faderift | Let's get down to business to defeat the Hu... uh, demons.

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Let's get down to business to defeat the Hu... uh, demons.

WHO: Kas & OPEN
WHAT: Kas returns to Skyhold with a scout team.
WHEN: Today
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Proud teen cockiness all over the place.

1.

He may have mud in places he didn't even know he had, but the qunari teen holds his head high when he passes the massive gates to Skyhold with the rest of his team, easily picked out by the bumps in his hood where his horns were. New, still shiny knives on his back and a well-cared bow and quiver joining them as well made him look even more official. (He might be muddy, but those weapons were flawless.)

He had made it; he had survived, and he had carried out his mission... and he was so utterly proud of it. Kas felt like he had made a difference, no matter how small, and it gave him more determination to continue. He was worth something. He wasn't just a pickpocket and rogue on the streets, desperate to live.

It wasn't a surprise, then, how the boy walked cockily off to the barracks like he was king of the castle. Never mind that he slipped in the stairs. Nobody saw that, right?

"Mud fucking sucks," he mutters, brushing off the leathers with a sigh.

Qunari

One of the first things he had to do when he returned was to check on the other qunari and make sure they were all alive and not murdered by Ben-Hassrath or fallen out in that swamp... mire... thing.

"Gorse...? Korrin?"

2.

Later that day, the teen is out of his scout uniform and back in the somewhat over-sized clothing, carefully mended and cleaned. Hanging out by the stables, he was drinking hot tea and just enjoying life without shame and guilt - maybe for the first time in his life since he left the kith.

It hadn't been easy, but he had already seen a lot of bad things in his life. This was not so different.

One of the horses in the stables snorted near one of his pointed ears, and Kas reaches up to pet the soft muzzle. "I made it," he confesses softly to the animal with an unguarded smile on his face. "They won't kick me out now, right?"

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He tenses a bit at first when she loops that arm around him, but he relaxes quickly and instead grins up at her. Hesitance aside, it felt... well, like being back in his own kith. Just with less bruising, trash talk and posturing.

The news that the Ben-Hassrath wasn't around right now brought a lot of relief to the boy - plus it meant he could go into the tavern and have a drink paid with his own money, honestly earned and everything.

"I'm glad," Kas agrees and then shrugs faux-nonchalantly at her question. "Oh, you know. Lots of sneaking, exploring, findig the best routes... maybe some fighting, too. I even killed a bandit!"

Korrin's expression is all pride, even as her tone is just as nonchalant. "Knew you could do it. Maybe you can give me some tips, then. They're sending some of us out with the regular scouts, to Emprise du Lion. Sneaking is not my forte, but I think I'm mostly going to be there in case things need blowing up."

It's almost one her mind to rope him in, but...eh, that's selfish. Kas just got back he deserves a break. Besides, it's not up to her and if the Inquisition decides to establish a presence in the region, she'll see him soon enough anyway. She'll just have to pester him and everyone else staying, through the sending crystal.

Her expression has him perking up even more, and he feels at least a foot taller. She knew he could do it. He had done it. Now, back in Skyhold and in a safe place, he was riding on that sense of accomplishment for as long as he possibly could.

When Korrin mentions the place she's being sent to, Kas shivers. "Man, I heard some of the scouts talking about that place. It's gonna be cold." Ferelden had been chilly to him, born and raised in Rivain, but apparently the snow was worse in Orlais.

"Bring a lot of extra socks. Mine kept getting wet and I bet snow will make that even worse."

"It's still better than the Fallow Mire, you know. But I'll remember that. And to bring enough ingredients for some spiced wine, if I get the chance to make some."

Speaking of which, Korrin gestures to a remaining cask she kept in her quarters, because she couldn't give it all away to random people. "My company sent a 'care package' a few days ago; enough maraas-lok to knock out all of Skyhold. Plenty of it's gone, but you're welcome to what's left seeing as how you missed out on the initial rush."

"Eugh. I'm so glad I wasn't on the scout team for the Mire." Gross. Just... so gross. That's just the Mire itself - the undead were a chapter all on their own. At least she seemed like she got out of that mess in one piece, and that was what mattered.

