[If she were more awake, he'd have a clever response. But nope, she's reeling and sleep-muddled so he's getting the straight up truth.]
Amaranthine. Vigil's Keep.
[She motions with her hands.]
You. Oghren. Sigrun. Velanna. Justice. Nathaniel. [The good...] Kal'Hirol, the Black Marsh, the mine. The Mother. [...the bad...] The Architect and talking darkspawn. [...and the yet to be decided.]
[He moves slow at first, as though half expecting not to be true. Pounce is carefully removed from him as he sits up, still staring at Riona. Caution was in his face, as though trying desperately not to hope. It felt similar to that moment in the rain, the Templar and death or the Wardens and hope, all held in the palm of her hand.]
..Just like that? You're not...[No, she wouldn't mess with him, not about this.]
If we weren't travelling through space on a bunch of star-ships, I'd think that was impossible. Keep working on that, I'll be right there.
[His tone is an exercise in staying light, like this isn't some big deal, like his heart isn't pounding out of his chest. He hangs up and, Maker help him, sprints to get to her ship.
His hair is uncharacteristically disheveled and his clothes are in a similar state from his haste, but the smile breaking across his face is blinding.]
Well, now. I think this is the best news I've heard since arriving on this Maker-forsaken fleet.
[And then his arms are around her in a tight hug, betraying exactly how much he'd missed her.]
[While he's en route, Riona is examining some of the new scars she's gotten. Strange that they came with her, when apparently her body was here the whole time. Or something. It makes her head spin trying to work out the logistics of that.
She hears him coming, lowering her arm from where she was looking over a long cut The Mother gave to her. She stands to greet him, but she's taken momentarily by surprise by the hug he gives her. Barely a moment passes before she returns it, glad to receiving the man as a friend and not a stranger.]
[It's almost hard to believe that she didn't remember him.]
And then some. The Mother still haunts some of my nightmares. Sometimes, I can still hear her laughter.
[Then there was the Architect. Had she made the right choice there? Only time would tell.
However, what's interesting is where her usual instinct to kick herself about it and agonize over her choice typically made itself known, now it was nowhere to be found. Granted, she worried if she made the right choice. Anyone would. Yet something seems to have changed. She would have to think on it.]
You were right about Nathaniel. Maker, I'm glad to have been able to let go of that anger.
[The Mother would haunt his dreams until his dying day, he was certain. The Architect, on the other hand, he was choosing not to think about. He'd follow his Commander anywhere and trusted her with his life...but he still doubted the Architect and likely always would.]
I'm glad. You seem...well, out of it a little, but I imagine sleeping that long and waking up with new memories will do that to you, but also better. Do you feel better?
[It's good that he does. She needed the supporters as well as the doubters. While she let the Architect live, it had come with terms. And she knew she gambled with much. But over a thousand years of battling the Blight, and they'd made no progress with it. Everything the Wardens did was reactionary. Something had to change; risks had to be taken.
She pushed those thoughts aside. What's done is done. And Maker, it felt freeing to be able to really do that. Obsessing over her decisions was something of an old habit.]
Still clearing the fog from my mind. But I feel... yes, I suppose better. Being back home and having a break from this place really helps.
[His expression shifts slightly and his eyes run over her face, studying like he was expecting to see something sprout there that would tell him she needed healing. Unfortunately, as far as he could tell, she didn't.
Although...it wouldn't hurt, would it? What else was he doing with his mana these days? Even his work on the surface was more Herbalisim-focused than Spirit Healing.
A gentle blue-white glow grew in his palm and it jumped from his skin to hers, the magic spreading through her and leaving a tang in the room like the air before a storm.
He smirked.]
Just in case. I can't imagine sleeping as long as you did is all that healthy.
[It's strange to be healed in this place. Everything here is so... opposite of what she knows. It's like a bit of home coursing through her, even if for just a moment.]
Ah, thank you. I do feel a bit... more awake. [Slightly more energized, if nothing else.] So, did I miss anything exciting while I was asleep?
Oh? I didn't realize you had anything embarrassing to share. Surely you're still a little confused from your sleep for I am never embarrassed about anything.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
apurrstate) wrote2016-05-03 09:35 pm
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Amaranthine. Vigil's Keep.
