[ Zevran is busy with ledgers- which makes up most of his life between missions, diaper changes, and teaching his son new words as of late- but paying to feed both the Kestrels and Wardens is no simple matter.
So the whine is required and only then does he reach over to ruffle his hair gently. ]
[ For a moment Alistair doesn't answer, busy experiencing that weird mixture of satisfaction and embarrassment that occurs whenever obvious begging for attention is answered. ]
Belth assme t—
[ He stops because he doesn't know how to phrase exactly what it is Beleth asked him to do. Also because he realizes he probably isn't very easy to understand while talking into blankets. He turns his head sideways enough to clear his mouth and nose. ]
Beleth gave me a ring and said she wanted to be with me.
[ It is not terribly kind, Zevran's knee jerk reaction. It is horribly unkind, in fact, but he is a terrible person. Alistair knows this. It is nothing new
But it probably brings no comfort for Zevran to lose a moment or ten crackling with laughter. ]
Ah- she truly- I cannot believe I missed the signs.
[ He knows Zevran is occasionally a mean person. And he still doesn't like it. What bits of his face are visible crumple into a sullen glare at the laughter, before he turns his head back down, this time folding his arms under his forehead so there's still room to speak clearly. ]
I take it you handled things with your usual grace and that is why you are here, sulking and awkward.
[ Instead of humoring someone both A) far too young in so many ways and B) not suited to him in the slightest. Zevran slides from his chair to sit on the bed next to Alistair, combing his fingers through his hair. ]
Of course it didn't go well, [ Alistair complains into the bedding, as if this is somehow Zevran's fault, or the bed's— ] She cried. It was awful. And then I told her she shouldn't have wound herself up over it so much, and she was angry instead—which is better than the crying, I'll take it, but—
[ He sighs. Speaking of winding oneself up too much. Anyway, it's hard to stay wound when he's being petted. ]
How are you an ass, mm? [ Oh dear. He'll have to keep in mind Beleth's friends, people she might have spoken to of this thing, and sort out how to keep them from scowling at Alistair and making him feel worse. ] You let her down gently, she wept.
She is young, she feels things keenly, it is always the end of the world for them at such a time- she will recover. How have you done anything wrong in this?
She's said things. She wrote me a song, ages ago, but I thought she was joking. [ An anguished pause. ] I invited her to stay with me. I should have noticed. [ He lifts his head just so he can knock it back down against his arms in frustration. ] I'm not allowed out unsupervised anymore. Write it down.
You are not responsible for the emotions and whims of others, Alistair. Caring is well and good but how were you to know? She is not always the most open about what she feels or the most forthright when it comes to expressing them. The fault is not yours. Nor is the fault hers. It is unfortunate, but later you will both look back upon this moment and laugh.
[ He does sound like he feels better, though. Better enough to squirm around onto his back, with his head kept deliberately in petting range, and fish the ring she gave him out of his pocket.
It isn't fancy in the scheme of fancy things, but it's well-made. Fancy by the standards of people without a lot of money. There's a griffon on it. ]
What do I do with this? I don't want to make her cry again.
If you've no intention of courting her, you give it back. Gifts given as a sign of a certain manner of sentiment- should that sentiment not be returned? Are not to be kept. Either you can return it or I can return it, either way. I do not recommend keeping it.
If, perhaps, later she offers it to you in a gesture of friendship? By all means. Keep it.
[ He. didn't fully know not to keep it. That would have been his guess, though, if he hadn't had Zevran around to confirm it. ]
It's a little specific, that's all, unless she's going to start cycling through Wardens. If it would upset her to have it back I could sell it for her. [ Or: puppy eyes, even though Zevran already offered. ] Would you give it back? Or find out what she wants?
[ Zevran's hand continues to move through Alistair's hair, as soothing a gesture as he knows. Stepping forward to solve his problems for him-
Alistair is a man grown, this is his to mind. But Beleth is...something. A friend of sorts, he supposes, and she has been wounded in this enough for him to put forth the effort to smooth things over. ]
I'll speak to her tonight. Sooner is better than later.
Or maybe I'll go live alone in one of the outposts in Orlais, guarding the Deep Roads, and never speak to any women ever again.
[ He isn't serious. He isn't even serious about the jest; there's a tone he gets when he's making fun of himself or lecturing himself in the third person, stop whining, Alistair, no one cares, etc., and he has it now. ]
Or you could remain here and continue wooing your very fine Sabine with terrible puns, odd questions, and less than clumsy moments of true sincerity that often take people offguard. [ Maker knows he's stunned Zevran more than once with one of those too smooth, too honest comments. His heart was saved by the fact that, well.
Alistair is content on his side of the boarder. It leaves little room for hope and ambiguity of intent. ]
I have coin riding on your children being exceedingly ginger.
