RP: Aria (lavellanfadewalk) ((NSFW content further down))

[blackwall_fadewalk]

Skyhold. He was back in- but the sky…

Sometimes Sera had the absolute right of it. Fucking magic shite.

Blackwall sighed, choking up a tad on the bit of chair leg. There was the feeling of Darkspawn or other Wardens in the distance. Supposed to be someday he’d be able to tell the difference. Didn’t do him much good now.

The hold was empty. Not even wind to make the trees move. Like the air just before the storm broke. Unsettling.

He paced along the battlements one foot at a time. No one else around ‘less they were sneakier than him. Not like that was hard. His Warden armour made enough noise to cover a snowfleur’s approach. The next tower was the one the Inquisitor had refitted for the Mages. Couldn’t hurt to have a quick look. Some mageling may have hid in there and could tell him what in the Blighted Void was going on.

The west door opened with only a small creak.

Comments

[blackwall_fadewalk]

Blackwall snorted and looked away. “Good thing it does. Not many choices left after… well.” She was there. Doesn’t need it spelled out for her. There’s more important things happening. Quit fucking around old man.

“Inquisitor, what’s going on? Skyhold’s empty, I’ve no idea how I got here, and the sky is- I assume you’ve seen it.” He held back his shudder but had to shake his head.

[lavellanfadewalk]

"Yea, here, funny story. Apparently, the Eluvian left in Skyhold shattered and, with it, the very fabric of reality itself." she made a explosion gesture with her free hand "Meaning that now we're trapped in this Fade version of Skyhold along a bunch of other people abducted from their common lives just like us. Don't now how the random abductions are exactly connected to the shattered reality beside the fact we have people here from worlds that could've been if we weren't there."

Aria frowned, as if reviewing her words on her mind, seeing if she was able to make any sense of it; she nodded to herself, satisfied enough with her own explanation.

[blackwall_fadewalk]

“Worlds that could’ve been…” Blackwall sighed. “Right.”

So he was here because some magic mirror broke and put a fortress in the Fade along with Lavellan and people from other worlds? That made a sort of sense. Nonsense. But then with all they’d been through it wasn’t all that impossible. Just completely mad.

Blackwall focused back on the Inquisitor. She was tense still. Watching him like he was likely to attack at any moment. Something had to have happened to make her wary. He loosened his grip on the chair leg so it was hanging from his fingertips and shifted his weight all to one leg. He couldn’t make it clearer that he didn’t want to hurt her without saying it. “So, what do you need me to do?”

[lavellanfadewalk]

The grip of her fingers loosened around the staff and her shoulders dropped to a more relaxed position. She shrugged.

"It pains me to say but... I don't know. I was looking for Dagna because we are in the middle of a situation here with the former Knight-Commander of Kirkwall and her Red Lyrium sword but... I can't find her anywhere. Dagna, it is. I don't know where the Knight-Commander is and I'm pretty happy with it." and she pointed the chair leg, the usual sly grin appearing on her face "A chair leg? Seriously? You are in full plate armor and can't even carry a proper blade?" now she was laughing "Come, we need to find something better than it."

[blackwall_fadewalk]

“The Knight-Commander of Kirkwall? Wasn’t she the one went insane and tried to chop all the mages heads off?” Blackwall grimaced. “I’d rather know where the madwoman is than have her off plotting somewhere.”

And then the Inquisitor made fun of his weapon. Not that he blamed her. It was bloody ridiculous. Still. He firmed his grip and swung the chair leg in a few lazy passes. “Forgive me for not being prepared for battle, milady. Hadn’t been expecting the bloody Fade to jump out and eat me this morning. Clearly being away from you and the madness that surrounds you is bad for my vigilance.”

She went and he stepped into place behind her. Blackwall laughed a little at himself. Still felt natural. “Lead the way.”

[lavellanfadewalk]

"She'll plot something with or without my vigilance. Besides, the journal kinda helps."

Aria motioned to the door, eyes attentive to their surroundings, walking through the battlements as she had done many times before.

"I suppose you found a journal near the place you arrived. It keeps track of you and everyone else here. You can also write messages on it, so anyone can read it. Particularly useful to discuss important things. I wish I could enchant some journals back home to do the same." she chuckled, glancing at him over her shoulder at the mention of their past misadventures "We used to hang around, sorry to say but your life is stained by this fact forever. Crazy will always find its way to you. No return policy."

[blackwall_fadewalk]

“A journal?” He pulled the small book he’d found out of his belt. Flipping through the pages showed him glimpses of different writing with some drawings and scribbles. He recognized Sera’s doodles at once. He found himself smiling fondly until he found the cock bomb and nearly choked. This Tali and Sera should never meet. No one would survive.

