[Normally, she does not bother with greetings when gathering information. But this is...somewhat different from asking Mhavos about saving money. There is more hesitation, more attempt to delay the inevitable.]
Derrica.
Derrica.
It arrives the day before they're all meant to leave for Nevarra. Within the modest cloth wrapping:
A necklace of fine but sturdy thread, incorporating Rivaini style knots and plaiting, and attentively hand-wrought beads of bone and horn. The design is understated, meant for daily wear rather than any special occasion.
A necklace of fine but sturdy thread, incorporating Rivaini style knots and plaiting, and attentively hand-wrought beads of bone and horn. The design is understated, meant for daily wear rather than any special occasion.
Athessa has the note in her hand when she appears at Derrica's door. She's been looking at it periodically on her trek, which involved a detour to her own bunk to find that box she's been keeping under her bed ever since Lakshmi left.
So when Athessa knocks on the door, it's with that note in her fist and a small package in her other hand. She leans against the door jamb, so she can look casual when Derrica answers.
So when Athessa knocks on the door, it's with that note in her fist and a small package in her other hand. She leans against the door jamb, so she can look casual when Derrica answers.
[Left outside of Derrica's door please find as massive a sack of shortbread as could be found in the Kirkwall market, wrapped in these really thick socks lined with downy rabbit fur. The strange package is tied with string and this little pendant in the shape of a squid with blue gemstone eyes is looped through the string.
It's accompanied by a simple note, in painstakingly good handwriting.]
HAPPY SATINALIA
FROM MATTHIAS
[There was a lot of agony over the signature on that one. From? Your friend? Platonic love from? And a lot of agony over whether or not he could look Derrica in the eye and give her a gift. Leave it outside her door seemed a good compromise, so, here.]
It's accompanied by a simple note, in painstakingly good handwriting.]
HAPPY SATINALIA
FROM MATTHIAS
[There was a lot of agony over the signature on that one. From? Your friend? Platonic love from? And a lot of agony over whether or not he could look Derrica in the eye and give her a gift. Leave it outside her door seemed a good compromise, so, here.]
Do you still wish to have a drink?
[Context-free messages over a month after the first conversation, don't worry about it.]
[Context-free messages over a month after the first conversation, don't worry about it.]
How do you put your hair up?
Edited 2020-02-24 04:37 (UTC)
Oh.
[ a considering pause ]
Sister Sawbones would likely know better, but Elfroot, Chamomile, Echinacea and Embrium, Spindleweed, Feverfew...Crystal Grace and Prophet's Laurel are very rare, but good to have. Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head, is that helpful?
[ a considering pause ]
Sister Sawbones would likely know better, but Elfroot, Chamomile, Echinacea and Embrium, Spindleweed, Feverfew...Crystal Grace and Prophet's Laurel are very rare, but good to have. Those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head, is that helpful?
I am going away for some time, and I do not want the kitten to be alone. I will pay you if you will pet her and make sure she eats.
[ She's thinking too much about this, and has been for too long. She should've just ignored it! Shouldn't even bother acknowledging it, but...well, shit. It's just that she keeps almost saying what she doesn't want to say and she doesn't want to ruin a good thing by being a dumbass, so...
Athessa tugs the crystal out from under her shirt. ]
Derrica, are you in your room?
[ Part of her wishes the answer will be no so she can just turn and walk right back the way she came and continue to ignore this. ]
Athessa tugs the crystal out from under her shirt. ]
Derrica, are you in your room?
[ Part of her wishes the answer will be no so she can just turn and walk right back the way she came and continue to ignore this. ]
[ Kostos is in the process of retrieving his trousers from the floor. But in the meantime he's still naked, unconcerned and immodest, and in as pleasant a mood as most people are likely to ever see him. When he looks at Derrica, it's with unworried interest, with no stressed or irritated line between his eyebrows at all. A little of the interest is licentious, maybe, but the rest— ]
Did you have to sneak around, in Dairsmuid?
Did you have to sneak around, in Dairsmuid?
