OPEN - Then the mountain rose before me

[pinprick]

WHO: Nathaniel Howe and YOU
WHAT: Nathaniel settles into Skyhold
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Will update with any warnings that come up.

Courtyard

A dark-haired man in his late thirties or early forties is sitting on a camp stool and shaving, hair damp from a recent wash. He has a couple of inches of black beard he's mostly getting rid of, leaving only a soul patch under his lip. He works the brush while flinching at the cold and peering into a small mirror. The cold is not his friend when the razor comes out, either, but it's too dark inside for shaving. He manages the shave without cutting himself from shivering, at least. Come bother him.

Great Hall

Later, he's inside on a chair by the fire in the great hall, warming up. His feet are propped up on another chair. He's enjoying a lazy session of people-watching, smoking from a pipe and listening to a nearby psaltery player. If you catch his eyes on you, he will give a courteous nod and politely direct his gaze elsewhere. His posture is fairly open, so if you want to approach, he'll speak with you.

Tavern

It's after dark that he goes into the tavern and enjoys the smells and sounds, and occasional polite conversation. But it isn't terribly long before, lulled by warmth and safety, he cocoons himself in his cloak, rests his head against the wall, and falls soundly asleep. Until something wakes him up.

WILDCARD

Comments

[pinprick]

Oh excellent, she's sparing a tired man the obnoxiousness. He gives her a smile.

"He is. Thank you for remembering. They're both safe, thank the Maker."

[unbrokenoath]

"Of course. Delilah was always real nice to my family." She returned the smile, leaning back comfortably in her chair. This place sure was a lot nicer than having to be on the run. Ugh. "My family's been doing well. It seems like the conflict between the mages and the Templars didn't reach the city, nor did this whole business with the rifts. At least, not enough to put a damper on things." Though she suspected that just like Denerim, Amaranthine would plod on no matter the chaos. It was a Fereldan thing.

"My mother's main concern seemed to be grousing about my sister trying to sneak out to meet boys. Told her I'd rather have her wrestling with a teenager than a fade rift any day." Besides, the girl was 15. Like Kaisa or her mother before her were any better.

[pinprick]

Nathaniel bobs his head. "Amaranthine's pretty far from the fighting. When were you there last?"

[unbrokenoath]

"May the Maker let it stays that way. I haven't visited in too long. It always feels weird." She shrugs, pressing her lips together. "Like--I dunno. I have it stuck in my head one way, and it changes so much by the time I get back, I hardly recognize anything. But it's good to see my family." She glanced back to him. "What about you? Anywhere you go back to?"

[pinprick]

"Amaranthine as well. That's where my family is."