Gardens, you got it. I should be there in 10. Or, uh, soon.
[Timekeeping in Thedas is, generally, somewhat less precise than that. But the estimate isn't far off, once she puts her work away and makes her way down the stairs. Maybe a little closer to 15, but by Cosima's standards, definitely in the ballpark.
She's got an eye out as soon as the gardens are in her line of sight, though. She suspects Herian might try to stand if not waved to keep sitting promptly.]
( Given that it’s Cosima she’s speaking to, Herian was quite prepared to wait a while longer. Cosima is wise in her insights, though - as Herian sights her rounding a rosebush coming into flower, she braces her right hand against the arm of the bench to try and push herself up. Practicality did not override decades of formality, after all.
She is much improved from when she first arrived. The bruises are entirely faded away, and she no longer needs to be so heavily bandaged. A brace is still on her left wrist and her right thigh. Next to her there is a collection of flowers, being woven into a crown, because Starkhaven alienage had few things, but it did have flowers, and they’ve always soothed.
Herian glances to the sky, and makes a sound of apparent surprise at the sun’s position. )
( She remembers some of what Cosima would speak of, germs and the irrelevance of miasma theory and the spirals in lifetimes. Her mouth tugs at the side with the little smile, though she looks away, idly taking up the flower crown and a couple of daisies. )
I’m told that training is strictly prohibited, for the foreseeable future. The— loss of that is proving more trying than I’d like to admit.
( Well might she hold vigil and be silent and still, but her training was a means of focus, weapon of discipline that she could turn against herself as well as others. To be denied that means of channeling her energies is difficult.
oh hey, and surprise, Franklin just rocked up and snooted the back of Cosima’s calf. He also has a flower collar, don’t judge her. )
Actually, I had— I hoped to apologise. For all that I was ragged, when I learned of your return, my behaviour was unfair in the extreme. You did nothing to deserve that, and— even if it were not unknightly,
( She rolls her eyes at herself, for that,) it was cruel and said in the heat of— nothing justified.
( A pause. ) I meant to ask if I could apologise, but...
I appreciate the apology. And you're totally forgiven. None of us are at our best when we're in pain.
[She glances out at the garden around them.]
This was always going to be weird and complicated. But I'm still ... I'm really glad you're here. I thought I might have to start all this over on my own, and I would have but, man, that's ... it's a lot. Especially when everything around here reminded me of you, you know?
It was... complicated to be once again in Skyhold. I associated so much of it with you.
( Herian shakes her head at herself a little, and Franklin insistently pushes her hand with his nose, so she absently begins petting his ears.
A quiet breath of laughter, and she shakes her head at herself, at both of them, at the weirdness of— of all of this, before reaching into her pocket. )
This is yours.
( She holds out a ring to Cosima - a familiar vibrant stone, the one that had been enchanted for providing better light, and set in silver. )
There are nuances to its magic that I did not anticipate, but I would be glad to teach you.
I'd like that. A lot. Look ... things are complicated, and they're gonna be for a while, I think but what's not complicated is you're the person I know best here, and I care about you. That part isn't confusing.
[There's more that is complicated, and they both know it but ... baby steps. One at a time.]
Besides, [teasing] if I avoided you too long, Franklin would just come and shout at me until I thought better of it.
( A little smile flickers at the corner of Herian’s mouth. )
I think... for me at least, my first impulse is to turn to you. Consulting you for guidance on how best to contemplating and approach matters directly involving you seems a little tactless, but now you are here again, it feels strange to not—
( She gestures a bit uselessly. There isn’t really anything adequate for it.
Franklin, for his part, is trying to lovingly chomp on Cosima’s hands. More attention pls, thank u. Herian raises an eyebrow at the useless boy. )
He is very persuasive. Perhaps I should mirror his approach.
Hey. It's not tactless to check in with somebody if you're not sure where things are at, you know? We've been apart a long time, of course we're gonna have to play catch up, some. That's not a failing, that's just, I don't know, life.
[She shifts so she can give Franklin the demanded ear scritches he so richly deserves.]
I don't know a way to find out what we missed with each other without, you know. A little at a time. Dinner's a great start.
( You know that happy grumbly sound dogs make, and the unhelpful way they lean they full weight on the hand giving them scratches? That’s what’s happening. )
True. I cannot fault any part of that, and yet— it feels strange.
( She glances down at the woven flowers she was working on, adjusting one slightly, smoothing over the stems with her thumb - a needless, self-soothing gesture. Perhaps she is over thinking, could make this awkward if she dwelled too much. )
Nothing major. I'm still trying to work back through the notes from when I was gone, see what I missed. There's lots of them, which, you know. Good because lots of information, bad because a lot of it to sift through. But all of it will be there tomorrow. How about you?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Timekeeping in Thedas is, generally, somewhat less precise than that. But the estimate isn't far off, once she puts her work away and makes her way down the stairs. Maybe a little closer to 15, but by Cosima's standards, definitely in the ballpark.
