driftfleet | [LFG] Dino-hunting

Who: Adalwolfe Hawke and YOU!! (Also a closed prompt for Adalwolfe and Anders in the comments)
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Yes; down in the forest. Closed to specific people tbd
When: Right now
Notes: Spillover from the previous mingle will be continued here as well.

[Broadcast | Video]

Hello everyone! Since the network seems to double as the fleet-wide Chanter's board, I thought I'd put out a request for some help. I'm looking for a few people - no more than three - to come help hunt down one of these big scaly beasts in the forest. Any companions chosen to come along are welcome to its hide, meat, or whatever else; I'm just after a few of its bones for a project.

Any and all skill sets are welcome, but I'd like if there was at least one person with better than my middling healing magic. At least one person versed with a shield might be a good idea as well, but not strictly necessary.

[Priorities.]

I'd like to go later today, so please let me know as soon as possible if you're interested in the endeavor. Thank you very much.

[Action | On the hunt | Closed to those chosen in the broadcast]

This part of the forest is quiet, too quiet, which is why Adalwolfe is guessing their quarry uses this as its stomping ground. The other forest animals would know to keep away after awhile, so this is likely the heart of its territory. The trees are taller here - though it hardly matters considering how tall they are anyway - but the ground cover is more sparse. The gentle slugs can still be seen dotting the trunks of trees and the leaves of the few ferns growing here and there, but any other wildlife is either well camouflaged or simply not present. The only noise aside what they make themselves is the breeze through the trees and echoing birdsong from high above in the canopy, where even the giant lizard's head can't reach.

It's perfect.

"Everyone be on your guard," Adalwolfe warns, his new and unfinished dragon-headed staff in hand and a note of glee behind his tone. This gets his blood pumping more than harmless sparring or running the Iskaulit's obstacle course. Facing danger, big sharp teeth, and the possibility of death? Bring it on!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I thought you might.

[He'd still prefer the Key, for all his complicated feelings about Malcolm, but this is certainly more his own style.]

This is part of the reason why I want to go after the beast. Can't get dragon bone here, but I think its flightless cousin might be the next best thing for a staff blade.

[He grins triumphantly but there's a note to it that makes it seem as if he's looking for a pat on the head that he's clever to have thought of it. He feels he's looking for approval in a lot of ways, lately, an incredibly strange sensation for how sure of himself he always was back home. Well, not always, but once he'd make a decision, it was made and that was that. He didn't question himself so much as he does here.

He wonders if Marian ever experienced the same thing. He wonders if he could even ask her. He likes her, very much in fact, but it still gets under his skin that their affiliation is... well. Lacking, somehow. He doesn't feel he can talk to her about certain things, things that he would have brought up to Bethany back when she was still with them. How he actually feels about things, and he wants to know her feelings too. Wants to be able to support her, but they've both been hurt before and there's an extra level of strangeness to it in being the same person in the eyes of their respective universes.

That and the situation with Fenris still floats between them, even if they'd had it out in the bar over it already.

But nothing's going to change if he doesn't approach it first. So, for better or ill, he changes the video to something private.]

There's something else I wanted to tell you, if you're alright with talking about it.

[ It has been rough, yes, though one can hardly be that surprised. The strangeness of the situation still hangs in the air like an unwanted rain cloud, ruining all conversations and interactions with a sleet of ice cold water. Maybe they should be more than they currently are, closer even, but things just haven't quite fallen in place and she cannot help but feel ever the more uncertain about it all. It is uncomfortable and for the most part Marian runs from it, ignores it, and stupidly hopes that it might all vanish when she isn't looking.

(It's funny when you think about it, really it is! Running from herself, haha.)

Which is more or less why she braces when the feed setting switches to private, muscles coiling in preparation to fight or flee - a horrible habit ingrained in her bones. ]

If you're going to warn me not to throw myself into the maw of a giant flightless dragon you're going to be sorely disappointed. It will happen and there is nothing you can do about that one.

[ Haha, jokes, deflections that fall a little shorter than she would like. Don't bother doing that Marian, he'll see it the moment it starts to form in your head. Same person, remember? A somewhat uneasy grin settles on her face, old habits kicking in regardless of the fact they are practically useless. ]

Alright, you have be curious. Morbidly curious. Lets have it before the suspense drives me mad.

