[ 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

[el_tybs]

"And here I thought you were going to say 'ass'." He's half teasing, honestly having expected that, but it does make sense that Zevran is feeling it in his upper body the most.

"Just how long have you been sparring today?" Or the past several days really. As he asks, Sam places a hand along Zevran's shoulder blades and one against one side of his ribs. Taking a deep breath then letting it out slowly, a faint light comes to life between where his hands and dark skin meet.

[ombranera]

"Mm, no. Not quite so much bruising there as I know how to fall." He rolls his shoulders under Sam's hand, relaxing as the warmth of healing slowly pours through his skin.

[el_tybs]

He's pretty sure there's a comment from somewhere in the barn about that, but Sam is hardly paying attention to anyone else, focus strictly on Zevran and the job at hand. The visible bruising is quick to heal up with the magic, but the ones that lie under the skin take a bit more time.

"I know you're tough and all, Zevran, and you're trying to get back into form, but I do hope you're taking the proper time to rest up as well." The stress around the ribs is not just from today.

[ombranera]

"I will be taking tomorrow and likely the next day off. I had not realized how bruised I had become from the work today." Working too hard too soon is a fine way to ruin what little progress he has made, after all.

[el_tybs]

"And the following you'll be back to having yourself or someone else tossed and pinned to the floor." He chuckles lightly at that, his hand on Zevran's back slowly moving to his lower back, and the other moving to the middle of his chest to work on the bruising there.

[ombranera]

"Well, in moderation. More time between each bout, fighting people more my size and less another- I will work out how to do this without such bruising in the future." He waves a hand vaguely.

[el_tybs]

"Well better bruising than something broken, but yeah, not beating yourself up, or having someone else do it, to this extent would be good. I don't mind healing you, Zevran, but there are better ways to spending time with me then this." He snorts slightly in amusement, hands coming away as the magic dies down.

"Anywhere else you have some discomfort?"