→ ｔｈｅ ｓｅｒｐｅｎｔ ｏｆ ｎｅｖａｒｒａ

[ungovernable]

WHO: Benevenuta Thevenet, Dorian Pavus, Zevran Arainai, Nerva Lecuyer, Taashath, Rafael Viteri AND THE OTHER ONE. I don't know how to spell that and I already looked up Rafa's name.
WHAT: Pretty much what it says on the tin. And by tin I mean subject line.
WHEN: Covering a span of several weeks, after puppies and before showing up late to Emprise du Lion.
WHERE: Nevarra, mostly.
NOTES: Plotting post; original sign up post. Get at me at matriarchal or via PM if you have needs.

Having taken Ayse's information to the Inquisition leaders, Benevenuta is dispatched with a small group to handle the matter in Nevarra. Feel free to do individual closed threads within the subheaders of anything you want to achieve in Nevarra, and we can work out amongst ourselves how best to do plot elements! We will try to spread out plot contributions so that we don't get bogged down in a ten thousand person thread for any one part.

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ｔｈｅ ｒｅａｌ ｈｕｓｔｌｅ

[ungovernable]

Intrigue, espionage, and actually negotiating for those damned mercenaries -

There is a lot of work to do.

Disguising an elf 101

[ombranera]

Right as they hit the border- right before in fact, Zevran takes out a case from his pack and begins to alter his appearance. Makeup to hide his tattoos, something dark for his hair to leave it a warm chestnut color rather than it's shimmering gold, these things are not so strange for an elf attempting to hide from a guild of assassins in the general area.

The corset, now.

That might be new. As is the strangely shaped harness that he tests the give of with a faint frown. "Tell me, does this feel like a proper breast to you?"

Or-

"Could you cinch me in? I cannot reach the laces."

Or-

"Do these skirts make my hips look shapely enough?"

[keeperofmagi]

She had been paying as little attention to him as she was able, but when he wanders over and asks for help with his corset, she finds she is reaching out to do so before she has time to really think about it.

After all, it was an easy enough request, and the uneventful walk had her bored.

Didn't mean that once her brain caught up to her hands, she wasn't extremely confused by it.

"Dare I ask why you are dressed this way?" She asked flatly.

[ombranera]

"We are entering a country quite close to my native Antiva- and there are more than a few Crow cells here." He shrugs, adjusting the lay of the stays about his waist. "I wish to not be found by crows. They are looking for a blond, antivan, male elf."

If he is none of these things? it makes him that much more difficult to find.

"Aside from that, I am to be your handmaiden, yes? Yours and Lady Thenevet's."

[keeperofmagi]

That got a deeper frown, and she paused while doing the laces - pulling a little too tight but not enough to cause pain or injury.

"I need no handmaiden. I've heard of no mercenary that travels with a handmaiden." There was a sharp sound of the next bracket of laces being pulled tight against the fabric of the corset, cinching closer.

[ombranera]

"Ah-" Breathe, he needed to remember to breathe. "Were I human it would be called into question, yes. I am not human."

He reached back to pat at her hands. "Next set down, please."

[keeperofmagi]

She tsked lowly, but did as he asked, and lowered her hands to the next set, and at least tried to be a little more gentle with the next few laces, even though she pulled them tight enough to be as efficient as possible.

"So the idea is meant to be less ludicrous because I have employed an elf, instead." She grunted as she pulled the cord taut. "I think you had best keep your service to Lady Thenevet, who will at least know what to do with it."

[ombranera]

"More that she is lending me to your service so you will be prepared and dressed appropriately- Mercenary you might be in this ruse, but-" A faint, cut off gasp at the yank- subtly obscene, before he continued. "A lady wishing her guard to be adequately dressed is not so strange a thing."

[keeperofmagi]

That made her stop. Not the slightly erotic gasp (which she was doing her absolute best to completely pretend didn't happen, even though it had made her very, very aware of what her hands were doing), but the idea of being dressed appropriately--

"I am dressed," She replied, a not of almost panic to her voice. "I even left my templar armour--"

[ombranera]

"We will be in a noble's house, invited to noble dinners and perhaps a ball. What you are wearing is well enough for travel, but for that? No. You will need a corset of your own." At the very least. "Possibly something ought to be done with your hair, I will need to speak to Lady Thevenet on what is most in fashion in Nevarra."

