(OPEN) and when the currents circle back again

[ichaer]

WHO: Ciri; open + some closed starters in the comments
WHAT: Ciri finally decides to get her butt to Kirkwall after a month of who knows what and being who knows where.
WHEN: Throughout the beginnings of Bloomingtide.
WHERE: Kirkwall, various
NOTES: Nothing to mention, will update as needed if anything does come up.

— ｇａｌｌｏｗｓ.

It is not cold here in Kirkwall but Ciri cannot stop sniffling throughout the trip across the harbor. She would have appreciated the chance to sit still for a moment after far too much time spent in the saddle following one very long trip across Orlais and back again before the trek through Nevarra, and finally on into the Free Marches. Unfortunately this boat ride across the harbor is anything but smooth and she wonders if she'll be becoming fast friends with the bottom of Kirkwall harbor soon.

Thankfully (or unfortunately?) that is not the case and with a neutral look, she frowns up at the sight of the Gallows and all its... well, she wouldn't call it glory. Huh, weird. She almost misses the cold valley and all its mud now.

"Hey!" She calls out to whomever happens to share this unfortunate space with her after a moment of needed frowning. Ciri possibly even has to turn her head a little more than needed depending on where said person is standing due to the noticeable swelling and dark bruises under both eyes with one verging on closing shut. The barely scabbed over busted lip along with other various bruises and cuts paint a noted story.

"Could you point me to where medical has set up?"

Might as well tend to the important things first.

— ｌｏｗｔｏｗｎ.

A literal month on horseback left little time to spend on any actual walking and even less on training. Despite a few days of rest, Ciri's leg ache and continue to feel like jello if she pushes herself to much. It is, without a doubt, hideously annoying. She also detests being cooped up inside the walls of the Gallows so she gets back across the harbor as soon as she possibly can and gets to work.

Work, of course, means climbing up Lowtown's less than grand build and getting a taste for her freerunning skills once again. She had to be creative in Skyhold but the city here gave her enough obstacles to push herself out of the comfort zone she had fallen into back at the isolated fortress high in the snowy mountains. It is, in all honesty, the most fun she has had in ages but it all ends rather suddenly when a leap between building falls short.

It isn't a long drop by any means but it knocks the air out of her already hurting lungs. It doesn't help she likely barely missed landing atop an unfamiliar (or possibly familiar!) person. A person that she can only look upwards at sheepishly, smiling.

"Uh, hey." Boom, born charmer.

— ｈｉｇｈｔｏｗｎ.

Compared to Lowtown, Hightown is almost a completely different world. The citizens mostly keep their space as she walks, indifferent to the white-haired Warden in her armor and carrying on conversations that don't register much to her ears. Not that she is not curious, this is a new city and new country that she is wholly unfamiliar about despite her travels. Nevertheless, she cannot bring herself to care much about the gossip of latest fashion disasters or who was caught kissing who in the painting room.

She does get distracted in the high class, pricey line of shops and stalls peddling everything under the the great sun. Ciri truly cannot help visiting a few, glancing the wares over and even mulling over a few of them and their details. Maybe you're also glancing over the trinkets, robes, weapons or other wares when suddenly you have a young woman at your side, dressed in shiny Warden armor and wrinkling her nose.

"How many bushels of apples do you think one of those amulets could buy, you think?"

Asking the important questions here...

— ｓｔａｂｌｅｓ.

Perhaps you're here visiting your own mount, caring for the others or just enjoying the day. Whatever the case my be, there is now one black mare invading your personal space. In her mouth, she is carrying a rather large basket of shiny red apples and snorting impatiently toward whomever was unfortunate to be the first person she found. Whatever could she need?

"Kelpie! Kelpie, get back here you terrible apple thief!"

Again, the mare huffs and suddenly moves to trot behind your back as if she can hide as Ciri suddenly rounds the corner. Huffing, clearly out of breath and dusted with dirt and grass as if she had fallen. How strange.

"Don't think you can hide from me!" Just what family fight have you found yourself in?

— ｗｉｌｄｃａｒｄ.

