Driftfleet Inbox

[bryces_pup]

VOICE | TEXT | ACTION

IC Catch-all Inbox for Riona at driftfleet. Be sure to mention the method in your subject line. A time frame/reference would be swell, too.

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[bryces_pup]

[It's not until morning Riona learns it's there, and only because Kiter keeps pawing at the door, sniffing like a dog possessed and tail wagging. When she manages to drag him back and sees the present, her brow lifts. And it lifts even higher when she picks up the note and reads it.

There are two people it could be. Sokka... might do this, she wouldn't put it entirely past him, though she wonders if he'd be able to resist the cake long enough. And he'd likely give it to her in person. So that leaves Culprit #2.]

I'm gonna get you back for this one, Snow.

[But she's laughing, so she really doesn't mean it. Unless Serah shows back up, then Maker help her, she's going to outdo him.

Picking up the cake, she leans back into the room and calls for Alistair.]

[reluctantbastard]

[When Kiter started scratching at the door, he'd wondered what was up. The mabari was usually very well behaved, even if he liked chewing on Alistar's socks. He gets up from the bed and comes over to look at what has Riona and Kiter's attention.]

I was unaware this was a dessert occasion and can I lodge a complaint with Leliana about not receiving one the first time back home?

[He looks over the letter with an equally amused smile, even if his cheeks do flush a bit.]

[bryces_pup]

Well, if she ever shows back up, you certainly are free to. She'll get a good laugh about it.

[She leans and presses a gently kiss against the mark on his neck.]

[reluctantbastard]

Right, and I'm sure that she'll gladly just cough up some elaborate Orlesian baked good that will say "Congratulations on bedding my best friend. Oh, and have fun as King."

[He's always gotten along fine with Leliana, even with her whole "The Maker told me you were coming" thing in Lothering. He's still not sure if she was waiting for them because of Divine intervention, but after all this time it hardly matters either.

He shivers at her kiss, the gesture brushing against the obvious mark she's left on his neck.]

Who is this "S" person and should I be worried?

[bryces_pup]

Something like that. Maybe she'll throw in a little something extra for all the time lost.

[She'd go over the top with it somehow, knowing Leliana. And somehow she'd be entirely sneaky about the whole thing and do it without their knowledge.

His reaction makes her smile, though what he says makes it disappear for a moment.]

If it's who I think it is, his name is Snow and he used to be on this ship. Transferred off after his girlfriend from home was sent home. At least, I think that's why he left. He never gave much of a reason or much warning. But he knows you're my husband; I spoke with him before we assaulted the Vieziri base.

[reluctantbastard]

[Alistair listens as Riona speaks and wraps his arms around her, feeling for this person he doesn't know.]

Well, I can understand why he'd want to leave a place that would do nothing but remind him of the person he loves. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to stay in the palace back in Denerim while you're off being a Grey Warden again. Eamon's fairly adamant about me playing it safe after what happened with Cailan.

[One the one hand, he doesn't really fault his pseudo-uncles and their worry for his safety and that of Ferelden if he were to die. On the other, he hates the feeling of sitting around doing nothing. He was trained from the time he was ten to be a warrior. Being king isn't anywhere near as fulfilling, especially if he's expected to do it without his wife beside him.]

[bryces_pup]

No, I can't blame him either. [It's just a hunch on her part, given the timing, but she can't think of any other reason he'd leave. Unless something happened that she wasn't aware of, but she hopes he'd have brought up some kind of conflict to her and or Sokka's attention. A conversation to have with him at a later date.]

I'm sorry, love. Someone had to run the place, and if we even suggested you come along, there'd have been an uproar. And for once I wouldn't blame them, even though I missed you terribly.

[reluctantbastard]

[Since he doesn't know the other man, he won't hazard a guess at his motivations. But, he appears to be friends with his wife, so if nothing else, he's probably worth knowing.]

Oh, I know, and who better than the king. Must be the responsible one in the family. Another civil war amongst all the trouble we're still having after the Blight means The Thaw's not going as well as we'd like.

[He looks down at her, again noticing the differences in her appearance, her body, her familiar mannerisms and he feels this strange void between them. Certainly, if the way they still are able to have very good sex is any indication, not that much has changed in their relationship for her despite the years. However, he can feel all of his questions gnawing over and over about everything.]

