I don’t know if anyone tagged me recently enough for this to count for anything, but I’m sharing anyway cuz I wrote words tonight! And tagging @parera-zuul-jar, @serial-chillr, @dafan7711, @hawkeish, @gothkimmyschmidt, @lostinfantasies38, @hermiowngranger, @factorykat, @pinkfadespirit, @convenientcoma, @zuendwinkel, @funkypoacher, @cartadwarfwithaheartofgold, @curiousartemis, @noire-pandora, and anyone else who’d like to share something in-progress...writing, art, or otherwise during this terribly busy and inconvenient time (also, like, zero pressure here, as always, friends!).
I’m trying to finish up the fourth (and last? for now?) chapter of Chokedamp and Feelings (Stroud/Loghain, sometime between DAO and Inquisition) with the boys and the bronto and the bears (and some Awakening ladies to save their asses, eventually)...but for now, here’s Nate being disappointed in his Commander’s taste in men:
Stroud senses his approach before he sees him. Howe is one of the stealthiest of the group, a skillset honed by sneaking out past curfew from Ser Rodolphe’s estate in his younger years, no doubt. But he certainly thinks and feels things loudly enough, especially when he’s disgruntled like he is now, and even though it’s harder to hear up here, with so many other sights and sounds and smells to sort through, his brash, twangy, discordant song makes him easy enough to locate.
“What is it?” Stroud asks, with no hint of irritation, though Nate knows better. It’s not a secret that the Warden-Commander values his private time.
He appears through the trees, shaking his head apologetically. “The Old Man was worried you might run into some bears out here and need someone to rescue you.”
“I see.” Stroud runs his fingers through one side of his mustache. “Well, that was considerate of him, I suppose.”
Nate smirks. “He says they work in teams around here, and are more clever than the average Orlesian bear.”
“Oh, no wonder he’s worried, then.” Stroud’s eyes are twinkling with amusement now.
“I know it’s none of my business, but…”
“He’s one of us now. And he brings experience and skills that can be of use to us, however little some of us may enjoy that fact.”
“My own personal feelings on the matter will not interfere with my command, if that’s your concern?”
“No.” Nate shakes his head, smiling. “Never. I just think you could do a whole lot better than that old wrinkly bastard is all.”
Stroud tries not to grin back at him, but ends up just looking hopelessly guilty.
