There's still a stab of guilt when she sees his fleeting expression, even this many months after she made the decision that led to both the shard and his displeasure. Maybe she should have let him talk her out of it, or at least given him the opportunity to try; but it's beyond them both, now.
"I will," she promises. It's both easy and not to forget she's done this. Gloves are nothing new to her, and she's kept part of herself locked away from strangers' eyes before. "So far nothing has changed about it." Just in case he was wondering.
As far as Tony and Wysteria go, well. She swallows, and nods, before leaning up on her toes and kissing Ellis on the cheek. "I'll do all I can to keep them safe. Despite the Provost's...everything." Difficulty at staying out of dangers' way, for starters. Wysteria is nearly as bad but. At least some of that doesn't appear to be her fault, as far as Adrasteia can tell.
puts the most shamed hand over timestamps, forgive
Ellis bends to meet her, opposite hand coming to her hip to steady her. If there's some minor tension pulling his shoulders tighter, it doesn't culminate in anything spoken aloud.
Adrasteia is well, and the shard doesn't pain her. She can be trusted to keep Tony and Wysteria safe as can be in the midst of Riftwatch's work. And Adrasteia will be well, because that is her habit.
"Thank you," is what he tells her, though he's equally sincere over this second expression of gratitude. "If we're lucky, it will be a quiet few months."
Though the chances of Riftwatch staying collectively out of trouble for more than a week at a time—
Well.
"They'll keep you busy, so you'll have little time to worry over me."
She makes a disapproving sound at his mention of 'luck' and presses her lips together, amused but shaking her head. Clearly, he's gone and jinxed it now— but she won't say as much. Especially when he's just about to leave.
"Truly," she says instead, of Wysteria and Tony and their collective ability to keep her worried about them instead of him. She smiles. Adrasteia suspects she'll worry anyway. It's just the sort of stuff she's made of.
There's nothing left to say. No more goodbyes or good lucks or well-wishes. She won't jinx them doubly. "May Andraste watch over you," she says instead, hoping that her prayers are more than just noise in this moment.
She needs him to come back in one piece and alive.
There is no need to contradict her, though it seems that Andraste turned her face from him long ago. This is about Adrasteia, what might give her some small comfort in the face of what they're attempting.
And so here, instead of gratitude, Ellis lifts a hand to cup her cheek. He bends, sets a brief, soft kiss to the crown of her forehead.
"I will see you soon," Ellis promises, as he draws away. Not a good-bye. The same easy thing that might be said if he were riding out to see to a rift, or run an errand in Kirkwall. Soon.
Soon as if he is not going so far.
He takes the reins. It's time to make his way to the ferry, and that promise will have to hold space for him until he makes good on it.
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"I will," she promises. It's both easy and not to forget she's done this. Gloves are nothing new to her, and she's kept part of herself locked away from strangers' eyes before. "So far nothing has changed about it." Just in case he was wondering.
As far as Tony and Wysteria go, well. She swallows, and nods, before leaning up on her toes and kissing Ellis on the cheek. "I'll do all I can to keep them safe. Despite the Provost's...everything." Difficulty at staying out of dangers' way, for starters. Wysteria is nearly as bad but. At least some of that doesn't appear to be her fault, as far as Adrasteia can tell.
puts the most shamed hand over timestamps, forgive
Adrasteia is well, and the shard doesn't pain her. She can be trusted to keep Tony and Wysteria safe as can be in the midst of Riftwatch's work. And Adrasteia will be well, because that is her habit.
"Thank you," is what he tells her, though he's equally sincere over this second expression of gratitude. "If we're lucky, it will be a quiet few months."
Though the chances of Riftwatch staying collectively out of trouble for more than a week at a time—
Well.
"They'll keep you busy, so you'll have little time to worry over me."
A blessing, right?
always always
"Truly," she says instead, of Wysteria and Tony and their collective ability to keep her worried about them instead of him. She smiles. Adrasteia suspects she'll worry anyway. It's just the sort of stuff she's made of.
There's nothing left to say. No more goodbyes or good lucks or well-wishes. She won't jinx them doubly. "May Andraste watch over you," she says instead, hoping that her prayers are more than just noise in this moment.
She needs him to come back in one piece and alive.
just in time to stick a lil bow on this i think
And so here, instead of gratitude, Ellis lifts a hand to cup her cheek. He bends, sets a brief, soft kiss to the crown of her forehead.
"I will see you soon," Ellis promises, as he draws away. Not a good-bye. The same easy thing that might be said if he were riding out to see to a rift, or run an errand in Kirkwall. Soon.
Soon as if he is not going so far.
He takes the reins. It's time to make his way to the ferry, and that promise will have to hold space for him until he makes good on it.