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

EPILOGUE.

[wickedchase]

[With Leliana's help, Mayor Bowen's attitude had abruptly turned around completely and had been willing to talk, just as Twisted Fate assured. He knows that something had happened, that some secret was unraveled by her and that forced him to cooperate, but he can live with that. Really, he respects her work. The villagers for the most part were all too glad at the idea of getting some peace back, though some were unimpressed with the mayor backing down so suddenly. The merchants? Much gladder to see the change.

The clan had not been entirely in unison regarding Keeper Shoshanna's decisions to perpetuate a legacy of anger, violence, and hate between Dalish and humans alike. With reluctance, the clan's First, Janna, spoke in support of negotiations, and the Crafter, Aurelion, was a bit more vocal in supporting this. The hunters were less pleased at the idea, but ultimately between the efforts of Sina's reasonable approach, Cyril helping the clan in favors, and Beleth knowing how to worm her way into getting what she wants, Keeper Shoshanna relented and agreed.

Twisted Fate knows he can count on Beleth to help in negotiations, and with her help he hosts the matter in the tavern in a separate room. He bites his tongue and tries to not bite at Keeper Shoshanna's words, letting Beleth work on the Keeper while he debates with much more ease with Mayor Bowen.

It is said that there were at least thirty-five expletives shouted during the negotiations, Dalish language included.

Ultimately, the debate ends with the following agreement, written and signed:

The Dalish will rescind their Fen'Harel's Teeth "games" and any attacks on the humans unless first provoked with a violent act on an elf. The humans will not attack an elf unless provoked violently first on a human. The elves will open their stores in offer of trade while they recuperate their losses, allowing access for the humans to purchase their leathers and access to the woods.

Keeper Shoshanna agreed to move the clan, per Sina's urging and Zevran's earlier suggestion, after they have enough in stock to live on.

There was one last effort that Keeper Shoshanna had in asking Twisted Fate to say. He probably laughed.]


-=-=-


[At this point, please feel free to thread out the group leaving the region! What shenanigans are you up to? Did Sera really put poison oak in the clan's bedrolls? Who can say.]

closed to NERVA.

[wickedchase]

[On one hand, Twisted Fate wishes he'd never really came in the first place, but the clan is more or less safe and the humans slightly better off. It did mean earning the mark on his hand, something he's not happy about and will try to research, but for now...

For now, there are actually more important matters.

A day after the group has left the clan and village, and Fate has disappeared for a time into the woods to work on what Zevran's taught him. The night is clear, the stars are out, and the romantic in him says that this is probably going to be the best opportunity to have this talk.

So the dinner is made, for two.

Fate returns to camp, immediately heading for Nerva, not bothering to hide his grin as he addresses her.]

Nerva, I could use your expertise on something. Your eyes alone, if you could.

[keeperofmagi]

[She had been trying to give him space, after the rift. It worried her, of course it did, but she gave him his space.

So when he disappeared for a couple of hours, she tried not to pace, or look relieved when he appeared. She failed at both.]

My expertise? Ah- of course. Whatever you require.

[wickedchase]

That's what I hoped you would say.

[This is a gamble. Matters of the heart always are. If she turns him down, he tells himself that he will understand. She will have her reasons, and better now than to be left wondering of what could have been.

So he takes lead into the woods. Just enough from the rest of the camp to have some privacy, but not so far that it would be dangerous.

The dinner is revealed, neatly laid out over a mostly-even rock covered with one of his undoubtedly several handkerchiefs. It even has a candle lit.]

Could you inspect our food and ensure it's edible?

[keeperofmagi]

[Whatever she had been expecting, this clearly wasn't it. Nerva stopped, looking at the laid out meal, clearly meant for two and no more than that. So she didn't answer as quickly as she should have - as she could have. She just stared at it for a long moment, and then looked at Fate.]

Ah- I'm sure it's- you- a candle?

[wickedchase]

I generally wouldn't suggest trying to eat the candle.

[It's spoken wryly before his expression becomes a little more soft.]

Please, sit. I think it's perhaps time you and I spoke.

OTA

[gatheringstorm]

[Hardly skilled in the art of diplomacy and knowing there are much more skilled minds for that, Korrin nonetheless remains nearby during negotiations just in case they come to a sudden, violent breakdown. That it doesn't happen is clearly a credit to her companions, and the news of the clans' future departure is met with relief. Clearly eager to get going, Korrin sets about to packing and checking on friends/companions to be sure all is set before they depart. She doesn't want any reason for there to be a sudden turn-around, not after the hassle they've been through. At the top of her list are Twisted Fate and Sera, but she'll pause and speak with anyone from her party for the chance to exchange impressions or just vent.]

