This place has agreed with the both of them; there's so much to do, things to keep busy with. And in Glimmer's case there's no end of people she can actually help.
... and it's good, seeing her smiling again, excited to do something.
"I'll get Artichoke saddled," she promises, and reaches past her to sneak a bit of leftover bread off Glimmer's tray, a treat for him. "And pack a lunch. We can have a picnic or something if we don't make it back in time."
All the more excuse to stay out as long as they can.
"See you there," Glimmer says with a bright grin. Her dishes are taken care of and she ducks into kitchens to snatch up some lunch--bread, smoked sausage, some dried fruit. Stuff that'll keep and give them energy and be easy to carry. She stuffs them into a satchel and then heads off up the stairs to grab her staff.
At the stables, she arrives a little out of breath (though constantly going up and down the stairs over the last couple months has gotten her very used to this by now) with her staff over her shoulder.
"I'm here," she calls out in an enthusiastic voice. With a spring in her step she heads towards where Ellie is preparing Artichoke, reaches out to give the gryphon a little stroke along the neck.
"Hey there boy, you're looking like someone's taking good care of you," she murmurs, glances up at Ellie with a cocky little smirk. "So where exactly are we headed?"
"No, he's not a scruffy boy anymore, is he?" Ellie asks, her voice dropping to that super-affectionate purr used for babies as she finishes working Artichoke's bridle into place.
She rubs his neck as she flashes Glimmer a grin, slinging her arm around Artichoke's neck as she speaks. He tries to pick her pockets with his beak, and comes up with the scrap of bread. He gives a trill and horks it down.
"Heading east towards the mountain passes," she points out, gesturing. "There's a few places we're checking on, making sure the area's clear and passable. Lots of refugees still pouring in, and there's Hunters-"
Ellie pauses, corrects herself. "Bandits, hanging around like vultures."
"He's a very handsome boy," Glimmer emphasizes as Artichoke finds his treats and scarfs it down. She trails her fingers through the feathers on the creature's fearsome head and smiles a little before her attention settles back onto Ellie. A brief frown creases her features--all too brief. Hunters. One of the words from Ellie's home, from the world that Ellie had struggled in.
A world Glimmer has a hard time imagining. Sometimes she thinks there is a wide, wide gap of understanding between herself and Ellie and aches to cross it. Sometimes she misses the ability to hold her friend's hand and understand, even if Ellie always hated letting parts of her old life leak into their new one.
"Ugh, bandits," Glimmer says, the brief flicker of emotion passing in an instant. "Things are bad enough, they have to try and take what people have left," a righteous, fierce anger. That flame that always seems to burn in her. A flame that could be stoked to terrible, awful deeds if not tended carefully.
"Let's go knock them around if we can find any. If not, at least we'll get to take Artichoke out to stretch his wings, right?"
Ellie watches Glimmer, openly admiring the utter lack of fear she has with him. He's a big baby, but he could still do considerable damage if he chose to, something Ellie's always respectful of.
Her eyes widen just a little at the flicker of emotion crossing Glimmer's face, her shoulders just barely tense, anticipating a question, but they relax when Glimmer moves on to the subject of the bandits. It's a good thing for the both of them to put their energy into, something to keep them busy, keep them from thinking of everything that hasn't gone right, and Glimmer's homesickness.
"You're speaking my language," Ellie answers with a grin, fixing the last of the straps on the bridle, and then securing her pack to the side of Artichoke's saddle, before swinging up onto his back. The "stable" at the top of the tower has more than enough space to do so, with several griffon-sized exits.
She leans down to offer her hand to Glimmer, to help her up behind her.
Glimmer is a brave person--she has no use for fear, though it sometimes gets the better of her. She turns to watch as Ellie swings herself up into the saddle. Her own pack is likewise attached to the saddle, then she reaches out to take Ellie's hand and she hauls herself up and into the spot behind Ellie. Glimmer adjusts her position, then wraps her arms around Ellie's waist so that she can hold on tight for take-off.
