#hopefully this is a good place to start? some folks already had some rather tasty thoughts on the tags of the other pieces referenced here!

[starflungwaddledee]

What's the story with the star spears in the galacta knight and starstruck drawing?

haha. well that is the question, isn't it?

[gegenji]

(Chachanji Gegenji) Saint Fathric's was usually a pretty serene and idyllic location, out and away. Perfect for tasty grasses for sheep or playing hide-and-seek. Very serene. However, that serenity was somewhat marred by the racket that seemed to be coming from below the lip of the cliff. Scratching, scraping, rumbling, and the sounds of rocks cascading into the lake below. And some low whining. (Chachanji Gegenji) "Do I -hafta- climb it thi' way? 'm sure there's gotta be a better way fer me ta get up there..." Silence. "Well, yeah, thi' DOES make it easier but..." A shorter beat. "N-no no no, thi' is fine! I dun need more!"

(Metarutaru Koradrixl) An unhelmed dwarf would begin his survey around Saint Fathric's. Concerning reports have mentioned of a powerful monster causing quite a bit of trouble for Il Mheg and even the Outskirts of Lakeland, so he's taken up the job to defeat this creature for the citizens' safety... and the money of course, can't forget that. (Metarutaru Koradrix) "Whew! Quite the climb! Shame I couldn't bring Gidgett with me, but she oughta be fine waiting back at Lakeland." (Metarutaru Koradrix) "Now where is that thing..."

(Chachanji Gegenji) The scrabbling and scratching would continue to grow louder until a rather sizable hand crested the lip of the cliff face to dig for purchase into the dirt and grass above. Followed shortly by the rest of a rather oversized-looking Lalafell (or helmetless Dwarf, here on the first) pulling himself up and flopping down in the dirt. "Ugh. Agh."

(Metarutaru Koradrixl) Hearing a voice that... definitely doesn't sound like a monster, but louder than he expected nonetheless, would turn to the source of the voice. "Lali-WHAT!?" He would be shocked at the sight! A Giant Dwarf! A contradiction if he ever heard one! Perhaps that is the monster causing all the mayhem! He'd have a hand on his weapon, ready to attack as he moved closer... (Metarutaru Koradrix) "What in all of Norvandt...?"

(Chachanji Gegenji) Whatever the oversized creature was, it was breathing heavily from its exertions. Which ended in a long, rumbling groan as it pushed itself up and into a seated position with a very upset look on its face.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Well! Part of me feels it's hardly sporting to fight a monster that seems ready to keel over on it's own, but regardless!" He hops down from the rock. "Lali-Ho to you, ya foul experiment gone wrong! When I heard something was terrorizing citizens, I didn't know it was some-one-!"

(Chachanji Gegenji) Those large, long ears wiggled at the voice and he looked about. "H-huh? Someone's already found th' monster?" the understandably monsterously-sized figure mused in surprise - failing to notice the Dwarf as he clambered up to his feet to look around for where the beastie might be. Not entirely realizing that the Dwarf had been talking to him.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Hey! Don't you go ignoring me, you overgrown hunk of slag! And don't play dumb either! Course the monster's been found. I'm lookin' at ya right now!" He'd claim to the giant with a huff under his breath. To be looked down upon by another dwarf, and literally, no less!

(Chachanji Gegenji) Those long ears wiggled again, and the paradoxical giant dwarf finally had the sense to -look down- and see the other figure not even thirty fulms away from him. "... Oh hey, I didn't think I'd see 'nother Lalafell out thi' way!" he stated in surprise, kneeling down to get a better look at him. "Ya sayin' somethin' 'bout how ya found th' monster?"

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Whaddya mean If I found the monst- YOU! You're the monster! And what the heck is a Lalafell anyway! Eesh, whatever those pixies did to you must've warped your brain too! Don't worry, poor, corrupted Dwarf. I'll put ya out of your misery caused by those troublemakers, yeah?" He felt a bit bad about it. Poor guy must've been subjected to such horrible pixie magics to have them do his bidding and such.

