Skyhold

[faderifting]

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.

Comments

[samahl]

"Oh yeah," he says. "It's not as if the bad things were going to stay here, you know. I'd rather face it head on than wait for it to over take my Clan. They're not warriors. They're people. We came here to protect them."

[el_tybs]

Sam shakes his head and rubs the back of his neck. "That... was not what I was meaning."

He sighs and tries to think of a better way to say it. "We're all here to protect people. I just meant... I've already seen a lot of ugly things. It's good to have a friend here, but I'd hate to see anything happen to you."

[samahl]

Cyril considers that for a moment. "I feel the same about you," he says finally. "Now that I know you're here, but considering you've managed so far I'd imagine that you can take care of yourself."

Even despite the fact that he's the type to fall out of his chair.

[el_tybs]

Sam raises a brow. He has a feeling Cyril is thinking something that goes against what he just said. "Ah huh." He waits for a moment then gives another shrug.

"I chalk it up to dumb luck." He laughs lightly at that.

[samahl]

"Don't cut yourself short," Cyril explained, smiling a bit at the sound of Sam's laugh. "Luck is a good thing to have on your side."

[el_tybs]

At that, Sam looks at his hand as if considering something. After a moment he flexes it then puts it back down on the counter. Looking back at Cyril he smiles. "Even if it's dumb?"

[samahl]

"Dumb can be charming," Cyril counters, amused.

[el_tybs]

Sam takes a drink to hide the blush that is returning. "I've never heard dumb luck being called charming."

[samahl]

"Perhaps you've not met very many open minded men and women," Cyril points out. He tilts his head a bit, enjoying the sight of the blush.

[el_tybs]

"Afraid not. Not many consider being a Mage lucky." The words are out before Sam can think about them. He stops drinking when he does realize what he's said and rolls his eyes. He's failing at turning the conversation to happier conversation.

His head is obviously not screwed in right at the moment.

[samahl]

"How do you think of it?" Cyril asks. He doesn't seem too shocked to find out that he slept with a mage. "I've known plenty of mages who consider it both a gift and a curse."

[el_tybs]

Sam raises a brow at Cyril. "That's... simply putting it." He takes a drink just because it's something to do. "I don't think of it in those terms. I'm just me. Just sometimes me can me equally dangerous as I am helpful."

[samahl]

Cyril watches him for a moment before speaking. "That's the way it is for everyone, isn't it?" he asks. He's careful to keep his tone inquisitive rather than assumptive. He keeps his own opinions on mages carefully protected as he gauges what Sam's opinions are. "I can be dangerous or helpful as well."

[el_tybs]

Sam chuckles at that. Not at Cyril, but at the subject. It's something he rarely talks about with other people. Leaning over closer to Cyril he tilts his head towards the door. "It's a nice night. How bout we go for a walk? Bit too many people around for this kind of conversation."

Sam gets up and tosses a few coins on the counter and offers his hand for Cyril to use.

[samahl]

Cyril takes that hand because he's always a fan of physical attention. He moves to walk with Sam. He didn't drink much of the alcohol and leaves it there as he goes with Sam.

"Lead the way."

[el_tybs]

Sam smiles and helps Cyril up, releasing his hand after. Turning he clears a way towards the front door then holds it open for Cyril.

Once outside Sam shivers, having gotten used to the heat inside. It's bearable though. He doesn't have a particular place to go, but it feels better to be outside talking.

"You can be dangerous or helpful." Sam smiles as he confirms that, looking down at the Elf. "Do you have difficulty being one or the other?"

[samahl]

Cyril walks with him and finds himself enjoying the cool air. "I suppose not?" he says carefully, wanting mostly to let Sam make his point.

[el_tybs]

Sam looks at Cyril curiously. Come to think of it he doesn't know Dalish mages at all. Did they have the same issues? Or was this something that only came up because of the Chantry? Maybe he'd be able to ask later.

"Me neither." Sam pauses. "For the most part." He takes that time to sit down on a rock. "You remember how we first met?"

[samahl]

"In vivid detail," Cyril responds with a bit of a smile. After all, given how things went between them why would he want to forget?

[el_tybs]

Sam coughs lightly into a fist and looks away at that answer. His cheeks were red from the cold, but to him they felt warm.

Right. Cyril was going to make getting over things harder.

Sighing, Sam looks back up at the Elf. "So you remember that I was sitting at the bar at whatever Maker forsaken hour that was in the early morning. Dreaming... sometimes isn't pleasant." There was a pause, as if Sam wanted to say something else, but quickly dismisses it. "It worries me sometimes that if I'm not careful, I might not be me when my eyes open."

[samahl]

Cyril took note of that reaction and reminded himself to stop. He wasn't used to having to wheel it in as much, but the last thing he wanted was to make things more difficult for Sam. Perhaps trying to be his friend was the wrong choice?

But seemed too late to take that back now, and Sam could probably use someone to look out or him. That feeling of protectiveness only got worse with what Sam said then.

"That fear... It must be exhausting. To think that you can't even rest when you sleep..."

[el_tybs]

"I'm sure I'm not the only one. Just doesn't get talked about a lot."

Sam rests his chin on his hands then motions with his head for Cyril to take a seat next to him. Regardless of how things transpired he was glad to see the Elf again. He'd just have to figure a few things out.

"Least with 'shems' if they hear you're having issues with demons you're watched like you'd blow up any moment."

[samahl]

Cyril is careful as he sits, not wanting to get too much into Sam's personal space.

"That Dalish treasure our mages," he says, carefully. He isn't sure how much he can explain that Sam would understand. "Keepers are mages and they hold the history of Our People."

[el_tybs]

Sam turns his head to look at Cyril, listening intently.

"Keepers are the... leaders or other of your Clan, right?" His words are equally careful. He isn't very well versed about the Dalish except for what he's read or from the few he did get to talk to at Skyhold. Last thing he wants to do is insult anyone.

[samahl]

"That's right. They are also our guardians and protectors. In Clan Ashara, the Keeper has children of her own and many of us were raised by the Clan collectively. That makes us... feel much more like a family." He isn't sure if that's the case for other Clans. He can only really speak to his own experiences.