faderift | (no subject)

[ Aro doesn't take long to respond. He keeps the crystal on him all the time, and it's a bit hard to ignore an actually glowing crystal with sound coming out of it.

He happens to be out, enjoying the morning air. Iessa is not currently with him, given that she's still resting in her stable. He wishes she could sleep with him, since he's sure she'd sleep better if she did. He doesn't think it's right, though. He likes the idea of giving her time with the dracolisks, who all things considered, are closer to her species than Aro. She needs company like that.

Which is why Adalia's message is particularly welcome, and he grins as soon as he gets it. ]

Adalia! Yes, of course, today would be perfect! Iessa's still sleeping, but she's been at that long enough. I'll go and get her. Where should we meet you and Charis?

❰ adalia's grin is audible in her voice when she responds — ❱

How about the ferry? We can get to the mainland and wander Sundermount, give the two of them time to stretch their wings and us the ability to talk while they do.

❰ adalia needs to collect some alchemy ingredients anyway, and sundermount is a good place to escape the oppressive grossness of all of kirkwall's... everything. it still feels... strange, with how thin the veil is, even there, but it's better than looking around the gallows and knowing that a thousand years ago there were slaves there, and it was only recently the statues of elven slaves were disposed of. ❱

I'll meet you there, if that works for you!

❰ said as adalia is already making her way out of her room with charis. ❱

[ She has no idea how perfect that sounds. Getting out of the city is exactly what Aro wants to do. He's been going crazy inside these walls. ]

Yes, absolutely! We'll not be long, I'll see you there.

[ And he's as good as his word. He goes directly to the stable where Iessa has been staying. The little dragon is delighted to see him, and positively hyperactive as she runs around his legs. When he finally gets her to calm down enough to walk, the two of them head off to meet Adalia.

Of course as soon as they're close enough to smell the water, Iessa gets excited all over again. She rushes on ahead, bursting through to the docks with Aro hot on her tail. This isn't really the ideal way to travel with a dragon in these parts, but at least he doesn't let her get very far ahead. When they reach the pier with the ferry, he finally catches up, and puts his arm around Iessa to slow her down. ]

There we are. We'll be seeing them soon, I expect.

❰ adalia and charis aren't far behind aro and iessa, though charis flies more than he runs at adalia's feet — he's getting bigger, and it's easier for him to navigate the winding corridors out of the gallows if he glides through them. his aerial manoeuverability is much higher than his ability to move around on the ground. some day, maybe soon, he'll have outgrown the gallows, and adalia will need to find a cabin somewhere outside kirkwall to keep him... but for now, he's still small enough to fit.

the dragon immediately speeds up into the sky as soon as they've made it to the pier, and adalia tracks his flight with her eyes, grinning, before looking around to find aro and iessa — not difficult, with iessa's brilliant scales leading the eye right to her. adalia rushes over quickly, fingers pressed to her mouth to whistle sharply for charis' attention, and just as she reaches the other two charis lands, balanced with his wings spread on a docking post near them. he stretches his neck out as far as possible in iessa's direction, sniffing and chuffing at her in excitement and interest. ❱

Well, then. Charis, meet Iessa. Iessa, meet Charis. ❰ adalia looks up from the two dragons to beam at aro, so happy she's positively glowing from it. ❱ Hello, Aro.

[ Iessa has taken the opportunity to examine the waterside. Aro has already had to warn her not to go swimming once, which he feels somewhat bad about. She loves the water, and she's been more cooped up here than she ever was at home. He really wants to let her stretch her wings. Hopefully there'll be an opportunity for that soon.

Once Charis appears, though, there's absolutely no need to worry. Iessa's head snaps up and she focuses on the other dragon at once. She comes nosing over, neck outstretched, no longer paying attention to the water or the people or anything else about the docks. Aro rolls his eyes, but he's actually very pleased, and his smile is wide and warm when he greet Adalia. He's quick to step towards her, too. ]

Hello! Thank you so much for the invitation. Someone was very happy to come along, as you can see. What do you think, Iessa?

[ Iessa lets out a delighted call, and flaps her wings eagerly. She lifts off the ground a little and flaps right over to Charis, making tiny, bell-like chirps at him. ]

❰ aro's thanks are waved distractedly away as adalia watches the two dragons interact — thanks are unnecessary, when it brings her so much joy to see iessa and charis interacting, and aro is so nice to see in his own right — the bulk of her attention focused on the two of them as they greet each other. it's everything she's ever wanted for charis, and they're maybe not the same colour of dragon but at least they both are dragons. proper, intelligent, friendly dragons, and now they can grow up together. it's so wonderful to see.

charis holds himself stock still as iessa flaps over, seemingly afraid to scare her off, and then he looks up at adalia, and back to iessa, and between the two of them again —

appearing to have made his mind up about something, he spreads his wings as wide as they will go for balance, reaching gingerly forward for iessa's snout. if she doesn't pull away, charis leans forward, hind claws scoring gouges into the post he's perched on as he maintains his place on it, and bumps his snout into her forehead in a uniquely draconic imitation of a familial kiss. he's clearly as excited about this as adalia is. ❱

Oh, gods, that's precious. Okay, okay, we should get going, the ferry's going to leave without us.

