faderift | watch me like a dark cloud (closed)

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watch me like a dark cloud (closed)

WHO: Sidony + Jester
WHAT: Reading a romance nove
WHEN: Early Wintermarch
WHERE: Jester's quarters
NOTES: Tusk Love.

Honestly, Sidony does not know what she ought to expect from this arrangement.

In her arms is a rather lovely basket, covered with the appropriate linens to keep the cakes and doughnuts (and the strangeness she had felt when she had asked the baker for those might well linger), and her face has a set, sure expression colouring it as she makes her way through Kirkwall, trying to act as though this is all natural and normal. Growing up with so few friends meant that Sidony is still not sure how best to act around strangers, but she is doing what she can; Jester had seemed nice enough, and friendly.

And... Charming. She tries not to think too long about that.

She's dressed appropriately, she thinks, but she imagines her appearance won't have much to do with anything - she brings fresh pastries and that seems to be half of the reason why she's here. Doughnuts and little cakes with cherries, somehow dug up with charm and wit in the midst of a war. A romance novel, where she is going to read aloud the part of a woman and imagine what it might be like to love her, from the other side-

Stepping up to the door in the Templar's tower, she breathes out sharply before she lifts her hand and knocks.

It's not worth thinking too hard about, surely. It's just a little amusement as they recover from war.

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For a long, drawn out moment the only thing Sidony can do is lift her head (quite a ways, she's so tall) and gaze up at the bulk of Qunari woman in front of her.

In comparison, Sidony feels quite miniscule. She's not much for physical strength and she doesn't think she even comes up to the other woman's shoulders, which is something indeed - she's accustomed to being small, but not quite this small. Jester is simply large, but in a way that makes her more magnificent than anything else, wonderful to look at; Sidony's eyes flick, down and then back up, not sure what to do with herself.

She's looking at the dress, clearly. It's handsome enough, even if Sidony would prefer darker colours herself. It suits the complexion, in a way.

"Thank you. You look delightful, my lady." At least compliments are something she is used to managing, and she slips into the room without much further pause, hoping she wasn't too disgustingly obvious in her appreciation of her new friend. The room itself is lovely; vibrant and well decorated with someone who has an artistic eye taking command, and Sidony can appreciate that. She wonders who the two people are, but doesn't think it's her place to ask - not yet.

She came here with a purpose, after all, and she turns, skirts curling around her feet, to show her wares.

"Doughnuts and cakes, as promised." Her expression is one of pleased confidence, until her eyes flick to seeing the dicks drawn on the wall. Then she pauses, brows creasing before she shakes her head. "I hope they're suitable. I wasn't sure which ones you might like the most."

Jester has a cute smile, for a qunari. Not as cute as when she was a tiefling, but still pretty cute. She shows it off to Sidony at the compliment.

"Thanks," she says, and then, "Oh," as she remembers her manners, and does a little curtsy, delicately pinching the edges of her skirt. The door, no longer held open, drifts closed behind her. "Thanks.

Sidony even turns prettily. Jester admires it as she sees it, the delicate sweep of skirts around Sidony's feet and ankles. It actually makes Jester think of her mom, elegant and effortless. She heaves a sigh of admiration, touching one hand to her cheek, before she remembers herself again and leans forward to examine the cakes.

"Let me see, let me see, let me see what you brought-- ahh! Doughnuts! How did you know, those are like, my favorite--and the little cakes, too, just as promised. They look so-o-o-o good. See, I have eclairs--" She points them out, over on the plate-- "and these little pastries--the light brown ones, they kind of taste like honey, and then the dark brown ones are chocolate, and I think maybe some coffee, too, they have a coffee taste to them, and I fed some to my lizard, John, and he got re-ally loopy the way people do when they have had too much coffee. I have milk, too--it's over there, on the bedside table--do you want some? Come and sit down--"

She takes Sidony by the hand and starts to pull her toward the pillows. Or she'll try, at least, with a friendly over-familiarity.

Jester is precious and Sidony is a little overcome; she spends most of her time looking around the room so as not to be overwhelmed by everything about the other woman, a little shaken by - everything.

"You're most welcome." The curtsey is precious. Everything about this Qunari is precious, given the nastiness she's heard about them, and for a long moment Sidony isn't entirely sure what to do with herself. She's well aware of being watched, however, and plays to it, tilting her head just enough that her profile will look charming, a soft, fond smile on her face. It'll do, she thinks; she's practiced it enough that it'll make her look lovely, open and attractive.

At least the cakes are welcomed.