(Chachanji Gegenji) "M-me...?" Chachan echoed, pointing to himself before scooting back a half-step as the pieces clicked into place. Which was a decent distance, comparatively. "A-ah! N-no no no! 'm-m not a monster! Honest!" He waved his hands out wildly in front of himself as if that would clear the air between them in a figurative sense.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Riiight, and I'm the bleeding Crystal Exarch!" He shook his head. "You're as tall as a small hill, when I got reports of a monster terrorizing the folks of Lakeland and Il Mheg." He looks around. "And I don't see anything else that would qualify as monstrous here! So what would that make you, hm?" (Metarutaru Koradrix) the Dwarf seemed a bit unconvinced at the scared giant dwarf/monster's claim.

(Chachanji Gegenji) "I-I dun ev'n know who tha' is!" he stammered back. "'n-n I haven't ev'n been outside'a Il Mheg! 'm tryin' ta find th' creature too! 's-s why 'm up 'ere!" He looked about wildly. "Gria! W-where'd ya go? A lil' help!" There was a flash of light and a delighted giggle and the oversized beast started getting LARGER. "N-not like tha', Gria!"

(Metarutaru Koradrix) He jumped back a bit. "Oh! Going to make it a challenge I see! You and that twisted little master of yours are going to have to go down!" He bangs upon his chest a few times to psych himself up, ready to take down this threat!

(Chachanji Gegenji) "'m-m not tryin' ta challenge anythin'!" the now excessively large Lalafell rumbled out, stumbling back another couple steps - the ground cracking dangerously beneath him as he neared the cliff edge.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Well, you'd better explain yourself, or I'll gladly find out if cowards float!" He got up the rock to be able to be somewhat closer to face level with the giant... though it's not by much.

(Chachanji Gegenji) Despite the obvious size difference between the two, the much larger one seemed very visibly upset by all this. "'m-m tryin' ta! Y-ya jus' dun believe me!" Seeing the dwarf clamber up onto the rock, he sat down to try to be closer to eye level. Hopefully so they could converse better and reach an understanding. "'m-m not normally thi'... big! Gria thought it'd be th' best way fer me ta get up 'ere ta find th' -actual- monster!" (Chachanji Gegenji) The ground rumbled dangerously again as that much Lalafell settled into a seated position (Chachanji Gegenji) ... Of course, even atop the rock, the dwarf was only up to the oversized fellow's knees.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Hey! Mind not taking the entire mountain with ya!?" He almost lost his balance for a moment. "Look... You can't really blame me for thinking you're the monster. No Dwarf is as big as a hill!" He decides to sit down. "Alright, be level with me here. What's the deal, yeah? Who are ya, what is this Lalafell you're talking about when we're clearly Dwarves... at least you -Look- like one."

(Chachanji Gegenji) "A-ah! S-sorry!" he yelped, reaching out to try and catch the dwarf before hesitating and instead drawing into himself. Trying to stay as still as possible. He looked... honestly hurt. Ready to cry even. "I-I know thi' ain't normal..." he whimpered, another odd sound coming from someone of his stature. "'m-m Chachanji. 'n... um... I thought WE was Lalafell..." He motioned between the two of them. "Th-though I guess ya call us Dwarves ov'r 'ere in North Rant?" (Chachanji Gegenji) "Gria kept callin' me one too."

(Metarutaru KoradrixCoeurl) Now he just felt bad. Fighting a monster is supposed to be a fearsome, angry, and dangerous encounter!.... Not this. "Okay okay, no need to start with the waterworks. Il Mheg's got enough water with the Fuath in the lake." He shook his head. "So, Chachanji yeah? Definitely not a Dwarf name I've heard of before. Yeah, in -Norvandt-, we're known as Dwarves, as opposed to... Lah-lah-fell? from wherever you're from... Must've been somewhere real far out there before the whole Flood." He ponders.

(Chachanji Gegenji) "Flood?" he echoed curiously to himself, trying to both quiet his sniffling and also think of any floods he knew of. The one that came to mind was, of course, the one his brother spoke of - the flood that ended the War of the Magi. The Lalafell on this side of the world had been over here THAT long? Chachan looked honestly impressed as he rubbed at his eyes with his sleeve. "A-ah, I-I 'spose so. Pretty far 'way. Th' pixies brought me 'ere ta play." (Chachanji Gegenji) "'n help 'em wit monsters 'n stuff... w-which 's why I came up 'ere."