For anything not mentioned above! If you'd like a personalized starter then hit me up through a PM or on plurk at kaldwin

Comments

[ichaer]

"And what a surprise this sudden return from exile is. I am almost surprised that they do not have us camping out in the middle of the harbor."

Because that honestly seems like something that would happen. Nevertheless, she bends over to grab her bag and follows in behind Inessa with immediate curious glances around the room. Despite where they are being set up, the room wasn't awful and it wasn't a tent in the mud either. There was even a tub too! A real tub.

After a moment of looking around, Ciri glances to Inessa out of the corner of her eye and grins. "You'll let me still room with you then?"

[circleprodigy]

Inessa pauses and pretends to consider that, even though there's absolutely no question in her mind. Of course she would welcome Ciri back with open arms, how could she not? "Well...I suppose that would be acceptable. Only because Garahel would never let me hear the end of it, otherwise. You know how he is, so clingy."

Garahel circles them barks insistently; damn right Ciri's staying with them and never even think otherwise. His tail hasn't stopped wagging excitedly ever since he caught her scent.

"There are additional accommodations at the docks, but I'm a little tired of barracks-style living. Besides, they needed all the aid they could get in order to restore the Gallows to something more livable. That entitles us to a little more, doesn't it?"

[ichaer]

With a chuckle, Ciri turns and curtsy as well as any noble lady could possibly curtsy without actually wearing a dress. "I am forever in your debt, Lady Serra."

Once again, she settles close to the ground so that she can once again reach out for Garahel. A bath, honestly, would be amazing considering her long journey but simply being in the presence of these two again were also more than enough for a time.

"Mm, I heard the scouts talking about it when I first got into the city. Overall creepy location aside, we definitely deserve something nice after sleeping in the cold, the mud and the cold mud for almost a year."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa settles down by Ciri and Garahel, since it's easier to speak that way without straining any necks. She'll help prepare a nice bath, but both elf and mabari aren't quite ready to let her be just yet. Garahel nuzzles Ciri, licking at her face. Doggy kisses!

"Agreed. I can't argue on the 'creepy' factor, but will say it's much improved since a few weeks ago. The red lyrium was not easy to remove, and those statues...I just hope they're finally melted down, as they ought to be." Garahel grumbles at mention of the statues, prompting a soothing pat. "It's gone now, they shouldn't animate again." Probably.

[ichaer]

Ciri can't scooting closer over to her friend, sighing happily and just enjoying the chance to relax after an entire month of doing anything but relaxing. Of course, Garahel gets all those kisses returned as she chuckles.

"They probably won't," she murmurs. "I hope they won't but who honestly knows given some of our luck. It wouldn't be the Inquisition if we could actually relax."

[circleprodigy]

"Would you truly cope well with relaxation, instead of giving in to restlessness? I wonder.

At least the griffons seem to like their new roost. Potato's so excited she hasn't stopped trying out new perching spots...or nearly landing on me from them." Inessa smiles at that, and when Garahel flops down right next to them, close enough for rubbing and petting.

[ichaer]

"Depends on my mood, honestly. A break once and while wouldn't be so bad, right. Maker knows I needed this last one."

If running away could be considered a break. She listens quietly as Nessa talks about the griffons while she busily rubs Garahel side with happy little pets before chuckling. "Glad to hear they're doing well."

[circleprodigy]

"We ought to take them out for rides soon. You did promise me a race sometime, and they always need the exercise." She has to move before Garahel accidentally bumps her with his wiggling.

"Your turn. I want to hear all about what you've been doing. It's only fair, you know." Ciri isn't going to get yelling or lecturing, but sparing her from Inessa's curiosity is nigh-impossible.

[ichaer]

"Just give me a little time to recover. I did just spend the past month in a saddle." She chuckles, glancing down with heavy eyelids and sighing.

"I needed some time to myself, get my thoughts in order and tie off some loose ends," she mutters. "I managed to even find someone that used to be part of my old gang back in Orlais. We had words, a lot of which weren't so nice."

