video

[veilstrike]

Who: Leilani Lavellan and you
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: On the Blue Fish
When: Now, after gifts have been opened!

[ The video opens with Leilani fiddling with something in her hands, but she's quick to turn her attention to the camera and focus on the people she's talking to. She's well practiced at the art of focussing her attention on people rather than things; the Inquisition had demanded it from her, and she barely had any time of her own. No time for worries or fears or sadness; only work and fighting for whatever future Thedas had left. ]

In my clan we did not celebrate the winter as the rest of the world did. I didn't recognise that there were different celebrations until I became the Inquisitor, and then it felt as though I was pretending to understand something that was completely alien to me.

[ Frowning, she drops the necklace from her hands. ]

I'd like to know more about your traditions, if you'll appease me. I've never had much time to sit and talk about these sorts of things, so anything that you might be able to tell me would be welcome. There is always time to learn something new.

[ It also distracts her, so it's a welcome relief. ]

Comments

video;;

[fantachetic]

[ That gentle fondness makes him ache in the best possible way. ]

That might be nice, but I won't hold my hopes too high. There's no telling what the planet has.

video;;

[veilstrike]

I'll try and find something like it. [ It's something for her to focus on, at least! ] I never realised you had a sweet tooth.

video;; >> action;;

[fantachetic]

Not entirely. It's only with certain things.

[ The communicator shifts, distorting the video before it goes black. Not a moment later, there is a knock on Leilani's door before it opens and Dorian steps through before closing it behind him. He's carrying a small box that's been opened, doesn't seem keen on letting it go. ]

I had a bet going with Varric before I left. I told him if I won, that was how he could pay me.

[veilstrike]

[ She doesn't look too surprised when she sees Dorian coming in, and she hums quietly, tilting her head to look over at him. There's a gentle fondness that overcomes her, and she shuffles over to make space for him to join her. ]

Varric would be able to get you whatever you wanted.

[ Tilting her head, she glances at the box. ]

Though it seems like you have a present already.

[fantachetic]

So it seems have you. [ He sits next to her, crossing his legs. He watches Leilani, and his eyes can't help but wander over the wolf jaw in her hands. It's more than familiar. ]

Our hosts believe they have a sense of humor.

[veilstrike]

I'm not sure I'm laughing.

[ She sighs, shifting and pressing her face into his arm. ]

You can ask.

[fantachetic]

It belonged to Solas. I can imagine you meant a great deal to him for you to end up with it. I can't pretend to know how it happened, or your dynamic.

[ He reaches a hand up to lightly stroke the hair at the back of her head. ]

[veilstrike]

I loved him. [ There's... No need for her to say more, surely? But her stomach is in knots. ] And he loved me, or he said he did. [ A pause, and then... ] No. He did.

[fantachetic]

Solas doesn't take me as the type to say things he does not mean. He may have broken his own heart as much as yours?

[ A pause, quickly followed by being indelicate. ]

You deserve a better lover than that, and you have the opportunity to find one.

[veilstrike]

No, perhaps not. I don't think he was particularly happy with the arrangement, but it was still his choice.

[ She snorts, though, tilting her had up to smile at him. ]

I'm not sure I want anything quite like what I shared with Solas.

[fantachetic]

There's no need for such emotional attachment. Something like that.. you don't necessarily want to do it twice- despite how it may have been the first time. Good idea in theory, but different in practice.

[ Not as pleasing the second time around, maybe. It's difficult to build something like that up again. ]

[veilstrike]

[ She hums, quiet and noncommittal, before she reaches out and brushes her fingers against his. She'd rather like to hold his hand, but she's not going to press for intimacy. ]

Was one threesome not enough?

[fantachetic]

[ He reaches to close the distance between their hands, threading their fingers together and laughs lightly. ]

Maker, I should hope not.

[veilstrike]

[ That has her actually laughing, leaning forward to rest against him, squeezing his hand. ]

You are utterly ridiculous.

[fantachetic]

Perhaps you need a dose of it.

[ He's glad to have made her laugh, at least. It's better than the forlorn expression she had been wearing. ]

[veilstrike]

Things have been a little serious of late. [ Her spare hand is still thumbing her necklace, and she frowns again for a moment before her eyes flick back to him. Much nicer to look at, she thinks. ] Were you given a gift as well?

[fantachetic]

Not without reason, though I will admit I'm glad to be rid of it. [ Everyone was glad to get off the planet, though.

He glances to the bed on the other side of him to the box and nods. He can't really express how grateful he was, seeing what he'd been given. ]

I didn't expect to see it again. [ He simply passes her the box so she can look. Even if she doesn't understand the meaning behind it. ]

[veilstrike]

Are you telling me you didn't love the planet that was literally trying to eat us alive? For shame. [ Healthy humour makes all the pains disappear, surely?

Still, it's easier to look over at Dorian's box, to reach out and take it as he hands it over. She's careful with it, even as she's unaware of what it is, what the significance is to him. ]

It's lovely. Can you explain what it means?

[fantachetic]

My birthright. It signifies my place in my family as heir.. Though I'm not certain what good it would do me now. I just.. [ He brushes his fingers over the golden surface with a brief moment of awe. ]

It was a pleasant surprise.

[veilstrike]

It means something. It's important.

[ Just like the jawbone means something to her; it's a last link to someone she's trying hard not to give up on. Smiling, she closes the lid on the box and passes it back over, carefully. ]

I'm glad you have something to make you happy, Dorian.

[fantachetic]

I don't know about happy..but the peace of mind that I have it back is good.

[ No need to worry how to get it back without involving the Inquisitor or Josephine, or figure out a way to reason with that slimy toad. ]

At least I didn't fuck that up, as well. [ Ahaha ha ha haaa... ]

[veilstrike]

[ A part of her wants to know how he lost it in the first place, but it doesn't seem much like a story he is interested in telling. Instead, she shakes her head, drawing him closer so she can lean against him - and so he can lean against her in turn.

She doesn't have to carry everything and neither should he. ]

Sometimes, messere, fuck ups are necessary.

[fantachetic]

[ He would tell her if she asked, of course. She's not likely to judge him too much. Dorian leans into her slight weight, a sigh escaping him. So used to carrying everything on his own, he wouldn't really know where to start in unloading his burdens.

It's good to know that she knows what a toad his father is, but that's only the half of it, unfortunately. ]

In this case, I would have to agree.

[veilstrike]

[ She leans into him and grips at his hand, a weight for herself and him both. It's not easy, being here and being reminded of all the things at home, all the things they had left behind, but there's not much they can do about it.

It's not like being trapped in the future; this time there's nothing they can do to control it. ]

If I hadn't fucked up snooping at the Conclave you and I would never have met.

[fantachetic]

[ In the end, it's all about their choices driving them. They did what they felt was right at the time, hadn't they? If she hadn't been at the Conclave, they'd never have met. The same goes if he'd never left Tevinter, but he doesn't want to think about that potential future. Or lack thereof. ]

I'm rather glad you did, if I'm being honest. Things would have been unbearable had different decisions been made.