"You did mention doughnuts," she comments, finally. Jester, however, goes on a reel of commentary about her pastries and she feels a touch overwhelmed - but she doesn't resist being taken by the hand. In fact, she stares at it, her fingers embracing Jester's. It's allowable, she tells herself; they're becoming friends. There's no other motive here, no reason for her cheeks to begin to grow as flushed as they have. She can feel the heat of it and just hopes that Jester, in her set obsession for pastries, doesn't mention it.

She does sit, when guided. Primly, smoothing out her dress.

"I shall add mine to yours, then." And she does, slowly, unpacking her little basket and placing them beside the eclairs and the dark brown ones, smile still on her face. "We shall have to make sure that John does not eat these ones. I had them made just for you, so it would be a shame to share them with someone else." Not entirely true, but Sidony is well versed in the art of gentle compliment, especially if it turns attention away from things she doesn't want people focussed on.

"Made for me? Aww--" Jester puts her hands to her cheeks, framing her smile, and giggles. "Awww, that is so nice! Well, I wouldn't mind, if John wanted to eat some--he is teensy weensy, so small he doesn't eat very much--" She holds her thumb and forefinger up, to show Sidony how small John is, eeee, very little-- "But it is great that you had them made for me. Wow. You are so nice. And I'm so glad you decided to come and read this book with me. I am used to being alone, but it is nice to have friends, you know?"

Friends, already. But Jester can tell that she will be great friends with Sidony, who is so nice and so pretty, and brought great pastries to share, and who is wearing such a great dress. Man. When she has to pick her next disguise, she is going to pick Sidony. Or maybe Herian wearing Sidony's dress, or something. She'll have to think about it.

"John will probably come out a little later. He's asleep." She's sitting criss-cross on the pillow next to Sidony by now, but still manages to pop her left hip, showing off the pocket of her pinafore. A small lumpy shape distends the fabric a little. It could be a sleeping lizard. "He doesn't snore or anything, so he won't be annoying."

With this point made, Jester settles back in again, and tries to imitate the way that Sidony has smoothed out her dress. Prim, neat. Pretty. "Do you have any pets?"

She is terribly endearing, Sidony decides. Each frame of Jester's smile with wide hands is enough to catch her attention, drawing her eyes back up to the face and the horns, the shape of her, the colour of her skin and the warmth there. She can't confess to meeting any Qunari, really, but she had never imagined they could be anything like this: charming, delicate, winsome. It's a refreshing delight - she's not used to being around people who wear their hearts on their sleeves, who are so obviously... Happy.

"You don't think I could eat them all alone, do you?" There's a coy smile on her face before she realises, the same she might use to flirt with some gentleman who might offer her a kind word or a favour. "I admit to having a handful of the cherry cakes to myself once or twice, but I imagine they're better shared with someone else. A friend makes most things better." Not that she has much in the way of experience with that; sharing wine with Byerly is not the same as splitting pastries with Jester, she knows that well enough already.

Her attention is drawn to the possibly sleeping lizard lump and she hesitates for a moment before she makes a mental note to be both aware and careful. She's not afraid of lizards necessarily, but having one wake up and start crawling all over you is a different thing entirely, no matter how friendly he might be with the pretty, strong Qunari that has taken a seat beside you. Ah.

"I am sure he won't be a bother." Can lizards even snore? She has no idea whatsoever. She doesn't quite know what to say for a moment, dazzled by the intensity of Jester and her enthusiasm, but she does her best to manage that, to act as though she is completely unruffled by it all. People are not usually so friendly, she thinks, adjusting her positioning so she can look at Jester better, to better give her attention.

"I'm afraid I don't," she finally admits. "Growing up my mother wasn't fond of them and I lived with her until coming to the Inquisition. I think my brother might have one -" ugh "- but he is still in Nevarra." She has no idea if Octavian has one and she is very deliberate in not caring as well.

Jester could totally eat all of the pastries all alone. And she already has one of the doughnuts in her hand, ready to get started--one of the pretty ones, that Sidony had requested to be baked, just for her. But Sidony is totally right, Jester thinks, as she takes a big bite and chews. It tastes even better, probably because her friend, Sidony, is sitting right next to her, with a cute smile on her face.

She gasps from around her next mouthful. "I lived with my mom until I came to the Inquisition! In Nicodranas. Well--technically, that is where I was living, but I was traveling around a little bit, with my friends. And I had a few pets, but they didn't stay long. We had to be very quiet, and there aren't a lot of pets who can be quiet, you know? Except for lizards. I should have asked my mom for a lizard, I guess."

Speaking of: she crumbles off a little bit of doughnut and sticks it in her pocket, for John, for later. "Wow, but you didn't even need any pets--you had a brother. Is Nevarra very far away?"

