You want me to what? BE QUIET? | Open

[fatherlesskind]

Who: Alistair (fatherlesskind) and YOU
Where: All around Wonderland
When: February 12th
Rating: PG-13 to be safe
Summary: Without so much as a pillow fight to be seen, Alistair has to amuse himself somehow. In a very regal, solemn manner, naturally.
The Story:

A - The woods

From somewhere within the woods this morning comes the unmistakable rattle and crash of metal and wood meeting with force, punctuated by the occasional wordless shout of exertion.

Should anyone go looking for the source, the sounds will lead them to a decent sized clearing among the trees. There, a towering figure in full medieval plate armour batters away with sword and shield at a training dummy, heedless of how much noise he's making or if there's anyone else around to be bothered by it. Both shield and breastplate bear a heraldic griffon, the symbol of the Grey Wardens for those who might recognise it, and those who don't might well remember the large, cheerful man often seen wandering around Wonderland with a similar sword at his hip.

He's so intent on vanquishing his imaginary foe that should anyone approach him his first response will be to turn on them, weapons raised in anticipation of an attack. He lowers both a moment later with a chagrined look. "Sorry. I was- Sorry."


B - The grounds

There's still snow outside.

There's snow outside and, for the moment, no trouble or monsters or anything. No pressing need to be somewhere else or to avoid notice or to maintain appearances or anything.

So later in the day Alistair can be seen disappearing outside to find himself a secluded corner somewhere.

An hour or so later the assault begins. Anyone walking the grounds outside the mansion may find themselves under attack. A snowball to the face or back accompanied by a gleeful shout from the one responsible. He's far from stealthy, dressed in dark colours that stand out against the backdrop of white and feet crunching through the snow as he attempts to sneak up on his victims with an armful of missiles. But he has a good arm and those snowballs can travel a long way. Stand and fight or make a run for it, either way he's not about to let up.


C - The library

[In an unusual turn-up, Alistair is in the library. Reading a book. (Yes, shut up, he knows how to read. And no, the tiny letters don't strain him, thank you.)

He's curled up in a chair, sword on the ground beside him, utterly engrossed in the book he'd found whilst poking around. The cover depicts a red-haired woman in armour, surrounded by foes and wielding a sword and shield. Rather appropriately as the book itself is titled 'Swords & Shields' by one Varric Tethras.

As he reads a bright red flush crawls up his cheeks and he hunches further and further over the open book as if trying to hide it from view. He's so caught up in it he doesn't even notice if there's anyone else in the library.

Turning a page he pauses, eyes going wide.]

Oh. Wow.


D - Other

[Choose your own prompt. Alistair can be found anywhere around Wonderland poking his nose into things and talking a lot.]


[OOC: Prose or brackets, take your pick and I'll match.]

Comments

[heroica]

Don't even think about it. [ She warns, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. ] If you so much as look to a puddle of mud, I'll push you into it first!

[ Okay, he'd be hard to push, and she'd be easy to toss into it, but... well, she could outrun him, at the very least. ]

I can see why. [ As he's said, the fresh air helps, and it makes her think more of traveling across Ferelden and camping out in the open. Having been a resident in the mansion for as long as she has, any opportunity to find less stifling places to spend time are welcome. ] ... Did I tell you, the night I first arrived, I tried to camp out here? Out of habit, I think, and... it felt safer. Except, the Inquisitor found me and insisted I... not.

[ He and Dorian had let her stay in their room while her own got sorted. It had certainly been strange to find it the next day dressed to her preferences without her having done anything to it. ]

Still, I'd rather be out here. [ Robyn says firmly as they go. ] For the space, and... [ She glances over at him briefly, as if debating adding: ] ... It can be good to practice, in case there's to be fighting.

[fatherlesskind]

Wouldn't dream of it! [He so would. If he catches her off-guard he might be able to pick her up before she can run and dump her in there. It just needs to rain.]

