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video

Who: Leilani
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Blue Fish, later
When: Now!

[ The feed opens with the camera focussed on someone's back - it takes a moment to settle, but then Leilani peers over her shoulder, a soft smile on her face. What she's showing off is quite clear; where her skin was once bare, there's a winding tattoo that covers her spine from the small of her back up to her shoulders.

The centre is a green stalk, like a plant, with roses of bright Fade green and blood red surrounding it, coloured in a watercolour style. Weaving through the stem of the flowers is a bright purple snake that seems to have... Bull horns on the top, and a pair of red, glowing eyes. The stem branches out into curves and patterns across her back: anyone familiar with Dalish vallaslin will recognise the design. ]

Leilani grins, even though it makes her wince a little - the tattoo is fresh, and it's red and a little sore from where it's starting to heal. At least she has the decency to make sure she doesn't flash anything by holding a shirt over her chest. ]

I used to have tattoos on my face. For my people, blood writing - the vallaslin - was a sign of becoming an adult. You would get the markings of one of the Gods placed on you, and you would have to sit in silence or you would not be allowed to be given the writing at all.

[ She takes a deep breath, quiet, before she breathes it out. It's obviously hurting, both the ache from the tattoo and the loss of her actual vallaslin. ]

I lost my vallaslin, so I thought it was time to get something new, something for myself rather than for the Gods. [ She finally smiles properly, tilting her head. ] And I'm fishing for compliments, now. I'd like to hear what you think - Loyalty.

[ She ducks out of view before she can finish the sentence, and whoever is holding the camera ends the feed as she goes. ]

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[Justice is scowling as he turns off the camera. She did that on purpose, didn't she? She absolutely did that on purpose. It's not unjust, so he can't snap at her for it, and it's not malicious, so he can't be angry about it, but he can still scowl at her.

He hasn't put on a shirt yet, but he doesn't see how it might be odd for two people to sit alone in a bedroom without shirts on.]

If the wind blows your face will be stuck like that.

[ Leilani moves, shifting to step to the side of her room, almost tripping over the cat as she goes. The tattoo artist had given her some suggestions of how to care for her back, and she does the best she can before she shrugs one of Dorian's shirts on and makes her way back over to Justice. ]

Smiling won't hurt you, Justice.

I never smile.

[Which is completely honest. Smiles do not come naturally to him even at the best of times, and the past few weeks have hardly been the best of times.

Loyalty, for her part, is coiling around Leilani's legs, rubbing herself on her calves and purring. Justice doesn't stop scowling, but he softens.] The tattoo is beautiful.

Then it's something else to try with your new body.

[ Bending down again, Leilani lifts the cat into her arms and smiles softly, fingers scratching behind her ears before she sits down on her bed again. ]

Thank you. There were lots of things I wanted for it... I'm glad it doesn't look messy.

I doubt I would be any good at it.

[Loyalty purrs in Leilani's arms, happily basking in all the attention. Why she doesn't just stay with Leilani, Justice doesn't know.]

The artist said it would look messy only if you do not take good care of it while it heals. If you require assistance caring for it, I can help. [He's sure that she knows how to take care of tattoos, but she'd still have trouble reaching her back.]

Have you tried?

[ The cat gets put on her lap, and while Leilani pets her she focusses on Justice. ]

Thank you. There's some healing cream that I was given that should help, and I need to make sure I keep it clean. I'm trying not to get my clothes stuck to it.

[ Which is why she's wearing the biggest shirt she owns - stolen, of course - and absolutely no bra. ]

No. Not consciously, at least.

[He nods, eyeing the shirt she wears. It's a large shirt, especially on her, but still...] Would it not be easier to simply not have a shirt on?

[It doesn't occur to him how that may sound to a mortal. All he considers is the practicality without thought to the fact that there's a reason why most mortals prefer to wear clothes around other mortals.]

Then we can try it together.

[ The suggestion makes her laugh, a burst of something almost embarrassed, but then she tilts her head and smiles at him. ]

You won't be uncomfortable with me being shirtless in front of you?

[ She could probably have a go at wrapping her chest, but she's worried about the tightness... Maybe loose wrappings... ]

You are better at it than I am.

[Her smiles are honest. His wouldn't be inherently, because they are not natural.

At her question, his brow furrows in mild confusion.]

No. I would not be uncomfortable at all.

Am I meant to be?

That's because you haven't practiced.

[ But Leilani moves, shifting from one foot to another. Clearly, Justice doesn't care a lick about her being shirtless in front of him - half of her is quite fine with that, because it's just her chest, but another half feels as though she wants him to care.

How irritating. She can almost hear Dorian laughing in the background. ]

No, you're not. Some people might be, but not you. [ Shaking her head, Leilani shrugs off her shirt and relaxes, just a little, from the lack of fabric brushing over her sore skin. ] I just want to lie down, now.