“Useful, aye,” Blackwall pulled himself together and flipped to the last marked pages. One was actually filling with words as he watched. Looked like an invisible hand writing. He snapped the book shut and put it back in his belt. “But why would you ever need to write someone a message if everything that happens is recorded in their book? Wouldn’t they know already?”

He couldn’t help but smile again at Lavellan. She had certainly made a mark on his life. “No returning, eh? But what if I gave it to someone else? You said there were people from other worlds. It follows that they wouldn’t be forewarned about the mad things you drag people into.”

[lavellanfadewalk]

"Yes, certainly. But unless you're the Left Hand, you have more important things to do with your time than peeking others' lives. They may know what I'm doing but thankfully they don't know what I'm thinking, so..." she shrugged.

Aria stopped abruptly, turning to face him with a false dramatic outraged expression at his words. "Ok, now I'm hurt. I know my feelings are usually hidden behind my sarcasm and cynicism, but this doesn't mean I don't have them." she quirked an eyebrow, playfully "Besides, this whole crazy situation and the how you accidentally found your way straight to me should tell you a thing or two about being able to get rid of me."

[blackwall_fadewalk]

He forced his face blank. Lavellan’s expression didn’t make it easy. “Feelings? I’d never accuse you of those Inquisitor.”

She had a point though. Skyhold was a fortress with plenty of space. That he’d appeared so near her could mean something. But how did he explain just how much she’d done for him? Lavellan was the reason he was a Warden in truth. The reason his life had become more than just running from his crimes but actually starting to make up for them. Why he could stand in the company of heroes and not feel like a sham.

“I’ve never wanted to be rid of you.” Was what he actually said. Dolt.

[lavellanfadewalk]

Aria grinned to hide the impact of his words over her; it was a relief, to know her decision to send him to the Wardens hadn't hurt their... friendship? She had no idea of how put in words her relation with Blackwall, but judging him as Inquisitor was the hardest thing she'd ever done and she was just glad he could see past it. Hopefully.

"Wise words from a person who knows who has the magic staff of doom and the chair leg." she laughed "Sorry, I'm never going to forget this."

[blackwall_fadewalk]

His face cracks and Blackwall can’t help but laugh along. He swings the chair leg off to the side well away from Lavellan. The last thing he needs is to hit her and foul everything up. “Dunno. Might actually be something here. Could get a nice ham roast and spit it on the end. Make a mace of it. Dunno what I’d do for a shield though.”

[lavellanfadewalk]

"A whole wheel of cheese, maybe?" she began to go downstairs, to the courtyard near the Herald's Rest. Laughing was good. Thank the Creators.

[blackwall_fadewalk]

He went silent from laughing so hard. The picture she painted. By the time he’d gotten his breath back they were halfway down the stairs. He could only be grateful he hadn’t fallen and snapped his neck.

“A whole wheel? Bit much isn’t it?” He let his shoulder gently bump Lavellan’s. “Should leave a wedge for the mice.”

She was heading straight for the doors to the Great Hall and Blackwall nudged her again. “Did you move the armoury? Or have you gotten something new from Dagna you want to spring on me?”

[lavellanfadewalk]

"Yes, the mice. Cole would certainly be glad we didn't forget the mice."

She smiled, already climbing the stairs, comfortable with his proximity. "See, this is not Skyhold. Our Skyhold, it is. When things started, Cullen, the Warden and a ser Alistair moved the supplies to the War Room, thinking of a better defensive position, if I quite read it right. So everything is there. Currently, we're running out of food and since the Eluvian seems to be working again, I'm thinking on exploring it after a way out of here or more supplies."

[blackwall_fadewalk]

A Ser Alistair and the Warden? There was more than one Alistair? And who else did she mean? Was the First Warden here too? That would be a mite awkward. Blackwall focused. The buzzing feeling had gotten stronger so they were nearer. Probably in the main keep somewhere.

Then the rest registered. Balls.

“And I’ve added only another mouth to feed. I apologize, Inquisitor.” A burden again. He cursed himself for making light of things when circumstances were so dire. “If there’s anything I can do. I’m no mage, obviously, but if you need another body.”

[lavellanfadewalk]

Aria was the one to bump his shoulder this time "If I quite recall, a long time ago someone had offered to carry any sort of heavy weight a lady like me could be in need, right? Besides, it isn't like you asked to be here so don't apologize. And no titles too, they're worth nothing."

No titles, that was certainly something Aria was enjoying about that place. And the silence. She crossed the Great Hall straight to the Ambassador's Office door.

[blackwall_fadewalk]

Despite how small she was her shoulder was solid. Solid enough to bear the burdens of half of Thedas. She was far stronger than she looked. And not just with her magic either.

He’d half-forgotten that offer. How long ago had he said that to her? And she’d remembered. But then that was Lavellan. Kind even to those who hadn’t deserved it.

