(no subject)

[samahl]

WHO: Cyril & Merrick + OPEN (Starters so far for Taas and Sam. If you want one let me know!)
WHAT: Cyril and Merrick have been searching for Metaari. After finding his bow with bandits, Cyril is finally able to convince Merrick to return. They arrive at Kirkwall fifteen minutes late with Starbucks. (not really, they just have one extra giant ass bow and crushed hopes)
WHEN: Shortly after everyone else arrived at Kirkwall
WHERE: You know, around.
NOTES: So "I'll just go on hiatus for a couple weeks to play Andromeda," I said. "I'm sure after I beat it once I'll be able to return to RP." Hahaha. Then I looked around and four weeks had passed and I hadn't done a single thing in RP, or cleaned my house, or gone to the store for food... ANYWAY so here's my return and I have a good excuse because Cyril would try help his brother find his missing lover. You can thread with either Merrick or Cyril here. Just tell us in your subject line who you are talking to.

Cyril had been keeping in touch with others in the Inquisition over the sending crystals, which turned out to be lucky because it meant that when they finally could return they didn't accidentally trek all the way back to Skyhold only to have to turn around and head north again.

They hadn't found any sign of Metaari, except for the bow that was unmistakable. That, they had recovered from bandits - bandits who claimed to have just "come across" it and who were all very, very dead now.

Cyril feels exhausted and thread bare from worry. Merrick isn't going to be okay with the fact that they still don't know for sure what happened and the giant bow Merrick's carrying around feels much more like a way to pry at the wound rather than closure.

Comments

[el_tybs]

"So do I not look wonderful when I'm not flushed and sweaty?" he asks back, grinning wide, playing Cyril's game.

[samahl]

"I think you look wonderful all of the time," Cyril pointed out. "Gorgeous, really."

[quietblade]

Taas meets the kiss with a content sigh, brown eyes bright with joy as he looks at the pale elf. Reading Cyril's lips, the warrior chuckles and moves his lover so that he is nice and comfortable on his big chest.

"Really? I'll make sure you don't want to leave the bedroll for the next month later." There's a little wink at that, and he moves a hand to squeeze Cyril's ass.

Then he calms himself a bit and his smile is more concerned. "How did it go?"

[samahl]

Cyril settled comfortably against Taas and realized that he wouldn't want to move for a very long time even just as they were. The idea of not wanting to move for a month because Taas wore him out was extremely welcoming.

At the question of how things went, though, Cyril frowned. "We couldn't find any sign of Metaari. We were able to track down his bow, but that was in the hands of bandits who had no idea what happened to him." He looked away for a moment, trying to not appear as troubled as he was and failing. "Merrick... did everything he could to get information from them and they didn't know anything."

[dalishious]

Merrick's back aches from carrying the gigantic bow. His skin and clothes are splashed with blood, his muscles taught and wound tightly, and he's shivering. He doesn't seem at all interested in food right now, nor does he seem to be taking in Cyril's words at all.

[samahl]

Cyril sighs a bit. "Did you want to wash up?" he asks after a moment.

[dalishious]

Once again, Merrick doesn't respond. He's filthy; the blood, dirt and sweat has accumulated since they found and killed the bandits, and he looks terrible, but he doesn't seem to care.

His brain is back with those bandits, the ones he tortured and gutted and bled, leaving him empty. He's holding the bow in his arms now, tight against his chest.

[samahl]

Cyril felt worry start to cloud him. After a moment, he sighs, and then moves closer. He takes Merrick's free hand in his.

"Da'mi?"

[dalishious]

Finally Merrick looks at him, his eyes dull. He still doesn't speak, but he grips Cyril's hand back tightly. He seems absolutely exhausted.

[samahl]

"I'm going to take you to a bath," Cyril explains, looking directly into Merrick's face. "And then we'll find something to eat." These aren't questions. He is warning Merrick to give him time to protest and, more importantly, to process the steps they're going to be taking.

"You can keep the bow with you, but we should probably start by dropping off armor and other weapons somewhere safe."

[dalishious]

Surprisingly, Merrick doesn't protest at all, and instead seems genuinely relieved that Cyril is making decisions here. He just feels incredibly lost, and can't argue for the sake of arguing like he usually does.

He lets Cyril lead him around, only partly taking in their surroundings as they go. Kirkwall is a massive departure from anywhere they'd lived before, and a lot of exploration is in order, but right now Merrick just doesn't care enough to even spare the new environments a second glance.

[samahl]

Cyril is interested in exploring too, but for now he's focused on cleaning and eating. He has to ask around, because it's not like they can just get to the hot springs in Skyhold from here, but eventually he finds a bath they can use.