[wickedchase]

[Eventually, he does find his way to committing his time to just Korrin, who is the ever faithful friend he can count on. Twisted Fate sighs and leans against her, determined to have some kind of contact. It really doesn't matter what at the moment.]

Thank you for coming with me, spitfire. [Sure, she's not terribly diplomatic, but he doesn't know what he would have done without her.]

[gatheringstorm]

[When he leans on her, Korrin slips a comforting arm around him because she can, a tired smile on her lips.]

Any time, Fate. Silver for your thoughts? You must have plenty of them.

[Vent away, Fate. You know you need it.]

[wickedchase]

[There's a heavy sigh and he comfortably leans against her.]

Everyone's an idiot, I've been thoroughly reminded that I'm glad to not be part of a clan, fuck the rifts, I want this mark gone, and the first thing I'm doing when I get back is buying a new hat.

No. Two hats.

[gatheringstorm]

Have one on me, you've earned it for putting up with this shit.

[Hats sound like good therapy, at least for someone who likes them and can actually wear them. Korrin won't judge.]

You're better off without them, anyway. So much of this shit could have been avoided but no, pride had to win out. They don't deserve you, and maybe one day they'll realize how badly they fucked up. But who the hell cares by then, you'll have your own life to live.

[arlathvhen]

[ Beleth is fucking exhausted, her nerves are on edge, and she's ready to throw down with someone. She's been nearly sliced in two by a pride demon, been talked down to by humans and elves, wrestled a bunch of grown ass adults into remembering that maybe saying please once in a while might help smooth things along, listen to them, members of her own group, constantly hurl insults at the People. And she had to negotiate with a group of people who didn't much care for her, Dalish and human alike.

But she succeeded. Creators help her, she succeeded. They succeeded. The Dalish were safe, and the humans were probably going to not die. A solid win.

Of course, the best person to talk to when she was in such a foul mood was undoubtedly Twisted Fate. She comes up to his side as they walk, voice quiet. ]

Tobrevas. Bringer of freedom.

[ She sounds quietly amused. ]

It's a strong name.

[wickedchase]

[There's a low sigh when she approaches, but he doesn't brush her away. He's not really mentally prepared to deal with her, but he also owes her a great debt that he can't ignore.

So. Here they are.

He glances at her, brow raised.]

Better suited for someone else who can uphold it, really.

[arlathvhen]

[ She has just enough goodwill left to consider her words, knowing full well that pushing the wrong way could break off whatever strange...whatever kind of relationship they had. Friendship, friendly enmity, who knew. It was a line she'd never been willing to cross, but it was thinner here than before.

So, she gives him something rare. She tells him about herself. ]

Sometimes, names feel more like goals than descriptions.

My name means...'A woman's strength'. Galadriel tells me it's close to the word Queen in the elven of her world. And I can believe it. My mother picked it out for me, thinking she was naming a future Keeper. She's the kind of person who would give that kind of name to that kind of person.

[ She smiles, staring down at her hands in grim contemplation. ]

But I hold it as a reminder of my purpose. The destination I hope to reach some day.

[wickedchase]

[Twisted Fate glances at her, listening at the confession. For a moment, he can relate; his own mother, a woman he hardly remembers, had named him perhaps in hope of leading their people, keeping them free. Unbound.

Instead, he failed to save elven slaves and had gotten his best friend arrested by a magister. He didn't really feel it suited him anymore after that.]

What sort of destination do you want for yourself, Beleth? [It's an honest, curious question.]

[arlathvhen]

[ She doesn't respond right away. She remembers Zevran asking a similar question, and she didn't know what to tell him, anymore than she knows what to tell Fate now. So she gives him the same answer. ]

What I want doesn't matter. It's never mattered. What matters is what is needed, and what I need to do. My name reminds me of the expectations placed before me. I mean--It's not easy. But that's because it's important.

[ Pause. ]

And it's better than being named after spinach, I suppose.

OTA

[arsebiscuit]

[ Don't joke about such things. Of course Sera put poison oak. At least in the bedroll of one certain Dalish, possibly with the help of one bitty dalish. But such things aren't without a price, and she's got a tiny coin sized rash on her wrist she can't quite stop itching. ]

Can't we find some new arse to put arrows in on the way?

