→ IC CONTACT FOR eachdraidh

[notyetlegend]

LOCKET/COMPASS: TEXT → VIDEO → AUDIO → ACTION

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[athousandcurses]

[Grainne looks down at her locket, resting on the small chain she keeps it on.]

Could you not use mine? It may have been easier to contact Lord El-melloi and the Hound, being a Seelie locket.

[Earlier, she had gotten away with not acknowledging Diarmuid's name before, save for that flinch, but now it is too obvious. The younger girl is sure to notice, and she steels herself for questions.]

I would not have minded, though it may not be a good idea to be seen in the Seelie messages right now.

[notyetlegend]

I thought about it, but I might have lost control of my anger like I did yesterday if I had. Everyone's stickin' to Seelie an' Unseelie lines.

[A decent flush crosses Merida's cheeks at the memory and she ducks her head. She definitely notices, and her lips purse into a thin line as she wonders if Grainne would be up for questions.]

...How long was it? Back home?

[athousandcurses]

Then all the more fools are they in this mad land to never question.

[Grainne had never sounded bitter before in front of Merida... or, at least, that bitter.]

Those ones would rush to whatever drums were beating just to show that they were warriors regardless of the cost. [A small noise of disgust makes its way through Grainne's noise.]

It has been two years since I saw you last, Merida. At least for the time that has passed in my world.

[notyetlegend]

I tried to warn them last month, m'lady. Sadly there are fools who would just as much not listen to reason than there are those who would heed th' call of th' drums of war.

[She does note the bitterness in Grainne's voice, a little surprised, though she does smile a bit even as she ignores the churning in her gut at the idea of what she might have experienced.]

Th' same as me then. At least we're not three hundred years late. [with Starbucks]

[athousandcurses]

Three hundred years... [A small worried frown appears, and Grainne bites her lip.]

The faeries would do something like that. I hope nobody would have to deal with such a thing... a few is more than enough.

[notyetlegend]

There was a man who came into DunBroch claimin' he'd been down a faerie mound, once.

[Merida chuckles a little at the memory, before reaching to squeeze Grainne's hand.]

You...experienced it, didn't you, m'lady? What we discussed over th' lockets last time you called me?

[athousandcurses]

[That sadness is back. The look she can't quite shake, no matter how carefully she's practiced the neutral blank expression.]

He is gone. I know that now.

[notyetlegend]

He's alive here.

[Merida draws herself closer, sliding off the bed to kneel down next to her friend.]

That has to count for somethin', right?

[athousandcurses]

[Her expression hardly changes at all.]

What good does that do our shattered family?

[notyetlegend]

[A small frown furrows across her forehead, reaching to tuck some curls behind her ear.]

I don't know, but wouldn't talkin' to him help?

[athousandcurses]

He kept so much from me...

[Probably to spare her pain, but things she should have known to keep him safe. Things she could have changed.]

I am not ready to talk to him.

[notyetlegend]

I'm not rushin' you to. You'll have plenty of time to think it over.

[They had no idea when the war was going to end after all. She squeezed Grainne's hand.]

We can switch topics if you want.

[athousandcurses]

It is all right. But...

[Grainne lowers her head slightly at the comforting squeeze.]

I have begun to question everything I ever believed true. And how will I tell him I am about to betray him?

[notyetlegend]

I think he's the type of person who will forgive you, no matter what happens.

[Merida reaches to tilt her chin up with her free hand. If what Rin told her about Diarmuid's world was true, then it was possible he already knew the outcome of his tale from his wife's point of view. She doesn't say his name, mostly to save Grainne from wincing like she did earlier.]

You didn't give into Fionn to start with. You don't have to worry.

[athousandcurses]

But I am not the type to forgive so easily! [Her expression darkens, and the first hint of true anger comes through.] I tried! And I could say nothing, nothing when he went because it was his responsibility and his right and he chose it over his family! Just as he has b-been choosing... this... war over- over us.

[She freezes then, her fists curled into balls at her sides, and bursts into tears.]

[notyetlegend]

[Merida's arms reached out, wrapping Grainne into a hug and tucking her chin over her head the minute she started crying. It was an automatic reaction, one that she found herself pursing her lips together for before biting her bottom one and closing her eyes. She had a feeling anything she was going to say in defence of Diarmuid would be shot down by Grainne, so she just held her, sitting there.]

[athousandcurses]

[Perhaps once Grainne calms down and stops feeling the effects of so many memories rushing back to clarity, she might regret her words. But they came from a well deep part of her soul, one she hadn't wanted to admit existed before. She should know better. She was (or is?) a knight's wife. She should accept it as part of the life he led.

She has made plenty of mistakes, and in her own mind she is at fault for his death, for her actions in the beginning and lack of them at the end.]

M... Merida...

[notyetlegend]

It's hard isn't it? All th' memories? Conflictin' around in there?

[Her voice comes out in a murmur, pressing her cheek to Grainne's as she rubbed at her back. It had been easier for her since she hadn't gone through anything like what Grainne had, but it still hurt, still made her cringe every time she thought back on the last two years. She'd hold onto her as long as she wanted, letting her exhaustion leave her as Merida sighed, shoulders relaxing.]

[athousandcurses]

It was supposed to be better...

[It is pure misery coming out of her rather than a voice, and she starts to shake with the emotions. Trying not to faint's been easier since it happened, but still takes effort, and the only thing she holds back. The comfort she greedily accepts, not having had that comfort even back home.]

[notyetlegend]

Sometimes...things don't always turn out th' way we plan.

[It's as much of an admission as it is a statement. Grainne already knows she tried to change her mother's mind about her betrothal and instead got her turned into a bear, so she doesn't repeat it. It feels like she's comforted a lot of people in the last couple of days, so it comes easily to her as Grainne soaks up the comfort like a sponge. When she starts to shake, Merida tightens her grip.]

But we learn from those mistakes. We get up an' try again tomorrow.

[athousandcurses]

[Grainne pulls back slightly, trying to see Merida through her tears.]

How can I possibly try again when there is nothing left?

[notyetlegend]

[She reaches up with both hands, gently wiping her tears away with her thumbs.]

There's always somethin' left. [Merida hums a little, a soft smile curling.] You just can't see what it is yet.

[athousandcurses]

A long life and an empty home... that is all there is waiting for me back home, if Fionn were not chasing after me yet again.

[notyetlegend]

Then don't think about that somethin' left as bein' back home. [Merida took Grainne's hands in hers.] What about here? What do you have to try for here?

[athousandcurses]

I still have my shard...

[That's not good... does she already consider Diarmuid out of her reach here, too?

She looks down at her chest, where the shard sits.]

I was learning magic.