the long way to skyhold [OPEN]

[rivernamed]

WHO: Hudson, Sideswipe, and OPEN!
WHAT: A Tal-Vashoth with a mabari arrives with a skinny human mercenary. It sounds like the start of a joke, but there's no real punchline.
WHEN: 21st of Haring
WHERE: Skyhold.
NOTES: Feel free to tag either specifically to Sideswipe, Hudson, or both. Both. Both is good.

TAVERN WITH SIDESWIPE, OPEN.

Leaving Manahata had been an enormous decision for him, something he is not always convinced was right, but he is determined to ensure that this Red Templar and Tevinter business is done away with. They have enough to worry about without further complications of holes in the sky and whatnot. The rebellion was bad enough, now there's this, and Hudson knew he'd do what it took to make sure everyone else was safe.

On the way to Skyhold, he'd found this boy, a potential recruit. Mostly skin and bones, long and lanky and young, but determined to make something of himself. He certainly wasn't going to do it by freezing to death on the way to Skyhold, so Hudson has been ensuring that the boy is hauled up the mountain to the Inquisition's fortress.

"C'mon, lad." Practically carrying the redhead, Hudson immediately makes his way to the tavern, knowing that sitting by a fire with something hot in his stomach will help him. "Sideswipe you said was what you were goin' by?"

Kind of a silly nickname, but then again, his companions named him after a river, so there's that.

Hudson puts Sideswipe in a chair, closest to the fire. "Bronx, stay," he orders the mabari, who obeys while wagging his stub of a tail. The giant warrior makes his way to the bar, working on ordering something warm for the boy.


STABLES, OPEN.

It's been a few hours since settling in and making sure that Sideswipe wasn't going to freeze. Ridiculous young warrior hardly wore anything to keep himself warm from the cold. Bit of a show off, but he's young; he'll learn, and he knows it.

For now, Hudson is by the stables. He's already established himself as a recruit for the Inquisition. Simple enough process, really, but for now it leaves him to his own devices.

He's sitting inside the stables, not minding the nearby mounts. The Tal-Vashoth is working on a letter, and at his feet is Bronx, dozing away comfortably.

"Already makin' yourself at home, boy?" he says with a snort, nudging the hound with a foot. The mabari just grunts, hardly offended. "Don't get too cozy. He said you needed exercise."

Comments

[girlinthebox]

The stables are warm, cozy. They smell of horse, and the keep mousers used to hide in here and play with her boot laces. That's likely over, with the presence of a dog and the accompanying smell.

She'd been about to hide her shoes in a hay bale again when she spies the old man and his dog. Qunari. No. The other word. She hesitates in the shadows, light catching a sliver of her arm and dress, as she debates coming back again another time.

Not out of fear, no. But his song is calm, quiet, certain as the ebb and flow of the ocean. Best not to disturb them.

[rivernamed]

"Should I tell them that you're already whining because you're not getting as many scraps as before? Spoiled boy," Hudson grunts, ruffling the mabari's ears.

Bronx looks a little more alert a bit suddenly, his nostrils flaring before he's shaking his head from Hudson's hand. The old warrior raises a brow before he's looking over his shoulder.

A skinny little thing without shoes. They aren't that under supplied here, are they?

"You don't need to hide, lass. Neither of us bite, especially not Bronx." Though he does understand if she chooses to not approach.

[girlinthebox]

She's quiet a moment longer, still where she stands, before curiosity overrides all and she steps closer. Her eyes shift between the dog and the Tal-Vashoth as she pads closer, before she settles on the dog and drops down to her knee, offering the animal her hand.

"Bronx." The word feels odd on her tongue, no language she knows of.

[rivernamed]

When she approaches, he smiles and seems to approve the way she's reaching out to his canine. "Aye. They named him after the mountain side where I'm from."

The mabari stands on all four legs, stubby tail wagging as he sniffs her hand before he's shoving his hand into her fingers with an excited snuffle.

"You wouldn't think he was a war hound with that kind of behavior," Hudson says with a snort. "But he's seen plenty of action my way here. And what about you? Do you have a name, or did you lose them with your shoes?"

The question is spoken in a way that's meant as a light joke, gentle teasing.

[girlinthebox]

River giggles, delighted by the animal, the snuffle of his breath tickling her fingertips. Once Bronx nuzzles into her hand she moves to pet him in earnest, scritching him behind the ears and stroking along his neck.

Hudson's question brings a puzzled look to her face, however. "They're not lost," she replies, blinking slowly. "I hid them for the cats. They like to play with the laces. It's alright if I put them back on before Simon finds me. Cole said so," she explained, expression earnest.

[rivernamed]

A fond look forms on his face as he watches River interact with Bronx, who seems very content at the affection he's receiving. The hound relaxes, sitting back down and leaning just a bit into her hands.

Interesting choice of words, but it makes him grin wryly. "If y'say so. Suppose if the Dalish can run around without any shoes, you should be able to get away with it."

A hand is offered to her. "Hudson. If introductions are t'be in order."

[girlinthebox]

That hand is massive, calloused. The lines that spiral across it are of great interest to her for a moment, her dark eyes scanning them carefully before placing her own hand inside of his palm. It's tiny enough to disappear into the hold, but he's a gentle giant. There's no fear, only curiosity.

"River."

[rivernamed]

He smiles warmly at her acceptance. There's always a divide of what to expect in terms of interacting with people; they will be afraid, or they will be curious. It's fortunate she doesn't seem to fear him.

"A fine name," he says, chuckling to himself. River and one named after a specific river. It's amusing for a moment. "Who are Cole and Simon?"

[girlinthebox]

Her brow knits delicately. "Friend. Brother. They heal people, make them better when the cracks start to show. Fear pulled at the edges and things come out when you don't close the wound...gets messy."

She seems to drift for a moment, before a cold nose reminds her of the dog. Some of the haze fades after that, and her smile flickers back into place as she continues to ruffle Bronx.