![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Maybe! This is still kind of getting worked out, but I'll keep you in the loop, okay?
Um.
I imagine I'd have to see the ring? I mean, it would depend -- rhetorically -- on if it was stuck normally or if it was magically stuck.
I imagine I'd have to see the ring? I mean, it would depend -- rhetorically -- on if it was stuck normally or if it was magically stuck.
Miss Merrill? [ Just...checking in. Like you do. ] Was wonder'n if you'd like a li'l company and, uh, somth'n to eat. Just made a fresh pot of Reynolds Chow and it's too much for me and Jayne t'handle on our own.
Oh- [ but unlike her 'oh' on the network, this is more positively surprised. ]
As long as you don't mind bringing it to the healing tents, I think that would be lovely.
[ if you really want to score points, pick up Barkley on the way ]
As long as you don't mind bringing it to the healing tents, I think that would be lovely.
[ if you really want to score points, pick up Barkley on the way ]
Don't mind it at all.
[ He shows up soon enough, pot wrapped up in a towel under one arm with a basket in hand. Bowls, bread, ale in a skin, Jayne trott'n along beside him with Barkley tucked up in Mal's other arm. ]
Thought you could use a little company.
[ He shows up soon enough, pot wrapped up in a towel under one arm with a basket in hand. Bowls, bread, ale in a skin, Jayne trott'n along beside him with Barkley tucked up in Mal's other arm. ]
Thought you could use a little company.
[ Just like that, three of her favorite things -- plus food -- are in the tent that Merrill is tucked away in. Just like that, everything seems a little brighter. ]
Barkley!
[ Bandages be damned, she's reaching for the pup. Once he's settled himself next to her (he's being careful not to tromp on anything injured, though he's still all wiggling excitement, licking at bits of exposed skin), Merrill reaches to pet Jayne (with a coo of thanks to the big dog, as if he had brought Barkley here himself).
Then she's looking up at Mal, smile soft but genuine. She's touched, really and truly. ]
Thank you.
Barkley!
[ Bandages be damned, she's reaching for the pup. Once he's settled himself next to her (he's being careful not to tromp on anything injured, though he's still all wiggling excitement, licking at bits of exposed skin), Merrill reaches to pet Jayne (with a coo of thanks to the big dog, as if he had brought Barkley here himself).
Then she's looking up at Mal, smile soft but genuine. She's touched, really and truly. ]
Thank you.
[ Bronson trundles in not far behind, slow in his age, scarred up but pleasant enough as he takes up the spot at the foot of Merril's bed, curling up to keep her feet warm. ]
You know me. Cn'at just stand by and watch a pretty girl be all sad when she should be smil'n. [ The dogs give Mal time enough to set up a little side table and set out the chilli- unlike most Fereldan cooking it actually has a heat to it, a smell of rich, meaty spice. ] This here is that turkey sort I told you 'bout awhile go.
And this- [ is a fan. All hand carved and polished wood, some pretty stones in a basic setting tied up in sueded leather around the handle. ] Is for you. Gets kinda stivling, ly'n about in these tends.
You know me. Cn'at just stand by and watch a pretty girl be all sad when she should be smil'n. [ The dogs give Mal time enough to set up a little side table and set out the chilli- unlike most Fereldan cooking it actually has a heat to it, a smell of rich, meaty spice. ] This here is that turkey sort I told you 'bout awhile go.
And this- [ is a fan. All hand carved and polished wood, some pretty stones in a basic setting tied up in sueded leather around the handle. ] Is for you. Gets kinda stivling, ly'n about in these tends.
[ Three dogs, Mal, food- and now a gift. One of the fans she'd wanted to see, and Merrill gapes for a moment. ]
I- you didn't have to-
[ The blood that's still actually inside her body and not dried out at the ritual site rushes to her face, her ears, in a blush. ]
I don't know if I can thank you enough, honestly.
I- you didn't have to-
[ The blood that's still actually inside her body and not dried out at the ritual site rushes to her face, her ears, in a blush. ]
I don't know if I can thank you enough, honestly.
Yeah I did.
[ He starts slicing out little hunks of bread with a knob of stolen butter, bowls ready and waiting for the stew. ] See here this is good for when you've lost a lotta blood or broken a bone or tak'n a few hits. I know you got yourself pretty well rattled and this'll help you heal up.
[ It's as good of an excuse as any- he has to lift up Merrill's bowl to keep Jayne from getting at it- only setting Jayne's bowl on the ground for him to eat really keeps him from getting into it. ]
You try help'n everyone out all the live long day. Let someone help you a little, even if it's a mean old man like me.
[ He starts slicing out little hunks of bread with a knob of stolen butter, bowls ready and waiting for the stew. ] See here this is good for when you've lost a lotta blood or broken a bone or tak'n a few hits. I know you got yourself pretty well rattled and this'll help you heal up.