Instinct guides her more than anything else as she makes herself comfortable; her eyes drink Jester in as the other woman enjoys the sweet food, something fond on her own face. Sidony has no idea what a picture she makes, draped in her reds and settled against pink pillows, staring fondly at someone else as they eat their pastries, but she feels so delightfully content that she has no idea what to do with herself. There's no hesitation as she reaches for the basket, drawing out one of her hand embroidered handkerchiefs and using it to brush a crumb from Jester's mouth.

It's only when she's folding the piece of fabric and putting it away that she realises how invasive and rude that might seem, especially to someone she's only just met, and her eyes widen as a flush stains her cheeks, spreading down to her neck. Sidony has to be quick, she decides; she speaks, to try and talk over the horrific embarrassment she's feeling suddenly.

"I don't think I've heard of Nicodranas before." There's a touch of awkwardness about her again, but she does her best to sit up straight, to look as put together as she can muster. "Perhaps you could tell me a little about it?" Reaching, she takes a cake into hand, picking at it and waiting, leaving the cherry to the end. "Nevarra is not too far, to the West of here. It's not too terrible a journey."

Move away from the awkwardness, her flushed skin.

"Octavian wasn't too unlike a pet," she hums. "He was quite entertaining, for a while, but then he left. He's a mage."

Edited 2019-01-07 17:56 (UTC)

Jester's face gets a little warm. Just a little. She is pretty shameless, really, and she doesn't care about being a little dirty. But it was such a sweet thing for Sidony to do, brushing crumbs off of her face like that. Like, really really sweet. Sidony is so pretty and nice and has great manners, and is such a good friend already.

And Jester is a good friend, too--which is how she already can see that expression blooming on Sidony's face, something like embarrassment and horror. Oh no. Quickly, Jester picks up a napkin of her own, and brushes the rest of the crumbs away, finishing what Sidony started.

"I will tell you all about Nicodranas," she promises, "and my mom and all of my friends, if you tell me all about Nevarra, and your funny brother, and mages. One of my friends? He is a wizard. And dirty. But that is pretty different, I think. And--" She tips her chin up a little, and then tilts her face, first right, and then left. "If I have any other crumbs on my face, you have to promise to brush them off right now, okay? That is only fair. You have to finish what you started."

The mortification doesn't quite settle, even with Jester's kindness. It still feels so rude, and considering her conversations with Byerly and Anders... It's the sort of thing she should absolutely not be allowing herself to be doing, no matter how kind and determinedly handsome Jester might be. Sidony allows herself a moment to breathe, to regather herself (another thing taught from her mother) before she tilts her head and offers Jester a smile. It's not false; she doesn't think she can muster the urge to be anything less than genuine for this woman.

"Ah, well. I suppose if I'm to promise then there's nothing I can do. I swear I'll keep your face free of crumbs and jam, my lady. You have my word on that front." You have to finish what you started.

Goodness.

At least she sorts the rest out. It makes her feel a little better.

"Perhaps we might be able to play a game, if you want to learn more about me and I want to learn more about you." It's the sort of silly thing that she had done often enough as a child, the kind of thing she never thought she might do as an adult, but here she is. She finds herself eager to learn more, about the dirty wizard and Nicodranas and all the things that make this woman so enthused and charming. "You can ask me a question and I'll answer it honestly and then I'll ask one in return."

With a giggle, Jester gives one last brush of her napkin over her face, just in case. "Maybe you should play Oskar. You are very good. My lady."

It's all totally a compliment. She drops her napkin back in her lap so she can take her next bite, trusting that Sidony will protect her from future crumbs.

A second later and she almost throws her pastry across the room, as she bursts into applause. "Oh, oh, oh--I love that game! The question game. And I want to learn more about you, too. And I won't even use Zone of Truth, I will just let you answer. Ummm... Oh, okay, okay, okay--tell me abouuuut... your bedroom, before you came here. What was it like, what color was the wallpaper, how many little puppies do you think you could have fit in your bed, how many pillows did you have, what color curtains did you have..."

"I was raised very well," Sidony says, prim and proper. "But if you think that I would be a better Oskar then I would be honoured to play the part."

She seems earnest enough, which is saying something for Sidony, who doesn't like to admit to the things she likes in case it's used against her. It had been hard enough in Nevarra, trying to act as though she was completely interested in her mother's ventures for more power when really she wanted to devote herself to surgery and dissection. If the Chantry found out even half of the things she was doing... She would not be sitting with Jester right now, she thinks, magic or not.

As Jester speaks, she finds herself not wanting to know what Zone of Truth is.

"My bedroom?" Of all the things she had imagined Jester asking over, her room was not one of them. Frowning, she thinks about it. "It was red, mostly, a little like my dress. I had quite a lot of books for my studies, with a desk to read on, and a lovely wardrobe full of my dresses for dinner and dances." It's technically quite a lot of questions, but she smiles fondly enough - she'll count it as one. "I've never owned a puppy, so I can't say how many might have fit on my bed. I think my mother would've had a heart attack."

