faderift | Sometimes the path appears before you're ready

WHO: Taashath & anyone
WHAT: Taas returns to Skyhold to officially join the Inquisition
WHEN: Today, evening
WHERE: Skyhold courtyard, and later the tavern.
NOTES: None, yet

The massive destrier he had borrowed made a grand entrance to the Skyhold courtyard with the heavy fall of his hooves. The large qunari warrior on top of it was even more of a spectacle as he leaned back to stop the animal and push the bear fur back over a shoulder to get some more room in order to dismount. His chest was still bare underneath, red vitaar painted in an artful pattern of lines all the way up to his neck and framing his face.

He smiles at one of the stable boys that come to take the mount and then stretches a bit, feeling his back pop. Carrying the huge battle axe on a mount was kind of a pain, but at least he'd made damn good pace back to the old fortress without trouble. Hefting the weapon off his back and stealing the saddle bags before the kid took the mount away, the warrior leaned his weapon over a shoulder instead.

Golden-brown eyes studied the passing people with interest, a little surprised to see how things had changed. It sure seemed a lot busier since he was here, last.

"Shit," he mutters, rubbing the back of his head with his free hand and brushing back dark strands of hair that had escaped from the messy bun at the nape of his neck. It was gonna be a mess to find the Commander or the Seeker in this bustle, wasn't it?

[Later]

Hearing that the Ben-Hassrath had left on a mission, Taashath had happily wandered into the tavern for a drink and maybe something to eat. Making sure he found a chair that could support his weight, the qunari pushed it against the wall and leaned back with a satisfied grunt.

Part of him found that he had actually missed this place, which was probably a good thing. After all, this time he planned to stay.

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"I think so," he replies with a slight frown. "I only heard some about it, but I haven't met any of them... as far as I know." He's not sure what to make of those people, to be quite honest.

"I finally got a new contract, so I left... but I changed my mind. I'm here to officially join, this time." Taas plans to stay, definitely.

"I'm glad. It was so lovely to talk to you, last time."

And there's a faint blush at remembering where that talking had led.

"And I do mean the talking as well as the rest of it, promise."

He smiles at that, remembering how prettily she could blush all over, so small underneath his hands. "I do enjoy speaking with you as well." Both were pretty little lips, after all.

"I admit learning that you were a mage was a little... odd, though. Under the Qun, we're always taught that mages are dangerous things." It was something he should be honest with, and he shakes his head a bit again, smiling over the rim of his cup to smooth the topic a bit. "It's starting to wear off a bit, that kind of thinking. The mages here have more control than our saarebas."

The smile fades. She's fairly sure she shouldn't comment on mages overseas, but she doubts Korrin is any better suited for magic than a normal qunari mage.

"How do you know, if you never remove the leash?"

"I'm not an arvaraad, so I can't say for sure. I bash people's head in, magic is just... strange to me. But I've seen saarebas in battle back in Seheron. It is pure power, no finesse and little control other than their arvaraad's commands." He's finding himself more and more uncomfortable with the thought of mages with collars other than the other way around. Korrin was a good woman, secure in her control.

Not just demon bait.

"The mages here can do quite impressive things. Including resisting the demons."

"If they only know obedience, I doubt anyone's taught them resistance of any kind. Just...submitting utterly to something else."

No, she's only read about this. Genitivi and other such writers have helped her grasp on the non-Dalish world, but she can't speak to Taas like she's an authority on the subject of his own people.

"From the perspective of another mage, I mean. There are techniques, and they can be different for everyone. We spend our whole lives perfecting it."

"It's complicated," he agrees with a slightly thoughtful look. "Perhaps I will learn more, now that I intend to stay, here." Magic still freaked him out a bit, but... it could be useful. Korrin definitely was, and he found himself wanting to see other mages fight, as well.

It was a strange split of approving on one side and fearing the other, looking to the templars as arvaraad of the southerner mages in their towers. Or here, in Skyhold.

"I expect it's inevitable. If you want to ask any questions, though, I'll be here."

"Hm. I appreciate that." He rolls those big shoulders a little, calling over a waitress for some more ale.

"Anything for you?"

She shakes her head. "One's enough. I'm not a very good drinker."

Taas nods at that and pays for his new ale with a few coins. "How are you doing, mires and magic aside?"

"Surprisingly well. My research has garnered quite a bit of moral support, if not financial. I've been enjoying it."

He looks a bit thoughtful at that, somewhere between curious and knowing that it was probably beyond him to understand. "What are you researching?"

"The elven arcane. History and magic."

Definitely beyond him, yep. "I see. Good for you." Smiling, Taas teaches out to touch the end of her braid, gently running it between his calloused fingers.

"I'm glad you're doing well. Weird magic stuff or not."

There's a blush at the hair-touching, but also a smile. She's reminded of that hand going other places, and how nice it was. Her hand comes to grasp his, threading their fingers together.

"Want to find a little privacy?"

He reads those words with a grin, squeezing her hand gently before he moves it and his other hand down to her waist, gripping it lightly and then trying to lift her up into his lap.

"I like the way you think."

She happily lets herself be manhandled, smiling widely.

"My bedroom is upstairs. And my roommate's gone."

He makes himself quite comfortable with her in his lap, one large hand wandering down to her thigh while he occupies the other with his drink. "Hah, you're really speaking my language today," he purrs, giving a little bit of a squeeze to the curve of her leg.

"Finish your drink and we'll definitely make use of that empty room."

She tosses back the rest of her drink and sets it on the table. Since it's been cooking for a while, the mulled wine doesn't have much alcohol left in it, so it hasn't had much of an effect on her.

"Let's go."

The warrior finishes his own drink in a few more sips before he gets up, pulling Pel with him into a bridal-style carry. Grinning at her, he's on his way up the stairs before anyone could protest about hoisting elves around.

It was a big difference when the elf eagerly instigated the hoisting, after all.

Sometimes the path appears before you're ready

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