i tried to write your name in the rain

[elegiaque]

WHO: Gwenaëlle and YOU.
WHAT: A catch-all for the month.
WHEN: August.
WHERE: Skyhold.
NOTES: Closed starters in the comments - hit me up at matriarchal or demis#8828 on discord if you would like to do something with Gwenaëlle!

Comments

[thecookery]

Yeah, compliments must work a little different in Denerim, because none of that is sounding like even part of one to Avery. And actually moving the bandages? Does it get more petty than that?

"Oh, I got it," she answers after a moment, slow and almost challenging. "But maybe I like this seat. Just want to stick around, really enjoy it for a while."

[elegiaque]

A long pause follows as Gwenaëlle orders her thoughts. Contemplates what she might say - that she is so tired, that she is terrified something will happen while she isn't there, that she couldn't stand to be away if she wasn't doing something useful with the time, that she just wanted to breathe air that didn't smell like death for a little while, that she doesn't understand what Avery wants or why she won't let her alone. What awful amusement she must be taking in picking at someone else's pain.

In the end -

she says none of it, which doesn't help any of the misunderstanding between them.

"Then have it," she says, rising, brushing her skirts off and picking up the bandages that she's already rolled and walking away, leaving the unrolled bandages for Avery to finish and the uneaten meal for her to clean up.

There are other tasks that can be done. She'll find one.

[thecookery]

Avery practically jumps to her feet, panicked, though she doesn't move any closer to Gwenaëlle's retreating back.

"Wait! Please. I'll go. You don't have to."

She even takes a couple of steps away for emphasis, cringing horribly at herself. "I don't know why I said that, before." A sigh, and then she grinds out between her teeth, "Probably because I'm a fucking idiot... I just wanted to help, but clearly I didn't."

[elegiaque]

Gwenaëlle only pauses a moment; does not turn around.

"I prefer to," she says, matter of fact. "Excuse me."

[thecookery]

"...I'm sorry."