Lifting her hands, she picks at her cake again before she considers her question.

"Who was the dirty wizard?"

Sidony has much to recommend her for both parts: well-mannered and beautiful enough to be Guinevere, but charming enough to be Oskar. Jester begins to weigh the pros and cons, but decides after a moment that they can divvy up parts later. Now is the time for playing games. And of course she does not want to miss Sidony's description of her bedroom.

In fact, enraptured, Jester leans forward, hanging on Sidony's every word. Her eyes sparkle as she constructs a mental image of the bedroom in her mind. This is something that she is very good at. Being raised largely in a single room encourages imagination--and also gives her an appreciation for the personality that comes with a private room. You can learn a lot about people from the contents and furnishings of their bedrooms. Sometimes you can learn next to everything about them, because all of their stuff--past and present--is contained within.

"Oh, I love red. And you probably had so-ooo many dresses--" She sighs, happy at the thought. "My mom has a lot of dresses, too. She has a wardrobe, for stuff that she likes right now--but then she also has a whole room for her other dresses. Your room sounds really really nice. Ummm, the dirty wizard is Caleb--wait, wait, wait--"

She twists around to reach back toward her bed. It's the one with the silky pink sheets, of course, and at the foot of it, her sketchbook is laying on the floor. Jester's long arms make the book an easy reach, and she flips through the pages to find a drawing of Caleb. Ratty coat, red hair, scrubby beard, stink lines. She shows it to Sidony.

"He's a friend of mine. I met him when I was in Trostenwald. My friend Nott--I met her in Trostenwald, too, she's a better friend, I miss her so much--says that he is very, very good at magic. And I think he is, too. But do you know what he is not good at? Taking baths. We went to a bathhouse, all together, me and my friends? And I think that was the first bath that he had taken in like, months and months and months. He is probably the kind of guy that stands around in the rain and then says--" She drops her tone to imitate Caleb's, rough and accented, "Ohh, the rain, it is good enough, yah?"

She blows a raspberry. So that's what she thinks of that excuse.

"Tell me about one of your friends. That's my next question."

She's well aware of her own charms, but that doesn't make it any less pleasing to see that she's clearly not forgotten everything her mother had taught her when she was younger. She can remember being very young and unsure of herself, growing into the length of her arms and legs, and not being sure what she might end up being. There had been a part of Sidony that had hoped, vaguely, that she might end up somewhat unattractive: at least then she might have been able to be dismissed as a surgeon without mother pinning hopes on her. Alas. She is beautiful.

There's no denying the way that her eyes flick, up and over Jester, as the other woman leans forward, however. There's an edge of something soft about her, something that she seems a little nervous or shy about, a certain contrast to her very real nature of pride and confidence, peacocking before the other woman. She looks handsome enough in her dress, but to have someone focussed entirely on her words... There are few people in Thedas she could say cared about what she had to speak of rather than what she was wearing against her skin, or the skin itself.

"I had a number of dresses, yes, but I had to leave most of them in Nevarra. I simply couldn't carry my wardrobe across the country, even if I did have my handmaiden with me. I had to bring all my books, after all." She had assumed that the Inquisition might have a fair number of them, being as large and powerful as it is, but she didn't want to take the risk. She would rather have books than frocks, especially if she was going to be working in the infirmary for most of her time.

Head tilted, Sidony waits until there's a picture in front of her before she really considers who Caleb might be. There's a rush of something - Jester speaks fondly about him and she doesn't quite like that thought - before her eyes are set on the picture and she frowns, considering. Ratty and red haired doesn't seem too appealing to her and her nose wrinkles, just a little as she looks at him. Hm. The rest, though...

"Nott?" An eyebrow. That seems odd enough, but... Sidony listens to the rest of the story, thoughtful and considerate, before she nods her head. "It seems very strange to me that someone might not want to take a bath, but I rather like having one as often as possible. Very little feels as good as warm water and some lovely scented soap." Her eyes flick back to Jester's with a soft smile.

Her question makes Sidony frown, however, ignoring the comedy of the attempt at Caleb's accent. One of her own friends? It's enough to make Sidony pause and consider who she might be close enough to - what kind of person would she even consider a friend in this place? Very few names come to mind and she hesitates, hands flat on her lap before she begins to speak.

"There is someone. I made a friend here, in the Inquisition. He helped me find some... Things that I needed and has been quite the support since I arrived." Now, her smile softens. "He's a terrible rogue, but he's a very good friend. If I was at all interested in his type," rogues, of course, that's what she means, "then I'm sure we'd be an awful pair together. But I'm not, so he remains a very good and dear friend to me. One of the most loyal in the world, in his own way." A hum. "Would you tell me something about your mother?"