❰ there are tears in adalia's eyes when she turns to aro, her grin not having dimmed in the slightest. ❱

I'd love to learn more about you on the way to the mainland. Where in Faerûn you're from, what did you do before coming to Thedas, how you came to be Iessa's caretaker, whatever you're willing to share.

[ Aro's holding his breath as the two dragons meet. He can almost sense Iessa's excitement. He can see it in every one of her limbs, and yet she's careful, not reaching for Charis until he reaches for her. She lets out a purring trill when he touches her head, and she nudges him back before flying in a sharp circle around him. Then she backs off, her head cocked. Aro grins. ]

Someone wants to play. Iessa, come on! We have a boat to catch. They're coming with us, you know!

[ Shaking his head, he looks back at Adalia. He looks energised by this. It's partly that he's relieved the dragons are getting along - he knows how much Iessa has always needed to be around her own kind - but he's eager to stretch his legs, too. He wants so badly to be travelling again. This will only be a trip, but it's a very welcome one. He starts moving towards the ferry. ]

I'll tell you anything! I'll have to disappoint on the first count, though. I'm not really from anywhere, I've always been traveling. Maybe that means I'm from everywhere! That's sounds a bit nicer. What about you! Charis is just beautiful, you know.

I think saying you're from nowhere would be terribly misleading! Everywhere sounds much more accurate, and nicer, too.

❰ adalia grins as she follows aro onto the ferry, turning to whistle for charis. it's always a little risky to take him anywhere, a careful balancing act of cost-benefit analysis as she calculates the probability of someone seeing a draconic shape in the sky and attacking without reason, but the sea around the gallows is relatively devoid of ships at the moment and most people who work in the docks are at least aware of charis, if not fond of him. rather than bring him over to the ferry, she whistles a second time in a sharp, ascending tone, and charis pushes off of the docking post to take to the sky, circling the ferry until they begin to push off. he'll fly next to the ferry until they reach land, and then the walk into sundermount will allow him to rest his wings. ❱

Charis is lovely, ❰ she replies, belatedly, turning to aro with all the smug pride of a mother to an exceptional child. ❱ I'm from Candlekeep, myself. I was found on the Way of the Lion as an infant and taken to be raised there.

[ Iessa is quick to follow Charis, streaking through the air and letting out a particular trill as she finally sees water beneath her. Knowing how much that will delight her, Aro breaks into a wider smile. He follows them onto the ferry and finds a space near the side, buoyed by the rush of wind that comes with sailing. It's been far too long since he's done this. ]

Candlekeep. [ He says, turning to look at Adalia. Aro's hands settle on the edge of the boat. ] You were raised by the monks?

[ That's a far more enclosed environment than he would like. The monks are scholars, though, and he knows Adalia's fond of reading. ]

Is that why you study so much? You're following in their footsteps.

Oh, I don't know about following in their footsteps, precisely... I don't want books and studying to be my whole life. I left for a reason.

❰ one she doesn't regret, not really, even if the journey from candlekeep to thedas has been hard and painful and full of more difficult choices than she could ever have imagined making. adalia steps next to aro and leans forward to rest her elbows on the boat's rail, watching charis take a playful dive at iessa with a fond smile on her face. ❱

I suppose it's what I know, more than anything. I was taught to read and take notes and keep track of information, so that's what I do.

❰ there's a slight tone of wistful longing to her words, but adalia doesn't elaborate further, instead turning to aro with a mischievous smile on her face. the ferry is beginning to pull away from the dock, and though the wind isn't against them necessarily, it isn't doing them any favours, either. ❱

The ferries I'm on generally reach the mainland quicker than the others; do you want to know why?

[ Aro turns to grin at her, suspecting the answer even though he doesn't know it. ]

Because you give them a little help, maybe?

[ He knows she's a sorcerer, like him. He turns half towards her, though still not entirely away from the water. Iessa has happily sailed upwards to fly alongside the ship, and Aro can watch the city pulling away from them now. That sight delights him, and he feels a strange tension easing in his chest. He's been in Kirkwall for far too long. ]

I can't say I'm keen to see this end any faster than it has to, but go on. Show me your tricks, Adalia.