red — sɐɔnן ʎqnɹ — once υpon a тιмe (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
eviscerates) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
faderift2016-06-08 04:49 pm
eviscerates) wrote in faderift2016-06-08 04:49 pm
Entry tags:
(closed) and I know that I can survive
WHO: Ruby Lucas, Henry Swan, The Outsider, Adelaide & Solas?
WHAT: Ruby failed to find Emma but succeeded in finding an endearingly familiar mage and also having her shard freak out so you know close enough
WHEN: current? current.
WHERE: road to Skyhold & Skyhold
NOTES: The Outsider probably merits a creepywarning.
WHAT: Ruby failed to find Emma but succeeded in finding an endearingly familiar mage and also having her shard freak out so you know close enough
WHEN: current? current.
WHERE: road to Skyhold & Skyhold
NOTES: The Outsider probably merits a creepywarning.
"And here," Ruby starts, somehow piecing together a tone that borders on chipper, "is the last part of the road to Skyhold."
She sounds chipper, but her right hand is clasped right around her left forearm, holding it and doing the best she can to cradle her hand close while keeping her grip far from her hand. It feels like fire in her arm, like the shard is a hot coal trying to force its way out, and it would be an outright lie if she tried to say it wasn't a problem.
Which, incidentally, is exactly what she's being doing since she contacted Adelaide via crystal a couple days ago, and since her stop by Redcliffe, and since she found a hungry teenager in the woods of the Hinterlands. It's fine, really. Nothing to worry about.
It would be convincing if she wasn't sweating so much and didn't have that constant strain in her voice and her expression that came from being in agonising pain for long periods of time, like she were an elastic band being pulled too far, stretched beyond recovery. On her right hand there's a ring, rosewood, and there's a story to that which can wait until she's not feeling like she's going to be sick. She might just--
She might just sit for a second. "You can go on ahead if you want. I'm, uh. Not... feeling my best."
Which might be the strongest phrasing she has used about her hand thus far, actually.
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If she thinks Henry was buying the attempts of trying not to look completely awful that for a second, she'd be wrong. He frowns deeply and doesn't bother to even ask when he takes her uninjured arm and slings it over his shoulder to support her. "Which means we NEED to get you back to Skyhold more than me. I'm not going to leave you here so don't argue." Determined as ever he looks to her "Can you walk if you lean on me?"
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Her smile is very very tired, but she manages to exhale a quiet laugh. "Maybe. We can try, right?"
She shoulders the back of stuff she picked up in Redcliffe for Adelaide, and cautiously leans against him. "What's the worst that can happen, right?"
Lots of things when you're in pain and on a mountain, but details.
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"It's not trying if we do it, which we will." He's full of determination to at least save SOMEONE. Losing so many in this war and watching people die? He doesn't want to be helpless. So, with all the strength that a tiny mage can muster, he starts walking with her, supporting the weight the best he can. Her rhetorical question gets a small laugh breathey laugh from him. "Well, a dragon could swoop down and attack us. That'd be pretty bad."
Okay, heave, time to move.
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Time to stop being a smartass and focus. It's hard to be a smartass when your hand feels like its being held in a bed of coals, or like it's the host to a bed of coals, she's really not so sure on the specific difference. Right now it's time for less smart talk and more walking, which feels very much like something her grandmother would say.
"Dragons... yeah, yeah I'd class those as bad. Or maybe we could luck out and get a troll army. That'd be pretty bracing."
Banter and moving. She's doing it, just about, making it a couple of steps when her shard spikes with pain again and it takes everything in her not to grip so hard on his shoulder that it hurts.
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"I think the Chantry would go into a fit if a mage ever got into politics. Probably be riots in the street. Well, riots that don't end in horribleness." Anything to say to keep her mind off what he could only imagine to be the worst pain possible.
"Trolls? Yeah, that would probably be pretty terrible. Last thing anyone needs is the Venatori or the Red templars to get an army of those things." And infused with red lyrium? Yikes. Not a combination he ever wants to see.
