âI think you underestimate how easy it is for me to talk Dorian into things.â
WHAT: Inquisitor + Stablehand talk about current/ex-boyfriends. Basically just idle gossip. WHERE: Skyhold WHEN: Early December-ish! WARNINGS: Not much, some running away from responsibilities and internal angst? STATUS:Complete!
The stables at Skyhold had been a place of refuge for Max after Haven. Generally no one thought to look for him there, and Blackwall kept his taciturn mouth shut, bless him. There was less to flee here in Vallo, but Max was a very particular type of introvert - he could play at being extraverted, and did genuinely enjoy other peopleâs company, but when he was done, he was so beyond done.
And so he made his way through the castle and outside, taking a breath of fresh air as he did so. He mightâve gone to his quarters, certainly, but the weather was nice and while he wasnât desirous of a group, individual conversation was fine with him. And so he wasnât put out to see Atreus in the stables, tending to the animals with a patient diligence that did him credit. He slowed his steps, but decided to pop by for a chat. Max supposed that some people might attempt to avoid their ex-loverâs new boyfriend, but he wasnât most people, and Atreus seemed like a kind person, besides. His relationship with Dorian was over without bitterness, and honestly given all the people heâd made alliances with back home, the opportunity to become friendly with Atreus was a goddamn delight.
âCheers, Ser Atreus,â he called out quietly, not wanting to spook either the animals or the man. âMind if I escape to here and keep you company?â
Skydancer, the pegasus that was currently under Atreusâ gentle scrutiny, huffed back at Max before Atreus could even poke his head up, as if he was answering for the animal healer. Atreus smoothed a hand across his flank, and laughed lightly before pushing himself visible the rest of the way. âOnly if you donât mind this one sassing you, sheâs foaling in a few weeks and feeling very put out over the whole thing.â
It made him miss Roach a little, heâd enjoyed her company a great deal and she had always made the Skyhold stables a little more lively, especially when Geralt was around. But Skydancer was a personality of her very own, and was currently wondering just how likely it was that the Inquisitor might have an apple hidden away. Atreus looked him over with a curious brow raise. âDo you happen to have any apples on you?â
Max theatrically checked his left pocket - no fruit - and then his right, pulling out a red apple heâd stolen from a fruit bowl in the castle kitchens. It would have been a nice snack, particularly since he was already overly-relying on the delicious pastries available on Main Street, but clearly this apple was destined to be consumed by the ornery-looking pegasus currently eying it with a fierce determination.
âHere you are, then,â he said, and held out the apple with his good arm, carefully positioning it so she could easily take it. âIâd be put out if I had a one-hundred-pound baby I was eating for, too.â
He took a seat on a hay bale, watching the pegasus munch away at the apple, cheered. Max wasnât the sort to chatter away over nothing unless he was really nervous about something, but Valloâs easy rhythm agreed with him.
Atreus laughed and gently patted her flank as she greedily accepted the offering and then immediately stepped forward to huff and nudge for more. âDo you think he has pants full of apples? Iâll get you more later, I promise.â Atreus' voice usually shifted from gentle to excited with nearly everyone he talked about, but there was a marked difference with his tone, a soothing but firm sound.
Skydancer settled, with what seemed like a pout, pushing her hoof against the hay below her. Atreus laughed in response and shrugged at Max. âSheâs going to hold me to that. Thanks, though, Iâll make sure to get you a replacement too. What brings you over here?â
âWell, Iâm in trouble. I donât actually have an orchard of apples in my trousers.â Max smiled, Atreusâs calming tone about working as well on him as it did the pegasus. âNo need on the replacement; thereâs always more to eat at Skyhold.â
It hadnât always been a castle with plenty of supplies, but he was delighted to find it in working order now. He had Hawke to thank for that, he knew, and having been a person who enjoyed having people around, it had been rallying to discover that it had been taken care of in his stead. Max gave a vague wave toward Atreus, followed by a not-terribly-inquisitorial shrug. âJust needed some time away from people, and expectations,â he answered, having a feeling that Atreus might know what he meant. â...you donât have anything youâd like to bring to my immediate attention, do you?â
Atreus nodded knowingly, getting the immediate need to just step away from duties and be where the quiet was. Animals were that - sometimes, for him - and often provided a comfort that people didnât. They were needy in an expected way, and easier to figure out. Atreus and Max had a few similarities from what the demi-god had noted, both being outgoing and enjoying the company of people in a friendly and helpful manner, but needing time to themselves was important for that.
âNothing I can think of,â Atreus promised, and gently led Skydancer back to her pen. âBut,â He tossed over his shoulder with a shit-eating grin. âI can come up with something if you really need. You did a lot of diplomacy back home, right?â
âIf you start an incident just to give me something to do, I swear to Andraste, Atreus, I will scrub Skyholdâs filthiest toilets with your toothbrush,â Max answered cheerily, though heâd not do anything of the sort. Probably. For the most part, he left the horrible tricks to Sera and typically just smiled his way through a psychotic break. Still, he didnât mind threatening out of humor, and with a dramatic âwhuffâ collapsed backwards on the pile of hay. Blackwall would have made a grumpy noise at this, but he could only hear the sounds of Skydancer chomping at what was probably some kind of grain in her stall.
