[ Half a laugh - for the joke, or the strange relief of it. Of being so near. ]
Yeah, since Remember to Pay.
[ Since she came back to herself. Maybe then. Maybe a little later. He's always had eyes, but: Another life, a stall at the market,
His hands are hot. Nice. They're so often cold, ache in the small hours of the night, and he knows why as surely as he doesn't need to think of it now. Cedric's chin tips, cants to meet her. It is,
A bad day to have chosen armor. He'd stand another hour to hold her like this, watching muscles splay; the drift of her balance in his. Kneel in the dirt if she’d let him, just to feel the tug of her knuckles. But there's an open yard. But there's the fence between them. But there's this fucking tasset, ]
D'you wanna get out of here?
[ There's a whole city beyond this little island. There's also a bath, which he sorely needs. ]
Yeah, since Remember to Pay.
[ Since she came back to herself. Maybe then. Maybe a little later. He's always had eyes, but: Another life, a stall at the market,
His hands are hot. Nice. They're so often cold, ache in the small hours of the night, and he knows why as surely as he doesn't need to think of it now. Cedric's chin tips, cants to meet her. It is,
A bad day to have chosen armor. He'd stand another hour to hold her like this, watching muscles splay; the drift of her balance in his. Kneel in the dirt if she’d let him, just to feel the tug of her knuckles. But there's an open yard. But there's the fence between them. But there's this fucking tasset, ]
D'you wanna get out of here?
[ There's a whole city beyond this little island. There's also a bath, which he sorely needs. ]
Edited 2024-08-08 05:37 (UTC)
(A laugh tumbles out of Gela; at last she turns her cheek. He's got a little look about him, like he could laugh too, and she follows it, gazes up the line of his jaw where it's set, holding in all his thoughts.) Oh no. Really?
(That's embarrassing, and sort of lovely all in once. Maybe there's something more to a terrible joke. She comes in closer to the line drawn between them. There is sweat at his temple and his eyes are — well, it's difficult to say, because he's blocking the sun with his head and she can't tell their colour, but he's obviously looking at her and she likes the attention.
The offer, even more. She puts her palm to his chest and plate armor. She splays her fingers where it's hot.
God, their first meeting was when she caught him leaving food outside of her door again. He knew she wasn't making round trips to the dining hall. He wanted to know what she was really like—)
Yes. But you're not going to wear this, are you? (Tassets and shield, the helmet in the dirt. Hmm:) It looks difficult to remove alone.
(That's embarrassing, and sort of lovely all in once. Maybe there's something more to a terrible joke. She comes in closer to the line drawn between them. There is sweat at his temple and his eyes are — well, it's difficult to say, because he's blocking the sun with his head and she can't tell their colour, but he's obviously looking at her and she likes the attention.
The offer, even more. She puts her palm to his chest and plate armor. She splays her fingers where it's hot.
God, their first meeting was when she caught him leaving food outside of her door again. He knew she wasn't making round trips to the dining hall. He wanted to know what she was really like—)
Yes. But you're not going to wear this, are you? (Tassets and shield, the helmet in the dirt. Hmm:) It looks difficult to remove alone.
[ A grin splits wide, crinkles the shadow about his eyes. ]
Goes better for two. Quicker, anyway. [ Can’t feel her hand on him, light as it is, but hard to think of anything else; the way she centers the swell of his chest. ] Wouldn’t mind taking our time.
[ Hand settles over hers, measuring the space where one finger swallows another. Pulse on pulse. Thumb on thumb, a thimble tracing circle into nail.
There's a small fortune in steel lying in the yard behind him. Wouldn't take but a moment to pull free and fetch. It'd be stupid, careless, to leave it. He’s feeling pretty stupid just now.
Cedric leans close. Wraps the second arm about her waist, and lifts – laughing – ]
Right then, let's go,
[ The fence isn't so tall. He can swing it. ]
Goes better for two. Quicker, anyway. [ Can’t feel her hand on him, light as it is, but hard to think of anything else; the way she centers the swell of his chest. ] Wouldn’t mind taking our time.
[ Hand settles over hers, measuring the space where one finger swallows another. Pulse on pulse. Thumb on thumb, a thimble tracing circle into nail.
There's a small fortune in steel lying in the yard behind him. Wouldn't take but a moment to pull free and fetch. It'd be stupid, careless, to leave it. He’s feeling pretty stupid just now.
Cedric leans close. Wraps the second arm about her waist, and lifts – laughing – ]
Right then, let's go,
[ The fence isn't so tall. He can swing it. ]
Edited 2024-08-10 00:44 (UTC)
Not th’Marine Grade?