Of course Sidony had a maidservant. That doesn't surprise Jester at all. She smiles a little as she thinks of Nadine, her quick fingers doing a braid for the Ruby of the Sea. Sidony's maidservant must have braided her hair, too. It would look so beautiful in a braid. Perhaps she will let Jester try it on her, later. She'll have to ask.

And of course Sidony likes nice baths, and nice soaps. She totally looks like she does. Satisfied, Jester leans back a little and picks up her doughnut again. Sidony has probably heard about the baths here, but just in case, Jester makes a mental note to tell her, later. Maybe they can go together. Maybe they can bring Sidony's other friend.

A mischievous little smile curls at her lips, and she takes a big bite of doughnut to help hide it. "Your type? Oooh, Sidony... That is going to be my next question. I am so glad you have a good friend, though," veering promptly back into sincerity. "They are the best, aren't they? And I hope that we can become good friends, too, so that you can tell people that I am very good and loyal and fun to be with. A very good friend. What's your friends name? You have to tell me that first, before I tell you about my mother. But--"

She leans in again, conspiratorial this time. "It will be totally worth it. Because my mom is the best."

There's no hiding that Sidony had grown up in some measure of luxury; the way she speaks, the way she dresses, how she handles herself and others - it's all a clear sign of her nobility and her status, as minimal as it might seem in Nevarra itself. She doesn't bother attempting to hide it, not when she has enough decorum and know-how to be able to use it to her advantage, to place herself in positions where she might get what she wants and not have to worry too much about the depths of the consequences.

The rather desperate urge to talk more about her dresses and less about her own tastes is somewhat overcoming, and Sidony thinks she must look something akin to a gaping fish as she glances at Jester, unsure of what to say. If Byerly is not her type - charming, well spoken, smart, cunning - then what is? How can she sit before this woman, who has her flustered and blushing and nervous, and admit things she doesn't want to admit to herself?

Lie, of course.

"I think you must tell me about your mother before I tell you anything else," she says, coy as she picks at her pastry. "But since you are proving to be such a lovely friend I will allow the rules to slide, this once. His name is Byerly." The fond smile on her face is more than enough to show just how much she enjoys being Byerly's friend, even if she might never admit precisely why the two of them had found one another.

Leaning in as well, she hums.

"Tell me about your mother, who is the best, before I answer your other question, madame."

Okay: so there is totally, totally a secret here.

Jester might have been raised in a room and not had a lot of friends, but she loves the friends that she does have, and she has learned all about how to read people from her mom, and, armed with those two weapons, she can cut through bullshit with her truth. She knows what she is talking about. And her perception is pretty good.

But she doesn't call Sidony out or anything. Instead, she claps her hands over her mouth and makes a happy little squeal--oooh!--and that's totally good enough for now. She will learn the rest later, if the secret is about Sidony's friend Byerly, or someone else.

"Okay, okay--" She drops her hands, ready to talk. "Okay. My mom is the Ruby of the Sea. She is the most beautiful courtesan in all of Nicodranas--probably all of the Menagerie Coast, really. And she has a beautiful singing voice, and she performs almost every night, and people come from all over just to listen to her, and sometimes they pay her money so that she will sleep with them, because she is just that great of a lay. Annnnd, she is pretty tall, but not too tall, it is just like, when you look at her, you think she is tall. And she is so pretty. Like, woah. I can't even tell you about how pretty she is, man." She clasps her hands under her chin, with a happy sigh. "So pretty. I wish you could meet her. She would really really like you, I think."

The problem is, of course, that this is not something Sidony has ever had to lie about before. No one had ever asked her, truly, what her tastes were until she had spoken with Byerly and Anders, and now she feels out of her depth and a little uncertain of herself. She wants, rather desperately, to find a means of backing out of the conversation, but... She had set this up herself, hadn't she. She's the one who had brought it up in the first place, and she decides the best thing to do is simply to blame Byerly.

Leaning back, accepting her fate, she can at least allow herself to take the time to enjoy Jester speaking about her mother, as glad as she is to hear it. Her own relationship with her parents is a little messy and unsure so any other side of a story is something she is more than happy to welcome, especially when it is someone as handsome as Jester telling the tale.

If she's surprised to hear that the Ruby of the Sea is a courtesan she says nothing of it, simply nodding her head with a small smile.

"She sounds like a wonderful mother," she admits, once Jester is done. "And very talented as well. I would like to meet her one day, I think, if it was ever possible." Not because she has any interest in how great of a lay this Ruby might be, but because the rest of her sounds rather charming as well if she is being quite honest. "If she is half as beautiful as you are I would be quite lucky indeed." A play, a coy one, before - well.

