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Entry tags:
{ CLOSED } Ne me quitte pas
WHO: Christine Delacroix, Sam Gareth, Church
WHAT: Visiting Christine's mother to deliver some bad news
WHEN: backdated to early Kingsway
WHERE: Velun, Orlais
NOTES: The direct result of what she learned at the front in the civil war in Orlais.
WHAT: Visiting Christine's mother to deliver some bad news
WHEN: backdated to early Kingsway
WHERE: Velun, Orlais
NOTES: The direct result of what she learned at the front in the civil war in Orlais.
The trip to Velun on the western side of Lake Celestine doesn't take terribly long thanks to the Imperial Highway being their route almost the entire way. The town is full of tightly packed houses with the Chantry being the largest building, looming in the background. Unlike Val Royeaux or Halamshiral, Velun is a place full of poorer folk, as well as an emerging middle class of merchants who send their wares across the lake or via the Imperial Highway, and from there across the Empire. The sight of two mages walking freely has some people a bit nervous, but being a trading town, they have seen mages pass through since the fall of the Circles. Most keep their distance and leave the pair of mages alone.
Which suits Christine just fine, until she says she may not remember the way to her house as it has been so long, and she needs to ask for directions. She stays calm and polite, hands limp at her sides as she asks a fruit seller where she might find the Delacroix residence. To her relief, the man doesn't make a scene and simply tells her the way. After twists and turns through narrow pebble and grass paths, the group finally stops in front of a yellow house with cheery window boxes of flowers and hanging baskets of the same out front. And now Christine finds she can't move, until she reaches one hand out for Church's and her other for Sam's.
"Oh, Maker. How do I even begin? How do I tell her? 'Hello. I know it has been over fifteen years since you last saw me, but I am here to tell you Père has died.'?"
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But that's for Lady Delacroix to decide for herself, once she's moved and settled. This is still very new and a sudden grieving period. God knows he didn't really grieve for Tex in any healthy way any of the times she's died. (Which is unfortunately way more true than he realizes.)
"She seems thrilled to be here, actually. Thoughtful-like. Cares about your mom. I really wouldn't want to see her go, if there's any choice in the matter about it."
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"Darcia has been around for a while it seems, and it sounds like she rather enjoys what she does and having worked/lived with your parents. She's rather attached to your mother and would rather like to go where she goes if able." Sam sighs, taking a sip of his tea, using both hands to handle the cup.
"I would like to see that she goes with your mother. Worst case... perhaps possibly we could offer some sort of agreement to make it happen." Sending money every once in a while to help support another maybe?
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"I do not know anything about my uncle beyond what my mother has already told me, but surely the money she receives from selling the house and furniture could pay for Darcia's necessities for some time, yes? She would not be dependent on my uncle for such things." She pauses to set her tea cup back on the tray. "I would like to help my mother settle in there, but she doesn't think it would be wise. My uncle is not fond of mages." Her mother had put it in slightly more dramatic terms that she won't repeat here.
"Let me take this in. She said she wants to get to know you two in order to take her mind off things." Christine settles her gaze on Church. "Perhaps you should say you are a soldier and leave it at that? I will try to change the topic if she becomes too interested in you." Little does Christine know that her mother is set on Christine marrying one of them already. She has it in her head that with the fall of the Circles, all mages will have the same rights as everyone else and she'll finally get some grandbabies to dote on.
Christine stands and takes the tray, leading the way back into the sitting room. Her mother is much like they first saw her, leaning back with eyes closed. Ponce races past everyone to jump on the sofa with her and she opens her eyes. The only thing different is now there is a small table nearby with a bottle of smelling salts on it. Her mother scoots it aside to make room for the tea.
"Ah, Darcia has gone with my letters, then? Good girl. I am sorry about earlier, gentlemen, but surely you are both romantics yourselves and can understand the pain of two lovers being parted forever." Aimee lifts a lace-edged handkerchief to her nose and dabs delicately. Christine smiles sadly and sets down the tray.
