[ 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

[quietblade]

Taas is fixed up as good as possible from all the nicks and slashes, even if the acidic burns has left his skin rough under Zevran's touch on his shoulder. Still, the warmth is there in his brown eyes as well, framed by hair escaping from the messy bun on his head.

He reads the question on those lips and reaches up a large hand to cup Zevran's face very gently. "Why come?" He repeats, holding down the sadness for those words. How could he not? How could anyone not, did he truly think of himself as so disposable?

"You do not leave your kadan to suffer," he says, and there's the smile, soft and as warm as the rest of him. "I have few precious people in my life, I'm not about to lose one of them."

After all the turmoil in his life, he could share his heart with people; to have friends and lovers and those that were a little bit of both. 'Kadan' is the closest he can get, even if it's a bit skewed.

[ombranera]

"Kadan?" Sten called Shale that back during the blight. Scraps of Qunlat he's picked up over the years but that is not among the phrases he has learned. There were few things that held Sten's regard, however, and Shale managed it after a fashion. Perhaps it means friend?

He could bear that. But the warmth in Taas' eyes is almost painful to see- to be held so gently, to be called precious-

He isn't. How do they not see this? He is a knife, a chipped knife at that.

[quietblade]

"Kadan. Where the heart lies. For important people." He smiles a little, thumb stroking that jawline gently. It was hard to see someone like Zevran feeling so insignificant and worthless.

He wasn't.

None of them were.

It's not that he can read minds, and he's kind of useless with the serious stuff... but he knows how it is to be created into a weapon. "You were molded into being an assassin for these people. My commanding officer molded me into a powder keg of uncontrolled, forceful anger," he starts, shaking his head gently. "...but we're more than that now. I broke free, and I was a fucking mess for a while, but now I'm my own person and even if I have bad days, damned if I don't deserve it. Same with you."

[ombranera]

Even if he did not break the way they thought he might- the Crows had broken Zevran. Cracked every wall, every defense he had against the world and gutted him until there was nothing but the hollow knot of him of ten years ago. But this is not Jonas, his mouth is not full of his own blood. This is Taas showing more care than he knows what to do with and his eyes are not stinging full of tears.

They are, but he refuses to acknowledge that. It means he is weak and he cannot, will not tolerate weakness in himself.

Is that not all sentiment is? Weakness? Another vulnerability? For all that he has been away from them for a Decade- Zevran realizes, slowly, that he still lived like a Crow. Kept everyone at arm's length, slept with traps, trusted few, cared for little. Freedom was not so easy a thing as he'd thought. "I am..."

Broken.

Without Worth.

Expendable.

[quietblade]

"You are free," Taas finishes for him, and then moves his hands to hold him close. Steady, but not trapping. Easy to break out of if he wanted to. Easy to lean in to, if he wanted that.

Be a rock. Be an anchor. It's what you know.

The big qunari quiets down again, just staying there as that steady comfort he promises to be. He's not going to argue with Zevran about his worth; the elf had to come to terms with that on his own.

[ombranera]

It's a tone that leaves no room for argument- and Zevran does not know that he has it in him to argue. He's free.

He's been free and had been under the assumption that he'd been living well that life. Trying to roll it around in his mind is difficult, especially with the warmth and pull of Taas' hands to rest against him. As ever his stability and warmth is a soothing comfort and he will leave the matter be. Here he does not need to think quite so hard of what's been done or why it's been done.

It simply is.

After a few long moments of his face pressed to Taas' chest he reaches up to write against one large palm. Thank you.