Now comes the dreaded admission and Sidony sighs.

"I did promise you the answer to your question, so..." She takes a moment, tapping her chin as if deep in thought. "My type must be... Someone with a touch of wit, with enough of a mind to be able to have a discussion, handsome, a little daring... And funny, I think. I would like someone who is quite funny." Reaching out, she takes Jester's hand. "And now you must tell me your type."

"She is the best," Jester agrees, fervently. Talking about her mom does make her a little sad. Not that much sadder than she was when she was out on the road and far away from her. The part that sucks the most here is that she can't cast Sending, or even write her mom a letter. Like how much would she love to tell her mom about Sidony? A lot, a lot. Dear Mom, I made the prettiest friend, and she is very sweet and brought me doughnuts, just for me, because she heard that I liked them...

And she gives good compliments. Jester would have to say that, too. For now she just giggles, and puts her hands over her cheeks.

"Sidony! You are too sweet, you are making me blush... my face is all hot! Ahh--" Quickly, she starts fanning her face. It doesn't prevent her from taking stock of Sidony's list. It would be better if she could write that list down, so she could look at it later. She'll just have to remember it. "You are so sweet that you deserve to find someone who is all of those things on your list. It is a good list. Especially handsome, and funny--funny people are the best, right? Um, my list..." Her face-fanning turns somehow pensive. "I would say pretty much the same as you. I think. Um, maybe brave, too? Heroic. Like someone out of a story. But that is almost like daring, isn't it? They are pre-tty much the same..."

Picturing her own mother, Sidony pauses, thoughtful. The last time she had seen the other woman was the night before she had slipped away from Nevarra City and fled to the Inquisition, a handful of books and clothes in hand. Stoney faced, cool, aloof, a dangerous woman - Portia Venaras is someone that Sidony knows she could never win agains, in stubbornness or selfishness, no matter how hard she might try. Her mother is a force of nature, someone that she was quashed by even as she stood up to her, foot stomped and irritated.

Thinking of her mother upsets her, more than she would ever be able to admit in a silly game of question, so she shoves the thoughts from her mind. It wouldn't be fair to make someone she had just met listen to all that nonsense.

"I used to be told that blushing is quite fetching on a woman. It can be quite attractive." Pinch your cheeks, a little rouge here, something to make them think you soft and shy - Her nose wrinkles, before a sharp, imagined tap to the back of her neck makes her sit up a little again, proper posture. "Heroism and daring can be the same, I suppose. Does one need to be daring to be heroic? I admit to not reading enough romance novels to know whether or not heroism is a truly attractive trait, but..."

She hums, smiling.

"Perhaps that's something else you can teach me, Jester, after your next question."

Fetching, attractive--Jester giggles, and puts her hands over her warm cheeks to hide the worst of her blushing. "Ahh, maybe," she concedes, coyly, "but you are still so so so so sweet."

In case that was up for debate. A serious consideration of heroism does mean uncovering her cheeks, especially as Jester is the voice of expertise here. She switches around so she can tap her fingers against her chin instead.

"I thi-ink... that you do not need daring to be heroic. Because people can be heroic in little small ways, you know? Li-ike, a grocer could be heroic for sticking his foot out and tripping a thief who stole a woman's ring! But maybe the thief is also sort of heroic, because she stole the ring so she could sell it, and buy food and books for her and her friend. She needed it. Ahh, it is all so complicated! But-- oh, shit! The question game--ahh, I am getting all lost, Sidony--umm, um um um--"

Jester's brow furrows, and she taps her fingers harder against her chin as she thinks, before, all at once: oh. She snaps her fingers.

"Who was your first crush?"

The hands are still there, which is something that makes Sidony a touch mournful - because she wasn't lying. There's something very attractive about a blushing woman, even if it's not something she wants to think on for very long. It would be far easier for her not to think about it, truthfully, and she forces herself to relax, to shake her head and wave her hand as if it doesn't mean anything at all.

"I am simply being truthful. I see no reason to lie to you." About most things, at least, but who would expect a pair of strangers to be completely honest with one another? The game is still just that - it is a game, at heart.

Leaning back, Sidony allows herself to listen a moment, to take in what Jester says. Heroism is not so simple a thing, she's aware of that; she had never thought much of it because she had already decided that she would never manage any kind of mustering of heroism herself. Daring, perhaps, with a touch of courage, but she was hardly what anyone might call heroic. Myr had called her a marvel, but even that feels like something of a stretch for a woman who longs to be arms deep in corpses and write journals on what she finds.