[She motions with her hands.]
You. Oghren. Sigrun. Velanna. Justice. Nathaniel. [The good...] Kal'Hirol, the Black Marsh, the mine. The Mother. [...the bad...] The Architect and talking darkspawn. [...and the yet to be decided.]
video
..Just like that? You're not...[No, she wouldn't mess with him, not about this.]
Where are you?
video
[She offers him a smile.]
I'm on the Blue Fish. Still trying to wake up.
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[His tone is an exercise in staying light, like this isn't some big deal, like his heart isn't pounding out of his chest. He hangs up and, Maker help him, sprints to get to her ship.
His hair is uncharacteristically disheveled and his clothes are in a similar state from his haste, but the smile breaking across his face is blinding.]
Well, now. I think this is the best news I've heard since arriving on this Maker-forsaken fleet.
[And then his arms are around her in a tight hug, betraying exactly how much he'd missed her.]
action
She hears him coming, lowering her arm from where she was looking over a long cut The Mother gave to her. She stands to greet him, but she's taken momentarily by surprise by the hug he gives her. Barely a moment passes before she returns it, glad to receiving the man as a friend and not a stranger.]
I'm so sorry, Anders.
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You have nothing to apologize for, my friend. It's this place. I'm just glad you remember now.
[He smirks.]
Was it everything I described? Daring adventures, dashing companions, hideous Darkspawn?
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And then some. The Mother still haunts some of my nightmares. Sometimes, I can still hear her laughter.
[Then there was the Architect. Had she made the right choice there? Only time would tell.
However, what's interesting is where her usual instinct to kick herself about it and agonize over her choice typically made itself known, now it was nowhere to be found. Granted, she worried if she made the right choice. Anyone would. Yet something seems to have changed. She would have to think on it.]
You were right about Nathaniel. Maker, I'm glad to have been able to let go of that anger.
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[The Mother would haunt his dreams until his dying day, he was certain. The Architect, on the other hand, he was choosing not to think about. He'd follow his Commander anywhere and trusted her with his life...but he still doubted the Architect and likely always would.]
I'm glad. You seem...well, out of it a little, but I imagine sleeping that long and waking up with new memories will do that to you, but also better. Do you feel better?
action
She pushed those thoughts aside. What's done is done. And Maker, it felt freeing to be able to really do that. Obsessing over her decisions was something of an old habit.]
Still clearing the fog from my mind. But I feel... yes, I suppose better. Being back home and having a break from this place really helps.
action
Although...it wouldn't hurt, would it? What else was he doing with his mana these days? Even his work on the surface was more Herbalisim-focused than Spirit Healing.
A gentle blue-white glow grew in his palm and it jumped from his skin to hers, the magic spreading through her and leaving a tang in the room like the air before a storm.
He smirked.]
Just in case. I can't imagine sleeping as long as you did is all that healthy.
action
Ah, thank you. I do feel a bit... more awake. [Slightly more energized, if nothing else.] So, did I miss anything exciting while I was asleep?
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Just that wonderful artwork your dear friend, Leliana bestowed on you. I might have saved the picture...
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You took a picture? You fiend!
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Of course! You were bound to ruin it when you woke up, I had to preserve the genius of it.
Now I can see the loveliness of the art and the beauty of your face without the two competing.
[Isn't he charming?? You love him, right????]
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Anders. [OH SNAP THERE'S THE WARDEN-COMMANDER TONE.] If that gets out to anyone, it'll be your hide I'm coming after.
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Of course, my darling Commander. I wouldn't dream of doing anything like that.
It's not in my nature to besmirch royalty with something so slanderous.
[He had no intention of sharing it with anyone...but that didn't mean he was above teasing her. It was his self-imposed job, after all.]
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Wise man. I'd hate to have to reveal anything particularly embarrassing regarding you if such a thing were to occur.
[Queen of Ferelden threatening people with blackmail. Given her position, perhaps it was only a matter of time...]
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Oh? I didn't realize you had anything embarrassing to share. Surely you're still a little confused from your sleep for I am never embarrassed about anything.
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