( open ) which will refresh my broken mind

[eruit]

WHO: Hanzo Shimada and open
WHAT: New specialization and Angst
WHEN: End of the month
WHERE: All over Kirkwall
NOTES: N/A

I. GALLOWS TRAINING

Training with his spirits has become second nature to him now and he feels it as he steps forward into the Gallows; they've been growing stronger, especially since the intense dangers of the Deep Roads. His desperation to protect them, to not let Storm Bow out of his hands, had resulted in a level of fear he had never allowed himself to consider before; he had not wanted to run the risk of them suffering any more pollution because of his uncertainties and his pains. He had come so close to losing them already -

he grits his teeth. He cannot let them be harmed.

As he works with his bow, standing with his eye on the target before him, critical, his arm moves a touch faster. Three arrows are shot in quick succession, the shape of Hanzo's arm almost a light blue blur as he aims. He doesn't seem to notice, particularly, that anything is different with his arrows, his eyes sharp as some of the tension bleeds out of him, some of the tightness of his shoulders relaxing just so. He doesn't look happy, necessarily, but... Better, perhaps, for the shooting.

GARDENS

When he's not training, Hanzo spends a great deal of his time sitting in the gardens in the Gallows, legs tucked under him in something that seems like it must be uncomfortable for extended periods of times. He seems to be quite happy with it, however, more comfortable like this than he might be otherwise - with something familiar, something almost like 'home' - than he is in any other way. Being back from Tevinter for a few weeks now has him tense, a little on edge, not sure how best to handle the culture shift of 'home to 'Kirkwall'.

Can he even call Tevinter home now, when he has given up so much?

Other hours of the day are spent with him sitting with bits of paper and ink at his side, writing letters that will never be sent. He writes and he writes, almost as if he is dictating his life in a diary entry, pieces of parchment building a pile at his side. When he's done, or it seems as though he's done, he puts the paper to one side and bows his head, overcome by something, his hands shaking a little before he begins to fold them all, meticulous and careful. When he is done folding them he turns, creating a small circle of rocks before he starts a small fire.

Then, one by one, he burns all the parchments until nothing remains.

The fire burns out as Hanzo sits, watching it. He lifts a feather and places it on the burning pile, watching the shape of it curl into embers and ashes, watching as it falls apart, as it becomes nothing, just like all the words he had written down. He bares his heart where no one can see it then burns it away to hide the shame.

III. ROOMS / LIBRARY

When he isn't training or meditating Hanzo can normally be found in his room, settling down, tidying, folding and stitching his clothes. He sits with his formal gear on his lap, a needle in hand, repairing what was damaged during his expedition into the Deep Roads. He'd had to wash them first, deeply and with as much soap as he could muster, just in case the taint had been carried in the dirt and the blood, but he doesn't have coin enough to waste clothes.

When the door is more shut than open there is, at times, a faint, blue glow, just enough that it might attract attention.

Otherwise, Hanzo can easily be discovered in the library, books about Tevinter and the language open in front of him. He's an assistant project leader now and with it comes certain expectations, a certain level of understanding that means that he should at least be making some kind of an effort. He wants Corypheus to be defeated, he wants the Venatori to fall to pieces, for his family - well. The less said about them the better, he thinks, scowling at the parchments in front of him.

IV. WILDCARD

( Feel free to wildcard your own prompt or message me at aziraphale for a prompt of your own! )

Comments

1

[justice_is_blond]

He comes to the archery grounds primarily to watch Nate train, to admire his form and make comments. But his husband isn't here right now. Anders almost turns to go and then Hanzo is firing. It's quite the sight, the accuracy, the speed, ... the flash of blue. Quietly he settles back in to watching, now a little curious.

When the archer pauses to take a breath is when Anders approaches, eyes lingering on the bow before going to the man. There's absolutely something there. The chance of it being what his initial thoughts go to is thankfully low, but there's something.

"I can't say I've seen someone shoot quite like that before. Though I can't say I've made a study of archers, mostly one impressive longbowman."

[eruit]

Hanzo is serene when he is shooting his bow for practice; the movements are comfortable and familiar, relaxing enough that he feels as though he can accept the weight of it and the comfort of it without letting his mind wander to the things that would make him pause again. He knows how to aim, to lift his head, to adjust his stance - he knows how to shoot without thinking about it and that is what he does, falling into his own personal routine without pause or hesitation.

He's not so deep in his reverie that he isn't aware of someone moving closer to him, though, and he stops, hesitating for a moment before he turns his head to look over at - ah. Anders.

"I have had much time to practice." And the pressure of having to survive the Deep Roads with nothing but his bow and a man at his side had proven that, perhaps, more time to practice wouldn't be worthless.

[justice_is_blond]

"Mm. It shows." He's quiet for a few moments. There are some moments that he wonders if his time in the Circles left him at a bit of a loss with social matters others can easily manage, and this is one of those. Asking personal questions is hard at even the best of times.

"I was a little more curious about the... glow, so to speak, that I seemed to be seeing." He doesn't add that he's seen a blue glow quite a lot in his life, because it's not the same sort. Just... similar feeling. Maybe the bow's enchanted? Except that's also different.

[eruit]

It's not as if Hanzo is any better when it comes to social situations; he had been raised above other people for a long time and spent the last ten years murdering for money. He's hardly the one to turn to in order to learn more about someone else, nor how best to act in new company. He does what he can, as little as that might be.

His attention is drawn back to his bow, though, and he moves almost immediately, a touch defensive, protective.

"An enchantment," he says, voice low and soft. It's not technically a lie, even if he knows the spirits that lie under his fingertips take a gentle level of offence to it. "I have had it since I was young. A gift, from my father."