[closed] you suck so passionately

[onlyhymns]

WHO: Beleth, Cade (Alistair later)((AND NERVA))
WHAT: THROW DOWN
WHEN: the last day or so in Emprise de Lion
WHERE: Sahrnia Camp
NOTES: There will be a thread for reactions if you'd like your character to be present/see it from the side, but please don't intervene!



Cade has been a bit off since the red lyrium incident. The initial bout of overt aggression passed a while ago, but he has remained sensitive to how much still hangs around the camps; this compounded with how little sleep he's getting, how cold it is here, and the general desolation of being in a place where so many of his former brethren have been fouled by evil, has put him in a black mood colored by the lingering paranoia and heightened aggression he's felt ever since coming in contact with the accursed stuff.

He is on-duty as a camp guard, having been held back from returning to the field as a result of what happened the last time. He has worn a ditch in the snow from his ceaseless pacing, and his bearing is twitchy, over-reactive, and suspicious.

Comments

[arlathvhen]

He's rewarded with his rushing by Beleth all but jumping out of her skin when he rushes in. She'd been reclining, but pulls herself up quickly, eyes wide. She looks like she might be ready to bolt, but then recognition hits. It's Merrick--just Merrick. And she relaxes, a little.

"You could have knocked." But she can't quite sound as reproachful as she'd intended with him. Instead, the elf just readjusts her sitting position to be a little more comfortable, shooting him a small, thin smile. She wasn't surprised that Merrick had showed up, maybe surprised that word had gotten out so fast. But it's not like she'd been very quiet.

"Are you alright? I heard you had been fighting a dragon."

[dalishious]

As soon as Merrick sees her face he freezes. Cold fury spreads through his body, hardening around his veins.

His grip tightens on her arm, and he doesn't hear her words.

"Who hurt you."

[arlathvhen]

She winces, just a little. Beleth can divert conversation without other people even realizing she's doing it, but even when she's feeling great, Merrick is a hard person to distract. He has so much focus and intensity--Traits that Beleth usually finds admirable. Right now, she'd rather discuss dragons.

The last thing she wants is for Merrick to start some kind of blood feud between the Dalish and the Templars.

"It's not a big deal, Merrick. It's just--I fell off some of that stupid scaffolding. The stuff that doesn't have any railings." But the excuse sounds lame even to her. She can't make herself look him in the eye, either, glancing down and to the side instead. "It was just...a stupid accident."

[dalishious]

"Beleth."

Beleth. Not Bell, the nickname he came up for her when he'd first heard a bell chime. He'd connected the two sounds, and realized the chiming reminded him of the way she made him feel-- alight and full of joy.

"Do you really think I can't recognize the injuries left from a fight?" He trails trembling fingers over her face.

[arlathvhen]

Damn. Him buying that was a long shot, anyway. She leans into his hand--it's sore, still, but she wants that little bit of gentle touch, to feel something that isn't violent and angry. Even if Merrick is mad, he'll never hurt her.

"It's--Merrick, it's getting dealt with." She raises her own hand, to gently stroke his hair. "I don't want you to get hurt because I was an idiot. I was so fucking stupid, even after you gave me those lessons. I couldn't even do anything." Except cry. Cry and accept that she was about to die, and if Alistair hadn't been there, that would've been it. And she can feel her eyes burning again, because apparently that's the best response she can come up with. "I just...I just sat there and let it happen."

[dalishious]

His hand falls and he grips her by her upper arms.

"Who did this." His voice is still soft as always, but his eyes are burning. "Tell me."

[arlathvhen]

She can't help it, Beleth flinches away from Merrick when he grips her arms. She ducks her head, trying to think. If Merrick kills a Templar, they'll kill him right back. But she can't refuse him.

"His name is Cade." She whispers it, eyes down. "He's a Templar. Merrick--don't go after him just yet," Because there's no point in asking him not to do it at all. "He's already been taken to Skyhold. Can you stay here with me for a little bit? Please?"