[ 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

[gatheringstorm]

And Korrin is just fine with continuing to be that steady support, her arms loosely draped around them both now that Zevran's done with the braiding. She pauses to admire his work, answering them both after a moment's inspection. "I'm willing to go whenever you are, though that's not a sign to rush if you're not ready. It's nice to just not need to move for a while, I know."

Her own appetite is steadily reviving with all this talk, though Korrin can be patient for Zevran's sake. Right now, his needs supersede her own. She makes a thoughtful noise, considering Araceli's idea. "We should absolutely do that; dedicate a night to such dishes and remind people of what can be done with the proper use of spices. I bet we wouldn't be alone in appreciating the reprieve, either. The ambassador probably misses a taste of home." She might have to check and see what dishes Lady Montilyet favors, as a way of thanking her for putting up with all that political bullshit. "Anyway, you direct and I'll follow instructions."

[foxsays]

"Gracias Zevran, I have no wish to look like some old haridan fishwife. Or like I've spent the last of my coin in the brothel only to be tossed out." Mindful of his injuries, she reaches back to squeeze his thigh as she settles, another hand inspecting her hair absent a mirror. She would ask for one if things were different but her fingers will have to do and she smiles again, content.

"Perhaps if Korrin lets down her hair we could switch places. It’s easier to hold people up sitting." Plus she likes being the little big spoon sometimes, getting to wrap herself around Korrin as far as possible.

"Can I ask how all of you can bear to ride horses? My arse has never hurt so much before." Maybe a little injection of levity is required here but equally this is her first time atop a horse and she’s concerned. Her thighs hurt too but that’s something she’s dealt with for a few reasons but well, a pressing issue as she shifts to keep her weight off it if she can. She'd rather wait a little while longer until certain spots are less tender before she goes to get shrimp for dinner, but it's a reminder of how much she'll have to buy given the numbers returning compared to the company that departed Skyhold.

"The ones they brought with us, this might be their last taste of him for a while. Will they eat if we eat the same things?" An easier thing to ask when Korrin isn’t looking at her and with Zevran sandwiched between them because tempers had been frayed but though she’s a guard, understanding risks and threats, she has only ever killed when she’s been fighting, not when she’s had someone surrendering before her. White flags are white flags. And she's not about to let anyone go hungry, not when her prizes from thievery put food on the tables of others.

[ombranera]

"The same way one rides a lover. Practice, patience, and a great deal of ointment after the fact." A twist of his old humor, faint and flickering but for them? It is there. The idea of riding long enough to get something from home, something he should have had on his own ride up if he had ridden of his own accord? Warms him. He would not be alone. Korrin and Araceli are clever and quick and guards better than most can hope for.

"Perhaps after we see your hair braided, Carina." He tips his head back to smile at Korrin and it is slight and it is strained, going only a little more at the mention of the Crowlings. He vouched for them- they are his responsibility. "Well. I did promise them some manner of treat if they didn't try to seduce anyone as leverage. As no one seems to be particularly seduced..."

It is a legitimate concern, the seducing.

[gatheringstorm]

"It'd be rude of us to deny them, then." Korrin's eyes meet his and while she doesn't especially trust the Crowlings yet, the Vashoth knows the last thing Zevran needs is more tension at this point. So she'll keep a lid on that temper and the Crowlings will be unharmed, though closely watched. They can let the rest of this mess sort itself out, later, when he's willing.

Thinking back to the horses, she chuckles softly. "Zevran has the right of it, more or less. I'm no fan of horses, anyway; there are better mounts, though I suppose the point is moot now. I'll do my best to help ease those aches and pains of yours, though."

There's a spark of mischief in her eyes and grin before Korrin finally gives in to that braiding request. Reaching up, she unties her stark white hair and shakes it out into loose waves. "Do what you will with it. I trust your judgment."

[foxsays]

"And this is why I much prefer women. My friends are all mad to actually race these things." The only other animal that sounds like you could ride it is a druffalo and parts of her ache simply at the thought.