[It'd take her mind of the itch. Both the physical one, and the one that felt like it was on her soul from this whole mess of a week.]

[wickedchase]

Tell you what: we'll try to find some bandits to beat up on the way back. Surely there must be some who think it's a wise idea to attack us, and that's plenty of arrows to use.

[He looks thoughtful for a moment, then says:]

Thank you, Sera. For all of your help.

[Arrows and pranks and words and all.]

[arsebiscuit]

Yeah. Nice to stick some arrows into something not all demony. Don't make the right sound when it hits. All squick 'stead of squish. Ugh.

[ She shakes her head. ]

Wasn't right. What was going on.

[wickedchase]

Bit a different feeling, I agree. I rather deal with things in our realm anyway.

[Fate shrugs.]

I don't disagree. Suppose it was going to happen, with or without the rift pushing it forward.

and this one is open if u want a grump dalish

[arlathvhen]

[ Beleth's ability to be sweet and and friendly no matter the situation is not an endless pool, and by the time the mission is over, that pool is dry. She spends more time than she did on the trip up there riding her hart, because people usually don't bother her when she's up there.

If she has to listen to one more person talking about how terrible the Dalish were, she may just ride off and go find out where her own clan is staying. It's not that far off, probably. Closer than it is when she's in Skyhold. Maybe she should at least visit. The main thing that stops her is that she knows that if she went to see her mother in this dour mood she would probably become a grease stain on a rock.

Still, she succeeded. Despite all odds, demons, and Sera, she succeeded. She got the Keeper to agree, and she did what Twisted Fate brought her to do. Yay, go her.

Beleth spends a lot of her time sleeping on Vaharel, trusting him to wander after the group. Which he does, usually. Her nights in camp aren't much better, curled up next to the hart, writing a lengthy letter containing all the anger that she hasn't voiced. At least Sorrel will sympathize. ]

[eviscerates]

Hey.

( Ruby stands a respectful distance away, holding a couple of dishes of food in offering, without being so presumptuous as to just barrel her way over and take a seat next to Beleth. ) Would you like some dinner? I didn't cook it, so I'm pretty sure it's going to be delicious.

( Her smile is a little self mocking, but she forges on. ) Are you okay? It's been a long few days.

( To say the least. And Ruby doesn't always talk a lot, but she sees a lot, and she is used to seeing a lot of exhausted, beat up feeling people in the diner. Thirty years of waitressing and making drinks, what can she say? )

[arlathvhen]

[ Beleth, for all her weariness, smiles when Ruby approaches her. She has no ill will towards her--certainly, Ruby said little regarding the Dalish that Beleth could take insult to. Maybe that was because she was a rifter? Either way, Beleth waves invitingly to the area next to her. ]

I would like some, thank you. You're right, it's been...a long few days. More food would definitely help.

[ Most of Beleth's exhaustion isn't physical, but...food can energize the soul, sometimes. If it's good food. Or really bad food. Whatever, she needed to eat. ]

You were there for Morrigan's mission as well, right? With the Eluvian.

[eviscerates]

( Moving over easily, Ruby holds out one of the plates to Beleth before sitting in the spot next to her, setting her own on her lap easily. )

I don't know if you have the concept here, but back home we talk about 'comfort food.' I mean, normally it'd be something a little more indulgent than this, but...

( We'll make do is implied, woven into a lopsided smile. )

I was, yeah. ( She wonders, in that moment, how much Beleth might know of her. What she might have seen or heard, if the Wolf was known after all, and she almost freezes up a bit. ) I like to keep busy, y'know?

OTA - but angry katniss is angry bewaaare.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Beleth, alas, is not the only one who is down to her last frayed nerve.

It's not so much insulting the Dalish - there had been some very sweet children, and the Craftmaster had been nothing but kind and generous. The Keeper was ... well, she was just what Katniss expected to deal with, being what she was.

The humans weren't much better. In fact, they just ... weren't.

She'd been called 'shem', 'half-breed', heard 'knife-ear' thrown out so many times she felt like she was about to spit fire at the next person who brought up another racial slur.

But she hadn't started a fight. Oh no, she took on demons and Dalish and humans and being snarled at by Nerva and Zevran at the same time ... but she did not start a fight.

So now, of course, she wanted to start a damned fight.

Clearly, this is why she rode far ahead of everyone else, why she went off int the woods by herself when they camped, came back with food that she dropped at the campfire and returned to her horse, her tent, and her arrows.

Which honestly, all she did was glower at.]