For pavus_redemit

[nohallaback]

Athras wasn’t sure how long it had been since Adamant. His time during the day was still a whirlwind of tasks that while mundane were necessary. Meetings with visiting dignitaries, meetings with Cullen and the others to discuss strategies, decide what needed to be done, looking after his companions after such a harrowing journey. Pretending that he was fine. He couldn’t allow anyone to think otherwise, not with how many people depended on him, needed him to be untouchable, unassailable. Pretending that he wasn’t still affected. That he didn’t see the twisted landscape when he closed his eyes, that he didn’t dream of that wretched corner of the Fade, the fear that seemed to permeate every inch of it.

He knew he couldn’t continue like that. He needed to dispel the thoughts that seemed to echo through him at any moment of quiet or calm. And what was the best way to better combat such a thing? Knowledge. Know your fears and they become less. So in the scant bit of free time he had, he all but buried himself in the task. Conversations with Solas were nothing new, but the length at which they spoke was. More books from the library piling the desk in his quarters about the Fade and the demons that inhabited it. Instead of tossing uneasily in an attempt to sleep he’d started simply getting up, spending long hours at his desk immersed in their pages as he tried to make some sense of things.

He hadn’t even bothered with dressing for bed, knowing that in this state he wasn’t about to sleep anytime soon until he all but passed out over a book. Instead frowning as he studied, pouring over the words of long-dead scholars as he tapped the back of his quill nib against his notes, a reflexive nervous sort of movement. He knew he had to conquer the issue. He couldn’t continue like this, not for long and who knew what the consequences could be for those who followed him, put their faith in him if he failed them in this. He couldn’t let that happen.

Something had to give and it couldn’t, it wouldn’t be him.

Comments

[nohallaback]

"I am sure that I'll be able to find the time to spend with you." He'd figure something out. A word with Josephine and they could probably carve an hour or two off the end of one of his days by shifting a couple meetings about.

But for the moment he was more focused on Dorian, all but melting at those continued attentions, letting out a content hum.

"It does sound like something I would enjoy." He wasn't sure what had been the thing that started him in becoming more front-line in a fight, but whatever the reason, he couldn't say he didn't find it suited him better than the typical tactics expected of a mage.

He might just be a bit contrary and stubborn.

[pavus_redemit]

"I want to know everything you enjoy," he purred, nuzzling against his ear and placing a tender kiss on his cheek.

His hands, however, became more exploratory instead of actually massaging him. Perhaps he was a bit distracted. Could anyone blame him with his handsome lover in his arms? Anyone else would be distracted.

"You're slightly more interesting than anyone else here," he teased.

[nohallaback]

"Aside from you?" He replied with a soft chuckle, reaching back to trail damp fingers along Dorian's jaw at that bit of affection.

Was Dorian getting distracted? He couldn't say he minded, not with how nice it felt to have his lover's hands on him, or being tucked back against him like he was. Massage or not, he couldn't ever complain about having Dorian's attention on him.

"And here I thought you were just interested in my pretty face." He teased in reply, turning his head to smile impishly at the other man.

[pavus_redemit]

"Your pretty face and your fantastic body. I am terribly greedy."

He caught that smile with his lips and kissed him deeply. Athras did have a pretty face, had a fantastic body and a heart that was much too big. Somehow through everything the Inquisition asked of him his amatus stayed bright and shinning with optimism. It was horribly endearing.

"We should wash that hair of yours before I get much more distracted," he said with a heavy sigh.

[nohallaback]

"Greedy maybe, but I can't complain about the results."

More than happy to return that kiss as it came, relaxing against his lover, fingers sliding through his hair as he did so. Unable not to have his hands on Dorian at this point. He loved him dearly, could scarcely believe he was so lucky to have that love returned.

"You're probably right, even if those distractions are awfully fun in their own right." Tone playfully sympathetic as he offered another kiss, as if in apology.

[pavus_redemit]

"Once we take care of it we'll let ourselves get distracted," he said with a bright laugh.

He sat up a bit and cupped water in his hands to pour gently over Athras' hair. He had so much and it was so beautiful. Dorian couldn't help himself. He ran his fingers through it while getting it wet, loving the feel of it through his fingers.

"You must let me style this one day," he murmured. "I will make you look richer than any Orlesian who dares to look down at their nose at you."

[nohallaback]

Athras shifted so Dorian would be able to help with his hair more easily, unable to help tilting his head back into the feel of that touch running through it.

"I might just let you... I always do like when you play with it." Among other things, but better to get this done first or there'd be no getting his lover to focus if he kept teasing him, right? But the attention was certainly nice, and given that he never let anyone else tend to his hair aside from his lover there was something delightfully intimate in letting Dorian do as he would with styling it.