(no subject)

[samahl]

WHO: Cyril & Merrick + OPEN (Starters so far for Taas and Sam. If you want one let me know!)
WHAT: Cyril and Merrick have been searching for Metaari. After finding his bow with bandits, Cyril is finally able to convince Merrick to return. They arrive at Kirkwall fifteen minutes late with Starbucks. (not really, they just have one extra giant ass bow and crushed hopes)
WHEN: Shortly after everyone else arrived at Kirkwall
WHERE: You know, around.
NOTES: So "I'll just go on hiatus for a couple weeks to play Andromeda," I said. "I'm sure after I beat it once I'll be able to return to RP." Hahaha. Then I looked around and four weeks had passed and I hadn't done a single thing in RP, or cleaned my house, or gone to the store for food... ANYWAY so here's my return and I have a good excuse because Cyril would try help his brother find his missing lover. You can thread with either Merrick or Cyril here. Just tell us in your subject line who you are talking to.

Cyril had been keeping in touch with others in the Inquisition over the sending crystals, which turned out to be lucky because it meant that when they finally could return they didn't accidentally trek all the way back to Skyhold only to have to turn around and head north again.

They hadn't found any sign of Metaari, except for the bow that was unmistakable. That, they had recovered from bandits - bandits who claimed to have just "come across" it and who were all very, very dead now.

Cyril feels exhausted and thread bare from worry. Merrick isn't going to be okay with the fact that they still don't know for sure what happened and the giant bow Merrick's carrying around feels much more like a way to pry at the wound rather than closure.

Comments

Cyril + Merrick

[samahl]

They have to figure out how to orient themselves in the city now. It's very different than the castle had been. First things, is finding a place they'll be able to sleep until they find something that works for the two of them.

When they first arrive, Cyril stays near Merrick. He's expecting Merrick to either go very, very cold or very, very angry. Either wouldn't be a good sign.

"Think they have any decent food here?"

[dalishious]

Merrick's back aches from carrying the gigantic bow. His skin and clothes are splashed with blood, his muscles taught and wound tightly, and he's shivering. He doesn't seem at all interested in food right now, nor does he seem to be taking in Cyril's words at all.

[samahl]

Cyril sighs a bit. "Did you want to wash up?" he asks after a moment.

[dalishious]

Once again, Merrick doesn't respond. He's filthy; the blood, dirt and sweat has accumulated since they found and killed the bandits, and he looks terrible, but he doesn't seem to care.

His brain is back with those bandits, the ones he tortured and gutted and bled, leaving him empty. He's holding the bow in his arms now, tight against his chest.

[samahl]

Cyril felt worry start to cloud him. After a moment, he sighs, and then moves closer. He takes Merrick's free hand in his.

"Da'mi?"

[dalishious]

Finally Merrick looks at him, his eyes dull. He still doesn't speak, but he grips Cyril's hand back tightly. He seems absolutely exhausted.

[samahl]

"I'm going to take you to a bath," Cyril explains, looking directly into Merrick's face. "And then we'll find something to eat." These aren't questions. He is warning Merrick to give him time to protest and, more importantly, to process the steps they're going to be taking.

"You can keep the bow with you, but we should probably start by dropping off armor and other weapons somewhere safe."

[dalishious]

Surprisingly, Merrick doesn't protest at all, and instead seems genuinely relieved that Cyril is making decisions here. He just feels incredibly lost, and can't argue for the sake of arguing like he usually does.

He lets Cyril lead him around, only partly taking in their surroundings as they go. Kirkwall is a massive departure from anywhere they'd lived before, and a lot of exploration is in order, but right now Merrick just doesn't care enough to even spare the new environments a second glance.

Cyril + Sam

[samahl]

It's after he and Merrick have settled down that Cyril goes to find Sam. He's eager to see Taas too, of course, but Sam had told him a lot about what had happened while he was gone over the sending crystals and now he is finally back and can be a physical presence of reassurance.

He touches base with Sam over the crystals first to find out where he is. Then, when he finds him, he smirks a bit at the sight of him. "Oh, I hadn't realized how much I missed looking at you."

[el_tybs]

Ever since getting back from the future he's only had contact with Cyril through the crystals. Just the way he spoke was obvious night and day to himself in the future, and while Sam had been glad to have at least that it didn't change the need to actually see his lover. So when he hears that Cyril was going to be 'right over' he is extremely anxious.

Enough so that he doesn't notice when Cyril appears until he hears him speak.

Blinking, Sam looks up from the place he had been gazing at, lost in thought, and for a moment he just stares. All at once Cyril was standing there in front of him, smirk and dark eyeshadow and all. There's a moment of hesitation as he takes him all in before a large smile spreads across his lips, and he's quickly crossing the gap between them, hands immediately reaching to cup the sides of his face so that he can lean in to kiss him.

[samahl]

Cyril leans into the kiss and returns it. He moves his arm around Sam and presses closer so that their bodies are pressed against each other. A soft hum of pleasure escapes him at such a greeting.

When they pull back to breathe and speak, he stays close to Sam and strokes his arm lightly. "Hello," he says softly. "I'm sorry it took so long for me to get here."

[el_tybs]

As enthusiastic as he was, there was still an obvious tension in Sam's shoulders. Up until Cyril responded back with just as much enthusiasm, making the mage sigh against his lips and relax in his grasp.

