shri | FADE RIFT [INBOX]

( A knock at Lakshmi's door. Not necessarily expecting her to be there; she has a note prepared, for the likelihood of Lakshmi not being available, which might be preferable in some ways, but certainly feels the more cowardly route.

She waits, patiently, and then knocks a second time a few moments later. )

[ It's by the second knock she's unravelled herself from working - not that it is accomplishing anything really, just half mad reorganisation of the same details like she might this time, procure different results from it. But the words come up the same, the people she needs to talk to, come up the same. ]

A moment -

[ Half distracted rearranging her saree before she comes to the door, who knows who it could be. Some pride in presentation, as if they couldn't say she was a spirit or a demon if she dressed well, and go to the door - ] How can I -

[ Magni...? ] - Did you need something? [ S Q U I N T . ]

( It would almost be preferable if she'd not been there. Almost.

As it is, Magni holds a bottle of wine, tapping her hand against the base once, twice, before holding it forward in offering. A find vintage, Antivan, thought Lakshmi may not know. )

Only to apologise. I... was rude, when you invited us to dinner.

( A pause, of significance more than hesitation. ) I'm— sorry. I was...

( And now she needs to find the right word. ) Brash. And disrespectful.

[ She's quiet as she watches her, looking from her face to the bottle, then back up with a little, concerned, confused frown until it clicks and the expression smoothes clear. That faint flicker that says she's almost, almost amused. ]

Perhaps that might be better for Marcoulf, he seems like he might have choked himself to death.

[ But she takes the bottle and steps back. Her hand lifting to wave her through. ] Come, I feel like a drink and it is a poor thing done alone.

He is an old friend.

( A moment of consideration, before she offers, ) He has heard worse from me.

( And, stepping in, she is a little surprised. Watches Lakshmi until the door is closed, and rubs her jaw, pensive. ) I think your intentions might have horrified him more.

[ That - stills her momentarily, her face towards the wall. ]

Intentions?

[ It might even be meekly said, but the fact was she had never been meek to much of anything in life, let alone now. ]

( A look, even if it is unseen. )

I exclusively prefer the company of women.

( It is not her business to so bluntly state Marcoulf's preferences, not even to Lakshmi. ) Your... thoughtfulness was misdirected.

[ ... Right. ]

I see.

[ She steps back, the wine in her offhand. She gazes at it, briefly, the broadest strokes of a plan in her mind. ] In that case -

[ Because why can't she be selfish? At least when no one else was watching? Wasn't that the point of seeking out Magni in the first place. That isolated she might from all she knew, everything she had been, and further than she ever thought that might be, the hot angry debate with the brother in her mind, the whisper of home from so many without any knowledge of what the truth about it was - that she could not be an island. That eventually, she had to swim for some kind of sure.

An old man's words, echoing in her mind. We must make choices for our humanity.

She reaches up and snags Magni by the collar of her shirt. Dragging her down to her from her tremendous height and pushing up on her toes to meet her half way. So that she could catch her lips like they were all her own. Sliding up at the angle and over, a firm, determined sort of kiss that firmly takes no argument. Then releasing her almost as suddenly as she had grabbed her to begin with. ] - that's for calling me "your majesty" all evening.

[ And she moved away in the steps the wrapped material allowed, towards the low cupboarded she kept the glasses in. Putting the bottle on the top as she bent over from the waist to dig around in dig out two cups from it. ]

( She complies to the tug, no matter her strength or her height, because she complies to Lakshmi, almost instinctually. The kiss is fierce and wonderful, and she is meaning to wrap her arms around her waist when Lakshmi pulls away from her, and Magni is left abruptly lacking.

Huh.

She watches for a moment, and: )

Was that... meant to discourage the habit?

Edited 2018-08-20 10:48 (UTC)

It is a promise.

[ Is the call from where her head is in the cupboard, before she withdraws, and lifts up the cups she has pinched between her fingers. ]

If you remember I am Rani, not Your Majesty, perhaps I'll bite you somewhere far more pleasant.

[ She takes a seat at the desk, where there is another chair beside it. Putting one cup down for Magni, and then one for herself. ]

( Her eyebrow arches. Not displeased, nor incredulous, just...

huh. )

What if I wish to call you Manu?

[ Her hand hovers when she speaks. Oh, what was that name? Nothing. Except not a lie. Not false. But the name of a dead woman, a girl turned into a Queen. Tugged on by family and no more - what was she thinking?

You weren't, is the thick, heavy reminder. You were trying to do anything but think. Lest that young woman make you weep. Cutting off her own limbs to feed something implacable. A balancing act. ]

Then do so when we are alone. It is no false name, I did not lie to you. But that name has no place in daylight, or anywhere else where I must be, save behind closed doors.

[ Explains nothing of what it means. Gives her permission but nothing else. Good enough, hungry beast? Let this softness be enough. ]

( A quiet sound of acknowledgment, as she watches. The hesitation in that hand, the effect the name carries in its bearer. She almost wondered if she might be met with anger or retribution of some kind, and instead—

Magni watches Lakshmi, watches Manu, and reaches out to gently brush the tips of her fingers along the back of Lakshmi’s wrist. )

I will only use it if the use of it does not do you injury.

( Quietly, honestly. )

[ She might as well have struck her with lightning so far as so little that touch feels. Her eyes lowering, watching it. How terrifying it is to put something so much of herself into someone else's hands. How hard it is not to yank it all back. There must a middle ground-, like all things were battlefields.

Better to not acknowledge that for the fear that she might have, that she is long past looking at - ]

Are you going to stand there? Sit, if it pleases you. I cannot drink this all by myself.

