It went beyond her. Ruth’s anger was rooted with the actions and words of a man who, from the healers' first cry as a newborn, despised his son. No-one had been in his corner. Then, when she had come to Skyhold, he had begun to relax with their shared upbringing. Her betrayal had been a brutal reminder and blow that his tender nature had drawn back behind walls. Only the walls provided the ample darkness for his demons to feed on.
In the years since, avoiding attachment and retaining his freedom were front and centre. His mouth landed him in more hot water than before, yet granted, it could also get him out of it and into the pants of some. Really, it was the reaction his words could garner that he relished in, craved.
Yet she gave him nothing. His brows shrugged it off, but inside, inside, she’d caught his full attention. Paranoia said this was another setup, only he knew this particular honey bear. His second bout was far more successful in ruffling her feathers. Smug amusement spread, wondering if she’d keep this reunion civil or not, but no, again her explanation bore the similar story. “Ah yes, the phantom spawn, which you’ve conveniently left at home. Pity.” He supposed there were some who’d be fooled by such a scheme, but not he.
Though, Megara had made the most valid point. He could have verified it himself if he hadn’t been so enraged at the time.
In an effort to have her out of here and back into the dark places of his mind, Ruth made a connection. One he'd surely burn for. “You actually haven’t told me his name.” A deliberate pause followed. “For these maps. Who, you are actually delivering to?” His path stopped. “We could be going in completely the wrong direction.” Turning his body to face her approach, brows raised expectantly before a pause, mind dwelling on the habits and whereabouts of the scholars he knew of and then reorientating himself.
The sarcasm and lack of genuine sorrow pulled a scoff of a laugh. His hands moved of their own accord to find tobacco and papers on his person, expertly rolling one to find its home in the corner of his mouth. “Yes. Well. No good deed goes unpunished. Literally.”
In the years since, avoiding attachment and retaining his freedom were front and centre. His mouth landed him in more hot water than before, yet granted, it could also get him out of it and into the pants of some. Really, it was the reaction his words could garner that he relished in, craved.
Yet she gave him nothing. His brows shrugged it off, but inside, inside, she’d caught his full attention. Paranoia said this was another setup, only he knew this particular honey bear. His second bout was far more successful in ruffling her feathers. Smug amusement spread, wondering if she’d keep this reunion civil or not, but no, again her explanation bore the similar story. “Ah yes, the phantom spawn, which you’ve conveniently left at home. Pity.” He supposed there were some who’d be fooled by such a scheme, but not he.
Though, Megara had made the most valid point. He could have verified it himself if he hadn’t been so enraged at the time.
In an effort to have her out of here and back into the dark places of his mind, Ruth made a connection. One he'd surely burn for. “You actually haven’t told me his name.” A deliberate pause followed. “For these maps. Who, you are actually delivering to?” His path stopped. “We could be going in completely the wrong direction.” Turning his body to face her approach, brows raised expectantly before a pause, mind dwelling on the habits and whereabouts of the scholars he knew of and then reorientating himself.
The sarcasm and lack of genuine sorrow pulled a scoff of a laugh. His hands moved of their own accord to find tobacco and papers on his person, expertly rolling one to find its home in the corner of his mouth. “Yes. Well. No good deed goes unpunished. Literally.”
10-12-2023, 06:03 PM