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Well... if that's really the case... Pixies do have a habit of messing with anyone and everyone. The fact that they didn't flat out turn you into a leafman or leave you lost forever is, honestly impressive on its own! So, what's say we start over, Chachanji. I'm Koratt, formerly of the Tholl tribe. I'd shake your hand but uh, your hand would crush my whole body... So a proper Lali-ho will suffice!"

(Chachanji Gegenji) "A-ah... I-I think they have more fun makin' me huge like thi'..." he stated, rubbing at the back of his neck. Their interest in that - and his reactions to it - were probably what was keeping them FROM turning him into a leafman. At the comment of the handshake issue, he raised a hand and waved it worriedly. "A-ah, I wouldn't crush ya! H-honest!" Though, seeing Koratt seemingly more keen to do this... custom, he tried to mimic it back. "'s-s nice ta meetcha, Mr. Koratt."

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Well! It's good to meet ya! Sorry about the uh... threatening to kill ya thing. And Shoot, if you're here to fight the monster too... I'd have no qualms 'bout working together! So long as you make sure I don't wind up like dirt under your boot, yeah? Don't want my life to end by an accident."

(Chachanji Gegenji) "'s-s fine, honest..." Chachan admitted, though his smile was a sad one. "'s-s not s'prisin' folks'd think 'm... w-well... a monster." He shook his head as if to dismiss the gloom from his mind and gave a bit warmer smile. "O-oh, ah, sure thin'! 'd be up fer workin' t'gether. 'n-n I ain't gonna step on a new friend! O-or anyone, fer tha' matter."

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Hey, if you wanna step on the monster I'm all for it! So! Let's see if we can't find this critter causing trouble in Il Mheg, Chachanji!" He nods, eager to lend a hand now that this prior confusion is dealt with... and hey, if they're busy messing around with him, here's hoping the Pixies won't start messing with him too! That'd be troublesome otherwise.

(Chachanji Gegenji) "W-well... i-if'n I hafta..." the oversized pacifist stated, lifting the dwarf up on his glove as he got to his feet. Which incidentally gave Koratt a pretty good vantage point to look around for where the creature would be. Being this high up was pretty handy! "I-I honestly dun like hurtin' anyone, but we can't let some monster go 'round hurtin' others neither..."

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "The way I see it, a bit of violence be necessary to keep the peace! Specially the way things have been now that all that corruption's going down! People and critters getting rowdy now that the end of the world isn't really coming to pass and whatnot. Still wishin' I can thank the folks who did all that work to fix things in Norvandt..." He let out a sigh, but he seemed content. "Now then!... Hmm... little critter, where would I hide if I were it...." Metarutaru Koradrix looks around.

(Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan blinked at that. The corruption was probably those Sin Eater things he'd help chase off now and then. Like ashkin or voidsent, really. But end of the world? Maybe that whole Bahamut thing had ramifications all the way out here? The oversized Lalafell shook his head. Now wasn't the time to worry too much about that. "R-right, th' monster, um..." He looked about too, scanning around from his sizeable vantage point for wherever this ACTUAL monster had gotten off to. (Chachanji Gegenji) "... Mebbe in those ruins ov'r there?" He pointed with his free hand.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Ah! That's as good a spot as any! Could be there or maybe hiding in a cave nearby or something. being all sneaky and whatnot, you know?" Metarutaru Koradrix nods to you.

