(closed) the coldest story ever told

[byblow]

WHO: Zevran Arainai, Maxwell Trevean, Pel Ashara, Salem Ghilan, Alistair
WHAT: A Dalish mage Ron Swanson, a Dalish warrior who throws eggs, an Antivan assassin and his many knives, a Warden who's probably technically exiled, and one single actual human nobleman on whom we are hanging all of our hopes and dreams try to make a dude stop being a big meanie.
WHEN: Haring 5-?
WHERE: Northern Ferelden
NOTES: Plotting post!

Comments

[mythalenaste]

"I'm..."

Pel looks somewhat uncomfortable because she's doing the thing she didn't want to do. She's prying. Maybe. What counts as prying? Prying is for voyeurs. Asking out of concern isn't the same, is it?

"I meant...Alistair isn't sleeping well. If he sleeps at all. Can you help?"

[ombranera]

"Ah- that." His smile dims a touch, ear tips drooping a fraction before the usual smile is back in place. "That is something exclusive to Wardens. There is some strangeness that is at work that troubles all of them. Sabriel, as well, is not sleeping much at all."

[mythalenaste]

Sabriel sits on the Council. But Pel isn't close to her. She's worried about Alistair. Sweet, gently jesting, spirited Alistair, who offers to help her carry even little things up the stairs and who understands what it's like never to have a family.

"Nothing can be done?"

[ombranera]

"I've a few methods that worked well enough ten years ago- but where I am going to find a goat, that much hot oil, and a wheel of cheese I don't know. Hmm."

[mythalenaste]

"I'm serious."

[ombranera]

"So am I! He wore himself out so much by chasing the goat that he slept without so much as snoring until well past mid morning." It'd been utterly ridiculous, but it had worked.

[mythalenaste]

Okay, that's actually really funny. It gets a smile out of her.

"An elfroot tea didn't work?"

[ombranera]

"We started with the teas and sleeping draughts in the beginning. Nothing is worse than a cranky, sleep deprived warden. Especially if you are lost in the Deep Roads. After awhile we needed to become more creative." It'd been a group effort, to be certain.

[mythalenaste]

A low chuckle. "So you oiled a goat and, what, put a cheese on it for him to chase around?"

[ombranera]

"Put the cheese in a burlap sack where I'd bound sweet grass in the knot- something goats love to eat, and let it wander off." It'd been hilarious.

[mythalenaste]

"You and Cyril would be quite the pair. Might get Merrick to cheer up with a stunt like that."

[ombranera]

"Merrick is cheerful enough when I am teaching him how to throw knives or land without dislocating his shoulder. I think he may have actually smiled when I taught him a particular grapple, but that may have been a trick of the light."

[mythalenaste]

"If you were grappling...yes, it could have been a smile. Probably not one of the good ones, though."

[ombranera]

"No, no. It was when he mastered it. That is a smile of satisfaction at learning something new-" He blinks. "The fact that I am now able to tell the difference is concerning."

[mythalenaste]

"I'm glad he's learning. Don't let him bully you too much, though, feel free to push back. He'll usually respect that."

[ombranera]

"...I do not know if I should be offended or not that you think I would stand to be bullied by anyone, let alone Merrick." He must remind himself she knows the dream, the fantasy- not the ugly truth. "It is not something to worry about."

[mythalenaste]

"I'm not. I'm saying if he acts like a child, feel free to correct him. A few of us were communally raised anyway, he'll understand."

[ombranera]

"The incentive I've found that works best for good behaviour is more complicated techniques. He relishes the challenge." Reminding him more than a little of himself.

[mythalenaste]

"Oh, that's perfect for him. I'm glad he's learning from you."

She goes quiet, looking intently at Zevran.

"I think this is the first real conversation we've had."

[ombranera]

"So the other conversations we've had have been mere figments of my imagination? You are but a beautiful phantom before my weary mind?"

[mythalenaste]

"I mean where we haven't been pretending."

[ombranera]

He shrugs. "You wished for something else in this, so I answered you as you wished to be answered"

[mythalenaste]

"I'm not complaining. It's nice. And it's nice when you say lovely things about me. I have a lot of people I can be real with. I like being able to pretend with you."

[ombranera]

"I am pleased to be of service, Stella."

[mythalenaste]

"Are you? I'm not...really sure what you get out of it."