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[ombranera]

I will write back as soon as possible.

Regards, Zevran

Comments

sometime

[ombranera]

It does not work like that for men like me, Alistair.

sometime

[byblow]

What's that supposed to mean?

sometime

[ombranera]

...I am not someone people come to love. Not when they know me.

sometime

[byblow]

That's stupid, Zevran. I know you, and if I--you know--I'd have made you marry me ages ago. In a Chantry. A Chantry full of flowers and fainting, scandalized Sisters.

sometime

[ombranera]

You know- well. More than anyone else living. [ More than anyone else he'd ever had this close save Rinna. ] Not everyone is near so forgiving.

sometime

[byblow]

I'm not forgiving. When His Absent Highness turns up I'm going to shove him in a ravine and leave him there for the bears, and if Loghain--

[ He still kind of wants to kill him. Is he allowed to kill him? He clears his throat instead of letting himself get sidetracked and angry. ]

You're a good man. That's something you're just going to have to accept. I'm sorry--I know you have your reputation and all of that, but facts are facts.

sometime

[ombranera]

...I do not know if you are being sincere or if you are delusional- no. No, it is you. Of course you are being sincere.

[ He sighs, weary and long suffering. ]

There is nothing I can say that might deter you from that notion, is there?

sometime

[byblow]

You might be able to convince me that the last eleven years were an elaborate ruse, but only by actually killing me.

sometime

[ombranera]

I gave my word I would only kill you if you asked it of me.

sometime

[byblow]

And you'll keep it, because you're a good man.

[ He wins. He also sighs. ]

If I ask you to anytime soon, make sure I'm actually corrupted and not just that sick of this blighted song. [ A pause. ] Ha. Blighted.

sometime

[ombranera]

I know the signs as well as you, Alistair.

[ He dreads seeing them every day. ]

If you need a new song to listen to, I've picked up a few from Antiva that are quite amusing.

sometime

[byblow]

That sounds amazing. I do need. Please.

sometime - this is my proudest moment

[ombranera]

Give me a moment to find my lute- ah, there it is.

The translation into Common is a little clumsy, so forgive any hiccups in rhyme or rhythm.

[ He picks out a rather upbeat melody, launching right into the meat (ha) of the song. ]

I like big butts and I can not lie
You other Elvhan can't deny
That when a girl rides in with an itty bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get firm, wanna pull out your tough
'Cause you see that ass was stuffed
Deep in the leathers she's wearing
I'm hooked and I cannot stop staring
Oh bella, I wanna talk with ya
And take your measure
My amicos tried to warn me
But that butt you got makes me so warm see
Ooh, Rump-o'-smooth-skin
You say you wanna get on my Stallion?
Well, use me, use me
'Cause you aren't that average floozy
I've seen them dancin'
To hell with romancin'
She's sweat, wet,
Got it goin' like a small tempeste
I'm tired of nobility
Sayin' flat figures are the thing
Take the average Rivian man and ask him that
She gotta pack much back
So, Amicos! (Si!) Amicos! (Si!)
Has your lover got the butt? (Shit yeah!)
Tell 'em to shake it! (Shake it!) Shake it! (Shake it!)
Shake that healthy butt!
Bella got back!

sometime

[byblow]

[ Alistair started laughing, muffled behind his hand, about three and a half lines in and doesn't manage to stop for any significant length of time for the rest of the song. Or after it. He briefly tries to say something and then laughs more. He's probably broken for good. ]

sometime

[ombranera]

[ And there is the payoff. Even without being there he can easily see Alistair doubled over in laughter, how he clutches at himself to stop shaking, the smiling, the crinkles by his eyes. Something that needs to happen a little more often, this laughter.

Zevran strums through the bridge and smirks through the rest, doubly pleased. He's still picking at a random arrangement while Alistair tries to learn to speak again. He can wait. ]

sometime

[byblow]

[ It takes a while. His first few attempts consist of trying to repeat back lines from the song, which only makes him laugh again. It's a little manic from sleep deprivation, maybe, but mostly genuine amusement. Eventually he steadies enough to talk for real, though he's still huffing a little. ]

When all this is over-- [ the whole demon rips in the air thing, and the Calling, allow him his optimism for a moment ] --we're keeping these crystal things.

sometime

[ombranera]

Payment for services rendered. It is only just. Though, depending on how this particular adventure goes, I may just wander about with you for a time afterward.

sometime

[byblow]

Really?

[ It's the same tone he used to take when Cousland gave him presents. ]

What about your Ombra Nera-ing?

sometime

[ombranera]

The thing about paranoid men, Alistair, is that when something happens? They are satisfied in knowing they are correct. When nothing happens, and nothing happens for a long, long while? They wind themselves into knots trying to figure out what they've missed. Several masters of House Arainai I simply did not have the time or means to get to before coming here did the work for me, preferring that to whatever torments they imagine me capable of.

Then again, they did train me, so they would know.

Re: sometime

[byblow]

Well, that's one way to...

[ He doesn't actually feel sorry for the Masters. The little he knows about how Zevran was treated is plenty to make him agree they should be dead. But. ]

You aren't tormenting them, are you?

sometime

[ombranera]

Do you want an honest answer to that?

sometime

[byblow]

No, I guess not. [ He's quiet for a moment, then brightens. ] I could ask to be assigned to the north for a while, so you don't freeze. After this I think I'll have earned that much.

sometime

[ombranera]

I could show you some of the sights- are there Grey Wardens in need of your very fine self in Antiva? I think you have earned that.

sometime

[byblow]

If the world doesn't end, I can probably go wherever I want. There won't be another Blight for a hundred years at least. There's nothing for us to do until then but make sure we don't die out. And I have seniority now over a lot of people. I'm very old in Warden years. [ Pause. ] Probably not as old as you are in Crow years.

sometime

[ombranera]

Most Crows are either dead or masters by twenty seven. Were I still of them I'd likely be a grandmaster now- well. If they could get over the fact that I am an elven son of a whore.