notea | [GENESSIA] IC CONTACT

[ In the three weeks since they spoke last, Lioriley has not slept. She's kept herself as busy as possible — at work, adventuring outside the city, researching in the library — for an excuse to not return home. It was difficult to avoid seeing Solas at work, but not nearly as hard as it was when they lived in the same place.

Which isn't to say she wanted to avoid him — but she also didn't know what she might say or do when she saw him again. The tension in the air between them was thick and uncomfortable after they parted last; and Lioriley wasn't entirely sure what to say to him now. Should she apologize? Tell him how she felt? No. She did nothing wrong — but she hadn't done anything right either.

Eventually though. She has to go to the house for one reason or another. And when she does she practically runs into Solas upon opening the front door. For a split second she just stares at him, then quickly turns her eyes to the side. ]

My apologies, I did not think you were home.

[Solas, on the contrary, had found himself retreating to sleep more than perhaps he normally would, outside of working. There was a lot on his mind, conflicting emotions and desires that he was having an unnaturally long time sorting through. He'd made a misstep, one that had undoubtedly harmed someone he'd come to respect as an equal.

He was leaving the house with books tucked under his arms, a satchel across his chest and a far off expression on his face. He wasn't paying attention, and he'd almost bumped right into the very woman he'd both been avoiding and wanting to see again. There's a fleeting expression of sadness that blips onto his features for a moment but then it's gone again as the fingers of the hand next to his satchel flex a little.]

No. Don't apologize, you have nothing to be sorry for. [He finds it hard to look at her, but manages. It's partially relief and partially disappointment he feels when he sees that she's looking elsewhere, obviously purposefully.]

Perhaps it is I that owe you.

It is fine. No harm done. [ She can only assume he's talking about apologizing for almost bumping into her. If he's apologizing for something else, well, she's apparently not acknowledging it.

It's hard not to look at him, and harder still to pretend that she doesn't want to. The lack of sleep, even for a Lunari as old as she is, has clearly taken its toll on her via faded leylines and dark circles around her eyes. She fidgets nervously with fingers twining together and feet shuffling as she makes room for him to move, should her choose to leave. ]

Were you headed out? [ Maybe she shouldn't have asked. Maybe he won't answer. ]

I feel as though you are miss attributing my apology, Lioriley. [But as he watches her, her lack of sleep IS obvious, enough so that he considers his next steps carefully. He finally settles on setting a hand on her shoulder, stepping over in order to gently guide her inside.

It's an awkward shuffling of positions, but he manages one way or another, and in the same motion sets the satchel he'd been wearing on the ground, forgotten for now.]

You look exhausted. I have some herbs that should provide some comfort.

Then I am sorry for that as well. [ She's clearly not all there currently, and as the words slip from her lips with no proper filtering, she immediately regrets them. Hopefully, he doesn't think her tone aggressive or condescending; because she is genuinely sorry for possibly misinterpreting whatever he was apologizing for.

And she's not stupid, she knows what he means but she doesn't let herself acknowledge it because even after three long weeks alone she still doesn't know how to respond. On the plus side, she's so caught up in these random, babbling thoughts that she doesn't notice she's walking forward until she's already inside and he's speaking again. ]

I have been thinking a lot lately. [ She says, finally looking up to him with a faint smile finally curving the corners of her lips. ] I shall not object to it, so long as it will not keep you from your business.

As have I. I believe I owe you an explaination for the other day. [He says this without looking at her, busying himself with herbs and mixtures, hands working away at creating some sort of """""tea"""" that should help ease Lior into a state that would at least allow her some rest.]

...It is a.... Complicated matter. But I do not feel as though it is fair to you, to avoid it any longer. [as he says this he turns, holding a shallow cup out to Lior, the liquid dark green. His face is solomn, but not unkind. Perhaps, if someone knew him well enough they could figure he's doing his best to hedge his bets.]

[ Despite her best efforts, her smile begins to wane just as soon as it had come. Her eyes dart from Solas' face to the cup he offers, fingers curling around it without her even realizing what she's doing. She stares down at the liquid, still swirling just a little in the cup before she offers him, once more, her full attention. ]

I am too used to complicated matters. [ She offers, sincerely enough. It's not an inaccurate statement, given the ridiculous events of her life. Nothing can be done without some kind of complication - including, but not limited to, having feelings for someone. ] If you care to elaborate now, however, I am willing to listen.

[He's still standing when she looks back at him, and for a moment he almost loses his nerve, almost choosing to withdraw back and retreat again.] There is much I have not told you.

...Enough that I feel as though I have not been honest with you. [he pauses. finally choosing to settle down in a chair across from Lior.] How much do you recall of what I've said about the Elves of Thedas and their relationship with the fade?

[ Lioriley has absolutely no idea where he's going with this, and that fact alone is unsettling enough. But the addendum of 'not being honest with her' is what really gets her stomach to drop. She feels like she's going to be sick, and while she doesn't want to think ill of him and wants to give him the benefit of the doubt here — she can't help but worry.

Needless to say, she's glad she's chosen to sit now. She sets her tea on the table. ]

Quite a bit. I have it all written down. [ practically every word he said to her in regards to his homeland. She silently waits for him to continue. ]

Then you will recall what I said about the events that lead up to the fade being separated from the rest of Thedas, and the effect it had. [he pauses, considering for a moment.]

And, if I recall, I touched on the subject of the beliefs of the Dalish. As well as the situation currently unfolding in Thedas, the inquisition and my part in it. Most importantly the artifact that created the anchor. It is a Dalish relic, Fen'Harel's. [another pause as he watches Lior's facial expression. He almost looks like he wasn't going to stop there, but instead he pauses to give her a chance to speak.]

