dummies set up... somewhere. Someone probably propped up a few somewhere, right? Right.

Of course, a real partner that can react and swing back would be ideal. But Carver's never been much of one to ask for a sparring partner; too used to doing it on his own and all. Still, he won't say no if someone offers. If he knows you, he'll wave in greeting. If not, he'll either likely ignore you or just nod. Or if you're REALLY lucky and he likes you, you might just get a smile.

Or just don't let him know you're there and ogle him from a distance. He's getting warm from the movements, so he's ditched the coat. Now he's just rocking a threadbare shirt and pants, so.

C. Griffons are better than people

Because fuck people, honestly. Griffons don't care about politics or image or whatever. They just want food and head scratches. And after the Grand Necropolis debacle, Carver's happy to spend time up there with the beasts, giving them bits of food and learning about them. They're used to him enough now that they're not quite as rambunctious and screechy when he comes up, though that might have more to do with the fact that he always comes with food.

Carver's also wisened up; most of the shiny things on him are hidden or just entirely absent. Still, it doesn't stop one from trying to pick at a button on his shirt. Carver gently whaps its beak. "Don't you try it. Beth will give me that look and chide me, and I can't sew for shit." A protesting squawk. "Look, I'll bring you something big and shiny to play with next time. Knowing our luck, you'd swallow this thing and choke on it."

He gets perturbed look.

"I'm right and you know it."

D. Wildcard

You know the drill

Comments

A

[hearher]

Carolus, however, is cut out for the library. Other than the room he shares with Mal, it's quickly becoming his favorite place here. He notices Carvers distress and takes a moment before approaching.

It's always a little nerve-wreaking to talk to someone new. "Er, can I help at all?" he asks, quietly, not wanting to disturb more than he has to.

[unshadowing]

Carver's seen this kid around before, but only in passing. It surprises him a little he's coming up to talk to him at all, as the library's not usually the place one wants to strike up a conversation in. At least the kid seems friendly. "Probably not. Reading and researching aren't exactly my strong points, is all. So of course I'm an idiot and doing exactly that."

[hearher]

"Well, reading and researching are my strong points. So maybe I could help?" Car offered, moving a bit closer. "What are you researching?"

C

[circleprodigy]

Potato has been calmly watching Carver from her perch up high, but she suddenly perks up and lets out a cry before jumping off. Just entering, Inessa smiles as her bonded mount spirals down to greet her. As Potato crowds in, she laughs and strokes her head.

"Why hello, Potato. Behaving yourself?"

Glancing over, she notes Carver and grins. "They seem quite taken with you now. I'm glad you've had the chance for more quality time with them."

[unshadowing]

Potato's cry draw Carver's attention for a moment, watching as the griffon flies down to greet Inessa. Carver nods to her in greeting. "Getting there. The bonded ones don't bother with me much, but Ghostface here-"

-takes advantage of Carver's lapse of judgment and pulls at his button. The Warden makes a noise that's a cross of surprise and frustration as he shoos Ghostface away from said button. "Hey now, what did I just tell you?"

[circleprodigy]

"Tsk, Ghostface. You know better than that." She shakes her head, smirking as Potato nudges her for more attention. "Ghostface has been a bit lonely, without a rider. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's decided you're worthy of him. Buttons aside, he's a good choice. Gentle, playful...just mind your fingers."

At least Potato isn't so insistent on that, though there is a reason Inessa always braids her hair and wears simply clothing when visiting the roost.

B

[iceblade]

Spotting Carver, Skadi strides over towards the training area. In a rare ill humor, she doesn't pause to smirk and ogle as she would have taken the time to do otherwise. Carver's easy on the eyes, after all, but at the moment, all she wants is a good fight.

So she'll slip off her own coat and drape it on the nearby fence, clad in her war paint. "If you want a partner, I've got energy I need to burn." It's a shame that's not innuendo this time, but she'll make note of it for later.

[unshadowing]

Skadi's liked by him enough to earn a partial smile, though that falls rather quickly as he picks up on her mood. Carver's not always the most observant, but Skadi's always been in a good mood, so it's very noticeable when she's very much not.

He almost comments on her war paint, to reference their discussion about it in Nevarra, but the man wisely leaves that go for now. "Sure. Could use some real practice. You have your own blade, or want me to fetch practice ones?"

[iceblade]

It's tempting to go all out, but in her state of mind, that's probably not the best of ideas. So she reluctantly nods. "Practice ones. Then we can spar away without limits, aye?"

She paces around, already eager to get started. Whatever's on her mind, it'll at least wait until after they've begun.

D

[unbrokenoath]

It's not often that Kaisa tries going for the whole sneaky sneaky thing, it's usually not her speed--quite literally, it takes far too much patience for her. But when she sees Carver wandering around outside, she decides that he is looking far too grumpy for a man who's surrounded by everyone else having a perfectly good time. So, she'll just have to drag him into having a good time.

Again, literally.

It doesn't take long for him to line up conveniently with a snow drift, upon which Kaisa strikes, sliding from around a corner, and grabbing him. "Oh no! What's this? I'm being compelled by the forces of Winter itself! I can't...stop myself..."

The easiest way to shove him into the snow bank is to simply hold on and throw the both of them in, which is exactly what she does. The laughter that accompanies it is suspiciously loud and delighted for someone who is being compelled beyond their own will.

[unshadowing]

And he'd been having such a quiet, peaceful day, too. He should have known it'd somehow get wrecked. To his future chagrin, he never heard Kaisa coming, not until it was far too late.

