therookery | (no subject)

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FORM: Sending Crystal
SENDER: Solas
RECIPIENT: Everybooooody, yeah. yeeeeah.
WHAT: Rifter Role Call
WHEN: Now
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Rock your booooody, yeah. yeeeeeah.

All rifters and shard-bearers are required to come and report to me, or Bruce in the healer's tents. You can find me at the base of the library tower.

If you cannot come to see me within the next three days, please inform me immediately, so we can make other arrangements.

Please remember that the shard's magic can be dangerous to both you and those around you - do not disregard my request.

[And then the crystal goes silent.

OOC: BASICALLY everyone with a shard needs to come see Solas. 90% of these will be handwaved, but otherwise feel free to hit me up and ask for deets, reply here with questions, or reply here with action threads. I know there are a bunch of rifters currently on a mission, or elsewhere, so obviously if you don't get this message, you don't get it! But Bruce and Solas will also be actively seeking people out.]

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( the silence is long enough that she blanches before he breaks it, flexing her fingers when her hand is her own again (for a given value of 'still being full of whatever this nonsense is') and turning it palm up to study as if it will tell her anything she doesn't already know.

it doesn't. )

What sort of strange dreams?

( a genuine question; how will she know? all dreams are fucking strange, he probably means something specific, he seems like the sort who's vague on purpose because he's a prick and not the sort who just doesn't know how to talk to people, and he certainly provides detail when to refrain would be so risky. it isn't as if she and solas speak so often, but each time she's incrementally less suspicious, and - look, she doesn't want to die.

she doesn't want to die.

what an inconvenient time to have realised it's true, but all the same. if her options are to trust the weird shiny elf or to sit in a corner afraid always, she'll -

split her time between the two options, let's be honest. )

Dreams that feel more real than they ought to. It is hard to explain. It is best, perhaps, to talk to someone who does not traverse them as often as I. I have spent so much time dreaming that I find it difficult to know how it appears to those who do not.

Bruce, I am sure, would have a far more satisfactory answer. In the meantime, simply come to me, if you are worried. No spirit would be able to harm you here.

( that's so weird. he's so weird. it's comforting in a peculiar way that she wouldn't care to define out loud, all the same; he's an expert. he knows what he's doing. if anyone is going to solve this, it's probably solas, even if she does harbour lingering suspicions that he already has. that he doesn't tell anyone because they need the rifters - not her, of course, what does she do with her shard that's so valuable? but if hers were to be gone, one day, they'd all know, and perhaps all of those brave souls doing the things she refuses to would be a bit less brave, suddenly, a bit less willing.

if they had an alternative, perhaps more of them would take it than the inquisition can afford. if he is lying to her, then - she supposes she can understand it, awful as it is. enough to have kept her thoughts to herself, lest ~~bellamy~~ someone more reactionary doing something - reactionary. )

Here in Skyhold or here with you?

( she suspects the latter, bright thing that she is. there was an abomination here, she heard. )

Here with me.

[Where the shards are concerned, there is no safer place in the world.]

But I sincerely hope that nothing untoward should come to pass, and that you will not require such direct protection.

If I have any concerns, then. I'll come to you.

( her lips press together. after a moment, one occurs; )

Should I still be practising? My shield? Is it going to - attract spirits, if I do that?

[He pauses to consider her question thoughtfully - he isn't about to dismiss it, she raises a good point.]

You still should practice, yes. [He seems to decide, with a nod to himself.]

Since you aren't practising alone, even if something were to happen, you have someone there to help you. But I don't believe it should any longer seem any different from normal magic - however, it is unfortunately impossible to say.

[And then, a thought occurs.]

Perhaps we should speak to Cole.

( there's something very disconcerting about the idea of being seen to do normal magic in and of itself, but - that's an internal crisis solas has no interest in and does not need to be privy to.

she would've liked, she can admit to herself, an excuse to stop. still. )

All right. When he's free, then. I won't keep you now.

( there's a touch more courtesy and a touch less abruptness in the way she rises than there might have been; a regard for his time, and the fact that he's going to have to deal with all the rifters as well as the native shardbearers. they can't all be as sensible and clever as she is, probably he's going to have a terribly long day.

when she excuses herself, though, guenievre lingers behind. )

-- if I might trouble you, ser.

[The elven woman is, of course, beautiful, and the fact that she is so obviously treated as a second class citizen means that he is already inclined to be protective of her - even though they've never met.

(He feels that way about elves in general, much of the time, but beauty helps.)]

Of course, ma vhenan. How can I be of service?

( there's an understated stillness to her, a bit more apparent when she herself is - more apparent, standing in front of him instead of shadowing gwenaëlle the way that she does. the sense of someone taking great care, always - so though the elven endearment stirs curiosity (a language she does not know well, city-bred thing that she is) the hint of interest warmly piqued is only a small thing in her expression.

gwenaëlle had instructed her to remove her mask, when she arrived, but guenievre has lived her life for a long time, now. she wears another in her skin. )

My lady is often disturbed, in the night. ( there's no hesitation, though she knows full well how thrilled gwenaëlle wouldn't be for her to share that with - anyone, but probably particularly an elf. ) I wake her, when I judge it best. Is that wise, still, with - the risks you say? Perhaps there is something I might observe to keep her safe.

( her lips press together for a moment. )

[He, similarly, seems different with her, than when he is speaking to Gwen. As if the height that he so carefully ensures is used to full force with humans is relaxed - not slouching, but the tenseness in his muscles releases.]

There are ways to be vigilant, but unfortunately it is unlikely that you would know for certain unless a spirit pulled itself through the veil. If - your lady - [And he says the word with a sliver of distaste, though he attempts to hide it in courtesy] - wakes and is acting strange, or not herself, then it may have approached her in her sleep. If you have any reason to doubt, you may come to me.

( guenievre is sharper than the soft thing that she looks, and when she catches the distaste her gaze shifts, for a moment. a certain sense of resignation, not offense.

look, she knows. )

I will, ser, merci.

( a brief pause. )

I appreciate very much your patience with her.

It is no trouble.

[There is a pause, though, a hesitation, and when he continues his voice is lower, quieter, and far more earnest that it usually is. There is far less being masked.]

Though I admit that I would hope that in a situation such as the Inquisition, she would be more willing to treat those around her as... equals. If she has ever harmed you, or has caused harm to come to you - -

( the shake of her head is quick, but she takes a small step, rests her hand lightly on his arm - half instinct to comfort (old habit, to soothe away hurts caused by her own distresses), half intent to restrain (because she's always protected her daughters, and she only has this one left). )

No. No - my lady is a foolish girl and that is all.

( would it have been better, if gwenaëlle had been hers to mold? if she'd not had to give her up to the vauquelins? what would their life have been, then?

there's no sense in asking questions with no answers. instead - )

She has promised me that I will soon go home.

[The touch helps, and he relaxes once more - though the look of concern still rests on his face.]

... As long as you know that I will assist in any way I can, should you require it. You are not alone, here.

( there's a shadow to her smile, an old and familiar one; a solemnity she wears like a shawl about her shoulders, that she has been long unable to set aside. it makes the warmth no less. wryly, )

I've served the Vauquelins since I was yet younger than she is. If I've traded indignities for the things that I could give my daughters -

( an exhale. he listens too well and she speaks too freely. )

You're a good man. Thank you.

[He catches it, and it only makes the concern grow worse.

A woman should not have to sacrifice her freedom, to protect her children. No one should.

He almost says it aloud, but he doesn't. Instead, he lets out his own breath and nods slowly.]

As you wish. You know where I may be found.

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