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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Crap, someone did see. The boy groans, covering his face with one hand. "I'm fine," he replies frustratedly before getting up on his own, pointedly avoiding Bruce's offered hand.

Recognizing the man as the healer he'd run into at the ramparts, he's at least relieved to know it wasn't some awesome warrior or officer that saw his stumble. Mentally picking up the pieces of his pride, he eyes the human again.

"Did all of the people in the Mire get back, yet?"

Well, if he wanted to do it himself, Bruce certainly wasn't going to stop him. He drew his hand back, and when Kas eyes him he did his best to smile as pleasantly as possible.

"Most of them, yes, although many are preparing to depart in a few days soon enough, if they already haven't." Now that everyone had the time to recover from the Herald's passing things were starting to pick up once more - and to be honest Bruce welcomed the bustle of activity. At least it meant that they were starting to get somewhere.

All these nice people were so weird, but he was actually starting to get used to it. It didn't mean he was letting his guard down any time soon, but... maybe not everyone was around to make fun of him or belittle him.

Not even humans like this guy.

"It's gonna be busy around here, isn't it? I'm probably gonna go out again, too, after the squad's rested up." It felt like things were actually happening, now, and it filled him with equal amounts of pride and nervousness.

Smile and help save the world, eh?

"...any casualties?"

"Things are certainly going to pick up around here," Bruce added in agreement. Although the stream of activity meant that everyone had lass time to see each other, but it was something everyone was going to just have to get used to. They were all in the Inquisition for a reason after all.

At Kas's question Bruce only shook his head, giving the Qunari another smile that was hopefully reassuring. "Not any that I know of, at least. Were you worried for anybody in particular?"

It was a good reason indeed, but damn if he didn't want some time to see his friends, too. It would just have to happen more during missions, wouldn't it? The tavern didn't feel safe any more with the Ben-Hassrath in it, so it wasn't easy to meet up in that way.

That smile was pretty reassuring, but Kas figured there would have had to be some, at least. A place like that wasn't safe at all, and he had heard something about scouts being captured.

"Just... the qunari, and some of the humans..." He shrugs, trying to look nonchalant.

If Bruce could see through the nonchalance he didn't mention anything at all - instead he just smiled once more and nodded, showing his complete understanding. "I returned from the Mire recently myself with most of the forces that returned here, so if you want you can give me names and I should be able to recall details."

Of course, that was only if Kas wanted to. If he didn't then Bruce certainly wasn't going to push - that would only be rude.

"Um... Korrin, and Gorse. Korrin's the only female qunari I've seen here, and Gorse's got a chipped horn on the right side." He and the slightly older qunari male looked a bit similar, too, which was why there were stupid rumors that they were brothers.

Totally stupid rumors that didn't make him feel warm inside, nope.

"Then there's... um... some archer guys that helped me. Sam... and Max, I think?"

Bruce didn't really talk with the other Qunari a lot besides Kas, but their presence was always noticeable enough for others to take notice. Even if Bruce didn't talk to them, he heard enough of their movements usually from the patients he treated.

"I believe she returned as well, although for the other Qunari I haven't heard anything myself." He dipped his head slightly in apology for that, guessing how worried the young Qunari must be about his fellow people. "This 'Max' I'm not too sure, but if you mean Samouel for 'Sam', then he's here as well."

It was nice to hear that Korrin was fine, but then again, she was a mage. Gorse was the non-combatant. He nods a little bit to Bruce, rubbing the base of one of his horn nubs.

"Um, yeah... Samuoel or whatever. Big guy for a mage." Obviously not as big as some of the warriors, but pretty well-built for a staff-user. Kind of like he was scrawny for a qunari.

"Thanks... um... for telling me. I wish I had been here."

"It's no problem at all," Bruce reassured him, still smiling. "You should look for them yourself too if you have the time. I'm sure they'll be glad to know that you're alright as well."

Not that he could speak for them, of course, but he thinks generally, that was the appropriate sort of action and reaction. He would certainly feel better after knowing that the people he knew returned safely from their missions.

"Yeah," the teen nods, looking determined as he straightened up a bit more. "I know where some of them have their bed rolls, so I'll check there..."

