faderift | Skyhold

Skyhold

WHO: Anyone & everyone
WHAT: Open post for business as usual around Skyhold
WHEN: The first couple weeks of Harvestmere, 9:41 (aka October)
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Please mark any necessary content warnings in thread subject lines. Also, make sure to check out the other log posts already made!

Far from the glamorous adventurous world-saving people signed up for, most of the hustle and bustle in Skyhold at present is cleaning. The Great Hall is a disaster, and crews are assigned to haul out the cracked and rotting planks fallen from the wide-open roof, and tear down the vines covering the walls. Ivy encrusts the main staircase outside and many of the fortress walls and is cleared in section while other groups assess or begin shoring up the stonework as it's revealed. There are scaffolding to build, materials to sort, crates to unload, tents to stitch together or set-up, and on and on and on, endless mundane chores vital to the survival of the organization.

When not hard at work, people cluster around fires across the courtyards. Many mingle freely, going about their business, running errands and messages, planning scouting missions, tallying up supplies, distributing or playing with the sending crystals that were found in a basement vault and which a group of mages have just today finished preparing for use. Once a good number have been passed around and the first Inquisition-wide transmission made messages start being broadcast; maybe you can help someone out.

The rebel mages and renegade templars mainly keep to themselves at opposite sides of the complex given the choice. Mages assist with healing and research and bicker amongst themselves about their options and their fate. Templars help train recruits in swordforms and basic combat techniques or spar with the more advanced and bicker amongst themselves about their options and their fate. Despite having all pledged themselves to the Inquisition, they still feel like separate factions and tension between them is palpable wherever they cross paths.

Like at meals, or the communal message board in the courtyard, or at the Herald's Rest. The mess hall/tavern is so new it still smells of sawdust, and its stock has been limited to one type of strong ale until today, when a shipment of West Hill brandy has finally arrived. The mood in the place is convivial in celebration of that, but there's still plenty of muttering, especially as the night drags on and the discontented get further into their cups.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Taas!

[Gorse's boots were still caked with snow from the climb up the path to Skyhold, having not even been inside the warmed enclosure from the underground hotsprings enough to melt it off yet. He'd seen the other Qunari and was so happy to see his friend (because beers + talk meant eternal friendship of course) that he came jogging right over. Remembering the way the other was careful to read his lips, he waved his arms along with calling out his name - a wave of hello, sure, but also to make sure the movement caught his attention if the sound couldn't.]

You're here! It's great to see you again!

[There was an odd spark of relief inside him when he noticed Gorse (and thank you, kid, for the waving. It helped.) The younger qunari was in one piece, it seemed!

Walking over to meet him, he clasped Gorse's arm in greeting.]

It's good to see you! Looks like you managed to stomp through all that snow without disappearing.

[Gorse laughed, he was not one to vanish under the snow, dark gray skin and being tall enough to stick out even under the worse snow drifts kind of made him the pack horse replacement that lead the way through some of the worst parts for the smaller Inquisition scouts. Poor elves would have just sunk straight down. Dwarves were tiny as well but they were solid, Gorse was pretty sure one with them could have punched a hole straight through the mountain. He returned the friendly gesture - normally Gorse was a hug for a greeting type of person but he knew around soldiers you had to be more careful. Some needed more space than others when it came to touching.]

I will have you know that I love the snow. Your employer here? Or didja join up with the Inquisition? [He rather fails at hiding the excitement at the possibility of the second, because then it means that his friend will stick around for longer while the first means he might leave as soon as his employer does.]

[Hugs aren't bad, but he's not on that level yet. The younger qunari was definitely growing on him, though. It was a bit of fresh air to see someone so well-adjusted outside of the Qun.

Plus he was kind of adorable and Taas wasn't immune to big brother vibes.]

Not a fan of it myself, but it doesn't matter. I've trekked through worse.

[Gorse seems excited, and Taas rubs the back of his head.]

I don't know, kid. I got stranded here when my employer left with an Inquisition escort.

[Gorse had a way with sort of putting people in familial boxes when it came to dealing with them. It was his most familiar way to relate to people.

Badum-ching.

A bit of the excitement fades at being told that Taas is not in fact joined up with the Inquisition - not yet anyway, and also for his sad state of being more or less abandoned here by his employer. Sure Gorse would love for him to join up and that's kind of a great time to do so but he can still be empathetic to the plight of a friend. The emotions flit across his expression clear as daylight.]

Oh gosh, that's awful. I'm sorry, Taas. There's lota dignitaries coming through here every day though, I'm sure one of 'em needs a bodyguard.

