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Hey... are you busy?

( hmm. someone sounds tired and generally unlike themselves, there's also the sound of waves and other voices in the background that very much pinpoint her being in kirkwall. weird, wasn't she supposed to be in ansburg still? )

Always.

[Said sort of distracted and automatic, her default answer. But, obviously, that doesn't mean she can't get some time to herself if she has a good enough reason. Then, with slightly more attention and... concern(?):]

Why? What's going on?

Isn't that the truth.

( she chuckles, sort of but ultimately sighs. )

I didn't make friends with the Ansburg Wardens, might have said we should burn down the fortress and left ahead of senior members. Have you ever been to the Deep Roads? It's shit.

Aye, there's good reason I've never been.

Sounds like you had a grand old time though.

The wine was good so they had that much going for them.

( a beat, and then: ) Could I see you? When you're not busy, of course.

[It takes Avery a moment to respond, though not because she actually had to think about it at all. Just... still adjusting, maybe, to whatever this new dynamic is between them.]

Yeah. Of course.

( and on ciri's there is also silence aside from the sounds of waves before she speaks again, tired but... perhaps sounding a little better? closer to normal, anyway. )

I'll be back at the Gallows soon. I'll meet you outside the kitchens?

I'll be there.

( it takes a little longer than usual, simply because she drags her feet the entire way there out of stiffness and being utterly tired of walking. perhaps it would have been in her best interest to go up to her room first, get out of her armor and then come down to meet Avery. unfortunately, she think she might pass up before making it up all those stairs.

so, instead, she stands outside the kitchens still in armor. her hair up in a messy bun and nursing a bruised cheek with a frown. when she hears the doors open, she peeks over and smiles lightly. )

Hey...

Hey yourself.

[Avery pauses a moment to take in Ciri's current appearance but almost instinctively starts forward again when she sees the bruise. Though once she gets close, she's not really sure what to do with herself other than frown in concern.

Should she be doing something with her hands maybe??? This is hard.]

You look even more tired than I feel.

And I probably look just as gross as I feel too.

( because the Deep Roads are gross. so gross. speaking of hands, Ciri sort of... turns hers over and holds it out toward Avery. for a moment, it probably just looks awkward (because it is) but she finally just gestures for the other's hand to get her point across. )

Settling in to your new role?

[That first comment earns Ciri a dry look, but otherwise Avery chooses to ignore it and answer the question instead.]

As best I can. Don't have much choice now, do I?

[Also, yeah, it definitely takes a second for Ciri's request to click in her head, but once it does, Avery reaches out, slow and uncharacteristically shy, to tentatively take the offered hand.]

You should eat something. [Er, whoops, that just sort of bubbled out unbidden, thanks to nervous energy, but now it's there so she presses on.] And have a bath, a change, and a rest. You're like to feel a bit more human after.

That's true but I'd still like to know how you're doing.

( She shrugs her shoulders, armor making more noise and causing her to sigh slightly. Still, she takes a hold of the hand that she offered with only slight hesitation. There's still awkwardness but holding hands isn't nearly as nerve-wrecking as kissing, thankfully. )

I know but I really wanted to see you first. ( Speaking of things just bubbling out. ) Wanted to since I left the fortress.

[Again, Avery is kind of torn between feeling pleased (in that weird, squishy way she's still getting used to) and just... asking why?? She's not exactly a comforting presence for most people, you know!

Instead though, she tugs at Ciri's hand and starts walking away from the kitchen.]

Come on then. I'll walk you up and you can hear the whole bloody rant.

( Ciri moves herself off the wall at the tug, following along with a slow steps and a tired chuckle. )

Thanks. It's not that fun of a story though, and most of it has to do with what happened before I joined up with the Inquisition.

[In response, she just shrugs and tries to walk on like nothing's unusual at all right now.]

I can do mine first if you like.

( She blinks once, squeezing Avery's hand before shaking her head. )

It's okay, I just don't know how to start explaining this. I guess at the very beginning? ( Tiredly, she rubs her neck with her free hand. )

You know that the Wardens went insane and tried to bring some giant army of demons in from the Fade. They bound the mages to demons, and sacrificed others for the blood magic too. Not all of us agreed with that, but there wasn't much we could do so for months we were held hostage out in the Anderfels, at Weisshaupt.

Edited 2017-07-02 03:58 (UTC)

Aye, I've heard something to that effect.

[She's not exactly high on the list of personnel who need all the details around here, but rumor was enough to get the gist of it at least her way.]

( There is a quiet pause, one where Ciri simply listens to their steps before she considers how to explain all of this before just deciding to nail the main point. )

They thought we were all dying. It's part of the package deal of being a Warden, we don't have long lifespans and once it starts to near the end when start hearing... a song, I guess. It is the most beautiful and absolutely disgusting melody, it ate into our every pore. ( And sometimes, late at night, she's afraid she still hears it. ) Because of that things weren't easy at Weisshaupt...

( Which was putting it lightly. ) Every turn I made, I had to wonder if someone I shared this position with would murder me in my sleep. I watched seasoned fighters break down afraid they would be bound to demons or killed for blood magic. To find out there was this whole branch of the Order out there and know they didn't help? I hate it. I hate them and they still had the gall to ask us to join them.

... It's saddening, I think but I owe more to the Inquisition than I do the Wardens. I just can't trust my own Order anymore.

Edited 2017-07-03 02:45 (UTC)

[Avery takes a moment to absorb all of that. She's not the best talker, she knows, but listening at least she can manage fairly well, so she chooses to hold back on her own (many and vehement) thoughts for now.

Instead, she just asks a simple question.]

So where does that leave you now?

( Again, she is quiet as if pondering the question because where does all of this leave her now? Her gaze shifts rapidly from Avery, to their hands, the wall and then to the floor. Right, the question... )

Here, and with you. ( Speaking of someone not holding back their thoughts. ) That's all that matters right now.

[Okay, at some point the flustering has to start being deliberate, right? Avery's not THAT great, you know. She has gravy on her trousers RIGHT NOW.]

If you say...

[Would a subject change help? Maybe a subject change would help.]

My day wasn't near so exciting, but I did nearly brain someone with a saucepan.

Edited 2017-07-06 05:27 (UTC)

( Perhaps?? And gravy is worlds better than dark spawn... whatever. )

But I did say... ( She also sleepy. Don't confuse her!! ) Really? Tell me it was the jam thief trying to strike once more.

[She snorts.]

If only.

Some old blowhard doesn't like my being in charge and near ruined hours of work deciding his "family recipe" was better than what I told him to work on.

Just as fun, I suppose. I would have loved to see it though. Tell me you knocked him out.

crystal

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