Would you like me to leave?

[He doesn't want to go, but Riona and Anders taught him that mortals don't like it when he watches them while they sleep.

He barely registers her lack of shirt and bra. He has seen naked elven women before, and there are no particular surprises written in the skin of her chest.]

No.

[ She frowns, watching him for a moment before she reaches out and offers her hand. ]

You can stay. I wouldn't mind the company, unless there's somewhere else you need to be.

I am needed nowhere else for now.

[His shoulders relax as she reaches out for him and he takes her hand, lacing their fingers together and savoring the song of the Fade in her skin. It takes the edge off of the terrible loneliness that he's been suffering, and a part of him is desperate to cling to it.]

I would be pleased to stay with you.

Maybe you can lie with me, then.

[ Leilani reaches to scoop Loyalty up and place her on the ground before she shifts a little. She frowns, thinking. ]

I’ll need to be on my front...

[Loyalty lets out a small mewl of protest before losing interest and searching for something to scratch. Justice, for his part, is mildly surprised by the offer to lie with her, but he already knows that Leilani is far more physical than many mortals. It's not as though the offer is unwelcome, either--he's developed a sharp and unwelcome craving for physical contact, and he's ignored it for weeks. He lies down on his side, still holding her hand as he looks up at her.]

Perhaps your side could work just as well, so long as you do not pull the skin of your back.

[ A part of her is a touch sad that Justice doesn't seem to care even a little about her being shirtless - a woman likes to be appreciated, after all - but it's comforting, too. She lets her guard down around him and she knows it; it's nice to be aware that he won't try and take advantage of her relaxation. She trusts Justice, and she hopes he trusts her in return. ]

It's a good idea.

[ She moves carefully, wiggling to settle down with a quiet hum. ]

It's not as sore as it was.

That is good. [Justice keeps a grip on her hand, but he’s not entirely sure what to do with his other hand. Figuring that Leilani will tell him if he does something she doesn’t like, she settles his hand on her bare waist.

He can feel the prickle of disappointment in the air, in her skin. He cocks his head, examining her face.] Has something upset you?

[ It's definitely comfortable, and Leilani settles against Justice with a soft hum; there's no need to do anything but enjoy the moment, she supposes...

Except, of course, he's a spirit and can pry into her thoughts just so. It almost makes her laugh. ] No, of course not. I'm perfectly happy.

Lying is wrong. [It has a touch of his usual scold in there, but it's much less strident than usual. While he still believes that lying is wrong, he's beginning to understand why mortals might make a habit of lying about feelings.] What is wrong?

I'm not lying. [ This is it, she thinks. This is how she's going to die. Mortification is going to catch up to her and she'll perish. ] I'm tired, and sore.

[He's upsetting her more by prying. Before, Justice may have just pried harder in his confusion, but Justice thinks he understands how it might feel to not want to talk about something and be pried into anyway. There are some things that are just hard to talk about.]

If you do not wish to speak of it, that is okay.

[She's cuddled up against his chest, and it's nice. Bare skin against bare skin is new. He dares to move his hand to her face, running his thumb against her cheek, all along the bone to her earlobe.] We can just lie here, if you like.

[ Why is he being so nice to her? Leilani makes a soft noise, shifting a little before she tilts her head up to look at Justice. If it was any other man - Solas, or Rowan, or Zevran - she really would be a little offended. Considering it's Justice, however... She can't really be mad at him, can she?

She was prepared to tell him so, but then his hand trailed up against her cheek and then, then, he touches her ear and she feels a little bit faint. This, she things, is completely unfair, and she can't resist her wiggle. ]

That - I wouldn't touch me there, Justice.

[Justice jerks her hand away from her face like he's been burned, his brow creasing in confusion. He doesn't know what's wrong with touching the face or ear, but he's learned not to question mortal things like that.]

I apologize. I still do not quite understand what I am and am not allowed to touch. [He settles his hand on her upper arm, though his touch is more uncertain now.] Did I make you uncomfortable?

No, it's - there's nothing wrong with you touching it, exactly.

[ She reaches up for his hand, because of course she does, and she links their fingers carefully. He's so new to physical touch, she thinks, and she breathes out a soft noise. How to explain this... ]

There are certain places on a person's body that feel... Particularly good, and usually very nice in certain situations. I didn't think that's what your intention was when you touched my ear.

I see. [Justice knows about erogenous zones--goodness knows one can't live in the Fade for long without learning all about what mortals like to do to each other--but he hadn't expected an ear to be so sensitive that even a brush was inappropriate.

But her hand is reassuring. She doesn't hold his ignorance against him, and that keeps him calm.]

So... you do not wish me to do that again? [His tone is questioning, and he looks to her for confirmation. He's lost when it comes to the trickier rules of touching, and what mortals are and are not okay with.]

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