trusthell | i'll wait, so show me why you're strong

[ Generally, people need time to cope and gather themselves after a... thing... like that. Unfortunately, that's not how Vanille sees it. Her thing is avoid, and once she gets out of that hellhole that's the courtroom, she makes her way to the supplies closet, then to the library. She spends some time setting up things, pushing things aside to make room. Once she's finished, and she's met up with the Party Brigade, she makes enough invitations for everyone. She slips them under everyone's doors, or hands them out if she sees someone walking around.

Inside the library, there are candles set up to provide some soft, comforting lighting. There are pots of tea, courtesy of Mercy, pancakes made by Viktor, and books (picked out by Estelle, of course) laid out on the surrounding tables. The others have provided their own touches, and Vanille's even managed to make something: sugar cookies, which are actually very good. They're flavored lightly with all sorts of flavors--not all in the same cookie, okay--and each plate is marked with whatever flavor she's put in them.

After a successful trial, it's healthy to indulge, right? Let's mingle. ]

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[He shrugged. He couldn't even begin to describe his own feelings. Death was familiar, but not like this. He fought people resigned to death in some way or another. Soldiers and assassins.]

[But he wasn't familiar with little girls dying.]

About as well as you can expect.

[Watanuki nods in response to that. He opens his mouth, like he's about to say something, but after a couple seconds of silence he closes it and looks away.

He should tell Varric. He's been trying to hide it, since he doesn't know how well people will react to it (Elda certainly didn't take it well), but maybe it would help Varric. Watanuki wants to help him.]

I...

[He trails off there, then swallows hard. Yes, he needs to do this.]

She's not here anymore. Her- her soul, I mean. I looked everywhere, thinking that maybe I could find her still here- people tend to linger after deaths like that- but I didn't find her. So. If nothing else, she's at least passed on already.

[Will it help? Watanuki hopes so. The thought of 'passing on' is definitely a comfort for some. Hopefully Varric is one of those people.]

[Feeling and being friends with spirits wasn't an unfamiliar concept for the dwarf. Healers worked best with the aid of the spirits around them, and one of his closest friends had been a manifestation of compassion. The problem was that usually, those spirits were concepts made real, not the souls of loved ones. Certainly, it was possible, and so Varric wasn't bothered. But it was special.]

[Nevertheless, he was comforted by Watanuki's words. It still hurt, and would for a damn long time, that much he was sure of. But if she wasn't around, Varric felt comfortable drawing hope from it.]

You think she's gone home? [Maybe somehow, she could still help her sister.]

[Was she home? Watanuki had no way to know for sure. And honestly, he had his doubts. But those doubts were better kept quiet, as far as he was concerned.]

I can't know for sure, I can only see things that are right in front of me. But I'd like to believe that her soul found its way home.

[It's true, that's what he wants to believe. Even if he doesn't actually believe it.]

...

Where I'm from, some people believe that we're not really gone when we die. Some people think that we're born again in a new life. I...that would be nice for her, I think. Maybe in a new life, her and her sister can find happiness.

We can hope.

[Already, his brain worked to craft a story to go with it -- two girls reborn, happy and healthy. No dragons, no murder, just living life as a family. It was cheesy, no one would ever buy it, but it left him feeling strangely warm despite the chill in his chest.]

[He glanced up at the man. A corner of his mouth lifted, the closest thing he'd come to a genuine smile since everything had happened.]

Thanks, kid.

[Oh good, a smile. That's what Watanuki had been hoping to see. He's smiling too, but he also looks relieved. Not just at the fact that Varric looks better now, but also at the fact that his thoughts didn't backfire horribly. Everything went better than expected!]

It's no problem.

[Congrats, Watanuki, it wasn't a complete disaster!]

[His gaze dropped to the floor, then over at a wall, then finally back up to Watanuki. He let out a low sigh, body relaxing in the slightest, even though Varric's mind continued to work itself into circles.]

Stick close to me this week, okay? [He hadn't kept an ever watchful eye on Adelina, and the end result had been a disaster. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice.]

Eh?

[Things he hadn't expected: this.]

Why? Are you worried about me?

So what if I am? [He gave a mock glower up at the man, a half-hearted smile on his lips.]

I'm 'Independent', remember? I can take care of myself.

[He should have left it at that, but. But.]

...But if you're just going to worry incessantly, then I guess I can stay close. Just so you don't freak out or something.

[Is that appreciation in his voice? Is he trying to cover up an embarrassed look? No never, of course not.]

Yeah. Just so I don't freak out. [Watanuki wouldn't be the first person to resist his attempts. In some ways, it was a little comforting. Here, everyone had been relatively opening to his nosy ways.]

[He knew he liked Watanuki.]

Thanks, kid.

You're welcome, old man.

[ok now it's time for him to tease Varric a little. Two can play at this game.]

[A laugh rumbled out of his chest, taking Varric by surprise. He blinked for a moment, startled by the sound. After a moment, he reached out, clapping him on the arm. A grin, short and fleeting, stretched over his lips.]

I'd outrun you in a heartbeat, Goldie. Just keep that in mind.

You say that, but wait until I leave you in the dust.

[Fighting? Nope, Watanuki can't even throw a punch. But running, that's something he can do.]

[Really, Varric didn't doubt it. He already had longer legs, after all. But he didn't dare show it.]

[He also wouldn't admit to the fact that all this was getting his mind off of less than pleasant things.]

We'll have to see about that. We'll have a race sometime this week.

By what, running through the halls like a herd of horses?

[Though the rooms were soundproof, they could probably get away with it.]

Why not? How else are we supposed to stay in shape?

I was kind of hoping that we would find a way out of here before 'staying in shape' became a problem we had to worry about.

A week can make of break a man, Goldie. [A week without Bianca in his hands. His shots were going to suffer for sure.]

How can a week affect something like that?

[Says the guy who never exercises unless he has to.]

Tell you what. Next week, I'll tell you all about the virtues of a vigorous exercise regime, alright Goldie?

[For now, he'll be gravitating toward some of the women he'd been keeping an eye on, though not without giving Watanuki as respectful nod. He'd have to remind himself to thank the kid next week.]

i'll wait, so show me why you're strong

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