[ OPEN ] Days too full, nights too dark

[fleurdesel]

WHO: Adelaide & You
WHAT: Catch all for end of Guardian & Drakonis
WHEN: All of Drakonis
WHERE: EDL, Skyhold
NOTES: some prompts to follow, poke me via PM or plurk if you want a particular starter!

[ The Healing Tents ]

Even if nothing else seems to be certain- this much she knows she has right. Every scrape, every wound, every cough she mends with a faint murmur and twist of Compassion's power. Here things are simpler. There is an injury, she is to mend it. No questions of morality or trust beyond that which her patients put in her to see them made well. It's simpler. It's a relief, honestly, after the current mess. Here if nowhere else she can trust her judgement beyond a shadow of a doubt. Now and then the lantern outside showing she is taking patients is shuttered- feel free to come in and find her drinking tea with a cold compress to her forehead. Migraines, Oh joy.


[ The Library ]

For every answer there are at least ten to twenty more questions- though the further along she goes the more precise she might make them and the less dithering about archaic academic footnotes she has to endure. Still she hunches over texts with notes, ink staining her fingers, tea at her elbow long since gone cold as she sketches and notes what scraps of something coherent she can find in these rituals on spirits, the fade, and demons. Either deep in thought, scribbling furiously, or dozing in her chair she is easy to find in the far corner, candle melting down the hours.


[ The Garden ]

Lessons in the morning, sparring in the evening, meditations around midday or tea with whomever she finds that has been overworking themselves just as much as she has which will not do. Adelaide sits here cool and calm at dawn, sculptures of ice spinning through her fingers in forms and shapes that meld and melt and meld over and over- in the early day with her students going over magical theory or discussing with them one on one their fears about demons and fade dreams, in the evening with a rapier, practicing forms, or late at night when she is unable to sleep, staring at scorched earth grass is only just beginning to grow over.

Comments

Emprise du Lion, for Varric Tethras ( Pre Anders Reveal )

[fleurdesel]

[ She's close- she knows she's close. Some of these are absurd, some horrifyingly risky but she thinks it might work. It might be enough to help Detlef and that? Is more than enough for her to set aside her tension from the last time she spoke with Varric and seek him out. He'd had every right to be upset, her own fears did not invalidate anything of his grief.

Perhaps he'd put it out of his mind as well.

When she's certain they are both free she seeks him out, coughing politely outside of his tent. ]

[hugeinorlais]

[Given the assortment of tent-mates adjacent to his, Varric hadn't expected anyone to bother with courtesy. Hearing a polite cough outside his tent is enough to give him pause and, after a moment of silence, he moves to the flap and tosses the fabric open.

Adelaide wasn't a face he'd expected to find but, considering how shitty everything else in the Emprise was? Well, it could be worse. He wasn't too put out to find a polite, pretty blonde seeking him out, even if she just wanted to chide him for blowing up at that templar.

Immediately, Varric tosses up both his hands in a gesture of surrender.]

No need to lay into me, I promise I won't be talking to that jackass in the near future--on the crystals or otherwise. No arguments, no jokes, just good old fashioned stony silence.

[fleurdesel]

That is not why I am here, Varric- and...I would like to apologize for my own reaction that night. I was reminded uncomfortably of something that...

[ This is not precisely a conversation she wishes to have in the open, nor is it the whole of her reason for seeking him out. Lips twisted in a wry curve that could be a smile, she gestures deeper into his tent. ]

May I join you? I will elaborate but this requires some privacy.

Library! (What a surprise!)

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione doesn't know just how valuable an actual job would be here, but it doesn't seem right to sit in Skyhold all day, unable to fight or even do much magic, and not enrolled in any classes to boot. She'd been pointed in the direction of a bulletin board that occasionally contained little tasks that needed doing, and upon finding that one of them referred to someone back in the library, she'd decided that it wouldn't hurt to look into it. After all, asking a few questions never hurt anyone.

... much.

