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[ombranera]

I will write back as soon as possible.

Regards, Zevran

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action (the triumphant return of midnight talks with zevran and alistair)

[byblow]

[ He doesn't wake Zevran up this time! Nope. The actual real-life baby wakes Zevran up, and Alistair is half-awake and useless until Lucci has been calmed and quieted and settled back down to sleep--then suddenly wide awake, because that's how these things work, and asking: ]

Zev? Wouldn't Mia like to come stay with you?

[ It's not about wildlife, at least. ]

[ombranera]

But of course, Leliana, all you need do is ask.

OMG YAY

[ombranera]

[ After shushing and feeding and changing and cradling all done in a half awake daze, Zevran's settled once again himself to sleep-

And Alistair speaks.

But of Course. ]

I have never thought to ask. This is a house of Wardens and Assassins and- normally- no place for a lady. But she is no Lady, my Mia. She is a Lioness...and she needs to be close to her family. Cullen worries her so.

[byblow]

[ Alistair makes a grumbly noise that doesn't mean anything, or maybe means something so complicated--I suppose it makes sense for her to worry about her brother but I don't care for him myself, especially not as much as I care for you, so I can't approve of her being up there for his sake instead of down here for yours, but, also, do not really blame her and do not want to argue--that it's just easier if we say it doesn't mean anything. ]

You're serious about her, though, aren't you? When-- [ if, but shh ] --this is all over, you'll keep on?

[ombranera]

I-

[ Well. If he must put words to it. If he must explain how he thinks forward in so much that he doesn't, he hasn't had to, it's not his way. Assassins plan things day to day. Anyone else he'd offer a line but this? This is his brother. ]

Honestly have not thought that far ahead. If she would have me; if she would have us? Yes. I think.

[byblow]

[ Does Thedas have the "Sitting In A Tree" rhyme? It does now, because Alistair is humming it. ]

[ombranera]

[ Zevran has an elbow to spare- one that he jams into Alistair's ribs as best he can without jostling the baby. ]

You are such a child. When will you and Sabine get your nonsense finished so I might mock you over your sentiments, mm?

[byblow]

[ The jamming elbow catches him on his hummed first comes and turns it into a half-laugh burst of an exhale, which is just as well, since to make the song accurate for Zevran and Mia he'd have to rearrange it a little.

But-- ]

I don't know what you're talking about. [ Airily. But he's a bad liar. ] We're talking about Mia. And how if she does want to come down, you can't say no because of me.

[ombranera]

The bed is this large for a reason, Alistair.

[ Mia will...either adjust or make certain he keeps to his side if he wishes to crawl in. Explaining the nuances of their relationship will be difficult if only because he doesn't know...how to describe it. ]

We might all fit on just as well- or you would have room at the foot of the bed.

[byblow]

I'm serious.

[ Is Zevran also serious? He can't tell. It isn't entirely outside the realm of possibility for Alistair to sleep on their feet like a mabari. ]

[ombranera]

Why would I not be as well?

[ He stills a moment as Lucci fusses, curling deeper against his chest. ]

I am past the days of having wild orgies, this bed? Is for sleeping.

[byblow]

In that case I'm definitely out.

[ He is no longer serious. Was no longer serious; he is already switching back to his serious voice. ]

She could be around more than me. For Lucci.

[ombranera]

You are not.

[ He snorts a soft laugh, shifting to tuck his cheek against Alistair's shoulder. ] He needs his uncle as much as he needs her.

[byblow]

I won't always be around. I mean— [ He doesn't even mean dying. The Wardens will need rebuilding, darkspawn will need killing. But he abandons that train of thought, because it's depressing and he doesn't want to argue. ] If you do ever need me to stay somewhere else, I promise I won't cry or ah—throw any precious heirlooms at walls. This time.

[ombranera]

Enough of this talk. [ Careful as to not jostle his son, Zevran shifts enough to be curled half on top of Alistair, as is his custom. Draped upon him much like a cat. ] You have as much a right to my bed as Mia- she is Fereldan. She understands these things. You belong here, with us. We are family. Why is it that I am the one that is most certain about this?

