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

[amygdalae]

[There's a silence that comes after that, silence because Bruce knows what whatever he says probably won't do anything for her. The reality is still there and nothing is going to change. Any platitudes he could give now doesn't seem fitting, considering the truth of the matter.

So he does the next best thing that comes to his head.]

Stay in my tent tonight. [He glances over to her when he says that.] Sleep off the alcohol. It's been a long day for you.

[There's not much he can do but at least he can try his best to provide some comfort, some relief from what she has to deal with.]

[fleurdesel]

[ She hadn't thought that far ahead when she'd cracked open the brandy. The plan was to sit, to drink, to drift, then sober up and return to work. She can't be seen like this, she knows that. There is too much riding on her reputation that she has fought so hard to keep sterling.

Sans Tache.

It haunts her as much as the demons.

Adelaide finishes her tea with a grimace and sits up, gauging her ability to walk straight. Or at least her ability to sit straight. ]

...Thank you, Bruce. Truly.

[amygdalae]

[Bruce helps her a little when she sits up, although once he can see she's alright he quickly pulls away. She's already in a bad enough place as it is and trying to help her more probably won't help - he knows that she doesn't want to depend on people, and he can understand that.]

It's all that I can do. [A small, smile as he says that.] I just hope it can help.

[fleurdesel]

If you do not mind how absolutely unbearable I shall be in the morning? It will help a great deal.

As long as no one assumes I am following you to your tent to sleep with you. I mean no offense, Bruce, truly I do not- you are quite handsome and very kind and I count you as a dear friend, but it would look poorly for one and I do not much think us compatible that way for another. We are too much alike.

[ They work too hard and forget too much of themselves in the work. It wouldn't, between them, work out. ]

i'm just /ugly laughter.mp3

[amygdalae]

[The words have Bruce pause, and then he makes quite a bit of a face because 1) he had never thought of Adelaide as more than a... closer acquaintance (friend) and 2) even if he did have feelings, its not like he would ever act on them. Not when he knows how it will already end.

So the fact that she is thinking about that has him baffled, and confused, and so very perplexed because if anybody even thought of them as a couple they probably need a reality check. She deserves somebody much better than him.]

If it makes you feel better, I stay elsewhere to keep your virtue intact. [Just a hint of wryness, here.] I have no desire or intent for anything of that sort.

[Not like he could, anyway, so the point is moot right from the start.]

So much awful laughter

[fleurdesel]

Compelled to tell the truth, exhausted, intoxicated.

[ She lists off the reasons for saying as such one by one, even as she works her way to her feet. ]

You don't need to abandon your tent for me, Bruce. Your word is enough. I trust you. [ She spares a hand to pat his shoulder, bracing her own against her staff. She lists a little on her feet- but can hold straight and certain while they walked. She'd be able to hid this as long as she needs. ]

Nor need you fear for your virtue. Again- you are a very kind man, but no.

yeeeeeppp

[amygdalae]

[Bruce helps Adelaide up the best that he can, and once she's up he takes the moment to bend down and pick up the half-empty pot of tea and their cups. it's going to be a bit of an effort to bring all of these up while supporting Adelaide, but he'll manage somehow.]

That makes two of us then. [Trust, she said. She trusted him. His stomach churns a little at that, the guilt swelling up. She truly deserves better. Somebody who actually would appreciate her for what she is instead of depending on somebody like him, a monster pretending to be human, a liar and a hypocrite to the highest degree.

Deep inside, Anders' words from earlier echoes in his mind.

He glances over to Adelaide and attempts a smile.]

Alright. Let's get out of this dismal place for some proper fresh air.

[fleurdesel]

[ Between her staff, Bruce, and the distressingly frequent practice she's had taking these stairs slightly tipsy or exhausted or both, it is not so difficult a thing to see them out of the vault. At least the walls are close enough for her to stop and lean for a moment if the world swims a little more than normal.

Keep up with Dorian, she'd thought, it would show him what this did. And all that has come of it is a new crutch.

In the morning she'll be disgusted and swear off. In the morning she'll mean to keep to that until the next failure. ]

Fresh, you say, when it is thick with mud and dogs.

[amygdalae]

[For the most part, all Bruce does is to try and support her when she needs it, though he does keep it as subtle as he can. He knows she wants to do this (mostly) by herself and he doesn't begrudge her for that.]

It has its appeal. [Soft amusement as he says that, as said air full of mud and dogs finally starts to greet them as they emerge from the depths below.] Though I wonder if I should be offended on behalf of other Fereldens out there.

[fleurdesel]

Would it be offense in truth, or a token thing done out of obligation?

[ Ha, she can still sass. She's sober enough.

Relatively speaking.


She can walk, sass, and talk, that's all anyone can ask of her right now. ]

[amygdalae]

Could be both.

[There's a wry tinge to his words, although he's also smiling at the same time so its hard to say exactly how he feels about it.

Either way, its not anything important. Bruce huffs and continues to guide her in the direction of his own tent. Just in case the drink does something with her sense of direction. It's hard to be certain.]

[fleurdesel]

[ The rest of the trip was blessedly without incident Adelaide managing to hold herself mostly upright the entire walk to Bruce's tent. Once inside she finds the nearest chair to settle into, slumping thees as though, perhaps, to sleep. ]

Thank you again, Bruce.

[amygdalae]

[The chair that Adelaide settles onto isn't really much - more 'stool' than actual chair - but Bruce gives her a few moments to rest first as he goes around to prepare the bedroll for her. There's not much cleaning up to do in his tent at least, with as spartan as it is - there's only a few personal effects and a collection of kits and bottles on a small workbench to show that he even lives here at all.]

It's nothing. [He waves off the gratitude, taking one more moment to lay out the bedroll before he gestures at it for her.] Here, you can take this for the night.

[fleurdesel]

One day we will have rooms enough and you are getting a proper bed, Bruce.

[ One day- some day. Not anytime soon with how renovations have been going, but eventually. Healers deserve a good rest. She sets her staff aside and settles on the bedroll, curling up in her cloak, hair still pinned, arms tucked tight around her ribs. Making herself as small as possible- either out of habit or out of chill, she can't quite say. ]

[amygdalae]

One day.

[His response is mostly indulgent, for Adelaide's own peace of mind because Bruce doubts he'll ever let himself take something that good. He's not one to really allow himself any sort of real creature comforts - not even a blanket, which while is of no concern to him doesn't exactly say the same for her.

He ponders for a moment before he shuffles around his tent, only taking a bit before he manages to get out his old travelling cloak. It's clearly very old and worn, but it serves its purpose and he brings it over to Adelaide, placing it over her and the bedroll without a word.]

[fleurdesel]

[ It does not take much more for her to drift to sleep, huddling comfortably under the cloak, fingers tangled in the hem. Like this some of the years slip away, but none of the tension. Sleep has never been truly restful- less so after drinking.

It is what it is. The morning? Shall be worse. ]