closed | we could do revenge, revenge, revenge, revenge

[coquettish_trees]

WHO: Anders, Byerly, Colin, Lexie
WHAT: Planning the downfall of one trash-heap Templar
WHEN: Nowish (before we all start spouting the opposite of nonsense and Anders leaves to be tragically murdered rifp)
WHERE: The balcony of the apartments, where all the best vengeance plotting happens
NOTES: cw: probable discussion of sexual assault, suicide attempt may come up, maybe some links later?

The weather is not fine, on the whole, but it is fine for this manner of gathering: the sound of light rain, the droplets themselves hardly visible in the light haze of mist that is the remnant of the ambitious heavy fog that covers the city below that has made it all the way up to Hightown, and mild enough to sit out on the covered balcony of Alexandrie and Colin's apartments. It is mid-afternoon, but even so, candles had been set out along with luncheon to combat the particular shade of dour grey seemingly unique to Kirkwall. Alexandrie's staff sets a fine table, even in the relative informality of the balcony setting, and while the purpose of the gathering is hardly the meal, Alexandrie primly insists on conversation about lighter matters until the last plate has been cleared and replaced by a cut-crystal decanter of brandy set out on a tray with four small matching glasses.

"So. The matter of Balfour," she begins, taking up the decanter and raising it slightly along with her eyebrows—anyone? The man is denied both given name and title; not a small mark of disrespect from the mouth of the ever-solicitous Alexandrie. "I assume we are all in agreement that he is well deserving of what recompense we can deliver."

Comments

[bouchonne]

"There is no humiliation in this." It's a rare statement from Byerly Rutyer that carries no sarcasm, no irony, no double meanings. But in that moment, there is nothing but honesty from him. In that moment, his voice is soft and low, but unwavering: his conviction is powerful. It's a sentiment not just for Colin, but for Lexie, as well - not a new one, because in their younger days, he'd shared it often with her. But it bears repeating, always. There is no shame to being surrounded by cruel men. The only shame is in being a cruel man.

The earnestness disappears, of course, as quickly as it came. His eyebrows lift, and he shrugs, all the irony back in him. "But yes, dear fellow, we shan't work in secret. I promise. When revenge is nigh, you shall know it."

[coquettish_trees]

Byerly had been the only one to place her fall at Rolant's feet. It had taken her long enough to begin to believe it even in the slightest. That it wasn't entirely her fault for being such a tempting target. Her fault for being credulous, for moving, and looking, and smelling like prey. For believing him. For wanting to believe him. For walking blithely directly into his teeth.

What sin greater than naivete in Orlais?

"Mais oui," Alexandrie affirms. "If we manage this correctly," in her eyes: 'which we will,' "you will be brave and strong, and he will bear the full shame of his actions."

[keenly]

Colin gives a tight, hollow-eyed smile at Byerly, then Alexandrie.

"I appreciate it, but there's plenty of humiliation to go round. People defending him will have all sorts of things to say about me. I could even have been charged with his corruption, in the Circle."

Not that Greagoire was like that, nor Irving. He glances away, brow furrowed.

"The Templars who hear about this will have to condemn one of us. They're pretty eager to distance themselves from stories like mine. I wonder if we could make it easier for them to condemn him instead. Most of the Knights-Corporal in Kinloch Hold knew what he was doing, and they could ruin me if they united against me."

[justice_is_blond]

"There is no grounds for humiliation or shame," Anders says quietly. It's not exactly agreement. He knows what's going to be stirred up, and he knows Colin knows. There's no reason to make Colin feel it all over again right now.

"If there's some other sort of blackmail that can be put on the Knights-Corporal, if some of them are doing something underhanded to obtain lyrium, perhaps?" It might be cruel to use their addiction against them, but if they hadn't turned a deliberate blind eye to cruelty and suffering it wouldn't come up. "Divide them so they've reason to condemn this one."