She's got an eye out as soon as the gardens are in her line of sight, though. She suspects Herian might try to stand if not waved to keep sitting promptly.]
no subject
She is much improved from when she first arrived. The bruises are entirely faded away, and she no longer needs to be so heavily bandaged. A brace is still on her left wrist and her right thigh. Next to her there is a collection of flowers, being woven into a crown, because Starkhaven alienage had few things, but it did have flowers, and they’ve always soothed.
Herian glances to the sky, and makes a sound of apparent surprise at the sun’s position. )
Have you become more hasty, these past years?
( Can they tease? Is teasing okay? )
no subject
Maybe. Or maybe I just always need to be heading downstairs to get to places on time?
[One of those. She comes to sit on the bench, maybe not as close as she once would have, but relaxed.]
You're looking better. How are you feeling?
no subject
( She remembers some of what Cosima would speak of, germs and the irrelevance of miasma theory and the spirals in lifetimes. Her mouth tugs at the side with the little smile, though she looks away, idly taking up the flower crown and a couple of daisies. )
I’m told that training is strictly prohibited, for the foreseeable future. The— loss of that is proving more trying than I’d like to admit.
( Well might she hold vigil and be silent and still, but her training was a means of focus, weapon of discipline that she could turn against herself as well as others. To be denied that means of channeling her energies is difficult.
oh hey, and surprise, Franklin just rocked up and snooted the back of Cosima’s calf. He also has a flower collar, don’t judge her. )
Actually, I had— I hoped to apologise. For all that I was ragged, when I learned of your return, my behaviour was unfair in the extreme. You did nothing to deserve that, and— even if it were not unknightly,
( She rolls her eyes at herself, for that,) it was cruel and said in the heat of— nothing justified.
( A pause. ) I meant to ask if I could apologise, but...
( Apparently she just blathered. Cool. )
no subject
[She smiles. Warm.]
I appreciate the apology. And you're totally forgiven. None of us are at our best when we're in pain.
[She glances out at the garden around them.]
This was always going to be weird and complicated. But I'm still ... I'm really glad you're here. I thought I might have to start all this over on my own, and I would have but, man, that's ... it's a lot. Especially when everything around here reminded me of you, you know?
no subject
( Herian shakes her head at herself a little, and Franklin insistently pushes her hand with his nose, so she absently begins petting his ears.
A quiet breath of laughter, and she shakes her head at herself, at both of them, at the weirdness of— of all of this, before reaching into her pocket. )
This is yours.
( She holds out a ring to Cosima - a familiar vibrant stone, the one that had been enchanted for providing better light, and set in silver. )
There are nuances to its magic that I did not anticipate, but I would be glad to teach you.
no subject
Oh man, yeah, totally. I mean, thank you. I assumed all my stuff from before was long gone.
[She reaches out to take the ring.]
What kind of nuances?
no subject
( She’s glad to let Cosima take it, the smile small but lingering. )
There may be more to it. It— I wore it for comfort, more than to explore its limits.
( There is a pause, during which Franklin turns his attention to Cosima, hopping at her in the hopes she might let him up onto her lap. )
Would you— uh.
( Why is this so difficult )
If you are so inclined, I would be honoured if you joined me for dinner. Only if you wish to, not— there is not obligation or expectation.
no subject
[There's more that is complicated, and they both know it but ... baby steps. One at a time.]
Besides, [teasing] if I avoided you too long, Franklin would just come and shout at me until I thought better of it.
no subject
I think... for me at least, my first impulse is to turn to you. Consulting you for guidance on how best to contemplating and approach matters directly involving you seems a little tactless, but now you are here again, it feels strange to not—
( She gestures a bit uselessly. There isn’t really anything adequate for it.
Franklin, for his part, is trying to lovingly chomp on Cosima’s hands. More attention pls, thank u. Herian raises an eyebrow at the useless boy. )
He is very persuasive. Perhaps I should mirror his approach.
no subject
[She shifts so she can give Franklin the demanded ear scritches he so richly deserves.]
I don't know a way to find out what we missed with each other without, you know. A little at a time. Dinner's a great start.
no subject
True. I cannot fault any part of that, and yet— it feels strange.
( She glances down at the woven flowers she was working on, adjusting one slightly, smoothing over the stems with her thumb - a needless, self-soothing gesture. Perhaps she is over thinking, could make this awkward if she dwelled too much. )
Do you have much planned for the rest of the day?
no subject