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[closed] I hope we hang on past the last exit
WHO: Cade and Nerva
WHAT: emotionally-stunted weirdo party
WHEN: post-Abomination, pre-Templar meeting
WHERE: the battlements
NOTES: Maybe angst? Warning for second-hand embarrassment?
In the absence of his commanding officer and any real instruction, Cade had been left to his own devices. This had only happened a handful of times since he'd begun his Templar training and had not been a pretty picture on any occasion, as the man would simply pick a menial way to occupy himself and do it until he was told to stop.
His first few hours making the rounds on the battlements would have alarmed no one, the only strangeness to them being that he kept his watch inward upon Skyhold rather than out at the surrounding terrain. But the hours crept on, and the Knight-Lieutenant began more and more to resemble a lion in a cage, pacing endlessly, circling and checking and watching with little thought for rest of any kind. He would periodically pause on the path above the kitchens, look down pensively, and almost seem as though he might stop and take a break, and would then shake his head and allow his restless feet to launch into yet another round.
As evening fell he was beginning to drag, but the tautness of his jaw and brow betrayed his anxiety. He would likely continue into the night, until he couldn't stand it anymore. Or just plain couldn't stand.
WHAT: emotionally-stunted weirdo party
WHEN: post-Abomination, pre-Templar meeting
WHERE: the battlements
NOTES: Maybe angst? Warning for second-hand embarrassment?
In the absence of his commanding officer and any real instruction, Cade had been left to his own devices. This had only happened a handful of times since he'd begun his Templar training and had not been a pretty picture on any occasion, as the man would simply pick a menial way to occupy himself and do it until he was told to stop.
His first few hours making the rounds on the battlements would have alarmed no one, the only strangeness to them being that he kept his watch inward upon Skyhold rather than out at the surrounding terrain. But the hours crept on, and the Knight-Lieutenant began more and more to resemble a lion in a cage, pacing endlessly, circling and checking and watching with little thought for rest of any kind. He would periodically pause on the path above the kitchens, look down pensively, and almost seem as though he might stop and take a break, and would then shake his head and allow his restless feet to launch into yet another round.
As evening fell he was beginning to drag, but the tautness of his jaw and brow betrayed his anxiety. He would likely continue into the night, until he couldn't stand it anymore. Or just plain couldn't stand.
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"You will never find a demon here on my watch," he said, his tone serious but covering a quiet unease. Perhaps he was hoping she hadn't noticed.
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Oh she noticed. But considering how often her hand went to her sword - well. She let it go, without comment, and pretended that she hadn't seen it. One couldn't be too vigilant.
"How long have you been on watch, Cade?" She asked bluntly. Straight to the point. "I thought I saw you out here early this afternoon."
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"I endeavor to be useful," he replied, politely and completely deflecting her question.
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"That wasn't an answer to my question," She said, bluntly, staring him down. She never did take polite deflection. It was hard to deflect a rampaging bull.
"How long have you been on watch, Cade? No man can be useful without rest. Or food. Have you eaten?"
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"Now, Cade."
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He trailed after, feeling a bit strange, though not in an entirely bad way.
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She marched in silence to the tavern, ordered him a plate of beans and sausage, as well as a (light) beer, with a much stronger drink for herself, and then sat him down at a table and shoved the plate in front of him, sitting on the other side.
"There," she said. "Go on, eat."
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He watched her for a moment, then did so, his nobleman's table manners showing through as he went about it slowly, his eyes constantly darting this way and that as if expecting a maleficar to leap out and kill them both where they sat. He barely touched the beer, but took at least a few sips just to show Nerva that he wasn't fighting her.
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Nerva didn't really notice the way other people stared. If she did, she would worry about it all the time, but she just didn't care. They could stare as much as they wanted - she was completely and utterly focused on watching Cade eat. Only once she was satisfied did she finally speak up.
"Why were you on the wall so long without break? Who assigned you up there?" Were they hazing him?
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"You set that assignment yourself," She said flatly. "Why?"
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Finally, after he couldn't stall any longer, he muttered, "I don't know." He cleared his throat. "..I was idle."
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"There is plenty that needs to be done to keep your hands from being idle, Cade," She said, sternly, crossing her arms against her chest. But there was something in her expression - a flicker of sympathy, maybe, for a problem that she also has been faced with, lately.
"You could have spoken with me, at the very least. The walls are well guarded. They don't need a half-starved Templar stumbling down the stairs."
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That was putting it mildly.
"But there is discipline, if you require it."
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He finished eating and looked up from his plate, his mug sitting forgotten. "...is there?" he asked hopefully, bringing the napkin from his lap to wipe at his mouth.
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"Mm," She affirmed thoughtfully, still watching him. "It requires more self-dedication than it would, otherwise," She continued, frowning, but mostly because she was thinking than because she disapproved of anything.
At least, she didn't disapprove of anything any more than she usually did.
"But you may join my training, if you wish. It is - often easier, to keep routine when others keep it with you."
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She reached out, still frowning, but gave his shoulder a solid pat, like one might give a pathetic, but somehow endearing, dog.