(Chachanji Gegenji) "Ah, if'n they're in a cave then 'm gonna have pro'lems if'n Gria keeps bein' a meanie." The Lalafell would quickly regret those words, as the Pixie in question didn't take too kindly to being called a 'meanie.' "Maybe ye need ta be as big as yer mouth!" came an irate chime from up by Chachanji's ear. The oversized Lalafell panicked as more magic was pumped into him, covering his new friend carefully in both hands until it was over. When it was, Koratt had a much higher viewpoint. (Chachanji Gegenji) "'n ev'n moreso now," he sighed, moving quickly away from the cliff edge as it groaned worrisomely under his bulk. (Chachanji Gegenji) Once at the ruins - which was a matter of a few steps at this scale - he set his new companion down gently in front of it.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Ah jeez! Whatever is causing you to grow, mind telling her to slow it down some? You're gonna break everything the way you keep growing, villages included!" He shook his head a she was set down. "Hmm... Least we're both in one piece. Anyhow!" He would move in closely and would see the ruins. "Hmmm.." He'd take a small bag inhand toss it in the ruins, before keeping hidden behind the wall. The bag would pop and something that seemed sparkly would fly about in the ruins... (Metarutaru Koradrix) (A Glitter-like material! cuz it's always so hard to get that off of ya. Easy to find invisible folk with it! (Metarutaru Koradrix) well, if it's there!)

(Chachanji Gegenji) "'s-s Gria, sorry," he stated quietly as he gently settled down into a seated position to keep watch from outside the ruins. Even seated he could see a fair bit, and trying to help with the search would likely cause more harm than good until he at least convinced his upset pixie friend to get him back down to more manageable sizes.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) Looking carefully in, among the glitter there would be juuust a few specks of the glitter not on the ground or on the ruins walls, but instead floating... a tad unnaturally at that! "There you are, you sneaky little bugger..." Meta mutters and looks to his new giant friend and gives a nod to confirm something is indeed in there! He can't see it though aside from the specks of glitter on it, and wonders. "Does your magic mumbo-jumbo let you see it?" He'd ask.

(Chachanji Gegenji) "A-ah, I jus'... get big. If'n it's hidin', ya can prolly find it better'n I can..." he admitted. "I can... um... try'n spook it out by movin' th' rubble 'round or somethin'?" (Chachanji Gegenji) He likely could also just crush it at this size, but he didn't seem too keen on pointing that out. Not without knowing what it was first - if it was a sin eater or an ashkin or something, sure. But if it was a living thing - or, worse, another person - he wanted to try and avoid outright killing it if possible.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Hmm... Nah. you're big, so tell ya what, let's figure out what it is. If it really is a monster or not, I'm gonna draw it out. If it's dangerous, we get rid of it, if it ain't we'll see if we can't catch it and find a better way to deal with it! The Nu Mou are good with magic and might be able to help pacify it if we catch it, if it's worth saving."

(Chachanji Gegenji) "A-ah, so 'm on catchin' duty then?" the Lalafell asked with a sudden bright eagerness at the thought of capture over killing, shifting in his positioning so he was on all fours. "I-I'll do me best!" Somewhere nearby, Gria couldn't help but laugh at this visual of an oversized Lalafell hunkered down in front of the mouth of the ruins like a cat at a mouse-hole.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) Koratt ran in and cause a ruckus, letting out a burst of energy. It would be successful in revealing what was hiding in there, and Indeed it was indeed their quarry! A sin eater, and a Bear-sized one at that! Which compared to Koratt would be large indeed. "Ah-ha! There you are, you little bugger! You're done hurtin' the Lakeland folk!” (Metarutaru Koradrix) Koratt would move out of the ruins, the Bear-like sin eater following angrily, but it would only make it easier for Chachanji to assist once out!

(Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan started to lunge when Koratt was the first one out, but noted it was his friend just in time to hesitate - hand over the doorway but letting him go past. Due to that, however, when the sin eater came out right on his heels, he was too slow and the hand slammed down right behind the beast as it chased after the dwarf!

(Metarutaru Koradrix) With the hand behind the bear, Koratt is confident! The monster can't get away now! He smirks and charges the bear, using aetherical energy to slam into it hard, and knocking the sin-bear into the giant Dwarf's hand!

(Chachanji Gegenji) The sin eater crashes into the oversized Lalafell's thumb, and he's quick to rotate that hand and completely engulf the beast in it. It's like he's holding a guinea pig rather than a huge bear monster. His grip isn't super tight, and the beast wriggles and flails against him - clawing and biting at those large fingertips. Chachan winces in pain, but refuses to let go! (Chachanji Gegenji) "Th-thi' looks like a sin eater!" he states the obvious.