[ Lioriley is silent for the duration, trying to piece together all the things he told her about Thedas in the time since he arrived. There's a lot to unpack there, and even more as he speaks that only serves to confuse her.

Her expression is just that: confused; brows furrowed, a finger curled against her lower lip, and her lips down turned in a heavy frown. Not so much disapproving as uncertain. ]

Forgive me, but I do not quite understand the correlation to our current situation. [ She almost wishes she didn't say that. ]

[How does he say this? He frowns, considering. He has not been fully truthful with her. Not that he's lied, but his identity and purpose he has left nebulous and full of half truths.]

It is my relic. One I never intended the inquisitor to wind up with.

[ Another pause, shorter than the last and yet so much more prominent. It all comes together in a whirlwind of emotions she can't quite parse. Confused, slightly angry, but mostly saddened by this realization. Her fingers unfurl, resting against parted lips. Stunned. ]

You — you are the dread wolf. [ Not a question so much as a statement she feels needs to be said aloud, for confirmation. But she's heard the tales, and she'd like to think she understood them. ] All those tales you told me were spoken from experience, not merely stories. I ...

Has 'Solas' been a lie, or is there truth to that as well?

I was Solas first, Dread Wolf is derogatory, a title I did not ask for but took the mantle of in any case.

[More or less, anyway. But even though he's told her the clarity of it all, he doesn't entirely feel less burdened. He's shared the past, but the future...]

I felt you deserved to know the whole of it. Though you are not from Thedas, I would not want to continue to gain your attention under false pretenses.

I am sorry, I did not mean — [ She only barely knows what she's apologizing for at this point, honestly. She didn't mean to use the derogatory term that he has used himself? Shit. She's panicking. Her heart is racing, leylines glowing. Solas should know the tells well enough by now to discern how she feels. Frantic, she look still keeps her eyes on him. ]

I am glad you told me, I just — this is not quite what I expected. [ She expected something akin to him not telling her the whole truth about himself, but not this. Not something so intense and almost insane in how elaborate and complicated it is.

Just give her a minute to compose herself. ]

[ AN ACTUAL FUCKING MINUTE LATER, assuming Solas didn't try and talk to her during that time, she manages to compose herself; her hand dropping to instead fiddle with the edge of her blouse. She doesn't know what to say, not really, or if she should say anything at all.

Maybe it's more like two minutes before she speaks again. ]

Whatever title you might have held, or still hold; and whatever you had done in Thedas — I have no say in that. But I fell for Solas, the one that I met here those months ago... and that despite this revelation I still hold true to that.

[There is some small comfort in her words. He finds he much prefers being just Solas in her company, which is what had prompted all of this. He could just forget what lies in wait in Thedas and live for what peace he's found in this world... but.]

A relief, if I'm honest. I was not sure how you would feel. There is still a role I must play back in Thedas, plans I have laid that... [that he still feels are important and must happen.

It's a shame he's sitting across from her at the table or he'd take her by the hand, instead his hands rest on the table, fingers curling into relaxed fists] ...It's hard to remain focused on those goals, in your presence.

[ A part of her is curious and wants to ask for details of his future plans, but the smarter part of her says to let it be. If he feels he can and wants to tell her; then he will. He's already admitted this much, and even that seems to be burdening him.

She has no right to judge — she's told him practically nothing of her own life. Perhaps it's not as extreme, but the fact remains that secrets are still held between them on both sides.

Lioriley decides to take the initiative now, opting to just stand up and bridge the gap between them across the table. Her arms extend, looping around Solas' shoulders and hugging herself to him. Somewhat awkward, given that she's standing and he's sitting now, but it works. ]

I would not think to hinder you, should you choose instead to focus on the plans you have made in your homeland. But perhaps it is not entirely unwise to take advantage of this chance we have been given, to appreciate the time we can spend together here.

[Of all the things that could have happened in this point in time, the current situation is not one he had anticipated. This is probably why he's a terribly shitty villain. As it is a little awkward considering his seated position he does gingerly rise to his feet in the same motion as he wraps his arms around Lioriley.]

Perhaps. [At least, for now. There's no way to get back to Thedas here. Despite how uncomfortable this conversation may have been there's the barest upturn of the corners of his lips as he looks down at Lior.] There may be much I could learn from you, as it turns out.

[The rest of the story can wait, perhaps if Lior wishes to know more she will ask? For now, however, Solas lifts one hand to cup the side of Lior's face, closing the distance between the two of them until his lips are pressed against hers.]

[ It's a dangerous game, asking too many questions. She doesn't have all that much to hide — at least nothing so far as deity-hood or anything similar — but she also doesn't want to burden him with centuries of guilt and war, misery that he does not need added to his own troubles. And he seems to have many of those. She also doesn't want him to know, not yet.

Secrets are kept as such, at least for now, and she is fine with that. She knows enough (she thinks) to gather how she feels about him, still. And as she looks at him, notes that smile and mirrors it with her own, she does not worry so much about the future. This is better than what they had the past few weeks. ]

Likewise. [ She tilts her head, fingers brushing under his chin as she eases up on her toes to return the kiss. She's been wanting to do that since that time on the beach, right before this stupid misunderstanding went down. She grips at the front of his shirt for leverage, and perhaps to make sure he doesn't go too far. ]

[GENESSIA] IC CONTACT

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1/2 for a literal time skip rip

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A MINUTE ISN'T A TIMESKIP YOU BUTTHEAD

leanna needed a minute to fucking write that reply

god

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