The ache inside the hate / I found a way to sit and wait

[contritumella]

WHO: River Tam, Loki, Adrasteia
WHAT: A catch-all for fantasy April
WHEN: early Cloudreach
WHERE: Around the Gallows and Kirkwall
NOTES: Starters in threads. Feel free to wildcard me, or contact me on plurk or discord at spacewitchery|#9221 for something bespoke

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[indissection]

Sidony doesn't feel as though she is overdressed, necessarily, but her clothing is made out of silk, and she is wearing what might once have been deemed high fashion in Nevarran society. She thinks that she ought to get into the habit of swapping out of silks and into something more simple; cotton, perhaps, or at least something less dressy.

Slipping inside the room, she smiles softly, placing her bag down beside the door and lifting her cloak away from her shoulders, letting it drop down to rest atop it.

"It's so good to see you," she admits quietly, reaching out to take Adra's hands, drawing her close to try and steal a kiss - or two, perhaps.

"I'm exhausted, frankly, and I could use some excellent company."

[kantikoy]

The room is cheery and warm. There's a low fire on in the fireplace, and there are books everywhere, some stacked on the floor and some along the windowsills. There's tea on a side table by the bed, which has been made with thick blankets to keep out the cold from the occasional rains of the season.

Adrasteia squeezes Sidony's hands in response, happily tilting her face upward to grant as many stolen kisses as the other woman desires.

"It's always excellent to see you," she murmurs when the kissing is done, pulling Sidony further into the room as an excuse not to let go of her hands. "I'm sorry you're exhausted. Have you eaten?" There is food, with the tea, just an arrangement of fruits and meats and cheeses from downstairs, but it's something.

[indissection]

It would be quite easy to steal a thousand and one kisses and get entirely distracted by standing in the doorway, but there are other things to do with their time. Sidony lets herself be drawn into the room, deliberately slipping her fingers through Adrasteia's, letting the smile settle on her face properly. It isn't false or pained; it simply is, a smile of genuine happiness.

"I've eaten a little, but I would not say no to more." She's getting a little thin with her focus on work and preparations for the future, so she's sure if Adrasteia isn't pushing her for more care in her meals then Byerly certainly would when next they spend time. It wouldn't even shock her if Bastien started to do much the same.

Lifting her head back up to look at the other woman, she lets some of the tension peel away from her, breathing out gently.

"It is nice to be somewhere that I can breathe for a little while."

[kantikoy]

If Adrasteia had her way, she'd probably make sure that both Sidony and Byerly ate more, in certainly an increasingly regular fashion. She understands that their jobs are stressful in very unique ways and that those sorts of stressors do not lend themselves to good self-care practices, but still.

Thin as rails, the both of them. She's not terribly pleased about it.

"Good," she says, and lets go of Sidony's hands only long enough to shut the door behind her. When she returns it is to reach up and place her hands on either side of Sidony's face and smile. "I always want to be a respite for you, I hope you know that." Even if this thing between them falls apart or otherwise changes, Adra hopes their friendship will remain. That her room will always be somewhere Sidony can just breathe. "Come on, sit, sit. You can tell me about your day, or not, but at least get a little food in you."

[indissection]

Part of the issue is that, despite their marriage, they do not spend as much time together as they ought. It might be nice, but Sidony is well aware of the pressures on his shoulders - diplomacy, friendships, lovers. She has scarcer few of those and is content for that to remain much the same, but sometimes she does wish. She does wonder.

Leaning into the touch is easy, as is her smile, warmth settling on her features.

"I had imagined that might be the case. It's why I am so content to drag my sour little shoulders to you whenever I can." Lifting her hand, she lets her fingers brush over Adra's knuckles before she lets herself be pulled away. "There's not much to tell. The usual stitches, infections and so forth. Nothing exciting of late."

[kantikoy]

"Nothing exciting is definitely for the best." Things are often terrible when they've entered the realm of excitement, in Adrasteia's experience; she likes when the times are a little less interesting, overall.

The touch and Sidony's smile work in tandem to set Adrasteia's features to soft smiles and warm blushing. Even though she feels a little too old for as much as she blushes around Sidony, some things can't be helped; the elf wouldn't rather change it, either, if she's being honest.

Sidony is led to the chair settled next to the bed, where Adrasteia climbs to sit with bare feet crossed over her legs and tucked into skirts. She picks up the teapot and begins warming it with her hands and a little fire magic. "What is your favorite sort of tea?"

[indissection]

"In our occupations especially so," Sidony agrees, settling down in the chair and leaning back, letting her eyes close for a moment.

It's blissful to relax, to not have to play pretend at being more than she is, more than she thinks she ought to be. No nobility, no demands, nothing more than a girl with another girl. Even that might once have left her hands shaking, so the notion of calm is one she greets readily.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, she looks over at Adrasteia and smiles.

"I like mint, usually, but anything floral or strong. I don't think I've encountered one that I truly dislike."

[kantikoy]

Watching Sidony relax is like watching Kirkwall wake up from the top of the towers. It feels like so much work and then it happens, suddenly and all at once, and Adrasteia is almost loathed to interrupt it with more talking.

They should go to a bathhouse, she thinks. Somewhere private, and nice.

"I think there's mint in this blend. ANd a few other soothing flowers. Nothing too strong for this hour. One thing with the current coffee shortage is that tea options have become more... varied, I think."

Problem is the best tea is in high town. Problem is she's an elf. Problem is she doesn't go to Hightown often but maybe she should find a proxy.

It's an idea, anyway.

The tea is poured; Adrasteia adds her sugars and gestures with the small spoon and the fancy teacup that clearly belonged to some Orlesian child in another life, silently asking if Sidony wants any.

[indissection]

It's difficult to completely turn her mind off, but she manages as she settles into a space of comfort and happiness, with no expectation other than to simply be.

It's nice, to let some of her burdens disappear, to allow herself to smile and laugh. It's not something she has felt comfortable to do beyond Byerly for some time.

"That seems well enough to me," she nods, lifting a hand to rub at her eyes. She will likely sleep well tonight, wherever her body ends up dropping. Shifting forward, she prepares her own cup - and then, deliberately, reaches out to take Adra's hand and squeeze it gently.

"Will you sit with me as we drink? Together, I mean." What she is asking for is to be held, for a little time, but the words escape her.

[kantikoy]

"Yes, of course. Come here." Patting the bedcovers next to her and setting her teacup down. It's much easier to hold and be held when there are not the arms of a chair in the way, after all.

Once Sidony is situated Adrasteia loops her arm through Sidony's, briefly, before unwinding it and wrapping it around her midsection instead. She leans her forehead against Sidony's shoulder, and sighs.