[byblow]

I'm not uncertain. I'm just—

[ His tone is just as defensive as if Zevran had called him a liar or a thief, but it's followed shortly by a relenting noise and an arm hooked up around him. He doesn't want to talk about his stupid feelings. ]

What do you get when you cross a rabbit and a frog?

[pinprick]

I suppose I would have the final say in any disagreement, but you are free to command him. [Nathaniel composes himself a little, the blush going down, his expression evening.] He wants that.

THE THING

[onlyhymns]

At an arranged place and time-- let's say the Herald's Rest, since the tower is less neutral-- Cade sits and waits for Zevran, a cup of tea sitting in front of him untouched as he lightly drums his fingers on the table.
He's actually a little dressed up for the occasion, no doubt having wanted to make a good impression for their first time actually having a real conversation since... well, since he walked out.

THE THING IN THE PLACE

[ombranera]

As agreed Lucci is not present for this talk- squirreled away in Alistair's care at the moment while Zevran speaks to Cade. It's a quiet night, surprisingly enough, and the attention to his appearance does not go unremarked upon. Between that and the jokes-

Well.

There is some hope for him yet. "You are looking well."

Re: THE THING IN THE PLACE

[onlyhymns]

Cade still looks just about as nervous as ever, but he manages a small smile when Zevran greets him. "..thank you," he says, looking down at the table for a moment, then he forces his gaze back up again.
"I just, um. I wanted to..." He trails off, all of his rehearsed words flying out of his brain the moment he starts to use them. "...to um... make things right."

[ombranera]

"Something has to be wrong for things to be made right." Zevran shrugs, waving off the matter with a flick of his wrist. "We had a system, it failed to suit you any longer, we let it go. Such is the way of things. In its absence I should say you haven't fallen apart- which is a pleasant surprise. Telling Jokes? That's good, Cade. And you have done this on your own for the most part from what I understand."

[onlyhymns]

Well... that's a point. Cade hadn't considered that.
"...it didn't fail," he protests nonetheless, "... I did." He doesn't necessarily regret standing firm on his terms, but the memory of that night sends a shudder through him regardless. It's true, he hasn't fallen apart. And, more or less, he's done it on his own. But some old habits die hard, such as... well, having his personality.
"Thank you," he says again, smiling a little nonetheless, beginning to lose confidence in how to proceed. Then he looks down, with a nod to nothing in particular.
"I just... I shouldn't have left the way I did. You were trying. And you didn't have to."

[ombranera]

"If you say so." Zevran- honestly- doesn't care on who or how things failed. Something did and it isn't needed, obviously. As such he's been content to keep his distance, lest his presence set something off in Cade.

Which- it hasn't. Hurrah for Cade!

"To be perfectly frank- you are the first person to realize I don't care about a great deal of what goes on in Skyhold. No fool you- but I considered it some manner of preemptive damage control. It is no longer needed which is- to your benefit, I think. More than looking well- you are well. It's...good too see." Alistair cares. That is enough to hold his interest.

[onlyhymns]

Cade looks surprised. Not at Zevran's confession-- it's true, he'd figured that out-- but at the assertion that he's well. He supposes he never saw or felt the transition, but in a way, he can understand where it's coming from.
Or at least, he would if he didn't feel so hideously behind and below everyone else. But that's not something one solves overnight.
"Well I--..." he begins, and halts as usual, clearly unsure of how to proceed. His face reddens despite how well he composes himself otherwise, and he takes on a vaguely frustrated expression, the sort that appears only when he's fully aware of how impossibly awkward he's being.
"...I'm not sure it's. Not." He chews the inside of his cheek, resisting the urge to bolt. "I don't know. Never mind."

[ombranera]

"Oh?" Unlike before when it'd been idle- droll, almost bored? Zevran actually leans forward. He may not care, but Alistair does. Cade is making strides, small ones. But even small steps can be significant. "Take a sip of your tea, Cade."

It's not the voice in which he gives orders, but it is a suggestion. "I do not judge. You know this. I have to care to judge."

There's something...liberating in admitting that. "Why do you think you might need another round with the lash after all this time?"