faderift | Wintermarch Is Always Interesting

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Wintermarch Is Always Interesting

WHO: Samouel Gareth and Anyone
WHAT: Sam celebrates the 16th quietly with a letter from home. Catching up. Work and lessons as usual.
WHEN: (Backdated to) Wintermarch 16 and onward
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES:No warning at the moment. Catch all for some CR with Sam. Birthdays are weird.

After First Day it had taken a few days for Sam to pull himself out of the weird rut he had fallen into, what with a variety of good and bad things to start off the year; seeing James and the others from Ostwick, finding out that the First Enchanter and Knight-Commander had been killed, Krem having gone off on a mission, playing in the snow with others, etc. After that Sam seemed like his old self, falling into his usual routine of various lessons, magical and otherwise, as well as work. Even so it seemed like around the middle of the month his attitude took a dip again, appearing when he wasn't actively doing anything or paying attention.

[Magic Lessons]
Lessons sure have gotten more interesting since getting back from Emprise du Lion. Sam is even more determined to progress his training in spirit healing, and the other schools of magic. Even so he still has fun with it, learning to chill his hand without freezing it for the most part, or letting the younger mages 'teach' him how to do spells.

[Sparring: Magic or Melee]
For Sam being efficient in both his magic and his physical strength together or separate were important, both himself and anyone else who might be with him on missions. What little he had learned before Emprise du Lion had certainly saved him rear, so he makes a habit in shadow sparring about every day. Anyone is welcome to give him some pointers or ~~kiss his butt~~ challenge him to a spar.

[Armory]
Without any orders, Sam has been spending less time in the armory, though he still goes in some evenings to practice. Anyone looking to have something made or just wanting to talk where it's warm are more than welcome to join or meet up with him here.

[Tavern]
Even though he isn't a big drinker Sam has been enjoying certain drinks now and again at the tavern since he isn't needed at the armory as much. For the most part he spends his time chatting to various members of the Chargers, or just sitting in their general area, listening to their stories. Otherwise he can be found a the bar, the bartender giving him a look every time he decides to just drink tea instead of alcohol.

[Baking with Christine]
Christine had mentioned that she was starting to bake. Curious to how things were going and wanting to be of some support, Sam figures it would be a nice gesture to show up. Maybe offer a hand to help her with whatever is she is planning on making.

[Sina: This is how you pot (a plant)]
Well Sam had agreed on First Day that he would help with potting and moving plants with her. Even so he hadn't been expecting to be grabbed after magic lessons by the Dalish and getting his hands dirty. Not that he's complaining, but it was unexpected.

[~~Birthday~~ The 16th]
The day before Sam let everyone know that he was planning on taking this day off, that nothing was wrong, but just needed a little time. For the most part Sam takes the chance to sleep in, wasting as much of the morning while he can, and coming out once lunch was being served. It's during his meal that he receives a letter that he tears into with a bit of urgency. Halfway through a small smile spreads across his face, though just as sad as it seems happy. The rest of the day he can be found sitting around watching other in the training ring, taking a walk along the battlements or in the tavern drinking, checking out his letter every so often.

[Wildcard]
Pick your own adventure.

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Obviously that kind of answer wasn't going to be good enough. It was just a rather deep and heavy question to try and answer on the spot. Considering that he was being pressed and Detlef was taking time to talk to him about this, it would be best to give him a well thought out answer.

"Alright, alright. Let's see. I would say it's out of caring - loving for certain people - but a lot of empathy? Knowing how it feels and not wanting others to feel that way. Wanting things to be better and trying to do so. Though if I think on it, it's not just helping, but more specifically what I do is protecting?" He raises a brow at Detlef if that makes sense, giving a small shrug.

"Course I do that with all my work. Magic to heal, cast barriers, and blast foes. Working the forge to create and repair armor and weapons for our people. Strengthening my body so that I'm able even when I can't use my magic."

The smile changes, becomes less amused and more... proud, really. Sam's not exactly Anders' student, but he's thinking and applying what he knows to the question, and Anders feels some pride in the young mage anyway.

"Empathy is a good word. The understanding it implies, combined with a protective drive, those are both excellent motivating forces. The fact that you're proactive about it as well with training..." There are more than a few spirits that could be drawn to work with Sam, but there's one name that comes most to mind. "I think you should consider Wisdom. They're a little trickier to work with, you'll likely find you must work to earn their trust before they'll aid you, and they've a tendency to be more triage-focused than swayed by personal affection, but they're strong and dedicated once won over."