"Maman and Père were in love when they married," she tells Sam and Church as she gestures at them to sit in the two armchairs flanking the sofa, "She is very proud of that fact."
"Of course! Who would not be? He came to my father and asked to court me properly to see how we got on, and it was clear from the start that he was the man for me." As Aimee starts to pour out tea for her guests, she adds oh-so-subtly: "Now in cases where the father has passed on, asking the mother for permission to court her daughter is just as well." Hint, hint.
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He almost, like, mouth open is about to point out that people where he's from haven't done old school courting like that in, like, hundreds of years, but he remembers and thinks better at the very last second and says, instead, "It's fine, ma'am. Lady Delacroix, ma'am. It must come as a big shock, and we would never expect you to simply be fine with the events." So far, so good. "I'm sure it was all for a good cause?" Less far, less good. Maybe he'll just drink some tea yes that sounds good take it away Sam please.
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He can feel the slight tinge of heat at his cheeks at the suggestion, which he quickly tries to hide by raising his hand up to his mouth, coughing just slightly. For a moment his eyes dart over to Church, having expected some sort of reaction, but seeing that he is staying so calm it is clear he hadn't quite picked up on that - was that a good or bad thing? Well this would be interesting.
"Is that so?" Christine was this what you meant by 'getting to know you' back in the kitchen? "May I ask how you met your husband?"
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"Oh, there were always little social gatherings happening in the town. Weddings, holidays, that sort of thing. I had seen him, but was not formally introduced until a Summerday celebration. After that, we danced, talked, and he asked to court me." She sighs softly, running the edging of her handkerchief between two fingers. "It seems like only yesterday. How time passes..." Her gaze is distant for a moment before she comes back to herself and takes a sip of tea.
"This will brings tears again, I just know it. Please, tell me of yourselves. Titine's letter said nothing about either of you, but you must know her well to travel all the way here with her, yes?"
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Look, he's not the best liar in the world. At all. But if he can take the facts and make them imply something else without lying? That he will gladly be able to do without completely giving himself and his glove-covered hand away. "It's no easy thing, running around the continent closing rifts, slaying demons, negotiating with people who'd rather bicker than focus on the real evil in the world, but we manage, mostly. Christine's one of our best healers, and she's always knee-deep in some kind of research. Some dangerous stuff, but nothing she can't handle."
Nothing like heaping praise on someone in front of their mother, right? Always gets points, right?
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"I'm also a healer for the Inquisition, so Christine and I work together quite often - as Church has said, your daughter is very talented. Besides that I help our soldiers, like Church here, with crafting their weapons and armor in the forges."
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"Maman," Christine says patiently, patting her mother's hand. "I take care of myself. I am a mage; I have spells at my disposal." Of course there's no need to bring up how she and the others were recently electrocuted by crazed Red Templars, right?
Her mother doesn't look convinced, clearly of the mindset that her daughter needs a big, strong man to protect her. Her gaze shifts towards Sam and Church. A soldier means he's strong. But a healer who doubles as a blacksmith? Well, it's not the most glamorous profession but blacksmiths have steady work and must be strong too, right?
"We hear such rumors about the Inquisition. It has amassed quite the following, no?" She slowly releases her daughter's hand, not really over the "dangerous stuff" thing, but willing to set it aside for now. She's had her life overturned today and there is only so much she can take at once. It has to be shuffled back for now. "Tell me, where do you two come from? What are your families like?" Innocent enough questions on their own, but coming from her? She's definitely fishing for marriage material.
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The continued digging questioning is starting to make him a little suspicious, though. "You could call where I'm from the middle of nowhere, and, um, I'm not very close to my family?" Teeechnically all true. "I don't have any exciting answers about my personal life, on that front, sadly. Or maybe thankfully. Leads to less family drama that way."
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"I was born in a small fishing village in the Coastlands. My mother passed when I was born so it was my aunt and father who raised me. I was learning to work the forge from my father at a young age, but then we had to uproot to Ostwick. After that I was in the Circle for a while. I was close with my father but he passed away recently before I could see him again. I'm still rather close with my aunt... she's still living in Ostwick and has some kids of her own."
