Player Plot: I will call you home

[arlathvhen]

WHO: Beleth, Cyril, Merrick, and Ellana Ashara, Thranduil, Sina Dahlasanor, Metaari, Sam Gareth, Kallian Endris, Alistair and Ruby i think??? whoever wants to go
WHAT: Keeping Up With The Asharas, the reality tv show
WHEN: Backdatedish, around mid-kingsway
WHERE: The Heartlands of Orlais
NOTES: OOC post

Tel'enfenim, da'len Irassal ma ghilas Ma garas mir renan Ara ma'athlan vhenas Ara ma'athlan vhenas	Never fear, little one, Wherever you shall go. Follow my voice-- I will call you home. I will call you home.

Clan Ashara currently resides in a small valley nestled into the mountains, that seems idyllic for a Dalish clan. A stream runs through the valley, descending into a waterfall with the steep cliffs on one side, and sheer mountain walls going straight up on two other sides. The only way in and out is through a gap big enough to lead several aravels through. It's a defensible position, safe from any threats. Except the fade rift that has opened up just a little ways from the gap. The hunters can handle the demons spewing from it well enough, and there are always a couple stationed there to pick off whatever appears. But it's too dangerous to lead the aravels and noncombatants through, and thus, they are forced to wait. To compound the issue, there's a village close to where they're currently staying, and while both sides have kept to themselves, neither are pleased with the current situation. They've helped get a message to the Inquisition in hopes that someone will come take care of the problem, and now both are tensely waiting for something to happen to change the situation, for better or worse. And so the members of Clan Ashara, with their friends in tow, return back to their clan.

Comments

[samahl]

"Sometimes, doing your job means asking others for help," he points out. "The Inquisition has the only means of closing Rifts. There's no shame in asking for our assistance."

"And as for me, oh, I've had quite the adventures. You should see some of the men they Inquisition has. There's such a good variety of them."

[writteninblood]

"Adventures, is that what we're calling it now?"

He could think of a few other words, but all of them meant with the right breed of sarcasm and fondness to make them a teasing joke rather than genuine insult. But he hesitates; it's been long enough since he saw the back of Cyril, leaving for the Inquisition, that he is no longer so sure of his welcome as he once was. A joke shared is only a joke if both people think it's funny.

So he says nothing and, by chance, lights upon the hulking form of Metaari.

"So, what then? Adventures like big qunari guys? You always hold out on me, I promise my ears won't curl up and die if they hear something naughty, no matter what the Keeper says."

[samahl]

Cyril looks over the direction that Sorrel is looking and then chuckles a bit. "Oh yes, except that one is Merrick's. Mine is named Taas. He's... he's not as cute as Metaari is. He's more like a mountain."

He sounds very fond as he speaks about Taas, but then he gets more lewd. "He does this thing where he holds me up and uses his mouth on me while I cling onto his horns. It's very hot." At least it opens the door a bit for Sorrel to tease him.

[writteninblood]

"They're all like moun--"

He wasn't ready. Sorrel thought he was ready, said he was ready, but he wasn't ready at all. Can anyone ever really be ready for Cyril? Regardless, it's enough to break the unspoken barrier, and startle a laugh out of Sorrel.

"You're a fucking degenerate, you know that?" He groans theatrically, shading his eyes with one hand, but can't hide the teasing grin, "It was bad enough before, now you're going around corrupting innocent qunari. What's next?"

[samahl]

"Hey now, nothing about Taas is innocent. That's one of the reasons I like him so much," he says it again with no shame, not even a hint of thought that maybe he should tone it down for the First of his Clan.

As far as the answer to 'what's next' he glances around and looks for Sam's broad shoulders and black hair. "I have a human too. He's here. He's one of the mages we brought. His name is Sam."

[writteninblood]

"Well, now all you'll need is a dwarf, to make the full set," Sorrel laughs, rolling his eyes. Merrick and Cyril, bringing their disgraceful lovers to show the Keeper-- whether or not the Keeper realizes it. He has a feeling she does, "Creators, Cyril. I'm glad you're happy."

He is, really. But, at the same time...

"Meanwhile, I'm practically all on my own, here. Rub it in, why don't you?"

[samahl]

Cyril's face does somber up a bit at that. He comes closer and puts a hand on Sorrel's arm. "You aren't completely alone," he promises, though he knows having familial bonds aren't quite the same.

"And with eyes like yours I'm sure there's someone bond to notice during arlathvhen."