[ Derrica hasn't made a move to retrieve her own discarded trousers from the floor. The tunic is within arms' reach, if she cared to stretch, but she's comfortable. For the moment, it's unimportant. ]
No.
[ Though she amends that after a moment— ]
Not in the way I think you mean it. We snuck around because we were supposed to be in bed, not because we weren't supposed to be fooling around.
[ And the punishment was probably vastly different, she assumes. Not ideal pillow talk, so instead she asks: ]
What made you think of that?
No.
[ Though she amends that after a moment— ]
Not in the way I think you mean it. We snuck around because we were supposed to be in bed, not because we weren't supposed to be fooling around.
[ And the punishment was probably vastly different, she assumes. Not ideal pillow talk, so instead she asks: ]
What made you think of that?
[ She was going to say something in person, but they haven't had a moment alone.
She was going to say something via crystal, but she psyched herself out of it.
So instead there's a folded note wedged between the door and jamb of Derrica's room. A few aborted first-drafts are scribbled out on the backside of the page. ]
D,
If you need somebody next to you to feel safe, I'm here.
If not, we can both pretend I didn't write this stupid note.
- A
She was going to say something via crystal, but she psyched herself out of it.
So instead there's a folded note wedged between the door and jamb of Derrica's room. A few aborted first-drafts are scribbled out on the backside of the page. ]
D,
If you need somebody next to you to feel safe, I'm here.
If not, we can both pretend I didn't write this stupid note.
- A
[ The letter is impossible to miss. It falls into her hands when she returns to her room after seeing Leander, unfurls like a reminder that they are home, and Derrica has perhaps made a mistake.
A bigger mistake than those that had lead to capture and three days in a dungeon, maybe.
She trades two bracelets to a fisherman for a packet of Rivaini spiced tea leaves. It feels easier to arrive with something in her hands, a tangible expression of gratitude to soften what she suspects is going to be a difficult conversation. ]
This is to thank you, [ Derrica tells her, having tracked Athessa down and presented the little pouch without flourish. ] It's tea.
[ Does Athessa drink tea? If not, it'll likely fetch a good price. Good to get some awkwardness out of the way before mentioning the note, yes? ]
A bigger mistake than those that had lead to capture and three days in a dungeon, maybe.
She trades two bracelets to a fisherman for a packet of Rivaini spiced tea leaves. It feels easier to arrive with something in her hands, a tangible expression of gratitude to soften what she suspects is going to be a difficult conversation. ]
This is to thank you, [ Derrica tells her, having tracked Athessa down and presented the little pouch without flourish. ] It's tea.
[ Does Athessa drink tea? If not, it'll likely fetch a good price. Good to get some awkwardness out of the way before mentioning the note, yes? ]
It's been a day or two since Athessa did what whe said she didn't want to do (again) and ran away from Derrica and her feelings. Maybe it would be more accurate to say that she ran headlong into those feelings, considering the unfortunate breakdown she had while huddled and clutching a pillow on Loxley's bed, but whether away or into, she still ran.
But she isn't running now. Athessa's come to a decision, and it might still ache but she'd rather see Derrica happy and unburdened than avoidant and tentative. So she approaches at some easy hour when neither of them have pressing business to attend (or nothing they can't do together) and sits across from her friend.
"Hey," is the very eloquent greeting, offered with an apologetic smile. "I realized that... I keep running away from you, which I don't wanna do, cos it seems like that'll just put us back in avoiding each other territory. So. What should we do different? To be good friends."
But she isn't running now. Athessa's come to a decision, and it might still ache but she'd rather see Derrica happy and unburdened than avoidant and tentative. So she approaches at some easy hour when neither of them have pressing business to attend (or nothing they can't do together) and sits across from her friend.
"Hey," is the very eloquent greeting, offered with an apologetic smile. "I realized that... I keep running away from you, which I don't wanna do, cos it seems like that'll just put us back in avoiding each other territory. So. What should we do different? To be good friends."
