[open] With a weary heart...

[foodsofmypeople]

WHO: Kaidan Alenko and you
WHAT: Kaidan is feeling old. Or weary. Or something
WHEN: The day after this takes place
WHERE: All over Skyhold
NOTES: Grumpy Wardens...

A

The view from the battlements was incredible, but did nothing to ease the turmoil in his mind. Frankly Kaidan just felt old. Fifteen years as a Warden, he knew there wouldn't be all that many more, but he was fine with that - or it would be if the incessant singing would stop. Felix's Joining had affected him more than he thought it would. Were they truly so desperate that they would take someone so close to death from the Blight? Apparently so. He just needed to do something. Find out what was going on with his brothers and sisters. Stop them from doing something so ridiculous that it would get them all killed. But instead, he was stuck here, finding out just what the Inquisition was about. They were doing good things, yes, but would it help in the long run?

Who knew?

B

He knew he shouldn't push it, but the occasional fireball that was thrown towards the training dummy? He couldn't help it. Sometimes hitting things just wasn't enough, and he just needed to blow off steam, ignoring the inevitable headache that would most likely cripple him for the rest of the day. And if the training dummy exploded... whoops?

C

Later, he was to be found in the tavern. At least for a little while, the noise and company could drown out the singing, and he could feel human again. Or as human as a Warden ever was going to. He might not be the best company, sat in a corner as he was, but there was the occasional smile there at least, and he wasn't going to turn any company away.

D

Wildcard! Whatever starter you like.

Comments

[foodsofmypeople]

Kaidan laughed at that. He knew the calibre of some of the mages that were here. Maybe he should talk to some of them, see if there was a way past the feedback that always seemed to happen, or if he were just unlucky with that. "I didn't mean to let that slip," he joked in response. "I might have to kill you if you tell anyone."

He frowned. "A hobby. I can't even remember what one of those is."

[middle_of_calibrating]

"You'd have to catch me first to kill me, Alenko," he throws right back, crossing his arms and a smug look. Jokes aside though Garris doesn't want to have Wardens after him, but if that happened for whatever reason he certainly was going to give them a run for their money.

"A hobby. You know something you do for the fun of it. Obviously setting dummies on fire isn't that. You don't have at least one thing you like to do?"

[foodsofmypeople]

He smirked back at Garris. He knew the wily merc well enough to know that if he wanted, he simply couldn't be found. And that was fine.

"That involves that old concept of 'free time'," he pointed out. "I suppose... well, maybe I'll stick to setting dummies on fire."

[middle_of_calibrating]

"And you don't have any of this so called 'free time'?" Keeping up pace with Kaidan, he raises his brows and gives the man a disbelieving, but amused smirk. "Do the Wardens have daily group activities and such that you're busy doing? Wait... let me guess. That's secret, too."

[foodsofmypeople]

"Normally? I'm travelling. Takes time to move from one place to another," he pointed out. "But yes, I'll let you into a secret - they have all group activities. Most involve quantities of very dubious alcohol."

[middle_of_calibrating]

That has Garris narrowing his eyes, silently judging if Kaidan was just pulling his leg or if he was being serious about that. "I'm calling bullshit on that. You'd be a lot happier if you were doing things with that kind of drinking." A pause. "Or a lot more drunk."

[foodsofmypeople]

"Oh I'm serious. I'll introduce you to mine at some point." Hey, it was tradition. It had started out as whiskey, and now... who knows? "But it would mean a time when you weren't expected anywhere else afterwards."

[middle_of_calibrating]

"Wouldn't drink if I was expected. So, sooner or later it sounds like. I've got nothing but practice on my hands at the moment. Course with a war anything can pop up." Obviously they'd have to play it by ear, but Kaidan is for sure going to show him. He'll bug him forever until he did.

[foodsofmypeople]

And that was one reason that Kaidan liked Garris - he took his work seriously. "Yeah. We've been helping out where we can, but you never know what is going to happen." Though there are always nights off.

He'll share his booze with Garris one of these days.

[middle_of_calibrating]

Good, cause he's holding you to that promise, Kaidan.

"... So I take it drinking is your hobby then?" Garris grins at that, raising a brow at the Warden. Guess he did have enough free time if he found enough of it to enjoy drinks.

[foodsofmypeople]

He paused, seeming to think about the question. "I think if you ask most Wardens that, they'd probably agree with you." Because it was a damn good way of passing the time.

[middle_of_calibrating]

"You wanna make a bet on that? I'll ask each Warden I run into what they're hobby is and then tally it off." Would certainly give him a reason to go and find the other Wardens, if only to ask them that.

[foodsofmypeople]

"Go ahead!" He was sure that most of them would say drinking - or perhaps the Fereldens would say something like dog training, odd bunch they were.

[middle_of_calibrating]

Fereldens are weird, Garris would agree with that if it was said out loud. "What do you wanna bet?"

[foodsofmypeople]

"A decent bottle of Starkhaven whiskey," he suggested.

[middle_of_calibrating]

Garris gives a low whistle at that. "Just a plain bottle will probably be a pain to get out here." Giving the other man a look for after a moment, Garris holds up his hand for the Warden to shake on it. "Deal."

[foodsofmypeople]

"I have ways," he said with a grin, before shaking his head. "I hope you do too."

[middle_of_calibrating]

"Ways, he says. More Warden secrets, Kaidan? And don't you worry bout me. I don't plan on losing, but if for some reason I do... I'll figure something out." Kaidan better not tell the other Wardens to fib either, cause he'll find out.

[foodsofmypeople]

"Actually it's nothing really secret. Just family strewn through the Marches," he grinned back. And he wouldn't dare tell them to fib. Just... encourage talking to the right Wardens!

[middle_of_calibrating]

"Huh, same idea as me then. Maybe we should just go ahead and buy some then just pay the difference for who wins in that case." Get it bought and brought over in time.

[foodsofmypeople]

"At least it wouldn't go to waste," he mulled it over. "And we're not intending on going anywhere far for the near future." Not until they could get this whole Corypheus thing sorted out.

[middle_of_calibrating]

"That's the spirit, Alenko. Maybe get a few bottles. We'll keep one for the bet of course." With a laugh he gives the Warden a slap on the back.

[foodsofmypeople]

"It would be good to drink with someone who appreciates a good whiskey," he did point out. "Unlike some heathens around here."

[middle_of_calibrating]

"Oh I'm sure plenty appreciate it. Obviously not in the proper ways perhaps. You know you should hold a class and teach them." He's just having fun at this point, but in all honesty, just sitting back drinking a good whiskey with Kaidan like old times would be much welcomed.

[foodsofmypeople]

"And waste a good whiskey on the uneducated? You must be joking." No, he'd rather keep the good stuff to himself. There's a tavern for those with less discerning palettes.