“You know what I miss, sometimes?”
Seth kept a close eye on Ser Varlen’s body, his own tense and tightly coiled, his fists by his side, trying adamantly to obey his orders to “not worry” because Varlen “got this in the bag.”
“W-what?” Seth answered a few beats too late, not meeting his gaze.
Varlen stopped skipping across the merlons, landing daintily with one foot kicked back behind him. At the same time, Seth lurched forward a step too far towards Varlen but quickly pulled himself back.
The worry wart, Varlen thought, with some affection. As if he’d fall.
Although, Varlen supposed that if he did fall, it’d be a few thousand feet down the sheer cliff. Full of sharp, rocky formations. Great for Skyhold defense, not so great for Varlens. There are also currently some mean-looking scavenger birds picking off the last bits of viscera from the Bizarre Goat Incident* couple days ago, desiccated in these constant sub-zero winds. One of them glares up at Varlen. Eugh.
Varlen hops down, about the same time Seth heaves a sigh. Coincidence? Probably.
“I miss moving without all this clunk.” Varlen gestures at his metal armour, taking an exaggerated few steps to emphasise how the armour clunks along. “It’s so…” He tugs at the edge of his breastplate that is kind of pinching him just there, “Human.”
Seth finally looks him in the eyes, his expression questioning.
“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful for armour when we go out to fight the demons and whatnot, and there are plenty of fashionable clothes around to be enjoyed! I just sometimes miss my more…traditional clothing, put it that way.”
“Because it’s heavy and loud?” Seth asks, his shoulders a lot more relaxed now that Varlen is strolling leisurely- properly- on the ground beside him.
“Yeah. Especially around the legs, I feel.” Varlen pats at his thickly padded chausses, jiggling it to show the excess fabric, clanking his greaves along with it. “I just don’t feel as light and fast in them. Then again, I’d probably freeze without them, so.”
“What your traditional clothing like?”
Varlen whirled on him. “You’ve never seen Dalish armour?”
Seth shook his head innocently.
That sparked an idea in Varlen’s head like fireworks. No, worse! Or even better! Like the irresistible scent of barbecue just within reach- it must be seized at once! Varlen seizes Seth’s wrist and tugs the big vashoth along.
“Oh come on then! I’ll show you what I mean!”
-
Seth finds himself in Varlen’s room, sitting awkwardly in the little chair Varlen was up till seconds ago using as a bedside table. Seth positions his large feet very carefully, so they don't touch any of Varlen’s belongings strewn on the floor around him. Varlen himself is on his bed, tugging and kicking off his shoes, his greaves, yanking off his padded chausses, briefly exposing his lean, pale legs to the cold air and then diving across to the other side of his bed to dig into a pile of clothing.
He emerges victorious, with leggings and two tightly rolled lengths of cloth in hand.
Or what looks like cloth. Seth isn’t so sure as he curiously eyes the two rolls lying forgotten on the bed while Varlen tugs on his woollen leggings. These fit him like second skin, hugging his very lean but very muscular legs.
Seth averts his eyes. To protect Varlen's dignity.
“SO!” Varlen commands his attention once again, snatching up a tight roll and unfurling it with a well-practiced flick of his wrist.
“THIS, my dear Sethy, is how we Dalish put on our leg armour. Or at least, how my clan did it, anyway. Though I think it’s more or less the same for everyone. Maybe. Most likely. Anyway, first you start here-" Varlen leans down to start wrapping one end around the middle of his foot.
“No shoes?” Seth interrupts.
“No shoes! We do a lot of barefoot training, you could say. Strengthens the feet, keeps us grounded, increases balance- there’s a whole philosophy behind it, but basically this is why I generally don’t fall or trip easily. You know, I grew up climbing trees and running through all sorts of forest terrain just like this. It’s also easier when hunting. Real quiet, and you can get real low to the ground if you have to. Full freedom of movement in this.” Varlen explains, not even looking as he starts wrapping his feet, ankle, and all the way up to his calves.
“Why do you-" Seth can’t explain, but his hands mimic Varlen’s wrapping and folding movements instead.
“Oh, these folds?” Varlen is fascinated by Seth’s fascination. He looks…adorable, when he’s curious, Varlen thought, trying hard not to compare him to a variety of baby animals in his mind. “Gotta keep them nice and tight. They provide support, and the material makes it practically waterproof, insect-proof, and very often, teeth and claws and even blade-proof. If you enchant it or apply certain coatings, they could even gain some extra resistance to the elements.” Varlen had wrapped his leg up to his mid-thigh with impressive speed, and was just tucking in the end to seal it off. “Not to mention that in a pinch, these could be used for all sorts of things- a tourniquet, bandages, or maybe to hide some special little surprises for the enemy within,” Varlen winks at Seth.
Seth was halfway into a smile, but Varlen hurriedly continued talking.
“And we stop it here because here’s just about right, still gives us full range of motion. And of course you could wear boots over this, and I suppose that would be most useful in this frigid weather, but there you have it! Some like to do the same for their arms, but I’m happy to just have these on my legs.” Varlen proudly sticks out his wrapped leg, slapping his thigh to a very satisfying ‘thwack’.
“Is very beautiful.” Seth says quietly, hands gesturing to mean the layers of folds.
“Thanks! Riven can do much better. She always gets hers so precise, it looks like a basketweave.” Varlen says, flexing his foot up and down. “Wanna try it? Go on. I promise it’s tough.”
Try? What did that mean? Seth blinked, but then Varlen stretched his leg over and planted his forefoot on the edge of the chair between Seth’s legs. Varlen knocked on his wrapped leg to demonstrate the hardness.
Oh. Seth understood.
Carefully, he cupped his large hands around Varlen’s wrapped calf. The material was surprisingly hard! Seth ran his thumbpads over the many folds in wonder. It felt stronger than just boots. The material seemed thick and impenetrable, like some kind of animal hide, yet it was also supple like cloth. Seth experimented by lifting Varlen’s leg just a little, amazed by how well the wrapping flexed with him. How it moulded to him. Despite all the many, tiny folds, the wrappings did not feel like a thick layer- like a mere shell that separated Varlen from danger- but like it just made Varlen’s legs stronger. Seth could actually feel the man’s musculature underneath, and he was quite sure that if he concentrated, or pressed just right, he could probably discern Varlen’s pulse deep beneath.
Varlen cleared his throat, certain that his hot ears meant... but Seth’s hands had moved up the length of his leg, a thumb resting dangerously high up on his inner thigh..!
“Is amazing, Varlen-" Seth said reverently, running his palm down Varlen’s thigh to his knee. Varlen bit the inside of his lip against the thrill that sent up his spine. Seth continued. “Dalish tradition so different. Maybe if you go to warmer area, you can wear again.”
Seth’s hands had receded back down to Varlen’s ankle, almost cradling his foot. “I sure you are amazing as hunter.” Seth smiles, gently placing Varlen’s foot down.
Varlen, for the lack of an idea what to do after all that, shifts his attention to unwrapping his leg, laughing it off. “Oh please! You’re too sweet.” Varlen said merrily, while his leg tingled with the memory and loss of Seth’s large, warm hands.
-------
*refers to the in-game quest, Sit in Judgement of Chief Movran the Under
Varlen Lavellan belongs to @thereluctantinquisitor
