Of course. You're part of Riftwatch. We're bound to protect one another. And even if that weren't the case, I'd not have left you behind.
[Deferring this awkward gratitude will not help. Graceful acceptance is surely better.]
The next time you decide to make a run at danger, please let me know and I'll clear my schedule. Though I do get the sense that you're not helpless. What with the arrow-shooting. [Which happened at a terribly inopportune moment, yes, but let's move on for now.] And that you've made friends enough to have a whole pack willing to offer you assistance, so much so that you hardly need me, but still.
[Astarion huffs faintly, his position indefensible (he can certainly opt to be petty enough to dig in his heels all the same), though despite all lesser urges, he lets go almost as soon as he starts to bite.]
Mph. You have a point. Maybe. Possibly.
At any rate there's no use dwelling on the past: we've all learned our lessons now, and I'll be happy not to need to drag you off griffonback any time soon. Or...ever.
Good. You're quite pretty, I'd hate to see that ruined for you.
[Just an obvious fact.]
It's very convenient having healers around. Their ratio to the standing body of Riftwatch is smaller than a quartermaster would like, but they exceed expectations as far as I can tell. Personally, I didn't sustain any significant injuries--there was a brief scuffle with some scouts, and I had my share of scrapes and a bruised rib--but I came out all right.
Honestly I'm a bit worried for Barrow, but he seems to be managing all right, so perhaps I shouldn't be.
[On her end, Tiffany gives a fond eyeroll. Who would have guessed that flattery would be appreciated; what a surprise.]
To our benefit, certainly. But I'm glad to hear that. I've thought to seek him out and check on him for myself, only I wasn't entirely sure how it would go.
[Well. She takes a small pause to consider how to put this.]
I'm not sure how interested you will be. As a Rifter. I don't mean that dismissively, only that there are parts of Thedas not as compelling or applicable, politically and all.
[That actually makes Tiffany laugh--quietly, but still.]
The beginning is a rather long way back. I don't know if you're quite that bored.
I'm a Seeker of Truth. My order was part of the original Inquisition, which came into being after the First Blight. In the twentieth year of the Divine Age, the Chantry--which was still very small in those days--convinced the Inquisition to unite under the banner of the Maker. The Nevarran Accord was signed, and the Chantry and the Inquisition jointly created the Circle of Magi, and established the Templar Order as wardens for the Circle and guardians of the mages. And under the Accord, senior members of the Inquisition formed the Seekers of Truth.
We are the right hand of the Divine and serve as the Chantry's investigators. And as a result, we are often distrusted--by Templars, mages, and even by common folk--or at least we aren't fully embraced. Which is understandable, of course, but does make relationships rather difficult.
[Thankfully she can't see his expression, given their current means of communication. She won't know he's listening, rapt, and making note of every detail, rather than playing at his own usual carefree facade.
His own secret to keep.]
Mm. [Light, that little hum. Airy.] Well, call me lamentably meddlesome, but considering the way he looked at you, I don't think you have all that much to worry about.
—actually considering your face in general, I imagine you must be very disarming.
[Flattery or truth, sometimes they're one and the same.] But still, it must be awfully lonely for you at times. Standing apart from all the rest.
[Ladies don't blush. Ladies are trained to hold their composure no matter what is being said to them, or of them. And a Seeker's training requires more discipline still, a marshaling of the face so masterful it would mean winning several hands of Wicked Grace.
Yet. Still. Which means that, gracefully, she must deflect.]
I think you had suffered a great many injuries and weren't in a place where you could now be recollecting how anyone was looking at me. But thank you all the same.
I wouldn't call it lonely, necessarily. There are others in my Order. Before I came to Riftwatch, I was living among them, training newer recruits. And there's always Andraste, and the Maker.
Oh yes, Andraste, the Maker, very talkative, both. Perfectly lovely company and just the absolute best substitute for normal, reciprocative relationships with other living beings.
Just because they've never talked to you doesn't make them poor company.
[--said lightly, though. She's not hearing voices, thanks.]
And I do have relationships with other living beings, obviously. There are some who think that Seekers ought to remain aloof, so that they might better remain impartial on issues and investigations and judgments that they're asked to be involved in. I've never agreed with that. I think our place is among people.
I don’t think we’d have all that much to talk about, anyway, the three of us.
[Equally as light. Clearly this is all in good fun.
Or— just fun, at least.]
But you know, I can’t help but agree with you there: impartiality’s all well and good as a concept on paper or in theory, but pull back from the picture too much and....
Well, you won’t be able to see a damned thing.
And I should know. I was a magistrate in my own world. Back before—
[He stops there, catching his own instinctive impulse.]
[Oh. Under the very real and logical impression that Astarion's small pause is to do with feelings about having been sucked through a Rift and deposited into the middle of a war in Thedas--]
I didn't know that about you. Or expect it, really, if I'm honest. And I try always to be honest.
[Still light, that, but there's a spark of genuine curiosity now.]
