[ OPEN ] Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time

[ombranera]

WHO: Zevran and YOU
WHAT: Zevran's Birthday and Ardent Blossom Contest
WHEN: Forward dated to Guardian 5
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Shenanigans connected to this announcement

Someone had been a sneaky little shit, preying on Zevran's lack of familiarity with traditions and dates and the weight people tend to put on something so mundane as a 'birthday'. Someone (Alistair) had spread word and made a thing of it, despite Zevran not seeing the point nor truly wishing to cause a fuss. He had, however, decided to take a day for himself to do nothing. No fuss, no stress, no real work. A day to indulge in a few of his many hobbies. He did not know what one did on their birthday normally but here he was, sitting in the Courtyard with one of his found spoils on his head, awaiting those that paid mind to his earlier announcement. When he wasn't idly sketching whoever he saw in the courtyard he was in the Herald's rest, enjoying a quiet drink and making notes on the better stories or songs he has heard throughout the day.

Comments

[ombranera]

"It is how it is. With Antiva a bastion for brigands and rogues for centuries? Caution is likely the wisest course. There is more than one story of the crows of old sending out a young elf of their own seeking sanctuary only to return with all the young stolen from a family slaughtered. So long as they are taken before they have their tattoos? The Crows figure they can shape them. Whether or not there is any truth to this- knowing the Crows as I do? I wouldn't doubt it." But this, for once, is not what he wishes to think on.

What he does not wish to discuss.

Beleth's passion is to her credit, however. He may not understand her drive nor may he share her perspective; but he can respect that she has it. That she wants more. They need such people in Thedas for after whatever comes next. A war is a war- rebuilding afterward? he had seen who thrived in Ferelden. Those with vision. Those with drive. The scars are young yet but...the rift words, the right mind behind them? Something could come of it.

Casually he drapes an arm across Beleth's shoulders and pulls her in close, flipping to a fresh page for sketching. The lines are soft and done from memory, but he recalls the Halla well enough. "I took it as a sign of trust. An outsider, permitted to sleep with the Halla? It was not even so cold as to require it. I think, perhaps, they were cautious but wished to offer me something I would not find in the city."

[arlathvhen]

That tale hits clearly hits Beleth--she hadn't thought of that. Her face crumples in a scowl, eyes focused on her hands as she digested this new information. The first feeling is a low simmering anger, and she wants to promise to take the Crows to task, to avenge a clan that had no one left to do it. But she's sure that Zevran doesn't want to think about this on his birthday. So instead, she files it away for later. There's nothing she can do now, if ever. What could one Dalish do against the Crows?

"I'm sure we could figure out a way to deal with that." Is what she says instead, though she can't keep the anger and the promise of violence out of her voice.

But now Zevran's arm is around her, and he's drawing. So she relaxes, leaning against him as she watches him sketch. It reminds her of the way that her twin drew, the drawings from him that she's squirreled away some place safe. "I can't speak for another clan, but I think that's a safe assumption. We don't let just anyone near our halla. Still..." Her lips twist, just slightly. "But I guess it's in the past. And nothing can be done, with the Crows still around."

[ombranera]

"Not for long." How confident was he? Probably too confident, but his lips took on a particularly sharp edge. "They sent a cell of ten after me when I rode to Skyhold- and they were all ill seasoned- young. Not terribly well trained. I offered them mercy as I always have- they do not have a choice in what it is they do. You obey or you die, in the Crows. But whatever price they have on my head is more than enough for none to accept. But they are running out of Assassins to send after me. There cannot be that many Grandmasters left."

Perhaps five or six. When he is done with this Inquisition business? He will take them all in one fell swoop. Then Thedas will be rid of them. Antiva will have to use the other houses- those that did not have quite so horrific practices in training.

"Not yet but, soon."