Leaf would smirk, [color=#0074d9]“More the smartass me,”[/color] chuckling before adding. [color=#0074d9]“But nothing teaches better than experience… and I suppose I have a lot of experience dealing with asshol-... Bad people.”[/color] She’d shrug. There were always going to be assholes, people who got too far up their own ass they made life misery for others. Yet she had tried to maintain the balance, the precedent set even when she didn’t fully agree with it, until that too had been swiftly exploded.
Hawke laughed as the offer of three questions had her brain near melting. She put it down to her good mood, and the fact Lyric seemed a genuinely kind person. What was the harm? Again she’d laugh, more freely this time at the first question. Yes, her judgement had been right on the nose.
[color=#0074d9]“I don’t think he was quite twelve, maybe eight or nine at a stretch, but he was a broad guy too. Made him quite the imposing figure, especially when you add in those horns.”[/color] Her shoulder rolled at the memory of the tip hitting her shoulder on a turn, how it’s tore open her back when he’d gorded her in chase. [color=#0074d9]“Yeeeeah, they are a lot sharper than you’d think.”[/color] Though Leaf didn't elaborate, the tension created had her shoulder rolling back and forth in an attempt to ease the past memory.
Taking a seat on one of the makeshift benches, Leaf placed the bag onto the ground. [color=#0074d9]“You need anything in here for the little princess?”[/color]
Lyric wasn’t really sure just how much experience she could say she had in dealing with assholes, bullies for sure, though she supposed a bully was an asshole really. There had been plenty of bullies in the Circle once upon a time, back before the rebellion. She nodded understandingly. Her eyes went wide as Aoife spoke about the Arishok. Even nine feet felt like a lot and horns on top of it all, sounded absolutely terrifying. She definitely wouldn’t want to go up against someone like that. She was far too smol and mild mannered.
I can’t even imagine! As the conversation briefly moved to Aoife’s question about if there was anything that Lyric needed from the baby bag, she had a few minutes to good and properly think up her next question. She also nodded at the bag. Actually there’s a small blanket in there, and a little metal container with banana slices. The plan was to put Aria on the blanket with her little bowl and hopefully the adults would be able to eat in peace. Once that was all out of the way, Lyric pondered her next question.
So, question number two, how actually terrifying was it to fight Meredith at the end? I mean some of the stories I’ve heard just sound, horrifying. She definitely couldn’t have done with Aoife had, at least she didn’t think she could. Though she hadn’t factored in the possibility of someone putting her family in harm’s way, then perhaps she could be more of a fighter than she felt most days, if she had something to fight for.
Leaf only smiled, [color=#0074d9]“Well, Qunari can be pretty big. He was the biggest I’ve seen, but then he was only one dude.”[/color] Taking the bag, she’d find the required things, shaking out the blanket and laying it down. A long faded memory brimmed into life of doing something similar with the twins and as the oldest, helping her mother. She’d open the container, first offering it out to Aria.
The babe happily munching her snack, Leaf retook her seat. She’d barely placed the bowl in her lap when Lyric asked her next one. That memory had her pause, an uncertainty crossed her brow. [color=#0074d9]“Probably one of the weirdest makeovers I’ve seen, and I think I’ve seen a fair amount of failed makeovers.”[/color] Shaking her head, Leaf kept her focus on her food. [color=#0074d9]“I dunno, I feel she got what she deserved, messing with something no-one really understands. Seems fitting she turned into something to serve as a warning… Don’t mess with weird-looking idols.” [/color]
There was only so much time to absorb the scene before dodging the supernatural speed Meredith came at them. Taking her down was the only goal, surviving it came after and even then Leaf had scarcely believed it. [color=#0074d9]“Her glowing eyes followed my dreams for a while,”[/color] replaced by worse things, but she deliberately left that out, shrugging instead. [color=#0074d9]“Not so much these days, these days it’s imagining dunking that Chantry sister into a trough.” [/color]
Not quite a lie, given her recent dreams were far less to do with amusement that fantasy.
Once Aria was settled Lyric followed suit and eagerly listened to Leaf’s answer to her question. Lyric had thought many times since the big boom in Kirkwall how lucky she’d been to end up in Starkhaven. She simply couldn’t imagine how terrifying it must have been living under Meredith, let alone living through the big boom boom.