( She stands for a long moment, watching Lakshmi in a way that is not insignificant, does not let her off the hook of this, before compliantly going to sit. Sit, consider, wait.

There is so much that she is trying to hold back, desperately trying not to give away or allow others to see. She wonders jus this sacred a secret all that she saw that night was, when it so clearly had not been meant for someone she’d ever speak to again.

After a long pause, )

Thank you, Manu.

[ She diverts herself with the small tasks in front of her. Easier than knowing she is being watched. Easier than muddling through what this all meant, to reach for the bottle and uncork it with a faint pop, letting the bottle air for a moment.

Then leaning over to pour, once Magni is seated, a full glass for her, and another full glass for Lakshmi. There. That ought to make everything else smooth. ]

Whatever for? You did bring the wine.

( Magni keeps her watch, quiet, forearm resting against the table, leaning against the back of the chair.

Her head tilts very slight, one eyebrow quirked. This has nothing to do with the wine, and her expression says as much. It is a braid of different elements, but she is not sure she should seek to discern the source of each strand, or if that will lead to some destructive unravelling. Her interest has no relentless drive, no desire to keel into the selfish seeking of information. Understanding, though, that is important.

Absently, her fingers run over the scar, jagged across her throat.

No, she simply stays quiet, waits for Lakshmi to drink or to speak. )

[ She busies herself then, with taking a sip of her wine. Not meeting her eye, that twitched way she scans any room - even one that is arguably her own - at this point. Before she settles back, placing the cup down back on the table with her fingers lose around it, arm resting comfortably in front of her. ]

Have you been well - ? Do you have anyone, caught the other side of Tevinter?

[ Potentially captured. She means. ]

( The evasion might be telling enough, but she has no desire to embarrass Lakshmi, nor put her on the spot. She did that quite enough at dinner, and now she feels a little sheepish. The reflex was perhaps petty, childish. )

Not to my knowledge. But— we are all of the Inquisition.

( How has she been? Seems less necessary to address, with the latter question so weighty, and she takes a sip of wine, gaze moving from Lakshmi to rest on the opposite wall, to set her better at ease. ) You?

[ There's an unhappy look, a deep mouthful she takes with her eyes elsewhere. Maybe that's it - she's pent up. Pressing there up against bars and frustrations. ]

Are we? Are we truly all?

[ It's bitter - bitterer than she means, and she closes her eyes. Shakes her head with a sucked in breath, knows better than to admit such things even to mild company. To let her frustration show at this point. It helped no one, let alone herself. ] Forgive me that was not...

[ For her, for anyone, to be said at all. ]

Edited 2018-08-21 04:15 (UTC)

( Magni's gaze is drawn back to her, and she takes a long draw of wine, before her hand drops to the base of Lakshmi's chair, and drags it so they are not so separated by the corner, but more facing each other, the legs making sounds of protests against the floor before Magni releases the chair and straightens up to study her expression. Even if her gaze does not meet Magni's own, she studies. )

I miss my home and it is a distance that can be travelled on horseback. Yours, you are separated from your lands by the Fade.

( A little shrug, as she takes Lakshmi's wrist in her hand, feels her pulse. )

We have cause to be afraid of rifters, but... I am glad you are here. I am glad your heart beats strong. The Chantry, these lowlanders, they can be fools. They are not all that the Inquisition is, or represents.

Edited 2018-08-21 04:30 (UTC)

[ Oof- The chair skids and she stops closer than she meant to be. Looking directly up to her briefly - hard not to want too. Hard not to feel that pulse like the beat of a drum. Taking slow, long, breaths to settle herself.

Cautionary. This was not how this was supposed to end up. Meant to take space, not solace in the comfort of another, perhaps just to drink and maybe she even meant to drag this out even longer but she is tired, and she is trapped, and her bones are arching and Magni at least - ]

I never asked you to care for me.

[ And she leant in to follow it - because she does not hate that she might and she cannot acknowledge it. There is no space for such things. But there is plenty for impulse, demand, and closing her mouth on Magni's softly, carefully, testing it like deep water to wade into. ]

( She really is stubborn. That isn't a problem, really. Magni's eyes close with the kiss, and she stays close, hands anchoring at Lakshmi's elbows, as she murmurs against her lips. )

And I don't bend to the whims of others.

( Her caring is her own, not to be summoned or commanded by royalty or any other. And, then: ) Or expect them to bend to mine.

( She can be glad of Lakshmi's existence; that does not mean she is composing sonnets, or expecting Lakshmi to swoon at the sight of her. It simply means she enjoys another person, and that enjoyment is why she pulls her in for a kiss that is considerably less careful. )

[ It's a breath, a mutter, murmured against her mouth. ] Good. This wouldn't be enjoyable if you did.

[ Lines in the sand, and if Magni wanted to walk away, she still could. But she hadn't, and she seemed content where she was and that's -

What she needs right now. The door is shut and she has no other business to see to for the day. Besides worrying, winding herself up, and up, and up. Enough that even she knew it would get her nowhere, past a certain point. She pushes up as she leans into the kiss. That sort of forwarding motion she can give into and knows the steps of. Not so different from the first time. Moving to half crawl into Magni's lap because at least that way, they won't be straining either of their necks trying to reach each other. ]

( Her hands grip Lakshmi's hips, and tug her closer, as she laughs quietly, barely more than a breath. )

Are you certain, your Majesty?

( She may pay for that. She certainly hopes she pays for that, as she bites down on Lakshmi's lip.

Genuinely, all that she had come to do was deliver the wine and an apology, but she couldn't really point to an issue with this. )

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