In the courtyard, Derrica has found an unoccupied bench to claim. There are several sheets of paper in front of her, where she's practiced a set of symbols across, ink strokes growing increasingly steady with time. At Athessa's appearance, Derrica straightens slightly, apprehension giving way to a slight smile that furrows into a small frown as Athessa speaks.
Instead of answering, she sweeps her papers into a neat pile and gestures at the bench beside her.
"Will you sit with me?"
Derrica hadn't wanted this conversation, and she isn't entirely sure how to approach it. Now that Athessa's asked, Derrica finds herself unsure of what it looks like to be friends after everything else. It's something to piece together between them, if they can manage it. Derrica certainly hasn't tried her hand at this before.
Instead of answering, she sweeps her papers into a neat pile and gestures at the bench beside her.
"Will you sit with me?"
Derrica hadn't wanted this conversation, and she isn't entirely sure how to approach it. Now that Athessa's asked, Derrica finds herself unsure of what it looks like to be friends after everything else. It's something to piece together between them, if they can manage it. Derrica certainly hasn't tried her hand at this before.
[ It's late, and this mess has just happened, and rather than idk being smart and keeping to herself or going to sleep or calling up Colin to cry at him for a while, Athessa decides instead, in her mildly drunk stupor, to call Derrica. Credit where credit's due, she didn't call to cry; she waited until after most of her crying's been done, and now she's just casting about for something to cut through the misery with a little sunshine. ]
Derrica? [ As is usually the case after such things, Athessa's voice is quiet and a little hoarse. If she has to sniffle, she holds the crystal away enough for it to go unheard. Of course, if Derrica is asleep or in a noisy bar, Athessa herself might go unheard, too. ]
Dee, you awake?
Derrica? [ As is usually the case after such things, Athessa's voice is quiet and a little hoarse. If she has to sniffle, she holds the crystal away enough for it to go unheard. Of course, if Derrica is asleep or in a noisy bar, Athessa herself might go unheard, too. ]
Dee, you awake?
[ A small box tied with string, deposited at Derrica's door or in her mail bin, whichever. The note attached reads: ]
[ Inside the box are a few carefully wrapped slices of Rivaini spice cake. ]
Sorry if it's stale by the time you get this! Colin made it and I wanted your opinion on how close his recipe is to the ones back in Rivain.
- A
[ Inside the box are a few carefully wrapped slices of Rivaini spice cake. ]
This isn't how Athessa wants to keep having reason to see Derrica.
This isn't the preferred reason to be shedding her field leathers and tossing them aside, either. She'd rather have only fun reasons to undress around Derrica, but those reasons haven't been within reach for a while now.
"It looks worse than it is," Athessa says, realizing only after-the-fact that she said the same thing after Churneau.
It's easy to see the blood that's soaked into the fabric of her shirt, not yet dry around the hole she'll likely have to mend some other time. If she'd had a needle and thread, she would've been able to give herself stitches, rather than cauterizing the wound to staunch its bleeding.
This isn't the preferred reason to be shedding her field leathers and tossing them aside, either. She'd rather have only fun reasons to undress around Derrica, but those reasons haven't been within reach for a while now.
"It looks worse than it is," Athessa says, realizing only after-the-fact that she said the same thing after Churneau.
It's easy to see the blood that's soaked into the fabric of her shirt, not yet dry around the hole she'll likely have to mend some other time. If she'd had a needle and thread, she would've been able to give herself stitches, rather than cauterizing the wound to staunch its bleeding.
The look Derrica shoots Athessa carries the silent, oh, please as Derrica lays out the contents of her satchel across her blanket.
"Drink this," Derrica says instead, handing her tankard to Athessa as she breaks the tie around a roll of gauze. "Do you want me to guess what happened or make it into a good story?"
The buzzing, fretful urge to scold is easier settled with Athessa in front of her, clearly well enough in spite of the ugly wound she's sporting. Once the blood is sponged away, Derrica will know better how bad it is, but it hasn't incapacitated her.
It could have cut her throat. Derrica breathes out, tips her elfroot tincture onto the gauze while Athessa strips the last of her leathers off.