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Then Sam speaks and her brow furrows in thought. She leans towards Christine, eyes darting towards her daughter.
"Titine, the Coastlands. He does not mean the Coastlands of Ferelden, does he?"
Oh, dear. Christine lowers her cup and smiles gently. "I believe he does, Maman. Sam is a Fereldan, but has lived in the Marches some time."
"I see." Well, that does it for Sam. You're off the hook! No marriage between her precious baby and a dirty dog lord. "Ah, Leonard," she continues, feeling like this isn't going well at all. "What country gave you such an unusual accent?"
Christine's eyes dart from her mother to Church, then back again. "I believe," she starts quickly, sitting at the edge of her seat, "That he has spend some time around dwarves, yes Church?" She nods her head at Church to get him to agree with her. "Dwarves speak in such a way."
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"Yep. You spend enough time around a people, you pick up their accents and their ways of speaking. Hopefully I don't reflect too poorly on dwarves, in that case. I don't wanna--"
Waaaaait wait just one second here. Hold on. "--I'm. sorry, ma'am, but, just, sorry, it sounds like you're expecting...something. from one of us." It might be way too forward to just say 'it sounds like you expect one of us to be dating your daughter', but he's actually catching on.
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Honestly he could have gotten away with just saying he was from the Free Marches, he had enough of an accent from there to do so, and he had lived there long enough. It had been tempting to play into what he knows Christine's mother is doing, but he had come here to support Christine, not cause any issues. Perhaps if they had come under different circumstances he would have, but with how she must be feeling right now, he just couldn't do that to her.
Suggesting that Church had spent time with Dwarves was actually a rather clever idea. Granted he hopes Lady Delacroix doesn't press for where Church is from even after that. Course they might not have to worry about that considering Church seems to have finally caught up... and asked bluntly what is going on.
He's just... going to drink his tea for the time, eyes darting between everyone to see how this goes.
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Her mother doesn't really see Church as such a great prospect anymore. No manners, this one. Now the Fereldan; she's surprised that one has manners.
"Is it so wrong to want to know the character of two men who have been traveling alone with my daughter?" Because when she was hoping one of them might marry her it was fine that they'd traveled alone together. But now? People might talk.
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But now is not a good time for that. Not with the look Christine is giving, and not with the whole...stupid fucking situation as it is. He settles further back in his seat, eyes in a nice middle neutral ground not boring a hole in anyone, and sips his tea.
Loudly.
See, he can be subtle like an Orlesian too.
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And then Church stops. And sips tea.
Loudly.
Well... that could have gone better, but it certainly hadn't gone worse. Christine were you thinking of them spending a night here? They might be sleeping in the yard or something after this.
Aaaaaaaah... "It is completely understandable that you would want to know. You're concerned about Christine's welfare after all." Sam pauses for a moment to put his cup down. "As soon as Christine had found out about her father, your husband, she wanted to come here immediately. We wanted to make sure she was safe, but bringing an entire group of Inquisition soldiers through the town seemed like a bad idea - people would grow concerned and perhaps fear something was amiss even though that wasn't the case. Which is why Church and I were the only ones to accompany Christine. To make sure she was safe getting here, and if you required any assistance in anything while we were here."
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Christine quickly stands up and keeps her eyes fixed on Church.
"Would you please come out into the hall a moment? There is something important I forgot to tell you." And whether Church actually wishes to comply or not, she heading for his chair to rip him up out of it and drag him if he doesn't come willingly. Her mother hardly pays them any mind as she continues smiling at Sam.
"Such a gentleman! What was the location of your Circle again? They bring up their apprentices well."
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He even keeps his voice low in the hall, jumping in on the whole thing before Christine even says anything. "I'm sorry your mom lost her husband, but I don't really appreciate her questioning our character, and also acting like we're contestants on a dating game. It's not like we're dating."
