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.

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[Apples were just what Gorse had been thinking. He'd get some apple seeds to plant anyway, even if it was a project he might not be around to see the end of depending on how this while Inquisition thing went.]

Three whole pounds? That's great! [Again, no sarcasm from this guy. He is truly relieved that Kas is now somewhere that he will get regular meals. The other option was potentially kidnapping him and dragging him home for momma to feed and that would just be damn rude. He grabs his shed shirt and tugs it back on, since he's mostly done with what he can get done with the daylight available.] I haven't been by the kitchens yet - I could probably grab you some extra bread if you're worried about the wrath of the cooks, if you want.

[Gorse's honesty and lack of sarcasm and belittling is really getting to the boy the longer they speak, and he's dropping little layers of his guard.]

Yeah, look!

[He flexes and it's wholly underwhelming but there is some padding there. Just enough to go from emaciated to skinny.]

I'm gonna eat and train and get really big, just like the rest of you!

[The rest, AKA all three damn male behemoths in this place...and Krem. He has the biggest hero crush on Krem.]

Um... if you're okay with it? I mean, I can wait or sneak in after they've gone to bed and raid the scraps again.

[Look, alright, Krem is basically Thedas' David Bowie. Everyone wants him, wants to be him, or both (usually both).]

If they catch you sneaking in they'll probably be pretty annoyed, so let's save that for later.

[Yeah he's using plural and talking like they're a team because whether Kas likes it or not he's basically becoming family and that means Gorse will look out for him as best he can.]

'Sides, they tend to think I eat way more than I do anyways, won't be hard.

[Not that he doesn't eat a lot, being one of the three male behemoths here though probably the smallest of them. The smallest extra large dude is still pretty giant. So he makes his way towards the kitchen and gestures for Kas to follow.]

Edited (ugh html) 2015-10-23 10:00 (UTC)

[Does this mean Gorse will wear way too revealing pants, too?]

I guess I shouldn't make them more upset with me...

[He's kind of liking this. Gorse was just... really nice, and he wasn't as afraid here, in Skyhold. Maybe he could be safe, make friends. A big nice guy to hide behind wouldn't be a bad thing.

He especially likes that Gorse speaks like they're in cahoots already. It makes him remember the people he ran with on the streets.]

Y'look like you eat a whole cow by yourself every day!

[Kas says, grinning a bit and following along like a curious duckling.]

[Not intentionally!! But look it isn't like Skyhold is used to having to make pants in the size he needs them in, and accidents happen every day.

Zevran would probably like that. Gorse has so far remained oblivious to the attention he can sometimes draw.]

Not the whole cow.

[Gorse grinned as he made his way to the kitchens, keeping his stride slower than normal so Kas wouldn't have to run to keep up with his much longer legs.]

Maybe like... half a cow. And a quarter later for a midnight snack. Dependin' on the size of the cow.

[Qunari were hot commodity on the sexy market, it seems. At least Kas was safe(r) thanks to being a teen.

It's really nice of Gorse to think of those shorter legs, and for once Kas doesn't have to half-jog to keep up with other qunari.]

Maybe you and the other big guys can eat cows together. Make your own herd and all.

[He slows a bit as they approach the kitchens and may or may not hide a bit behind Gorse. The cook was getting annoyed with him, after all.]

[Gorse mimics the sort of cow mooing noise, and you know, he's actually quite good at it (You should hear his bird calls). When Kas starts to slow Gorse does too, turning to the teenager.]

You wait out here while I get the goods, yeah?

[Like they're on some kind of secret heist for extra bread.]

[He snorts at the cow imitation, kind of impressed.

As Gorse turns, he freezes up a bit, as if he expects the guy to finally go 'muahaha I'm selling you out to the cook!'. It passes really quickly when he hears those words, however.

They were definitely in cahoots.]

Okay!

[Gorse gives Kas a nod then heads into the kitchens with exaggerated sneakiness.

Well, until he gets inside. Gorse has catnip for the kitchen cats which puts the cook in a good mood, and he always brings back various herbs for cooking he finds out growing wild so he's stayed on her good side in spite of the whole 'scary qunari' thing. He barely even has to ask for extra bread before he's given it, and after fetching a few heavy things from high shelves he's back out with a thank-you-kindly, stew in one hand and bread balanced in the other. He shifts the bread around a bit and hands all the extra to Kas as soon as he gets back outside. It even has a little butter on it, nice and warm!]

Successful mission, yeah?

[Meanwhile, Kas waits nervously, scratching the back of his leg with his other foot and looking like he's up to something. He's not that inconspicuous as he tries to be.