You never told me that. [He laughs, looking around the woods and trying to picture Robyn seated by a cozy little campfire with a tent set up behind her. It's nicer than some of the places he remembers sleeping and he's never seen another monster in the woods since that one time. It wouldn't be bad.] I can see why you would have felt safer out here.

[Arriving in a strange, magical mansion full of strangers with no idea how one had gotten there made just about everyone a little nervous. And Brennan had been the one to seek her out when she was new and feeling alone. No wonder they'd become such good friends.]

We should do that one night. Camp out. Pitch some tents, tell stories around the fire. It would be fun!

[They could enjoy the freedom of being out in the open for a night or two without the worry of being ambushed by darkspawn or Loghain's men. They could even invite some of the others along for it. It would almost be like being back home.

Finally coming to a clearing in the woods Alistair stops in the centre and turns to face her, arms out.]

Ta-da!

[It's really not much, only distinguishable from any other similar clearing by the battered training dummy off to the side and the gashes from a blade that decorate several tree trunks. But it does the job.]

You were talking about practicing too?

[heroica]

I can tell that you are, and I'll warn you that there will be repercussions if you try.

[ She hasn't figured out what, yet, but she adopts a very stern expression and jabs her finger into the air toward him to emphasize her point. ]

Well, now you know. I almost didn't go, it... just seemed safer, out here. It certainly took convincing for them to nudge me back inside.

[ It'd been fine, in the end, but that doesn't stop her from coming out regularly to get some air, though not to sleep. At his suggestion, though, she seems to perk up and turns to him with an excited smile and bright eyes. ]

Do you mean it? [ The Warden reels herself back in a little, though she seems highly in favor of the idea. ] I would love that, if you are. And, if you aren't, I may still do it myself. I miss sleeping under the stars.

[ Never mind that they're usually in tents and not technically looking up at the night sky.

Once they stop in the clearing, she peers around, nodding approvingly, rising to the tips of her toes and down again. ]

It's perfect. [ She decides, looking back at him. ] I see you've been using it for practice too, then? [ As made evident by the dummy, which she approaches, running a hand over its fraying cloth. ] I'm glad this is the enemy, here, rather than darkspawn or assassins.

[ Even if some assassins become their friends. ]

I was. I mean, I do. I won't be any good to anyone if I've forgotten how to fight if and when we have the chance.

[ Her smile turns sly, and she shrugs lightly in the direction of the other Warden. ]

Would you want to spar, sometime? Better two than one.

[fatherlesskind]

Oooh, threats now? That's not very heroic of you.

[He's sure she can make good on that threat if she puts her mind to it, there's an entire magic mansion and plenty of people to help. But he'll chance it anyway.]

I'm surprised they managed it at all since you wouldn't have known them at the time. [And future people sounded just as suspicious and demon-like as the magic mansion which you had no memory of coming to.]

I mean it. We could camp out here or on the hills. Or on the beach! [Grinning back excitedly he considers the woods around them.] When it warms up we could just bring out some bedrolls and really sleep under the stars.

[If they're sure there's no danger it would be good, lying back and watching the stars as they fall asleep.

Watching Robyn look the clearing over he brightens when she gives it her seal of approval and nods in reply to her question.]

I don't want to get rusty. [And it's soothing in a way. The discipline it requires is very effective at calming his thoughts when he's troubled and he takes pride in his skills.] And sometimes there are other things to fight.

[Things that fight back. He doesn't need to tell her that, as Robyn herself says virtually the exact same thing before suggesting they help each other stay sharp.]

I could do with an opponent that hits back. [Dummies are all well and good but they're not exactly ones for moving about and providing a challenge. Alistair's yet to see her fight but she must be skilled, Duncan wouldn't have recruited someone who wasn't. So even with his physical advantage she'll be able to keep him on his toes.]

Just promise you won't tell anyone if I lose too badly. My manly pride can only take so much.

