[ CLOSED ] THE ANTIVAN CROWS SEND THEIR REGARDS

[ombranera]

WHO: Alistair, Araceli Bonaventura, Beleth Ashara, Anders Detlef, Korrin Ataash, Taashath, The Iron Bull, Twisted Fate, an Zevran Arainai. Guest Starring: Samouel, Cyril, and Merrick, Super Special Guest Star: Leliana.
WHAT: The Crows come for the Ombra Nera.
WHEN: Begins Guardian 6
WHERE: Skyhold/Antivan Border/The Road
NOTES: CW/TW FOR: Flesh hommonculi, violent/gruesome content, torture, blood magic, non-consensual drug use, adult content, adult language, reader discretion is advised. Sign up post, original plotting post, hit me on PM or @ thesouthernbelle if you have questions.

It's a normal morning in Thedas until, abruptly, it isn't. The Crows come calling; they are swift, they are certain, they are silent and leave behind but one witness that won't be alive for much longer (or so they assume). Prize in hand they ride North for Antiva.

Subthreads for portions of the plot are yours to tag around in as you like!

Comments

[qunari]

"That so?"

If this is where he feels safest, then this is where he gets to remain. Bull wraps his arms around the elf, so small against his frame, smaller still in the way he shrinks in against him. He imagines there must be some comfort in that, being surrounded by warmth, by someone who would stand and defend him.

He'd taken quite a few hits today. But it was worth it, in the end. All worth it.

[ombranera]

"You say it to be a good lover, for in the moment you are lovers- and when the moment is over and you go about your business you aren't held to them. Anyone that says such things and means them- that hears such things and believes them-" They are fools. The worst sort of sentimental fools.

"It does not fit." Bull is a spy. Spies are worse than Crows. Qunari do not do sentiment, he knows this.

[qunari]

"Mm." It's not quite a denial or acknowledgement. It's true that he can't really afford sentiment. That's also never stopped him from acting on impulse, to take a blow meant for another or to feel loyalty for those he's come across in the past few years. Krem he'd lost an eye for, and then he'd still been a complete stranger.

His gut tells him things, and he doesn't often ignore it when it does. But there's little he can do to explain that innate sense, and instead he merely shrugs. "I've lost people before, you know. In Seheron. Lot of good men. Friends."

It's not an experience that really needs more explanation than that, and Bull lets it settle there before glancing down at Zevran. "...I don't leave people behind."

[ombranera]

The default answer burns on his tongue- something deeply reflexive that has no place with Bull.

Crows do not have friends.

But he is no Crow. He has not been a crow in years but being there, surrounded by it, at the mercy of every tool they had to break him...It reminds him too much of his training, of learning to endure. That he can swallow down like bile and let it rest.

Bull gave his word and kept it. This is surprising but admirable. But that he considers him people- that wrings a ragged half laugh from him, one that is faintly bitter. "And I am one of your people, now?"

[qunari]

And it's a simple answer, honest. Something about where Zevran comes from tugs at him in a way he can't ignore. All the more reason to be one of the ones to step up and volunteer to go find him.

As if he hadn't already given his word that he would.

An eyebrow lifts as he cocks his head at Zevran where he lies curled against him. "Yeah. You are."

[ombranera]

It is easier not to look. If he looks he runs the risk of this being too good to be true, of seeing that faint blurring around Bull's form that precedes a blade or needle or poison being pressed into his hand and a choice presented.

As long as he does not look, he is safe.

"I suppose there are worse things." A scrap of humor, poorly managed.

[qunari]

"Krem might argue."

Humor's good. As good a coping method as any. Let him get his feet under him before he starts criticizing his taste in jokes, as though he had any room to talk himself. Let him start assembling some remnant pieces of normalcy before tackling all of this in earnest.

Meanwhile, he's got a Qunari merc that's more than happy to keep him settled in his lap, arms tight around him, gaze shifting to the forest beyond as though daring any of the remaining Crows to try and take him back.

Though it's fine if they don't try, honestly. It's been a long enough day as it is.