"Let's go," she says with a grin. "Bandits aren't gonna kick their own asses."
Ellie puts a hand over the back of Glimmer's wrist around her waist, giving a light squeeze on habit, and has to catch her breath. It always, always reminds her of back home, even if Artichoke feels nothing like Shimmer, and Glimmer feels and smells nothing like Dina.
She still remembers.
Shaking off the ghost of it, Ellie laughs aloud and clicks her tongue, leaning forward so Artichoke won't whack their heads on one of the exits, and grins wildly.
"Damn right they won't," she says, and holds on tight. Artichoke coils underneath them, then springs into the air, opening his heavy wings to catch the updraft like a parachute, then climb them higher in powerful strokes. She turns him towards the mountain passes, one hand in his feathers, holding the reins, and the other hand on Glimmer's arm, protective.
"Ever dealt with bandits?" Ellie asks. "Or just soldiers?"
Glimmer can feel and hear the way Ellie's breath catches. It's one of those small things that she notices. One of those small things she doesn't make a big deal out of noticing. She closes her eyes and lets the rush of air carry her off with Ellie as Artichoke launches himself skyward. The feeling of Ellie's hand on her arm is comforting, even if the height doesn't particularly bother her--it's nice to feel protected, sometimes.
"They fight different," Ellie says, lowering her voice from a yell as they even out, and Artichoke settles into a pace that'll take them the distance and won't tire him out too fast. She sits up a bit straighter, letting the wind toss the hair that's escaped from where she's twisted it back into a bun.
"Soldiers have better teamwork and they're not as likely to run or hide. Bandits are sneaky fuckers, but if you can scare them enough they'll panic and break."
"Good to know," Glimmer says. There's a low, thoughtful timbre to her voice as she considers Ellie's wisdom on the difference between bandits and soldiers. Makes sense. Soldiers have a cause, loyalty to each other. Bandits just want to make a profit with as little danger to themselves as possible.
"So we have to make sure to stick together and keep our heads on straight."
"I can do shields," Glimmer says with more than a little satisfaction.
"It's so nice to have my magic back, honestly. Even if it's not quite the same, it just feels better..." Glimmer shifts her weight a little and turns her head to peer down and away to the landscape unfolding beneath the gryphon.
"I can handle a bit of attention, don't worry about me too much."
"Nice," Ellie says with feeling, and squeezes Glimmer's hand, thoughtful. It's -- good, having her here, but she can't help but feel a bit of distance between them since they came here. It's not either of their faults, that Ellie can't shake the feeling of waking up and finding the apartment empty.
She's mourned her and she's here.
"What's the magic feel like here? Does it feel more like home?"
They'd talked once, about how different the worlds felt, how itchy it was for Glimmer not to be steeped in all the magic of Etheria.
The difference in their time isn't something they've really talked about except in passing. Glimmer isn't sure what it means. Adora and Catra had remembered different things and Catra had even disappeared and then reappeared with new memories in New Amsterdan. Had that happened here, too?
Wondering about it is just going to make Glimmer pull her hair out.
"Yeah, kind of. It's different, but... better than not having it, I guess. It's just... hm. I can't describe it. Like I can feel it now, but it feels different. Kinda like... Uh... I dunno, playing an instrument that's like one you know, but is just different enough to feel awkward, I guess?"
"What's a banjo?" Glimmer asks, immediately confirming Ellie's suspicion that Glimmer has no idea what in the hell that is.
"Yeah, it was weirder for me to not feel it. Having it back, at least sort of, here in Thedas... it's better. At least it feels better?" Glimmer adds, her cheek tucked against Ellie's shoulder.
"It's like a guitar, but worse," Ellie says with a half-laugh, but quiets to listen -- and leans back into the way Glimmer holds onto her. Maybe she shouldn't be so shameless about wanting the contact, but Ellie is slowly starting to not give a fuck.