"Wisdom?" The mention of that particular spirit has Sam tilting his head. Not that he hasn't heard of it, but rather because it was one of the more powerful ones. "You think I'd be able to possibly call on a spirit like that? Not that I'm shying away from a challenge or hard work." It wasn't just a strong spirit, Wisdom wasn't very commonly seen.

"Honestly? I don't know yet. It would take work, and there'd be no guarantee. But you seem to have the right temperament for it from what I can see, and if you're willing to take a chance, it could very well be worth it."

Take a chance and make an effort.

"On the other hand, I've no doubt you can find the simpler ones. I'm not hearing anything that would draw Faith, but Compassion and Mercy are easily sought out. Easy doesn't mean bad, either. They're entirely useful and dedicated."

His voice gives Sam every out he might want. It's not lazy or wrong to choose one of the common spirits; it means healing together can be pursued faster, there are people who have written about communication and working with those spirits before, basically, part of the work is already done and there's still plenty to do. But the challenge could be worth it.

"It's your call, because it's your personality working with that of a spirit."

For a time Sam goes silent, listening to the other mage's words and considering everything he's saying. He's trying to give him options and not to feel bad about who or what he ends up with.

"Do I have to go in seeking out a particular spirit? Or can I just go and see who responds to the call?" Any of them would be fine to be honest, but at the same time he doesn't really want to go in with expectations and end up feeling dejected in not getting what he picked. "Do you only get one chance to try and persuade a spirit or does it take multiple tries?"

There's the smallest smile on his lips for a moment after the several questions are asked.

"No, yes, and yes and no because that depends on the spirit." He lets the amusement linger for a short moment before taking a breath and speaking again. "I was taught that it helps to have your goals in mind when you go seeking, but I've heard since that it doesn't always matter. There are plenty of spirits who will want to help. Treat the spirits like equals and they'll respond favorably, in general. And as far as one chance..."

Anders shakes his head. "Some will know right away whether you'll be a good fit for them or not. Others won't. It's like entering into any crowd of people. You'll not win them all over, and that's fine."

"That's a good way of putting it," he says with a bit of a chuckle, hand lightly rubbing the back of his neck. "Walking into a crowd of people." It probably is like that, but at the same time completely different.

It seemed reasonable to at least ask from someone who had gone through it already. Never hurt to get some tips. "I know it all depends on the person and the spirit. Just figured I'd... ask. It's not like you do this everyday - looking for a spirit that'll come help you with healing."

"It's better to ask than not, especially in this case. Spirits can be... complicated things. Understanding them takes a great deal of work." There's a beat as he reconsiders his words. "Rather, they can be exceptionally simple, but their simple-mindedness, their fixation on their purpose, can be complicated to wrap your mind around and work with."

As he has learned.

"It's much like communicating in a different language, one you're still learning. Meanings may not always be as clear as you think they are. Or as the spirit thinks they are."

Complicatedly simple. That described spirits to a 'T' it would seem. Fun to know that even though he knew what he was getting into he still didn't quite know - interesting how that worked.

"Do you eventually learn to understand each other better? Or is there always that bit of a barrier where you never quite know everything?"

"You do get better with time and practice." He can at least offer that comfort. In fact, he'd worked rather well with Compassion back in the day. Unfortunately, his current partner is not that easy.

"But no matter how well you work together, how well you come to understand each other, there will be a time or few where you miscommunicate. The key is patience. You're both coming from two different backgrounds and ways of looking at the world entirely, but it's manageable. It's something you can work through. Especially considering the patience I've seen from you thus far."

He shrugs. "Which also is why I'm bringing it up. You may be ready before too much longer, if you feel confident."

It's good to hear that it does get better. Not that he would have turned away if that wasn't the case, but knowing that over time there would be some better understanding was something to look forward to.

He smiles at the compliment though he's more amused by the rest of what Detlef has said. How much of it rings true for other things, not just a partnership with a spirit.

"I am, but I'm more nervous than anything. I've been training for a while so it feels a bit surreal that I'm finally at this point. It's different than just learning a new spell."

"It's very different," he confirms. "You can hurt yourself with fire or ice, but it's a predictable sort of hurt. A spirit can do far more damage if they choose to, or they can work with you."

For a moment Anders looks past Sam, then he shakes his head.

