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[ So many things. The operation, and why it had prompted the action it did. Who were the people she'd lost. What were they like.
Whether it was worth it. If it had brought her peace. Derrica doesn't think it had, but—
There is a moment of quiet. A weighing of things, trying to consider what she is about to say. ]
Everyone, [ must sound like an exaggeration. It is not. ] But it was different than what happened between you and Ellie.
[ If she hesitates after, it's only because the truth of the thing looms so large. It had been so impersonal, and so devastating. It feels unfair to set it against what Abby has experienced. ]
Whether it was worth it. If it had brought her peace. Derrica doesn't think it had, but—
There is a moment of quiet. A weighing of things, trying to consider what she is about to say. ]
Everyone, [ must sound like an exaggeration. It is not. ] But it was different than what happened between you and Ellie.
[ If she hesitates after, it's only because the truth of the thing looms so large. It had been so impersonal, and so devastating. It feels unfair to set it against what Abby has experienced. ]
(It doesn't sound like an exaggeration. Abby lost everyone too. She says,) I'm sorry. (And now they've both said that to each other, and both mentioned real, tangible loss in their lives. It makes Abby feel a tiny bit better about the whole thing. She plucks at a bit of fuzz on her sleeve, and adds,) That's–
(Not... Not good, but,) I'm glad that's not a regular thing.
(Bad joke. Abby's feeling a little vulnerable right now, that's all. )
(Not... Not good, but,) I'm glad that's not a regular thing.
(Bad joke. Abby's feeling a little vulnerable right now, that's all. )
Yeah.
(Derrica's right, she realises. Even this time in Thedas is some of the first she's spent not worrying the death of her dad over and over and over again in her mind. She hasn't been dreaming about the night she found his body. She's been talking about him. Things have been easing.
But it has taken time.
She breathes in, and out. Mumbles,) Thank you.
(Derrica's right, she realises. Even this time in Thedas is some of the first she's spent not worrying the death of her dad over and over and over again in her mind. She hasn't been dreaming about the night she found his body. She's been talking about him. Things have been easing.
But it has taken time.
She breathes in, and out. Mumbles,) Thank you.
[It isn't often Fenris comes to the Gallows. Less often still he chooses to take his meals there, but sometimes needs must, and there are worse things to eat than a communal stew. Besides: it's better than his own meager efforts; Fenris has lived on his own for a long time, but that hasn't really translated to much in the way of cooking skills.
He's settled next to Abby, pleased to have spotted her, content to pass a meal with her. They've talked of idle things up until now: struggles in training Ataashi, various fighting techniques. Maybe an upcoming mission with Forces, who knows? But what it circles around to, sooner or later, is:]
Ellie has made it habit to break in.
[He doesn't sound displeased.]
Not often, but sometimes. And to visit Astarion, not me. But I suppose it is nice to have refuge away from the Gallows.
[And . . . he isn't quite sure of how to say what he wants to say next, fearing it coming out too soppily. It leaves him with a mild grimace, his expression unsure, before he adds:]
You are welcome to do the same, if the need takes you, though I ask you use the front door, not a window. We have a great many rooms, and use very few of them.
He's settled next to Abby, pleased to have spotted her, content to pass a meal with her. They've talked of idle things up until now: struggles in training Ataashi, various fighting techniques. Maybe an upcoming mission with Forces, who knows? But what it circles around to, sooner or later, is:]
Ellie has made it habit to break in.
[He doesn't sound displeased.]
Not often, but sometimes. And to visit Astarion, not me. But I suppose it is nice to have refuge away from the Gallows.
[And . . . he isn't quite sure of how to say what he wants to say next, fearing it coming out too soppily. It leaves him with a mild grimace, his expression unsure, before he adds:]
You are welcome to do the same, if the need takes you, though I ask you use the front door, not a window. We have a great many rooms, and use very few of them.
(Fenris has also been fed a funny story about a rambunctious puppy meeting Ataashi for the first time earlier in the week, so even stray mentions of Ellie can't sour Abby's evening. She's comfortable as she is, sandwiched into a corner across from Fenris as they chat over their empty bowls. What he says even gets a rare smile out of her.)
Don't worry, (she jokes,) crawling through the Chantry window got it out of my system. (She will be a normal person, Ellie. She will knock on the door and go through that door.
... But be honest, Fenris,) Are you inviting me to a sleepover?
Don't worry, (she jokes,) crawling through the Chantry window got it out of my system. (She will be a normal person, Ellie. She will knock on the door and go through that door.
... But be honest, Fenris,) Are you inviting me to a sleepover?
[No is what he means to say. Not indignantly, he's not that kind of man, but bluntly, dryly, oh, yes. No, I'm not a teenager, but if you wish to come by, oh, something about company, for that is what he's after, but still, with dignity. He's never been good at making friends (Hawke just sort of recruited him and they all became friends via proximity), so you know, he's doing his best.
