[ 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!

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[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.