garrulously | canon threads

[ If that is what she seeks--his tongue gladly meets hers as they deepen the kiss and he grips her tightly, holding her close to him. This had happened quickly between them and he knew he had fallen headfirst into this passion. With how little time they would have together, it had seemed foolish to wait.

When he pulls back, it's to breathe. ]

From you? [ he asks, slowly catching his breath. ] Any sign of your affection is welcomed for it means you have found it worthwhile to spare me such thought.

( they should stop before they truly get carried away, but elera can't find it within her to want to -- solas is warm, his mouth is welcoming, and the way he speaks after she's taken his breath away is intoxicating. she can't pull away. )

You speak as if you're not worthy of it. ( a strange thing for a man who sometimes seems so enraptured in her because she meets and exceeds his expectations. ) Nothing could be further from the truth.

( but he was right -- they will need to rest soon. so she traces the line of his jaw, the curve of his ear. )

We should get ready to sleep.

( and while she would happily strip while he watched, she's not certain if that's something he wanted. )

[ Oh, it is difficult to pull himself away more, but he forces himself to ease back. Self-restraint was a virtue he had to exercise greatly around her lest they both get carried away. How could he in good faith knowing what he kept from her? Knowing that she would no longer trust or love him knowing the other half of himself?

A concern for another time. For now, he was Solas, a man she found worthy to be with her. That would have to be enough. ]

As I have told you, anything you give me I will cherish. [ And carry with him if he were able. At her indication, he hesitates briefly, unsure himself if he should strip. ]

We should, yes.

[ He slides his pack from his shoulders at least and turns partially away from her for some semblance of privacy. ]

( words that she will keep in mind, even as he turns away from her. perhaps it would be best if it was the result of her own two hands, something crafted or carved. but she doesn't know how to do that -- and would she even have time to learn?

she turns partially away from him herself, although makes no attempt to keep herself covered if he should look over. her armor is quickly discarded, replaced by softer clothes more suitable for sleeping than keeping blades and arrows from burying themselves in her skin. a simple woven shift that falls to her thighs, warm but still comfortable.

turning back to him, elera makes no attempt to hide her appreciation as he moves, watching the muscles work in his back before he finishes and she gestures to the bedroll. )

Age before beauty, vhenan.

[ He would be fooling himself to try to keep his gaze from her. As he disrobes, he watches as more of her form is revealed and admires the confident beauty that she carried with her in every motion. The scars that marked her were much like his own. They told stories he wanted to hear about her one day.

His sleepwear consists of simple linen pants that he slips on quickly. He gives her a teasing glance at the comment, but settles into the bedroll first and holds out his arm to welcome her to join him. ]

One might ask what beauty sees in the elderly.

( is it that difficult to imagine she can see anything in him? elera quickly follows him down, curling up against his chest and in his arms -- he is warm, and smells of magic and earth, of something unknowable. how mysterious, how comforting.

throwing an arm over his side to keep him close, she hums, as if genuinely giving thought to his question. )

That he refuses to see the world like everyone else, for starters. That he believes in freedom, in choice. That he was willing to help at the cost of his own safety. There is much age has that beauty finds attractive.

Including his freckles.

[ Less difficult and more ludicrous to him. Normally he was full of confidence and arrogance. That was true most of the time with her though part of him wondered why she had ultimately found comfort in him.

It was unexpected and he knew he shouldn't be indulging and yet, here they were. He wraps an arm loosely around her and tucks her head beneath his chin. ]

Age finds many qualities in beauty that transcend her beautiful appearance. That she welcomes a different view of the world with an open mind is something I admire.

( confidence and arrogance, yes, but elera has never found them off putting. perhaps that says more about her than it does him, the way she finds herself enjoying the surety of how he acts and what he says. even if he's wrong, or she disagrees, he never shies away from his opinions.

one day she'd stop finding comfort in his touch. that day wasn't going to be this night, and elera realizes that she really does have no desire to stop. )

Beauty and age may not always agree, but he has only shown her things to amaze and widen her scope of the world. That is something she finds priceless.

[ His desires to continue and to stop are constantly waging a war with one another. It would be simpler in the long run for him to walk away from this, from her and spare them the ache and pain that would come later. Selfishly, he decides against this and stays comfortably pressed against her. ]

Beauty has given age much to consider, [ he returns, fingertips tracing circles over her arm. ] He finds her words enrapturing and it brings age comfort to know someone is listening.

( that pulls a warm and content hum from her, as pleased as she is to rest in his arms. it was the simple things that made her time as inquisitor worth it, and finding the ability to shove the events of the day aside for the chance to rest in his arms was one of them. perhaps near the top of the list. )

Perhaps age should just give more people the chance to listen. ( she teases, muffling a yawn against the skin of his chest. he won't mind, surely. ) If beauty can do one thing, it's to learn.

If they were willing to, perhaps, [ he murmurs. It is something he has already tried and while the Fade may not have been the best avenue for sharing such opinions, it had gone horribly.

She's yawning though and he kisses the top of her head and runs a hand through her hair. ] Sleep, vhenan.

You do not give them enough credit. I'm not different from anyone else. ( he always doesn't seem to believe that, however, but perhaps one day if she says it enough he will.

although she can't help but smile at the kiss and the hand in her hair. ) Sleep, and miss more time spent with you? I wouldn't dare -- what if I miss something?

[ He lets that comment slide. His opinions on the rest of Thedas would not change and not as they were preparing to sleep. They were ones he formed over time, further cemented through those he had spoken with.