(Metarutaru Koradrix) Wouldn't be able to get a good clean shot at the bear as he'd like, due to the creature's wriggling and writhing. He'd get a swipe in, but the bear's struggling would get him hit with it's hindpaw, sending him back quite a bit. "Ack!"

(Chachanji Gegenji) "A-ah! Koratt!" Chachan yelps in alarm at his new friend being backhanded (or backpawed?) like that. Distracted by it, the sin eater gets a solid CHOMP on his thumb and the oversized Lalafell yelps and loosens his grip just enough that it's able to wriggle free!

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Grr! I ain't letting some bear make a meal of me!" He gets back up and would charge at the now freed bear! Taking a blocked hit from the sword, it pushed him back a bit and winced, but he went right back in and fought the creature tit-for-tat. thanks to the struggle earlier from their teamwork, it wouldn't be able to keep up and eventually fell, though Koratt was quite winded and a fair bit hurt too. "Hah....hah... Whew... Sin Eaters always are, quite something..."

(Chachanji Gegenji) Chachan wanted to assist in the scrap but the two were too interlocked with each other for him to get a blow without risking hitting his companion as well. His hand hovered nervously back and forth trying to find an opening until the stalwart dwarf got the final blow in.  As the beast slumped to the ground, Chachan shook his hand before lightly suckling on his bit thumb to numb the pain some. Given the size difference, it hadn't broken skin but that monster's jaws had PINCHED it pretty good. (Chachanji Gegenji) Given the creature was a soulless husk like an ashkin, and leaving any chance of it still able to move could result in his new friend or someone else being further harmed - or infected! Chachan only felt a twinge of regret for the life the bear once had before its transformation before he slammed a fist down into it, tendrils of white smoke curling up around the impact. (Chachanji Gegenji) "Th-there," he added as a bit of lame finality before looking to his friend. "A-are ya akay, Koratt?"

(Metarutaru Koradrix) Koratt winces a bit at the sight of the crushed sin eater, full glad he is on his side and actually didn't try to hurt the giant Dwarf before! He opts to sit down. "A little banged up... But nothing I can't get over with some rest, recovery, and alcohol, heh..." He snickers a bit before wincing. "Ow. How about you? He... He didn't infect you, I hope, did he cut your stab you with his claws?" He asked, visibly very concerned for Chachanji as he is unsure.

(Chachanji Gegenji) "Ah, I can help wit tha' a lil'..." he offered, holding a very large hand over the Dwarf. The hand would glow with a faint golden light as he sent some healing energy into his companion. His healing magic was usually rather weak - not good for much beyond minor scratches and scrapes - but bolstered with some of the extra aether in him due to his increased size, it would actually be able to do SOME actual mending. His form actually dwindled a bit in size as that aether was used up, but it would-- (Chachanji Gegenji) be difficult to notice given it was a couple fulms out of around a hundred and fifty. (Chachanji Gegenji) "'n 'm fine, dun worry... th' bites 'n stuff hurt, but it didn't break skin."

(Metarutaru Koradrix) He would feel himself getting better already! He smiles brightly at him. It would at least be enough to get back home safely, for sure. He nods to him. "Wow, wasn't expecting that... Thanks a bunch. Man, do I owe you an apology and then some for earlier! Tell you what, if you can find a way to be proper sized to walk into a town, You just have to let me treat you to some good food and drink! The least I could do for helping me here, Chachanji." Metarutaru Koradrix smiles at you.

(Chachanji Gegenji) "'m sorry I can't heal much more'n tha'. Ain't never been too good at it," Chachan stated apologetically, but with a smile. "'n-n dun worry about it. I... kinda can't blame ya fer thinkin' I was th' monster, y'know?" The smile is slightly tinged with sadness, but not nearly as much as before. Hard to be as upset about it when misunderstandings were corrected and a new friendship was forged! "'n-n 'm sure Gria'll help get me back down ta size." He scratched at his cheek. "I figger I owe 'em an-- (Chachanji Gegenji) apology first, though."

(Metarutaru Koradrix) "Well... Alright, I won't question magic shenanigans in Il Mheg... But if ya got the time, Meet me sometime at the Ostall Imperative! It's south of the gate to Il Mheg itself, and I'll treat ya! I need to head back to them and give 'em a heads up things are all safe here now. Well, as safe as Il Mheg can be, hah! I'll see you soon Chachanji!"