[writteninblood]

"Oh, and which Arlathvhen is this, then?" Sorrel drawls, smiling despite the way he dances back from the touch so that he can spread his arms wide. Jokes are easier than moping, nobody likes a sad elf, trust him on this, "We haven't got the mages anymore, not to send both of us, this next time. Keeper's already made the decision, not that you'll hear it."

Keeper Deheune had a very special way of making you think, or at least forcing you to act, as if your downfall were all your own idea. If Sorrel weren't somehow made to gracefully withdraw himself from the trip by the time the great conclave of clans came together, he'd be gracefully put off in some other way. He didn't need to be told, to see what was coming: diplomacy was one thing, but this was something else entirely, something with a cutting edge.

"You know how it is."

[samahl]

Not for the first time, Cyril considers suggesting that Sorrel come back with them. He considers offering to hide Sorrel in their supplies and sneak him off to Skyhold. He considers it but doesn't cross that line. He does know how it is and the idea of suggesting the Keeper miss out on her other child - especially the one who is a mage - feels dangerous.

"You need to let your hair down at least once before she finds you a nice wife." And that statement is said with such a weird flux of emotion in Cyril's stomach. Both of them, eventually, will be married to women and expected to have children. Both of them, eventually, will have to carry on the bloodline.

While Cyril deals with that reality by trying to desperately enjoy his freedom before that day, Sorrel has magic and is the Keeper's son. His pressures are so much worse. There's so much empathy and worry there for him and his well being. "At least get really, really drunk while we're here and can hide it."

[writteninblood]

"Creators..."

That is a definite sigh. You just had to say the w-word, didn't you, Cyril? All the wind is gone out of Sorrel's sails, yet again, and he is reminded, despite their easy friendship, why he sometimes didn't like Cyril all that much.

It was easy to forget that why, wasn't it? He was beautiful, fun, funny, open and honest, and witty, and... and everything Sorrel wasn't. Fuck, he was jealous; acknowledging the feeling might not make it easier to bear, but it made it miles easier to hide.

"Well, thanks, Cyril," He's trying for sardonic, and is pleasantly surprised at how successfully he manages it, "That's really great. Actually, now I do want to drink, and do you even know how much of a hell my life will be if I get drunk and spoil the whole..."

He flaps a hand, gesturing vaguely, as if to indicate the dignity of the moment, or the import of the Inquisition, or possibly just the reputation of the clan. The Keeper would murder him.

"You really know how to brighten a guy's day."

[samahl]

Cyril sighs then and feels like completely crap. It's not Sorrel's fault he's been brooding on certain things lately. He knows how terribly this conversation has gone and for a second he wants to apologize. He just gets the feeling that that will make everything worse.

So instead he says something that he's certain he never would have had the balls to say before he left.

"Fuck her." The statement is said so bluntly and plainly that it lays out that they both know who they're talking about. "Fuck the idea that you have to be perfect just because we're here. There were literal demons raining down on us from a tear in the sky. The Herald lost her life to seal it and now the Clan is threatened by the Rifts it left behind. This may be the last time you see me, Ellana, Merrick, or even your sister again. Once this thing is sealed and the Clan protected, you deserve some fun."

[writteninblood]

For a moment, he's so relieved, thinking Cyril is going to apologize and then Sorrel can pass it off as nothing, and they can go on as they always have, as they always do. But then, something shifts, like wind in the trees, and Sorrel sees the fight enter Cyril right between his eyebrows, clear as sunlight.

And his heart sinks. He can't help but stare; no one's spoken like that about the Keeper, not ever, not that he's known. Keeper Deheune is so very well respected, so careful in her ways, so sure to always be right, provably right, that...

Well he stares at Cyril for a good half-minute, even after he's finished speaking, that's all.

He should say no.

He should laugh it off.

He should absolutely not encourage any of this.

He should deck Cyril right here and now, just for suggesting that Beleth might not come back to him. For planting the idea that he will be alone, he will always be alone, and even the one person who really loves him, will go away, or die.

He should at least tell Cyril not to talk like that about the Keeper, if nothing else.

Instead, Sorrel stares, and after a moment says, "Okay. Okay, well fuck it. After the rift is closed, if you've got anything worth drinking, let's drink."

[samahl]

Cyril grins once he agrees and moves a little closer to him. "Good," he says, pleased. "I knew you were as smart as you look." The compliment is sincere and everything about Cyril's expression shows that sincerity.

"For now, I should go coordinate with the Hunters who have been watching the Rift. I will hold you to the drinking though." He might even get drunk with him, if this went well.