faderift | OPEN: this will be a better year

WHO: Everyone
WHAT: First Day
WHEN: Wintermarch 1 (forward-dated)
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Scouts from both the Western Approach and Emprise du Lion are welcome (but not required) to have returned to Skyhold in time for this event.

There have been better First Day feasts, and less crowded ones, and cheerier ones. It isn't a good year for many to look back on, and this one isn't starting any better. Reports from both Eastern and Western Orlais are grim. Many in the Inquisition can't afford to take more than a few hours away from their work, if that.

But for those who can, the ambassador does her best. At lunchtime some tables, hot food, and finery are reserved for visiting nobility and wealthy pilgrims--cause for grumbling in some quarters, perhaps, but they're the people filling the Inquisition's coffers, and allowances must be made--but there's plenty of stew, bread, and ale for everyone, even with the soldiers and refugees who stay outside the fortress invited inside for the holiday. The recently repaired garden and its carefully tended plants aren't off limits, but anyone noisy and holding a drink will be stopped at the door; the battlements, with their potential for deadly falls, are blocked by Inquisition guards. But the courtyards brim with people, most of them happy despite the possibility that the world might end before another First Day arrives.

If the courtyards are too full of tipsy visitors for comfort, there's also the valley beyond the fortress, expansive, barren, and covered in snow. By the river the soldiers help the refugees make a bonfire larger than would ever be allowed inside Skyhold's walls, and some lend their shields to use as sleds down the embankments. A group of scouts start the most intense game of hide and seek Thedas has ever seen, with snowballs to the face for whoever is found first. In the camp, a refugee girl with her hand wrapped in a green scarf chases other children around the tents, shouting raaar, I'm from the rifts!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sam gives a shrug as well, not pushing the subject. At being asked the same question Sam gives a small smile. "Ferelden born as well, though from the Coastlands."

"Oh yeah?" he answers, still as brightly as before. "That's great. If... you like water and all." He quirks an eyebrow. "Do you?"

This makes sense in his head, really, it does.

"I like it well enough. Can't say I enjoy it enough to live on a ship and sail around like some people do. I do enjoy swimming and fishing, though it'll probably be some time before I can do that again," he offers easily.

"You can swim?"

Sideswipe, you're acting like the guy just said he could fly.

"Man, you're lucky. I sink just looking at water."

"Can of have to if you live by the water and go out on it often. Probably a bit rusty with it now though. Haven't swam in, what, twelve or so years?" That certainly be something he'd be up for doing again.

"There's a bath here. I'm sure you could learn the basics there."

"Oh, yeah. That's kind of a thing, huh?"

He frowns faintly, tilting his head. A bath? Sure there was -- you had to bathe now and again right? But the way the other guy said it made it sound different than just somewhere to wash up.

You couldn't swim in a wash tub.

"A bath? You... don't mean like a lake or pond or something? Do you?"

"There's a hot spring in the lower parts of the keep. You can't swim swim, but it's deep and wide enough to learn to float and such." It was at least deep enough for at least him to be up to his neck if he sat at one of the edges at least.

From the look on his face, you'd think his new friend -- are they friends? They're friends in Sideswipe's mind now -- had just said there was gold in the lower parts of the keep.

"Really? No one told me that! We should go!"

Well someone just got really excited. Sam chuckles lightly at that, shaking his head a bit at the offer. "Maybe tomorrow. I think if I got into it now I'd spend the rest of the night there."

It's easy to get excited when your worldview has been limited by Templar Training, and trying to survive. Hot springs just sounded like pure luxury. Which he'd never had before.

"Sure!" And then he adds, hastily, as if realizing how overly eager he sounded: "I mean, if you want to... You don't have to."

Ah, the tough act. "I'll be there if you're interested, or not too busy to take some time out of your schedule."

"I'm not busy!"

Those pale cheeks turn a little pink. "I just." And he tilts his head to the side, sheepishly rubbing at his hair with one hand. "Didn't want to be pushy or... anything. But I'd like to see it!"

"You aren't being pushy, believe me. Shall we say meetup in the main hall at lunch then I can show you?" Nothing too early seeing as he was hoping to get some rest after being gone for so long.

At hearing some yelling, Sam raises his brows and looks off to the side, giving a bit of a snort at what he sees. Raising his hand to point, he grins at Sideswipe. "Looks like you're being called." Sure enough the kids were yelling and waving, trying to get the red head's attention.

"Sure thing! It sounds like fun."

He'll probably be awake early anyway. Trying to get the soldiers around here to take him seriously takes a lot of effort. Whoops.

Then the kids are calling, and his head turns, that blush fading into genuine amusement. "Man, they're never gonna let this go." He turns to the other man, still smiles and eagerness. "I'll see you later, okay?"

"Sure thing. Go have some fun. Can't keep the kids waiting." He motions for Sideswipe to go ahead, all too familiar with kids wanting you to play with them.

"Will do."

He grins, winking once at his new friend, before yes, he takes off after the kids.

OPEN: this will be a better year

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