We'll have to thank him for this. Later.

[bryces_pup]

Divide and conquer, dear. At least unruly nobles don't live in the Deep Roads. And it doesn't last forever.

[They were separated for a few months, but they passed and the pair was reunited soon enough. But he doesn't know this; it's all in the future still.

He's looking at her again. With the slightly quizzical stare of wondering what he's missing, and a bevy of questions hanging over them both and yet not being spoken. There's a bit of a disconnect going on, and she hates it. Fortunately, it's a straightforward fix. She's just not sure what'll happen afterwards. But they've put it off for long enough.]

Let's take this into the kitchen. We can have a slice while we talk. [She reaches down and picks up the cake.] There are things we need to discuss.

[reluctantbastard]

We might be better off if they all visited the Deep Roads a time or ten. See what it means to be a Grey Warden exactly.

[Or got lost with some Darkspawn. Then he wouldn't have to listen to all their petty squabbling over things that don't really matter.]

Alright. [The word is drawn out as he continues to look down at her. Certainly, cakes and sweets are the best way to his heart, since he was denied so much as a young child, but he's had his fill of crazy happenings. Just a moment or two without a lot of garbage going on would be nice.] I suppose cake might make this entire conversation more palatable.

[bryces_pup]

But they'd bitch the entire time. Though I suppose if we "accidentally" lost track of them...

[Great minds think alike.

She shoots him a reassuring smile, even as her own stomach twists in a nervous fit.] Cake does make just about everything better. [With a nod of her head, she heads off towards the kitchen, Kiter trotting after her, ever hopeful he might get a taste of that delicious smelling cake.

When she arrives in the kitchen, she sets the cake down on the mess table before starting to rummage for plates and cups.]

Would you like some tea, or something else?

[reluctantbastard]

Even around Orzammar those tunnels get a little winding.

[See, this is why they're married. They get one another. She's grown up a noble and he's grown up on the outside of nobility. They both understand how irritating and spoiled they really are.

He doesn't respond to the cake comment, and instead follows her out of the room to ship's galley. The reason for this particular cake is on full display, but who cares? He smiles as he watches Kiter trot beside Riona and feels a sort of anxiety of his own at what he's about to find out. Does he really want to know the future?]

Is this a tea sort of talk or should we be taking a page out of Oghren's book for a change?

[bryces_pup]

[Kiter, for his part, sniffs that cake determinedly. Without even looking over her shoulder, Riona gently scolds him and tells him to leave it. Kiter whines, but lies down on the floor, reprimanded.]

A little for that kind of drinking, dear. But I suppose we can work our way up to it if necessary. [Just to be safe, she turns on the stove before filling up the tea pot with water. Leaving that do its thing, she brings over the plates, along with a pair of forks and a knife for cutting the cake.]

Would you like to do the honors, or shall I? [She offers the knife if he wants it.]

[reluctantbastard]

[What a good Mabari. Alistair won't even make fun of him. He's always been well-trained, to be honest, and since his arrival, they've had a better relationship than back home. At least on his end of the deal.]

Tea first then. [He has credits now. If this goes sideways, he's going to go to the Iskaulit for drinks.]

If either of us is going to have sharp, pointy objects at this juncture, it should probably be you.

[bryces_pup]

[Riona raises a brow, but takes the knife and begins cutting.]

That sounds a little ominous. Should I be worried?

[She knows he doesn't mean it quite like that, but it's to keep things light-hearted for the moment as she cuts out a slice for him, then for herself. Not the best cutting job, but at least the pieces are mostly in tact. She slides Alistair's plate towards him - he got the bigger slice - before siting down with her own.]

[reluctantbastard]

[He doesn't answer her right away. He's not even sure that he has an answer to that. When Riona is done cutting the cake slices, he sits down next to her, leaving the confection to wait. He takes her hand in his own and twines their fingers together.]

Riona. [Maker take him if he knows what the hell is going to say, but he has no choice either.] Whatever is going on, whatever you have to tell me, I'm fairly certain that I'm grown up enough to know the truth.

[bryces_pup]

[Riona had hoped to have a bit more time while chewing on cake to think of how to start this. But Alistair sits next to her, eyes so intently on her and hand wrapped around hers, that she knows she needs to start, and start now.]

