[ OPEN ] Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time

[ombranera]

WHO: Zevran and YOU
WHAT: Zevran's Birthday and Ardent Blossom Contest
WHEN: Forward dated to Guardian 5
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Shenanigans connected to this announcement

Someone had been a sneaky little shit, preying on Zevran's lack of familiarity with traditions and dates and the weight people tend to put on something so mundane as a 'birthday'. Someone (Alistair) had spread word and made a thing of it, despite Zevran not seeing the point nor truly wishing to cause a fuss. He had, however, decided to take a day for himself to do nothing. No fuss, no stress, no real work. A day to indulge in a few of his many hobbies. He did not know what one did on their birthday normally but here he was, sitting in the Courtyard with one of his found spoils on his head, awaiting those that paid mind to his earlier announcement. When he wasn't idly sketching whoever he saw in the courtyard he was in the Herald's rest, enjoying a quiet drink and making notes on the better stories or songs he has heard throughout the day.

Comments

[ombranera]

"...you named your dog Barkley. That. That is almost as awful as Barkspawn." Much as he missed the beast, the name had been singularly terrible. It would have been better if Jonas simply named it 'dog'. And yet here he was, mid stroke on a sketch of The Lady of The Forest- what he could recall of her. Dark eyes, long hair, roots entwined about her form. He set his pen and journal aside before the cookies are quite deposited.

Sweet and crumbly- the sort Sten loved. "Thank you, Merrill."

[chainlightning]

Wow don't be rude, Zevran. Still, Barkley perks his ears up at the sound of his name and wiggles over, tail wagging, which makes Merrill giggle (and forget about the name) and pet the pup behind the ears.

"You're welcome! I hope you like them, but if not, I'm sure I can find some others that you'd enjoy more."

[ombranera]

"These and your company- and that of Barkley- is more than enough." A friend, something sweet, and a furry little beast to nudge with his boot (gently) and watch how it moves. They are such excitable things, these dogs. "Alistair has one now. He named it Doghren."

[chainlightning]

Barkley mostly moves like he's still getting used to having legs, which is likely true. He's a rather rotund little thing who will end up with a tail the same size as his body and a large head, but otherwise short limbs; for now, he looks a bit like the product of a dog and a nug instead of two dogs.

"Did he?" Merrill laughs. "We'll have to get them together to play; they're probably littermates!"

[ombranera]

"If you got yours from lady Benevenuta, most likely. How she conned him into i I will never know. But Barkley, at least, is not so hideous. Doghren looks as though she crawled out of Oghren's beard." She is as vile as Barkley is darling, truly. But Zevran reaches down to scratch behind the dog's ears.

[chainlightning]

"She seems very charming! But yes, then they're siblings!" Another laugh and Merrill also pets Barkley, the little pup excitedly wriggling at the attention and trying to lick Zevran's wrist. "Is his beard that bad?"

[ombranera]

"I saw him pull a nug bone out of it in the deep roads. We hadn't ever eaten nug." Leliana couldn't bear to see it. "That was after we had him with us for the better part of a month."

[chainlightning]

"Oh, dear. And it wasn't a decoration?" Because she can understand a decoration, but otherwise...

"Are all beards that- untidy?"

sure they are. face bears.

[ombranera]

"Not at all. And- I think, perhaps, it was a uniquely Oghren trait. Other Dwarves we met kept their beards quite well groomed." Such a special little snowflake, their berzerker.

okay that's true

[chainlightning]

"The first time I ever saw anyone with a beard, I thought it was a squirrel," Merrill admits with a little laugh. "Imagine how confused I would have been if Oghren were the first person with a beard I ever met."

[ombranera]

"...To be honest I think a squirrel crawled out of it once." What a mess that thing had been.

[chainlightning]

"...Oh, dear."

There's a glance toward Barkley. Note to self: keep dog groomed.

"Wasn't it heavy?"