But what he actually says, honestly and truly, is:]
Sort of.
Er. Not . . . it isn't about you sleeping over, but if you wish to visit—
[Mmm. His mouth twists. Are the tips of his ears red? Maybe!]
It is an offer, nothing more.
But what he actually says, honestly and truly, is:]
Sort of.
Er. Not . . . it isn't about you sleeping over, but if you wish to visit—
[Mmm. His mouth twists. Are the tips of his ears red? Maybe!]
It is an offer, nothing more.
It's shockingly late in the evening when Abby's crystal crackles to life. 'If you're in the Gallows,' says the Forces Commander, his brusque timbre clearly cut over it. 'Report to my office at once.'
When she arrives, the room is warm and the air dense. The thick stone walls may rebuff the heat of a Kirkwall summer for much of the day, but eventually the weather can be trusted to penetrate and then linger despite whatever windows (all of them) may be cranked partly open or the door left open to the ancillary quarters in a desperate bid for a bit of airflow. There is, mercifully, no fire in the hearth, though it makes for a somewhat gloomily lit after hours meeting.
"Bolt the door behind you if you would," Flint instructs from where he's standing near one of the cracked windows behind the desk on the far side of the long room.
When she arrives, the room is warm and the air dense. The thick stone walls may rebuff the heat of a Kirkwall summer for much of the day, but eventually the weather can be trusted to penetrate and then linger despite whatever windows (all of them) may be cranked partly open or the door left open to the ancillary quarters in a desperate bid for a bit of airflow. There is, mercifully, no fire in the hearth, though it makes for a somewhat gloomily lit after hours meeting.
"Bolt the door behind you if you would," Flint instructs from where he's standing near one of the cracked windows behind the desk on the far side of the long room.
(Abby's eyebrows fly up to her hairline and she looks in abrupt danger of laughing at him. The only thing that stops her is thinking that he may get up and leave the table when she's enjoying his company, but. Whewf, it's a close thing.
Even so, she's grinning almost from ear to ear.)
Yeah? Okay.
(She won't tease, she won't say something dumb like woooww don't you have a boyfriend, she'll just... take this moment for what it is and bask in it, because it actually makes her really happy. And poor Fenris has red ear tips already.
She adds,) I'd invite you to visit me too, but it's kinda small. (Just a room in the Gallows that she shares with one other person and a dog, so.)
Even so, she's grinning almost from ear to ear.)
Yeah? Okay.
(She won't tease, she won't say something dumb like woooww don't you have a boyfriend, she'll just... take this moment for what it is and bask in it, because it actually makes her really happy. And poor Fenris has red ear tips already.
She adds,) I'd invite you to visit me too, but it's kinda small. (Just a room in the Gallows that she shares with one other person and a dog, so.)
[Friendship was a mistake— no, but also, stop looking at him like that, please, this is stupid and embarrassing and he doesn't know why he felt so compelled to be honest. Perhaps it's hanging around Mobius too much; Chantry teachings rubbing off on him.
Ugh. At least she doesn't tease. She gives him a look, but even then it's a happy look, not necessarily mocking.]
Hush.
[She didn't say anything. He grumbles it anyway, busying himself with eating. And mercy, for she continues on, and his glance raises curiously.]
In the Gallows or Lowtown?
[Surely not Darktown, not for the likes of her. She can more than handle herself, but still. It's an awful place.]
Ugh. At least she doesn't tease. She gives him a look, but even then it's a happy look, not necessarily mocking.]
Hush.
[She didn't say anything. He grumbles it anyway, busying himself with eating. And mercy, for she continues on, and his glance raises curiously.]
In the Gallows or Lowtown?
[Surely not Darktown, not for the likes of her. She can more than handle herself, but still. It's an awful place.]
Gallows, (she supplies, wiping the smirk off of her face by putting bread into it,) In one of the shared rooms. You'd like my roommate. (She's very weird (affectionate).
She soaks up soup with her last bit of roll idly, and adds,) I've actually been looking at the houseboats out by the pier.
(Might be nice to live in something like that... she'd take River with her, obviously, and the dog. Feels a little familiar. She adds, impulsively,) I dunno why. Almost lived on a boat back home but I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, or anything.
(hrm)
She soaks up soup with her last bit of roll idly, and adds,) I've actually been looking at the houseboats out by the pier.
(Might be nice to live in something like that... she'd take River with her, obviously, and the dog. Feels a little familiar. She adds, impulsively,) I dunno why. Almost lived on a boat back home but I wasn't exactly looking forward to it, or anything.
(hrm)
[The question of her roommate will have to wait a moment (though rest assured, he'll get back there soon enough). But—]
Almost? What happened?
It does not seem the sort of thing that happens by chance. [Like, you don't just stumble into that . . . although who knows in her world?]
Almost? What happened?