...then Korrin mentions her care package and he grins so widely it's a wonder his jaw doesn't fall off. "Yes! That is so awesome!" Not that he's ever had any, mind you. He was too little when he was still in the kith, and there wasn't any on the Ferelden streets, either. Just the mention of it, though... it made him feel like home.

"I am definitely taking you up on that. Gonna be a few days before I'm out again, after all!"

Korrin can't help but nod in agreement, glad that he'd missed out on the mire as well. Not that she doesn't like his company, of course, but there's no point in them all being miserable. She grins back at his enthusiastic response, figuring that especially after a first successful assignment, the timing couldn't be better.

"Good, you've earned it. The first sip always sets your throat on fire, but after that, it's easier to take. You can handle it better than most I've given it to, I'm sure." It's made for qunari, after all, as much as various elves and humans liked to think they were the grand excepiton.

He nods proudly at that, puffing up his chest like he's trying to be bigger and more mature. It's a little ridiculous, but at least it gives him maybe half an inch extra. "I can totally take it better than any human or elf!" He imagines it to be like hot sauce, only spicier and with alcohol.

In all honesty his only knowledge of drinking was trying to stay warm on the streets in winter with stolen booze that made his tongue numb - and it didn't even help.

Still. Maraas-lok was totally an adult, powerful qunari thing and damned if he wasn't going to grab what he could.

"When are you leaving again?"

That chest-puffing ridiculous, but cute, and Korrin doesn't dare mention either. He's done good and she wouldn't dare pop that ego, especially not now. Whether he'll take more than he can handle is another thing, but she trusts Gorse and Taas to look out for him.

There's a soft sigh as once again, Korrin curses timing. "Today, in fact, but not for a couple of hours. So I still have time to race you to the kitchen and see if they have anything good to claim before heading out."

He's most likely the rowdy kind of drunk, so it's probably a good idea. Big brother Gorse might have to come put him to bed. Still, he's excited just by the offer itself, so who knows. Maybe he'll taste it an hate it.

The teen's face falls a bit at her words, however, and he sighs while trying to not look too disappointed. "Oh... I, um..." Korrin's next sentence has him beaming quickly again, though, and he's quick to nod and rush for the door with a strange happiness in his heart.

Silly shit that reminded him of family. A real family.

"I'm gonna eat all the hearthcakes!"

That brief disappointment is reflected in Korrin's own face, hating the timing of it but no one said that the Inquisition would only need them at times convenient for everyone. She's quick to smile back, glad to distract Kas from that truth for now. He's not the only one that needs the distraction, anyway.

"You can try, but you'll still have to earn it!" She'll let him have most of them, anyway, the better to line his stomach with something before sending qunari liquor through it. He may be the proper size and race but still, it doesn't hurt to help his chances.

It's an excellent tactic, really. It would help his chances to not throw up, at least. He should probably drink a lot of water, too.

"You bet I will!" The teen is on the run pretty quickly, rushing down the stairs towards the courtyard in order to reach the kitchens. Busy as it is, it takes a lot of dodging and pushing people to get through.

People didn't move from him as they did from larger horned people, after all.

Korrin doesn't hesitate to run off after him, of course. She doesn't have quite the problem Kas does, as people tend to automatically move aside, though he has a head start on her. There's no way she'd just 'let' him win, though. If he's getting a victory over her, he'll have to earn it.

That's just the kind of things he likes, and Kas is slipping under a passing horse rather than go around to keep his head start. His boots slam onto the masonry floor near the kitchens, and the throws the door open.

"HEARTH CAKES!" He calls out, and the cook rolls her eyes so hard it's a miracle they don't roll out of her head. "Manners, Kas!"

His triumphant call gets a bout of breathless laughter out of Korrin, who catches up after a moment. She leans against the doorway, needing some lungs in her air before attempting to snag a heart cake for herself.

"You earned it, Kas! No denying that. I salute you and your swift feet." No chiding on manners from her, but then she's not a babysitter. Victory deserves some leniency, anyway.

