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 snorted.

And pointedly stopped herself from picturing it.]

If they had asked me five years ago, I still would have refused, and dragged him off to a circle, instead. Now-- [A pause, and a frown.] ... He's earned the freedom he has.

[arsebiscuit]

How's that?

[ She's not stupid. She liked Fate well enough, knew the Circles could be shit. But there still was this bit about magic. Ex or not, any kind of Templar was supposed to be all about that.]

He all demon proof now?

[ The get a glance from a table near them, an elf talking about magic. So just just winks at him and adds... ]

In bed.

[keeperofmagi]

No.

[She wishes he was. She wished to the Maker that he was, that it was something that wouldn't haunt her dreams, wouldn't fester in her nightmares.

It was a deep enough shiver that she entirely missed the 'in bed' comment. Or maybe she didn't, but chose to ignore it.]

... No. He's not. He - needs a companion, at least, someone who has the strength of will to help him - stop him - if something came to that. But... It would kill him, kill part of him, to be put there. I think. [She didn't sound entirely sure, not like she usually was. Usually she was sure of everything, of every thought, opinion, idea. Usually they held fast like stone and never weathered. But Tobrevas...]

And he would not go, even if I asked. Even if there were still a circle to take him to.

[arsebiscuit]

Hm. So you're in for some shit times when all the madness's done.

[ Nerva skips over humor, Sera skips over delicate or nice. ]

[keeperofmagi]

You say that as if you expect to survive the madness.

[It could have been a joke, maybe, from another person. But it wasn't. And she didn't even seem to change her expression at Sera's change of tone.]

If I had a place in the world before, it is gone now. We are all, as they say, dead men. [One more drink and the ale is done, and she slams it down on the bar a little too hard, wiping her face.]

... Though not you, I think.

[arsebiscuit]

Course I'm not friggin dead. Or you. Only place anyone get's the one the carve out, innit it? Don't push for room, other people're gonna come and take it all up and fart on the good bits.

[ She does not understand your existential angst, Nerva. Not at all. ]

[keeperofmagi]

[Nerva snorted, because farts.]

That's what I mean. You'll carve out a bit and it will fit and you will keep carving bits out of those that require it.

[She paused, then, her expression shifting as something occurred to her, and then she turned with almost a childlike look - a plea behind her eyes.]

... You'd take care of him, wouldn't you? Find someone to - keep him grounded. Or just safe.

[arsebiscuit]

No.

[ She sounds offended. Take care of Fate? ]

He's no little person needing my type. He's all your breed. Sparkly and...and hats. Why the hats? He keeping a third staff under there?

[keeperofmagi]

My breed. [The idea was an odd one - as she was pretty sure in no way, shape or form were her and Fate as all related, and she looked a little stunned by the flat out rejection.

And then, mildly amused.

(Nerva slightly approves.)

But she wouldn't ask again.]

I think he has five, actually. Though I am at least fairly sure he does not wear them all at the same time.

[arsebiscuit]

You know.

[Sera makes a hand gesture than encapsulates all of Nerva with her non-ale holding hand.]

There's folks that do magic or deal with magic and there's folks that go, ah! Magic! Not hard guessing which of us is which, yeah?

aka the absolute best/worst moment for Fate to walk into this convo

[keeperofmagi]

[She doesn't understand, but the frown begins to settle as Sera went on.]

... If I could make Thedas a place without magic, I would. [It's not a lie. Everything she feels for Fate aside, magic did more harm than good. Always.]

If I never had to witness magic ever again, I would be happy. But as that is impossible, I chose to learn to protect myself. To protect everyone else.

Fate and I - we are not of a breed. We are, by all rights, natural enemies. That has never really been in question.

[arsebiscuit]

[And that is when Sera blows a raspberry. A drunk one. There's more spit than normal.]

Does magic, squishes magic. Not so different for anyone not you, is it? Know the difference 'tween a templar and a mage for where I grew up? How you're gonna die. But it's gonna all horrible like, either one.

Maker went and made magic, right? Chant says it. Can't do shit there. But I figure people pick their friends. Or, like those pissyface woods elves, their shit lists.

[keeperofmagi]

Where I grew up, the templars were little more than a joke, and magic ruled easily. [Probably said too much, but she's drinking and Fuck it.]

Fate is your friend. So you already chose him.

[arsebiscuit]

Sure. Yours too. So nyah.

[That sound is, of course, accompanied by her sticking out her tongue.]

His ass ain't my type, so you look after it 'stead of dying. Easy.

[keeperofmagi]

I would like to think all of his friends would want to 'look after his ass'. [Wryly.]

... I hope you're right, and it is that easy. But I can't expect it.

[arsebiscuit]

Better than just waiting for death, innit it?

Shite, your kind are the worst. All that armor and 'Trained By The Greatest Swordsman of Our Time' [ it is said with such a fake noble accent ] junk, but still sure of all of us you'll be the ones to bite it first.

[keeperofmagi]

[She arched an eyebrow.]

Where exactly do you think I was trained? And part of our training is to accept that we are the first line of defence. If the demons get past me, it should only be because I am dead.

[arsebiscuit]

Thought you'd met Cass?

[ Her ale is empty. She frowns at the bottom of the cup, then keeps frowning as she looks back up at Nerva. ]

So don't get dead.

[keeperofmagi]

I met her here, in the Inquisition, not before. [Something clicks and she looks bemused.]

I am no noble, if that's what you are thinking, Sera. I joined the Order as an Orphan in Val Royeaux.

[arsebiscuit]

She's had the best. No rubbing swords behind closed doors?

[keeperofmagi]

Rubbing swords -- [She looked helplessly bemused, at that.]

I'm sure she has had the best. Isn't she technically royalty?

[arsebiscuit]

Sure. If we get Zev and his lot to kill half the country. Figured all the pointy stabbing got passed along after you signed on to her side and such.

[keeperofmagi]

Well, I would kill for her, yes. But I didn't get the impression that's what you meant by 'rubbing swords'.

But she came from as different a background as Fate and I did.

[The point is, Sera, she would be an extremely Inappropriate Partner and she knows it.]

[arsebiscuit]

And we're all in the shit now.

[She does not..follow you, Nerva. At all.]

Don't matter the background. Best thing I ever got from the Jenny's, figuring that out. Whatever you are, just don't be a shit. Makes you all good people.

[keeperofmagi]

[Good people. That was never a descriptor she would use for herself, and for a half a second the smile faltered, but then --]

... You're very wise, Sera. And you're right.