I'll take care of you.

[wrongs]

The "Take Care" Meme
a shipping meme

Life is hard. You can go through rough patches and over bumps, and sometimes it feels as though you're definitely worse for the wear, both physically and mentally. It's nice to have someone - someone more than a friend - there for you in those times...even if you don't think you want them or deserve them. But they're here, and they'll take care of you.

How to Play:
* This is a shipping meme for more tender, soft moments, but a little more serious than your usual "fluff." It's for people who've been broken down by their experience and those who wish to heal them.
* Comment with your character/your preferences. You may also want to specify whether your character will be the one "cared for" or the one doing the "caring" + pertinent information, but for most effectiveness, it's best to be open to both.
* Comment around.


Prompts
1. Know You've Been Hurt By Someone Else: There are scars left on their heart from a past relationship or fling, and you have to let them know you're not the same way.
2. Can Tell By the Way You Carry Yourself: The person you have feelings for is one of those "cold stone wall" types who pushes people away. Can you get past that?
3. I've Asked About You: You've only heard bad things about this person, but you don't believe it.
4. What's a Life with No Fun: Lighten up a bit! You'd do anything to bring a smile to their face.
5. Please Don't Be So Ashamed: You have a big, BIG secret you don't want the other person to find out about, because surely they wouldn't want to even be near you if they did.
6. I've Had Mine, You've Had Yours: You've both had problems, and it could help to compare wounds so they can begin to heal.
7. Those Lies Heal: Protecting your loved one is more important that the truth, isn't it? It's a lie, but there are good intentions here.
8. You Can't Sleep: Because of past trauma, you're having a sleepless night. Luckily, this time you have somebody to help you and give you some comfort.
9. You Cry Still: The obligatory "seeing your significant other/love cry over something and wanting to make them stop at any cost" option.
10. All Get a Little Taste: Your loved one is sick or injured - literally this time - and you're looking out for them and trying to get them better.
11. You Just Don't Know: Either through magic, torture, or blunt trauma to the head, your special person can't remember you! It's up to you to get them to remember what was between you two by showing all the ways you cared for each other.
12. I Give Her Space: Part of being a careful lover is knowing when you need to leave them alone.
13. Tryna Run from That: Uh-oh, you don't want to fall in love, because you've been there, done that! Maybe there's still time to escape from this...or maybe it's too late.
14. I Will Care for You: After a particularly rough day, you're need a little TLC. Your loved one is going to do everything for you - a bath, food, the works.
15. All the Baggage Just Ain't as Heavy: You know it will take a while for this person to mend psychologically and spiritually, and you're willing to wait.
16. Change the Pace: And the smut option. Show you care through sex.
17. We'll Just Go Slow: You're going to take things one step at a time. No need to rush and define things. Just enjoy each other's company and the healing it brings.
18. We All Have Our Nights: Your lover, because of their past experience, is having a complete breakdown. You have to bring them back from the edge.
19. You Don't Say You Love Me: You both know how you feel, but one of you is having problems saying the four letter word. That's okay, though. Your lover understands.
20. To Save You: After months or years, you've both worked on the problems and old scars and you might just be ready to start something resembling a normal love.
21. CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE

Comments

[inquisitatertot]

Rahgol wanted to scream. He could feel Bull's eye on his back. He knew Gatt gave him the wig, but now he knew why. He didn't trust him, too shifty and to repeatedly call him what amounted to 'Liar'. No one had been comfortable with the arrangement, but he did it for Bull's sake he wanted to arrange sonething.. They were supposed to look out for their own. But apparently that came with restrictions and conditions. Something that bothered, gnawed and dug at him deep inside.

When they were back at Skyjold perhaps he'd try to speak to him. Rahgol knew very well he was too angry to say anything he wouldn't regret later. He gritted his teeth, chewing the inside of his mouth. Don't say anything. Don't ruin this, this isn't your place to say anything.
How dare they.
"We'll stop off at Redcliffe on the way back, that's not too far for everyone is it?"

