WHO: Ellis + OTA WHAT: Homecoming WHEN: Guardian WHERE: Kirkwall NOTES: Thread collection. Closed and open starters in the comments. Holler if you want something bespoke or drop in a wildcard, I'll roll with it.
The question stalls Ellis, who might have simply lifted the chair and gone without further conversation at that exact moment.
"Not so long ago," is not a satisfactory answer. But it's what he has to offer, at the moment. "I've a few things to settle right off, once I made it into the Gallows."
This is not entirely untrue. Yes, some of those things are simple. A bath. Sleeping uninterrupted in a bed behind a door that locked. Spending time with Tony and Wysteria.
But some are also writing. Lots of writing. All of what he'd seen and all of what had to be chased after, now that he's made it back to the Gallows to pass this information into the Division Heads' hands.
"You needn't interrupt your reading on my account."
"It's not interrupting," because the book isn't anything special, it's just– fun and trashy, and she closes it immediately without looking down. "Do you need a hand with something?"
Both because she'd like to help, and she wants to hear more about where he's been. It hit a point where people who knew him better stopped commenting on it at all. Silently, she'd been assuming the worst.
"I could boost you." Means he wouldn't need the chair. She's taller than him by a sliver, so she can't exactly reach it for him.
She doesn't mind the initial awkwardness. Maybe she can be the practice.
Conversationally, "You dropped that shield off at my door with perfect timing, by the way." Assuming he heard all about the undead attack on the Gallows that swiftly followed.
Looking up as she speaks, Ellis considers the upper shelves. And then nods, gesturing with a sweep of his hand for her to do as she will. He'll follow her lead.
"Aye, I heard there was some disruption."
Disruption.
"What happened?" stands in for the inevitable request. The shield had been a gift from Tony, and so Ellis would reclaim it. It had been a kindness for Abby to hold it for him, just as it had been a kindness for Tony to build it for him in the first place. He observes this from a distance, some prickle of discomfort accompanying it as he prompts, "What happened?"
In any case, she's more than fine to cross toward the book shelf and steady her linked hands on her knee for him to step into. Then, she can get him up to that map he's after.
Team work.
"What didn't fucking happen," is her grumbly reply when she boosts him, "We got attacked by undead skeletons." Another day ending in y, right.
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no subject
"Not so long ago," is not a satisfactory answer. But it's what he has to offer, at the moment. "I've a few things to settle right off, once I made it into the Gallows."
This is not entirely untrue. Yes, some of those things are simple. A bath. Sleeping uninterrupted in a bed behind a door that locked. Spending time with Tony and Wysteria.
But some are also writing. Lots of writing. All of what he'd seen and all of what had to be chased after, now that he's made it back to the Gallows to pass this information into the Division Heads' hands.
"You needn't interrupt your reading on my account."
no subject
Both because she'd like to help, and she wants to hear more about where he's been. It hit a point where people who knew him better stopped commenting on it at all. Silently, she'd been assuming the worst.
forgive this extreme tardiness
Which doesn't necessarily sound like a thing anyone would need help with, but Ellis tips his head back the way he came. Invitation.
But after that he just lifts the chair, makes to return to it. Abby's free to follow. It's not that he minds company, help or no. It's just—
He's out of practice with it.
no subject
She doesn't mind the initial awkwardness. Maybe she can be the practice.
Conversationally, "You dropped that shield off at my door with perfect timing, by the way." Assuming he heard all about the undead attack on the Gallows that swiftly followed.
no subject
"Aye, I heard there was some disruption."
Disruption.
"What happened?" stands in for the inevitable request. The shield had been a gift from Tony, and so Ellis would reclaim it. It had been a kindness for Abby to hold it for him, just as it had been a kindness for Tony to build it for him in the first place. He observes this from a distance, some prickle of discomfort accompanying it as he prompts, "What happened?"
no subject
In any case, she's more than fine to cross toward the book shelf and steady her linked hands on her knee for him to step into. Then, she can get him up to that map he's after.
Team work.
"What didn't fucking happen," is her grumbly reply when she boosts him, "We got attacked by undead skeletons." Another day ending in y, right.