faderift | you don't own the green pines

WHO: Merrill and open!
WHAT: An open log.
WHEN: Justinian 20th - mid-Solace
WHERE: Skyhold and the surrounding area
NOTES: Some talk of violence, injuries, death.

late justinian through early solace | healing tents
[ Justice is dead, but he nearly took many others with them -- Merrill included. She's in a bad way for a few days, especially after; her cheekbone is broke, her ribs mostly intact but her internal organs badly bruised, along with various and sundry scrapes, cuts, bite marks, bruises, and burns.

Still, she's a decent patient. She stays put in the tents, at least, though they can't quite get her to stop talking when she's feeling well enough to sit up and do so. Visitors are allowed at the discretion of the healers, but Merrill isn't going to turn anyone (or anything) away. ]

early solace | around skyhold
[ When she's allowed to leave the healing tents, it's not full-time. They don't want her going down to the Warden camp to sleep, but she's allowed to wander Skyhold as long as she's careful. As a result, Merrill mostly relaxes -- visits with friends or with potential new friends, sits in the garden, watches the birds.

She likes to go visit the griffons, when she can, though she has to be careful. They're less good about watching for injuries. ]

early-mid solace | camp shady fucker
[ When she's allowed to move more, when she's more patched up between a combination of time and magic, Merrill gets to work. Sleeping in a tent isn't new, but the events at Weisshaupt have shaken her. If they need to get out, she wants to be able to move quickly.

She starts to gather supplies. Wood, mostly, but any who know much about the Dalish may recognize what begins to take shape or the plans that Merrill checks every once in a while: an aravel. ]

wildcard
[ you know what to do ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Bruce barely bats an eyelash as Merrill undoes the robe for him to look at her injuries. He's seen pretty much every species naked at this point, and he does pride himself on his professionalism. Besides, it takes a lot more than nudity to faze him - especially in a medical setting.

He waits until she's done then shifts closer, one hand gently pressing at the injuries, needing to check but not wanting to aggregate.] Move your arm as much as you can, slowly.

[ When she was a child, Merrill likely first responded to such an instruction by wiggling her arm around (slowly). But this is hardly the first time she's been injured or the first time she's been checked on, and so she complies. ]

Have I mentioned- [ because clearly Bruce needs to be chattered at while working ] -that you're very good at this?

[Bruce doesn't mind chatting as he works, so long as it doesn't impede progress - he knows that things like these help, sometimes.]

I've had a fair bit of time to practice. [A wry smile as he replies, keeping his touch light as he examines the entire span of her injured ribs.] Is there any spot that is particularly uncomfortable?

Can I ask how long? [ She knows Bruce has never been super open about his life, and based off the rumors she heard after members of the Inquisition returned from the Fade, she supposes she can't blame him. He's been hiding from something. ]

If you go a little lower and to the left? It's not a sharp pain, but it feels- extra bruised, I suppose.

[Bruce doesn't respond - at least, not instantly. Instead he moves his hand to where Merrill asks, using his fingers to feel the extent of the bruise and the damage that's still there.]

A couple of years. [He does say after a while, as he pulls his hand away and turns to pick out the items that he needs.] The healing is progressing well enough, but to be on the safe side I'll apply something for the bruising and have it bandaged for the rest of the day. Is that alright with you?

Were you just naturally drawn to it? [ Some people are like that, she knows. Others never quite seem to find where they fit. ]

Oh, yes, that's fine. It's nothing too new, at least. [ There's a slight laugh. ] Not that I suppose I would mind overly much if it were new.

[Bruce quirks a small smile in return, more wry than anything else.]

I think we can all agree you've got enough to recover from at the moment. [He says, opening the container of poultice he had just taken out. At least its not the smelly ones that Zevran complains about - this one has a nice minty scent.] And... I suppose you could say that. Being able to help is something I've always preferred doing.

[Making people lives better to atone for all the others he ruined. And maybe if he helped enough, he could somehow absolve himself of some of his sins. That had been what he had wished once upon a time. Now he knows better.]

[ Ooh, mint! Merrill bets it tingles. ]

It's nice to be able to do it. It's nice to find ways to do it.

[ There's a pause, and Merrill reaches out with one hand to quickly, bracingly pat one of Bruce's hands. ]

I've heard some rumors lately, but I want you to know that I don't mind if they're true. You're here, you're helping, and you've always been kind to me.

[It most certainly tingles. Hope she likes that.

Bruce pauses in what he's doing when Merrill reaches over to him, less because of the action itself and more of the words. It was--well. He hadn't really been thinking about it, but now that she said it...]

I... thank you. [He says after a pause, voice soft, though he can't quite bring himself to meet Merill's gaze.] But I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me.

[And in a way he supposes saying that just confirms said rumors, but its not like he can really keep it a secret any longer.]

[ She's for good tingles, honestly. ]

Also it'd be a bit hypocritical if I minded, since I'm a mage myself and all. But- still. Something about it clearly bothers you, since you kept it a secret, and now it's- not as much of one. So. I wanted you to know.

[ There's a quick squeeze, and then she draws her arm back, mostly because she figures he needs room to maneuver. ]

And now we don't have to talk about it, if you don't want.

[A few names come to Bruce's head for mages that did mind, but he knows better than to say them. It's not like it'll change anything, and Bruce can understand their feelings about it. Usually its more of the deception and not--anything else related to it.

He honestly does appreciate Merrill's words, though, and he does his best to show said appreciation by glancing over to her and sending a small smile.]

Thank you. [He says again, then glances down and puts some of the minty paste onto his fingers so that he can start applying it on her bruises.]

you don't own the green pines

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