[open] peel the scars from off my back

[onlyhymns]

WHO: Cade and you!
WHAT: Just hangin' around, livin' life, bein' weird
WHEN: Cloudreach
WHERE: The Gallows and Lowtown, mostly
NOTES: All the usual warnings that come with Cade. If you'd like a specific prompt, hit me up or just throw one in the comments.

I. Out and about in the Gallows (recommended for our new Templar friends)

Cade has not been to collect his lyrium dosage since before all the Templars were ravaged by their mysterious illness, but he still arrives every morning looking fit as a fiddle (comparatively) to start his workday with Enchanter Shivana. Being that he's a reclusive and fairly off-putting person by virtue of his... well, him-ness, Cade has never been part of any group that hasn't had its share of rumors about what he's about. But lately he's become more of a cautionary tale, a there-but-by-the-grace-of-the-Maker-go-I when he slinks by any on-duty Templar and avoids their gaze.
Despite being kicked out of the Templars, and not collecting his lyrium, he's not having withdrawals. He also works under at least one elf (two if Beleth counts), practices archery on the regular, and almost, if you squint, seems to be starting to live a normal life.
That bastard's hiding something.

II. Lowtown

Now that the weather has gotten warmer, Cade stays out later in his little hiding places where he reads or writes or just watches the sea. He can often be found in the evening with his back to a wall and his gaze beyond the people walking by, finding solitude where there's really none to be found.

Periodically someone tries to mug him and comes away disappointed, or gets a coin or two. It's an occupational hazard of living by the docks.

III. The Chantry Garden

Regardless of weather, every day at dawn Cade can be found at the newly-carved Andraste shine in the center of what remains of the forest, saying his morning prayers before he continues uptown to the Gallows. It's not nice to disturb him, but inevitably someone does on occasion.

IV. Misc!

Choose Your Own Adventure

Comments

Myr

[onlyhymns]

It was probably too early to come back to work after his Situation in the Planasene, but Cade showed up a day or two after their return anyway, limping slightly but no worse for wear. He has stolidly avoided talking about the incident beyond 'I dunno, Dalish' and 'Nari helped' and, after expressing mild dismay at Reyes suddenly being absent, has more or less buried himself in work now that there's only one of them to do it.

The constant scratching of his pen on parchment has ceased for a moment, as he stares out the window and his mind wanders.

[faithlikeaseed]

There'd been so much to do as it was that Myr hadn't pressed on Cade's willingness to get back to work--not with his other scribe suddenly missing, an absence in a month of absences he hadn't expected to hurt quite so much as it does.

But as the day winds to a close outside and their backlog steadily decreases, Myr's had more of an opportunity to think himself--and when Cade pauses, so does he. "If you'd like to take the rest of the afternoon off, Cade, we've caught up enough to be in good shape tomorrow," he offers, kindly. (Suspecting even as he does to be turned down; he knows the former templar well enough by now to understand that.

But still--someone's got to offer Cade the choice.)

[onlyhymns]

Coming abruptly back into the world of the waking, Cade looks over at Myr with a start. "Oh-- no, it's fine," he says automatically, and lurches to his feet, nearly knocking the chair over and catching it just in time. "I, um... are you sure?"

[faithlikeaseed]

Huh. Myr lifts his head at the sound of Cade getting abruptly up, one eyebrow raised above the blindfold. "Which is it, then?" he says, tone gently teasing. Followed immediately by: "I'm sure. I wouldn't mind stopping early myself. It's getting hard to attend to all of this." This being the papers thick on the desk in their neat stacks, the bits and bobs of magical research equipment and spell components--all indicated with a sweep of his arm that's a little like a gesture meant to shove them all off on the floor.

It's been a long month. He corrects, pulls the gesture in, cages his hands in front of him. "So. Let's call it a day."

[onlyhymns]

Cade opens his mouth to stammer a response when Myr asks which it is, but when he realizes the elf is teasing, he closes it again with a faint, embarrassed smile. "If you say so, ser," he says automatically, the honorific escaping him without notice as it often does.

[faithlikeaseed]

"I do say so," Myr replies, with a smile. Now that he's got that moment back under control, it's easy. "Though not with that much authority."

There isn't so much on his end to pack up or square away, near this end of the workday; it's the work of half a minute, and then he's going for his staff and coat and bag. "After you," he says by way of shooing Cade out the door, and, "d'you have any plans for the evening?"

[onlyhymns]

Always tempted to hold the door for other people, but especially Myr, Cade is slightly thrown off being asked to go through it first... but it's not really a big deal. "No," he says after a moment, "other than the usual." Pray, eat, pray again, maybe beat yourself, no time for love in there.

Nari

[onlyhymns]

Late in the evening one night, Nari's crystal crackles to life and, after a pause, broadcasts the uncomfortable sound of Cade clearing his throat.

SHIT

[nadasharillen]

It is a sound that is not unknown to her. Also it's late. Also historically they've not often communicated via crystal.

Luckily, it's sitting on her desk, where she is. Unluckily, there's a candle in the way that she'd pulled closer as she bent to notate a set of plans. And an inkwell that, until seconds ago, was very convenient.

Myr will hear the crystal, a throat clear that isn't Nari's, the creak of a chair being sat up in suddenly, the loud thud of thick glass hitting the floor accompanied by a liquid splash, the metallic scrape and subsequent soft sound of a candlestick being overturned, an abrupt curse and hard puff of air (presumably to put out the candle), a scrabble through paper, the low urgent unintelligible whisper of her response, the chair creaking again as she turns, and a transparently nervous and bright "You weren't planning on staying with Simon tonight, were you?"

