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WHO: Alejandro Borges
WHAT: Alejandro is in the Undercroft making shit, you can come bother him.
WHEN: Catch-all for Bloomingtide
WHERE: Skyhold Undercroft
NOTES: Alejandro.

OPEN

It's been an eventful time in the Inquisition, and even though he's not been in any field missions -- nor does he really intend to be anytime soon -- there's enough that goes on in Skyhold for anyone to be preoccupied. Whether it's damned mage terrorists hanging around being smug dicks, or a random bizarre illness sweeping over the residents because of weird-as-fuck armor, nothing stays quiet for long.

One day, shit will stop being weird and he'll go back to Antiva or something.

That'll be the day.

But today, specifically, Alejandro is working away, focused on a crafting what seems to be a little soldier figurine of sorts. The figurine is clamped in his prosthetic arm while his real hand is working on the finer details.

ZEVRAN

A simple note had been left for his old friend.

Zev,

Your shit's finished. Come say hello and I'll show you the details.

- Alejandro

Which is true enough. After working on Zevran's request and several bumps in the road, he's developed some things he feels fairly proud of to share. That, and a little something for Zevran himself, if he wants it.

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"That was exactly what I was hoping for." Zevran crackles a low laugh, not quite skipping over but it definitely full of that eager energy. He is a man that loves a well made tool- and Alejandro? Makes excellent tools. Inventive ones. Creative ones.

Whatever he comes up with will be unlike anything he has seen before.

Without asking (which is as much a sign of trust as anything else-) He offers his wrist. "This should be good."

With a careful adjustment, Alejandro uses his prosthetic to hold Zevran's arm still. The grip is far from tight, but it'll help keep the limb steady. Fetched from the trunk is what looks deceptively like a protective arm bracer, but undoubtedly Zevran will see the glint of something that should not be there.

Obviously, putting it on has come with practice for Alejandro, as he adjusts the straps over Zevran's forearm with one hand and his teeth, tugging at the strap to tighten it with his mouth before he keeps it tied down. When Zevran looks down, there's a blade that's been hidden within the brace.

"All right, here, in your wrist -- there's a switch. Try using it. Should bring the blade out."

He does not offer his help- Alejandro does not need it and he honestly has no idea how to work these straps or this strange little mechanism. A bracer is a lovely thing but-

Ah, there's the trick.

Careful to angle his arm away from them both he flicks the switch with a fluid motion not entirely unlike flicking a blade from under his sleeve- and out springs a narrow blade, perfect for quick attacks. "Oh now this? Is marvelous! How did you work it?"

"Hell of a thing. Crossbows are usually clunky and a pain in the ass-- well, unless you got Bianca. I haven't had extensive look at her yet, but I've seen Varric fire her before. The mechanisms to launch a bolt? I figured I could rework it in two different ways. One way would be to have the blade come out like that."

Alejandro cracks a grin. "First time I tried it, fuckin' blade shot across the Undercroft. Can't say Harritt was in a good mood after that, but with less force, you can switch the blade in and out. Not bad, right?"

Another flick and- in the blade went. He tests it a few times more, seeing how fast he can launch and retract the blade before beaming. "Training with these will be so much fun. How much force can it withstand, or is it impractical to block with the blade?"

Size aside- sometimes a surprise defense is worth just as much as a surprise stabbing.

"You can definitely block with the blade, but I wouldn't go challenging people in a duel with it anytime soon. Not exactly practical for that."

Alejandro chuckles. "Hey, if you like that, you might like the next thing I put together. A little less exciting, but for your bunch of rogues that like to attack from afar might appreciate it. It's a similar design, but instead it'll launch a bolt. Not really meant for combat, but good for a swift and quiet ambush. I might even recommend lacing it with poison."

"Like a small blow dart or crossbow?" He taps the bracer with his nails, testing the fit- of course it is perfect. Alejandro has outdone himself, as though Zevran ever had any doubts when he brought this project to his friend. The Crows will never have anything near this unique, near this stealthy.

"Alejandro, I might kiss you." He sheathes the blade with a flick of his wrist and takes the might out of that statement, leaning up to press their lips together.

"Essentially. It's not gonna be anywhere near Bianca-level, but if you need just a few shots done, it'll do nicely."

If there's anything Alejandro can feel like he can afford to be proud of, it's his ingenuity with this sort of thing. Zevran isn't afraid to try something new, and he's grateful for it; the kind of creativity he can get up to has churned out some very nice, exclusive weapons. Seeing his friend's satisfaction? All the better.

The kiss isn't a surprise; he knows Zevran, and Alejandro is already downright ecstatic at the completed work. He grins into the kiss and lightly touches Zevran's jawline.