[ Has he ever been there on a Tuesday? But no, it’s mostly dwarves. And accordion. ]
[ Has he ever been there on a Tuesday? But no, it’s mostly dwarves. And accordion. ]
Dunno. Said you got hats,
[ helluva disguise. why'd you leave? what kept you from turning back? what ever came of that reckless fury, save that the story points out. away from home. toward a warmer day.
cedric studies his expression, his own leveling slow; behind the remains of a smile. it’s nice to not fucking fight the guy for a minute. ]
What’s it like? Playing.
[ never had the head for art. ]
[ helluva disguise. why'd you leave? what kept you from turning back? what ever came of that reckless fury, save that the story points out. away from home. toward a warmer day.
cedric studies his expression, his own leveling slow; behind the remains of a smile. it’s nice to not fucking fight the guy for a minute. ]
What’s it like? Playing.
[ never had the head for art. ]
[ What a question. It actually takes Byerly back a moment. How could you describe the experience of playing? He settles, finally, on: ]
It is like being a bell, and being lifted and struck.
[ There’s a sincerity in that. Here, at last: something that Byerly loves without embarrassment or reservation or shame. One lone place where the armor of irony and suspicion and deception reveals a little gap, showing a quick flash of the tender heart underneath. ]
There’s a reason that we sing the Chant. The Maker speaks in music, and it’s how we can best respond.
It is like being a bell, and being lifted and struck.
[ There’s a sincerity in that. Here, at last: something that Byerly loves without embarrassment or reservation or shame. One lone place where the armor of irony and suspicion and deception reveals a little gap, showing a quick flash of the tender heart underneath. ]
There’s a reason that we sing the Chant. The Maker speaks in music, and it’s how we can best respond.
[ even in the bawdy dance-halls. something feels right in that, sounds true; out of rutyer's mouth, in his own heart. never had the head for art, or the throat to sing — but there's more than one way to raise a sound.
when we're called, i mean to have something to say,
it all tastes trite. over-observed; skittish of recent scrutiny. but the only way out is through. cedric reaches a hand across the table, squeezes an arm, brief. lets go again with a nod. ]
Hope one day t'hear it.
[ the way that byerly does. ]
when we're called, i mean to have something to say,
it all tastes trite. over-observed; skittish of recent scrutiny. but the only way out is through. cedric reaches a hand across the table, squeezes an arm, brief. lets go again with a nod. ]
Hope one day t'hear it.
[ the way that byerly does. ]
[ There's a brief, startled look at the physical contact. Not quite a flinch, but clear enough from the very slight way By braces that he's more accustomed to slaps than comradely grips. No surprise, of course, with a personality like that.
(Or maybe it's a little sadder. Runaway kids get kicked. Kids run away because they got kicked. And he doesn't flinch like that when he's got his armor fully on.)
It's a quick recovery. A smile, full of wry bravado. ]
I do know some men who get that feeling during swordplay, or out on the training ground. Do you ever feel it there? That sense of rightness?
(Or maybe it's a little sadder. Runaway kids get kicked. Kids run away because they got kicked. And he doesn't flinch like that when he's got his armor fully on.)
It's a quick recovery. A smile, full of wry bravado. ]
I do know some men who get that feeling during swordplay, or out on the training ground. Do you ever feel it there? That sense of rightness?
(Gela hums something soft, a few notes up, down and up.) I have all afternoon, (in case that may be of interest. It isn't entirely true — there's always something to be doing — but when you're your own boss nobody keeps score besides yourself, and Cedric is looking at her like he's never seen something so lovely, fingertips in the spaces between her own, tapping out something rhythm or pulse she doesn't know. She likes it.
He leans in and her head tilts, following, a burst of laughter coming out of her when he instead lifts her up like it's nothing. Pulls her up over the fence.
She rakes that palm up, to his shoulder to push down on, help herself over.
Nothing catches on the wood. She had thought about the pockets on her skirt—)
I can take some of those things.
(What's lying on the ground behind, noticed from before, obviously, because she can't take her eyes off him now that they're close, hand on his shoulder — anchored on what Gela thinks is a pauldron? She knows little about armor, actually. But maybe today she'll learn.)
He leans in and her head tilts, following, a burst of laughter coming out of her when he instead lifts her up like it's nothing. Pulls her up over the fence.
She rakes that palm up, to his shoulder to push down on, help herself over.
Nothing catches on the wood. She had thought about the pockets on her skirt—)
I can take some of those things.
(What's lying on the ground behind, noticed from before, obviously, because she can't take her eyes off him now that they're close, hand on his shoulder — anchored on what Gela thinks is a pauldron? She knows little about armor, actually. But maybe today she'll learn.)
[ byerly's recoil, the speed of that reverse, reminds of steel itself. stepping forward for the slash. into the boot. he'll mull over that later: all the ways folks bluff. the reasons they might.
kids get kicked. sometimes, they put themselves between. ]
Everyone likes t'be good at something, [ cedric admits. he is very good with a blade. ] But it's... dunno. Means nothing, without a use.