I wouldn't dream of that. I'll be right beside you anyway. No, I just wanted to let you know I talked to Fenris and it went surprisingly well. You're invested, so I thought I should tell you, considering the reaming you gave me about it.

[He quirks his head at her, recognizing the bravado and deflection for what it is.]

What did you think I was going to say?

[ That... is not what she expected and it showers. Eyes widening as her mouth falls somewhat agape, blinking rapidly as what he said settles in. I talked to Fenris, it went surprisingly well - Oh.

Well then, this is awkward.

She lets go of the breath she was unaware she was holding and laughs, hand coming up to hide her face from the camera. ]

Nothing! Nothing at all.

[ You utter idiot.

Another laugh and she shakes her head, fingers lacing through her hair before it falls away. ]

Well, I'm happy you talked to him. Incredibly happy. It is a load off my mind and all that.

Yes, I brought him a bottle of wine and a fluff slug and he agreed to let me try to befriend him, though I'm not entirely sure how to continue to go about that but it's still progress.

[Also, Marian, you are fooling exactly no one with that lie.]

You know, this is a private video now. You can tell me whatever's on your mind.

[It's a gentle push, Adalwolfe still trying to balance desperately not wanting to keep people at arms length and subsequently lose them but also not coming on too strong with feeling that Marian is family and treating her as such without the proper history to build upon. It's a delicate balance.]

Actually, considering we're the same person, I've probably thought of it before.

[He chuckles, then gives a tooth-clenched grin. That delicate balance? Yeah, he's bad at delicate.]

Wine and a fluff slug? [ She can't lie, she would have done something similar if their positions were switched. ] The best way to an grumpy elf's... not wanting to kill you list.

[ And she would have been happy to leave the conversation at that but... well, he had to speak didn't he? Say she can tell him whatever is on her mind. Marian all but cringes, that itching desire to flee clawing away at the back of her mind. Easier to run than face things, right? But it is that sort of thinking that caused his issues with Fenris, that sort of thinking that forced him to cut down the elf.

Running might not be such a good idea.

She inhales, sharp, and shifts back from her communicator. ]

Oh, I am sure you have. And I am sure you know that I am entirely too sober to be having that conversation, yeah?

[ An admittance that there is clearly something bothering her, well there is actually a lot of somethings but that isn't the point. The point here is that she is somewhat willing to talk about it, just not right now and certainly not without a drink or two first. ]

Then lucky you that I have a job at Malum which comes with a rather generous tab under the name of Hawke. Meaning yours, too.

[He grins, making a joke of it too, but there's concern lurking beneath it. This is Isabela's sort of reticence. The 'I know I should probably say something because I'm sinking but I don't actually trust you that much to let you in so I'm stalling and making excuses.' Does he do that too? He has to wonder, considering Marian seems rather adept at it. He wishes he had someone around who knew that he could ask.

But he's gentle about it. Because what else is he going to do? Not force her, certainly, but he doesn't want her to think he can't or won't listen. That's already gotten him into trouble and never again. He'd vowed he would never, ever, let that happen again.]

Whenever you like. I'll be here for you.

You might come to regret that.

[ It should be familiar, the deflection tactics, the jokes in order to avoid actually talking. The no-so-subtle attempts to backpedal straight out of the conversation so she might pretend it never happened in the first place. Old habits engraved upon her bones.

That's not to say she doesn't appreciate the effort he's making, she does, more than she can probably say. It is just - she's not used to it coming from someone asides Varric. That someone else is able to read her so well that she can't hide, can't avoid and laugh things off with some sort of inappropriate joke.

So she tries a small smile, the most she can give right now. ]

Thank you, Wolfe.

Any time.

[He smiles, a quieter thing, understanding and with a soft sweetness at the connection they've made, or at least begun to make. This is far more genuine than anything they've managed to say to each other thus fa-

No, scratch that, the argument in the bar had been more then genuine. Funny how this keeps coming up over Fenris. Or maybe not so funny. Maybe its for an actual reason. Maybe he and Marian...

Really? Fenris?

His eyebrows shoot up into his hair for a moment, and then he laughs at himself in his head. This is certainly not the time, but maybe later when she's had enough drink to be earnest. When they've both had enough for that.

He tosses his arms wide on the video.]

Perhaps after our illustrious victory over the not-a-dragon! Maybe Tyrion will write a story about it, who knows.

[LFG] Dino-hunting

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