(Metarutaru Koradrix) He waves farewell to him, and making sure not to be in Il Mheg too long, risky business that is after all. He'd begin to work on his trek back down, revitalized by the healing.

(Chachanji Gegenji) "Ah, sure thin'. Will ya be able ta get down alright or...?" he started to offer, but the dwarf was already on his way. So he just gave him a wave as Gria twirled into existence next to his oversized ear, hands on hips. "Sure as ye are over a hundred fulms tall, Chachanji," they stated with a pout. "Ye -better- be apologizing! I gave you all that aether and you call me a MEANIE."

[maiden-of-wolves]

Fox & Ariel - Persistence

“Meeting” Scene Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Battle of Haven Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 The Winter Palace - Start The Winter Palace - Formal Introductions The Winter Palace - Secret Gathering The Winter Palace - Rift Battle The Winter Palace - Settling Caer Oswin

A tiny kind of fluffy thing? A particular thing just needed to happen.

It had become somewhat of a comfortable routine: she would finish with her daily regiments and whatever projects she had going with Dagna for the day and would sneak off to the kitchens to see what she could scrounge up for dinner. Sometimes she would just get a little thing for herself, but other evenings— almost exclusively when she knew there was no game of wicked grace planned— she would spend a fair amount of time there to cook a little something and brew some tea. It was mostly a source of amusement for the kitchen staff now and some younger folks did their best to help her when she was struggling.

Today she’d managed something fairly complex for her: baking banana bread. She wrapped her tasty project in cloth to keep it warm for a little bit before stowing it in a basket. A few apples, two knives and a pair of plates were placed in next. After thinking it over, she decided to move things around a bit to allow for a small pitcher of warm tea and two cups. Trying to hold two cups while balancing the basket would have been a bad idea. Plus, she’d be going down a lot of stairs, so it was best not to risk anything she didn’t have to.

The second part, and certainly the point to her cooking at all, was to visit with Fox. While she still had feelings for the man that went deeper than friendship she’d come to the conclusion that he did not feel the same way. Still, she still wanted to be around him as much as was comfortable. And at least this way she knew he was eating well for at least one meal of the day.

On this particular evening, she did not find her path down the stairs blocked by a resting cat as it sometimes was and the journey down to the Skyhold basement library was uneventful. “I hope you’re at a place you can stop,” she called as she neared the archway to the library. Fox was almost always down here at this time, so she was fairly certain she wouldn’t be embarrassing herself by talking to air. Even with the prior warning, she wrapped her knuckles on the stone as she wandered inside with a small smile parting her lips.

“I’ve got something a little different today. Hopefully it’s good,” she chuckled, realizing that it was probably a bit self-deprecating, but she did honestly have a only mediocre track record when it came to successful cooking. “If not, I brought apples and tea as usual.”

“I’m sure it’s lovely, thank you,” Fox said. He looked up from his work and tidied his papers to the side.

Ariel smiled, but shook her head. He was always so nice about her shortcomings and she wasn’t sure why. Maybe that was why she couldn’t stop visiting him. He didn’t tease her, they just… talked. And she always looked forward to it even if they occasionally had disagreements. All that said, she scanned the desk he sat at before finding a relatively empty space to put down the basket. She wandered over to a chair she’d long since dragged down here so she could sit, since the last time she’d just flopped down on the floor next to him to talk he asked why she wanted to sit on the floor. It was a little plush since she tended to stay for a least a little while and large enough for her to sit with her legs crossed an an odd mixture of indian and lotus position that was simply her most comfortable and natural way of sitting at this point.

As she leaned up and around to pull out the pitcher and the cups to pour the tea for them, she spotted something different on his desk. It looked like the lantern he’d given her, and later she discovered everyone in the inner circle as well, but it was bigger and the spark was a different color. She gestured to the new item after pouring tea into their cups. “Are you refining the lantern design?”

Fox looked up from the basket and blinked. “The lan- Oh. Oh, no, this is different style. I just hadn’t made one recently.”