"Perhaps there are all kinds of heroism I had not even thought of. You're giving me a great deal to think about." Her smile is soft, at least until the snap of fingers and then she's a touch flushed, turning her head to one side. Ah, cutting to the point again. She taps her fingers on her leg, pausing. "I can't say I've had a particular number of crushes, such that I can barely remember who the first might be." She's never had much in the way of strong feelings for anyone until -

she hums, cheeks redder.

"I did meet someone once. We shared a few moments during a game and it was quite the experience. I think that would be a suitable person to give the title of first 'crush'. Their name was Max." Which could be a man, thankfully.

"Ooooooh."

Jester leans in even more, both to share in this secret and to get a closer look at Sidony's face. She's dropped her hands from her face, revealing the last of her blush. Sidony has taken up the role of prime blusher anyways, now that the attention is on her. She looks very pretty and sweet. With her hands free, Jester now grabs for Sidony's hands, to link them together in this moment. Her eyes are sparkling with glee, with the romance of it all.

"Max. That is a very very good name, especially for a crush. Okay, okay, but what was the game? Ah--" She squeezes Sidony's hands. "This is so exciting-- do you think that you will see Max again? Someday?"

Immediately, Sidony moves back and away, the flush on her cheeks almost a little overwhelming now. She doesn't want to talk about Max; she has no desire to discuss her rather awkward encounter with anyone - Byerly included. If she can't talk in detail about it with him why might she have any kind of inspiration to talk about it with Jester, who despite being open and kind might tease her relentlessly?

It's not romantic - a rushed, terrifying kiss with a woman she doesn't imagine she will see again. She feels entirely foolish and a little silly, shaking her head as she glances away.

"No, no, it was at the Dark Court. A silly game of seven minutes alone in a cupboard, to share a kiss. I don't imagine I will see Max again nor do I have desire to - it was just a game. It didn't mean anything. It's not something that I think would develop into any kind of meaningful relationship." A soft sigh. "I've never had one of those."

The Dark Court. Jester's frown is partly because she is thinking of her wicked vile arch-rival, Byerly. The rest of her little frown is because Sidony reacts so badly to her pressing that she thinks for a second she has screwed it all up. Friends. All her life, Jester wanted real true friends, and it turns out they are really really hard to keep. She has a lot to learn.

But that's okay. Sidony isn't mad at her. She keeps talking. So they're still friends.

"Oh, well," and Jester sighs, for lost love, relationships that will never be, crushes that will always stay crushes, "that is okay, if you have never had a meaningful relationship. Like, do you want to know a secret? I haven't either. Isn't that crazy? But I will someday, and so will you. Because yeah, you are so pretty, and kind, and you wear such beautiful clothes, but that is all bullshit surface stuff, man, because also I can tell, that you are the kind of pretty that is really really good underneath. You are so kind and you are very very sweet, and I can tell, that you are such a nice person. And you want to be loved, right? So that is what really matters. Trust me," she finishes, with authority, and a squeeze of Sidony's hands. "My mama told me all of that and she totally knows what she is talking about. She is an expert on love, of all kinds."

It's embarrassment more than anything else and nothing that Jester herself has done; thinking of Max makes her think of her complicated feelings, the twisting in her gut, her conversations with Anders and Byerly and how it made her feel, anxious and desperate all at once. She thinks of Max and looks at Jester and her heart beats faster, suddenly, as if she's run some kind of marathon or if she is back on the battlefield, and she has to close her eyes to stop the momentum overtaking her. An oh moment that she refuses to recognise as existing.

At least she keeps talking, enough that Sidony feels a little more relaxed, some of the tension slipping from her shoulders. It would be so easy to trip and stumble into some kind of anxious little ball, but her mother had taught her so much better than that. Hold it all in, take a deep breath, sit tall and be proud. She is a Venaras, a lady of Nevarra, and she will not be quelled by something as silly as an emotion.

"I think it's remarkable that no one has snapped you up," Sidony comments idly. "You are equal to my charm, if not more, and there is no one in the Inquisition that might be able to contest that." Her fingers are being held, and Sidony swallows, squeezing them back. She doesn't want to let go, she thinks, and that makes her feel even more confused. "I would like to be in love with someone, but I'm afraid that I'm not the sort for something so fanciful." Her smile slips into something coy, playful. "But I would - I think it would be pleasant. To be loved by someone, to be wanted by someone."

"Aww--" Jester giggles, as her cheeks go a light pink once more. She lifts their hands up, hers and Sidonys, joined together by their interlocked fingers, and gives them a gleeful little shake. "Sidony. You are totally going to find someone to fall in love with, and they are totally, totally going to love you back. And that isn't fanciful, okay, that is just exactly what you deserve!"

