Helen Magnus (britishcharm) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2012-08-15 18:35:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, helen magnus, varric tethras |
"It seems appropriate, and we can develop your own stories to tell."
Who: Varric and Helen
What: Trip Conversation
When: Following this
Where: Helen’s house
Status: Complete!
Rating: Probably PG. PG-13, just to be safe.
Helen had always been an early riser, typically waking well before sunrise. When her bed gained another occupant, she had taken to spending that time watching him sleep. Today was an exception. Instead of waiting for him to wake, she lightly stroked his cheek before quietly sliding out of bed.
Twenty minutes later, showered, dressed, and ready for her day, she moved into the kitchen to start her tea. She leaned against the counter as she waited, her thoughts returning to the previous evening, and she couldn’t quite help the smile. Sometimes, it still caught her by surprise, how deeply she cared for him. How happy he made her.
Perhaps some time away wouldn’t hurt.
Varric kept unusual sleeping hours. Years of writing had turned him into the kind of person who'd stay awake until he had no choice, and then sleep for much longer than one ought to just to catch up. So naturally he woke up later than Helen did. It wasn't the next day until he'd slept.
Now, it was the next day, and Varric didn't wake until well after sunrise. He showered, dressed, and padded into the kitchen, giving her a gigantic smile.
By the time he’d made his way into the kitchen, she was on her second cup of tea, a book open in front of her. Smiling, she glanced up at his entrance. “Did you sleep well?”
"As well as ever," He replied, his grin turning cheekish. He helped himself to some tea, and took a seat across from her.
"And you? You didn't toss and turn that much."
She hummed faintly, closing the book and reaching for his hand. “Perhaps we’ve found a remedy for the nightmares.”
At the very least, they were less frequent when he was sharing her bed.
"Is that a dirty joke? I think we're making some progress," Varric quipped, taking her hand. If the lovely and bawdy Isabela ever reared her amble assets and perfect stern he'd have to introduce them. The embarrassment might do Helen some good.
And there was that blush she had been trying so hard to prevent. Damn him. She didn’t think she would have it any differently.
“I’ve been thinking about that trip you proposed.”
He wasn't even trying to make her blush. It was ridiculously adorable. She stood no chance against Isabela. Varric sipped at his tea, mulling over this as Helen struggled to prevent her blush. Then he tilted his head, "Have you? What do you think? I do want it to be something we decide on together."
She nodded slowly, using the time to gather her thoughts. “I think, perhaps, it’s time I start living again.”
"Is there any place you've ever wanted to see?" He took her hand and kissed the knuckles. Varric was keenly interested in what Helen had to say.
“Many places.” The kiss earned him another smile. “This is as much your holiday as it is mine.”
Convincing her to agree to the trip was only half the battle. In a way, she very much felt that she was intruding.
"Ah, but milady, it's only a holiday with you." He winked, "I wouldn't bother to go, otherwise!"
And that was the truth. Varric was content in his situation and place in life. He got to write, he had fantastic friends, and a wonderful lover. Disregarding the darker sides of Kirkwall (aka, most of Kirkwall), his dream life was adventurous and inspiring. If not a little frightening at times.
He worried sometimes, about Darkspawn, abominations and dragons. If they would come over the same way Hawke's magic had. There were some upsides, however.
He liked being a dwarf.
Helen was still too insecure about her place in the world to feel entirely content. Their relationship was one of the few things she was secure in, and she would do nothing to jeopardize that, even if it meant allowing him the control. It would take time for her to adjust to the idea that such caution was unnecessary.
“You mentioned New York?”
"World class entertainment, and world class food. There's also plenty of little out of the way places most people don't know about, that I've never gotten to show anyone before." Some of them might be a little scary looking, but they were safe, they were genuine and not fake, and that's ultimately what mattered.
"Biggest problem with New York is there's never enough time to take it all in."
She smiled, finding his hand and squeezing. “That simply gives us reason to return.”
It was a commitment of sorts, whether he recognized it as one or not. She intended to see this through, and that didn’t only mean the trip they were currently planning.
Varric smiled at her, "We could make it an annual thing. An anniversary of sorts." He didn't want to say the word tradition. Tradition was something he wasn't too comfortable with, most of the time. Tradition was something he liked to escape from.
But an anniversary, or a 'thing'? He was up for.
“That sounds lovely.”
And it did. It felt something like giving them a future, and she wanted a future with him. More than she had wanted anything else in recent memory.
"How does next week sound?" Enough time to settle anything here, and for her to talk to the people she might need or want to talk to.
Now it was her turn to be brave. She took a careful breath, steadying herself. “What if we left the week after? Perhaps spend a few extra days.”
She ran a finger lightly over his knuckles. “I’ve a Birthday coming up. I believe this year it deserves celebrating.”
Varric's mouth spread into one of those cheerful grins he so easily could produce, "Even better! That gives me some time to plan." And make sure any disasters get headed off at the pass. Maybe even time to introduce her to Hawke. Which was his equivalent of having her meet the family.
“And I’ll be able to make arrangements for Winnie and Evan.” And perhaps assure James and Ashley that she had fully thought this through.
“I’m glad you asked,” she murmured, taking his hand again.
Varric had almost forgotten about the greyhounds. Naturally they would need to be taken care of while they were gone, if they didn't take them with them. If it was an outdoors type trip he would consider it. Maybe next spring.
"It seems appropriate, and we can develop your own stories to tell."
If he had offered, she would have readily agreed to bring them along. The few nights she had spent away from Winnie after the attack had been difficult. But she also wanted this time with him, and she knew they would be waiting for her when she returned.
“Our stories,” she corrected lightly, fingers tightening around his, “And they’ll be incredible.”