born from dark water, daughter of the rain and snow

[dashing]

WHO: Herian Amsel, Leliana & Ruby Lucas and various and also open
WHAT: various! a catch-all for three losers
WHEN: throughout August
WHERE: Skyhold, Orlais, and much much more (not actually much more.)
(Herian will be in Skyhold for the first week or so of August, and then is heading back to Orlais, Leliana will be in Skyhold throughout, Ruby is probably in Orlais most of the month.)
NOTES: Prose or brackets are fine! If you would like to do a thing and these starters don't fit or you'd like something custom, feel free to pm me or prod me on plurk @karmacharging.
WARNINGS:
Herian's background includes themes of violence, torture and death, as well as discrimination and PTSD. While she will not in general be vocal about some of her own prejudices (against apostates, Dalish and nobles as some examples) it is very likely to come up in narrative and could come up in dialogue depending on interactions. Here is an opt out post if you'd rather certain things be avoided, or if you'd like to opt out of interactions with her in general.

Leliana is princess stabbity, it's hard to avoid depending on the thread so heads up for potential mention of Assassin Life, opt out here.

Ruby has potential for mentions of murder, cannibalism (both accidental) and depression, they are easily avoidable depending on threads, but here is an opt out post if you would like me to steer clear of particular topics, or opt out of interactions with Ruby generally.

( open. ) herian — halamshiral & around the estate.
There is a little stretch at the very beginning of the month when Herian travels to Skyhold with a collection of Inquisition requisitions and troops and others needing to make a return to Skyhold. The elves that she brought to Halamshiral travel, and that is the only reason for it that she has. She is not yet certain if the Inquisition is a damned thing, or if she should stay. For now, she is more than half certain she should take her leave and continue to try and help the elves of Orlais.

( a. ) patching herself up.
A scuffle with bandits on the return journey, and though she was unharmed and there were no others in the party, it has left her a little worse for wear. She is able enough with a sword, but trying to get by with a little magic on the open road as possible and no staff, she has to admit she has a way to go before she can be well matched against those who have held blades for so much of their lives.

She sits, now, far away from the healing tents, avoiding the smell of salves and herbs and all the rest that goes with it, though the prospect of avoiding a place where she knows Dalish to wander has a certain appeal as well. The thing is, though, that Herian is no healer, and her grasp of the medical is limited to helping in emergencies. As she tries to crush elf root in her hand and rub it over a vicious gasp across her forearm, her lip curls in something like a snarl for just half a moment before the expression is controlled again. There are other wounds, nothing life threatening, but a few that are rather painful.

( b. ) training.
Herian rises early to train, long before the sun has given thought to rising for itself. For hour upon hour she trains, sword drill after sword drill, until the sun is beating more powerfully against the earth, and she sets down her sword to dip a cup into a water bucket, and pour it down her back, another tipped over her hair. There is something of a commotion, and a couple of refugee children are belting through the yard, one shoving the water barrel so it almost goes topping over and drenching—

But Herian's hand grasps it, and although it is tall and very heavy, she manages to keep it upright. Possibly with some water dramatically splashed, yes, but not the whole thing. "Are you all right?"

( c. ) wildcard.
Very early in the month it's cool to do stuff in Skyhold, but later on she's back in Halamshiral.


( open. ) ruby — halamshiral & around the estate.
( a. ) in the alienage.
"I've—" Her voice wavers a moment, and she looks at the skeletons of buildings. They all seem like different types of carcasses, their flesh charred and their limbs warped and twisted. Buildings were one thing. People were another, and they carried the marks of all this on them as well.

Everything carries the scents of death in it that normal noses cannot smell, beyond all the obvious layers. There are times when the Wolf's nose is a gift, but this? This is seriously not one of them.

"I haven't seen anything like this in a long time." It's like the worst of Regina, but they had outright called her the Evil Queen. From what Ruby could figure, calling Celene that could risk your neck.