"Better. Kind of. I mean, I got tossed into the middle of a war that's not really mine and the people here can be jerks, but... there's magic. And I can actually do something instead of just. Hiding in my little apartment and going to my stupid job and... whatever," Glimmer says quietly. The only sound up here is the occasional beat of Artichoke's wings and the rush of the air around them. It's quiet, peaceful almost. Which belies the fact that they're on the way to do violence to some folks who probably deserve it.
"I still miss home, though," there it is. The cold fact that this isn't home and never will be. Glimmer's arm tightens a little around Ellie. She wants the contact as much as Ellie does. The warm comfort of a friend close at hand.
"How are you handling all this?" From what Glimmer's seen, Ellie is doing well. No fungoid creatures to worry about and Ellie's always been used to hard work as far as Glimmer knows.
"Yeah, really," Ellie sighs. Going on missions for Riftwatch is far more exciting than bouncing the same drunk assholes out of a bar every night. She ignores the twinge when she thinks of the girls she worked with. Wonders what Ruth makes of her disappearance. Hopes they're not too worried.
... wonders if Joel is still there.
Ellie's quiet for longer than a second, but settles in Glimmer's grip.
"I go back and forth," she admits. "But I like this. Not having to hide all the time. Getting to fight. I just... miss the people. Lance, and Nate, and Gene, and..."
"Yeah--yeah, me too." Glimmer replies and gives Ellie a bit of a tighter squeeze.
"I hope Lance is okay. He was one of the first people I met in New Amsterdam and he was always really nice to me. He gave me some good advice after that whole alternate reality thing." Glimmer doesn't talk about it much. Partially because of the horrid memories about her mother that it conjures. Partially because talking about what had happened between the two of them felt somehow awkward.
"And Joe. I miss Joe. He--He was always so understanding and he taught me how to play backgammon and--" Glimmer has to choke off her words. If she keeps talking about the friends they've lost, she isn't sure she can hold it together.
"They were really good people, Ellie." She presses her face tighter into the back of Ellie's cloak and if there's going to be a little damp spot there later, it's not like anyone is going to notice, right?
Ellie's heart sinks; she knows what Lance's ultimate fate was, back in his world. But she can just hope that he'd hopped worlds again, like he'd done from where he was before. It seemed too cruel to have him of all people come to an end like that.
Him and Nate.
"Hey, it's not over until it's over," Ellie says softly, though the optimism feels false even as she says it out loud. "And at least we found each other again, right?"
"Yeah. We did." Glimmer murmrus against Ellie's back.
"I'm really glad I'm not alone here, Ellie. I dunno what I would have done if it was just me again. By myself." The thought is horrid. Even if her friends from home aren't here, the idea of being here and knowing no one makes her stomach churn a little.
"You bet," she says softly, rubbing her thumb across Glimmer's knuckles. Artichoke flaps his powerful wings under them, a huge roll of muscle that Ellie lets herself move naturally with.
"But I refuse to believe you wouldn't have made more friends," she points out, this time with confidence.
"There's too many cool people here. Derrica, Holden, Adrasteia..."
"Adrasteia is nice," Glimmer says. "I've helped her out at the Apothecary. We have tea together sometimes."
"I'm just... not really good at making friends, I guess? I didn't have many when I was growing up, so it feels weird trying to make them now," she continues with a low groan.
"...Did meet some other Rifter at the Apothecary though. I bought her a potion she didn't have the coins for. She seemed nice."
"She's cool. She taught me how to ride Artichoke," Ellie points out, giving the griffon a good scratch on the base of his shoulder, where his wings meet. He fluffs up his feathers, shaking his head in pleasure. "-and I remember you telling me that. Never made sense to me."
Considering how easily Ellie got on with Glimmer from the beginning. Then again, Ellie had trouble making friends as a kid, too- most of the people she's close to have decided to keep her, whether she's been willing or not at first. Or the other way around.
Or they're random old dad-types, but Ellie doesn't want to unpack that.
"Oh yeah?" Ellie asks, to get away from the thought. And she thinks she can detect that note in Glimmer's voice. "She cute?"