Carver lets out an "oof!" as she grabs him, feet instinctively trying to brace himself and keep himself upright. "Wha - the Void are you-"

She's pretty damn strong, all things considered. And it's that underestimation that causes him to be unable to break free of her. His eyes widen as they go diving into the drift. "For fuck's-"

There's a dramatic spray of snow as they go in. Carver's cursing up a storm once the dust (well, snow) settles, and it intensifies when he hears the laughter. "You bloody little shit!" He shakes the snow off of his head. "The piss was that for?"

[unbrokenoath]

His colorful wrath just seems to make her laugh harder, shoulders shaking in mirth. Still covered in snow, like a dusting of sugar, she just shakes her head, grinning at him until she can calm down enough to actually speak.

"You were looking far too unhappy for this kind of weather. So I figured you needed a pick-me-up. So...I picked you up." She shoots him another grin at this, flicking some more snow at him. She's pretty sure he can handle the cold, he was from Ferelden, and then spent time in Kirkwall. He might not like it, but he won't turn into a Wardensicle.

Hopefully. It'll be awfully awkward to explain to Bethany why her brother now matched the Warden blue.

"C'mon, haven't you tried ice skating? Or making snow butterflies? Or having any fun at all?"

D.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

There is only one answer to a dour looking Carver walking through the Gallows, looking for all the world that he is about to get into a rumble with the first person that looks at him wrong. That is, make sure that he has his usual wide circle of 'Don't Get Near Me'. Pat together a small pile of snow into a respectable snowball.

Then toss it at the back of his head, with surprising accuracy, and grin when he turns around to glower.

"Happy Wintermarch, dear twin!" Dimples flash, as she puts together another snowball. "You're looking pensive."

[unshadowing]

Why. Just... why. Why are the women in his life like this? First a snow drift, and now a snowball. And he doesn't even have to turn around to know who it is.

"I was enjoying a quiet walk, yes," he grinds out, eyeing that snowball forming in her hands. Let him be an emo in peace, Beth! "Sister, I don't recommend you do that, for your sake." Retaliation's very much in the cards if she does.

[sunshinethroughgrey]

Bethany tips her head at the side at him, at the growl in his voice and the stubborn set of his jaw. She straightens, nods her head slowly and with great seriousness.

She then pelts him in the chest with another snowball, and just Smiles. Game on, twin.

C

[winterwinds]

Audra had heard about the griffons, and the desire to see them herself had eventually outweighed people's caution of 'big and dangerous.' When she cautiously enters the room she looks surprised to see someone else there, so cavalierly handling the large beasts.

"They like shiny things?" Not that she has any on her person, but she did bring a basket with things she'd liberated from the kitchens. Food is in her experience one of the best ways to make friends with animals.

[unshadowing]

Ghostface, the griffon currently harassing Carver, squawks in greeting. Carver turns, almost surprised to see a non-Warden up here. He heard others came up here to visit the griffons, but this is the first he's seen in person.

"A lot of them do, yeah. It's something bright to pick at and play with. Some are worse than others about it." They're very much like birds in that regard.

A

[altusimperius]

Benedict isn't exactly a scholar either, but he all but lives in the library anyway. He's sauntering by with his bored Templar guard watching from afar, and passes right as Carver shoves the book away.
"You're cut out for making a mess," he remarks wryly, glancing over the Warden's workspace.

[unshadowing]

Oh look, a smart ass. Just what he needs right now. "And you're cut out for sounding like a smarmy brat when you think you're being clever." Sorry dude, he's not in the mood.

C.

[in_death_sacrifice]

Griffons are better than people, which is why Kain comes here everyday. He's used to seeing other people around coming and going, too, since he's here so often. When he comes in, he heads straight to see Potato first. He'll give some attention to the others eventually too, but of course, he has a priority.

"Yes, they have a love for shiny objects... I'd be careful if I were you."

Potato perks up on hearing Kain's voice, and comes swooping down toward him from where she's perched. She nearly crushes him in her enthusiasm, but they're used to each other by now, so it doesn't end badly. He starts to eagerly pet her. "I know... I'm happy to see you as well, Potato."

[unshadowing]

Shielding his shirt with his arm from Ghostface, Carver glances back at Kain. "I know. Normally I don't wear them here, but this was impromptu." Just a shitty day, enough that he diverted from his errand and went straight here. A need to just get away from people and be in saner company for a little while.

He watches as Potato flies up to him, excited and happy. "Huh. I thought Potato was Inessa's."

A.

[lyriumcarved]

Fenris has started visiting the library occasionally himself. He's still working on his reading skills, but the practice is going well enough. He doesn't usually stick around long whenever he comes here, only choosing another book to borrow and work with, usually based on Bethany's suggestions.

He notices Carver as he's passing by the area. He watches him for a moment, almost wondering if he ought to leave him be, considering the mood he's apparently experiencing.

"Something's not going too well," he finally remarks as he approaches. "What's wrong?"

[unshadowing]

Carver pinches the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off a headache that he feels forming. Too much reading and squinting, far more than he's used to, and now he's paying for it.

"Just not getting anywhere with this and it's tiring." It doesn't help that he barely knows what he's doing. "I've never been a scholar." Which... should surprise no one, honestly. Varric did always accuse him of being more brawn than brain.

a;

[arcaneadvisor]

Kieran is safe enough in Sundermount for all the time it takes Morrigan to fly to and from the Gallows for the few things she requires. A mage fire, wards about the place, the fact that it's damn near impossible simply to stumble upon? She should be well enough to have a few hours here.

That most windows allow for a raven means she can fly right into the library to take up her own shape again.

"Punishment inflicted upon yourself or from another?" And yes the voice does seem to appear from between the stacks quite suddenly as she walks over.

[unshadowing]

Carver's not one easily startled. But holy shit, where did that lady come from? Though he doesn't jump, he does look visibly surprised for a moment as he turns towards the voice. Now he knows he didn't hear anyone come in; how did he miss her? Whatever, it doesn't matter.

"Myself, sadly."