faderift | Tomorrow will be kinder.

WHO: Maxwell Trevean and Open
WHAT: Maxwell's got some things he'd like to get done before the Inquisition heads out.
WHEN: Before heading to the Emprise
WHERE: Around Skyhold
NOTES: One prompt is smoopy. You have been warned.

Archery Range:

Settled in the garden, Maxwell and his belongings had been right in the path of the abomination. He'd managed to escape unscathed, but the rest of his things weren't as lucky. Many were damaged, or outright destroyed. And replacing them was not as easy it had once been.

Keenly aware that he had no real right to complain, and that the alternatives - on either side - could be much worse, he said nothing about it. Merely put his head down, and got to work. Doing whatever he could to earn a little extra coin, or to trade for replacement clothes and bedding. (And maybe, if he was lucky, enough extra to prepare for the trek to the frigid mountains of the Emprise.)

The archery range was a good place for this. Any bowman worth their salt could fletch and sharpen their own arrows, but it was busy work and Maxwell didn't mind offering his hands and time for a small fee. For a larger price he'd even tend to the bows themselves - restringing, and waxing, maybe a little customization? How about some nice engraving?

He liked the work, and it put a little money in his pocket. A victory all around, in Maxwell's book.

Forge:

When he'd filled his requests for the day, and when Skyhold's blacksmiths had hung up their tools for the night, Maxwell took their place with some work of his own. He hoped that he might be able to finish his gift for Gavin before the Inquisition broke for the Emprise. He didn't know if the elf was going, or even if he was, how much they might see of each other while they were there. (It wasn't a holiday, after all.)

The idea of getting the necklaces finished, and being able to take a piece of each other where ever they went... it made him smile, and pushed him to work that much harder, stoking the fires long into the night.

Skyhold Wild Card:

There was time, occasionally, for tea or ale in the Herald's Rest. And he was still looking for some corner of the castle to call his own, after the last had been burnt to a crisp. Even if neither were particularly productive, he did get to meet all sorts of new faces.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maxwell laughed.

"It took me the better part of the year to perfect that trick," he said, with a shake of his head. "But a year will spent."

It had reminded him of the time at the Grand Tourney. Of his time with Gavin.

"Well done."

Her smile widened at that, before she admitted as she hooked the bow back over her shoulder.

"It took me the better part of two years - both the splitting of the first arrow, and then the second one."

She dipped her bow, before she looked at him. "You too. You're one hell of an archer."

"Practice," he said again, grin flashing in his eyes.

Always practice and patience.

"And thank you. We should go on a hunt sometime, between us I bet we could bring back rabbits enough to make stew for everyone."

"What a funny thing ... that's the same thing I use." Katniss said, with an almost completely straight face, before she smirked.

Then she arched an eyebrow at him.

"Ser, with this kind of shooting? I hope you meant august rams."

The grin was back, pleased by her response.

"It's harder to carry a few dozen of those at once," he replied, corners of his eyes wrinkled handsomely with humor.

"Tsk, Maxwell. Haven't you ever built a sled before?" Katniss arched an eyebrow at him, smiling. "Clearly some hunter around her was something of a city boy."

"Is that you offering to pull it?" Maxwell shot back, enjoying the playful joking. "Clearly someone here has more muscles than she let on."

"Well if the big strong man can't handle it? The wiry young woman certainly can." She shot back, her smirk now in full force. "Just because of my figure is willowy doesn't mean the willow's branches are going to snap, friend."

He laughed.

"That sounds like a challenge if ever I heard one," he said. And he did so love them. "You just let me know when you want to go."

She smirked again, tilting her head to the side.

"How about when I get back from Emprise du Lion? I'll need to go hunting then."

"I'll be headed to the Emprise too," Maxwell replied, murmuring thoughtfully. "But I'm sure we can work something out once we're both back."

He lifted the little chain around his neck that his sending crystal was on.

"Just ask after Maxwell."

"Excellent - then just after Katniss." She pulled out her own crystal, flashing a warm smile.

"We'll see who can take down the most rams."

"We will see," he challenged with a grin and wink.

Then he turned to return to his tools and her arrows, and to his work.

Tomorrow will be kinder.

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