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[dirth]

Who: Solas and everyone!
Broadcast: Fleet-wide
Action: On board the Marsiva, should you want!
When: 20th onwards

[ This time, when Solas wakes up, he doesn't fall out of the bed. (There are small mercies.) Instead, he stands, a little unsteady on his feet, but rising to appear taller and a little stronger than the last time he was present on the fleet. His clothes, too, are different, and he looks a little more... Regal than he had been. He's certainly less on edge than his first arrival, shifting to realign the video feed so he can tilt his head, almost smiling. ]

The Marsiva, I imagine.

[ He doesn't want to ask if anyone he remembers is around - a part of him is afraid of the answer. It could be that they've gone and relived things just as he has, and if that's the case... Perhaps it would be better not to spend too long searching for them. If they wanted to speak to him they would find him; it's never stopped them in the past.

Still. ]

I should welcome myself back. [ A pause, then - ] I am Solas, for those that don't recognise me. 

[ What else can he say? He turns his head, gaze set for a moment, before he simply fights a sigh and turns the feed off. ]

Comments

[mucked]

Should we?

[ recognize you.

peggy's not dim. she understands (between the lines) that this is likely some poor soul returned to the fleet. it's only that, before now, the phenomenon had been described to her but she'd not yet witnessed it. it's the sort of brain she wouldn't mind picking over. ]

[dawnwillcome]

[It takes Jove a little longer than she would have expected to greet Solas. With everyone that's gone, with the dwindling numbers of people she knows from Thedas shrinking so quickly, this is like a gift that she isn't quite sure she deserves.

If she only knew.

When she does greet him she looks surprised by his appearance, but absolutely happy to see him. Enjoy that guilt, Solas.]

Solas. You look... you look very well.

[dirth]

I have been here before.

[ And Solas admits that with a soft smile. He's not particularly arrogant about it, at least - it's been two years, if not a little more, for him. How long has it been for the fleet? Longer, less? He's not sure. ]

[dirth]

[ For a long moment, Solas is unsure what to say.

It doesn't happen often, but he's speechless, his eyes flickering over the video before he pauses, fighting back the urge to say more than just a greeting. He remembers Jove, of course he does - an Inquisitor that wasn't his, a heroine that deserved more than she had been given, and even now he knows there is a gentle pull, a connection between them they cannot deny...

His hand - left hand - clenched absently and he breathes out. ]

Jove. It's good to see you.

[ And he smiles; he means it, with all of his heart. ]

[mucked]

And they say lightning doesn't strike twice.

[dawnwillcome]

[He does remember her. The relief is written plainly on her face but she can't bring herself to care, not when it's Solas. She'd need this more than she realized, the kind of support he'd been from the very beginning and more importantly, the friend he had become in his time here in the fleet.]

I'm glad you're back.

[That might be a little uncharacteristically open, more than she'd say over public channels, but she doesn't care. She needs to say it, needs him to know it.]

[dirth]

It is certainly not what I expected.

[ That's... Being a little gentle with the words, really, and Solas shakes his head. ]

Have you been here long?

[dirth]

[ Her relief is obvious but, in a way, so is his; to be remembered is a dangerous thing, but knowing that she neither hates him nor has forgotten him means more than he can put into words. Something deep inside of him aches and he has to shove it to one side, a familiar notion now. There was no time for such things, after all, at least on Thedas. ]

A part of me is glad to be back, I think.

[ He bows his head. ]

It wouldn't be the same if you were absent.

[mucked]

Five months. Or thereabouts.

[ watches the device -- watches him really. and wonders if those ears are a trick of the light, or something else. ]

[wolfuncaged]

Oh. It's you.

[Welcome train pulling into the station. Choo-choo. ]

[heresyandlace]

Oh. You again.

[he taps his chin.]

...Interesting.

[bryces_pup]

[Hey, it's an elf. And he... sort of seems to have some variation of a Thedosian accent. Maybe. Either way, it's worth saying hello.

And wonder and headscratch over that armor]

So you're a returning "guest"? Lucky you. [Except not really.] Well at least you can skip the initial panic phase of arrival.

[neverknight]

Nice work with the murals.

[he remembers the name at least. He knows nothing else about the guy, though.]

[dawnwillcome]

[If she had ever had a reason to be suspicious of him before, the way he qualifies that, a part of him being glad to be back, it'd make her wonder exactly what he meant. She'd ask, try to find his reasons.

But she trusts him, so she immediately assumes it's because he didn't chose to return. She accepts this with no question and when he bows his head she can't help smiling more.]

Not much has changed while you were gone. We kept the Pathstone just the same.

video;

[enshields]

[Rare chance, this. Steve is terribly averse to the network for obvious reasons, but he clicks it on now and gives Solas a polite nod. Make no mistake, this isn't a social call, but at least no one can fault his manners.]

Steve Rogers. Mind if I ask how long you were gone and if you remember anything during that time?

[video]

[killedwithlove]

SOLAS!

[Cole doesn't pause for a response, just hurls himself to his communicator, virtually shoving his face against the screen. The screen shows a puff and curl of black smoke as he appears, one bright silver blue eye with black paint smudged over his cheekbone.]

People keep coming and going and you went away, but we kept the murals, and I've been learning from them, but I'm not any good at painting and then Dorian went away and it was quieter and then Cullen went a while ago and Jove is all sad and Elize keeps crying and the emptiness echoes endlessly, it doesn't stop, ringing, ringing, like the Pit.

video;

[invigorates]

It seems they are fond of bringing back those they once sent away.

[ herself included, though there seems to be a trend lately from what she has noticed. ]

We did not meet before, but I will welcome you back nonetheless, Solas. I am Lioriley - and I've a question for you, if I may.

video

[bloodbiter]

Is this not the first time you've been here?

[dirth]

I see. [ He raises his brow, watching her for a moment before he huffs a noise. ] Do you have a question?

[dirth]

[ Solas is careful with his words, but he cannot deny Jove some measure of honesty. She had been his comfort here, after all, and there's no ignoring that - even as he breathes out and bows his head.

They kept the ship the same. He wonders if he can return to it, to see the paintings, the things he had shared with her and Cole. Perhaps it would be impossible, but if not... ]

I would like to visit, if I can. I'm unsure where I will end up this time.

[dirth]

Fenris.

[ Oh, he remembers Fenris, and not fondly. ]

[mucked]

[ she does, in fact, have a question. ]

-- Between the last time you were here, and now, did you...did you return to wherever you first came from?

[ it isn't the most important question, but it's one that needs answering. everyone tells her this is the case, but she needs to confirm it with someone who has experienced the journey. ]

[dirth]

Is it?

[ Solas just smiles, tilting his head. ]

I will take that as my welcome.

[dirth]

I believe last time I fell out of bed.

[ His armour is fantastic, come now. Still, he manages a smile. ]

I could end up in worse places, I think.

[dirth]

[ Well -- ]

You have my thanks.