The teen bargains with the cook and avoids getting the spoon in his face, but a shiny silver coin later and he has two pieces of the hearth cakes, drizzled with a bit of honey. Chewing off a piece of his own, he holds out the second to her.

"Gotta have swift feet when it comes t'food!" He grins, nodding sagely. "I'm a gracious winner, though!"

"That you are, Kas." Korrin grins back, taking it and savoring a first bite. "Perfect. And there is actually something you can do while I'm away, if you're not scout anywhere for a bit. There's a woman named Araceli around, tiny for a human, looks and sounds Antivan but isn't. Anyway, she's teaching climbing -and falling- lessons, and she's really good at it, so you might want to get in on that. It can only help with scouting, right?"

And she'd like two of her favorite people to meet each other.

He looks a bit curious at that as he eats his cake, eager to do what he can to help Korrin. The mention of Araceli makes him frown, however, and he's not sure what to think of that at all.

Instead he just blurts out the first thing coming to mind.

"The demon-rifter-girl?!" The teen's voice is somewhere between anger, fear and curiosity, and he looks away from Korrin. he's not sure if he should feel bad or not. "I already met her. I may have yelled at her a bit..."

...well. So much for them hitting it off, at least right away. Korrin's smile fades but she holds back from sighing, just shaking her head and speaking calmly. "She's not a demon. I'm a mage; trust me, I know what demons are and she's not it, at all. Hell, she doesn't even have magic, unless you count that mark...and now that mark can seal rifts, so it's damn useful to everyone."

He pauses at that, looking a bit thoughtful as he nibbles on the hearth cake. Korrin was a mage, and she should be right. Right?

Shit, he was kind of an asshole to that girl, then. Now he feels bad.

"...alright. I guess I should apologize or something."

Korrin nods, keeping her tone casual and not trying to sound like she's trying to dictate anything to him. "Not a bad idea, and I'm sure it'll smooth over. She's not the type to hold a grudge. And I know she can handle herself, but I'd still like to have people looking out for her while I'm away. She's still a stranger to all this, so it can't hurt."

Plus, cute fox to play with?

"She was talking about weird shit like bullets and stuff. I could have sworn she was from Antiva." He shrugs again. Korrin gave him something to think of, and he's not sure how to feel about it.

Rifters were weird, okay?

...the fox was cute, though. Animals weren't his big thing, but... yeah, cute.

He takes another big bite out of the hearth cake and rubs his mouth with his sleeve. "Y'got any other friends among those people?"

"There's Jamie McCrimmon, sounds like he's from Starkhaven but isn't. We paired up a lot in the mire, lighting beacons and fighting undead together. He knows his way around the battlefield, I'll give him that. And he handled maraas-lok better than most humans I've seen." High endorsement, honest. Almost everyone else has had an immediate, amusing reaction but his was relatively mild.

"And Galadriel...I haven't talked to her that much, honestly, but she seems calm and wise, both traits that are hard to find here and now. She's also the tallest elf I ever saw, only a few inches shorter than me."

That's high endorsement indeed, and the boy actually looks a bit impressed. Starkhaven-sounding man that wasn't Starkhaven-ish. Okay. He could probably pick that one apart from the rest of the people around.

...a really tall elf sounded kind of easy to spot too, to be honest. "She's really that tall? I haven't seen many elves that are taller than me!"

"Neither have I! This is definitely a first. It's a nice break from having to stare downwards all the time, for me." Korrin loves all her tiny friends, but they do make her neck ache sometimes. "No idea on her suitability with maraas-lok, but despite that wise aura and all, she wasn't too good for us after the mage meeting and joined on in with the drinks."

He know the neck ache feel, only in the other direction from back in the kith. Damn tall qunari... now elves were getting taller than him, too? So not fair.

"Well, she sounds good if she has drinks with you guys. Not like some weird noble lady elf." Which seemed like an oxymoron, to be honest. He liked elves, because they were just as pissed at the upper class like he was.

Picking the last crumbs off his shirt, Kas licks them from his fingers with a slight smile. "Guess I'm gonna try to be a little nicer? Maybe."

Let's get down to business to defeat the Hu... uh, demons.

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