[bunko]

"Ah, but my friend, it is not the feeling you must worry about. It is the looking."

Not that Scipio will not feel the false breast as a test. What are former rivals and current acquaintances for, if not for assessing feminine disguise? What good is having a professional opinion if your professional opinion is never useful?

How Scipio came to be along on this trip is of little importance. (Mostly.) Anyone who knows Scipio and Rafael would find his appearance of little surprise. One always follows the other, invited or not. Really, what matters is that he is a professional, with an expertise at disguise, and a willing consultant, so much so that he thoughtfully weighs the false breast in his hand.

"Close," he decrees, "very close. And so would any need to be, to determine this. The look is very close too. What is it that you are using? We had tried sand, last--a crumpled cloth can take the look of ripples, even under the tightest bodice, but sand, this was more a success."

[ombranera]

"I am going to be an Elven handmaiden in Nevarra. The feel is just as important as the appearance." While he does not intend to find himself groped while sneaking about- he cannot discount the possibility and plan accordingly. But finding the balance between size and consistency, look and feel is a difficult task indeed. He has been fiddling with them for the better part of an hour by now- and a fresh pair of eyes and perspective? Is somewhat required.

He still has not wrangled from either of them what it was they used during that One Job in Antiva City, but perhaps he might parse it with a little more work.

"Sand offers a firmness but does not give like a breast should- it is also slow to warm which makes working with it difficult in the south. This? Is a mixture of potter's sand and gelatin. The firmness you would get from sand with some of the give of an actual breast. Working out the ratio, ah. Now that is the greater trick."

[bunko]

Scipio sighs, somewhat wistfully. "I miss sand."

Though, that being said, Zevran's actual points make a good deal of sense. "I suppose one must always have a preparation in mind. And not all would believe a cold-breast curse to be the cause, no matter how convincing the lie, or the liar. That has only once been successful, and the fool who believed it was very foolish. The gelatin makes for the very convincing, I think. Maybe to add more, this will help? Not too much more," he cautions, "your ratio, it is nearly good now."

Thoughtfully, he considers the pieces of disguise as a whole. "I wish that your hair, it could be left as it is. But it must be dark, I suppose?"

[ombranera]

"Hot, white sand- so fine that walking upon it is like walking on clouds." Zevran echos that sigh. Oh fair Antiva, how far your boys are from home. Perhaps one day they shall return.

At the note of the ratio- he pulls a small jug from the kit and pours in a little more of the gelatin, massaging the false breast before stoppering it and offering the adjusted appliance to Scipio to test. A little more give, a little more warmth. How lovely it is to have a professional reason to know the consistency of a well formed bosom. "My thanks, I had been agonizing over it for an hour now; but this? You are right, it is good."

That is the breasts seen done. "Alas, it must. I am not near so enthralling with dark hair but we are very near Antiva and I would rather not be found by the Crows. Though I am not certain if I ought to curl it for this or not. What do you think?"

[bunko]

"Ah, yes--much better!" A word of congratulations is due for the modification done. Scipio beams, proud of the effort, despite the fact that it is not his effort. "Truly, there is a miracle to this technique of yours. I admire it. Gelatin."

He makes a mental note to tell Rafael of the stuff, though Rafael is likely to have heard of it already. Every good con man must set great stock in practicality and in knowledge, and Rafael keeps good notes in his little book.

"As to curls," and he tips his head, thoughtfully, examining Zevran's fall of hair, "curls are often comely. And it would be a great difference, from the hair that you have now, yes? A different frame to the face. If later you were seen without the dark and curled hair, one might not recognize you at a glance, because of that frame!"

[ombranera]

"Mmm. There are a few tricks to force curls to hold for a fair while without my having to tend to them every night." Between that, the rest of the outfit, and the powders? It might render him wholly unrecognizable.

Which is the idea.

"Depending on how large and tight I make them...ringlets or something looser, you think?" At times like this he missed Taliesin and Rinna dearly, deeply, viciously. He worked better when he had someone to toss ideas back and forth with- perhaps Skip and Rafa had the right of it by living as a duo. But he might borrow some of that cleverness and familiarity for a short while, so long as Skip is willing to offer his opinion.

[bunko]

"Hmmm." Scipio rubs at his chin, taking another moment to consider Zevran's full face. Shape, color, these are all important aspects that must be taken into account. "I think for you, ringlets would be more suitable, yes? A tighter curl is not done so much, and would suit you far less. Even if it is a disguise, this is important."

