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

Zevran OTA

[ombranera]

[ Zevran, himself, is quite cheerful on the ride up. Glad to be healthy and happy and maybe running from a few serious conversations he'd rather avoid for the moment. Fate asked him here, and here he is, attempting to lighten the mood when possible, taking over cooking if no one else seems to know what they are doing, and taking long watches at night. ]

[samahl]

[Cyril is having trouble sleeping so he ends up settling next to Zevran during the watch.]

Mind some company? [His voice is very low, as not to wake anyone who might be sleeping. The way he looks, with his shoulders tense and his jaw set, it seems like he wants to talk about something, but he completely understands if Zevran needs time alone.]

[ombranera]

Never.

[ Zevran extends an arm to Cyril without thought, inviting him in. Whatever it is he wishes to discuss? They have time and privacy enough to do so. ]

What is on your mind?

[samahl]

[Cyril settles next to Zevran then and smiles up at him in thanks before getting serious again.]

I've been thinking a lot about some of the things that Twisted Fate told me about his Clan. It troubles me.

[ombranera]

And you wish an outsider's perspective?

[ That he has in spades, honestly. ]

What have you heard?

[samahl]

His Clan has earned their reputation for brutality. They torture the humans they capture, and they play the game called Fen'Harel's Teeth. Have you heard of it?

[ombranera]

Heard of it? The Crows of Antiva adopted it as a punishment for certain levels of failure. A similar leather suit with needles is used to train fledglings to fight without being touched.

[samahl]

[Cyril winces a bit and then settles his hand on Zevran's leg. Every time he implies about how he was raised Cyril feels like he should say or do something, but he thinks doing so might be pushing for too much. A gentle touch at least can be pushed away if Zevran doesn't want it.]

How am I supposed to defend people who would do such a thing?

[ombranera]

This is where most would say 'you aren't, clearly'. But this is me. [ Time for a moment of perspective. ] Were I to need your defense, would you do so?

[samahl]

Always. [He says it without hesitation]

Which, I suppose, is the point. I can easily defend you because I know you and care about you.

[ombranera]

This is a technique among the crows called the Spider's Kiss. It can be used as a slow, painful death or a means of torture for interrogation. You take a hollowed needle and slide it under the skin, attach the open end to a tube, and pump acid between skin and flesh. Depending upon the placement of the needle and the acid employed it can take hours and be agonizing.

This I have done, with and without the Crows. Would you defend me still?

[samahl]

[Cyril's eyes narrow a bit at the description but his hand doesn't pull away. If anything, he presses his hand softly into Zevran's leg.]

Yes.

[ombranera]

So. It matters not what they did- but why they did it. Then we judge whether or not they are worth defending.

[ He squeezes Cy's hand back, smiling gently. ]

[wickedchase]

[He can appreciate someone else being in a good mood. Usually, he's decent enough at hiding his own emotions, but this sort of thing is a bit... harder.

This might help, though.]

Any chance you know any Rivaini dishes?

[ombranera]

Several. Two or three I can manage with what we have on hand, in fact.

[ Zevran flicks through his pack of spices, peering down before pulling out several small jars and a head of garlic. ]

Most of what I know is meant to be made for two- quite romantic and all. I could teach you if you like.

[wickedchase]

I do rather enjoy the romantics in life and I consider myself an excellent learner.

You have my attention, friend.

[ombranera]

You start with a little lard or a little butter, here.

[ He has the lard rather than the butter, scraped into a jar. He spoons it out and sets it in the deep cauldron over the fire to help it melt, adds the cloves of garlic, a few of the spices- and a sliced onion. ]

I suppose she is quite romantic then, under the stoic front- your Nerva.

[wickedchase]

Ah... well.

[Fate's expression grows a little more serious.]

Perhaps. I wouldn't know, truly. In as much as she's grown, I don't know that she can stomach a mage that close to her heart. She is a true friend, but beyond that it's harder to say for right now.

[ombranera]

I think she could stomach a mage close to more than her heart. You have not quite seen the way she looks at you. [ Zevran knows that look- knows what comes of it. ] It cannot hurt to make an offer. An open one.

[wickedchase]

Does it happen when my back is turned? I'm usually much more observant.

[Even if she does feel a certain way, it doesn't guarantee that she'll agree to do anything about it for whatever she would stand on.

Still. It's not as if there's much harm in approaching her about it, would there be? The worst thing she could do was tell him no. Better a "no" now than a "no" down the road.]

I suppose not. Perhaps after we're done with things out here.

[ombranera]

Love is blind, or so the saying goes. Perhaps this extends unto attraction as well.

[ Sentiment can be terribly blinding-

And there is that whole 'mage/templar' business to sort out. But that is not a problem for him to pick at. ]

A romantic dinner under the stars on the way back.

[wickedchase]

Oh, I don't doubt she's attracted to me. [He's incredibly confident in his appearance, after all.] But I suppose we'll see what she thinks beyond that.

Hm, I was thinking of waiting until we were back at Skyhold, but there would be more privacy on the way back.

[It's not a bad idea. And no matter how this ends, he might as well attempt to have one nice thing about it.]

[ombranera]

The temptation offered by privacy to go further, perhaps, than would be wise might be a bit much. On the road there is time for words and consideration. Also fewer reminders of duty.

[ He knew a thing or two, from his own time on the road. ]

So you cook this for her- and I've some chocolate I've swiped from the kitchens to make something sweet for afterward.

[wickedchase]

Words and words alone, I promise. I'm not looking for any further ... matters until we're back at Skyhold.

[He chuckles quietly before he's watching Zevran again.]

And what were you originally going to do with that chocolate, dare I ask?

[ombranera]

Mix it with honey and heated milk to drink in the mornings. I will have to make this for you sometime, it is marvelous. Every little cart in Antiva has their own mix of spices they add to the drink and guard their secrets with their lives.