She gives one last squeeze, to punctuate that statement, and then drops Sidony's hands so she can pick up her doughnut again.

"And I am really hungry, so I deserve this doughnut! Ahh--" A happy little gasp, before she takes another bite. With her mouth full, she asks, conversational, "Okay, so who's turn is it? In the game? I can't remember, am I supposed to ask you something or are you supposed to ask me something?"

Her fingers flex a little around Jester's, as if she's not sure what to do with herself. She's never had another girl treat her like this and there's a level of uncertain tension that she's not sure how to deal with it; mother never taught her how to manage something at all like this. Jester is so much, strong and kind and sweet, and Sidony has never been around anyone who has made her feel this way - made her want to have more conversation, to spend time with a person rather than a body or a book.

Fingers slipping away, Sidony breathes out.

"I hope that you find the same, if that's something that you want." Leaning back, she makes herself as comfortable as she can, settling before she turns her head and smiles. "I believe, since you asked about Max, that it is my turn to ask you something. I apologise for the lapse." A hand lifts, brushing hair from her eyes, tucking it behind her ear, and then -

"What is your favourite kind of flower?"

Jester blows a dismissive raspberry and waves her hand, banishing the apology between bites. "Don't be sorry, I am having such a good time."

She licks a crumb off of her hand as she considers Sidony's question. And Sidony, who probably knows so much about flowers. Even though she told Jester that her secret one-time crush, Max, is just that, one-time, Jester is still going to think about how Sidony deserves a Max forever. A long-term Max. Maybe she will help.

Oh man, that is such a good idea. Jester squinches her eyes as she tries to fix the thought in her mind. She cannot forget to find Sidony some good dates. And then they can hang out again and talk about it. It will be great.

"Ummmm," she says aloud, and taps a finger on her chin. It creates an air of extra thoughtfulness, which is then shattered when Jester gives a sheepish little grin. "Ummm. Sidony, can I tell you another secret? I do not really know anything about flowers."

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."

Alarmingly, Sidony seems intensely genuine about that fact. She's never found herself so entertained by another woman before - the ones she had been encouraged to spend her time with in Nevarra were more interested in marriage and silken gowns than they were any kind of real discussion. Sidony could only appreciate approximately half of what they decided to waste their time upon; she had never held any real desire for marriage.

With no idea what is going through the other woman's mind, all Sidony can do is smile fondly, head tilted. She doesn't reach for another pastry - she's had quite enough of the one she'd allowed herself to eat - but she does gently push the basket towards her new friend. They were brought for her, after all.

"Then... Perhaps you would allow me to suggest a flower for you?" She glances around, searching. "Do you have something I might draw with?"

"Sidony." Jester had turned back to getting crumbs off of her finger, but she leaves off abruptly at this request. She turns a frank look on her new friend. "Do I have something to draw with. I do not have something to draw with..."

She leans forward again, her eyes twinkling. Full of barely-suppressed glee, she confides: "I have many things to draw with! Ahh--"

She's graceful, when she hops to her feet. It might be surprising for a seven foot tall woman to be graceful, but Jester is. And her legs are long enough that she doesn't need to dash over to the trunk at the end of her bed--two short strides and she's there. Inside its safe snug shape, the trunk is full of art supplies. Mostly paints and paper, some of it gainfully purchased and some of it scrap that Jester has scrounged. The best of the paper is thick, and colored in fine pinks and purples and light blues. Jester picks out a blue piece for Sidony, and a fine pencil, and carries them back to the nest of pillows. Beaming, she holds it out, as she flounces back down into her kneel.

"Here. But you can totally have another piece, if you want. Okay, okay, what is the flower! Come o-n!

Sidony offers a small, gentle smile; of course the woman has something to draw with. Looking around the room, she's captivated again by the sketches, the drawings, the art, the beauty of it - it's a charming thing, handsome and a reflection of who Jester is as a person. Sidony appreciates that; her own artistic side is a little more subtle than that, entirely devoted to bones, the human body and whatever else she might learn from cutting beyond the skin.

Lifting her hands, she accepts the paper and the pencil, lifting herself up and turning just enough to angle her work away from Jester, a more teasing smile playing on her lips.

"Give me just a moment." And then she begins to draw.

It's not a masterful thing; Sidony is more adept at her stitching, at her weaving work, her embroidery. Her hand moves across the page gently all the same, sketching carefully, her head tilted and her eyes narrowed just a little as she focusses on the drawing she is trying to create. The first flower is a camellia, wrapped in a bouquet with a lily and a yellow tulip. After a few moments - with, of course, proper labels for the colours - Sidony turns the page around carefully.

"Here."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

watch me like a dark cloud (closed)

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sorry for the delay yikes

no problem!!

:*

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