[ It's as good of an excuse as any- he has to lift up Merrill's bowl to keep Jayne from getting at it- only setting Jayne's bowl on the ground for him to eat really keeps him from getting into it. ]
You try help'n everyone out all the live long day. Let someone help you a little, even if it's a mean old man like me.
[ She definitely did- well. All of those things. She hardly looks as bad as she did on that first day, after Vengeance was done with all of them, but there's still a bright bruise on her cheek and many more beneath her robes. (Not her usual armored ones, but lighter ones, with easier access for healing hands and bandages to be changed.) ]
You're not mean. Or old.
[ Letting people help her is- more difficult, sometimes. But she'll try to let Mal do it, at least. ]
Would a mean, old man bring me stew and a fan he made himself and three dogs?
[ She shifts, grimacing slightly, but forcing herself to do it all the same. ]
And even if you think you are mean and old- I like you.
You're not mean. Or old.
[ Letting people help her is- more difficult, sometimes. But she'll try to let Mal do it, at least. ]
Would a mean, old man bring me stew and a fan he made himself and three dogs?
[ She shifts, grimacing slightly, but forcing herself to do it all the same. ]
And even if you think you are mean and old- I like you.
Pretty sure it's a rhetorical-magic kind of stuck. It twists around and everything, but it won't come off.
... In this rhetorical situation. ( And that sounds entirely ridiculous, because """""rhetorical""""" is such an absurd claim, but whatever. Rhetorical. )
... In this rhetorical situation. ( And that sounds entirely ridiculous, because """""rhetorical""""" is such an absurd claim, but whatever. Rhetorical. )
Then I would definitely have to see it.
Rhetorically.
Rhetorically.
You think?
[ She don't know him too terrible well but- if she likes who he is when he's around her? That's good enough for him. Mal manages a half smile as he pulls up a chair and settles in next to her, offering up her bowl of the well spiced and savory chili. ]
Maybe. Sometimes mean old men feel a little less mean and old if they can make a pretty girl smile when she's been sad.
[ Tugs the heart strings it does, know'n she's all blue. ]
[ She don't know him too terrible well but- if she likes who he is when he's around her? That's good enough for him. Mal manages a half smile as he pulls up a chair and settles in next to her, offering up her bowl of the well spiced and savory chili. ]
Maybe. Sometimes mean old men feel a little less mean and old if they can make a pretty girl smile when she's been sad.
[ Tugs the heart strings it does, know'n she's all blue. ]
Mean old men also don't let me ride their horse or let me cry on them because a griffon lost their wing.
[ Or because they had to leave people behind at a fortress overrun with demons, but she's just- not going to think about that.
She has to sit up a bit more before taking the bowl, wincing when she goes too fast, but she gets there and takes the bowl. ]
It's- well. You know. Spirits say things, and when so much has happened, it's... hard to smile, sometimes. [ A pause, and- ] You've been very good at getting me to do it so far, though.
[ Or because they had to leave people behind at a fortress overrun with demons, but she's just- not going to think about that.
She has to sit up a bit more before taking the bowl, wincing when she goes too fast, but she gets there and takes the bowl. ]
It's- well. You know. Spirits say things, and when so much has happened, it's... hard to smile, sometimes. [ A pause, and- ] You've been very good at getting me to do it so far, though.
...Guess I'm not all that mean.
[ He lifts a hand to slow her when she sits up but- ain't noth'n gonna stop a woman who's got her mind made up. Not even bruised ribs and such. He waits for her to settle before offering the spoon, nudging Barkely's nose out of the way before giving him a scritch. ]
That fight you had down in the valley? The one what got you and your friends all knocked about?
[ He lifts a hand to slow her when she sits up but- ain't noth'n gonna stop a woman who's got her mind made up. Not even bruised ribs and such. He waits for her to settle before offering the spoon, nudging Barkely's nose out of the way before giving him a scritch. ]
That fight you had down in the valley? The one what got you and your friends all knocked about?
[ Barkley is happy for scritches, tail wagging and head bumping up into Mal's hand.
The spoon is taken; her grip, at least, is strong. She takes a bite of the chili first, sighing happily at the taste. ] Oh, that's very good.
[ Rather unlike the fight. ]
We were able to pull Justice out of Anders -- who very quickly became Vengeance and tried to kill myself, Anders, and Nathaniel specifically. So. Yes.
The spoon is taken; her grip, at least, is strong. She takes a bite of the chili first, sighing happily at the taste. ] Oh, that's very good.
[ Rather unlike the fight. ]
We were able to pull Justice out of Anders -- who very quickly became Vengeance and tried to kill myself, Anders, and Nathaniel specifically. So. Yes.
Right.
( hmmmmmm )
When might be a good rhetorical time?
( hmmmmmm )
When might be a good rhetorical time?