"Hell, that wasn't a might," he remarks. "Got another thing for you. Something you didn't ask for."

"I was overcome in the spirit of the moment." The joyful spirit of the moment, and more than overcome enough to lean in for one last soft aftershock. The trip to Antiva was...well, he could not say lonely, but one where he'd been wound tight for the paranoia of being home. He enjoyed it, true, but there was this wound tight knot of tension in the back of his mind he needed to loose.

There are worse people he could do so with than Alejandro.

"Oh? And what is this marvelous surprise?"

For a moment, Alejandro is quiet as he glances over Zevran. This was something that he hasn't approached; ever since he showed up at Skyhold and ran into Zevran, he never asked about the eye. Not from him, not from anyone else. It was a personal choice, but he figures it shouldn't exactly be ignored either.

In any case, he sort of relates to losing body parts and all. The least he can do is give Zevran something more decorative.

The armor for Zevran's adopted Crowlings is stored in the trunk, but what he pulls out is held out for Zevran to inspect. It's an eyepatch, carefully crafted at an angle, detailed to look like a bird wing. One side is lined carefully with leather so that it rests comfortably against skin, the other clearly metal for practical protection.

"Not as badass looking as the Bull's, but I figured it ought'a work out okay. I'd sorta been meaning to ask what happened, but never felt like there was a good way to time it."

This is...unexpected. They haven't talked about it, no more than they truly sit down to talk about Alejandro's arm. The two are hardly equivalent but all the same, it is not what they do. They talk of work, of home, never anything too weighty.

But this gift? This sentiment? It has weight.

Comfortable as he has become with leaving the eye open most days- there are times when he would rather hide everything. He slips the patch on, smiling a little at the fit. It gives him an excuse to look away as he straightens the band among his hair and braids. "The Crows caught up with me, as I always assumed. What was a surprise was...people came to save me. During the fight out Alistair was helping me walk and not minding his flank. A Crow came up behind and it was a choice of his throat or my face."

He gestures to the scars, the eye under the patch. Alejandro could likely remember well his vanity, his pride. "I chose my face."

Although he has less than favorable opinions about Alistair, he already has a feeling about how much he means to Zevran -- so that's not a topic for debate, ever. If Alistair makes Zevran happy, what the hell is Alejandro going to say about it?

Absolutely nothing. Especially if Zevran was willing to lose his eye for him.

Gently, he touches the assassin's chin. "Hey, lemme look at you."

For a moment, Alejandro says nothing. He doesn't actually need to see to know, but he gives a faint grin down to the elf.

"Not a bad fit." Zevran's always been vain, always confident in his appearances. Hiding the wounds doesn't really make one weak; it just means you've accepted what you are.

That's how Alejandro looks at it, anyway.

"You look good. Like you always did. Pretty fuckin' sure everyone would say the same." He lets go.

Whatever he wanted, Alejandro seems satisfied.

"Mhmm?" He tips his head up, peering into Alejandro's eyes. There has never been much undue judgement in them, never been anything more than passing irritation. He has few friends from home in Skyhold- but this man, this smith? Has ever been so.

One of the few good things of Antiva City he's been able to carry away, untainted by the Crows.

"I have heard no complaints." The usual preening, the usual posing, but there is a level of tension in his shoulders he's held around Alejandro. He'd seen him before, knew him before in Antiva at his most glowing and glorious. If he cares little? Zevran can live happily. "Thank you, Amico. Truly."

That earns a short laugh, the sound brief but warm; amico is good to hear. "Zev, you're one of those people that could roll in mud and make it look good. But hey, you're welcome."

Truly, Zevran makes him miss Antiva. It's been ages since he'd been back, and it'd be better than going back to Kirkwall anyway. But there's too much waiting for him, too much to digest, and for now the Inquisition is where everyone is better off anyway, putting in their work.

At least Zevran gives him some fond memories of then.

"You need anything else made, you let me know, yeah?"

He has a bare handful he'd call as such- but Alejandro? Is now on that list. "I do make dirty look good, don't I? But no one wears soot quite so well as you."

It's an idle thing, the teasing, the flirting, hands settling on Alejandro's hips that may or may not go anywhere depending entirely upon whether Alejandro wants it to go anywhere. Or it could be a joke! It is all relative, but his appreciation? That is sincere.

"A quick escape is something we need as well- do you think it possible to work in a hook of sorts, to help in climbing? Most of our work will be within the city and there are always things to grapple onto, even in Ferelden."

"Well, that's good, 'cuz that's pretty much my wardrobe most of the time," he replies dryly at first.

