ic contact

[dawnwillcome]

Leave me a message if something has happened that I should know about.

If this is about saving the world, press 1.
If something needs to be done about Dorian, please press 2.

text | video | voice | action

Comments

Video;

[serpentis]

[And that would be a Dorian, drunk dialing late at night.]

Jove, my dear, I've had a wonderful night. Go on, ask me how wonderful it was.

Video;

[dawnwillcome]

Hmff?

[Who has two pointy ears and the chance to actually sleep through the entire night instead of being woken up at all hours to deal with new and exciting ways for the world to fall apart? That would be this Inquisitor right here, so when she gets the call she isn't entirely pleased about it. But then it's Dorian's voice, Dorian's face, and she swipes a hand across her eyes and sits up, gives him a smile.]

Dorian. How wonderful was it?

Video;

[serpentis]

I shared drinks with a very charming elf from Tevinter, didn't muss my hair, and only fell out of my seat once. And I have whiskey left over.

[He smiles a bit.]

Video;

[dawnwillcome]

Elf from... do you mean Fenris? You had drinks with Fenris?

[This seems impossible, what is happening.]

Video;

[serpentis]

Yes, the handsome one, with the tattoo-like marks.

[Really narrowing it down there, Dorian.]

We talked. We talked about revolution. And other things. It was marvelous.

Video;

[dawnwillcome]

You're aware we're all good looking and most of us have tattoos, of course.

[And she's really not awake enough for this, if such a thing exists.]

Do you realize you're making no sense? What revolution can you start here?

Video;

[serpentis]

I should have been more specific when talking to a particularly good-looking elf, my apologies.

[And he drunkenly shushes her.]

No, no, when we return home. We're going to Tevinter. I have to sort out the minutia, but we're going to change things. You are, of course, welcome to join us.

Video;

[dawnwillcome]

[His drunken shushes are pretty cute, so she'll allow it. She'll indulge his drunken plans as well, because there's really no reason to stop his fun. Creators know he deserves to have some for once.]

That Avvar who threw goats at my castle should have gotten his weapons by now, you can ask him to help as well.

Video;

[serpentis]

I will take any and all that will join us.

[He leans over, ferreting around in his bed for something, and pulls out a bottle of whiskey, uncapping it and taking a swig.

May as well just keep drinking.

He murmurs in Tevene for a few moments, and then seamlessly leads into their shared tongue.]

...Jove, do you think it is possible that I could find a man? There were two earlier that I saw, despite their coarseness, they seemed happy. They said they were to wed. I didn't think that was possible.

Video;

[dawnwillcome]

[And just like that she's entirely awake and taking this conversation seriously. How can he ask her that question?]

Of course you can, Dorian. Not only that, you will find someone. I'll make sure of it however I have to.

Video;

[serpentis]

Other worlds are so different. Imagine, a place where men like myself are more accepted, not forced to live a lie. It seems impossible, but...perhaps it exists. Somewhere.

[He takes another drink.]

You're a better friend than I deserve. Should you find someone, do let me know, won't you? I get terribly lonely at times and wouldn't argue against someone obligated to fawn over me.

[And at the last he smiles, but there are tears in his eyes. He's been so alone, for so many years, never having known actual love. And not the chance it may exist for him...it seems too good to be true.]

Video;

[dawnwillcome]

[It's very, very tempting to just open a rift now and hope she can find her way through to him, because this is torture. From the very beginning she hasn't been able to stand him looking so upset, but him being about to cry and her unable to do anything about it? It makes her feel sick.]

It's like that in Thedas, Dorian. It's closer than you think.

[It comes out softer than she means it to because she so desperately wants him to believe it, to have hope in something that had once seemed so small. Inquisitor or not, she's seeing less and less problems in marching into Tevinter and lighting every magister she can find on fire.]

And I will, but it's going to take time. It has to be someone worthy of you, someone who won't try to take advantage. Someone good for you.

Video;

[serpentis]

Not in Tevinter. For all of my travels, it remains home.

[He says it almost apologetically.

And then he nods, and wipes at his face, steadying himself. It's bittersweet, knowing that something like that was so close, but still so far. He knew she was right, but part of him was desperate, wondering with every man that he spoke with, was there ever a chance they could be with him?

More and more often, it seemed like no.]

Thank you. You're a far better friend than I deserve. Were I able, I would even kiss your cheek, but for now, consider it a debt owed.

[He yawns.]

I've found a proper bed. It's only myself but...I suppose it's better than a cot for the night. Goodnight, my dear.

Video;

[dawnwillcome]

[There's still so much she wants to say, though. She wants to promise him a place in Skyhold, because as much as she loves her clan she doesn't see herself return to them permanently. She's changed too much, seen too much of the world to go back to such a small life. Her friends, should they stay with her after all of this, are too dear.

