[ he smiles against the back of her head, where she cannot see but can feel the pleased curl of his lips. ]
Perhaps we would have been caught. Perhaps circumstance would have forced you into your title and I would have only been your 'special friend'. Perhaps Iorveth might have tumbled from a rift first. There are infinite possibilities, but I am satisfied with this one.
( a hundred moments, and this one; the way that it has played out, but it hasn't played out, they've not ended up anywhere, they're still...happening. going. doing. love as verb. the stillness is comforting, but most of all in counterpoint—how far they've come. how far they've still to go.
with iorveth, hopefully. but the two of them, always.
archly: )
It'll do. You know—
That's what you wanted, wasn't it? What you said. Just quietly move in and make no fuss about it.
I am not attending the Arlathvhen because I expected to be shunned by all the Dalish for... no longer being discreet in regards to you. Although, [ he shrugs. ] I suppose they cannot blame me when their own children have taken up en masse with Men here.
Perhaps I will still have their love. They all know where my loyalties lie.
Enough to hang myself with, [ dryly. he holds her tightly as he leans back, coming to lay down on the bed, turning on his side and minding her so that the two of them end up still curled against one another. ]
Then the clan will die out, for there will be no elflings. All the elves of that generations will have left, or taken lovers that will lead to only elfblooded children.
( it is the best of all possible answers to that, of the things she might have said, which doesn't make it a good answer or a conversation useful to have. she extricates herself from his arms with a half-hearted pat of his shoulder that isn't entirely without sympathy, but—
that's a hard thing to muster sympathy for. she should unpack. or start cleaning up these flowers, since one of them actually has to sleep in this room while he's away. )
I distinctly remember your sisters being murdered, else your hatred of Celene is horridly misplaced, l[ ightly, forcing himself into good cheer. ] rather than what I expect is namely teenage rebellion. The shine will wear off, and then what? The Inquisition will not be around forever, and vallaslin is permanent.
( after a moment's pause, sweeping an armload of flowers from their places, )
Nahariel didn't sound to me like someone in the throes of rebellion. Unless, of course, you intend to say that feelings for humans are naturally less and like to fade.
( in all fairness: if she believed he might mean that, she'd never say it out loud. this is a fishing expedition for affection. )
[ wow, rude, he worked hard on those, and also, where is she going. ]
I do not doubt her, I doubt whatever fool she placed her heart in the care of, for I would trust no Man with the care of it and I would know if it was a Rifter.
( she always needs to hear it, echoing around her cavernous heart; empty and overflowing both. upon consideration, passing the bed, she baps him in the face with a rose. )
I don't know who she was talking about, she didn't say. You might have a point.
no subject
Perhaps we would have been caught. Perhaps circumstance would have forced you into your title and I would have only been your 'special friend'. Perhaps Iorveth might have tumbled from a rift first. There are infinite possibilities, but I am satisfied with this one.
no subject
( a hundred moments, and this one; the way that it has played out, but it hasn't played out, they've not ended up anywhere, they're still...happening. going. doing. love as verb. the stillness is comforting, but most of all in counterpoint—how far they've come. how far they've still to go.
with iorveth, hopefully. but the two of them, always.
archly: )
It'll do. You know—
That's what you wanted, wasn't it? What you said. Just quietly move in and make no fuss about it.
no subject
Perhaps I will still have their love. They all know where my loyalties lie.
no subject
( to wit: fuck the dalish, they certainly all seem to be gagging for it. )
Do we even have any Dalish here with a leg to stand on, criticizing your choice of lovers?
no subject
Beleth, [ he says. ] Sorrelean. Nahariel.
[ his favorites, clearly. ]
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( patented gwenaëlle 'i might know something you don't' baudin mock superiority tone. )
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Then the clan will die out, for there will be no elflings. All the elves of that generations will have left, or taken lovers that will lead to only elfblooded children.
no subject
( it is the best of all possible answers to that, of the things she might have said, which doesn't make it a good answer or a conversation useful to have. she extricates herself from his arms with a half-hearted pat of his shoulder that isn't entirely without sympathy, but—
that's a hard thing to muster sympathy for. she should unpack. or start cleaning up these flowers, since one of them actually has to sleep in this room while he's away. )
no subject
no subject
( after a moment's pause, sweeping an armload of flowers from their places, )
Nahariel didn't sound to me like someone in the throes of rebellion. Unless, of course, you intend to say that feelings for humans are naturally less and like to fade.
( in all fairness: if she believed he might mean that, she'd never say it out loud. this is a fishing expedition for affection. )
no subject
I do not doubt her, I doubt whatever fool she placed her heart in the care of, for I would trust no Man with the care of it and I would know if it was a Rifter.
[ because she needs it: ]
I will love you for the rest of time.
no subject
I don't know who she was talking about, she didn't say. You might have a point.
( men are garbage. )