A Cruel Twist of Fate [closed]

[wickedchase]

WHO: Twisted Fate, Nerva, Korrin, Zevran, Beleth, Cyril, Ruby, Sera, Katniss, and special sending crystal guest star, Sina!
WHAT: A companion quest and elven relations all wrapped up in one.
WHEN: Post-Illness plot. The band of merry travelers will be gone from Clouch 23 to Clouchreach 28.
WHERE: Traveling to and from the Serpentine River.
NOTES: The plotting post.

Comments

[keeperofmagi]

[Nerva blinked - having not expected it - staring a little stupidly for half a second before the smile appeared on her lips. Not a grin - never a grin - but amused, to be sure.

If she was another person, she would make a joke about Sera eating out of the palm of her hand, but she isn't and the words don't come right so she doesn't try.]

I'll take that as a yes, then.

[arsebiscuit]

Yeah.

[But the lady fair didn't blush or swoon, and Sera was an offerer, not a pusher. So the next bit she just picks up with her fingers. She'll deal with... frustrations later.]

Got it bad, is it?

[keeperofmagi]

[Nerva had taken the third one off the skewer to have a bite herself, and paused with it half way to her lips, confusion crossing her face.]

Sorry? [She asked as she tried to follow where that thread of conversation originated from.]

[arsebiscuit]

For someone. You're all tween and squishy for 'em, yeah?

[She pops the bit of food in her mouth with a grin. Turning down a lovely elf she clearly had no gender problems with? had to be that.]

[keeperofmagi]

Ah. [She did blush then. Just the tiniest bit, the barest hint of red, but it was there.]

... 'Tween and squishy'. I'm not sure that is the wording I would use, but I - yes. There is someone that I - care about.

[arsebiscuit]

Mm.

[Shame. Shame is what she wants to say, but she's chewing and it's for the best. Sera's not one to tell anyone how to find happy.]

And?

[keeperofmagi]

[Nerva shrugged, and shook her head.]

And, nothing. We have all of Thedas depending on us. That is enough.

[arsebiscuit]

That's shit. Keeping the world from going mad's a...something that's got to be done. Life doesn't stop in the mean time. Keeps going. And you know it, else we'd be up to something...else.

[ In a tent. On the road. Anywhere with tits and ass. ]

[keeperofmagi]

[She couldn't help it. She offered Sera a small, sad smile, and then put another few morsels on her skewer.]

So you are one of Cassandra's friends. She said much the same. But as I said to her - I have too little, to be willing to lose it so easily.

[arsebiscuit]

[That gets a full raspberry, nothing else hiding it for a long moment.]

Scaredy cat.

[keeperofmagi]

[She didn't laugh, exactly, but the smile did flicker over her lips and she tore a bit of the morsel off of the skewer to throw it at Sera. Just gently, just teasingly. Because she'd already given up, on that part of her heart, but she appreciated the effort.]

Careful, or I'll crow when I find where you hesitate.

[arsebiscuit]

[ She catches it and tosses into her mouth, giving a moment of silence- until she starts talking through the chewing. ]

I'll take the bet. So long as you get your ass movin' now.

[keeperofmagi]

[The smile faded, her brows furrowing slightly before finally she pulled her eyes away, frowning at her skewer before replacing it in the fire.]

I - wish I could make that wager. But now would not be a good time, for anyone. I - appreciate it, Sera. [She looked up at that.]

You are exceedingly kind. I won't forget it.

[arsebiscuit]

Ugh. You're the worst kind. Think life much cares for you? If you get a minute of peace? Nah. It's all shit all the time. You want something nice? You get it yourself. Or just spend a life crying in your fluffy pillows.

[keeperofmagi]

[She didn't say anything, for a moment. It was interesting, that where someone who could have said the same thing, but less blunt, would have insulted her - with such forward words Nerva couldn't find disrespect in them. Sera spoke her mind. Knew her mind. And that was more than most.]

I know all too well exactly how little life cares about me. [Her voice was almost deceptively quiet.] I won't tempt fate, and risk what little good I've managed to wring from it.

I'm - content. With friendship.

[arsebiscuit]

[Sera looks at her for a long moment, licking the last bits of goodies off her finger tips...then makes a decision. She scoots off the bit of log she's been sitting on and walks on her knees over to kneel between Nerva's, hands coming up to rest on the ex-templar's upper tights.

She's play this bluff until she wins the way she wants.]

So you're all happy free and flighty.

[ombranera]

[ Interrupting Zevran interrupts- mostly by slipping behind Sera and hooking an arm around her ribs, carting her the two steps away from Nerva, much like he would an inattentive cat. Like said inattentive cat he settles her in his lap and hooks his chin over her shoulder, mumbling in Antivan about the cold.

Like he does. ]

Why are you southerners always so warm?

[ All innocence. Truly. ]

[keeperofmagi]

I--

[But then Sera was being dragged away, and Nerva was left sitting there, looking confused.]

Ah -- are you cold, Zevran? I have a spare tunic, if you need it.

[And thanks, later, for the out.]

[arsebiscuit]

'Cause we stay warm snuggling our own bloody business.

[ MAKER'S SAGGY BALLS ZEVRAN. Sera glares over her shoulder at him even as she's man handled into position. ]

Still. If the lady's offering the shirt off her back, works fine for me. All the better view.

[ombranera]

I am always cold, Nerva.

[ He turns upon her his saddest possible eyes, eartips dipped ever so faintly, the barest edges of a pout to his lips.

This will cost him later, no doubt, but it is for everyone's own good. ]

If you could spare it I would be most grateful.

[keeperofmagi]

[He's up to something. It didn't occur to her until that very moment, but the giant doe eyes are so opposite to what she expects from him that it triggers in her mind instantly. He's up to something, but -

She'll welcome the distraction anyway.

She shifts, holding out the skewer for either of them as she stands.]

I'll fetch it.

[arsebiscuit]

[ And there she goes. She watches the ex-Templar go until she's out of sight-

Then turns a scowl on Zev. ]

The fuck?

[ombranera]

[ Zev releases Sera immediately, leaning back so she can lever herself out if she likes. ]

Fate has dibs, no tasting the former templar.

[arsebiscuit]

[ She does gather herself in her own corner, taking the food Nerva left behind. Because food, for free. Instincts are hard to fight, even as she glares at him. ]

She's all happy to be sweet no-touch friends. Or she thinks. Takes a new option to see what you want in the first choice, don't it? And he's a stupid shit, if he ain't done nothing yet. Almost stupid as you, pretty bird.

[ombranera]

...

[ Alright that- that he had not thought to be happening. He hadn't heard the conversation, just seen Sera making a play. ]

I am not above admitting I have read the situation wrong. I apologize. It is, I will say, less a question of 'stupid shit' or not and more one of sentiment and an unfamiliarity with how such things go.

Or an overfamiliarity that leads to just as much reluctance.