Wintermarch Is Always Interesting

[el_tybs]

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.

Comments

[el_tybs]

He gives an exaggerated huff at hearing they have to clean even though he's already grabbing the spices and heading towards where Christine had gotten them from. "What kind of tea should we have?" he calls over his shoulder.

[aceso]

"Something for the afternoon," she replies, wiping up the flour mess. A tea that can be enjoyed with biscuits would be best, but first she needs to leave the kitchen as she found it.

"You are the birthday boy, so you may decide."

[el_tybs]

"The 'birthday boy' asked 'you' what you wanted to have," he calls back. "And what kind of tea is good for the afternoon? I can literally drink the same stuff all day long."

[aceso]

Christine rolls her eyes, but she's smiling too. All right, she'll pick. She roots around for boxes of tea leaves, giving several a sniff and shaking the leaves around to see what's in it.

"Something lighter than morning tea," she muses. "Perhaps an herbal tea? How do you feel about mint?"

[el_tybs]

"Can't say I've drank a lot of mint tea to tell you how I feel about it, but herbal mint sounds good for while we're waiting." Coming back Sam looks at Christine expectantly, not quite sure where anything is. "Kettle and mugs?"

[aceso]

"Ah, over here." She walks around the kitchen like it's her very own now, setting everything out before handing him the kettle.

"Make yourself useful and fetch some water from the well, hmm?"

[el_tybs]

'Make yourself useful'. Being handed the kettle, Sam raises his brows, a small grin pulling at his lips though he's trying to look offended. "Bossy aren't we?"

Even though he says that Sam still gives a bit of a bow before wandering off to go fill the kettle. He doesn't take long to do it, but he certainly takes longer than needed, whistling a bit when he returns.

[aceso]

"Better that someone be than no one," she replies, smirking a little. While he's gone, she continues the clean up until the kitchen is actually in more order than how the last cook left it. Christine has managed to resist reorganized all the shelves, but only because no cooks are there for her to point out the changes to, and she knows she'd throw a fit if she returned to the healer's tent and found her system in disarray.

"Good. Just hang it over the fire there."

[el_tybs]

"Well you certainly seem very much at home with all this," he comments, hanging the kettle over the fire as instructed. "I'm glad you decided to do this. Ah, not make me a pie, the learning to cook part. You look like you really enjoy doing it." Christine seems livelier in general really since the time they met at that party.

[aceso]

Christine is a woman who enjoys conquering challenges, but the limits placed on mages meant that it was often nothing more than conquering a difficult spell. And then her Harrowing, of course. Since then, she's been working up towards Spirit Healing, but once that's complete, what else can she do? She needs to branch out and try new things. Cooking is a good start.

"I do enjoy it, yes. I am very good at following instructions. Some cooks simply know by looking, and that is harder to translate into writing, but I am coming along."

[el_tybs]

"So you're trying to get to the point where your one of those cooks who can just look and then make it? Should I start calling you Cook-chanter?" It's a terrible name, but it's amusing - at least to him. "Do you want sugar or honey with your tea?" he asks as an after thought.

[aceso]

She gives him a look before rolling her eyes.

"I am hoping to have it come naturally, yes. And sugar, please. Three spoonfuls."

[el_tybs]

The look only has Sam grinning more. You might have a new nickname Christine.

"Three spoonfuls?" he asks, going to go grab the sugar and bringing it back to the counter. "No wonder you're so sweet."

[aceso]

Christine exhales a laugh while trying to make it look like she isn't smiling. That fails almost immediately.

"I like sweet things. Perhaps it gives me my personality, yes?"

[el_tybs]

Sam watches with amusement at her reaction, leaning on the counter with raised brow.

"Hm, perhaps. Does it give you your magical powers, too?"

[aceso]

"If it did, then what is your excuse, hmm?"

Christine lets that hang in the air as she checks the kettle, carefully removing it with a towel to pour a cup of hot water through the tea leaves.

[el_tybs]

"Well clearly I was bred from a mabari. That's how I got my magic." He smirks at that since Christine is always poking at him about Ferelden and dogs.

[aceso]

"Ah, that must be it. You must take care to check yourself for fleas." She says it in good humor, and then focuses on the second cup. Once the water is poured, she sets the kettle aside and slides her cup along the counter so he can give her the sugar she requested.

"Though you are very good... for a magic dog. I think you may be ready for your spirit companion soon."

[el_tybs]

"I'll be sure to do just that if I start scratching myself obsessively. Though you really can't check yourself for fleas. Someone else has to do it," he says in equal good humor. At being given her cup Sam grab one of the spoons and scoops out three slightly rounded spoonfuls of sugar into her tea before sliding it back.

"Woof." He grins taking a sip of his tea but then quickly putting it back down - still too hot. "Adelaide and Detlef think so as well. I'm actually rather nervous about it."

[aceso]

"It is the most dangerous part. I would be worried if you were not nervous." But suddenly she reaches out, a hand touching his arm lightly. "But I believe you will attract the attention of a good spirit. Those who already have darkness and doubt inside them are easier for demons to corrupt. You are honest and pure, Sam. A demon would not even try to touch you."

[el_tybs]

Christine does have a point that others might be easier to corrupt, but he's pretty sure it doesn't work like that with demons. He was still a mage. Even so it isn't a point to actually bring up; she's just trying to make him feel better.

"I'm sure I will, too. Should I take notes for when you have to go through yours?"

[aceso]

Christine nods seriously before taking her cup in both hands and letting it warm her hands.

"I would appreciate that." And she would pray for him while he was going through it.

[el_tybs]

He'll have to make sure there are little drawings too. Not that he's good at them, but still, mostly to make her laugh.

For a while it's like that, chatting about things here or there as they enjoy their tea - maybe a couple cups seeing as it takes a while. After a bit though Sam raises his brows and looks at the oven. "That's smelling really good."

[aceso]

"It is. Probably a sign it is ready, no?" She takes a couple of towels to protect her hands as she slides it out of the oven and places it on the counter. The crust is golden brown while the apples are steaming and their juices bubbling.

"Now it needs to cool a little before we can have some." Or they can wait as long as they can and eat it before it gets to that point.

[el_tybs]

Quite honestly he doesn't want to wait, but burning his mouth because of being too eager wouldn't be fun either. Instead Sam just sighs and sips at his tea. "You know what? It's too bad we didn't think of making whipped cream while we were waiting." Either way it was going to be good.