But, those thoughts are interrupted when he looks to her. Yeah, definitely not doing well. Double timing it as he takes even more of her weight on himself and moving faster. "We'll be there soon, Ruby. Don't worry. Someone will be able to fix your hand."
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"Yep." Focused, painful, like the way a word sounds on a sharp intake of air to swallow a more incriminating gasp of pain.
"We've just gotta find the Captain and we'll be fine," she agrees, more for his sake than her own. It's going really well for a minute, maybe, before there's another spike of pain that makes her double over, this time, kneeling down and shaking a little as she tries to keep from yelling, eyes shut tight.
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The Outsider is still horribly pale, but at least his eyes don't stand out so much anymore. Now he looks a little more like an actual teenager, at least from a distance.
He has half a mind to ignore the voices up ahead, save for the way one cuts off suddenly. That and natural curiosity draw him closer until he can see -- a teenager, the age that the Outsider looks, and a woman with a shard in her hand similar to his own. It's a shard that seems to be giving her some problems, and he looks for a moment at it, head tilted.
Stubborn. Proud. Solas had offered his expertise, and while of course not all would answer, she had not even when it became a problem she could no longer ignore. Hm.
"Skyhold is close," he offers, voice somewhat louder than normal but no more animated. "You will be faster if you do not keep trying to walk by yourself."
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But, there was really no time for arguments when his companion literally stops and looks like they're about to collapse. Concern clear on his face as he begins more unsure of what to do. He could maybe try some ice magic, just a little bit enough to try and create some kind of relief. But what if it was some sort of wound? What was he supposed to do.
He's so wrapped up in his own thoughts when a foreign voice breaks his train of though. Henry looks over, taking in the image of the other teenager. Henry doesn't say anything quite yet until they tell them that. Right, of course he knew that bit.
"Then can you help me with her? She's too heavy for me." Sorry, Ruby.
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And now she is getting help from two teenagers. Or advice from two teenagers? This isn't the best day for her dignity. Frankly, though, right now her dignity could fall out a window and she'd be massively unconcerned.
"I will take literally any help you give me, if it gets me up to Skyhold." Okay, maybe not literally any but she's said it now.
Her smile at Henry is tired, strained, and kind of ruined by the pallor in her skin. "Sorry, big breakfast." A lie, she pretty much hasn't eaten because pain, but there you go.
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It's possible that he could just use magic to get her there... but it's rather exhausting, honestly. The other boy is there to help, and if he's misjudged the distance, this will get them all there.
"There is a mage in Skyhold, an elf. He has experience in soothing the pain the Anchor shards produce."
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He looks to Ruby at her attempt at humour and sorry, he can't find it right now. Not when someone is probably literally dying as they spoke anymore. But, thankfully, he has help now so carrying Ruby isn't going to be a problem.
With renewed vigor he hoists Ruby's arm once more to get more of her weight on him. The mention of an elven mage who could help just gets a nod. "All right, lets move." And time to start walking at a brisk pace once more. Where is a horse when you need one.
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"That," she starts, "is a huge relief. Although it reminds me I should... probably contact the Captain, give her a heads up we're on the way."
Who she would ordinarily call Councilor LeBlanc or Adelaide, but pain and exhaustion are great that way. She might just let them make a little more progress before she contacts her boss, though.
"I'm Ruby, by the way. This is Henry. And you are...?"
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"If you believe you have a free hand that can use your sending crystal, by all the means," the Outsider all but drawls, pace matching the one set by the other boy. He ignores the displeasure at his own prodding -- you did rather do this to yourself, Ruby.
"Those in my world call me the Outsider. Others in this world that I have met have begun thinking of other things to call me so that I do not terrify every weak-minded soul that passes by."
Also probably because 'the Outsider' is a bit of a mouthful.
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"We'll call you, uh, Raven for now." Yeah, that fit. The guy did seem to be fairly dark and mysterious. But, hey, they're free to say no. For now Henry's more focused on hauling Ruby up the hill.
But a sending crystal? They had those here? Better question, she had one? "Yeah, you better do that, Ruby. If you can that is."