Was that your style, during your service? Rubbing elbows with the people?
My style was doing whatever it took to ensure the jewel of a city that was Baldur's Gate never suffered unnecessarily. True, that meant I wasn't always popular outside of the higher social circles, but common folk rarely know what's good for them to begin with. Their worldview is too narrow.
To compare it with my prior metaphor, I suppose they've got their noses in the paint.
So you made decisions for people, for their own good? And you didn't mind being unpopular for it? I would think that would be troubling for most people. Who doesn't like to be liked?
You're quite convincing--and quite sturdy besides, if our mission is anything to go by. But you've already said that you agree with me, that being among people is the best way to lead and judge and measure and understand them. So I don't think you're telling entire truths here.
[He shouldn’t be surprised. In fact, he isn’t— although it does necessitate tipping his hand by way of offering her at least some small fragment of his truer self.
What he thinks. What he believes.
A sacrifice, yes, but a far better one than confessing the rest of his grim, monstrous facets.]
But no, I suppose reality is a little more nuanced than what I’ve been promising. Less entertaining, too, though it’s your choice if you want me to speak from the boring, undazzling heart.
Because in reality, you do get close. Make friends, contacts, acquaintances— whatever you want to call it— and then you make damn well sure that no matter how they pull on your heartstrings or lull you with the kindness of their company, you don’t fall into the trap of caring too much. Or too hard.
[--a brief final moment of that dazzling lightness, before she settles into listening once more and the boring heart of it all.]
I suppose I understand what you mean. But I would argue that friendship--company, companionship, whatever you'd like to call it--is worth risk and even the occasional bitter end. What else do we have in this life but those we surround ourselves with?
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2021-08-22 04:43 am (UTC)[Deferring this awkward gratitude will not help. Graceful acceptance is surely better.]
The next time you decide to make a run at danger, please let me know and I'll clear my schedule. Though I do get the sense that you're not helpless. What with the arrow-shooting. [Which happened at a terribly inopportune moment, yes, but let's move on for now.] And that you've made friends enough to have a whole pack willing to offer you assistance, so much so that you hardly need me, but still.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-23 03:26 am (UTC)[Astarion huffs faintly, his position indefensible (he can certainly opt to be petty enough to dig in his heels all the same), though despite all lesser urges, he lets go almost as soon as he starts to bite.]
Mph. You have a point. Maybe. Possibly.
At any rate there's no use dwelling on the past: we've all learned our lessons now, and I'll be happy not to need to drag you off griffonback any time soon. Or...ever.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-23 04:25 am (UTC)Don't worry. I won't be going near the griffons for quite some time. I'm not ready.
You've made a full recovery, then? Nothing to complain about?
no subject
Date: 2021-08-23 04:32 am (UTC)[Lucky. All of it had been so impossibly lucky— enough that dwelling on it inspires an urge to forget it. Eagerly.]
But what about you, my dear? You were the one doing all the heavy lifting, so to speak.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-23 11:46 pm (UTC)[Just an obvious fact.]
It's very convenient having healers around. Their ratio to the standing body of Riftwatch is smaller than a quartermaster would like, but they exceed expectations as far as I can tell. Personally, I didn't sustain any significant injuries--there was a brief scuffle with some scouts, and I had my share of scrapes and a bruised rib--but I came out all right.
Honestly I'm a bit worried for Barrow, but he seems to be managing all right, so perhaps I shouldn't be.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-25 08:04 am (UTC)[Oh.
Somewhere across the line, you can almost hear the silent sound of dark eyelashes fluttering in flattered approval.]
Mm? Oh, yes, of course. You're right not to let the thought weigh on you, though. Last I checked he seemed to be in almost insufferably high spirits.
The man's a difficult beast to fell, apparently.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-26 12:14 am (UTC)To our benefit, certainly. But I'm glad to hear that. I've thought to seek him out and check on him for myself, only I wasn't entirely sure how it would go.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-26 03:21 am (UTC)...no? Why is that?
I thought you two were getting along rather well, after all.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-26 04:51 pm (UTC)[Well. She takes a small pause to consider how to put this.]
I'm not sure how interested you will be. As a Rifter. I don't mean that dismissively, only that there are parts of Thedas not as compelling or applicable, politically and all.
no subject
Date: 2021-08-26 08:45 pm (UTC)There's nothing I love like a good bit of drama, darling. Or at the very least, a story. Anything to keep from being bored.
Tell me everything. And start at the beginning.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-23 05:01 am (UTC)The beginning is a rather long way back. I don't know if you're quite that bored.
I'm a Seeker of Truth. My order was part of the original Inquisition, which came into being after the First Blight. In the twentieth year of the Divine Age, the Chantry--which was still very small in those days--convinced the Inquisition to unite under the banner of the Maker. The Nevarran Accord was signed, and the Chantry and the Inquisition jointly created the Circle of Magi, and established the Templar Order as wardens for the Circle and guardians of the mages. And under the Accord, senior members of the Inquisition formed the Seekers of Truth.
