(is it cheating if I already mentioned that gift? idk, but let's do that anyway) ...It's a small box made of black walnut wood, with a metal frame and a simple latch to keep it shut, and Aqun seems weirdly nervous handing it over. When Das opens it, there's a small mechanical figure of a bird that begins to move as a familiar melody plays; it's then that he remembers Aqun asking for his favorite song, months ago.
Have your OC send a gift to mine, and mine will answer
For a beat, Das is completely lost forwords.
"Andraste's blazin' beard,that's..." He doesn't finish. All manners of superlatives arebuzzing about in his head, but none of them quite suffices.
Hecarefully turns the box over in his hands, admiring it from differentangles.The bird automaton is flapping its wings, turning its headand opening and closing its tiny beak to the melody of an old Antivansong while two smaller bird figurines are turning on either side. "Me mum used to sing that for me," Das whispers, happy grin on hisface and glimmer gathering in the corners of his eyes. He quicklywipes them with the heel of his hand to clear his progressively hazyvision. His eyes zoom in on every tiny detail: the delicate outlinesof the bird's feathers, the minuscule black glass beads of its eyes,the filigree on its wings... The smaller birds have no moving parts,but the amount of detail on them is still incredible."Aqun,this is gorgeous! How did you achieve so much detail on such a tinything?" He giggles and shakes his head in astonishment. "Andhow much is going on *in* there?" He taps the side of the boxlightly. The bird's movements and the melody begin to slowdown.Das lifts the box above his eye level and frowns when hedoesn't see the built-in wind-up mechanism he expected. "Adaar,you sneaky bastard," he says – but there's an excited spark inhis eyes as he starts examining the music box more methodically. Ittakes just a couple of seconds for him to figure it out. There areonly so many places you can put a concealed wind-up mechanism on acontraption so small and so complex. "Ah, stupid me," hemumbles and his eyes lock in on the two smaller birds. He quicklyidentifies the one that serves as a built-in winding key and winds upthe box. The music begins to play again, but Das barely registersit – and Aqun can't help but smile to himself, watching Das'smind-cogs turning."What does the OTHER one do?" the elfmutters, staring a hole through the tiny bird-shaped thing. Standingup turns out to be too much of a distraction, so he plops into acrossed-legged sit on the ground.Aqun sits down opposite to him,close enough for their knees to touch – and observes, much calmernow, because the gift has been so well received.Das grins andlooks at him, bumps his leg a bit, rubbing his knee against Aqun'sshin – one of the many small affectionate things he does eachday – and Aqun's throat tightens just the tiniest bit as herealizes they've got less than a day together before the Inquisitorand his party leave for the Exalted Plains. The song finishesagain.Das squints at the box for a while. There's a gleam ofinspiration in his eyes and he winds the mechanism again – exceptthis time he holds the winding key – and holds his index fingerover the other bird figurine, glancing at Aqun for confirmation.Aqunsmiles and nods and Das presses down. Something clicks softly insideand when Das lets go, the box stays silent – wound up and ready tostart playing the next time the lid pops open. He closes it,trapping the song inside for now. The box still in his hand, heclimbs onto Aqun's lap and hugs him tight enough to squeeze the airout of him. "Dunno what I've done to deserve this but thanks,"he mumbles as Aqun's arms wrap around him and he's gently rocked backand forth – Aqun's embrace as safe and comforting as ever. "Missyou already."
…
Das may not be too hung up on 'elfyrubbish' as Sera would put it, but the Exalted Plains still depressall song and colour out of him.There's something unnerving andeerie about that land. It is a sad, haunted place. He and Neilarrarely speak but often exchange uneasy glances.All the Orlesiansoldiers and Chevaliers stomping all over the Plains could just aswell be stomping all over them.None of their companions, savemaybe Solas, seem to get it and that may be the most soul-crushingaspect of it all.
Sleep never comes easy and each nightdrags on like a bad sermon.
To Das Davarris, sleepless nights area storm of ugly thoughts and unwanted memories whirling about in hisskull and clawing at his restless mind... Back at Skyhold,back—home, Aqun's calm, warm presence is like a wall betweenhim and the gale – and alone out here he finds himself deprived ofshelter.
Every night he winds up the music boxand holds it close, cradling it in his hands to muffle thesound.Sometimes he hums along.He never falls asleep to it.The melody doesn't last long enough. But it conjures up a soft, safebubble around him. A pocket of warmth. A happy place.
…
When the company returns, there are afew more dents on Das's blades, his armour is in dire need of repairand most of his clothes could use some mending as well, not tomention a thorough wash.There's a limp in his gait as he walksinto Aqun's waiting arms.
The box, however, is in pristinecondition, wrapped in several layers of clean cloth and tucked safelyout of harm's way.As soon as he fishes it out of his backpack,Das unwraps it and sets it on the bedside table.He releases thelatch, the lid springs openand the song begins to pour out.Aqun sits next to him andsmiles. "Are you not sick of the melody yet?"Das closes his eyes and leans into him, calm and content. "Nah. I don'tthink I ever will be. It's like an echo of home, y'know...""Ahome away from home?" Aqun asks, voice soft ‘round theedges."No," Das replies. He entwines his fingers withAqun's, gently rubbing his knuckles with his thumb. "But areminder there's one waiting for me back here." After awhile of comfortable silence, Das reaches into his pocket and thenext moment, he presses something into Aqun's hand.An amulet – asmall onyx fox protectively coiled around a feather quill carved froma large blue wyvern scale."Look what I found," hesays."Found and duly reported to the Inquisitor, I hope?"Aqun teases."Of course I reported the find to theInquisitor, along with my intent to keep it," Das replies as hecloses Aqun's fingers around the pendant. "It's got a hum to it.Good hum, I mean."Das has a way of feeling wards andenchantments – so Aqun takes his word for it. "What does itdo, then?""Both Dorian and Solas believe it stimulatesthe mind," Das says and sneaks an arm around Aqun's waist. Herests his head against Aqun's shoulder and huffs a low chuckle. "Notthat you ain't awesomely smart already..." He leans in andcranes his neck to land a quick peck on Aqun's cheek. "And Ifigured it would look really great on you."