"Hi," he says just as softly when they pull back. He then leans forward and presses his forehead to Cyril's. "I understand. Just... it's really good to see you."

[samahl]

Cyril hums again, but this time it's a noise of encouragement. He reaches up to put his arm over Sam's shoulders so that he can stroke the back of his neck and run a hand through his hair.

"I know. You told me a bit about what you went through. I'm here now, if you want to talk more about it. Or if you want to ignore it for a bit, we could always make out." He offers that suggestion with a grin.

[el_tybs]

The offer is said so casually, and so... like Cyril that Sam cannot help himself when he breaks into laughter. Not wanting to laugh right into his lover's face he pulls back, shaking his head with mirth when he finally calms down some.

Such a difference between being threatened and getting shot at - something he can somewhat laugh at now.

"You want to make out in the middle of the street?"

[samahl]

As Sam pulls away, Cyril moves his arm down and takes Sam's hand. At the question, he chuckles softly. "You're asking that of me? Need I remind you what happened less than an hour after we met, Samouel Gareth?" He only says his full name to make the teasing really hit home.

[el_tybs]

Oh, his full name was being used. It was such a rare occurrence, and not in the way he's used to hearing it - a tease instead of him being in trouble.

Sam squeezes Cyril's hand in his own before bringing it up to his lips, chuckling lightly against his knuckles. "Perhaps I do need reminding. It has been a while. Though I do recall it was very, very dark and no one around."

Cyril + Taas

[samahl]

When Cyril finally does find Taas he comes up to him and waves his hand within Taas's line of sight to announce that he's there. He can't contact Taas over the sending crystal, so it had taken asking around to hunt down Taas. That and just looking around, after all Taas was hard to miss.

[quietblade]

Seeing Cyril was like a sun blooming up in his chest, warm and light. Taas doesn't quite have the time to be surprised about that, because his body is moving by itself - reaching to haul the little elf up in the air with a huge grin.

"Welcome back, kadan!"

[samahl]

Cyril holds onto Taas and finds that he doesn't mind at all being lifted up into the air. In fact, he'd be content to stay there for a while with Taas's strong arms holding him. He kisses Taas and then leans his head back just enough to make sure that Taas can see his lips. "If I get a greeting like this when I get back, I might have to leave more often."

[quietblade]

Taas meets the kiss with a content sigh, brown eyes bright with joy as he looks at the pale elf. Reading Cyril's lips, the warrior chuckles and moves his lover so that he is nice and comfortable on his big chest.

"Really? I'll make sure you don't want to leave the bedroll for the next month later." There's a little wink at that, and he moves a hand to squeeze Cyril's ass.

Then he calms himself a bit and his smile is more concerned. "How did it go?"

[samahl]

Cyril settled comfortably against Taas and realized that he wouldn't want to move for a very long time even just as they were. The idea of not wanting to move for a month because Taas wore him out was extremely welcoming.

At the question of how things went, though, Cyril frowned. "We couldn't find any sign of Metaari. We were able to track down his bow, but that was in the hands of bandits who had no idea what happened to him." He looked away for a moment, trying to not appear as troubled as he was and failing. "Merrick... did everything he could to get information from them and they didn't know anything."

[quietblade]

He frowns as well, taking his hands off his elf for a moment to cup his face lightly. soothingly. Taas would be an idiot if he didn't know by now how much Merrick and his happiness meant to Cyril.

What had happened to Metaari? He doesn't want to think the worst just because some bandits had his bow, but the archer didn't seem like the kind of guy to just leave like this.

"I'm sorry, kadan. How is he holding up?" A dumb question, perhaps, but sincere.

[samahl]

Cyril takes a moment to appreciate how sincere Taas is in asking about Merrick's well being. It's always been important to him that his brother be accepted by his lovers, even if they don't understand him fully, and Taas asking after him means a lot to Cyril. Even more than he can express.

That doesn't change the worry deep in his heart, though. "I'm not sure. He's... he's gone numb more than anything. I am a little worried it might explode, but..." He sighs softly and leans his head into Taas's hand. "The best I can do is be there for him."

[quietblade]

"I understand," he says softly, leaning his head against Cyril's for a moment just to breathe in the scent of his hair. The thought of his elf disappearing like Metaari makes his chest hurt so much that he almost wonders if he's been stabbed.

It must be hell for Merrick.

"Tell me how I can help, kadan. I'll be here for you so you can be there for him." It was the best way he could help, after all.

merrick (with cyril is cool too!)

[arlathvhen]

As days turned to weeks, and those weeks dragged on and on, Beleth grew more and more worried. Cyril's updates let her know that the two of them were still alive and more or less in good health, but that's not what she's worried about. Not that she wants either of them to be hurt, but she knows their capabilities, and that either of them apart would be able to take care of themselves--with the two of them? Little reason to worry on that front.

No, what haunted Beleth was the idea that they...simply wouldn't return. Don't make it all you do, she had plead to Merrick, before he had left. Time stretched on, life continued, and even as Beleth carried forward with it all, she began to worry that she had been right. When she finally heard the news, the worry is lifted from her shoulders--only to be replaced by a new worry. Nobody had mentioned a qunari with them. Which bode poorly for Merrick's state of mind.

So, she went about searching for Merrick. And the first thing she'll do, upon spotting him, is running up to him and wrapping her arms around him tightly. She doesn't say anything, not yet. She doubts anything she has to say will be helpful.