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[colecomfort]

WHO: Cole & Several (includes OPEN THREAD for Rifters)
WHAT: Compassion returns to Skyhold.
WHEN: Early-Mid Haring
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Cole works best with individualized threads rather than completely open ones. Please don't be afraid to contact me (Plurk or PM) if you'd like to set something up! Prompts will be posted in comments.

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[Closed] Pel - The Library

[colecomfort]

Cole never lingers in one place for very long, but passing slowly through the crowded places in Skyhold is an easy way to catch scraps of worry and hurt. He finds her there, her presence whispering something like other elves he's met here. They came together. They're a family.

There are threads of family spindling out from her in all directions, in fact. Light, wavy, wispy things. Hard to tell if they're still connected, or only flapping in the wind.

She is asleep on a book, a cold cup of tea on the table next to her. But she will wake soon, and the tea will be hot and fresh.

[mythalenaste]

When she does wake, she starts up, irritated immediately with herself for falling asleep while working again. She squints at the steam coming from her tea, though, and blearily wonders who did that for her. Her heart is touched by the gesture, whoever is responsible. Little comforts, little kindnesses seem more acceptable now that she is no longer Keeper's First and giving everything away as quickly as she gets it.

She reaches for the cup, warming her hands half an inch away from the sides.

[colecomfort]

He watches, half-concealed behind a bookshelf, and smiles a little when she starts to warm her hands. A small thing that cuts away some of the fog hanging around her.

The book is still there. She fell asleep reading, because it was important, but she isn't thinking about it right now. He stays quiet at first, but turns his attention to the pages, the place where the thread of her thoughts ends. In a moment, she's going to start trying to remember where she left off, which will remind her that she was sleeping, which might make her irritated again. He can help with that.

"Third Blight," he whispers, which should be enough to remember where she was on the page.

[mythalenaste]

The Third Blight, that's right. She rubs the sleep from one eye and picks up her tea to sip. That was a surprisingly pleasant nap. All right, finding her place on the page. Third Blight.

So many Orlesian cities. Fuck Orlais. Really, fuck Orlais. Toth. Toth, God of Fire. Orlais and Tevinter. Everything is Orlais and Tevinter. How does one orally-taught elf savage fight a historical narrative so focused on the two nations that gave her people more grief than any other? Rely on friends. Creators know how bad she is at convincing people of anything. Couldn't even convince her fiancé to marry her, for fuck's sake.

One thing at a time, Pel. Third Blight.

[colecomfort]

It's important for her to do this research. But it's also a way to drown out the rest, to bury her pain. Pain never stays buried for long.

He continues to watch, until the tea has started to go lukewarm. Then he speaks -- this time at her side, rather than from behind her.

"I could get you more tea." His posture is humble, his hands folded in front of himself.

[mythalenaste]

"Oh--!"

She blinks at the young man.

"Oh, that isn't necessary. I can get it myself."

[colecomfort]

A minuscule smile twitches onto his face. He would have been happy to get the tea. He hadn't known for certain that she would refuse. But people sometimes do. Now he knows what to say.

"You should." He steps away, as if to walk past her, behind her chair, but if she turns to see where he was, there will only be empty air. The memory of those few shared words will slip against the surface of her mind — was someone really here, or did she dream it?

Nearby, Cole continues to watch. Going for a walk to get the tea would be good for her. It might allow some of those thoughts to settle.

[mythalenaste]

She looks back for him, but finds no one. Strange. Who was she talking to? Her steps slow to a stop. If she's not saving anyone the trip, why is she headed for more tea? Does she even want more tea?

It's nice to be up, though. Nice to get away from work for a bit. Maybe she'll take a peek into the kitchen to see what's there. Maybe there will be cake. Cake! Now, that would make a detour to the kitchen a luxurious vacation.