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"Do you want another name? I mean, Raven is arguably a very cool name," she offers, glancing at Henry, "but I mean... it's all about what you like. I had a friend called the Huntsman, so it's not all that unusual."
No, The Huntsman was really a pretty unusual name back home, too, but she's going with this for now.
"Just give me half a sec. She can be sort of intense," and Ruby suspects she won't be thrilled, so there is a brief moment where she extricates herself from the support, staggers a couple of steps, and conducts a quick and quiet conversation that sounds a little like an argument, actually, before she turns back to her New Super Best Friends.
"She's coming to help." Ruby sounds a little mortified and wry and shaking her head at herself.
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"I do not mind being called 'Raven', if you would like. If you would like to think of another, that would be fine, as well." Especially if it keeps her conscious. She's easier to help that way.
The conversation is, in fact, a bit intense. The Outsider doesn't even bother to hide the fact that he's eavesdropping, arms crossed and head tilted as he waits for her to return.
"Perhaps she should have brought more horses." He's just saying.
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She shrugs, exhausted, before smiling a little at the horse comment. "Maybe. I'm kind of mortified she decided to head out at all." The tone suggests that she's a busy person, that she has better things to do. Her sigh is a little defeated, but maybe it's just the mix of pain and poor sleep and everything else that happens when your hand is almost literally on fire.
"She told us to wait," Ruby adds, pensive as she looks up the hill. Keep going, or just wait— give the Outsider and Henry a chance to get out of doing work that's totally unnecessary. "If we head over this bit there might be a good place to sit?"
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"Let me see your hand-"
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Weak, tired, and even holding out the hand feels like an effort. The shard cracks quietly, and Ruby keeps her eyes closed. It looks not so different from usual, but Ruby herself is paler, eyes dark from a lack of sleep and she is sweating from the sheer relentless intensity of the pain.
"I'm sorry," she adds, more quietly. "I didn't mean for..." Well, all of this, really. Her entire life is an exercise in not meaning for things to happen.
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Honestly.
She cradles Ruby's hands between her own, pouring a steady stream of rejuvenating magic into the skin around the shard.
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She's exhausted, though, and it'd be a lie to say that it isn't a relief to see Adelaide, exasperation and all. (It occurs to her that the glow that comes with her magic is beautiful, but Ruby has enough presence of mind to not blurt out something that stupid. Friend, boss, inappropriate, get a grip, etc etc.)
The magic brings an instant sort of relief, though she winces a little at first, the slight shock of relief not so different from cold water being poured over hot coals. After a matter of moments she relaxes from tension she hadn't entirely realised she was carrying, and leans forward to rest her forehead on Adelaide's shoulder. "You know, we've really got to stop meeting like this."
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She can spare a moment to look to The Outsider (he truly does need a better name) and whoever else has come. "Thank you for helping her."
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He watches the magic and more and more it looks...feels familiar to him. Like a mother's touch. It's when he see's the full of her face his mouth goes dry. His eyes widen in surprise and shock. Once he knew a woman, stern and strict, but kind and compassionate. She cared for her work and for her students above all else. He remembered the long nights when he was studying. A stern finish and go to bed, but never really harsh in his mind. Concern. On the rare occasion he remembered that she would come by and give him a mug of hot chocolate with cinnamon. Rare but heart warming.
He remembered the pride he had when she approved of his spellwork or congratulated him when on his hard work. All things that was something like an aunt or a mother would do.
And then he remembered that crushing emptiness when the Spire fell. When he was pulled away by Fredrick to save his life and he was left with the uncertainty if she had died with the others or far worse. A guilt only a survivor could have but he buried deep down because it would solve nothing. He wanted to save others, to never feel that loss again.
But, a small light of hope remained inside him, that she had escaped. That she survived and was all right. That light soon burned brighter than any flame inside him when he saw her now.
It's dumbfounding but even while his brain was slow and numb right now his heart was not. It takes over and the words slip out, relief, sadness, shock, surprise all at once when he questions "Enchanter LeBlanc?"
