open

[inkindled]

WHO: Matthias, Nikos, Salvio (tbd if Doki, Val, and Darras will get open stuff. how did I get all of these characters) + YOU
WHAT: just open stuff, man
WHEN: NOW
WHERE: various
NOTES: tiny bit of self-harm but it's so small and it gets fixed so fast

Comments

[exsecutus]

[His gaze had jerked up at the kick, and then visibly--if imperceptibly to anyone besides Caspar--his expression softens. Which on Nikos means less glaring, but again, Caspar will be able to read that. And the way his shoulders hunch, the little tug of something like a smile--it's not completely true, he knows that, Caspar doesn't do anything for Nikos and Nikos alone, and he would never want him to--but it still feels good to hear it. And good, too, to hear that Caspar will stay. Better than anything.

He quickly scuffs that near-smile to a frown, his version of neutral, and turns his attention back to the letter.]

The Averesches.

[Which quells some of his near-good humor, too. He ignores the raven-feeding, and goes for one of his daggers to cut open the letter.]

They're very generous. As you know. It extends even to animals.

[excipio]

[ He does know, and he didn't really need to ask; he didn't have to open the letter to recognize the seal. There are plenty of things he knows or could know without asking. He could open said letters and deftly reseal them, or he could ask any number of the agents who occasionally check in on Nikos — strictly under order to make sure he's still alive and kicking and not in imminent trouble, never to pry.

It's much more interesting to ask. He's used to secrets having more power when someone doesn't know you're onto them, but Nikos' secrets? Completely worthless unless they're willingly given. ]

Yes, of course— and Spiders. I think I still owe them a thank you letter for their generous buy-in.

[ a 10+ year overdue letter for an illegal thing they didn't know they were funding would be polite, yes ]

[exsecutus]

Don't thank them.

[Nikos punctuates this statement by ripping the dagger along the letter and shaking it open. He scans a few lines.]

It wasn't done for thanks. And my mother would write back to you, and if you struck up a correspondence with my mother, I would jump out of this tower and let my brains get smashed out on the rocks. And you'd no longer have any reason to come to Kirkwall.

[excipio]

And they'd make some poor maid clean it up. [ Hardly seems fair. The raven takes the last piece of fruit, clocks the empty handkerchief, then hops off down the window sill to eat in peace. It gives the uncanny impression of someone politely bowing out of an obviously private conversation. ]

How are they faring?

[ Casual, like it's any other day instead of several months into Nevarra's lopsided collapse. The fact that he's asking at all is telling enough. ]

[exsecutus]

[Nikos' mouth quirks up at the corners. Some poor maid. He doesn't look up from the letter. Still reading, he reports--]

Antiva is lovely this time of year. Boats on the water. I told you they have a dog now. Hylactor. It bit someone. They love the damn thing. They're sad, [he turns the letter over, keeps scanning,] pity, blah blah blah, poor bleeding Nevarra. That's just polite. Lapsed misplaced patriotism.

[Having decided that the letter is no threat, Nikos shoves the dagger back in at his belt and shoots Caspar a look.]

Easy to say from a fucking mansion.