After quietly asking someone in the library to direct her to the right person, Hermione slowly approaches the woman who clearly seems to be incredibly overworked. Having little doubt that this is the woman advertising for a personal aide, she gingerly clears her throat and asks, "Excuse me, are you Councilor LeBlanc? The one who put up the advert for an aide?"

Library! (Books and fun for all!)

[fleurdesel]

"Mm?" Adelaide blinks, peering over at- one of the rifters from her clothing. But if she could read the notice and was approaching- she's not exactly in a position to be picky. "Yes, I am Adelaide LeLBanc, please- ah."

She frowns at the nearest chair, stacked with books. Hardly hospitable. Muttering more to herself than anything she moves them out of said chair and gestures to the newly freed seat. "Sit."

[bookish_lioness]

That first name rings a distant bell, and Hermione wonders where she's heard it before. It's likely that someone had mentioned the name to her in passing, but she'd need more context to remember where.

"Oh," she starts, holding a hand up to try and stop her from clearing out the chair. It seems impolite to actively stop her, though, so she only offers a small, polite smile as she accepts the offered seat. "Thank you. I, um... well, my name is Hermione Granger, and I'm a bit new here, so I'm afraid I'm not entirely familiar with all of the terms in your note, but if the position hasn't been filled and you need someone in the interim until you find someone more capable of handling Thedas-specific affairs, I should be able to handle the basics. I'm a fast learner and enjoy research and note-taking, and I can make a decent spot of tea."

[aggregiopavali]

Occasionally passing through the gardens on his way for quieter parts of Skyhold was something Fenris did when he felt the need to be as far away from people as possible. It was the feeling of magic, restrained but there that had him reeling back, looking at her.

His look was obviously anti mage, but there was something more - a fascination with just what she was doing with the ice. The two looks warring on him must make him look almost comical.

[fleurdesel]

She endured the mixture of fascination and abhorrence through three forms- a fluted tower, a lion, a dragon,- all were spun out of fine ice to hold in detail before melting down into the next- before she spoke. "Can I help you- or are you going to glower until your face becomes stuck that way?"

[aggregiopavali]

"It has failed to become stuck so far," he pointed out, standing up straight and walking towards her. "And unnecessary displays of magic are a good reason to look like that."

healing tents

[motherfucking_ghost]

[And, once she's back, who has to pop in but Church. Hey, he did suggest they could talk face to face when she came back. They just...had a different weird conversation otherwise is all.]

Iiiiis this a bad time, or are you just gonna ask me about weird-ish dreams again?

healing tents

[fleurdesel]

There is no such thing as 'a good time' Church.

[ Harsh, more clipped and curt than normal- but she gestures for him to find a seat with as much grace as she ever has. ]

[motherfucking_ghost]

...Sheesh, I can come back later, you know. Are you, uh...you feeling okay? [It's rhetorical. She obviously is feeling like shit.] Do I need to get someone to look at you?

For Nathaniel

[fleurdesel]

Seeking him out came fast on the heels of the announcement. Before it'd been a vague notion that they might have the same associate they feared for- now? It was a certainty.

And considering how he spoke of the man- Nathaniel knew. Had known. And said nothing.

It is with all imperious frustration that she stalks about Skyhold attempting to find him, drawing up short once she's within earshot. "Warden Howe."

[pinprick]

"Councilor LeBlanc." Nathaniel dips his head to her, trying not to react before she has explained her anger. "What may I do for you?"

[fleurdesel]

"A word in private, if you would." And he would, if he had any sense to him.

Library

[nofury]

Maria had been spending her own time in the Library, slowly trying to figure out what they knew about rifts (nothing) and ancient Magisters (something). Things other people could tell her, but it was healthy to do something other than swordplay and hunting dragons from time to time. If only to soothe her own soul.

Adelaide's short missive had left her nothing but curious. So, for once, rather than making her way to a back corner of the library she goes to search the mage out. She takes a seat across from the woman rather than looming over her, letting comfort replace protocol for now.