( b. ) wildcard.

Comments

[eviscerates]

They're not as good at pretending as they'd like to think, or maybe they've just gotten better at seeing through each other.

There's a half moment where she's almost able to make a ridiculous pun, but somehow in her head it gets distorted into are you Arboring secret feelings for me? and it makes all ability to pun into some non-awkward direction about three hundred percent impossible. At least Adelaide has less corny jokes to worry about, huh?

Less, but not none. Ruby leans slightly closer, conspiratorial, but for a second she has the sickening worry it'll be taken badly. "Hey, what did one hungry plant say to another?"

[fleurdesel]

The joke is easier. The absurdities that made her roll her eyes or wring out a warm laugh. Something that speaks to her of simple kindness and consideration. That has no expectations. She lists in as much as Ruby, meeting her halfway.

"You wouldn't beleaf how hungry I am?" A rare day when she plays along but- if not now, when?

[eviscerates]

It makes it very hard not to change her mind. Simple say screw it and ignore her own gut and her mind and her sense and think that maybe staying would not only just be okay, but actually be a great idea.

She's not always rational. Ruby grins at Adelaide's pun, even if it only lasts briefly, a flare that dies down easy enough.

"Nice, Adelaide. You really rose to the occasion." And yet, Ruby shakes her head. "'I could use a light snack.'"

Are photosynthesis jokes too advanced? She's pretty sure they aren't.

[fleurdesel]

"I have my moments." Few and far between as they are. The joke is- light and easy and absurd enough to twist out a raw scrape of laughter- if this is what had prompted the complication? She cannot regret it.

Not when Ruby and her absurdities, her sincere joy, brought light back into her life.

"Roul's watering them." A beat. "The violets. While I'm here he's- taking care of them since I am away."

[eviscerates]

"Good." Very certainly. Her smile is more at ease for the simple of fact of how naturally joking and being ridiculous with Adelaide seems to come. She huffs out a breath of laughter, and out of sheer habit, goes to brush Adelaide's hair out of her face.

Her fingers stutter partway through the action, hand faltering against Adelaide's temple and cheekbone, and the hesitation has the unfortunate effect of feeling like deliberately lingering contact. Her hand lifts away, but does not withdraw. '

"Then we don't need to have a custody battle over flowers. That's a plus."

[fleurdesel]

"Julian and Marian would be heartbroken." She swallows past the knot in her throat, uncertain if it is the complication or the warmth that curls in her chest to have that gesture linger. She enjoys them, the little touches, the casual affection.

But does she enjoy them more from Ruby? Is there more here than platonic affection?

Picking through the moments to sort it out will take time.

[eviscerates]

"I'll come visit. And take them on outings."

Somehow even this has become a little ridiculous. Ruby will herself to drop her hand to her side, the other reaching for the latch on the door. "I better, uh. Go do stuff. I don't have a set plan yet, exactly. I might go back to Skyhold or maybe... I don't know. I hear things are still pretty rough in the Emprise, so maybe I'll head that way. If you need me before I go just crystal me, or something."

And a little smile, with that. "Look after yourself."

[fleurdesel]

"Be careful. The rifts are still dangerous and the war is still on..." It'd be easy for Ruby to get caught up in such violence. She would come out alright, Adelaide knows but-

The fear remains.

"Call me if you ever wish for a word, or have a question, or a thought." The usual reasons.

[eviscerates]

"I will." Be careful. She's not sure she'll call, as much as she will probably want to. It just seems like a way to make this harder for both of them, even if she's entirely prepared to be there for Adelaide.

This is a mess. She really hates being honest, sometimes. Ruby rolls her shoulders, and lets the door start to pull open.

"I'll see you 'round." Somehow, probably. Maybe. Maybe not. There is an edge of self-preservation in this, after all.

With that, she tugs the door open and slips out, offering Adelaide a final little smile before she goes.