(closed) and I know that I can survive

[eviscerates]

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.

"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.

Comments

[eviscerates]

Exasperation and frustration, old friends of hers. "Good thing I'm so well intentioned then, huh?" A little wry, in that way of hers.

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."

[fleurdesel]

"You are an idiot." She mutters again, one hand cradling Ruby's the other slipping up to tentatively pat her hair. Small gestures of comfort and she has, somewhat, been trying to have a better bedside manner. Not because she'd been slightly curious as to the texture of Red's hair or any other reason. It is a gesture of comfort. Nothing more. She has not yet quite managed it, but there are attempts being made. Now that she has less reason to be so viscerally terrified for what this shard might do to Red-

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."

[truestheart]

Henry had been off to the side the moment this woman showed up on horseback. (Seriously, if anything could get more storybook picturesc around here one would be hardpressed not to recognize this as one.) He'd been watching silently, squinting a bit at the woman who descended down from the horse and rushed to Ruby's side.

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.

[fleurdesel]

A kid, Ruby had said. She'd picked someone up in the Hinterlands and was bringing them back to Skyhold. This far from the Spire, this long since the Spire- she's given up on finding new faces amid those trickling thorugh the gates. They had either found sanctuary elsewhere- or died. Since she has never given much weight to optimism she has assumed them dead. Her peers, her mentors, her students save those she managed to ferry to safety on the way out, dead. It's an uncomfortable weight she's learned to bear, a stone in her throat she's swallowed down time and again when the smallest of things would remind her.

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.

[truestheart]

What was meant with crying relief is met with joy and relief. It was her. He'd thought, well, he was left in that place where uncertainty lied. Hoping he could find them but not sure if he ever would. And now his hope and belief had been rewarded. Proof that despite all the horror something good could be found.

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.

[fleurdesel]

Real. Not a demon, not a dream, not an illusion- truly alive and truly present- he takes her hands and she uses that to pull him in. TO embrace him as she'd never truly spared a thought to in the Spire. There contact was on the shoulder or the back- a squeeze here, a pat there, affirmation of doing well. It isn't something one does with one's students and yet since the Spire fell? Holding fast to be certain of their safety, of their presence does not seem quite so inappropriate.

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."

[eviscerates]

If she was totally honest, Ruby would have to say she was a little jealous. Not in a big way, and not even really in a real way— there was just that twist, kind of, that came with seeing some happiness that you were desperate for in someone else's life, a mix of intense joy for them and the reminder of an emptyness of your own. No resentment and no upset, just that ache.

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?"

[truestheart]

He is definitely surprised by the hug but he doesn't pull away from it. Instead, he holds her back a smile on his face as all there is is joy right now. He can't quite describe it but if the Maker existed truly he hadn't left the world at all.

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.

[extramural]

There is a nod in response to Adelaide's thanks, and a surprised blink of black eyes -- he isn't used to gratitude, and it likely shows. Luckily he is no longer the center of attention for a time, between the humans. He watches, head tilted rather like a curious bird (or a cat trying to decide if something is lunch).

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

[eviscerates]

"Where there's a wheel," she starts, smiling despite the exhaustion and the everything, "there's a way."

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.

[fleurdesel]

It takes a moment more for Adelaide to regain her composure- taking the handkerchief as offered and dabbing at her eyes. "Thank you, Henry."

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.