Ariel quirked a brow at his phrasing. “A different style?” she echoed, tilting her head slightly as she turned her attention fully onto the item to take in the details. There were intricate designs woven into the metal of the entire sphere and she examined it in silence for a few moments, gingerly tracing some of the pattern with a fingertip. There was a dull itch, so she knew it was just as magical as the lantern she already had from him, but it didn’t burn. “Well,” she said as she finally pulled away and sat up. “It’s very pretty. Must have taken you a while.”

“Thank you,” Fox said. In time with his words the lantern brightened slightly and the light shifted color to be slightly warmer. “The casing is Dagna’s work, of course, but she was delighted to work with my design.”

Ariel’s gaze flickered between the lantern to him several times, head tilting even further than it had been. “...did it just…?” she started, but then just shook her head and reached in the basket for a plate, a knife and the cloth-wrapped loaf. She needed to test that the attempt wasn’t deserving of being fed to Leliana’s crows. Despite her previous control, once she had cut a thin piece off to test and surprisingly found it to be fairly tasty she found herself looking at the new lantern again. “Is that connected to you, Fox?”

Fox took a sip of his tea. “Indeed. Watch.” He gestured to the lamp before narrowing his eyes at his cup. A deep crease formed in his brow and the edge of his mouth started to curl and the lamp glowed a violent red in response. After a breath, he released the emotion with a sigh.

She would have laughed at the idea that his example was him getting angry at his tea, but she knew surely there was nothing about tea that could possibly bother him enough to get that much of an expression from him. Ariel blinked as she watched the lamp interact with apparently his emotions, her mouth opening slightly in both surprise and awe. She could feel the magic itching through her arm and raising the hairs at the back of her neck as it changed color so it was clearly more powerful than the other lantern. “That’s really neat!” she chirped happily, eyes wide and glittering with the excitement of discovery. There were so many questions to its operation, though, and she didn’t hesitate to ask them even as she cut up a couple pieces of her bread. “Does it take energy to affect it? Is it always attached to you? Like, even if you went on a mission could I check on this and see if you’re okay?”

Fox laughed and pulled an apple out of the basket. He cut it up easily - and he looked to have a professional flare - but Ariel knew from the magebane incident that it was at least partially his magic’s doing. “It’s passive, but it also passively takes my energy. Yes, it’s always attached to me. As for if you can check on it… Like as not, I’ll have it with me. It has more functions than just light and even though it’s a passive drain, it’s a lower mana cost than casting new heating spells each night.”

Ariel smiled as he laughed, the sound putting her at ease. She took in all the answers with little nods of her head, but when he noted that he wouldn’t leave it here she snapped her fingers and put on a small pout. “Dangit,” she sighed. “Ah well,” she added after only a breath, pulling out the other plate and putting several slices of her baked good on it before gently placing it in front of him. “At least this turned out okay. Not even crispy.”

“I take it from the phrasing it’s not supposed to be?” Fox asked as he took a piece of the bread. He bit into it and then nodded. “Rather heavy, but not too sweet.”

“Well, I mean… it’s bread,” Ariel offered with a nervous laugh. “Kinda hard sometimes to make bread not heavy.” She finished the piece that she had nibbled on to make sure it was okay. “I’m just glad it’s good enough. I saw a couple shipments of bananas the other day and thought about doing this once they’d run really low so I didn’t interrupt the kitchen staff much. So, tadaa.” She let her voice take on a sing-song quality with the last word, gesturing lazily to the loaf. “Banana bread.”

She leaned back once she’d cut up half an apple and munched away on a slice while quietly observing him. “So,” she said once she’d swallowed, “have you made any progress down here with all this paperwork you’re married to?”

He considered her question as he ate. “It is, perhaps, a task with no clear end. Some things have been completed, but it is like moving sand from one beach to another.”

“Are the records secrets?” Ariel asked after taking care of another slice of apple. She’d stopped trying to pry when, every time Fox wasn’t down here, the books and papers were missing. But the way he phrased it, that the task was endless, made her both worried and curious. “Wouldn’t it help if you had someone, or even multiple people, helping you go through them?”

Fox didn’t meet her eyes. “There is no proper way to explain what to look for. Further, the contents are particularly distressing. You have enough of a burden on your heart without them.”