"The tea's gone cold."

Library

[fleurdesel]

"Mm?" Adelaide blinks herself back to the present, mind drifting among possibilities and rituals and frustratingly archaic language. Maria- she'd sent a note some time ago with where to find her and promptly fallen back down the pit of academic bullshit. It's a welcome change of pace to have someone to speak to. "You are aware of the Anders situation, yes?"

It is impossible for anyone to not by at this point. Most were also aware of their former association.

Healing Tents (Post Anders Reveal)

[lettersfromhome]

"Here you are, dear."

Mia's arrived with a tug at the opening of the tent, an armful of herbs at the ready. It's the third such delivery she's made today, their runners a bit lacking due to some errand the Seeker has them on, but it's all the same to her. Keeps the mind distracted, doesn't it?

She only looks the slightest bit harried, anyway.

Healing Tents (Post Anders Reveal)

[fleurdesel]

"Thank you, Mia." Adelaide sits upright to pop her spine, twisting to relieve the tension running down the length of it; hunched over all day is hardly productive to avoiding said tension and she could use a break. Honestly? From the look of her, so might Mia. "Stay awhile? I can prepare a fresh pot of tea."

If they run themselves ragged, after all.

Healing Tents, circa Anders Reveal

[kallian_endris]

Kallian seems notably distracted while she works. It's hard to concentrate when she's worried over Detlef. Hope is being terribly noisy in the back of her mind, presenting idea after idea on ways to help him. Fortunately, at the moment, Kalli's just doing inventory work on their supplies, so nothing too vital beyond perhaps having to recount a few things.

Well, until she accidentally knocks over a box of bandages. No harm done, but it speaks of her internal agitation.
"Sorry, sorry, let me get that picked up..."

Healing Tents, circa Anders Reveal

[fleurdesel]

"Kallian-" Adelaide's voice is sharper than it is normally- tense. Weary. Focusing on this one thing she knows for certain, this one thing she knows her judgement can be without question has helped somewhat. Less when her patients are belligerent and her aides are flitting about like shuddering hummingbirds. Hoping to still the girl for a moment at the very least, Adelaide pours a cup of tea and presses it into her hands, motioning to the nearby empty chair. "Sit. Drink."

She tends to the bandages herself. "Something is on your mind."

Not a question, something is twisting at the girl.

For Nerva

[fleurdesel]

It has been a strange comfort, having the Tranquil. Working with them, caring for them, making certain they are not bothered- it is familiar and settling for it for all that it twists in her gut to see them. To know it might be done to her, to know someone that chose such a fate.

And yet what Howe told her lingers still.

There is no way to test such a thing and doing so without...cause, without offering false hope- it is not possible. But she calls one to her, one of Nerva's charges, and speaks with them. Carefully, kindly. Were there a way to return, would they wish it? Can they wish for such a thing?

[keeperofmagi]

It was pure chance, that had her looking for him at that exact moment. Her expression hardened almost instantly, as she caught the words of the tranquil murmuring.

Murmuring about he was content, knowing that he was no harm, and did not miss his life before. (Even though really, he could not miss it if he had even tried.)

She stepped up carefully, a looming shadow, save for the fact that as she stepped closer the light from the window met her breastplate - scattering golden flecks across the two of them where they spoke, and announcing her presence.

"Is there something you require, Councillor?"

Her voice was a little clipped.

The Garden

[eolasemah]

In the corner of the garden is a tent, large enough to hold only a cot, a bedroll, a small table, and two elves. This is where Sina has been resting after opening the rift, and where Nari has been keeping vigil over her.
Being that it's midday and Sina has been awake for a while, Nari has presumably gone off to do some necessary errands. This leaves the First sitting in bed, working on copying runes from a large tome, her pale fingers stained with ink.

[fleurdesel]

Adelaide clears her throat outside the tent, tray in her hands. It is not often that she herself remembers to take a midday meal- but when minding the care of others? it is a simple enough task. "Sina?"