We are the right hand of the Divine and serve as the Chantry's investigators. And as a result, we are often distrusted--by Templars, mages, and even by common folk--or at least we aren't fully embraced. Which is understandable, of course, but does make relationships rather difficult.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-23 05:13 am (UTC)His own secret to keep.]
Mm. [Light, that little hum. Airy.] Well, call me lamentably meddlesome, but considering the way he looked at you, I don't think you have all that much to worry about.
—actually considering your face in general, I imagine you must be very disarming.
[Flattery or truth, sometimes they're one and the same.] But still, it must be awfully lonely for you at times. Standing apart from all the rest.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-29 04:08 am (UTC)[Ladies don't blush. Ladies are trained to hold their composure no matter what is being said to them, or of them. And a Seeker's training requires more discipline still, a marshaling of the face so masterful it would mean winning several hands of Wicked Grace.
Yet. Still. Which means that, gracefully, she must deflect.]
I think you had suffered a great many injuries and weren't in a place where you could now be recollecting how anyone was looking at me. But thank you all the same.
I wouldn't call it lonely, necessarily. There are others in my Order. Before I came to Riftwatch, I was living among them, training newer recruits. And there's always Andraste, and the Maker.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-30 03:35 am (UTC)Oh yes, Andraste, the Maker, very talkative, both. Perfectly lovely company and just the absolute best substitute for normal, reciprocative relationships with other living beings.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-30 03:52 am (UTC)[--said lightly, though. She's not hearing voices, thanks.]
And I do have relationships with other living beings, obviously. There are some who think that Seekers ought to remain aloof, so that they might better remain impartial on issues and investigations and judgments that they're asked to be involved in. I've never agreed with that. I think our place is among people.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-30 04:34 am (UTC)I don’t think we’d have all that much to talk about, anyway, the three of us.
[Equally as light. Clearly this is all in good fun.
Or— just fun, at least.]
But you know, I can’t help but agree with you there: impartiality’s all well and good as a concept on paper or in theory, but pull back from the picture too much and....
Well, you won’t be able to see a damned thing.
And I should know. I was a magistrate in my own world. Back before—
[He stops there, catching his own instinctive impulse.]
Before all this.
no subject
Date: 2021-09-30 11:24 pm (UTC)I didn't know that about you. Or expect it, really, if I'm honest. And I try always to be honest.
[Still light, that, but there's a spark of genuine curiosity now.]
Was that your style, during your service? Rubbing elbows with the people?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-01 03:51 am (UTC)[Don't be a dick, Astarion.]
My style was doing whatever it took to ensure the jewel of a city that was Baldur's Gate never suffered unnecessarily. True, that meant I wasn't always popular outside of the higher social circles, but common folk rarely know what's good for them to begin with. Their worldview is too narrow.
To compare it with my prior metaphor, I suppose they've got their noses in the paint.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-02 07:57 pm (UTC)So you made decisions for people, for their own good? And you didn't mind being unpopular for it? I would think that would be troubling for most people. Who doesn't like to be liked?
no subject
Date: 2021-10-02 08:19 pm (UTC)[The way he says it, he might indeed be fanning fingers through his own locks at present, in fact.]
But all teasing aside, I didn't need anyone else. I still don't.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-03 05:58 pm (UTC)Speaking of 'awfully lonely'--
[--well, that.]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-04 01:57 am (UTC)[That, and he’s lying. Ironically to a Seeker of Truth, but that’s neither here nor there, at present.
He likes her.
And because he likes her, it’s better that she doesn’t know too much. Or anything at all, in fact.]
no subject
Date: 2021-10-05 05:45 pm (UTC)You're quite convincing--and quite sturdy besides, if our mission is anything to go by. But you've already said that you agree with me, that being among people is the best way to lead and judge and measure and understand them. So I don't think you're telling entire truths here.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-06 10:39 am (UTC)I suppose you are a Seeker after all.
[He shouldn’t be surprised. In fact, he isn’t— although it does necessitate tipping his hand by way of offering her at least some small fragment of his truer self.
What he thinks. What he believes.
A sacrifice, yes, but a far better one than confessing the rest of his grim, monstrous facets.]
But no, I suppose reality is a little more nuanced than what I’ve been promising. Less entertaining, too, though it’s your choice if you want me to speak from the boring, undazzling heart.
Because in reality, you do get close. Make friends, contacts, acquaintances— whatever you want to call it— and then you make damn well sure that no matter how they pull on your heartstrings or lull you with the kindness of their company, you don’t fall into the trap of caring too much. Or too hard.
Believe me, it never ends well.
no subject
Date: 2021-10-07 12:31 am (UTC)[--a brief final moment of that dazzling lightness, before she settles into listening once more and the boring heart of it all.]
I suppose I understand what you mean. But I would argue that friendship--company, companionship, whatever you'd like to call it--is worth risk and even the occasional bitter end. What else do we have in this life but those we surround ourselves with?
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