I won't be able to have any children. Any more children. [ Taint taint taint. There's a reason Morrigan couldn't have used Riordan despite his vast superiority to every other Warden present in every way. ] But if you get it up to fifteen, maybe Sabine can convince Sabine to disappear for a few months and come back with a ginger baby.
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no subject
Date: 2016-10-23 02:29 am (UTC)So the whine is required and only then does he reach over to ruffle his hair gently. ]
What is it, Cucciolo?
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Date: 2016-10-23 02:45 am (UTC)Belth assme t—
[ He stops because he doesn't know how to phrase exactly what it is Beleth asked him to do. Also because he realizes he probably isn't very easy to understand while talking into blankets. He turns his head sideways enough to clear his mouth and nose. ]
Beleth gave me a ring and said she wanted to be with me.
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Date: 2016-10-23 03:05 am (UTC)But it probably brings no comfort for Zevran to lose a moment or ten crackling with laughter. ]
Ah- she truly- I cannot believe I missed the signs.
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Date: 2016-10-23 03:13 am (UTC)You're an ass.
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Date: 2016-10-23 03:18 am (UTC)[ Instead of humoring someone both A) far too young in so many ways and B) not suited to him in the slightest. Zevran slides from his chair to sit on the bed next to Alistair, combing his fingers through his hair. ]
It did not go well, Mm?
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Date: 2016-10-23 03:38 am (UTC)[ He sighs. Speaking of winding oneself up too much. Anyway, it's hard to stay wound when he's being petted. ]
I'm an ass.
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Date: 2016-10-23 03:40 am (UTC)She is young, she feels things keenly, it is always the end of the world for them at such a time- she will recover. How have you done anything wrong in this?
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Date: 2016-10-23 04:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-23 04:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-23 05:38 am (UTC)[ He does sound like he feels better, though. Better enough to squirm around onto his back, with his head kept deliberately in petting range, and fish the ring she gave him out of his pocket.
It isn't fancy in the scheme of fancy things, but it's well-made. Fancy by the standards of people without a lot of money. There's a griffon on it. ]
What do I do with this? I don't want to make her cry again.
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Date: 2016-10-23 07:07 am (UTC)If, perhaps, later she offers it to you in a gesture of friendship? By all means. Keep it.
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Date: 2016-10-23 07:40 am (UTC)[ He. didn't fully know not to keep it. That would have been his guess, though, if he hadn't had Zevran around to confirm it. ]
It's a little specific, that's all, unless she's going to start cycling through Wardens. If it would upset her to have it back I could sell it for her. [ Or: puppy eyes, even though Zevran already offered. ] Would you give it back? Or find out what she wants?
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Date: 2016-10-23 07:42 am (UTC)Alistair is a man grown, this is his to mind. But Beleth is...something. A friend of sorts, he supposes, and she has been wounded in this enough for him to put forth the effort to smooth things over. ]
I'll speak to her tonight. Sooner is better than later.
[ He reaches down, plucking up the ring. ]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-23 08:00 am (UTC)Thanks, Zev.
[ He figures the fact that he owes him goes without saying. He'll change a diaper or something. ]
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Date: 2016-10-23 08:03 am (UTC)[ He spoils Alistair, truly. And yet he cannot quite find it in himself to help it- spoiling one's family is what one does-
Along with mock them regularly. It feels like repayment enough for his more mean spirited barbs. ]
Give it time. You will both feel less horrible later.
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Date: 2016-10-23 08:10 am (UTC)[ Probably. ]
Or maybe I'll go live alone in one of the outposts in Orlais, guarding the Deep Roads, and never speak to any women ever again.
[ He isn't serious. He isn't even serious about the jest; there's a tone he gets when he's making fun of himself or lecturing himself in the third person, stop whining, Alistair, no one cares, etc., and he has it now. ]
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Date: 2016-10-23 08:15 am (UTC)Alistair is content on his side of the boarder. It leaves little room for hope and ambiguity of intent. ]
I have coin riding on your children being exceedingly ginger.
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Date: 2016-10-23 03:45 pm (UTC)Not much coin, I hope?
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Date: 2016-10-24 12:03 am (UTC)[ Never forget that, Alistair. ]
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Date: 2016-10-24 01:18 am (UTC)I won't be able to have any children. Any more children. [ Taint taint taint. There's a reason Morrigan couldn't have used Riordan despite his vast superiority to every other Warden present in every way. ] But if you get it up to fifteen, maybe Sabine can convince Sabine to disappear for a few months and come back with a ginger baby.
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Date: 2016-10-26 12:15 am (UTC)[ He ruffles Alistair's hair affectionately. ]
You and she are, after all, worth it. And I would split the profits with you both accordingly.