Let No Soul Hunger For Justice: Nothing But The Truth

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Adelaide, Alistair, Anders, Bethany, Nathaniel, Varric, Vasran, Velanna
WHAT: The Second Ritual
WHEN: 10th of Bloomingtide (May 10th)
WHERE: half an hour outside of Skyhold
NOTES: Plotting post.

They've kept to the same clearing as the last, because the location's good. Far enough away that no one could stumble upon them by accident, near enough in case something went seriously wrong, it works.

He has scarcely more hope this time than he did the last, but at least there's no singing involved. This can't go as strangely. In theory.

Comments

[byblow]

[ —okay, there's something he lies about, daily, to everyone, without always fully realizing it. Good job, Ellana. He opens his mouth to say terrific, and instead: ] Terribly.

[ He hears it. He wasn't expecting it. He makes a face at himself and tries to course correct. ]

I've been worse— [ Good. ] —if I think back ten years or so. [ Damn it. ]

Maker.

[serannas]

[ Her forehead creases with concern. ]

Oh? What's wrong? Is it anything I can help you with?

[byblow]

No, [ he exhales, relieved he can honestly say that much. And there's no magical rule against smiling. ] Not directly. Do you want to walk with me and keep me from talking to anyone else?

[serannas]

[ One eyebrow lifts and then she nods. ]

Let me guess: you're stuck telling the truth, and that means you can't hide behind jokes and deflect like you usually do?

[ She waves a hand for him to follow her. ]

Let's walk down towards the valley and waste an hour or so of daylight for you.

[byblow]

[ Alistair opens his mouth, looking mildly outraged, but there's only silence--because he knows if he tries to say he doesn't hide or deflect, something else will come out, and it will probably be embarrassing. He shuts his mouth again without saying anything and follows obediently. ]

Thank you. [ But speaking of deflecting, he doesn't need to lie to do it. ] How are things with Felix, hm?

[serannas]

[ Well, that's as good as admitting it to her. ]

Sure. This must be tough for you. [ Which she can only imagine, because she's honest like, 99% of the time. ] If I was a snoop, I'd be asking you all sorts of invasive questions right now.

[ Not that part of this is being compelled to answer. She's already spoken with Varric, and has a sense of what this truth-telling thing is all about.

At the question, a smile spreads across her face. ]

Things are really good. I'm happy. I hope it's all right that I come visit the camp as often as I do. I'm not taking even a moment for granted.

[byblow]

Aren't I lucky you aren't a snoop, [ Alistair drawls. That is true, to the best of his knowledge. Ellana's rarely asked him anything at all, so much as waited for him to volunteer something on his own.

Her smile makes him smile. It also makes him sad. ]

That's good. You might not have many.

[ He doesn't make a face at himself--that isn't really anything he wouldn't have said without magic interfering, anyway--but he does purse his lips afterwards. That's probably rude. ]

[serannas]

[ She shoots him a sideways glance at that, though she can't be angry at his bluntness. Several others have expressed their concerns to her when they discovered she was with a Warden. ]

That's true of all of us here. But all the more reason to spend all the time together that we can, forming good memories.

[ She pauses, then nudges him lightly in the side. ]

That goes for you and I too. Friends forming good memories, for when one of us finds their time is up.