“And you don’t?” Ariel asked, the question falling from her lips before she could think better of it. “You carry just as much, since we’ve spoken about everything,” she reminded him. “More, considering your background.” She started on another slice, gaze averting from him for a little while as she chewed. She sighed before swallowing and looking back at him. “But I’ve learned that pushing you doesn’t help. Like pushing a cart sideways. Just… know that my offer to help is genuine, regardless of the difficulty.”

“Thank you, but this is something I must do.”

Ariel just shrugged and shook her head. She took a few sips of her tea before refilling it from the pitcher. It was lukewarm already, to her surprise. Another slice of her banana bread later and she felt like she had to break the silence with something. “Have you gotten any updates about the kids?” she asked him. “Is everybody okay? At this point things are settled enough around here that you could probably send Ivan back if you wanted to, if it were needed…”

That drew a full laugh out of Fox. “I think you’ve been rather focused. To answer your first question, I get an update every few days. As to the latter issue, he returns often handle business with the children before returning.”

She blushed a little, getting the distinct impression that he was laughing at her and it both irritated and concerned her. What was wrong with being concerned about an orphanage full of mage kids hidden away somewhere? A small frown pursed her lips and her brows knitted slightly even as she listened. “I guess that means that everyone’s okay, or at least well enough to send updates. That’s good. I don’t always see Ivan around but I guess I just didn’t think about him actually going anywhere.” Had he not laughed, she might have suggested that while Ivan was a good conversation partner she wanted to spend more time with him instead. As it was, however, she just sighed and tried not to beat herself up inwardly for being stupid about it as she cut up the other half of her apple to finish it off.

“Just because he’s not in your story, doesn’t mean he stops existing when you’re not around to see him,” Fox said.

Okay that was just unnecessary. Did she really come off that poorly? She seemed like some kind of supremely selfish creature that thought the world revolved around her or her perception? She stared at him as she finished her latest slice. “You’re not, either,” she reminded him, pointing at him with a new slice. “But I clearly don’t think you stop existing the moment you’re out of my sight or I can’t find you. Don’t know why you think I’d feel any differently about Ivan or anyone else for that matter. The kids weren’t and I’ve never seen seen or heard them and I was thinking about them enough to inquire. Taevel has been a good friend I didn’t know a thing about him being here. This world doesn’t revolve around what I know even though some days it can feel like it. I’ve long understood that. I live here now. Maybe I’m not as observant as other people, but that doesn’t mean I dismiss other people’s very existence just because I don’t see them.”

Whatever Fox thought about that, he kept to himself. Though he was silent, his lamp was still the same even, soft, blue-green glow it’d had when she first came down.

His silence was deafening and filled her with questions, but she remained seated and quiet long enough to finish her apple and calm down. Ariel knew he cared, after everything that had happened, so she had to remind herself of that. It was the dichotomy between how virtually anyone else in the inner circle saw her and apparently how he did that confused her. The only difference was how much she had told him about the ‘prophecy’. Well, that and her own feelings, she supposed. But those clearly didn’t change anything so they didn’t matter.

“Well, I guess I’ll leave you to your work,” she said, putting her plate and knife back into the basket after wrapping up her bread loaf again. She paused, holding it out as she realized she could offer it to him. “Did you want me to leave this for you?” she asked, deciding at least that was safe to ask. “I could leave a plate and knife too so you could cut it however you want.”

“I’m fine, but thank you. My room is next to the kitchens if I’m hungry later.”

“Okay then,” she breathed, carefully packing up everything. Once she’d tested the pitcher a bit to make sure it was secure, she looked back up at him. “Good luck, with all this,” she offered quietly before slipping the basket onto the crook of her arm.

She pulled the chair away against the wall again so that it wouldn’t be in his way if he needed to lean over his own desk for whatever reason. All that settled, she headed around the desk and towards the stairs. She was undecided on if she would keep the banana bread, let the crows have it even though it turned out well or ask Cole if someone would like some. In any case, she had to deliver the basket back to the kitchen and she planned to swing by the tavern for at least one mug of ale or mead. Sleep would be much easier after that.