It’s crazy really, she was so worried about mages losing control, but then that happens. The ends didn’t justify the means, by a long shot. To become the thing you fight against, Meredith losing control like she did just proved that anyone could lose control and hurt people, not just mages. She tipped her head at Leaf’s admission that Meredith haunted her dreams for awhile. I don’t know if I could have done what you did, if I’d been in your shoes, but I guess you never really know until you’re in that situation. She liked to hope she’d be able to, if she had to, but she also knew she wasn’t a skilled fighter.
Then it was time for the third and final question. Lyric thought long and hard about this. She didn’t want to waste a question on something stupid. The more she thought about all the stories that she’d heard about Kirkwall, she eventually came to one solid conclusion about what the last question should be.
OK, third and final question, most important question of all…. She paused for dramatic effect, someone played a drum roll in her mind as she paused. Did you make friends along the way? I imagine a lot of the stuff you had to deal with, you didn’t deal with alone, and that kind of stuff can really bring people together. At least, I like to imagine it does. Oh the scrapbooks she would fill if she’d gone through a quarter what Leaf had.
Aoife hadn’t had the luxury to dwell on the chaos that unfolded around her. Back then, it felt like every step forward was her striding into a new scene of horror. After battling their way through the city to the docks and across the water, the Gallows might as well have been hell on earth. Her mind had blotted most of it out, until later. When she finally had a moment to try and catch some scant few hours, sleep refused to come, instead the details began playing over and over until forced to take a potion.
[color=#0074d9]“I don’t know. I think there was always that extreme part of her, just.. the idol amplified it. Twisted it beyond reason.”[/color] There was a phrase in there, becoming the villain of your own tale, or something… Leandra would’ve known. There was also her own bitter experience when losing control to Korr. Meredith felt like a lifetime ago. [color=#0074d9]“Ha. All I did was choose the least shi- crappy outcome when I could.”[/color] Her voice became serious, thoughtful. [color=#0074d9]“Sometimes there wasn’t much difference in the cards, but a hope and a prayer can make one feel a little better for it.” [/color]
As Lyric pondered over the final question, Leaf tucked into her food while passing a glance to the content babe. Brows rose in waiting, then as Lyric’s question came, the Champion’s shoulders shook. Swallowing quickly, she coughed out a laugh, [color=#0074d9]“Um… Yeah, I did.”[/color] It was how she was here now in Starkhaven. [color=#0074d9]“Made a lot of enemies too, but. Yes. Adversity shows you exactly the people you can count on.”[/color] A pause came, and Leaf found herself awkwardly admitting, [color=#0074d9]“Letting them help me is another hurdle though. Still working on that, but Seb, he… makes it easier.”[/color]
Clearing her throat, Leaf snapped back to the bowl in her lap to take another bite. [color=#0074d9]“So I wouldn’t worry about your speech when you meet him. He’s not scary.” [/color]
Lyric was all doey wide eyed in amazement as Aoife spoke. The biggest adventure she’d ever gone on really was the trek to the Free Marches when her family basically handed her over to the Templars, having felt ashamed at the idea of having a mage in the family and quite put out by it all. Nope, they felt Lyric would be better off as far from Orlais as possible, so as not to sully the family name.
She chuckled lightly to herself at the idea of her family considering her a blight on their reputation. Aria, looking up at her mother, seeing her mother smile and joining in, her small fingers grabbing at the little banana slices in the bowl. Lyric reached down to wipe a bit of banana smootz off her daughter’s cheek, a soft smile on her face as she looked down at her daughter. Then she looked back to Aoife and smiled.
It’s so strange to hear him as Seb. I mean I realise it makes sense he has a nickname, it’s just I’ve always heard him as Prince Sebastian. Hearing him as Seb makes him seem way less scary. I’m glad you got to make friends though, even if you still struggle. I get that. She paused thinking about Akibrus and Ronan back home. I feel that sometimes with my partners Ronan and Akibrus. I’m an absolute klutz and sometimes I get too stubborn about doing something on my own and even though I know it’d be easier if I asked for their help. She explained.
Life had always been an adventure. From when the Hawke’s have moved from place to place, hiding Leaf and her sister’s talents, to when they’d left Kirkwall Leaf understood she could never be cooped up in a Circle. She wondered how Bethany managed it in the bleakest of them all and under Meredith’s thumb. Aoife made a note to bring it up later, offering Aria a smile instead.
