it takes strength to live this way

[qunari]

WHO: Iron Bull and OPEN
WHAT: General summary of events during the end of the month. Drinking, fighting, more drinking, maybe a little flirting.
WHEN: Mid-to-late Wintermarch
WHERE: All over the damn place. Mostly the tavern and sparring ring, though.
NOTES: n/a

He was starting to feel a little restless. By now, the boss would have taken them all out on some exploit or another, and even if he was glad to be at Skyhold again? Sitting idle could grate on the nerves a bit.

The best way to counter that seemed to be throwing down in the training ring just outside the tavern, taking on all comers as well as training those that seemed of a mind to ask. Cullen had most of his people following their own regime, but if they wanted a swing at something else? He wouldn’t refuse them. Not everyone fought like a templar.

The rest of the time, Bull made himself easy to find. Easy to avoid, too, if that was the preference of some. And he knew it was, from the glimpsed he’d gotten of the Vashoth inside the keep. But it was no hardship holding court inside the comfort of the tavern, indulging heavily in drinks and working his way down the menu of available meals and snacks.

It was business as usual, for the most part. Even if he did feel a little more restless than usual. Had to find a way to get out, hit something that really had it coming.

Or find someone to pass the evening with. That might help.

Comments

[qunari]

"You're thinking of the show that comes later. Lot more oil, lot less clothing."

Bull turned with a smirk, regarding the woman with swift glance up and down. Fighter. Might be here to join in, not just a spectator. "Planning on stepping in? Seem to have run out of guys to hit," he added, jerking a thumb over his shoulder to the last of his opponents, still doubled over and panting.

[unbrokenoath]

"Oh, really? Now that sounds like a show that I'd be willing to spend money on tickets for. Or at least hear about. In detail."

She flutters her eyelashes at Bull for a moment, a shit-eating grin on her face, then turns to something that she enjoys as much as flirting--hitting people with big swords. She walks over to the weapons rack, and pulls a greatsword off of it, hefting it a little to get the feel for its weight. "It'd be my genuine pleasure. I don't get the chance to spar with a lot of people your size." Probably because there are very few people outside of Par Vollen and Seheron that're his size. "But hey, you can't be any worse than an ogre."

For a brief moment, she is ungently reminded of the reason for such a resemblance, and blanches. But that's nothing she wants to picture when she's trying to beat the tar out of a perfectly nice fellow.

"So, first blood, pushed out of the circle, or just stop when one of us calls uncle?" Swinging the sword around, she begins to roll her shoulders, popping her neck. "And do you want a wager, or just put our pride on the line?"

[qunari]

"Never turned down the opportunity to win a few rounds of drinks. And let's go to first blood. I've got the feeling you can take more than you let on. We don't wanna be here all day."

Though watching someone her size maneuver that greatsword around? Yeah. That's hot. He wouldn't mind watching her go for a while yet.

He'll take his axe up for this one, head crooking to one side and then the other, before putting himself into a starting stance. One hand beckons, inviting her to take the first swing at him.

[unbrokenoath]

"Alright, then, drinks it is. First blood is fine with me, just, ah. Make sure if I'm the one bleeding, you don't let my blood, uh. Get mixed up with yours." She's never been sure what that might do to a person, getting her own stupid corrupted blood mixed up in their systems. It was an experiment that Kaisa wasn't eager to attempt.

She watches him get into position, thinking this over. With his size, her best bet was to use her smaller size to advantage--But Kaisa was not, in general, used to being small enough to have any real advantage with it. She certainly wasn't a rogue, leaping around the battlefield. Alright, well, how would she take on an ogre?

She closed her eyes, not approaching Iron Bull just yet. Instead, she drew into that font of anger that had always been available, gotten her into plenty of trouble throughout the years. It was easy to get mad and fight, but it took practice to control that rage, to be able to pull it out and set it away, when needed. When she opened her eyes, she could feel that rage beginning to course through her veins. Good.

And it was with a loud shriek that she ran at the qunari, racing forward and slashing low.

[qunari]

"Right. That whole...taint thing. No thanks." Bull makes a face briefly before rolling his shoulders and settling back into position. Waiting. Watching her wind herself up, the energy a near palpable thing coiling up around her.

Well alright. Might be a decent fight after all.

With a grunt, Bull swung low to meet her slash, before pushing force it -- and her -- back a few steps. But he was baiting her, waiting to see what else she had up her sleeves, and if she was willing to throw her all into it?

Might get real interesting.

[unbrokenoath]

On the list of things she wasn't used to, having someone manage to bodily shove her back, wearing full armor and all, was right up there. He was strong, real strong. And he seems to have a good handle on it, to boot.

Well, this was going to be fun.

Kaisa raises her sword once more, and lets out another angry shout as she swings. This time, she aims higher, enough to throw her strength and her weight into it. Time to see just how much he could handle, before trying to form any plans that went further than 'hit him a lot'.

[qunari]

Easier to side-step than to block, angling to let the blow rake past his armored side before sweeping low at her legs. She's no slouch, but any perceived motion to overextend herself against a larger foe? He's going to take.

She's got some real heft behind the movement, however. He can see that. She coils, lets it gather, and then it explodes into action. Not many women he knows fight that way, preferring finesse, precision, speed. Not this Warden.

Well, figure you go up against the horde as often as they do, your technique probably changes.