[And everyone knows he's so very worried about his reputation as fearsome warrior. Who doesn't get beaten up by women he could carry over his shoulder.]

[heroica]

I never claimed to be a hero. [ Robyn reminds him, with a little smile. She's said to him (and others) on more than one occasion that she dislikes the title she'll apparently be inheriting in the future. ] You started it, thinking of tossing me into the mud! That isn't very Warden-like of you!

[ He's always been silly, though, has always made her laugh. If they're both laughing and at ease, it's worth a trip into a puddle. ... Though, she'll still fight him tooth and nail over it. ]

So am I. [ Robyn agrees. ] But he seemed to know so much about me, and they were both kind enough. I've trusted more suspicious characters for less of a reason. You remember Morrigan?

[ You know, the apostate living in a swamp with her shapeshifter mother? Robyn laughs lightly, still visibly glad that he'd suggested camping and that he would be willing to participate. ]

Or all of the above; we've got the time. [ The idea has her nostalgic for Ferelden and she sighs, dipping her chin and smiling wistfully into a memory. ] ... I would really like that. I miss it... so much.

[ She misses the camping, the people who spend each night in camp with her. When they return to the subject of training, she turns back to one of the faces from home, quietly grateful (not for the first time) that he'd appeared in Wonderland whether he remembered her or not. ]

I agree. [ There've been worse things than training dummies, and even if there weren't, sitting around all day inside the mansion isn't for her. She's always been active, even when she was a noble's daughter at Highever. ] Well, you know how to get in touch with me; we can come out here whenever you like. I promise that I'll hit back, and I won't be going easy on you, fellow Warden. [ Is she at a small advantage because she knows his fighting style already and he doesn't know hers? Maybe. He's still massive, though. ] There's no winning or losing in sparring. We both come out on top having not lost our edge for when a real fight begins.

[ Hopefully that day isn't coming any time soon. Robyn looks again from Alistair to the dummy, hand trailing along its side and then falling down to her own. ]

... Thank you for sharing this with me. [ She speaks up, earnestly, looking back in his direction. ] I think I've taken more than enough of your time, and... I know you're dying to return to that book. But, now I've got somewhere to get away when I need it. I promise I won't tell anyone.

[ If there's one thing Robyn Cousland can be counted on, it's her promises and oaths.

She catches her hand behind her back, taking a few steps back out into the clearing and vaguely toward the mansion, though she isn't going back inside just yet. Better to give him some space, anyway. ]

... You'll get in touch sometime? [ Robyn questions, hopeful. ]

[fatherlesskind]

[He's never been especially Warden-like himself, given the order's reputation for solemnity so they're in the same boat. And she's still going in the first mud puddle he finds if he has anything to say about it.]

Do I have to?

[But it is a good point even if he'd rather not remember the witch. Morrigan was far less trustworthy and friendly than Brennan and yet they'd both been forced to rely on her. And her mother was just as bad but had still saved their lives. For her own reasons but they were alive because of her.]

You don't miss the mud and the burnt food I hope. [Just seeing her expression Alistair resolves to get himself some tents and bedrolls from his closet as soon as possible and start planning the first of their camping trips. He could even invite Brennan and Dorian and some of the others along to make it more like the party's camp back in Ferelden when they were all together.

At Robyn's promise to provide a challenging spar he laughs and nods.] You'd better. I won't be holding back either. [Anything less than his best would be an insult and likely end up with him getting a good thrashing. She can say there is no winner and they both come out on top in sparring but he likes not to get beaten too easily. He does have some pride to protect.]

I'm glad you- You think it'll be useful for you. [He stares at the ground, smiling to himself.] I wouldn't say I'm dying but...

[Looking towards the mansion he turns back and nods at her.] I will. And you better to. [They have plans together now, they have to stay in contact.] I'll see you later.

[With a small wave he turns and heads back to the mansion, glancing back at her as he goes, smile still in place.]