heaven, a gateway, a hope

[byblow]

WHO: Grey Wardens & You
WHAT: A daring and not at all ragtag group of Grey Wardens has walked all the way across Orlais to inform the Inquisition--just in case it hadn't already realized on its own--that everything is terrible.
WHEN: Harvestmere 22
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: This post has: (1) A single group "we just got here, we're freezing, who is in charge, what do you mean you haven't decided yet" starter that we'd like to keep to one chronological thread. (2) Open starters for individual Wardens set later in the day/week.

OOC Note: Regarding the first starter--threadjack away! Anyone is welcome to wander onto the scene to see what's going on and wander back out at their leisure, to fall silent for a while, etc. No tagging order. But let slower taggers get a word in edgewise!

Comments

[byblow]

"What? No, you're--"

Very serious, yes, but that's fine.

"You're fine. I have terrible manners, that's all. Because of the dogs. You should see me eat, I'm--" He's doing it again. He catches himself this time, tamps down on his own smile, and offers, "I never met my parents, actually, and when the man who raised me sent me to the Chantry I was so sullen about it that he gave up on visiting." He doesn't quite have the self-awareness to explain that it's himself he's trying to keep upbeat, not her, but there it is. "If my father had ever come around, it probably would've been worse. Awkward." Like she said. He was listening. "I can't even imagine."

[mythalenaste]

But she smiles at his aborted joke, a merry gleam coming to her eye. The smile wanes as he talks about his own not-family. A moment after he finishes speaking, she looks at her hands.

"Thank you for telling me that," she says softly. "My clan has a lot of orphans, but I'm not one. I never knew anyone else who just...never had a family."

[byblow]

"I like to think I'm better off. I met my half siblings once or twice apiece, but they had their own lives." That's one way to put it. "If any of them had wanted to have me around but not been able to, that probably would have hurt--" Not more. It hurt quite a lot at the time. And of course it still hurts now, if he's being honest with himself, but he tries not to do that when when honesty is too depressing. "--longer."

He tries to imagine seeing Goldanna every ten years. His imagination is entirely blank. Maybe he should write her or something, if he's dying soon.

"But I do have a couple of people who kindly don't correct me if I say they're my uncles. And the dogs, of course," he says, bracing, and shifts focus. "It's a shame it's not safer for your clans to interact more. Are you one of the Dalish who came with a group?"

[mythalenaste]

"Clan Ashara. I'd be surprised if my cousin hasn't flirted with you yet. Shaggy white hair and a cocky smile? That's him."

[byblow]

"Mm, haven't had the pleasure," Alistair says, sounding more polite than disappointed. Zevran provided all the shameless flirting he needed for one day. "I only arrived today. I did meet an Ellana earlier."

[mythalenaste]

If he has Ellana to compare her to, Pel doesn't stand a chance. She looks briefly glum.

"She's from my clan. A good girl."