Cade, on the other hand, will hear her reply "a moment" in that whisper, the close of the connection, and then a few minutes later, "Ah-- yes. Hello."

[onlyhymns]

He settles back with a puff of air when Nari gives him 'a moment', and a moment is plenty long enough to regret every part of this so far. He's debating deactivating the crystal when she speaks again, and his heart leaps, then immediately starts to pound uncomfortably.

"...hello."

He doesn't sound good, and not just because of nerves. It's being in a dark place that brings him to this line of thinking at all, but it's a good sign that he remembered-- and acknowledged-- her offer.

[nadasharillen]

Similarly palpitating-- she's horrifyingly sure it must be audible-- and suddenly dry mouthed, Nari holds the crystal like it might bite her.

Is he actually...

He sounds terrible, though, and it cuts through her sudden attack of nerves cleanly enough that her voice is steady, if a bit hesitant, when she responds. "Do you-- did you want... to come over?"

Her eyes flick of their own accord to the space beneath her bed to where she'd slid That Box and Its Contents, the which she'd not known (even as she'd taken it from the Orlesian merchant who'd looked at her knowingly enough that she'd wanted to slap the expression from his face) whether or not she'd ever have cause to use, and finds she's holding her breath.

[onlyhymns]

He does. He just has to admit it, to her and to himself. He's so close, and... well, something needs to happen. It's a demonstration of good faith that he hasn't snuck off to the usual shed to just do it.

"..um... sure," comes his hesitant reply.

[nadasharillen]

The breath she'd been holding comes out unevenly, her free hand rising quickly to try and muffle it.

Okay.

"I'm... on the third floor of the mage tower. It's got a glyph on the door; one of Myr's."

[onlyhymns]

Cade nods silently, not that she can hear it, but something gives him pause: "Myr?" Will he be there? Perhaps this is a mistake.

III

[keenly]

Colin does not interrupt Cade during his prayers, but as he is coming back from the market with fresh ingredients for today's lunch, they wind up falling in step beside each other on the way to the Gallows. Colin looks a smidge uneasy about this, but that is probably true of most people who wind up walking beside Cade. To ease the tension, Colin removes something from his basket and makes an offering.

"Baguette?"

[onlyhymns]

Cade is lost in thought, and almost doesn't notice Colin until his voice rings out offering bread. Giving a little start, he looks at the man, then at the baguette, and takes it hesitantly, because he doesn't know how to say no to food.

"..thanks," he says, in pleasant surprise.

[keenly]

Colin bobs his head in acknowledgement. It's awkward, but at least food has been exchanged, so it could be a welcome awkward. He peers over at the other man.

"How are you? No...lingering problems, after the sickness?"

[onlyhymns]

"Um... not that I can tell." He takes a bite and chews it thoughtfully, glancing back at Colin. "I'm just.... glad it's over."

II

[mousquetaire]

One unlucky vagrant is about to get away with their spoils, when d'Artagnan's hand closes around the back of their collar. He yanks the thief back, grabbing the stolen coins with his other hand.

"That's not polite," he says, pulling the man sharply against him when he tries to flee. D'Artagnan holds the coins out towards Cade.

"My apologies, Monsieur, but I believe these are yours. This kind gentleman was just about to give them back. Isn't that right?"

The thief makes another attempt at escape, instead, but d'Artagnan holds him fast. He has no time for this sort of behaviour in any world.

[onlyhymns]

The reason Cade never fights back is more cautionary than physical; he's not going to do much damage unarmed, but experience has taught him that holding his temper is the only way to not get killed for other reasons. For that reason he's let himself be shoved against a wall, which hurts more than expected, and what he also doesn't expect is for the mugger to be suddenly dragged away.
Staring at d'Artagnan, CAde slowly, almost suspiciously, extends his hand to accept the coins. He gives a little nod of thanks, too surprised-- and, frankly, too socially awkward-- to thank him properly.

[mousquetaire]

D'Artagnan drops the coins into his palm, while the mugger mutters a halfhearted apology. After a threatening little shake, he delivers a much better one, and d'Artagnan finally lets him go. He pushes the man away with some disgust, and then looks at Cade with a frown. He realises that Cade still hasn't spoken.

"Are you all right?" He says, one eyebrow lifting up. "Don't tell me he hurt you and I've just let him go."

[onlyhymns]

Watching the whole exchange warily, Cade is relieved when the mugger is finally released. He pockets the coins again and glances at D'Artagnan with a small nod, after which he clears his throat awkwardly. "No, I'm-- it's fine. Thank you." He's being awfully cagey for someone who was just rescued, but there's no visible reason why.

[mousquetaire]

D'Artagnan watches him, a little uncertain. He seems almost afraid. Of course, he did just get mugged, which is likely to make anyone afraid. D'Artagnan is a soldier and used to this sort of thing. This man clearly is not.

Clearing his throat, he smiles.

"No need for thanks. You should take care, you know. Cities like this are full of scoundrels. I'm d'Artagnan, one of the newer soldiers here. You're sure you're all right?"

[onlyhymns]

"I'm-- yes." Another halting reply, but he manages a small, reassuring smile this time. A soldier, but clearly not a Templar, or he'd call himself that. Small blessings.
"I've... lived in Kirkwall most of my life," he admits, "just not this part of it."

[mousquetaire]

Ah, well then. Perhaps that explains a few things. D'Artagnan nods, offering him a slightly more knowing smile.

"The nicer part, I wonder?" He suggests, thinking about the ease with which the thief had taken him unawares. No one who was used to the poorer quarters would get caught like that.

"In places like this it is wise to watch your back, Monsieur - not to mention your purse. I could accompany you, if you like? That ought to make them think again."