It does not seem the sort of thing that happens by chance. [Like, you don't just stumble into that . . . although who knows in her world?]
He's lucky to catch her on the way out of the Tower, the blunt order receiving an instantaneous heel turn away from the promise of late night run and bath (a tried and true method of wearing herself out well enough to sleep, deeply). Abby, plucking at her shirt and sniffing it, decides that she doesn't have time to change. Flint gets what he gets.
She bolts the door without a word, casting a glance around the dimly lit room and Flint, brooding by the window, staring at her. There is no new map unfurled on the desk between the both of them for Abby to point at, and mark with paper scraps. It makes sense. She hasn't done any notable work as of late, only duties, rounds. Errands.
... Oh, shit.
Is she in trouble or something?
"Reporting for duty," she says, and fires off a little mock salute his way; getting a joke in quick, before he tears her to shreds for the unknown offense.
She bolts the door without a word, casting a glance around the dimly lit room and Flint, brooding by the window, staring at her. There is no new map unfurled on the desk between the both of them for Abby to point at, and mark with paper scraps. It makes sense. She hasn't done any notable work as of late, only duties, rounds. Errands.
... Oh, shit.
Is she in trouble or something?
"Reporting for duty," she says, and fires off a little mock salute his way; getting a joke in quick, before he tears her to shreds for the unknown offense.
The briefest flicker of something bordering on distaste shows in his face, but is there and gone again before it becomes fully identifiable as confusion.
(That motion of her hand better be some eccentric Rifter shit.)
"You're going to Cumberland with the mages," he says, stepping away from the window. It's not a question. Either she already was, or he's telling her to.
Without sitting, Flint retrieves an envelope from one of the desk's drawers.
"I need you to deliver this for me when you get there."
(That motion of her hand better be some eccentric Rifter shit.)
"You're going to Cumberland with the mages," he says, stepping away from the window. It's not a question. Either she already was, or he's telling her to.
Without sitting, Flint retrieves an envelope from one of the desk's drawers.
"I need you to deliver this for me when you get there."
Abby blinks.
"Already planning on it." There's no reality in which she'd stay behind while other people go off to fight for her freedom, fuck that. Of course she's going to Cumberland. She watches Flint carefully, eyes on his every movement, and the letter he produces is- well. A surprise, honestly.
This meeting is not taking place inside the realm of truth or soup and yet, Abby still says, "You want me to deliver your mail?"
She isn't offended, or complaining about it, don't get it wrong! Just confused.
"Already planning on it." There's no reality in which she'd stay behind while other people go off to fight for her freedom, fuck that. Of course she's going to Cumberland. She watches Flint carefully, eyes on his every movement, and the letter he produces is- well. A surprise, honestly.
This meeting is not taking place inside the realm of truth or soup and yet, Abby still says, "You want me to deliver your mail?"
She isn't offended, or complaining about it, don't get it wrong! Just confused.
(A scoff,) Oh, it's-
(Not important. But that isn't true, and so she can't finish the sentence. God, she never knows how to interpret Owen out loud these days, does she say he was her friend or her ex or what... Eventually, after a conflicted pause, she pops that bit of soup-logged bread into her mouth.
Said through it, because she has no manners,) Some guy I knew back home wanted to take a sailboat down the coast. He wanted to get out of the city we were living in 'cuz it was dangerous. More dangerous than usual, I mean. There was a big war going on, over land. He said I could come.
(Easy. And then for some reason, she adds,) But his girlfriend uninvited me at the last minute, so. (Uhh. What? Abby processes the involuntary slip with very obvious surprise, and says,) ... I didn't mean to say that. (The drama of the situation really doesn't matter to the story. Yikes.
She clears her throat, and forces her way past it, tone casual, like she couldn't care less.) It didn't work out in the end anyway. He- had this vision of the five of us living on a fucking sailboat together, it was never going to happen. We probably would have starved to death.
(Not important. But that isn't true, and so she can't finish the sentence. God, she never knows how to interpret Owen out loud these days, does she say he was her friend or her ex or what... Eventually, after a conflicted pause, she pops that bit of soup-logged bread into her mouth.
Said through it, because she has no manners,) Some guy I knew back home wanted to take a sailboat down the coast. He wanted to get out of the city we were living in 'cuz it was dangerous. More dangerous than usual, I mean. There was a big war going on, over land. He said I could come.
(Easy. And then for some reason, she adds,) But his girlfriend uninvited me at the last minute, so. (Uhh. What? Abby processes the involuntary slip with very obvious surprise, and says,) ... I didn't mean to say that. (The drama of the situation really doesn't matter to the story. Yikes.
She clears her throat, and forces her way past it, tone casual, like she couldn't care less.) It didn't work out in the end anyway. He- had this vision of the five of us living on a fucking sailboat together, it was never going to happen. We probably would have starved to death.
Edited (bowl of soap??? soap????????????) 2022-07-20 03:06 (UTC)
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