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It's actually not that bad, he can clearly handle it, but it doesn't mean he couldn't internally be dramatic considering this entire situation was rather dramatic - he's rather glad it hadn't turned into a shouting match. Better him then Church he supposes, still wanting to put his face in his hands at that last bit the Rifter had pulled, but refraining.
His eyes dart up to watch as Christine drags Church away, before returning to Lady Delacroix, brows raising a bit at the fact that she was interested in him once more. "Ostwick, Madame. I was fifteen when I... joined, so practically half my life."
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Out in the hall, Christine manages to settle for slightly annoyed as Church speaks, which is better than being really angry with him. She pushes her fingers back through her hair, releasing a slow breath.
"I could not know in coming here than this would suddenly be her goal. I think this is how she is coping." Her gaze settles on his chest for a moment. "She is my mother, yet I hardly know her. But I would like to. I am sorry she is being harsh, and I will try to get her to stop, but you," -- and here she points a finger at him -- "Do not talk back to her. I will handle it." For a moment it seems like that is that and they can head back in, but then she changes her mind and her eyes meet his.
"How is your shoulder? Are you having any sharp pains?" As long as they're alone, she may as well ask, and she's going to stay vigilant until she's sure she succeeded in taking all the red lyrium out.
Meanwhile, her mother sighs sadly at Sam, playing with her handkerchief. "My little Titine was only eight. Can you imagine? I wanted to hide her away so she could stay with us, but Luc said no. He said she would be safer in the Circle and could learn to use her magic properly. Oh, how I wept! But now she is free and I can see her again. I have often dreamed of this." Perhaps not the part about a Fereldan and a loudmouth raised by dwarves of whatever his case is, but still.
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But he has to actually...consider it. Because, well, it's...different. She's different. They're kind of different, right? There are women here he cares about, obviously, but not many he's so physically close to, and, look, if Araceli asked, he totally wouldn't say no to sleeping with her because he's not blind, but--kinda not the point. He's frowning in thought. "But I won't sass her. Even if I have to drown myself in tea. The shoulder's okay." He gives it a little rotation. "Little stiff." That's called scar tissue, Church. "But nothing sharp." After living with his hand now, most aches and pains are nothing. "Like I said, I've had worse."
Maybe one of these days he might even tell her about the whole sordid weird as fuck history he's got, but, haha, maybe not ever, who knows. "Hey, um. Would you want someone to ask you mom's permission? If someone wanted to date you. Court you. Whatever the vernacular here is."
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"I am very glad my daughter has someone like you in her life. You have a gentle heart."
Meanwhile in the hall, Christine shakes her head no. "I do like that she cares for me, and she must think this is what she has to do now that my father is gone. I will talk with her privately later, but no, I will court who I please and then bring him to meet her." But surely Church isn't asking for himself, right? They both know that would be a terrible idea. He's a rifter. He could disappear at any moment. Not to mention they're very different. He's probably just curious, right?
She reaches out to touch a hand to his shoulder, placing a small healing spell there to hopefully make his muscles feel loose. It isn't worth getting help from her spirit friend to do since it's just a little thing, and good thing too, because Darcia suddenly comes through the front door and Maker knows what she would have thought had she seen Christine's eyes glowing blue. As it is, she does look like she's thinking something, looking between the two and grinning widely.
"You have delivered the letters?"
"Yes, Mistress Christine. You will all be staying for dinner, won't you?
"Yes, and overnight, if there is room?"
"Oh, yes! There is enough room if the two gentlemen don't mind sharing a room!"
Christine smiles and pats Church lightly on the shoulder. "I am sure they would be fine with that. Let's head back in."
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And it's fine! He wasn't...asking for any particular reason. Just, they're really close? Closer than just fuckbuddies since they haven't actually done the do in forever. But if she thought they were dating, and obviously she wouldn't!, but if she did, then it's good to know nobody, not even him, needs any permission. So.
Yeah. Ahem. "The gentlemen will be perfect gentlemen and share a room without incident. Nothing will get set on fire, no arguments had, scouts honor." Church you are not a boy scout. Little awkward wave of hi to Darcia and then back to...awkward mom times.
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