[ without an answer to give. there is a song that he knows how to find, a great din that presses everything else out. no room in it to be one person – selfish, small – no room to be anything at all. ]
We bashed around, y'know. Sticks and brooms. Don't remember it feeling right 'til there was a reason.
kids get kicked. sometimes, they put themselves between. ]
Everyone likes t'be good at something, [ cedric admits. he is very good with a blade. ] But it's... dunno. Means nothing, without a use.
[ without an answer to give. there is a song that he knows how to find, a great din that presses everything else out. no room in it to be one person – selfish, small – no room to be anything at all. ]
We bashed around, y'know. Sticks and brooms. Don't remember it feeling right 'til there was a reason.
So heroism was your call.
[ It could be mocking. In this corrupt age, after all, there are no real heroes, are there? The best of Thedas are beaten down, while the worst gather power. A cynic would jeer at anyone with noble ambitions.
But one thing that's not so bad about Byerly: he lets you know when he's mocking you. And this time, he isn't. There's nothing contemptuous or arch in the word heroism.
(There would be, if Cedric's beginnings were a bit less humble. But how can you jeer at someone who has the world spit ten thousand times in his eye, and still tries to see clearly?) ]
[ It could be mocking. In this corrupt age, after all, there are no real heroes, are there? The best of Thedas are beaten down, while the worst gather power. A cynic would jeer at anyone with noble ambitions.
But one thing that's not so bad about Byerly: he lets you know when he's mocking you. And this time, he isn't. There's nothing contemptuous or arch in the word heroism.
(There would be, if Cedric's beginnings were a bit less humble. But how can you jeer at someone who has the world spit ten thousand times in his eye, and still tries to see clearly?) ]
Ego of a word, isn't it?
[ and there's an ego on cedric for the way he bristled yesterday. pride doesn't only come for mages.
i don't expect recognition, vanya'd said, and sure — but it would be a nice change. riftwatch is full of heroes, bursts at the seams for story; for the work that matters. work that gets remembered. that means anything true. at least, he'd thought that, coming here,
he's had other thoughts since: signed in street pyres and burning hair. his eyes cut aside. mouth twitches in faint reflex. the edge of defensive ease. ]
But we all got a bit t'do, and I've got a shit voice.
[ and there's an ego on cedric for the way he bristled yesterday. pride doesn't only come for mages.
i don't expect recognition, vanya'd said, and sure — but it would be a nice change. riftwatch is full of heroes, bursts at the seams for story; for the work that matters. work that gets remembered. that means anything true. at least, he'd thought that, coming here,
he's had other thoughts since: signed in street pyres and burning hair. his eyes cut aside. mouth twitches in faint reflex. the edge of defensive ease. ]
But we all got a bit t'do, and I've got a shit voice.
Only a narcissist thinks he can change the world. Probably why this place is filled with jackasses.
[ His gesture encompasses the Gallows, and also himself. And lingers on himself longer than it lingers on the room around him. He's not utterly unselfaware.
Then a little flourish of his pen on the document. He purses his lips down at it. ]
There. That doesn't look terrible.
[ His gesture encompasses the Gallows, and also himself. And lingers on himself longer than it lingers on the room around him. He's not utterly unselfaware.
Then a little flourish of his pen on the document. He purses his lips down at it. ]
There. That doesn't look terrible.
'S a new world of handwriting, for sure.
[ and a good change, that. his clear block letters were painfully militant for a social call. ]
Thanks. For sticking it out.
[ and a good change, that. his clear block letters were painfully militant for a social call. ]
Thanks. For sticking it out.
A full twenty minutes of work! Horrible. I'll need to rest for the remainder of the day.
[ He presses a hand to his chest as he vamps. But then, with a bit of sincerity shot through with wryness - ]
Sorry we never really had a proper conversation till now. I've been a bit, shall we say, solipsistic ever since I died last summer. Trying to get my head back in the game, at least a little.
[ He presses a hand to his chest as he vamps. But then, with a bit of sincerity shot through with wryness - ]
Sorry we never really had a proper conversation till now. I've been a bit, shall we say, solipsistic ever since I died last summer. Trying to get my head back in the game, at least a little.
[ he's wiping an inkspot from the table (onto a sleeve, they've seen worse) when it comes, dry and confessional. honest. there's a careful shape to cedric's assignment here, there's a blank spot in the questions he's asked, and files he's read. granitefell,
really ought to report it. all that holds him back some days: the certainty that someone must already know.
so he's stalling when he echoes, ]
When y'died last summer.
[ which is not, probably, the kindest way to answer. ]
really ought to report it. all that holds him back some days: the certainty that someone must already know.
so he's stalling when he echoes, ]
When y'died last summer.