“Your pardon, my lady. No titles.” He agreed. He followed her into Josephine’s office and came to a dead stop when he saw the blood on the floor. His heart was in his throat. It was old and dried and enough for whoever lost it to be dead. “What happened here?”

[lavellanfadewalk]

"Meredith happened. She tried to kill the Hero of Ferelden, as far as I understand. But Leliana and Evelea tended to her and she's probably with her husband by now. As for the blood, probably Meredith's after my purple namesake dealt with her. Can't really tell now."

Aria made a dismissive gesture, one that only someone used to battles and death could do. Josephine's office was empty and cold without the lighted fireplace and the presence of the Ambassador to the Inquisition. Unlike Blackwall, she didn't stop moving, striding to the next door instead.

[blackwall_fadewalk]

Maker. He’d thought- feared that the Ambassador-

Well. Beyond the concern of an associate it wasn’t his business anymore.

He still skirted around the blood to follow Lavellan. Down the hallway to the legendary War Room of the Inquisition. He’d never been here before. “Was that hole in the wall always there?” Seemed a bit undignified.

[lavellanfadewalk]

"Cullen offered his soldiers to repair it, once." she glanced at the familiar hole and the not-so-familiar dark green bruised sky "But you remember the bridge his soldiers 'repaired' in the Dales right? Couldn't let that happen to this wall." Aria chuckled "And since our dwarven engineers had more pressing matters to attend to, the hole stayed."

She opened the familiar door in the War Room, gesturing the stock of weapons and supplies. "There is nothing formidable here, but..."

[blackwall_fadewalk]

“Considering how quickly they had it up, I thought they didn’t do half bad. Not pretty, but stable enough.” Blackwall entered the room slowly. So this is where the fate of Thedas had been decided. He had to suppose the windows were nicer when Skyhold wasn’t in the Fade. Nice standards. He’d bet a sov that Cullen normally stood in front of the one of a giant fist. “But of course it wouldn’t do for the leaders of the Inquisition to have a clapboard wall to look at. No, better to keep the gaping hole. Lets in that fresh mountain air.”

There was a pile of swords. Some racked but most leaning against the wall or in a pile on the floor. Blackwall picked up a simple iron sword and gave it a practice swing, but had to immediately put it down again. “You’ve spoiled me, my lady. Can’t go back to a simple soldier’s sword.” He started hunting through for something made of Stormheart, or at least Silverite.

[lavellanfadewalk]

"What can I say?" she smiled and shrugged "I look out for my people."

Aria winked, leaning against the door.
Her heart ached and she had to swallow hard to keep her emotions at bay; truth to be told, the political pressure around the Inquisition in Thedas was currently overwhelming, several noble houses asking for a position about the power the Inquisition had gathered and how they pretended to use it. Bunch of ungrateful assholes, if you asked Aria.

That situation, in the Fade-y Skyhold was certainly hard, but that was the kind of thing she was used to deal with. Now, politics? Gross.

[blackwall_fadewalk]

A glitter of pink drew his attention to a Dawnstone blade. It was an infamously brittle metal, but the best he could see. Bull would give him that look if he saw Blackwall with this sword. Still, needs must. He sheathed it and turned to look for an acceptable - not Dawnstone - shield. His eyes passed over Lavellan but ticked back when her discomfort registered.

There was no way to make his concern less obvious so he didn’t try. Blackwall ambled over and dipped his head slightly to catch her eye. “It’s appreciated. You know, if that was ever in doubt. But somehow I don’t think that’s what’s troubling you.” He reached out to her, palm up. Offered what he had. Which wasn’t much really, but if it helped Lavellan at all...

[lavellanfadewalk]

Aria slightly tilted her head, realizing by his words that her concerns weren't as hidden as she thought. She hesitated, thinking of hiding, thinking of perhaps discussing it with Varric later but... she was exhausted. All mana invested on healing Hawke, carrying her around with Varric, hunting a Envy Demon, now dealing with Meredith and trying to keep everyone else from killing her. Too much.

She tugged the chest plate of his armor, resting her forehead over the cold metal with a low noise. She sighed. "I'm tired. Of everything. But his soon goes away."

[blackwall_fadewalk]

Blackwall stared down at the back of her head. That… hadn’t been what he’d expected. But Lavellan was more than just the mighty Inquisitor. Being strong didn’t mean being invulnerable. What are you waiting for old man? Hug the poor woman. He shook his head slightly and wrapped his arms around her back.

“If you need to rest, you can. You have friends, allies. We’ll take the load for you gladly.” He raised a hand to let it run over her hair. It was as soft as it looked. Blackwall pulled her close and hugged her tight, but mindful of his armour all the same. Her head tucked against his shoulder and he could feel the line of her ear against his beard. “I’ve got you.”