She paused taking a bite of food when Lyric picked up on the nickname. [color=#0074d9]“Oh, yeah. Um.. well yelling, Sebastian! across the field was too much of a mouthful.”[/color] No it wasn’t, but she had to backtrack somehow. So far it had been stolen moments in the corridor, hands touching, lingering just a moment longer than necessary. Aoife chuckled, setting her spoon into the bowl. [color=#0074d9]“He’s also a real person too, most rulers are. He likes holding these gatherings because he can hear from his people, he wants to do his best for them. That’s the sort of person he is, selfless... too much sometimes.”[/color]
Her smile softened, listening, but also not listening. Aoife’s mind drifted off back to the entanglement her and Seb shared, only brought back as Lyric finished explaining… something about help. Right. [color=#0074d9]“Yeah.. I’m not good at it. When you’ve had everyone look to you for an answer, decision… it’s hard to share what’s bothering you. I’m lucky he is very patient with me.” [/color]
Lyric was enjoying her time speaking with Aoife, it definitely had her way more relaxed than she’d been when she’s first arrived at the palace. Under ordinary circumstances she might have picked up on the fact that Aoife’s attention wandered while they were speaking, but today wasn’t ordinary and even though she was feeling calmer, it didn’t mean she wasn’t still feeling a bit nervous.
Aria finished her last banana slice and made a small noise of protest, Lyric quickly distracted her with a toy from the bag. She looked back at Aoife, I guess we all have our struggles, regardless of where we come from or what we've been through. Lyric paused and then tipped her head.
You didn’t grow up in the Free Marches right? Didn’t I hear someone say you were from Ferelden? What was growing up there like? She craved for a few more fleeting moments of distraction, a little more time to bask in the comfort of idle chatter before she had to brace herself, slip into her metaphorical big girl pants, and face the daunting task of the impending meeting that she had initially come there for.
Aoife chuckled lightly as Aria complained. Things had moved forward so quickly and she had missed it all hiding in the hills and stuffing down a demon to the deepest parts of her in some vain hope it would somehow fix it all. Re-joining reality had been difficult, she’d enjoyed the quiet solitude yet also missed the business and hustle of life and her friends and family. Even Carver.
[color=#0074d9]“Yeah, we’ve all got our own paths to walk, trip and run with wild abandon if we choose to. It’s never black and white though, it’s a fuzzy unknown.” [/color]Shrugging her shoulders and grinning, expression unsure of anything's permanence when it came to the future.
She didn’t mind the extra questions, in fact Lyric’s were quite entertaining and had Leaf relaxing into a state she felt almost akin to when she’d sit in Merrils little hovel. She was easy to talk to, no pretext or agenda to be had either. [color=#0074d9]“Yeah, but we moved a lot, until Beth was.. Nine I think. Lothering was the first place we really settled, but then the Blight came and well, rest is in Varric’s book.” [/color]
A deep, sincere smile spread across Lyric's face. It had been an enjoyable experience, not just learning about Aoife but also making a new friend. The process of exchanging stories, understanding Aoife's perspective, and forming a connection with someone new, filled Lyric with a sense of joy and contentment.
It's funny, isn't it? How life can take us on such unpredictable paths and yet, every experience, every challenge we face, it's all part of who we are. It shapes us, makes us stronger. I'm glad I got to know you, Aoife. It's been truly insightful. Lyric added, her eyes shining with genuine appreciation.
I should probably get going though, otherwise I’ll run out of time to even make my pitch. She explained as she gathered some of Aria’s things and put them back in the bag. Then stood and slung the bag over a shoulder and the baby at her hip. I’m so glad I got to meet you! We should hang out again sometime! Once they had said their farewells, Lyric headed back into the palace to do what she’d come there to do.
Aoife grinned wide, [color=#0074d9]“Oh I am well aware.” [/color]Laughing before scoffing at the end. [color=#0074d9]“I am a magpie for bu- bull apparently.” [/color]
For someone who spent their days grinding her teeth at some people, Lyric was a breath of fresh air for Leaf. [color=#0074d9]“Glad to have met you both too, it’s been a nice change of pace from contemplating how deep a hole to put a Chantry Sister in.”[/color] She’d shrug, rolling her eyes in that way that conveyed she was joking, partly. Twelve feet didn’t seem deep enough.
[color=#0074d9]“Yeah, me too. You’ll have a friendly face in the audience at least.”[/color] She’d set her bowl aside and help Lyric situate Aria. [color=#0074d9]“We should. She should meet Khali, she loves babies.” [/color]
Taking the bowls, Aoife would guide Lyric out to the main corridor before heading back to the kitchens and dropping back the dishes. After offering her thanks to Flora for her hospitality she’d return to her duties, lurking menacingly, or friendly, in the corner as Sebastian continued his audiences.