I know. It just... isn't easy on me either. [She swallows nervously, looking down at the table. Her fingers tighten against his.] ...you must have noticed by now. That I don't quite look how I did when you last saw me.

[reluctantbastard]

[Sorry. He's not going to give her any breathing room when it comes to this. She wanted to talk about it and now he wants to know what he's missing that the others already know.]

Well, I'm sure whatever it is, it can't be anywhere near as bad as the talk we had the night before our fight with the Archdemon.

[H-haha. She's not asking him to have sex with Morrigan and possibly conceive another Old God baby. There's not enough lyrium in the world to make him forget that, even if he wanted to go back to taking it.]

Well, you told me that you've been here for two years. Of course that would change you.

[bryces_pup]

Yes, it's been two years... here.

[No, it's not as urgent or god awful as that was, but that didn't make this any easier.]

When I first arrived, I was from around the same point in time as you. But... sometimes people here fall into comas. Eventually they wake up, but sometimes when they do, they remember more from home. It's like time passes for them. They can even have aged visibly while they're in a coma.

That happened to me twice. The first time, only a few months passed. But the second... [She lets out a shuddered breath. ] Ten years passed. Between that and my time here, I'm 32. [She lets out an empty laugh. ] I'm old now. [She tries to come across as joking, but she doesn't quite manage it.]

[reluctantbastard]

[Hey, lady, remember who you're talking to. He is the king of attempting to deflect deep conversation with self-deprecating humor. He's okay with her trying to use his shtick, but he doesn't know how to handle what it is she's saying.

Twelve years... twelve years have passed between them. That's a lifetime, especially for people like them. The Call... There's only so long that you can avoid that. And she Joined at the beginning of a Blight, he only six months before her.

He looks down at their joined hands, studying the way the light plays on her paler skin as it rests in his.]

Maker's breath. [The words are like a punch to the gut and a jump start to his brain.] I knew that, despite being the more senior Warden out of us, that you were a little older than me. [He squeezes her hand yet again.] Just not this much older.

[bryces_pup]

[It's taking everything she has not to tremble, especially since he's holding her hand and could pick up on it easily. As it is, her other hand clutches tightly against her leg under the desk.]

I'm sorry. I know it's a lot and I... I just want you to know that I'm still me, just older and maybe wiser.

[But is that enough of a reassurance? ]

If you need space, I can leave you alone for however long you need.

[reluctantbastard]

What?

[He turns to look at her, his whole body pointed directly to face her. The confusion he feels is written all over his face, but that's nothing new. However, he doesn't let go of her hand, doesn't move away, doesn't make any indication that he wants to leave.]

What are you talking about?

[He takes the hand not holding hers and reaches over to touch her face, his thumb running over her cheekbone affectionately.]

Why would I want to leave you, my love?

[bryces_pup]

To give yourself some space to process it without me hanging about.

[Riona won't lie, she's enormously relieved at his words. A shaky smiles forms as she leans against the hand pressed to her face.]

I don't want you to get too overwhelmed. There's so much to take in the first few weeks anyone is here, and in this regard, I'm just complicating matters. [And in truth, she's terrified she'll do something to scare him. It's not a fear she normally entertains, but with how long they've been separated and how hard it's been on her, it's very much a concern.]

[reluctantbastard]

[He's a little afraid to let go of her. He knows that she's not a liar, so it's not that he doesn't believe her. It's a lot to take in, certainly. And there's a lot of opportunity for him to run if he wanted.

However, this is his wife, no matter the circumstances. There might be twelve years between them, but it's still her. She's still the most beautiful woman he's ever known and he can't help but smile when she does.]

Sweet Andraste, Riona. What would being apart do besides make you unhappy? I suppose that confusion has always been a rather large part of my life. Why should that change now?

[bryces_pup]

I'd rather be unhappy than overwhelm you too much. But if you're sure...

[Just then the tea kettle starts to whistle. Riona gives his hand a squeeze before getting up to take it off the stove, pouring it out into the cups for them both.]

Any preference for what you want in it? We have lemon - or something close to it - sugar, honey, and I think there's something akin to cinnamon around here, too.

[She's taking advantage of the interruption to steady herself, focusing on making the tea before delving back into the conversation.]