Hearing the man say that they'd probably like to hear that he was alright as well, he frowns a little bit. Of course he was okay! He was a survivor and a great scout!

Everyone would learn how awesome he was, soon enough.

"How's the healing thing going? Did you... um... finish the book?"

Bruce of course meant to insult whatsoever with his words - all he was implying was that the people that Kas knew must be worried about him, and assuaging their fears was always a good idea. But of course, as long as things weren't going to get out of hand, Bruce certainly wasn't going to assume anything.

"The healing thing is going the same as always." There was a faint hint of amusement in his voice and on his face as he replied, but there was nothing malicious about it. "And yes, I finished the book. I've moved onto a new one now, actually."

Kas was an easy kid to insult, with his struggling pride and insecurities. Still, Bruce had been nothing but kind to him, so he tries to not be so abrasive.

Healing stuff was important. Even gross books.

"What kinda book are you readin', now? Does it have nude cut-up people in it, too?"

"Right now? Nothing that disturbing." Bruce smiled as he said that, the amusement still there, but his voice remained gentle. "Just stuff about herbs generally. I brought back some from the Mire so I intend to see how to go about being able to grow more of them right here in Skyhold."

For one it would make access to these rare herbs easier, and for another it would sage the effort to constantly having to rely on the Mire itself for said herbs. Plus there was only so much the Mire could have before everything went dry, and Bruce would rather not risk that. If they could grow it here, then at least there was more control.

Herbs. Sigh. That sounded really boring, but since Gorse seemed to like it, maybe he should at least pay some attention. As far as he knew, the other qunari had been helping getting the garden working.

"So... like elfroot and stuff like that? I don't know much about plants other than the edible kind." Sometimes you just had to eat, after all. Even green things.

It was easy enough to sense how uninterested Kas was about the idea, but he couldn't blame him - it was hard to be interested unless you had a reason for wanting to know. Herbs were rather boring compared to many other things in Thedas.

"Yes, stuff like that, but I won't bore you with the details." After all its not as if Kas would bother to try and remember anyway, so it was all fine.

"I think I prefer the gross stuff over the herbs. Gorse likes plants, though. D'ya know him?"

He reaches a hand above himself. "He looks kinda like me, but bigger." A bit of a stretch, but the teen could wish, right? After all, Gorse was slim but still a damn hulking qunari, while Kas was still looking most people in the eyes.

Qunaris were generally pretty easy to spot, but Bruce supposed for this particular one that Kas was talking about the opposite seemed to hold true instead. He tried to rack his mind again but came up with nothing.

"I haven't seen him," he went, clearly apologetic. "I don't go to the garden that often, so perhaps I just kept missing him in the times that I was around." Skyhold was a relatively large place, after all, so it was entirely possible.

He smiles a little at that, seemingly in a better mood just from talking about his... friends? Maybe they really were friends, now.

It was a really nice feeling.

"You should meet him. He's good with herbs an stuff, but also really nice and cares a lot. I think you'd like him." The teen shrugs a bit. "Plus, he likes to help people and you help people, too."

"He certainly sounds like somebody I can get along with." Bruce smiles a little as he replies there, more for Kas than for himself - its good to see that the young Qunari was slowly making friends, even if it was just with the other Qunari. Familiarity was always a good first stepping stone.

"I'll be sure to keep an eye out for him from now on," he added on, just to assure Kas. "I'm sure I'll see him soon enough."

"Uh, yeah." He smiles awkwardly, and then nods to Bruce again.

I should... um... go. Thanks!"

"I'm glad to help," he returns, smiling once more, glad that he could help the young Qunari in some way. "I hope to see you again some time soon."

The young qunari looks a little worried at that, but nods. "Just... be safe, okay?"

Stupid feelings, making him worry about people. Bruce was a good guy, though. Definitely not what he had expected, and that was a good thing. So he could spare a bit of worry.

Worrying about people was hardly a bad thing. It was good, and it showed that you cared, and that you had feelings. That was important, to know that - at least for Bruce. Knowing your feelings was important. It made you remember that you were still kind and could care.

"I'll try my best." Bruce gives a small nod, still smiling. "And you as well. Take care in your future missions."

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

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