Max peered at the ceiling, small motes of dust rising around him. If he was the sort to really care about his clothes, well, heâd have been upset by the straw working its way into his shirt. âHow long have you been here at Vallo, Atreus?â He asked, because while he knew a few things about the other man, he didnât know much. Atreus had been friendly from the start and theyâd gotten along without general niceties. There was no reason for him not to learn the basics, though, he figured.
âI never would,â Atreus promised most solemnly, though it had just an edge of mischievousness under the skin. He still wouldnât, of course, because he wasnât a complete asshole and he wanted his toothbrush to stay clean, but the Inquisitor truly seemed to need a break and Atreus was happy to offer solace.
Anyone who was willing to fall back into hay deserved some peace and quiet.
The question caught him off guard a little, and he peered over at the pile of hay and man. âUh- Almost a year, at this point? It was late February when I arrived, and took my father another month or two to follow me.â
Max had seen Kratos at a distance - he had an imposing look about him, like some forgotten relic put into place by the Quun and forgotten about for a few centuries. Word was he was nearly as garrulous as a statue, too. Max mused over being here a year. It seemed both unlikely and easily doable⊠hadnât a few months here swallowed him whole? It was that same strange time sink that heâd experienced during the first part of the Inquisition, when heâd come up for air and find it a brand new season already.
âIs it better than home?â he asked, curious, then gave a wave. âIâm nosy, so tell me to stuff it and I will. I just⊠like it here, very much. Even though I feel like Iâm on an enforced vacation and Thedas is falling apart in my absence. Itâs not,â he added hastily. âIâm sure itâs⊠not, itâs-- probably not. But. Old habits.â
âItâsâŠâ That was a tough question, and one that brought Atreus up short. It felt almost like a betrayal to home to jump on yes, even if that was his gut instinct. But then this place did tend to win out over the end of the world.
âYeah. Yes. I miss a few friends, but not having to fight things every day, not having to fight Gods all the time or deal with Odinâs bullshit, or worry about the end of the world approaching--â His neck flushed, red darkening his rune tattoos up to his ears in embarrassment. âPlus thereâs some perks. Dorian, friends, cronuts. You know, that sort of thing. But-â He shook his head to try and stop Max from falling down a pit of worry, and waved his hand in denial. âThey say no time passes at home while weâre here, so the people there largely wonât even know youâre gone. You get a break for now?â
Max wrote down âcronutsâ on a steadily growing mental list of things he needed to investigate that he mostly forgot to reference, and then focused on the rest. He understood Atreusâs reluctance to pick a side decisively - loyalty was a hard impulse to quell - and loyalty to home was nearly insurmountable.
âI get a break for now,â he repeated, mostly because âbreakingâ was home to him and not in the way that Atreus meant. âI get a break for now, and thankfully, we donât have any of our mmmmm weâll call them diplomatic complications, here. Thatâd cast a pall on things, wanting to toss someone off a bridge.â He wasnât sure what heâd do if Solas showed, but it would likely not be approved by Josephine.
Atreus couldnât talk, given how many people theyâd tossed off bridges. Or cliffs. But that was back home, here the problems were relatively minor, even with dinosaurs rampaging through the city for a few days or rabid evil rabbits tearing people apart-- okay, that one hadnât been great. Skydancer huffed and nudged against Atreus, looking for more treats that he didnât have.
âThereâs a few steep cliffs here, if you end up needing them,â Atreus half-joked, but also didnât want to discount the potential of a good idea. âYeet them right into Atlantis, problem solved-- okay okay,â He was cut off by the pegasus once again nudging him. He ran a gentle hand down her head. âIf I donât go get her more food soon, sheâs going to stage a coup and be your next issue.â
âI wouldnât want that,â Max agreed, looking at the Pegasusâs gentle-but-insistent face. âSheâs so cute. Iâd lose by popular opinion alone.â He sat up, brushing off hay clinging to his shirt, trying to feign presentability if not competence. Maybe what he needed more than solitude was a nap. Or an ice cream. Town was always there, and something was always open, which was a concept that he wasnât quite used to yet.
Max stood, stretched, and turned back to Atreus. âIâll get out of your hair, and Skydancerâs wings. JustâŠâ he chewed his lower lip, and decided rather than prettying up the words heâd just be honest, âyou do good work here. If you need anything to help facilitate that, Iâll be happy to make it happen. And Iâm sure Dorian will be too, but between the two of us, Iâm probably the bigger pushover.â He smiled, and gave the doorway a pat of his hand.
Atreus was a sucker for being told he was good, and it made him light up like a Yule Tree that was on fire, his entire face beamed. He laughed right along with it, and nodded almost bashfully. âThanks. But--â His face took on something a little more mischievous and sinister, and knowing that Max and Dorian had a past, he felt a little guilty over it.
But also he hoped that they were in a stage where they could joke about such things, and he shrugged that off quick. âI think you underestimate how easy it is for me to talk Dorian into things.â
Luckily, Max took the joke in the manner that it had been intended, smirking at Atreus in return. For as messy as Max could be in some areas of his personal life, he wasnât one to resent Dorianâs new relationship or be jealous. âIn that case, let him handle all your requests,â he said with a wave of his hand. âThe responsibility will be good for him.â