[ OPEN ] Well I can't stand to be with myself, this liberation's seemingly rare

[ombranera]

WHO: Zevran and Various
WHAT: Zevran sparring and dealing
WHEN: Throughout Drakonis
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Violence, swearing, usual Zevran Content Warnings Apply. Open prompt below, poke me on plurk for a closed starter. Prose or actionspam welcome!

As much as he'd protested Alistair running off on some mission in the west- the time apart gives him that much more chance to train. He'd been doing so privately in the barn, occasionally squaring off against Settimo when they both had the time and patience for Settimo's paranoia and Zevran's over-adjustments for the blind side. Learning to fight with only one good eye is slowly driving Zevran to frustration. Settimo could not come at him hard enough to be a challenge, he could not learn his new limitations without a solid effort on both their parts.

Setting aside his vanity he takes to the training grounds- but working on stuffed dummies is only good for so much. Soon enough he is picking out soldiers and rogues to come at him in the dirt circle. Day to day it goes much the same. Zevran stands with bad eye covered and his swords, with his hands, with a single short sword and calls any that would step up to help him regain his awareness. It is, to be honest, slow going. More often than not if his opponent has any manner of skill he ends up on his ass. But he grits his teeth, stands, and goes at it again. And again. Afterward he recovers with the highlight of his training- a bucket of water to sluice off the sweat and grit of the day. Whether it's the relief the cold brings or the appreciative looks it tends to earn? He doesn't say. But thus he spends his days, training himself or wrestling with the fledglings, who will offer their own commentary and catcalling in Antivan during his other matches.

Comments

[foxsays]

"Ore comes from a neighbouring country, bound to Leandra by marriage, same as almost every gem. The salt would damage it too, leather and fabric are more easily washed and mended, cheaper too compared to that. We'd rather put the money into our blades and pistols, into the things that need it." Oh Zevran don't tell her that, it's hideously wasteful. Steal it, hide it, find a fence who knows a man who knows a woman who knows a smith and get it melted down or sold, make a pretty penny in it. Do you know how much she made stealing only one breastplate and gauntlets?

A lavish sum, she'd eaten well from that job.

"No it's...it's just being alone to do it. To know that I am the only one who knows these songs. Our taverns are loud and spill out onto the street, no one minds if you stop to listen beneath their window or by the dock if they're the ones watching the ship." It feels foolish now she says it and she ducks her head, brushing her fingers lightly over the strings though they never manage quite the same tone as she's used to either.

A distraction is needed and she gives him a nudge before she starts plucking out a quiet tune. "How have you and your new charges been? I had no wish to overwhelm you after returning to Skyhold, so popular are you, with those who have known you longer and better."

[ombranera]

"Well...perhaps we might do something about this, yes? It is not the same as having a whole country know the tales you attempt to tell. But if you will share your songs with me; I will share mine with you. Bring a little more of our homes to this cold mountain fortress." Learning new songs- that always keeps his mind from the darkest corners on his rough days. Something to focus on, to practice, to mind. Offering the same in return only feels fair.

For him, Antiva is not so impossible a thing to retain. For Araceli?

Maker only knows when it is she will see her home again.

[foxsays]

Zevran's going to make her cry and if she wasn't worried about him being up on the roof again after what he went through she'd punch him in the arm. Instead she laughs, swallowing the horrible knot in her throat as she does so. "I'd like that, but you'll regret it; captain's daughter, he used to scoop me up when I was little and carry me around singing. Learning some interesting songs would be wonderful, the Orlesian ones are…"

The face she makes likely describes just what she thinks of most of what she's making herself study, and Ferelden songs are dull and have enough dogs that she has a few small concerns regarding their love of them.

"And you have plenty of helpers that can teach me too, but it can be a secret. So people are jealous." Or more so people won't hear her when she forgets she has to play the accompaniment and starts strumming the tune instead.

[ombranera]

"Fussy? Particular? Overwrought? Boring?" Zevran rattles off his opinion of most Orlesian music while leering at his nails, giving Araceli a moment of supposed privacy. He knows the thickness of a voice tilted to sorrow well enough.

"Mmm. This is true. Between you, I, and the fledglings we have hands enough for a proper band." A solid Antivan ensemble for the dancing if they so choose.

[foxsays]

"That one about the Empress, I'd sing about Leandra if she wanted songs sung about her but that…that's something else." That song is a load of rubbish, it's not how you're meant to sing about the figurehead of your nation and it doesn't actually sound any better in Orlesian either. None of the songs do but that one is particularly special, all things considered.

"Think they can win everyone over with it?" She's teasing, there were strong opinions that day. "Sirens where I come from lure a person with the most beautiful voice before they drown them but well, they are always very happy to go with them."

Because you know, going back to the sea as a beautiful woman kisses you and steals the breath from your lungs, hashtag Castilean romance.

[ombranera]

"More that I am hoping they might find joy in it enough to forget why they learned in the first place. Musicians are more or less invisible to most Antivan households. It is a good in for any Assassin." Teaching them life, to love it, to live it? Is no easy thing- especially when there are days Zevran himself cannot recall much the hows and why of his own education.

"Ah, so you have such tales as well? The sailors of Antiva speak of such creatures- I do not know if there is any truth to them. We have dragons, so, why not?"