"Drink this," Derrica says instead, handing her tankard to Athessa as she breaks the tie around a roll of gauze. "Do you want me to guess what happened or make it into a good story?"
The buzzing, fretful urge to scold is easier settled with Athessa in front of her, clearly well enough in spite of the ugly wound she's sporting. Once the blood is sponged away, Derrica will know better how bad it is, but it hasn't incapacitated her.
It could have cut her throat. Derrica breathes out, tips her elfroot tincture onto the gauze while Athessa strips the last of her leathers off.
[ It's the first time Athessa's left a message on a crystal, so there's some swearing and sounds of fumbling at the start. ]
Derrica, it's Athessa.
[ Some more light swearing; she's clearly agitated. ]
Look I dunno how else to say it so...fuck it. I broke Leander's nose.
I dunno if he's gonna bother telling you or what the fuck he'd say if he did but I know you've talked to him about us and I wanted you to hear what happened from me before he had a chance to put his own spin on it.
He told me he's the fucker that pushed me down the stairs and broke my arm last year. So I punched him.
[ She makes a wordless sound of frustration and anger because she wanted to do more than just break his nose but her gut instinct was that it'd only make things worse. So as an afterthought, and to sign off this message, she just grumbles: ]
Sorry.
[ And hangs up. ]
Derrica, it's Athessa.
[ Some more light swearing; she's clearly agitated. ]
Look I dunno how else to say it so...fuck it. I broke Leander's nose.
I dunno if he's gonna bother telling you or what the fuck he'd say if he did but I know you've talked to him about us and I wanted you to hear what happened from me before he had a chance to put his own spin on it.
He told me he's the fucker that pushed me down the stairs and broke my arm last year. So I punched him.
[ She makes a wordless sound of frustration and anger because she wanted to do more than just break his nose but her gut instinct was that it'd only make things worse. So as an afterthought, and to sign off this message, she just grumbles: ]
Sorry.
[ And hangs up. ]
[ The note attached to her Satinalia gift said come see me, so he's at her door—a little late, but not as late as this tag—with the note in hand, to hold demonstratively at eye height when she opens the door.
In silence.
But his face is as pleasant as it gets, not annoyed, so it means hello instead of what is the meaning of this. ]
In silence.
But his face is as pleasant as it gets, not annoyed, so it means hello instead of what is the meaning of this. ]
[ As far as greetings go, it's a good one. It makes her laugh, pleased as much with his arrival as with the note itself. ]
Did you like the wine? [ is what she asks first, easy welcome in her voice as she steps back, door opening wider in unspoken invitation. The other things felt like more of a gamble, with less certainty about what Kostos might like. ]
Did you like the wine? [ is what she asks first, easy welcome in her voice as she steps back, door opening wider in unspoken invitation. The other things felt like more of a gamble, with less certainty about what Kostos might like. ]
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exequy
- 2021-04-21 04:15 (UTC) - ExpandHolden, [ Derrica says first, turning to meet him. She is still wearing heavy boots, a thicker coat. She's tired, the way anyone who's traveled a great distance might be, but she greets him with a bright smile. ]
I was in Orlais, [ she continues, by way of explanation, before considering that Holden might not have any frame of reference for it. ] I had business in Val Royeaux.
[ Which still feels strange to say, even after it's all happened. Her, having business. ]
I was in Orlais, [ she continues, by way of explanation, before considering that Holden might not have any frame of reference for it. ] I had business in Val Royeaux.
[ Which still feels strange to say, even after it's all happened. Her, having business. ]
A lumpy bundle, left in a cloth bag hung from the handle of Derrica's door:
An unlabeled bottle of what will easily be discerned as mead, sweet and tart and floral and possibly (definitely) homebrewed; a blue and cream-colored headscarf with a geometric pattern; Derrica's shawl, which has been in Athessa's possession long enough that it no longer smells like Derrica but rather of lavender, cedar, and hearthfire smoke.
There's no note.
Edited 2021-02-05 15:55 (UTC)
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