"Get undressed," he orders. "Then get in the water."

[dalishious]

It takes a minute. Merrick has to put the bow down, which seems to drain even more energy from him, and then he has to go about removing his armor and some 30+ knives and other weapons from his person. Then he's in the water, which turns rust-brown almost immediately from all the dried blood on his body.

[samahl]

Cyril doesn't get him himself. Instead, he comes around so that he can wash Merrick's hair. "Finding any cuts or bruises in there?" he asks, because water has a way of making you notice that sort of thing.

[el_tybs]

Cyril's compliments have the mage chuckling, quietly though considering his eyes cannot stop taking in the elf's features. "Maker I did miss you."

[quietblade]

He frowns as well, taking his hands off his elf for a moment to cup his face lightly. soothingly. Taas would be an idiot if he didn't know by now how much Merrick and his happiness meant to Cyril.

What had happened to Metaari? He doesn't want to think the worst just because some bandits had his bow, but the archer didn't seem like the kind of guy to just leave like this.

"I'm sorry, kadan. How is he holding up?" A dumb question, perhaps, but sincere.

[samahl]

Cyril takes a moment to appreciate how sincere Taas is in asking about Merrick's well being. It's always been important to him that his brother be accepted by his lovers, even if they don't understand him fully, and Taas asking after him means a lot to Cyril. Even more than he can express.

That doesn't change the worry deep in his heart, though. "I'm not sure. He's... he's gone numb more than anything. I am a little worried it might explode, but..." He sighs softly and leans his head into Taas's hand. "The best I can do is be there for him."

[quietblade]

"I understand," he says softly, leaning his head against Cyril's for a moment just to breathe in the scent of his hair. The thought of his elf disappearing like Metaari makes his chest hurt so much that he almost wonders if he's been stabbed.

It must be hell for Merrick.

"Tell me how I can help, kadan. I'll be here for you so you can be there for him." It was the best way he could help, after all.

[samahl]

"This," Cyril points out. "You being here, being alive and solid. That's a huge help."

He grins a bit, because saying something so sappy makes him feel a little embarrassed. "Tell me how your move to Kirkwall went."

merrick (with cyril is cool too!)

[arlathvhen]

As days turned to weeks, and those weeks dragged on and on, Beleth grew more and more worried. Cyril's updates let her know that the two of them were still alive and more or less in good health, but that's not what she's worried about. Not that she wants either of them to be hurt, but she knows their capabilities, and that either of them apart would be able to take care of themselves--with the two of them? Little reason to worry on that front.

No, what haunted Beleth was the idea that they...simply wouldn't return. Don't make it all you do, she had plead to Merrick, before he had left. Time stretched on, life continued, and even as Beleth carried forward with it all, she began to worry that she had been right. When she finally heard the news, the worry is lifted from her shoulders--only to be replaced by a new worry. Nobody had mentioned a qunari with them. Which bode poorly for Merrick's state of mind.

So, she went about searching for Merrick. And the first thing she'll do, upon spotting him, is running up to him and wrapping her arms around him tightly. She doesn't say anything, not yet. She doubts anything she has to say will be helpful.

[dalishious]

There are the typical scuffs from battle, but nothing serious; a couple of bandits could hardly put a scratch on him. Most of the blood that washes from his body is not his own.

He lets Cyril wash his hair, the water causing it to curl naturally. It feels nice, and he allows himself to close his eyes for just a moment.

[samahl]

After the soap has done its work, Cyril takes some of the water up in a container. "Tilt back," he instructs so that Merrick can tilt his head back and Cyril can rinse through. His hands massage gently as he works through getting the soap out.

[samahl]

Cyril beams at the way that Sam is looking at him. "Well good, because I missed you too and we can do... whatever you want to enjoy being back together." He puts the pause and emphasis there to ensure that Sam get's his meaning and rests a hand on Sam's chest.

[quietblade]

Taas runs his hands up Cyril's back, steadying him a little more before he lets the elf down on the ground again so that he can sit down with his lover instead. Less precarious cuddling.

"A shitshow, as expected. The Gallows are full of red lyrium and haunted up its ass, the statues came alive for a while, and everyone are tired and grumpy." He sighs a little, but shakes his head dismissively. "It's better, now. People got stuff cleaned out really well, and while it's a little morbid, I'm sure rooms are available soon."

[samahl]

Cyril frowns a bit. "I don't like the idea of people being close to that stuff," he admits after some thought. "Are we sure that it's really safe?" He didn't want people he cared about to be infected by a lyruim that made you lose your mind. He hated the idea of anything or anyone having control of his thoughts like that.