We're Back! A Gallows Tale

[sulahnan]

WHO: Athessa and YOU!
WHAT: Oh, you know. Getting back from the jungle and getting way too into her work.
WHEN: Now, Post-Jungle
WHERE: The Gallows & Kirkwall in general
NOTES: shrug.

I. Back on her Bullshit...or...not.

Athessa is quite possibly the best rested of the whole group that returns from the jungle, having found sleeping rough a lot easier than sleeping in a bed here. Weird. But in the few days that follow, she once again gets back to her habit of not sleeping well and prowling around in a cloud of root-smoke. She also has a small dagger strapped to her hip instead of going unarmed or strapping on her dual-wield blades, and an unusually heightened work ethic during daylight hours. Minimal antics, maximum...something else. Something like responsibility? Weird.

II. Can I Raas you a Question? (Closed to Raas, if that wasn't clear)

They don't know each other. They've never even interacted, at least as far as Athessa can recall. But where else is Athessa supposed to turn, when she doesn't know anyone else who speaks qunlat and doesn't want to snoop around unnecessarily before handing over what she found to the boss?

"'Scuse me..." She isn't timid, just a little awkward. It's not typical for her to introduce herself to someone just to ask a favor. "Do you have a minute?"

III. A New Kind of Office Visit (closed to Yseult)

Athessa knocks before entering, same as usual. But this isn't one of their scheduled check-ins or typical scout work that either of them expect from one another. They're barely settled after getting back from the jungle when Athessa is reporting to Yseult with a missive in one hand, and a qunari dagger in the other. Both are set on Yseult's desk.

"I...figured I should report this to you. I dunno if it even really matters, but I found these in De--in Sten's room."

IV. Wildcard

[ you know the drill ]

Comments

[sulahnan]

More smoke will probably make this better, right? Athessa nods.

"She said she couldn't love me back."

[altusimperius]

They're so frightening. And powerful.

Fucking one would probably hurt, or it would be great. Maybe both?

He looks at Athessa, deliberating.

[keenly]

Arms wind back around Athessa, harder than before.

"I love you back," Colin tells her, then reaches out to try to drag Bene into the fray. This is friends. This is what we do for friends. We hug our sad friends.

Even when we are stoned.

[sulahnan]

That's so sweet and embarrassing, gosh. She smiles, even if it's sad, and doesn't resist any part of the hug. She does, however, take note of Benedict's peculiar expression.

"You're still thinking about Qunari, aren't you."

[altusimperius]

Jostled like a rag doll, Bene slumps over in the other direction and is idly taking another puff when Athessa addresses him.

The question surprises him, causing him to inhale at the wrong time and start coughing violently, smoke coming out his mouth and nose.

[keenly]

After a few seconds of that, Colin reaches out to give Bene a pound or two on the back.

[sulahnan]

"If you're that curious about it, I can describe it for you." She doesn't expect him to take her up on that offer, but whatever.

[altusimperius]

A few hacks gets things more or less back to normal, and Bene, slightly sobered by the experience, has the decency to blush.

"No, I just--" he stammers, and, after losing his train of thought once, twice, "...sorry."

[keenly]

Colin looks back at Athessa as if debating with his own curiosity. Since Bene turns her down, he lets it go and reaches for the gingersnaps. That's right, he was going to put them in a more central location. He does so, setting them between him and the hookah before snatching one for himself.

[sulahnan]

But Colin still got that look about him, and Athessa can't help but laugh about it. She gets herself another biscuit and leans back on the heel of her free hand, merrily munching along.

After a moment of nothing, she clicks her tongue against her teeth. "Best cock I've ever had."

She says it wistfully, but can't keep a straight face afterwards because she can only imagine the reactions such a statement will elicit.

[altusimperius]

Since Colin was leaning on him before, it seems like fair game; and it's not like Bene has any effort left in him to make. He sinks gradually until he's draped across Colin's lap, head resting on one of his folded knees like a pillow as he reaches for the bowl and takes another biscuit.

He's definitely comfortable as he chews on it, though he still looks troubled.

"Wouldn't it hurt?"

[keenly]

"Some people are into that," Colin says with a knowing smile as he reaches for a hose.

[sulahnan]

Athessa is definitely some people in this instance, and she nods slowly. Damn good biscuits, still.

"Probably hurts more up the ass. Less...accommodating."

[altusimperius]

Benedict winces automatically as he swallows his mouthful-- yes, that's not something he's enjoying imagining.

"Probably," he concedes, resting his hand under Colin's knee as he thinks about it. "I've never done it." Not even the normal, regular-size-dick way.

[keenly]

"In some ways," Colin muses. "Women sort of, you stretch more, obviously, but you're not very deep. Though I only know that from delivering babies."

[sulahnan]

The inscrutable face that plasters itself on Athessa's features is the result of mentally responding and then deeming that response far too much information to speak aloud.

Not that deep? I took him to the hilt. Good job, Athessa, but maybe you should brag about more PG things, hmm? She polishes off another biscuit and zones out, forgetting to brag about anything, regardless of the rating.

[altusimperius]

This is far too much information for someone with Bene's level of experience (or lack thereof), overall maturity (or lack thereof), and sobriety (or-- you get it). He openly makes a face.

"I blew Marcoulf, like," he pops another biscuit in his mouth and crunches it loudly, "a few times." As long as we're sharing.

[keenly]

"Oh," is all Colin can think to say to that. He takes a deep draught from the hose.

[sulahnan]

“MARCOULF?!” Oh, that was far more incredulous than she intended, and oh no is she making a yucky face? She begs a question on a whisper: “Whyyyyyy?”

[altusimperius]

It's impossible not to grin at that reaction, even if it's not one of Bene's prouder memories.

"He liked it."

[keenly]

"You are very good at it," Colin acknowledges, fingers idly stroking Bene's hair as the other man sprawls on his lap. It's soft.

[sulahnan]

Athessa has a very, very funny thought and dissolves into giggles because of it.

[altusimperius]

"I am," Bene sighs, enjoying the feeling of Colin's hand in his hair, though he looks up at Athessa when she giggles.

"What?"

Pausing a moment, he fondly adds, "he'd get so mad and push me up against a wall. ...that was nice."

[keenly]

Colin grabs a biscuit and holds it to Bene's lips to get him to stop, looking slightly less comfortable than he was.

[sulahnan]

“Did...did ya have to use a spyglass to ffffff hahaha to find it?” It’s no wonder everyone thinks she’s a lot younger than she is.