His pensiveness breaks when he grins, all at once. "I have missed the planning of disguises nearly as much as I have missed sand, I think! There is something to be said, for work such as this."

[ombranera]

"It has been a long while since I've last required one- and longer still since I've had someone to toss ideas about with while sorting out the details." He pulls the curling kit from his leather case, tapping the tubes and their enchanted runes to be certain that they yet work. "Perhaps we might work together again on another mission that calls for such things. As wide and varied as The Game is in Orlais; I am certain they have never experienced the wit, wiles, and charm of Antivans quite so well."

They'd make an effective trio, should he, Rafa, and Skip put their minds to it.

[quietblade]

Cue big qunari dressed in leather pants and boots, with his chest bare and throat clasped in a big gold-plated collar. Chains hung from the collar down in artful coils around his chest and over his arms, all for decoration rather than confinement.

His hair had been taken down and braided into a multitude of smaller pleats pushed back over his head, and he was borrowing a more fancy two-handed sword than the heavy qunari axe he usually favored.

"Shit, you look amazing," Taas says with a wide grin as he walks into the room.

[ombranera]

Forgive him, Zevran needs a moment.

Correction.

Zevran needs several moments.


At least like this swooning is easy, he lists back against the counter where he'd been dusting his eyes with powder and lining them to give a more doe like appearance- and this marvelous vision of hulking qunari manhood just waltzes in? He needs that moment. Once it's had Zevran sets the khol and brush down, stepping forward to take Taas' hands and set them on his corseted waist, the tips of his fingers and thumbs easily overlapping now that he is cinched in. "And you? Are a marvel."

[quietblade]

Taas happily grips that waist with his big hands, making an impressed sound as his fingers meet. That was damn hot, even if he wondered where the hell Zevran had put his organs to fit in that thing. Those breasts even looked real with that little jiggle he could draw from them by roughly pulling the elf close.

"This is gonna be torture to look at. You make a beautiful woman." That jawline was a bit masculine, but not enough to draw any suspicion. Apparently this job came with big benefits.

"It's an impressive cover. I doubt anyone would recognize you."

[ombranera]

The tug wrung a breathless laugh from Zevran, high and thin; almost feminine. Add to that the curls, the khol around his eyes, the powder he used to soften his cheekbones? Only those that knew him would be able to tell and Taas? Knew him in quite a few ways. "Alas, I must focus on work for the most part and attend to the ladies of our merry little band. However should I have a night and a morning free I am certain we might find something to occupy ourselves with-"

He leaned up as far as he could, pressed close against Taas' warm, wide chest. Hardly close enough to press their lips together but the sentiment was plain. "Already I find myself lousy with ideas."

[quietblade]

"Oh, I plan on stealing the pretty handmaiden and have all my nefarious qunari ways with her, count on that." Taas carefully ghosts his lips past those lips and buries his nose in that colored hair, taking a deep breath. Shit, Zevran even smelled great like this. Something in the powder, probably. Nice and feminine without being too heady.

The warrior reaches up to cup one of those breasts for fun and freezes in surprise, looking down at them. "That's... impressively realistic. I think I've fucked someone with breasts just like these." Nice elf farmer girl, all filled out unlike the hard-working Alienage elves or the hardy Dalish.

"How many daggers do you have under all this?"

[ombranera]

"If we are lucky there will be quite a few dark alcoves to duck into- in fact? I have found more than a few." For this express purpose. Well. Not only this, but this is a large part of why he did the poking about for said alcoves.

Taas' hand slides up to his chest and Zevran? Crackles a soft laugh. "Sand and gelatin."

A solid roll of the softness in his palm would have Taas feeling the detail Zevran put into the harness- finding out where exactly the nipple should sit and how hard it should be against the thumb, that took a fair bit of leather work and muttering. But over all? Worth it. "Care to feel about for yourself and guess? I always have at least seven."

[quietblade]

That has him laughing softly, and he's more than happy to feel up those breasts and tease the little nipple with his calloused fingers. Works of art, really. Anyone copping a feel wouldn't be disappointed. Well, until they lost their fingers, that was.

He moves his hands down and starts searching for daggers with little half-tickles over the dress and skin. "Hmm... you have some in your boots, I don't even have to feel to know that. Let me guess... any in the corset stay-up things? Cleavage?"