But he's never been anything but devoted to his homeland, and even if she hates that it tears him up this way begging him to stay away for his own safety seems cruel. What if he did, just to please her? Out of fear he might lose such a close friend? She wouldn't - couldn't - risk that.]

We've only a few days left. I'd share with you, if you wanted. I'm lacking a few of the parts you're drawn to, but I wouldn't want you to feel so lonely.

Sleep well, Dorian. I'll contact you tomorrow.

[And every day after that until they've been reunited.]

Video;

[serpentis]

[And then he scoffs, smirking.]

We will see what happens, hmm? I'll have to find a better room, and enough blankets to smother the entire Inquisition. And I suppose I could not blame you for wanting to be so close to someone with my looks, after all.

[That feels a bit better, safer.]

I look forward to it.

ACTION; BACK AT A LITTLE HOTEL ON ACCENDO

[serpentis]

[He returns late, having stopped to pick up a bottle of whiskey, and closes the door, locking in behind him. He stands there, near the doorway of the small room, and finally looks over.

It's easier to be chipper, to wear the false bravado around him, but he can't bring himself to be fake, not to Jove. Instead, he settled on the edge of the bed, and sighs wearily.]

And I thought I would have been happier to know some things.

[dawnwillcome]

[Well, she had been reading one of the books he had picked up, but that goes right out the window when she looks up and sees the state Dorian is in. The only other time she's seen him look this way was when she had taken him to meet with his father and just after that, back at Skyhold.

For something to have done that here...

She sets the book aside at once as she sits up, reaching out to lay her hand on his arm.]

What's happened, Dorian?

[serpentis]

I came across someone, a man. Dalish. Arhen Lavellan. I doubt you know him, he didn't know you.

[Dorian feels almost numb, the strange hope and sorrow mixing in his heart and leaving him feeling hollow. Her hand on his arm is barely registered, but her fingers touch nearly the same place that Arhen's had.

Maker, he wished he had done more.]

Or, rather, he is you, in a way. In a different timeline. He knows himself as Inquisitor Lavellan.

[dawnwillcome]

[They all used Lavellan as something of a last name, so it isn't particularly surprising to hear that someone else would have been using it the same way. She almost agrees, tells him the name isn't familiar, but then there's... well, all the rest.]

He's- you're sure? [It makes no sense, but immediately Jove regrets the question and she scoots closer to Dorian, reaching for him with her other hand now.] Of course you're sure, ignore me. But there's something more to this, Dorian.

[serpentis]

When he saw me, and when we parted ways, he called me something. I hadn't heard it before, but...I knew what it meant. The implication of it.

[The words echoed in his empty heart.]

Ma vhenan, he called me.

[dawnwillcome]

[She just can't seem to keep her hands still because now one flies up to her mouth, covering it as she gasps. Another Inquisitor, with the name of her clan, and he's going around calling Dorian my heart.]

You're certain that's what he said?

[serpentis]

[Dorian nods, his limbs feeling heavy. He just wants to crawl under the blanket and sleep for ages, sleep until all of this is sorted out around him.]

Completely certain. I...couldn't bring myself to ask if he and I...

[He sighed softly.]

[dawnwillcome]

[A Dalish elf calling a human from Tevinter ma vhenan. There's so much meaning behind it, a weight to those words that Dorian has no way of knowing, but is it anywhere near her place to tell him so soon? She wants to, desperately, but she doesn't even know this other Lavellan, this... Arhen, was it? It's entirely possible he wouldn't want Dorian to know every single thing.

Dorian deserves something, though. Some sort of comfort, of reassurance.]

It isn't something any Dalish would say to a human lightly.

[serpentis]

I thought not, least of all a Tevinter. I've understood the gravity of our relationship, you and I, but this...

[He lets out a shaky breath.]

Perhaps there's a world where I knew love. True love, not...whatever I've felt, before. But I couldn't ask him. We only spoke briefly. Vinhedis, I should have asked him more, but...I couldn't. The worlds wouldn't leave my lips.

[dawnwillcome]

You'll have other chances, Dorian. [She'll see to it, she'll kidnap the other Lavellan if she has to.] After such a shock, it was better to take time to think of what you'd like to know.

[Her heart aches for him, truly, because hadn't she just been insisting he would have that, exactly that? Real love from someone who deserved him, someone who knew the cost and the gravity of it. Who better than an elf from her own clan? It feels too strange to think who better than herself, even if he is another Inquisitor, but if he feels anything like Jove does about Dorian, it's a very good start.

She pulls Dorian closer, leans in to hug him.]

If there's anything I can do to help you, you'll tell me, won't you?