That light of hope was nearly bursting but hope could be snatched away and thrown back into the dark if he was wrong.
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A laugh, a note, a sour twinge to a joke, an empty space where there ought to be sharp commentary building upon her own that cannot come. Resignation is a comfortable companion. Hope is not. She'd given up on it in favor of working for those peers and students she's gained in the Inquisition.
But that does not mean the marbled halls are so far that she cannot be struck by a wavering voice.
Soft and familiar and- alive. Real. Adelaide's head snaps to Henry, her eyes wide and wavering, what little color she has draining away in pure shock. "Henry?"
Alive. He'd been taken by a templar the last she'd heard- but he lives. He lives and Ruby brought him to the one place he might be safe and he lives. Her spell sputters out as she's focused elsewhere, her hands slipping to drop limp at her sides rather than support Ruby. "Andraste's pyre- Henry?"
She hopes Ruby is not too terribly comfortable- for Adelaide scrambles gracelessly away to reach for her student, hands normally steady trembling in the air between them.
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While Adelaide hands shake toward him, he reaches out with his own. Steady and quick. He needed to grab hold. To be sure this wasn't some sort of blissful dream. It's when he feels the skin of her hands is when reality enforces itself. This was no dream. This was true. It was real.
His smile only broadens as she says his name and he responds. "Enchanter! I can't believe it! I knew, I just knew you were okay! I just never thought I'd see you again!" A heart of hope gushing forth he has to repress his laughs of glee because he can see it in her face. She looked like she would cry and he didn't want to make it worse if he could help it.
For the moment, Ruby and the now named Raven didn't feel to Henry like they were present. He was far too focused on finding his teacher alive.
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She pulls him close and clings, tucking her chin over his shoulder and rocks faintly where she stands- entirely overcome. "You're alive-"
Twice a week she'll sing the chant. Once for surviving the fade, once for this. Perhaps the maker is not so absent if he can grant her this much. Composure lost, cool facade fractured entirely her eyes fall shut as she struggles to steady her breathing, tears dripping silently down her cheeks. Henry alive. One more she'd thought gone, that she'd been resigned to the void- alive. "Thank the Maker."
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Still, she's gotta say that even if she didn't find Emma, helping someone else find someone who they were missing is pretty great. It's really great, actually, and even if she's having to hold herself up in Adelaide's sudden absence she's got a bright smile on her face. (A little sad, but very happy.) She glances at Outsider-Raven, and cants her head a little.
Just quietly, "Should we give them a minute?"
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He does pull away however as happy as he is to know she's fine they still had a job to do (and it was kind of awkward getting hugged by your teacher in front of the Cool Rifter strangers.) The tears in her eyes make his hurt as well but he holds back from crying. He does reach into his pocket to pull out a hankerchief (thankfully clean and offers it to Adelaide.) "Here, you look like you need this." Number one student at the ready all over again.
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When Ruby addresses him, quiet though it is, he blinks again. Oh. Privacy. Yes, that is a thing humans like, isn't it?
"Perhaps we should get you into the cart?" While everyone is having reunions, there is still the fact that Ruby has a shard in her hand that's been causing problems.
Ahhhh sorry phone tag hell
It's a lame joke, but then she's sort of literally lame and struggling right now, so maybe it's just extra appropriate. Okay, well, its her hand and not her leg that's a problem, but if she were Wolfed out then it'd be a leg--
You know what, she's not at her best, that's the point here.
She holds out a hand, even as she tries to steady herself up, because she isn't delusional about how much she can do this moment.
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Always prepared, always thoughtful. It is almost enough to have a fresh knot tangling in her throat to know that it has not changed since he left the spire- but she manages to swallow it back. Ruby needs to be taken to Solas and the shard examined. One final swipe at her eyes and a clearing of her throat is required before she can speak, and even then she keeps her eyes on the ground to blink away any lingering moisture. "You can't be hurt that badly if you are making puns."
And yet she pushes herself to her feet and offers a hand up. Focus, Adelaide.