He keeps the soothing motion up, enjoying the feel of her hair between his fingers. ] I will be here when you wake and we have ground to cover tomorrow.

( she sleeps, and it's the quiet, restful sleep of being held by someone. the rest of their journey is quiet -- or as quiet as they come -- and once back at skyhold, she resumes her regular duties. minus the notes, but she and solas make time, and that is what matters in the end.

but she does have gifts for him eventually -- rare paint imported from antiva, a small ornate cake big enough for two people to share, and a small carved wooden totem in the style of the dalish. not very well done, for she did it herself, but she thought his fondness for the animals shouldn't go unremarked upon. and so, the day of the feast, she makes her way to his rotunda early --
gifts wrapped and clutched to her chest as she enters. )

Well, Solas -- are you prepared to be surprised?

[ Those stolen moments were ones he enjoyed. It was a break for them both and a chance for him to feel far more grounded than he ever did in the waking world. Her presence was an anchor in so many ways.

The day of the feast, he keeps to the rotunda. This was his domain and those of Skyhold knew to direct guests away from it unless they wanted their dignitaries to deal with a disgruntled elf trying to work. He would ease into the mix once the drinks began flowing and it was easier to blend into the crowd. Unless someone gave him a far better reason to stay elsewhere. He hears her voice and smiles faintly as he turns to greet her. ]

I am, [ he replies and gestures for her to come closer. ] You found something suitable then?

( she fully plans on coaxing him out eventually -- her absence would be noted by everyone eventually, but she needed to catch him alone for a few moments. at least long enough to give him her gifts, since he was so adamant about keeping it a secret from each other.

placing them on his table, she nods. )

Or if not suitable, at least a surprise.

[ His own gifts are more simple in appearance. Two canvases, one smaller than the other, are wrapped in a simple fabric that reminded him of the forests and sun breaking through the treetops. He pulls them from their hiding spot behind his table and sets them down beside her offerings. The larger of the two paintings featured an elvhen temple similar to the one they had seen of Mythal's, but restored to glory. The smaller of the two featured her, painted from memory, and having a peaceful moment out in the gardens of Skyhold.

He watches her for a moment before reaching for the gifts she has for him and motioning for her to do the same. ]

On your mark.

( she grins at him, marveling at the fabric he'd found -- she'll have to have something made of that later, perhaps she'll ask him to design something, if his artistic talents lean that way. for now she's content to have this, a small moment of kindness in the midst of everything else going on. )

On one-- Three, two-- one.

( it takes her a long second to unbind the wrappings on the larger one, and he can already see the delight that's coming over her face. the temple is beautiful, and perfect, and the breath that she sucks in when she fully exposes it is impressed and awed. )

Solas, this is beautiful.

[ He waits for her count and opens his gifts eagerly. It was rare he received anything from anyone, and receiving something pleasant was even rarer.

His eyes light up when he sees the painting though it is quickly overshone when he notices the totem. Handmade, by her? That would be his guess judging by the quality and that made it far more valuable than such a simple piece should be. That it featured wolves prominently was something he chalked up to his commentary when they were out wandering Thedas. ]

I had thought you would want to see it. A painting of one of my ventures in the Fade, [ he say, smiling. ] I had not realized you added woodcarving to your list of many talents.

I almost feel greedy, keeping this one in my quarters. It's almost too beautiful not to share.

( for it was absolutely a work of art, much like his frescos. her hand hovers over it, almost touching but refraining from doing so completely. at least they would be able to appreciate it, as would everyone else who ventured upstairs. she turns to the other, but doesn't unwrap it yet -- instead focusing on his words. )

I still haven't, if you couldn't tell. For all that I nearly lost three fingers working on it, it's still -- ( she gestures at it with a small smile. ) Working with my hands isn't something I'm skilled at. Hopefully it won't count as a mark against me.

It is yours to do with as you wish, [ he reminds her. That was the point of the gift. Whether she wanted to share it or not was entirely up to her.

His fingers run over the front of the carving with care and he sets it prominently on display on his table. ] I will carry it with me always.

[ He could use the good fortune such a token would bring him for what was to come. ]

I feel hanging it behind my throne may send a message not many would be receptive to.

( although she's tempted for that alone. but his words warm her heart, and her hand goes to rest over his fro a moment after he places the figure. )

You will have to tell me what your spirit friends think of it next time you visit a ruin. ( her fingers curl in over his then, squeezing warmly before she drops her hand. there's one more, the smaller one, and she takes her time unwrapping it even as she has some clue of what she'll discover. ) Solas, this is--

( intimate. but still beautiful, still astonishingly beautiful. )

Thank you, my love.

That you wish for your own to have a restoration? Instead of wallowing in the pittance given and expected to be grateful?

[ Dry and biting, they both know the situation among many in Thedas is poor, including those of the elves. That was a situation entirely separate from the one at hand, he knew, and he focuses instead on the joy that is plain on her face at the sight of the second painting. ]

It was hard to capture your beauty from memory.

I have done what I could in order to make my priorities clear. Perhaps it would be a wise reminder after all.

( something to look into at least. she would gladly use her power in ways she can to protect those the shemlen don't care about, and finds herself with some success. it is the least she can do. )

You flatter me. Would you like a chance to do it from life, Solas?

I would, if you were willing, [ he answers without hesitation. ]

Another night when you are free? Your ambassador would come to track you if I kept you from the festivities for as long as it would take.

[ But he was more than pleased to have a chance to paint her properly. She deserved something to remember this part of her life. ]

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