[ which is not, probably, the kindest way to answer. ]
Edited 2024-09-19 05:25 (UTC)
it's been a thousand years dot jpg, pls feel free to drop or handwave whatever as works 4 u
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dissolving
2024-10-22 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
It'll wait,
[ If they go now, the tent'll be empty. Her hand on his shoulder, that little bounce of pressure and release – he wants, at once, to know the weight of it on skin. The way muscle stretches under sleeve, the swirl of skirt and breeze,
His thigh brushes the space between hers, teeth grazing air before chin cants and lips press to jaw; light as the lap of tongue beneath.
It'll wait. There's always more war. Only so much this. ]
[ If they go now, the tent'll be empty. Her hand on his shoulder, that little bounce of pressure and release – he wants, at once, to know the weight of it on skin. The way muscle stretches under sleeve, the swirl of skirt and breeze,
His thigh brushes the space between hers, teeth grazing air before chin cants and lips press to jaw; light as the lap of tongue beneath.
It'll wait. There's always more war. Only so much this. ]
[in Cedric's pigeonhole is a bottle of pretty good whiskey. a note, attached via twine around the bottle's neck, reads:
from your Secret Satina, Benedict]
from your Secret Satina, Benedict]
(She smiles into it in the same moment it takes his teeth to touch air because she can tell it's coming. Her hand on his shoulder tightens then releases, a pulse, and she drags it over metal without looking, searching for skin. The warmth of his neck. She fits her thumb in there near his jaw and tilts his head to bring his mouth over, up some. Not a stranger to knowing what she wants — more than a peck on the cheek.
Her hand doesn't move, as if unsure he'll stay there without direction.
His skin is sweaty from the training and he tastes a little of it, like he's been panting. Gela is dimly aware that he'll feel the scar on her upper lip, thick.
That's fine. He can feel it.)
Her hand doesn't move, as if unsure he'll stay there without direction.
His skin is sweaty from the training and he tastes a little of it, like he's been panting. Gela is dimly aware that he'll feel the scar on her upper lip, thick.
That's fine. He can feel it.)
[Not too long after the announcement.]
I don't know if there's a plan, for pressing for the perpetrators who attacked Amsel. But if you need a sword, I'm happy to volunteer.
[It sure doesn't sound like checking how Cedric's doing, so it has that going for it.]
I don't know if there's a plan, for pressing for the perpetrators who attacked Amsel. But if you need a sword, I'm happy to volunteer.
[It sure doesn't sound like checking how Cedric's doing, so it has that going for it.]
Edited (immediate and catastrophic html failure) 2024-11-21 00:55 (UTC)
Dunno either. Fucked 's been sitting this long.
[ there's always something, and only so much to work with. he knows. ]
Thanks. If they took a company of mages — [ that's mostly what riftwatch is. ] — Well. I'll stick in the letter, anyway. Divine's got eyes further South than us. Maybe someone gets bored enough t'read it.
[ he does not sound like he much expects that. tired and distracted since the necropolis, and that hasn't changed, but loose with his tongue on the crystals. angry, then.]
[ there's always something, and only so much to work with. he knows. ]
Thanks. If they took a company of mages — [ that's mostly what riftwatch is. ] — Well. I'll stick in the letter, anyway. Divine's got eyes further South than us. Maybe someone gets bored enough t'read it.
[ he does not sound like he much expects that. tired and distracted since the necropolis, and that hasn't changed, but loose with his tongue on the crystals. angry, then.]
You never know.
[A pause.]
If it is someone going rogue, you're right that they can't walk it back directly. But we may see a countermove of some sort.
[And if it does come all the way from the top, as they both suspect, they... won't see that. Either way, a bit more information.]
[A pause.]
If it is someone going rogue, you're right that they can't walk it back directly. But we may see a countermove of some sort.
[And if it does come all the way from the top, as they both suspect, they... won't see that. Either way, a bit more information.]
Sure. Someone gets reassigned to a rock in th'sea, and folks near fifty plead retirement, and th'Grand Enchanter gives a speech on can't we just move forward, and then 's back to burning fields.
[ cynical. yeah. maybe he's earned a bit of that, lately. ]
[ cynical. yeah. maybe he's earned a bit of that, lately. ]
I grant you.
[It's not like the guy who gave up on the Templar Order literal years ago is in a position to say it's not that bad.]
I don't imagine I have much to say you'll find useful just now, but I don't think ... [He stops, a pause presumably while he thinks of what to say instead of what he'd been about to.]
[It's not like the guy who gave up on the Templar Order literal years ago is in a position to say it's not that bad.]
I don't imagine I have much to say you'll find useful just now, but I don't think ... [He stops, a pause presumably while he thinks of what to say instead of what he'd been about to.]
Edited (wow I should not be trusted with markup tonight) 2024-11-21 03:08 (UTC)
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