"The best advice I can give you is to remember who you are, and don't be willing to compromise too much. Those that push aren't spirits, and those that won't fit in with who you are aren't ones you want to work with."

That was the thing about working with spirits; no matter how much you prepare there was always going to be some uncertainty.

Even if the advice is simple it does actually help. "At the end of it all you still want to be you, right?" he asks with a small smile. The point of all this was to work with a spirit, not become something you weren't.

"You still want to be you." And not wind up like him, where the line blurs sometimes. Too often. Nor would Sam want to wind up like too many mages before them, lost entirely due to too much fear and too little information. They're free. Every bit of information they can gather and share will help.

"And one last thing. Don't let fear hold you back, but if you think something is wrong, trust that instinct. You can always go into the Fade and try again if an attempt does not work, but reversing possession is not something people will likely be ready for." ...they need to see if anyone here knows what Marethari would have used to put them into the Fade like that, though. Just in case. He'll talk to Merrill.

"Keep everything you've learned in mind, and then this, and soon you too will be running all over the place, missing meals and sleep, because you're needed in fifteen places at once." Now Sam gets a small smile. Being a spirit healer isn't glamorous, but it's rewarding in its own way.

He chuckles a bit at that, smiling back at Deflet. "Oh, well I guess that's something to look forward to. A busier schedule than what I've already got. I can't imagine it being that many though. There's a decent amount of healers in Skyhold, and wouldn't adding an spirit healer to the ranks just spread out the duties for each one of us?"

Sam knows the other mage is just exaggerating - right? - but he can't imagine they'll be having him doing more than what he was already doing. At least in Skyhold.

"I'll be sure to keep all my lessons and this advice in mind when I eventually try."

The smile starts growing on his face. Sam's an optimist, then.

"Oh, certainly. The human demands are spread out more. That angle is easier." His pause is deliberate, meant to be dramatic, and now the smile is at something nearly full strength. "But you forget your spirit's purpose. You forget that they'll want to get you involved in so many more things. Let's go with an example we're both somewhat familiar with - Compassion. Do you really think Compassion likes it if Adelaide was to sleep in late? Certainly she can't push... but she can chatter. She can be impatient. They'll mean nothing wrong, but they'll be curious. About everything."

Sometimes it's very fun to be among the younger generation of mages again.

"And that includes any sort of romantic life you might have."

At hearing Detlef talk about the struggles Adelaide went through with Compassion he cannot help but grin a bit. The woman hinted at such things from time to time, but for the most part she didn't out right mention such things - not without a bit of wine at least.

Course the bit about a spirit and then someone else in your life has his grin dropping a bit. "Oh." He hadn't even thought about that part, but now that he was hearing about it he supposes it was something he was going to have to consider. "Like... what? They don't like it or they don't stop talking?"

It's the way of most with Compassion, drawn from his experiences and the talk of others. The Spirit cares so much that it can't help but want to interfere... and Cole is another excellent example of that.

Though that thought leaves his mind when Sam's smile fades some. So there is someone. Anders hopes they're prepared for what comes if Sam slips up, but he doesn't think the young man will, at least. "For the most part they'll leave you alone during. They can sense when you're wanting to be very focused. Most of them. Some cannot, or do not. After, that's when the questions come. They don't understand, and they want to. Why we seek out other people, and so on. If..."

Oh, this isn't a talk he thought he'd ever be having. He's a Grey Warden. He'll never have kids. And yet here he is. Anders glances at Sam and then shakes his head, smile turning wry. "Expect worry or interruptions the first time you go into heavier kinks, however, if you have them. Especially if you're working with someone along the lines of Compassion or Mercy. Warn your partner, too."

Honestly there hasn't been much talk or preparing when it comes to this subject matter. He's a mage, yes, but for the most part they've been more concerned about other things in the relationship. Guess another talk he'll have to consider having.

Sam nods for the most part at what Detlef is saying though the part about being very focused has him raising a brow. Course when the man starts talking about kinks - kinks mind you, doesn't even start with just having sex - Sam's eyes go a bit wide. It isn't any surprise that the subject manner has him blushing rather brightly as well. Well that had come out of almost no where as he romantic life hadn't necessarily equaled sex life.

"Ah... wow. Um... no? Well at least not yet?" Sam sighs and squeezes the bridge of his nose. Well obviously Detlef has had experience in this. "I'll keep that in mind."

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Wintermarch Is Always Interesting

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