Carefully she extracts herself from Zevran, shaking out stiff legs and stretching, all the way up on her toes and arms high above her head until her back pops and she moans quietly in satisfaction. Her coat is stripped off to make a small cushion that she sits on for when it's her turn to hold them up. As ever, seeing Korrin with her hair down has her grinning because yes, it's probably much more impractical for a mage, for someone with horns but she looks beautiful with it down. If she could find some pretty pins, dark metal and shimmering shells? She'd make her the envy of everyone in Skyhold.

Maybe putting her in a much better mood will help when Araceli's taking her turn guarding the Crows, because she absolutely plans on getting to know them without scaring the life out of them.

"I would say charmed, but then they remind me an awful lot of people I know, just like you." So Zevran should know that she means that with a touch of something a little like grief, for opportunities missed, for home taken and made into a sharp and bitter thing. She won't say that she feels sorry for them, that might sound wrong but she does, and already she's nervous about what should happen to them in Skyhold if word gets out.

[ombranera]

"You are going to tell me what you use to keep your hair so fine and white, Carina. Untarnished." Even his hair has the odd fleck of staining after a long day's fight- some of them stubborn enough to take more than the usual lather and oiling to see them freed. Korrin? Never seemed to suffer the same ashy fate as he's seen others with such pale, glorious hair. He tips his head back to watch Araceli settle behind Korrin, smiling at the image they make.

Such lovely women would look marvelous together. His fingertips itch for charcoal and paper- later, perhaps, when they are no longer on the road.

"It is a defense mechanism. If they are kind and they are charming or seductive people are less likely to wish them dead. I, myself, bought protection for many years from one of my fellow Crows by being as such. Whether or not there are similar arrangements in effect with them- I cannot say. But I hope that they are young enough that they might unlearn it."

[gatheringstorm]

Hearing Zevran's perspective does give Korrin something to ponder beyond her kneejerk attitude. He'd know far better than her what those Crowlings have been through, what their chances are of breaking past their training. "With you as their influence, they could stand a chance. I'll give them that much. They're fortunate to have you as an advocate, Zevran."

After what he's been through, Korrin wouldn't have blamed him the slightest if he didn't want anything to do with them. He could have just let them die. And yet, the fact that he's giving them a chance has her grudging approval. She just wants to protect her friends, but her friends are often the type to think beyond themselves, even if one wouldn't think so at first glance.

"And I use the souls of my enemies, of course, specially infused into the care package products I receive from up north. I'm more than willing to share, at least with those who appreciate such things." She lets out a comfortable sigh the moment Araceli's fingers touch her hair, always appreciating such attentions.

[foxsays]

The snort is so ugly that Araceli starts laughing at herself, having to lean forward and press her head against Korrin's shoulder so she doesn't fall backwards, dragging the others with her. No doubt one of their number would suddenly appear and possibly ruin the moment as she lay on her back giggling and hiccuping.

“Oh I dare you to casually mention that in front of one of the really uptight Templars, I dare you, I will watch from the rooftops laughing, Zevran you will be there too, we could charge admission and retire to lives of leisure.” Without a comb she uses her fingers to separate out Korrin’s hair for a waterfall braid, working from behind the right horn with ease; her fingers remember how to do it, the comfort of familiar patterns and looking after a loved one, content to enjoy whatever little bubble this is. It will burst, eventually, but they might make it back to Skyhold first or until setting watches becomes a real issue.

Food will help, not quite the same as stealing friends back to the little scrape of a flat she still keeps but close enough, because it’s something made because she wants to make it, to fill them up and keep them warm when this world seems so opposed to letting anyone keep even one person safe and sound for long.

“There’s never a clean slate, not really, but if waves can wear down broken glass into something soft and smooth, and turn boulders to sand? Then I hope that they can find a place and happiness. Some of them mustn’t be much younger than I am, maybe about the same age I was when I left home to make my own way, nothing and no one should steal the carefree years from you.” After all, she hasn’t left those years behind entirely either, and though Korrin isn’t much older than Araceli in the grand scheme of things, it’s hard not to feel for the Crows, to think about herself at that age when life was a game and she raced through it but with so many hands to help her catch herself and dust herself off if she fell.