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faderift2021-08-27 09:27 pm
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... and it's good, seeing her smiling again, excited to do something.
"I'll get Artichoke saddled," she promises, and reaches past her to sneak a bit of leftover bread off Glimmer's tray, a treat for him. "And pack a lunch. We can have a picnic or something if we don't make it back in time."
All the more excuse to stay out as long as they can.
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At the stables, she arrives a little out of breath (though constantly going up and down the stairs over the last couple months has gotten her very used to this by now) with her staff over her shoulder.
"I'm here," she calls out in an enthusiastic voice. With a spring in her step she heads towards where Ellie is preparing Artichoke, reaches out to give the gryphon a little stroke along the neck.
"Hey there boy, you're looking like someone's taking good care of you," she murmurs, glances up at Ellie with a cocky little smirk. "So where exactly are we headed?"
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She rubs his neck as she flashes Glimmer a grin, slinging her arm around Artichoke's neck as she speaks. He tries to pick her pockets with his beak, and comes up with the scrap of bread. He gives a trill and horks it down.
"Heading east towards the mountain passes," she points out, gesturing. "There's a few places we're checking on, making sure the area's clear and passable. Lots of refugees still pouring in, and there's Hunters-"
Ellie pauses, corrects herself. "Bandits, hanging around like vultures."
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A world Glimmer has a hard time imagining. Sometimes she thinks there is a wide, wide gap of understanding between herself and Ellie and aches to cross it. Sometimes she misses the ability to hold her friend's hand and understand, even if Ellie always hated letting parts of her old life leak into their new one.
"Ugh, bandits," Glimmer says, the brief flicker of emotion passing in an instant. "Things are bad enough, they have to try and take what people have left," a righteous, fierce anger. That flame that always seems to burn in her. A flame that could be stoked to terrible, awful deeds if not tended carefully.
"Let's go knock them around if we can find any. If not, at least we'll get to take Artichoke out to stretch his wings, right?"
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Her eyes widen just a little at the flicker of emotion crossing Glimmer's face, her shoulders just barely tense, anticipating a question, but they relax when Glimmer moves on to the subject of the bandits. It's a good thing for the both of them to put their energy into, something to keep them busy, keep them from thinking of everything that hasn't gone right, and Glimmer's homesickness.
"You're speaking my language," Ellie answers with a grin, fixing the last of the straps on the bridle, and then securing her pack to the side of Artichoke's saddle, before swinging up onto his back. The "stable" at the top of the tower has more than enough space to do so, with several griffon-sized exits.
She leans down to offer her hand to Glimmer, to help her up behind her.
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"Let's go," she says with a grin. "Bandits aren't gonna kick their own asses."
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She still remembers.
Shaking off the ghost of it, Ellie laughs aloud and clicks her tongue, leaning forward so Artichoke won't whack their heads on one of the exits, and grins wildly.
"Damn right they won't," she says, and holds on tight. Artichoke coils underneath them, then springs into the air, opening his heavy wings to catch the updraft like a parachute, then climb them higher in powerful strokes. She turns him towards the mountain passes, one hand in his feathers, holding the reins, and the other hand on Glimmer's arm, protective.
"Ever dealt with bandits?" Ellie asks. "Or just soldiers?"
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"...Mostly just soldiers," Glimmer admits. "Why?"
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"Soldiers have better teamwork and they're not as likely to run or hide. Bandits are sneaky fuckers, but if you can scare them enough they'll panic and break."
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"So we have to make sure to stick together and keep our heads on straight."
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"Exactly. But you're probably gonna draw their fire if they see you can use magic. Got any shields?"
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"It's so nice to have my magic back, honestly. Even if it's not quite the same, it just feels better..." Glimmer shifts her weight a little and turns her head to peer down and away to the landscape unfolding beneath the gryphon.
"I can handle a bit of attention, don't worry about me too much."
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She's mourned her and she's here.
"What's the magic feel like here? Does it feel more like home?"
