He'd been about to say something because he didn't want the other man to trouble himself, but he can figure out what the real angle is as his shoulders slump. Ugh, this could get complicated.
"If you really want to. I just figured you have better things to do than escort a farmer and his broken cart for no pay."
"Not really." he lied smoothly. "A day or two off work won't harm me." He heads over to the cart to inspect the damage, trying to see what he could do to fix it.
Two of the wheels are shot, honestly, and one of the sides of the cart have been yanked loose, another side singed. Clark walks over behind him to pick up the handles; he's out a couple of wheels, sure, but he can get it home. It'd be easier if no one was watching; he could just lift it then.
He looks a little skeptical at letting the other man take the handle before sighing and letting him have it. It's heavier than he'd made it look. But he does take the hand when it's offered.
"Not too far," and there's a glance back at the bandits who appear to have decided that the both of them are not something they want to deal with.
"It's just about a mile this way before we hit my family's farm. And I'm sure you'll be offered dinner when we get in, considering the hour. My mother's always liked visitors."
Bull raises an eyebrow at that. "Even a Qunari? Around here I am lucky if I am not chased away with pitchforks." But he does have a smile even if he is constantly watching their surroundings.
It takes some effort not to chuckle at that, considering.
"Yes, even a Qunari. You're more likely to have to turn away offers than anything else with the two of them. My father would appreciate another pair of shoulders like you around the farm, after all."
"You don't need much training to haul things around," he points out with a faint smile.
But he waves off the other concerns.
"We're a small village, but most of the people there are very kind. And our farm's a decent way out of town from everyone else. The worst thing you should be prepared to fend off is more pie from my mother."
Clarc nods before picking up the pace and heading for the barn. He has to unload the wares before they can go in, after all. And it looks like his father's gone inside already.
"My parents are Jon and Marta. Though they'll probably introduce themselves. Should I introduce you as the Iron Bull?"
"Just keep in mind what I told you and don't expect them to hate you at first sight."
He smiles over at Bull.
"I didn't."
Then he's working double time to unload the wares. If Bull notices, the boy is... well, he's significantly less troubled by the weight of things than someone his size would generally be.
Oh Bull notices, but he decides not to say anything. Better to check out what kind of parents this guy had first of all. Once they are done he lets Clarc lead the way to the house and makes sure his hands are whiped clean and his weapons are out of view.
They come in to his mother gasping at him for bringing a guest and not, somehow, telling him and his father looking up from a cup of warm tea with a welcoming smile.
"And who might you be?"
Clark trots out of his mother's loving clutches to gesture to Bull.
"Ma, Pa, this is the Iron Bull. He helped me with some bandits on the way home."
...they don't look terribly troubled at the idea of their son being attacked by bandits. But there is a bit of surprise.
"Is everyone all right?" His mother pips up immediately.
Bull smiles at them, he makes sure to hunch his shoulders, making himself smaller so his horns won't hit the ceiling. "It was no big deal, ma'am. Clarc managed most of them, I was just there to scare them away properly."
He smiles warmly at her and moves to help her. "I am not picky ma'am." After all growing up under the Qun meant you ate what you were given or you didn't eat.
He glances over his shoulder at Clarc, smiling slightly at him.
"Then you feel free to take a little of everything," she says as she starts putting out dishes. A roasted hen, done with laying, some cooked vegetables, a few stuffed peppers, mushrooms, a slab of cheese and fresh baked bread. Clarc grins as he takes his own spot.
"Looks brilliant, Ma."
And his Pa is ruffling his hair a moment later.
"We'll go and look at the cart after dinner. I'm sure your new friend won't mind helping your mother with the cleaning up a little?"
"Not at all, sir. I'll be glad to help out with the dishes. It is something I used to do for my Tama... the woman who raised me a lot."
He smiles and tries a bit of everything. Talking about easy things, subjects that won't offend anyone. Talking about how the jungles he was raised in are different, about how the food there is spicer, about how he has found friends here.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 01:13 pm (UTC)"If you really want to. I just figured you have better things to do than escort a farmer and his broken cart for no pay."
no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 01:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 02:03 pm (UTC)"Off work?"
A pause before.
"What is it you do?"
no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 02:18 pm (UTC)He comes over and grabs one of the handles, helping him pull it.
"I am the Iron Bull." He offers his hand.
no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 02:25 pm (UTC)"Clarc," he says with a nod.
no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 05:52 pm (UTC)Bull smiles and puts his back into the work, doing his share of it. And he doesn't complain as they walk.
no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 07:52 pm (UTC)"Not too far," and there's a glance back at the bandits who appear to have decided that the both of them are not something they want to deal with.
"It's just about a mile this way before we hit my family's farm. And I'm sure you'll be offered dinner when we get in, considering the hour. My mother's always liked visitors."
no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 07:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 08:08 pm (UTC)"Yes, even a Qunari. You're more likely to have to turn away offers than anything else with the two of them. My father would appreciate another pair of shoulders like you around the farm, after all."
no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 08:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 08:15 pm (UTC)But he waves off the other concerns.
"We're a small village, but most of the people there are very kind. And our farm's a decent way out of town from everyone else. The worst thing you should be prepared to fend off is more pie from my mother."
no subject
Date: 2017-02-16 08:20 pm (UTC)"But I'll make sure to at least work off my stay for the night."
no subject
Date: 2017-02-17 12:21 pm (UTC)He points a ways down the road.
"Just after that turn, we ought to be there."
no subject
Date: 2017-02-17 08:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-18 08:57 pm (UTC)"My parents are Jon and Marta. Though they'll probably introduce themselves. Should I introduce you as the Iron Bull?"
no subject
Date: 2017-02-18 08:58 pm (UTC)"Anything in particular I should know about them?"
no subject
Date: 2017-02-19 04:02 pm (UTC)He smiles over at Bull.
"I didn't."
Then he's working double time to unload the wares. If Bull notices, the boy is... well, he's significantly less troubled by the weight of things than someone his size would generally be.
no subject
Date: 2017-02-19 07:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-21 10:37 pm (UTC)"And who might you be?"
Clark trots out of his mother's loving clutches to gesture to Bull.
"Ma, Pa, this is the Iron Bull. He helped me with some bandits on the way home."
...they don't look terribly troubled at the idea of their son being attacked by bandits. But there is a bit of surprise.
"Is everyone all right?" His mother pips up immediately.
"I think we're fine, Ma."
no subject
Date: 2017-02-22 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-02-23 02:38 am (UTC)"All the same, we appreciate it. At least enough to put out another plate for dinner, I expect."
"Already on it, Jon."
She turns to smile over at Bull fondly.
"What kind of food is it that you like, dear?"
no subject
Date: 2017-02-23 12:39 pm (UTC)He glances over his shoulder at Clarc, smiling slightly at him.
no subject
Date: 2017-02-27 12:50 am (UTC)"Looks brilliant, Ma."
And his Pa is ruffling his hair a moment later.
"We'll go and look at the cart after dinner. I'm sure your new friend won't mind helping your mother with the cleaning up a little?"
no subject
Date: 2017-02-28 07:27 am (UTC)He smiles and tries a bit of everything. Talking about easy things, subjects that won't offend anyone. Talking about how the jungles he was raised in are different, about how the food there is spicer, about how he has found friends here.