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Oh. [ The packing sounds stop, slowly, and his voice gets louder when he lifts the crystal from its chain to actually talk into it. ] Is everything all right?
[ His voice gets smaller as it goes, like it's following his thoughts as they wander away, off in the direction of puzzling out how long it's been since he's actually seen Zevran in person. ]
[ His voice gets smaller as it goes, like it's following his thoughts as they wander away, off in the direction of puzzling out how long it's been since he's actually seen Zevran in person. ]
[ There's a pause, a long one, the blank space where entreaties or bargaining or pushing would go if Alistair felt he was owed anything in particular or if he wasn't actually fine with the Zevran not putting himself in harms' way.
He'd just assumed, with the degree of certainty that it's disorienting to suddenly lose. ]
Is it anything I can help with?
He'd just assumed, with the degree of certainty that it's disorienting to suddenly lose. ]
Is it anything I can help with?
[ He would really like to insist that he can surely do or kill something to assist, but that lesson has been learned. After another pause--this one for struggling against impulse instead of plain old confusion--he says, ] All right. Do you have a minute to, um.
[ Anything. ]
[ Anything. ]
Edited 2016-05-18 03:58 (UTC)
[ Perhaps it is his own fault for making himself so reliable- but that cannot be the problem. He's spoilt Alistair by being available as much as possible in his recovery and before the Crows. Making up for lost time.
Still he cannot go- but he does ask without hesitation. ]
What do you need?
Still he cannot go- but he does ask without hesitation. ]
What do you need?
Ah-
[ He hurriedly weighs his options, limited as they are. Right. He cannot allow Alistair in, he'll notice...everything. He cannot leave Luccio to go down to the valley, but he could meet him halfway. ]
I will be walking her in the garden, later. We could see you there.
[ He hurriedly weighs his options, limited as they are. Right. He cannot allow Alistair in, he'll notice...everything. He cannot leave Luccio to go down to the valley, but he could meet him halfway. ]
I will be walking her in the garden, later. We could see you there.
That'll work.
[ It's weird—and he thinks through a dozen different scenarios, from the room being converted into a sex dungeon to Mia being a closed-door nudist, without coming anywhere close to the right one—but it will work.
And there's probably some coordination required to get Alistair all the way up the path at the same time Zevran and Doghren are in the gardens, but that's boring and I'm skipping it, all the way to the point where Alistair is holding Doghren like an infant and rubbing her belly himself, and looking at Zevran without any hiding a frown that's concerned and a little hurt. ]
Are you sure?
[ It's weird—and he thinks through a dozen different scenarios, from the room being converted into a sex dungeon to Mia being a closed-door nudist, without coming anywhere close to the right one—but it will work.
And there's probably some coordination required to get Alistair all the way up the path at the same time Zevran and Doghren are in the gardens, but that's boring and I'm skipping it, all the way to the point where Alistair is holding Doghren like an infant and rubbing her belly himself, and looking at Zevran without any hiding a frown that's concerned and a little hurt. ]
Are you sure?
[...but an envoy does come in his place, tapping lightly on the door as if unnerved to be here. ]
Monsieur Arainai, is it? Forgive me, I will not waste much of your time, but I have been instructed to deliver some items to you...if you are he that is.
[Is this the right place? He might almost be relieved if he'd gotten the location wrong.]
[Is this the right place? He might almost be relieved if he'd gotten the location wrong.]
Ah, naturally you would be curious Monsieur...the first is rather light.
[In fact it was a simple sack and the envoy opened it for Zevran to peruse. Everything in it was knitted and folded almost obsessively. Blankets with hoods and little pockets, mittens, small booties, little scarves, little hats.]
The second delivery is not quite as light.
[That the envoy managed to haul it up here himself says something about his determination, it is not a sack, but a wooden and copper chest. This he opens as well, and in the chest is a kings ransom in gold and silver or appears to be. Regardless it is quite a small fortune.]
As I said...[the envoy began, sounding almost world weary in the process]...not quite as light.
[In fact it was a simple sack and the envoy opened it for Zevran to peruse. Everything in it was knitted and folded almost obsessively. Blankets with hoods and little pockets, mittens, small booties, little scarves, little hats.]
The second delivery is not quite as light.
[That the envoy managed to haul it up here himself says something about his determination, it is not a sack, but a wooden and copper chest. This he opens as well, and in the chest is a kings ransom in gold and silver or appears to be. Regardless it is quite a small fortune.]
As I said...[the envoy began, sounding almost world weary in the process]...not quite as light.
[ As charming as every little knit item is- that it's for a child, that this envoy knows there is an infant in the room behind him, that he does not know this man, who sent him, or their intentions? Sloughs off the sleepy exhaustion from the day and has him wound tight in an instant.
Conversational as you please, Zevran murmurs. ]
Ah, who is it that sent you, again?
Conversational as you please, Zevran murmurs. ]
Ah, who is it that sent you, again?
Ah...and you have every right to be suspicious Monsieur, sadly I am not at liberty to say.
Normally I would have a bit more finesse than this but, alas, I do not have the time for such things.
[ It is a companionable hand he rests on the envoy's shoulder, a kind smile he wears, but there is a steel there. ]
If you wish to leave Skyhold with all of your parts? You will tell me.
[ It is a companionable hand he rests on the envoy's shoulder, a kind smile he wears, but there is a steel there. ]
If you wish to leave Skyhold with all of your parts? You will tell me.
[Kill the messenger, that is how it always is, yes? It seems as though such things happen even outside of Orlais...but he certainly did not come here to die...or lose anything.]
A man of ill repute, or so they have been whispering in court increasingly as of late...one who uses the name de Chevin.
[Honestly, take the gold and forget in his opinion.]
It is a name used by a man who means less and less, but the gold is certainly something.
A man of ill repute, or so they have been whispering in court increasingly as of late...one who uses the name de Chevin.
[Honestly, take the gold and forget in his opinion.]
It is a name used by a man who means less and less, but the gold is certainly something.
See, was that so difficult?
[ Michel. Michel knew. This man knew.
...
Obviously he is going to have to kill him. That goes without saying. But then it would be a mess, Lucci would likely wake from his nap and cry to find his papa in the hall scrubbing blood from the tiles-
It is, for the moment, too much trouble. ]
Take what you like of the gold and return the lot to this man of ill repute. I do not know why he thinks I've need of any of these things or his gold, but I do not.
[ Michel. Michel knew. This man knew.
...
Obviously he is going to have to kill him. That goes without saying. But then it would be a mess, Lucci would likely wake from his nap and cry to find his papa in the hall scrubbing blood from the tiles-
It is, for the moment, too much trouble. ]
Take what you like of the gold and return the lot to this man of ill repute. I do not know why he thinks I've need of any of these things or his gold, but I do not.
I would be obliged to take the lot if you are so keen to reject it. The offer is quite generous.
[Certainly opportunistic this man, though he is Orlesian and this is the whole of Michel's fortune.]
He will not be needing it where he will end up...a fortuitous ending for both you and I.
[Oh, but hauling it all back down will be an exercise in patience. The clothing and such he'd quite happily toss. Though it's not bad, it could be sold.]
[Certainly opportunistic this man, though he is Orlesian and this is the whole of Michel's fortune.]
He will not be needing it where he will end up...a fortuitous ending for both you and I.
[Oh, but hauling it all back down will be an exercise in patience. The clothing and such he'd quite happily toss. Though it's not bad, it could be sold.]
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