bakerstreet | fell asleep on

I am all those things.

[He set his sword and shield aside. As he did not put on any armor he was ready to return to relaxing and doing nothing of importance with her again.]

Leave it down, darling, there's only you and I here. You don't have to tame it around me.

[Her hair was a mess but he liked the wild look for her. She was beautiful when she let her hair down.]

[Pausing, she glanced back at him, silent for a long moment. It took her a few seconds, but finally, she smiled at him before letting her hair settle back around her shoulders. Even after all this time, he could still make her flustered like a young girl around her first paramour.

Sighing under her breath, she moved around the room, straightening things up that she'd allowed to fall into disarray over the last few days.]

Yes. You are.

[He did love flustering her. She got the cutest blush across her cheeks when he managed it.]

I would like to think I'm your Templar as well.

[For a few minutes he let her go around and straighten but when she got close he drew her into his arms and began to lead her in a dance.]

You should teach your Templar how to braid your hair so that I can help when you can't reach.

[She couldn't hide the smile even as she bent over her desk to shift some papers around. He rarely failed to make her blush and damn it all, she should be old enough not to but there was just something about him...

How many times had they danced together now? Back when he was teaching her, then at the Winter Palace. Here and there. It was a reminder of old times and one that never failed to warm her down to her toes. Chuckling, she let him lead her as he wanted and this time, she never looked down at her feet. She didn't need to anymore.]

You just want a reason to play with my hair. I could teach you, though.

[She would never turn down a chance to let him play with her hair. It was soothing and sweet and other things she dare not think of.]

Why would I need to invent a reason to play with it?

[To prove his point he reached up and ran his fingers through it. Perhaps he did have a fascination for playing with it but he enjoyed it and it seemed to make her happy as well.

She was graceful on her feet. Dancing with her was effortless now because of her skill. He taught her but she excelled.]

An excuse, then.

[He knew her far too well. He had to know that she'd sigh and tip her head to try and prolong that simple contact. It always felt so damn nice even when it was snarled up after a long ride or a drawn out fight.

Maybe it was just like that because he was doing it.]

Cassandra thinks I should cut it off. Says it's too convenient of a handle if someone wanted to grab me in a fight.

If someone grabs it, they'll have made a very convenient way for me to cut their hand off.

[If someone thought they could tough her without her permission he would respond with violence.

He leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth, smiling softly. He did love to kiss her.]

[It thrilled her to know he felt so strongly. He dared her worst tempers and goaded her out of moods and now, this. He was becoming a good deal more important to her than she'd ever thought possible. That had to be why her dreams dealing with him as of late had been so bloody and violent.

She worried she'd lose him at first. Now, she knew why.

She couldn't say it, though. If she said it, she worried that something would sour it.

Smiling into the kiss, she shifted just enough to catch his lips with her own before she reached up to settle her palm on his cheek.]

My. Someone's protective.

The sword and shield didn't give it away?

[It was so much better to feel her smile against his lips. He drew back and leaned into her touch.

He was a man of strong feelings and strong faith. He did nothing in half measures. How he felt about her was the same.]

I stand in front of high dragons for you, dearheart. Of course I am protective. Perhaps a bit overprotective.

[Her fingers stroked along his cheek before dropping to trace the line of his beard. He was so handsome to her.]

You face dragons for the Inquisition. You face me for me.

I already said I care very deeply for you. Whatever your temper or mood, I still care.

[She could be quite frustrating sometimes but that never changed how he felt about her. She still had a good heart. He raised an eyebrow at her fingers.]

Do I need a trim, darling?

[Frustrating was a good word for her, even if it could be a bit mild at times. She knew she was willful and wild tempered but he never judged her. He was a gift she didn't think she deserved at times.

Grinning, she reached up to tap at the tip of his nose as she shook her head.]

Hardly and you know it. You keep it up almost as fastidiously as you do your armor. It's just something different about you that I like. Dalish don't grow hair like that.

[He leans in and rubs his chin along her cheek.]

It gets itchy if it gets too fluffy and next thing you know birds will be building a nest in it. It's not a pleasant sight.

[It's a good look for him and he feels quite confident with it. Without it he feels like he looks fifteen all over again.]

[Trying to stifle a laugh, she pulled back away from the bristly tease. It seemed her usual humor was back and while it might not exactly be as bright as usual, it was a good deal better than before.]

No, that would be my hair. It's a bit of a nest as of late.

