Nairn had not expected to travel to Orlais; the country was practically in ruin... but then, the woman he was stalking had nothing but a heart of gold. He should have prepared better; should've headed back the second he started to feel faint, to feel like he was overheating. Something wasn't right with the contraption that kept him alive—but he hadn't wanted to leave her here, in this darkspawn infested land by herself. She could protect herself; he's seen as much over the years.
But he wouldn't be able to live with himself if she got hurt and there was something he could do to prevent that. So he ignored how off he felt, instead sticking to the shadows as he followed after her. She was talking to a merchantman, and he was distracted, watching the way the man spoke to her. Watched her. He didn't expect a dockworker to bump into him. He didn't expect that when he hit the wooden dock, that he'd be unable to get upright.
A rattling breath left his lips, and he groaned under his breath. This wasn't good. Had he overdone it? They were still fine-tuning the mech, sometimes it overheated if he moved too quickly, did too much. It was, admittedly, heart surgery. And that took years to recover from, sometimes it took a life-time. When he finally got himself seated, instead of crouched on one knee, he'd gathered a crowd. Bright white hair tended to draw attention, and his hood had fallen back. He shot a glance towards the merchant she'd been talking to, for the moment she seemed oblivious that there was anything else happening on the dock.
—and his breath caught, because that damned dockworker that had bumped into him was shouting for a healer. Cursing under his breath, he moved to push himself off of the ground, his fingers crumpling under the weight of picking himself up. For the moment, his head was bowed as he muttered curses to himself, face hidden by his hair. He didn't want her to see him, but especially not like this. He wasn't sure when he'd be "well enough" to face her; but right now was definitely not the definition of "well enough". If anything, it was humiliating, embarrassing.
Next time he'd send someone from the Coterie to track after her. His physicians back in the Marches would like that; keeping him home for a while. They fussed every time he was off on his own.
But he wouldn't be able to live with himself if she got hurt and there was something he could do to prevent that. So he ignored how off he felt, instead sticking to the shadows as he followed after her. She was talking to a merchantman, and he was distracted, watching the way the man spoke to her. Watched her. He didn't expect a dockworker to bump into him. He didn't expect that when he hit the wooden dock, that he'd be unable to get upright.
A rattling breath left his lips, and he groaned under his breath. This wasn't good. Had he overdone it? They were still fine-tuning the mech, sometimes it overheated if he moved too quickly, did too much. It was, admittedly, heart surgery. And that took years to recover from, sometimes it took a life-time. When he finally got himself seated, instead of crouched on one knee, he'd gathered a crowd. Bright white hair tended to draw attention, and his hood had fallen back. He shot a glance towards the merchant she'd been talking to, for the moment she seemed oblivious that there was anything else happening on the dock.
—and his breath caught, because that damned dockworker that had bumped into him was shouting for a healer. Cursing under his breath, he moved to push himself off of the ground, his fingers crumpling under the weight of picking himself up. For the moment, his head was bowed as he muttered curses to himself, face hidden by his hair. He didn't want her to see him, but especially not like this. He wasn't sure when he'd be "well enough" to face her; but right now was definitely not the definition of "well enough". If anything, it was humiliating, embarrassing.
Next time he'd send someone from the Coterie to track after her. His physicians back in the Marches would like that; keeping him home for a while. They fussed every time he was off on his own.
11-17-2023, 03:28 PM