[shokrakar]

Bull just shook his head as Varric and Vivienne said, "Sure" and "That's perfectly fine, darling."

Krem glanced at him and exhaled, shifting his maul to the opposite shoulder. "Need some water, Chief?" he pulled out his skin, offering it. Bull looked at it and shoved it back. Krem frowned and put it away.

The remaining trek was long and they didn't reach Redcliffe until a few hours past sundown. Least they had a place to crash with real beds rather than sweat-sodden roll mats.

[inquisitatertot]

He took his anger out on the enemies they met along the way. Barely speaking two words to anyone. Normally he was more than eager to get involved, laugh and joke with the others. Not today, it didn't feel right, simmering on what had happened.

Just take the blighted water, you awful lummox. He winced, watching Bull turn down the water offer. He needed to say something.
"You're no good to us dehydrated." His tone was strained, his voice enough of an astonishment coming out of him, but the venom was tangible.

Despite being offered, Rahgol turned down any and all alcohols. He knew exactly what would happen and he wasn't about to start something now. He was being impatient he knew that much.
As the tavern grew quieter, the elf debated his chances of speaking with The Bull.
"...Do you have a moment?"

[shokrakar]

When Rahgol sat down next to him at he tavern, Bull knew there was gonna be a talk. It didn't come quickly, but eventually the elf gave an opening. Picking up his tankard, he finished off the remainder of his drink. "What about, Boss?" he said, his tone flat and even, watching as his men conversed with each other over a hand of Dragon's Tail.

Krem occasionally glanced back at them, but never said a word.

[inquisitatertot]

He pursed his lips. He'd spent all day steaming on the principle of the matter, and not what he should have said. Typical of his short-sightedness. Bull didn't do emotional displays, he needed to keep himself level, reign himself in.

"I want you to know, that we're here for you... Which I hope you do anyway, not to state the obvious." He knew it sounded forced, but Bull probably knew exactly what he was really thinking. How dare they do that to you. "Whatever you need. I'll see what we can do.."

[shokrakar]

The Bull stared at Rahgol for a time. He understood what the elf was trying to do and while part of him appreciated it, there was another part that wanted nothing more than to throw the man's words back in his face. No one knew what he was going through.

"Thanks Boss..." he managed, not quite making eye contact.

[inquisitatertot]

He stifled the grunt that threatened to come forth. It wasn't about what he wanted, it was about what was best for Bull, so pushing his well wishes onto him was probably the worst thing he could be doing. He was private, he could appreciate that. If he needed to talk he'd have come to him, right?

"I'm here should you need me." Rahgol rubbed the back of his head, "We all are. Don't forget that."

[shokrakar]

He looked at the elf and let out a low snort. Rahgol was stubborn, but caring. A big heart under those bigger ears. "Thanks, Boss." He touched the man's shoulders and took another drink. "Give me a few days...let's get back to Skyhold, settle things with Red, report to Josie...all that fun shit."

He leaned back, stroking over the patella of his knee. It had been aching all night.

[inquisitatertot]

Rahgol's shoulders sagged somewhat, a small wave of relief hitting him. Didn't stop him headbutting Bull's arm with a small huff. He wasn't shutting down, he wouldn't let him.

A thought crossed his mind as he glanced down at his knee and he gave a smirk, that kind he gave whenever something that was possibly a terrible or groundbreaking idea crossed his mind.
"How about we find you a dragon? Something to look forward to." He flashed his teeth. "Or if you're not feeling up to it, we could just beat up some crazed 'Vint cultists?"

[shokrakar]

Bull snorted. A dragon would be nice right about now, but at the same time, he knew his men were beat. Besides...an assassin would come around at some point. He would expect no less from the Ben-Hassrath. Better to be in Skyhold than on the open road where they would have a better chance of surprising them.

