[OPEN] I will need to face what I've done

[mactears]

WHO: Loghain, various starters + OPEN
WHAT: Loghain has been granted a temporary reprieve from his exile in order to attend King Maric's funeral in Denerim. Once he returns, various other situations require his attention.
WHEN: Early April-ish.
WHERE: Throughout Kirkwall, and outside Denerim in Ferelden.
NOTES: Prompts 1 and 2 take place in Ferelden and predate all the Kirkwall prompts. 

I. A rural inn outside Denerim; the night before the funeral (closed to Teren and Anders)


Loghain was advised by the Crown (also known as his daughter) that his presence in the city of Denerim was likely to cause a stir, stoking the fires of arguments left dormant for nearly a decade after the blight and the civil war. It was not an explicit instruction for him to make his entrance into the capitol as discreet and quiet as possible, but that is how Loghain has chosen to interpret it. This is explanation enough for why he's opted for his small travel party to stay at a nondescript roadside in a few miles away from the city gates; he'll ride in on his own tomorrow, dressed as simply as possible, and make a nondescript entrance into the palace through a prearranged meeting with one of Anora's confidantes.

It all feels unnecessarily cloak-and-dagger for his tastes, but the indisputable fact of the matter is there are a number of people in this country that would see his head on a spike if left to their own devices. This is the safest, least politically incendiary route for him to take, while still getting to say his final farewells to his king.

The inn has a small common area near a lit hearthfire; aside from them, and the innkeeper who is keeping to herself, they don't seem to have much other company. To keep himself occupied, Loghain has taken to polishing his boots.



II. The inn; after the funeral, in the evening (closed to Teren)


The funeral is over, and so is Loghain's business in Ferelden. Whatever feeling he had expected on the heels of completing this journey, this isn't it.

After passing some time at the palace with Anora, Loghain arrives back at the inn late enough at night that he fully expects both Teren and Anders to be asleep so that they can be well rested for their journey back to Kirkwall in the morning. Rather than rousing the stablehand to see to Sooty's needs, Loghain leads his tired mare into the stables himself and takes the time to feed and water her while removing her tack. He brushes her down while she grazes, speaking softly to her under his breath. Outside the stall, Primrose dozes with her chin on her paws.



III. The Gallows library; at night (closed to Vandelin)


Once he has returned to Kirkwall, Loghain does not need very long to revert to his usual habit of staying up late into the night pouring over maps and tomes related to the blight and darkspawn, though admittedly some of his work is almost of a penitent nature; reviewing the old routes he took during the years he devoted to searching for Maric, wondering whether the present might look very different for Ferelden had he simply made this choice, rather than that one. It's a completely unproductive use of his time, yet it is difficult for his thoughts not to tend in that direction.

More often than not, these nightly visits to the library are solitary. This night in particular, however, when he steps into the library, he discovers there is already a lamp lit on one of the tables.

"Someone else is here burning the midnight oil, I see," he greets the enchanter with a smile that could easily be mistaken for a grimace.



IV. Wildcard scenarios (OPEN)


(OOC:  Loghain can be found working in the Warden offices, on the training grounds delivering basic combat and self defence training to those who require it, in the stables seeing to his horse Sooty, or wandering around Sundermount with his wolf-dog Primrose! Feel free to set up a scenario of your own choosing if you prefer.)

Comments

[unshadowing]

It doesn't take long for Carver to close in, spotting Loghain and the wolfhound. He nods to Loghain, though he's a bit more concerned about the other animal at the moment. Dog's old, and he could easily be bested by another, younger canine if it came to a fight. "C'mere boy. What'd I tell you about trotting up to strangers, you attention hog?"

Dog woofs in mild offense at that comment, but does as told, trotting back to Carver.

[mactears]

Primrose's posture, for the record, is decidedly more defensive than aggressive, though a cornered wolf can be at its most dangerous in those circumstances. Loghain keeps a calming hand on her, and his presence seems to reassure her of her safety.

"He seems a friendly fellow," Loghain calls out to Carver, then glances down to his own companion. A grimace creases his expression some. "I acquired her in Amaranthine some months back. She'd been used as a pit fighter; I think she still carries some of that old wariness of other dogs in her still."

[unshadowing]

Carver's not sure what to do for a moment. He hardly wants to be all cordial and friendly with Loghain, but the man hasn't done anything antagonistic. It irks Carver to admit it, but if it weren't for the past, he'd probably like Loghain fine enough.

"He's Marian's dog. Like master, like dog." Outgoing and foolish, but somehow hardy. He glances at Primrose, a frown settling in. Never saw a dog fight in his life, not one like that. "That's a hard habit to break from when it kept you alive."

[mactears]

Loghain's past, and his actions, cast a long, broad shadow. He's aware of this; it's why he doesn't push the edges of friendliness when he encounters them.

"Yes," he agrees with Carver's assessment of Primrose's circumstances, glancing down at her to gauge her temperament again. She is calm, though wary, and continues to regard Dog as though anticipating a vicious turn in him. "But she's done well, unlearning most of it," he adds, and drops a hand to affably scratch the wolf-dog behind her ears. "A bit of patience goes a long way with them. I had a mabari as a boy, myself."

He pauses, looking back to Carver again, as though considering saying something else. He does not.

[unshadowing]

Dog, for his part, flops on Carver's feet, essentially rendering the man immobile for the moment. Carver huffs and shoots the animal a mild look. Good thing he has boots and armor on, or his poor feet would be squished. Perhaps Dog'd just feeling old and lazy, but it might also be to help Primrose relax. The mabari surely picks up on her uneasiness, and Dog, despite being a warhound, hardly likes setting people - or other animals - on edge.

As the mabari happily makes a bed out of Carver's feet and wags his little stump of a tail, Carver looks up, waiting for Loghain to finish. He caught the look and expected more. But when nothing comes, he tries to come up with something to stay (it's not like he's going anywhere anytime soon). "You had one? During the rebellion?"

[mactears]

His more passive display seems to put Primrose at ease. When Dog settles, she does as well, emitting a low whine before turning her nose to chase after some scent on the air. Her relaxation puts Loghain at ease.

"You had one? During the rebellion?"

"As a boy, yes." For he was a boy during that time, as well as a man, and recalling those years puts a bitter twist at the corner of Loghain's mouth. "Her name was Adalla--as good a companion as a boy could ever wish for." He drops his hand down to give Primrose's ears a pensive scratch. "A chevalier as good killed her."

[unshadowing]

Loghain's from another time. To hear him refer to himself as a boy ages him in a way. But it also tugs at something in Carver's heart. The man in front of him wasn't always the Hero of the River Dane, or the Traitor Teyrn. Once he was just a dumb kid with a sword, too. Not unlike Carver, once upon a time.

He's making it very hard to hate him. And he makes it harder still when he tells Carver about Adalla.

Dog whines in sorrow at the story. Even Carver feels a lump form in his throat. "Fucking Orlesians." Carver's not one to curse overly much - at least not so crassly so - but it feels fitting here. "Was it out of retaliation for your part in the rebellion?"