[He notices that slight downturn in excitability at his words, and has to resist ruffling the younger qunari's hair. Kid really put way too much effort into people he barely knew.

It was endearing and dangerous.]

Don't worry, I usually manage anyway. Big guy like me? Someone always wants to fight something, or need a hand with heavy lifting. Could help getting me some new contracts, too.

[Taas grins again, patting Gorse's shoulder.]

Hows your thing going? They got you on a payroll, yet?

That I am! Signed up and everything all official like, 'parently I'm pretty useful to have around. [This makes him unreasonably pleased.] I was worried I wouldn't be able to do nothin' out here.

[Taas grins, a bit relieved. Looks like Gorse was accepted and getting all his dreams fulfilled, just like a sweet kid like himself should.]

That's great to hear. You're an asset.

[Gorse laughs easily] I dunno if I'd go that far. M'sure roughing up your sparring partners is just as useful, preps them for a more serious battle, yeah?

[Not that he would actually know but that sounds sensible?]

[He snorts at that, grinning.]

Yeah, if they're gonna fight some crazy darkspawn and a dragon, I'm sure a big lug like me will look easy. I'll put some force into it and maybe fold, give them a bit of an ego to bring to the real fights.

[Taas flexes a big arm with an amused look.]

So where are you staying? They got any good lodgings for you?

Mostly I just throw my bedroll down wherever there's room that night. Ain't had to worry about rain here so far. [Though he tends to wake up with the kitchen cats huddled around him, and one time one of the chickens. Well, he's a big warm guy, so.] How bout you?

I bought a spot to put my bedroll in one of the towers together with a load of other people... since I'm not actually part of the Inquisition and the Tavern is full.

[He hasn't had animals cuddle him. Mostly freezing soldiers randomly leaning to him or people he actually invited.]

That must be nice and warm, you got a roof and everything?

[Half the time Gorse was up on the ramparts or broken down sections no one else would brave but were perfectly stable, really.]

I do. You don't? It's cold out there.

[ffs kid don't worry him.]

I'm alright with the cold! Grew up in it so I'm better than most.

[It's a funny sight, really, their home in the winter. Ferelden is terribly cold after all, winters being even more dark and dreary with a chill that doesn't go away - a stark contrast to the adults who grew up in tropical Par Vollen. The adults will be in twenty layers while the children - born and raised in the only cold home they've ever known - run around in half that.]

'Sides, somehow the kitchen cats always find me and they're sweet things. Long as it doesn't rain I've got nothing to worry about, and the view of the stars is absolutely worth it.

[Yes he will find a bright side about everything, even not having a roof.]

[Taas feels their pain. He likes to wear at least one bear when out in the cold.]

Alright. Just don't get yourself sick.

Aw, sweet of you to worry. Promise I'll be careful, won't be much help to no one if I got the sniffles.

[Man Gorse you are so cute. He's gonna have to protect you, isn't he?]

You don't look like the kind that whines when he gets sick, so if you do get the sniffles I'll bring you soup.

[Considering he can't even throw a punch and is far too trusting? Almost certainly.]

Ha, guess I'm the kind that feels better when I take care of others, that'd be real kind of you but if you wanna keep your distance to avoid gettin' sick too I promise I'd understand.

[Essentially this forever. NO TOUCH.]

I've got a good immune system, kid. And I make a mean soup.

I won't argue if you're sure! [Still, you know, no pressure. While Gorse's standards of friendship are pretty low - one conversation, no stabbing, the last one is sort of optional because hey people got all sorts of reasons and some spook easy - he really does feel like he's got a genuine friend in Taas and that makes him unreasonably happy.]

[He had been 'Reth' (Protect) to the children under his Tamassran while young. He still had some of that in him, and Gorse was just stepping on all his buttons.

Plus he actually really liked the younger qunari. He was a fresh breath compared to all the hardened warriors he knew.]

I'm sure. We should have a drink when you're free.

I'm free now - unless you got more soldiers to rough up, wouldn't wanna get in the way of that.

[Training is serious business even if it isn't his jam. He's still trying not to laugh again.]

[He clasps a hand on the younger qunari's shoulder and chuckles.]

Oh, I think I have some time. I may have scared off the other recruits for a while.

Lucky for me, then!

[Well, he feels a LITTLE bad for the poor soldiers that got scared off. But just a little, since it means more time with his buddy.]

Have you made any other friends since you got here?

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I had a hard enough gigglefit at that I think I got stares at the coffee shop THANKS.

I win!

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