Then, well, Zevran is doing his Zevran thing; he's seen him flirt often, and he has before, but that's definitely hell of an invitation from him. Alejandro reaches up and tucks some hair behind his friend's ear and remarks, "Careful, Zev. Or I'm gonna get soot all over you." Given the chance, maybe, he would gladly have a roll with the assassin, even though the worry is in the back of his mind.

Ah, right. Work. Okay, focus.

"Hmm, I could probably work that in. Maybe in a few different ways, actually. I'll let you know what I put together, and you let me know how good it works for you."

"Perhaps I want that." Not his neatest line but Alejandro does not really care about neat lines or well made acts- which is something of a relief. Poor as the tease was the turn of his head to press his lips to Alejandro's palm is warm and sincere enough.

An offer for Alejandro to take or not at his leisure.

"We'll likely be testing them in the courtyard- or attempting to climb the rotunda without falling. I'll keep you informed, yes?"

There have been smoother, more intricate phrases spoken by Zevran to allure people to him, and Alejandro has heard many of them. It's a little refreshing to have him just be straight-forward with the invitation, kiss included.

Right. Keep him informed. Alejandro just nods at that, but his hand is gently taking Zevran's arm, the impulsion to take him. He's clearly encouraging it, as he does, and it would be nice.

"You do that." He leans in, careful as he tugs Zevran in for another kiss, the purpose hopefully clear. "You needed anywhere anytime soon?"

Before he assumes anything else.

They haven't ever- not through any real lack of interest on either of their parts but simply due to a lack of time or being otherwise occupied in the past. But here they are both free, they are both safe...

And they are both of a mind. Zevran smiles against Alejandro's lips, hands slipping around to hook about his waist properly.

"Mmm...Nowhere near as interesting as being with you." In several meanings of the word. This is worth putting off training and bartering in the Courtyard, easily. His Kestrels can make do and the shopping might be done tomorrow. But this?

This is for now.

Edited (i can spell) 2016-05-09 02:43 (UTC)

"Good, because you're about to be real busy down here with me."

If life had proceeded without the two of them ever having done this, Alejandro could live with that, but it's not as if he'd never thought about it before. It was hard not to. The timing in Kirkwall and Antiva could never really pave way to anything more than mild flirting and Alejandro thinking he was subtle enough while checking out the assassin.

But they're here now, with time to spare. Skyhold is a fortress, and safe as it can be for the moment, illnesses and rifts aside.

Alejandro leans into another kiss, absently starting to work off his prosthetic arm. It's just going to get in the way, and he can leave it forgotten for now.

"Is that a promise?" Zevran crackles a soft laugh, happy to lean up and close the distance. Anyone else- any other garment, armament? He would assist with the removing without thought. But the prosthetic is...intimate in a way he is not certain that he has quiet earned. Cautious and curious he brushes the buckles with his fingertips, brows lifted.

Is this permissible, or is that not for him to do?

For a moment, he tenses up; in most cases, Alejandro doesn't act as if lacking an arm bothers him, but in truth, he is a bit self-conscience about it. Though he figures if anyone here is going to understand, it's going to be Zevran. So he relaxes and nods, pressing his lips against Zevran's brow.

"Be easier if you helped anyway," he murmurs, offering a faint grin.

Without a word Zevran began unwinding the buckles and straps, gently removing the arm that Alejandro used to do such good work. As he would for anyone he tied down he spares a moment to smooth his hands over the skin that'd been under the straps, checking for chafing or irritation. "And I am happy to do so. You know- if you ever need a massage, my friend, you need only ask."

With the additional help, the all-too-familiar weight of the prosthetic is gone; Alejandro lets out a sigh and rolls his shoulders back, relieved without it. There's a pause when he feels Zevran's talented fingers roam over his skin; it's slightly reddened, but not irritated. By now, it's toughened up enough to be used to wearing the fake arm at long hours.

The suggestion earns a sharp laugh and he's pressing his lips against Zevran's neck. "Shit, you'd probably need a hammer and chisel to get anywhere. Good thing you're down here, huh?" He lightly nips at the skin there.

He doesn't rest openly in one of the tents in or around Skyhold. He wants nothing to do with the Wardens if it can be helped, save for two he can think of immediately, and the amount of friends he has can be counted on one hand. So, he sleeps in the Undercroft, and that's clearly indicated as he gently guides Zevran back to his bedroll.

"Time and a little oil." Zevran murmurs, already slipping a hand to his beltpouch to dig out one of the vials he'd need. Or. Well. He starts to, stuttering to a stop and sighing at the bite. With most he postures and pretends, preens and purrs and twists himself about like an obscene dream.

Alejo? has no need of such things. And thus he sets aside his masks and training with care to let the man see his honest enjoyment. The sincere shudder that ripples down his spine at something so small.

Bedroll in a cave- he's done more with less.

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