[circleprodigy]

That sigh has Inessa leaning in all over again, giving Ciri a squeeze. "Only when you're ready for it, I promise." She nods thoughtfully, listening to her friend without interruption or judgment. Garahel grumbles at that last part, prompting her to stroke him. "Yes, we know you would have helped. That gang member would have suffered.

But I'm glad you took the time for yourself, to attend to what was needed. We Wardens must give so much of ourselves, for the sake of others. It can be easy to forget that it is no crime to focus on ourselves every once in a while." It's a lesson she constantly needs to relearn, herself.

"...however, I would appreciate notice next time. I'm happy to give you space, just inform us."

[ichaer]

"Believe it or not, I sort of deserved it but its the thought that matters."

It is said lightly as she leans into Inessa with a frown. Ciri listens quietly, nodding as her friends finishes before she chuckles weakly. All of it was true, very true.

"I really wasn't sure I'd come back," she admits. "I almost went into the Anderfels."

[circleprodigy]

A sigh escapes Inessa as she leans back in against Ciri, shaking her head. "Hoping to stop the forces of the First Warden all by yourself, Ciri? At least let the rest of us who suffered at Weisshaupt join you on that. I mean to repay them for what they have done, when the opportunity presents itself."

Her voice is quiet and calm, but there's a hard glint in her eyes. That personal suffering hasn't been forgotten or forgiven.

[ichaer]

"Not, I just wanted to see..." She trails off, sighing loudly through her nose. "I don't really know. I guess I wished to see if I could make sense of anything."

Tiredly, Ciri picks at a loose thread with a hum. "My trip, if I am to be honest, was mostly to say goodbye. I never truly got the chance when it happened but there was a second at my Joining, you know. Her name was Mistle and she was... incredible, she was everything I wished to be. She was my everything."

[circleprodigy]

Inessa's expression softens upon hearing that and she holds Ciri close as Garahel looks up with a soulful whine. "...I'm sorry, Ciri. I was the only one to survive my Joining, but I didn't know any of the others, let alone well. I can't imagine how painful that must have been."

[ichaer]

Ciri simply lets herself be held, staring forward with tired eyes and a neutral expression.

"I told you before I ran with a gang before in Orlais, right? We stole from all the nobles and gave it out to the poorer towns and alienages. Mistle was from Halamshiral and suffered a lot but she was just so very bright," she murmurs. "I loved her from the moment I saw her."

With a shake of her head, she brings a hand up to rub her eyes with little to help stop the tears. "And for some reason she loved me too. Me, a little noble girl way over her head and who could only run away from her troubles. After she died, I kept on running and I almost did it again. I just wanted to leave all of this behind but she'd be pissed at me. Probably tell me off for being a chicken."

With a slump, she moves to lay on the ground and pull at Inessa's sleeve to urge her to lay down too. "I could do it though. I couldn't leave you or the others. We made a promise to fix all this, didn't we?"

[circleprodigy]

As Inessa hold her close, her own eyes are bright with unshed tears. She doesn't often cry, but it's impossible to listen to her friend's pain without provoking another opportunity. She doesn't resist the tugging, laying down as well to keep holding on. Finding her voice, she clears her throat and nods.

"We did, and there's still a long way to go before that happens. I don't want to do it without you, Ciri." Garahel gets to his feet just long enough to move over to Ciri's side, helping with those tears by licking gently at her face. See, he's helping.

[ichaer]

"Sorry," she mumbles. "I don't mean to make you cry. I had to tell someone though. I... I suppose I needed someone else to know what she meant to me."

There is a soft sound as Garahel licks her face, verging on laughter and she lets herself cuddle closer to hold her friend's hand. Ciri feels like a little child again but finds she doesn't care, at least, not in front of Inessa.

"Don't worry, I'm here to stay. I can't let you have all the fun without me."

[circleprodigy]

"No need to apologize, Ciri. You know you can share anything with me. And Garahel, he's a good secret-keeper." She chuckles a little, squeezing that hand. The mabari plops down by Ciri to nuzzle at her once he's satisfied that her face is sufficiently licked.

"I'm glad to hear it. We'll get through this together, as we did at Weisshaupt. And this time, we have more support. It will count for something, I'm certain."