They'd talked once, about how different the worlds felt, how itchy it was for Glimmer not to be steeped in all the magic of Etheria.
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Wondering about it is just going to make Glimmer pull her hair out.
"Yeah, kind of. It's different, but... better than not having it, I guess. It's just... hm. I can't describe it. Like I can feel it now, but it feels different. Kinda like... Uh... I dunno, playing an instrument that's like one you know, but is just different enough to feel awkward, I guess?"
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Ellie flashes her a grin over her shoulder, wondering if Glimmer knows what the fuck a banjo is. But hell, it makes sense.
"I've never been able to feel anything but my own powers," she says, thoughtfully. "Being able to feel the magic in the air must be fucking wild."
She pauses, reconsidering. "... but I guess it'd be weirder for you if you didn't feel it."
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"Yeah, it was weirder for me to not feel it. Having it back, at least sort of, here in Thedas... it's better. At least it feels better?" Glimmer adds, her cheek tucked against Ellie's shoulder.
"I'm still getting used to this place, honestly."
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"Better or worse than New Amsterdam?"
No matter what, she knows it's not home.
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"I still miss home, though," there it is. The cold fact that this isn't home and never will be. Glimmer's arm tightens a little around Ellie. She wants the contact as much as Ellie does. The warm comfort of a friend close at hand.
"How are you handling all this?" From what Glimmer's seen, Ellie is doing well. No fungoid creatures to worry about and Ellie's always been used to hard work as far as Glimmer knows.
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... wonders if Joel is still there.
Ellie's quiet for longer than a second, but settles in Glimmer's grip.
"I go back and forth," she admits. "But I like this. Not having to hide all the time. Getting to fight. I just... miss the people. Lance, and Nate, and Gene, and..."
Well. Glimmer knows.
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"I hope Lance is okay. He was one of the first people I met in New Amsterdam and he was always really nice to me. He gave me some good advice after that whole alternate reality thing." Glimmer doesn't talk about it much. Partially because of the horrid memories about her mother that it conjures. Partially because talking about what had happened between the two of them felt somehow awkward.
"And Joe. I miss Joe. He--He was always so understanding and he taught me how to play backgammon and--" Glimmer has to choke off her words. If she keeps talking about the friends they've lost, she isn't sure she can hold it together.
"They were really good people, Ellie." She presses her face tighter into the back of Ellie's cloak and if there's going to be a little damp spot there later, it's not like anyone is going to notice, right?
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Ellie's heart sinks; she knows what Lance's ultimate fate was, back in his world. But she can just hope that he'd hopped worlds again, like he'd done from where he was before. It seemed too cruel to have him of all people come to an end like that.
Him and Nate.
"Hey, it's not over until it's over," Ellie says softly, though the optimism feels false even as she says it out loud. "And at least we found each other again, right?"
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"I'm really glad I'm not alone here, Ellie. I dunno what I would have done if it was just me again. By myself." The thought is horrid. Even if her friends from home aren't here, the idea of being here and knowing no one makes her stomach churn a little.
"We'll get through this too, right?"
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"But I refuse to believe you wouldn't have made more friends," she points out, this time with confidence.
"There's too many cool people here. Derrica, Holden, Adrasteia..."
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"I'm just... not really good at making friends, I guess? I didn't have many when I was growing up, so it feels weird trying to make them now," she continues with a low groan.
"...Did meet some other Rifter at the Apothecary though. I bought her a potion she didn't have the coins for. She seemed nice."
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Considering how easily Ellie got on with Glimmer from the beginning. Then again, Ellie had trouble making friends as a kid, too- most of the people she's close to have decided to keep her, whether she's been willing or not at first. Or the other way around.
Or they're random old dad-types, but Ellie doesn't want to unpack that.
"Oh yeah?" Ellie asks, to get away from the thought. And she thinks she can detect that note in Glimmer's voice. "She cute?"
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cw: violence, cruelty, mistreatment of corpses
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cw: murder, corpses
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cw: gore/death
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