The teen beams when Gorse appears again, and then his hands are full of warm, buttery bread and he's in the Maker's bosom.]

You're the best!

[He's just gonna shove that in his mouth, now.]

[Gorse laughs, lightly and briefly ruffling Kas's hair.]

It won't go anywhere, don't choke yourself. C'mon, I need to find someplace to sit while I eat, I been movin' around all day and my legs are starting to feel it.

[Thankfully there's more than enough surfaces for sitting nearby, as long as one doesn't mind dirt, which Gorse clearly does not.]

[He shies away from the touch, but there was bread and he's fairly placated in the fear-department already.]

I... um.

[He plops down next to Gorse and east the next slice a little bit slower.]

You've been doing all this plant stuff all day?

[Gorse withdrawls the touch when Kas shies away and doesn't mention it. Well, maybe a little later. Hope springs eternal, and if anyone needed a hug it was this kid.]

Since I got back. Was out on a resources mission earlier with a small troop, got back with a lot of daylight left, figured I'd make myself useful with it and just lost track of time. Carting branches around will do that.

[Gorse also tries to pace himself at the eating, even if he's a couple hours late for when he would have normally eaten dinner and is pretty hungry, himself.]

[He really did need a hug and someone to trust. Unfortunately affection kind of creeped him out.]

Well... um... I'm gonna be a scout, so maybe I'll go with you sometimes.

[Kas shoves the second piece of bread in his mouth, patience gone.]

[Well, it was still early. Someday, Kas, when you have no idea you have gotten okay with it, you are going to get so hugged.]

That'd be great! [Gorse shows real enthusiasm there.] More company the better, and I'm sure you'll see a lot of stuff we'd otherwise miss. I could also badger you into helping me get plants that are in small spaces I can't get to.

[Which is pretty rare, but hey, make the kid feel like he'd be a valuable asset, right?]

[All hugs forever. Unofficial big bro, blame shield, smuggler by angry cook... congrats, Gorse.]

Really? I... uh... yeah, it will! [He's beaming again, oh no.] I got real good eyes for small things, and I bet I could reach...

[He holds out his hand near Gorse's own. It's... a little disappointing to see how tiny and thin it is, but maybe that was useful, now.

Maybe he was meant for this.]

[There's absolutely no way this will go horribly wrong later when the inevitable happens. No way at all.

Gorse looks down as Kas compares their hands, and yeah Kas' are really tiny. Well, better to reach into small spaces for that. Briefly and gently, Gorse knocks their knuckles together in a friendly manner.]

We'll make a great team.

[It's a little weird, that tiny friendly gesture, but... Kas wants to believe it. The smile remains, even as he stuffs himself with the last piece of bread like it was the sweetest thing in the world.]

I guess. Maybe when I learn more, I can be something rather than... this.

[He gestures to himself.]

I already started, so I ain't giving up.

[Gorse makes a mental note to accept whatever extra food he's given from now on so he can foist it off on Kas. He's a growing boy, after all, needs everything he can get.]

You're plenty now, alright? You wanna be more, that's fine, but ain't nothing wrong with you.

[He's gonna end up chubby in the end, isn't he?]

I'm an orphaned street kid who robbed people for scraps and spare change. [He says, quietly.] I'm a tiny, scrawny qunari with horns that won't grow any more. There's a lotta things wrong with me.

[Kas sticks his chin out a bit.]

So I'm going to change that.

[Um you need food to give you energy to build muscle ~~so maybe~~.]

You're a kid who got dealt a bad hand and you did the best with what you had. [And hey, he robbed Gorse so if anyone knows it's him. That's how it works, right?]

... But for what it's worth, I believe in ya.

[He's gonna be STRONG, you'll see. He's probably gonna move too much to put on chub, however.]

I...

[It's not what he expects at all, and Kas looks a bit lost for a moment. Gorse didn't blame him, and he believed in him? How many people had ever done that, even in the kith?

Flustered and not sure how to react, he settles his feelings by semi-punching Gorse in the shoulder. It's as close to affection he can handle.]

Thanks.

[Gorse laughs a bit at the punch, even if he makes an exaggerated wince at it, rubbing his arm.]

Not so hard, I need that arm.

[Because obviously Kas is big and strong already.]

[That wince makes him laugh and he even rolls his eyes a bit in a proper teenage bout of affection.]

Riiight. You got two, don't you? That's all you need to bring me bread.

As you command. [Gorse is almost laughing too hard here to finish his own food, give him a second.]

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issala - 2015-11-03 14:17 (UTC) - Expand

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