"Nah...my knee is killing me." He patted the brace.

[inquisitatertot]

He nodded, glancing back down to his companion's knee and offered a small tight smile. Old wounds had a habit of aching when it was stormy, or the pressure changed.. some changed with people's moods. Another small aggressive headbutt and he obviously looked down at it.

"Who did you save getting that one?" He asked gently. "Krem told me about your eye. Seems you have a habit of it."

[shokrakar]

Glancing back to his knee, Bull shook his head, "Nothing like that. Took a Tal-Vashoth's axe to the back of the knee. I cut his head clean off for it, but there was only so much the Tamassrans could do."

He heaved a sigh, "That was back in Seheron though."

[inquisitatertot]

Not exactly a subject that he meant to bring up, after all from reading between the lines and everything Bull had told him about the culture, there was this innate fear that the Qun instilled in it's followers, that without it they were less than animals. They needed it to be functioning living beings.

"And here you are still." He cocked his head. "Still in more or less one piece. Very glad for that by the way. You're a lot stronger than you realise, and not just physically."

[shokrakar]

Bull snorted. "Thanks Boss." He understood that the elf was trying to make him feel better about things, but he at the same time, this wasn't something that would be going away any time soon. He was Tal-Vashoth now. As crazy as the man who nearly took out his knee.

[inquisitatertot]

He offered one last small smile, feeling perhaps he might have pushed the point as much as he could for now. He'd have to catch him when it was all less raw, give him the aftercare he needed.

"I'll track down a dragon for a later time. When you're feeling better, I think I heard a few rumours." Rahgol got to his feet and still found that even when the Bull was sat down, he was still barely at eye level with him. "If you need to talk, punch something or just be in someone's company, we're here."

Given how reluctant Bull was to sacrifice the Chargers, the man had one foot out of the Qun anyway. Hindsight was horrendous, they should have never have gone to meet them.

[shokrakar]

Bull nodded and gave the elf's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

That night, he stayed out in the tavern with Krem, both of them tossing back drinks. Krem exhaled, "Chief...I'm sorry bout the Dreadnought."

The Qunari shrugged, "You're not really. You'd be dead if it was the other way around. No one wants to be dead, Krem."

"Yeah, but...I know it wasn't just the ship." He licked the foam from his lips. "You mad at me? At the Inquisitor?"

He sighed and shook his head, "No...neither of you are the problem. The problem's with me."

[inquisitatertot]

Rahgol spent most of the night drifting. He tried reading in the dim light and gave up, tried enjoying the atmosphere of the tavern, but kept finding himself glancing over at Bull and wondering if he was pressuring him without realising it.
He went upstairs, trying to find the room Varric had taken for the night. The man had a habit of being something of a grounding force, everything that happened he could usually put it in a better light for him or tell him exactly how it really was. They spoke for just shy of an hour, thankfully it wasn't particularly one-sided, Varric offering how Rahgol could be supportive without being quite so overt, granted the idea left him feeling like it wasn't enough, but Bull wasn't him. As much as he bitched as complained when people offered support, he needed it and appreciated it after. Bull needed a rock of his own.

He thanked the dwarf and bade him a good night as he made his way back into the tavern. He was thankful his footsteps were light as he caught the conversation going on between Krem and Bull. He shouldn't have eavesdropped, and yet he did. Crouched on the stairs, just out of sight and straining to hear. The problem's with him? Why?

[shokrakar]

Krem frowned, "Care to elaborate, Chief?" He asked as he nursed his own tankard. Bull shrugged.

"I don't think anyone here'd understand. The Qun isn't like the Chantry. It's not a place you retreat to only when times are hard. You live it. You live under the Qun." He took a drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I feel like I've woken up to an upside world."

He stared at the window where the moon had risen high into the sky, only a sliver left hanging in view of the window. "I just...I feel like I'm still dreaming. Like we're back at Skyhold and we haven't even gone to the coast yet."