faderift | I thought that I've been hurt before.

WHO: Taas + Open
WHAT: Catch-all for February
WHEN: After his return from the Crow event and the rest of the month.
WHERE: Mostly Skyhold, Herald's Rest
NOTES: CR for new and old characters alike!

Tavern

It was usually early in the evening when Taashath lumbered towards the tavern. He usually had an ale or two, maybe something to eat and chatting with friends and newcomers alike. After the rescue of Zevran in Antiva, however, he was drinking more, eating less and rarely talking to people.

He had lost control, forgotten his name, tried to kill a member of the Inquisition, no matter how loaded the issue of a Ben-Hassrath was. He wasn't safe when his rage took over like that... and the possibility of hurting someone he cared about was eating him up inside.

Was he squandering everything Yshae taught him by trying to be a hero?

It was easier to just drink and forget.

Courtyard

Taas was a common sight in the courtyard, talking with people, maintaining his weapons somewhere in the rare sunlight or even chopping a training dummy to pieces now and then. He had stopped offering to spar with people, however, just smiling and shaking his head each time someone asked for a hand or when he saw someone struggling with their guard.

Instead he spent a lot of time going over breathing techniques and different means of relaxing, loosening himself from all the madness etched into his bones. He was Taashath.

It became like a mantra to him. He could push through this.

Wildcard

Hit me!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The large warrior laughs slightly as she speaks and then nods. "If you do not mind, then... I could really use something centering in my life right now." Anything to stave away whatever madness he was falling into. To be himself at least a little longer.

"I'm Taashath." he then continues with a small smile, deciding to at least be a bit more polite.

"Well, then step right up, my fine friend." She beamed at him, gesturing for him to stand next to her so she could walk him through the moments. "We'll have you centered in no time.

A dimpled smile, as she nodded, "I'm Bethany. A pleasure to meet you."

"Thank you," he says softly as he's moving over to stand where she had been gesturing. It was a long shot that this would even work for him, but it wasn't making it worse, at least.

That was all he could hope for right now. "Please look at me as you speak, so I can read what you're saying."

She looked surprised at that, but followed it up with a kind smile and a nod, as she turned enough so he could see her speaking. "So, the first thing we must do, is learn how to breath. Controlling the air that fills our lungs and comes out again, is paramount in controlling ourselves."

So she demonstrated - inhaling deeply, then exhaling slowly. She did this for a few beats, making sure that the man was following her precisely.

"I understand." It was simple enough. He had done things like that during his training as a young man, and had been doing the same just a moment ago. Deep inhale, slow exhale. Focused, calm.

In through your mouth, out through your nose. He follows her rhythm slowly, weighing in their size differences to get a good pace to his breathing.

She gave him a sheepish grin, before she clasped her fingers in front of her while she was breathing. "Once you feel that calm, start pushing your fist out in front of you, like you are throwing a large stone, but slowly."

She demonstrated, bringing her hands out as if she was letting out a large ball, stretching her arms to their full length, then slowly curling her fingers back in again. "Controlling yourself, the entire time."

"Alright," he replies, giving a moment to center himself before he started to move his hands, stretching out his arms and then slowly pulling back again. Control himself, she says. Control his breathing, his movements.

All he wanted was peace. Calm. Taashath.

"There you go. Perfect." She went through the motion with him a few more times, before moving to the next one. "Now, while your hands are outstretched, instead of pulling all the way in, shift your entire body back, putting your weight on both legs, sliding this hand to balance behind you. Then go through the entire motion - ball, to a spread eagle."

Soon, she had him going through an entire range of motions, careful to speak only when he was looking directly at her her mouth. If nothing else, he should start finding calm just repeating the motions, as she did as a child.

He had to concentrate on both the movements and reading her lips at the same time, which became a bit of a struggle. In the end he only caught about half of what she was saying, but copying was a bit easier.

Breathing in and then out, he shifts from one form to the other, following her lead until he's mostly centered in himself and no longer watching or listening to Bethany.

She smiled a little to herself, thrilled she was able to help him, if only in a small way. She shifted her steps again, going through all the motions for another half an hour, before she touched his arm gently. Making sure he was looking at her mouth, she dimpled and spoke.

"Are you feeling any better?"

Taas allows himself to be lost to the movements, feeling like he was doing some kind of less fight-oriented kata that brought his mind into focus.

He doesn't even jolt when she touches his arm, instead simply opening his eyes to look at her. There's a small smile there as he stops and sighs softly. "...yes, I think I do."

"Good!" She clapped her hands together, smiling brightly, before she gave him a firm nod, "Then if you come here every day, we can work together every day. I am sure focus is as important to warriors as it is to mages, and I'd like the company anyways."

Her smile turned a little mischievous. "Makes me look like less of a nutter, you know."

He chuckles at that, smiling down at the woman. "Oh, you look nice and serenely mysterious, not like a nutter," he starts and gives her a small wink. "...but yeah, I'd enjoy doing this again."

She grinned at that, flashing dimples, "Oh excellent - nice and serenely mysterious is always so much more attractive than like a nutter." She dips hr head in a slight bow, "Then I'll see you here tomorrow then?"

"Tomorrow," he agrees with a nod. "...and thank you."

"You are quite welcome." She smiled, dipped into a curtsy again, before heading off towards the Great Hall, turning around half-way to wave.

I thought that I've been hurt before.

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