Hush. It's beautiful.

[It was, perhaps, a bit wilder than usual since their little skirmish but it was still beautiful. It might need a little straightening, a good brushing but he would be happy to help with that.]

Not at the moment, it's not. For good reason, though. Well, at least I think it was a good reason.

[She wasn't a vain person by nature but everyone had something that they were a little vain about. She wouldn't worry about brushing it out until she was about to fall over in bed, though.

Still smiling, she leaned in to rest her forehead against his chest and for a long moment, all she could do was breathe in his scent. That was almost as comforting as his arms around her.]

... I never imagined I'd feel grateful to someone that picked a fight with me. I needed it, though.

Sometimes you need to get the frustration out. Fighting is a good way to do that.

[He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. She had it rough with her position as Inquisitor. He would not be any good to her if he couldn't help her with it during the times she needed it.]

Whenever you need the help, let me know. I'm happy to get thrown around by your magic.

I'll be sure to remember that next time.

[Her voice was muffled thanks to how she was pretty much leaning against him but she was loathe to move. She still had a good deal of that report left to read plus other thing that needed her attention but all she wanted then was to curl up with Jove and either doze off or get cleaned up. She wasn't sure which she wanted more.]

I hope you know that offer extends both ways.

I know.

[Yet, he was reluctant to lay the burden on her. She carried so much.]

In my religion it's a sin to walk in the Fade, you know. I was troubled when we went there and troubled when we left. I've prayed on it and feel better.

[He didn't think she could fully understand what it meant to him to walk in the Fade, the taboos and history steeped in it. Her people had a different view on things. Still, it had troubled him but he hadn't brought it to her until now.]

[Their time in the Fade had been disconcerting for everyone and truth be told, she'd been so focused on everything that had been going that she hadn't noticed Jove's discomfort. Ending up there had hardly been her plan but it had been a choice of the Fade or falling to certain death.

She hated choices like that. One time in the Fade had been enough for her. She'd never wanted anyone else to physically end up there as she had to start off the whole mess.

As odd as it sounded to her, a mage used to working and shaping the Fade, she knew that his faith didn't look so kindly on such things. She'd never really bothered to learn why but in the past, she hadn't met many humans, much less grown to care for one.]

Why is it a sin?

Because the last time someone walked physically in the Fade it brought doom upon the world in the form of darkspawn.

[They were facing one of those Darkspawn, one of the original old Magisters. It still left Jove a bit shaken to think of it. The Chant was real, the stories real.

He smiled softly at her.]

Besides, I know very little of the Fade outside readings. It was a place of dreams, no place I could actually go. You have brought many new experiences to my life, dear.

[She returned the smile but it was a bit wistful. Mages could usually handle the Fade in dreams and when pulling on it for power but this? This mess?

So many mistakes had been made and in a way, she silently wished she'd never stepped into the room at the Conclave. It was a selfish though and one she'd never share, though. Corypheus had to be stopped and if she was the only one that could do it, she would.

She had to.

Pulling back, she let her hand slide down his chest before she stepped away to glance over at her bed.]

That isn't exactly an experience I wanted to share. It wasn't pleasant the first time, and even worse the second.

Life comes with good and bad experiences. You learn from both.

[As she seemed to need the space he let her go though his hands itched to take her back into his arms.]

I learned my faith is stronger than I thought. I faced a demon in the Fade and won. I didn't think I could do that.

[She was strong and he was stronger thanks to her. He wanted to make sure she knew that. She made so many people stronger in so many ways including him.]

[She padded over to her bed and settled on the edge of it, absently noting that it was still a mess from earlier in the day before she let her gaze move back to her Templar. His strength and faith never ceased to amaze her. In some ways, it shamed her for feeling weakness but in others, it pushed her to be and do more. Perhaps not for him, but he was a huge part of it.

She hadn't noticed that she'd been staring at him, that same wistful smile barely curling her lips. Once she did, she felt herself blushing again as she let her gaze drop away. All she could do was huff a quiet chuckle at her own expense.]

You should give yourself more credit. You're stronger than you realize.

I'm not mage, darling. The Fade scares me a bit. Demons scare me almost as much as they scare the Iron Bull. I'm not ashamed of that.

[At her little wistful smile he walked over to her, cupped her face in his hands and leaned down to kiss her gently.]

But if you wish to tell me how strong, strapping and handsome I am... well I won't protest too much.

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