[OPEN] I will need to face what I've done

[mactears]

WHO: Loghain, various starters + OPEN
WHAT: Loghain has been granted a temporary reprieve from his exile in order to attend King Maric's funeral in Denerim. Once he returns, various other situations require his attention.
WHEN: Early April-ish.
WHERE: Throughout Kirkwall, and outside Denerim in Ferelden.
NOTES: Prompts 1 and 2 take place in Ferelden and predate all the Kirkwall prompts. 

I. A rural inn outside Denerim; the night before the funeral (closed to Teren and Anders)


Loghain was advised by the Crown (also known as his daughter) that his presence in the city of Denerim was likely to cause a stir, stoking the fires of arguments left dormant for nearly a decade after the blight and the civil war. It was not an explicit instruction for him to make his entrance into the capitol as discreet and quiet as possible, but that is how Loghain has chosen to interpret it. This is explanation enough for why he's opted for his small travel party to stay at a nondescript roadside in a few miles away from the city gates; he'll ride in on his own tomorrow, dressed as simply as possible, and make a nondescript entrance into the palace through a prearranged meeting with one of Anora's confidantes.

It all feels unnecessarily cloak-and-dagger for his tastes, but the indisputable fact of the matter is there are a number of people in this country that would see his head on a spike if left to their own devices. This is the safest, least politically incendiary route for him to take, while still getting to say his final farewells to his king.

The inn has a small common area near a lit hearthfire; aside from them, and the innkeeper who is keeping to herself, they don't seem to have much other company. To keep himself occupied, Loghain has taken to polishing his boots.



II. The inn; after the funeral, in the evening (closed to Teren)


The funeral is over, and so is Loghain's business in Ferelden. Whatever feeling he had expected on the heels of completing this journey, this isn't it.

After passing some time at the palace with Anora, Loghain arrives back at the inn late enough at night that he fully expects both Teren and Anders to be asleep so that they can be well rested for their journey back to Kirkwall in the morning. Rather than rousing the stablehand to see to Sooty's needs, Loghain leads his tired mare into the stables himself and takes the time to feed and water her while removing her tack. He brushes her down while she grazes, speaking softly to her under his breath. Outside the stall, Primrose dozes with her chin on her paws.



III. The Gallows library; at night (closed to Vandelin)


Once he has returned to Kirkwall, Loghain does not need very long to revert to his usual habit of staying up late into the night pouring over maps and tomes related to the blight and darkspawn, though admittedly some of his work is almost of a penitent nature; reviewing the old routes he took during the years he devoted to searching for Maric, wondering whether the present might look very different for Ferelden had he simply made this choice, rather than that one. It's a completely unproductive use of his time, yet it is difficult for his thoughts not to tend in that direction.

More often than not, these nightly visits to the library are solitary. This night in particular, however, when he steps into the library, he discovers there is already a lamp lit on one of the tables.

"Someone else is here burning the midnight oil, I see," he greets the enchanter with a smile that could easily be mistaken for a grimace.



IV. Wildcard scenarios (OPEN)


(OOC:  Loghain can be found working in the Warden offices, on the training grounds delivering basic combat and self defence training to those who require it, in the stables seeing to his horse Sooty, or wandering around Sundermount with his wolf-dog Primrose! Feel free to set up a scenario of your own choosing if you prefer.)

Comments

[mactears]

Possibly he reads something of Teren's hope and fear in her eyes when she looks up to him, because for a moment his lips twist into a wistful grimace. She isn't alone in these feelings, or in her awareness of how fleeting the time they have left is--but if Maric's death in Seheron served no other purpose, it at least forced Loghain to recognize the importance of seizing those moments of genuine connection while he still could. Life comes with no guarantees, except for an end to it, one day. (And taxes.)

"...we're all food for worms."

He quirks a small smile. "But not today," he replies just as quietly. Then he lifts his hand from her arm to cup her cheek, and leans in to kiss her gently on the mouth.

[doneisdone]

Sucker, Teren hasn't paid taxes her whole life and isn't going to start anytime soon. Inevitabilities are for other people.
Except this one, apparently: she's a little surprised by the action, but not averse to it, and meets Loghain's kiss. There's no tearing at clothing or shoving tongues in mouths, at least not on her part; really, it's telling as is that Teren's demeanor is calm, even pleasant.

[mactears]

There's probably not going to be any tearing of clothes or tongues being shoved anywhere, since they're still in the barn and Sooty is, like, right there. So the kiss remains a gentle one, warm with affection, until Loghain lets it end. When he draws back his hand remains at her face, thumb stroking the ridge of her cheekbone.

"I care for you. Whatever sort of life an old traitor of a Warden can have with the Calling," this said with a touch of grim humour, clearly referring to himself, "I'd share that with you, Teren."

[doneisdone]

Not to mention Boots. There are children present.
She looks into his eyes as his thumb moves over her cheekbone, and finds that she likes the feeling. It's familiar, in a long lost way, and Teren is a bit ashamed that she wants to chase it.
"Very well then," she replies, prim and dignified, but with the slightest twitch of a smile at the corner of her mouth.