Pretty much whenever! Rhetorical or not, I can always make time for you.
So...blue glowey asshole- [ He'd seen him, once. Didn't care for him. ] Got all gnarly and demonic and tried t'kill people what were try'n to help him?
Probably good that I wasn't there, that kinda shit happens even when there aren't supposed t'be demons and whatnot whenever I'm about.
Probably good that I wasn't there, that kinda shit happens even when there aren't supposed t'be demons and whatnot whenever I'm about.
I don't know if we were really helping him, at that point. If he thought we were. But he would have rather liked to kill Nathaniel and I either way. Anders told me as much back in Weisshaupt -- that Justice would have been alert if anyone came in to try and kill us because of how much he hated us.
[ She shakes her head. ]
But- well. He said that I didn't try to help my clan. Implied that I didn't care about them.
[ She shakes her head. ]
But- well. He said that I didn't try to help my clan. Implied that I didn't care about them.
When you got a mean summabitch like that you just got t'ignore 'em. Cuz anyone with eyes and most people what don't can look at you and see how much you care 'bout people you don't even know. I can't imagine how much you must care 'bout your Clan.
[ Clan's like crew but all the more so. Clan's blood and family and loyalty and life. ]
I ain't ever met someone that cares near as much as you 'bout people you just met. So. Sorry your friend got all twisted and mucked up, but I'm glad t'see the back of him if he thought so little 'a you.
[ Clan's like crew but all the more so. Clan's blood and family and loyalty and life. ]
I ain't ever met someone that cares near as much as you 'bout people you just met. So. Sorry your friend got all twisted and mucked up, but I'm glad t'see the back of him if he thought so little 'a you.
Oh- Justice wasn't ever a friend, really. He always hated me.
[ Guess who has zero guilt about killing him it's Merrill. ]
But- when you already wonder sometimes if you could have done more, done something differently, if you could have kept them all from dying... it's hard to have someone say it outloud.
[ She doesn't know that Mal may know what it's like personally, but she thinks he may at least be able to understand it. ]
At least he didn't bring up Weisshaupt.
[ Guess who has zero guilt about killing him it's Merrill. ]
But- when you already wonder sometimes if you could have done more, done something differently, if you could have kept them all from dying... it's hard to have someone say it outloud.
[ She doesn't know that Mal may know what it's like personally, but she thinks he may at least be able to understand it. ]
At least he didn't bring up Weisshaupt.
Well then. Balls to him and what he thinks. [ He actually turns to spit on the ground, as you do. It's cheerfully done up til she rattles right on through something he's got on his back more and more often as the days wind on by.
Well. Shit.
He scrubs a little at the back of his head, smirk shifting into a grimace. ]
I know the feel'n- probably better than most what walk about Skyhold. I was in the army, y'know. During the Blight. Fought at Ostagar. At Denerim.
[ He doesn't talk about it much. As in. At all. Ever. Save with Asher and Korrin- they knew, they drank with him on the days of as the years wind through. ]
And hav'n lived through that- I can say you done all you could at Weisshaupt and got no reason t'feel poorly.
Well. Shit.
He scrubs a little at the back of his head, smirk shifting into a grimace. ]
I know the feel'n- probably better than most what walk about Skyhold. I was in the army, y'know. During the Blight. Fought at Ostagar. At Denerim.
[ He doesn't talk about it much. As in. At all. Ever. Save with Asher and Korrin- they knew, they drank with him on the days of as the years wind through. ]
And hav'n lived through that- I can say you done all you could at Weisshaupt and got no reason t'feel poorly.
[ Balls indeed. Merrill might even spit herself, if not for the fact that it had the potential to involve blood.
Instead, she shifts slightly -- not enough to disturb the dogs too much, but enough that she can set a hand on Mal's arm for a moment. ]
I didn't. Know, that is.
[ And she- well. She's had adventures, but she's never been in a battle like that. Skirmishes against bandits, against demons, against Darkspawn -- but never two armies marching toward one another. ]
My Keeper let herself be possessed by a spirit, thinking it would save me from being possessed instead. Instead- I had to kill what she became.
I had hoped... well, I'd hoped that we would be able to save some of the Wardens, instead of them ending up the same way. At least we were able to help Anders.
Instead, she shifts slightly -- not enough to disturb the dogs too much, but enough that she can set a hand on Mal's arm for a moment. ]
I didn't. Know, that is.
[ And she- well. She's had adventures, but she's never been in a battle like that. Skirmishes against bandits, against demons, against Darkspawn -- but never two armies marching toward one another. ]
My Keeper let herself be possessed by a spirit, thinking it would save me from being possessed instead. Instead- I had to kill what she became.
I had hoped... well, I'd hoped that we would be able to save some of the Wardens, instead of them ending up the same way. At least we were able to help Anders.
Page 4 of 12