CRYSTAL | MISS ME, DARLINGS?

[illithidnapped]

FORM: sending crystals, during the truth event, you know what to do
SENDER: your favorite rogue, Astarion xoxo
RECIPIENT: as always, everyone
NOTES: if you drank Truth Soup, cough up your feelings; if you didn't drink the soup, make it worse for everyone, I dare you

[Someone's bored tonight. And it's been over a year since the last time he felt restlessness stirring him into needling action— particularly when he's noticed a couple of blurted-out confessions running high and harsh in the air. He could sleuth around. Sniff about for any signs of volatile tampering (or ask if this is just the next phase of whatever sleepless affliction's still nipping at everyone's collective heels)....

But this is so much more fun.

Anyway— ahem, and all that:]

Name one thing you like about someone else in Riftwatch. Anything. Anything at all.

Bonus points if you feel like getting weird with it.

[And don't think he's generous enough to actually start this game himself: that, you're all going to have to do on your own.

Or maybe just ask nicely.]

Comments

2/2 just know this warning lives eternal

[illithidnapped]

[Oh.

Hello.]

Really? I always thought it'd be the other way around, in regards to who has the award-winning tongue.

...or throat.

[No, you know what? For once, he's fine with blurting out his own thoughts.]

[cozen]

We have never competed head to head—

[ Is a joke on purpose. ]

—but—no.

I don't want to talk about this in front of everyone I work with. That is awful. This is awful. You come out and play cards with me sometime, and we can talk about it then.

[bouchonne]

Invite me too.

[cozen]

Of course.

We could take Astarion and his man out for an evening.

[ Never mind that By and Bastien are younger than them and neither Astarion nor Fenris need any help finding their way around Kirkwall. They would still be the ones doing the taking-out. That’s just how it is. ]

[bouchonne]

Teach them how to party.

[illithidnapped]

[Never expect him not to laugh at that particular sort of joke— or to sulk when he can't have the menacing joy of convincing you both to spill all your secrets right where everyone else can hear. But fine. As always, he'll survive.

Also: he's coming back to that party comment, thank you very much.]

You? Take us both out for an entire evening together?

[Hmm.]

With what money?

[bouchonne]

[ He struggles, then sighs in frustration. ]

I really wanted to make a joke that I'd embezzle Diplomacy funds. But I would never.

[cozen]

You would never.

Fortunately, I have money. [ A decent amount, since he liquidated his Val Royeaux assets, but— ] That is the second best benefit of living in this hideous, claustrophobic fortress. If your friends are very charming, you can afford to spend a month’s rent entertaining them.

[ ONE month’s rent. The other several years’ worth of rent is in the bank and not coming out. ]

[bouchonne]

[ Oh. ]

What's the first best benefit?

[cozen]

Having access to you in the middle of the night.

[ The sap, it drips. ]

Third best is the library.

[bouchonne]

[ A gasp of delight. ]

I beat the library?

[cozen]

The library and the money.

[ He’s a nerd, but he’s also a nerd who murdered people for coin, so like. ]

[bouchonne]

[ Ahhh. ]

You make Kirkwall bearable.

[illithidnapped]

[His scoff is feather light.]

Gods.

[cozen]

[ —right, Astarion is also here. Bastien cuts himself off midway through the first syllable of his flirty response to By to instead say, sheepishly, ]

So you will come out with us, non? Since we can afford to treat you right.

[illithidnapped]

I will.

[Ah, but:]

We will.

[doggish]

His man.

[It's amused.]

And where would you propose we go?

[cozen]

Anywhere.

If we want to make sure we aren’t hassled, maybe the Creeping Ivy?

[ Somewhere elves go frequently enough that only their lyrium tattoos and red eyes would get second looks. ]

Or we can risk the hassling.

[illithidnapped]

Fenris is a private soul. [This is true. However:] He might enjoy something gentle and tame.

So safe and serene it'll be downright boring.

[ —Astarion is absolutely using one entirely unrelated truth as a means to tease without actually lying.]

[doggish]

[Icon keywords aren't not relevant, but also, this face shot at him from across their bedrooms. Sir. Please.]

[illithidnapped]

[cozen]

Really?

[ doubt.gif competing with his absolute certainty that Astarion did not escape the soup. ]

That is your type?

[illithidnapped]

...mmph.

[Unfair, Bastien. Clever creature.]

No.

[doggish]

As if we are not hassled enough as-is. I do not need another person hissing knife-ear at either us while we get drinks.

The Creeping Ivy is . . . tolerable. Still:]

What do you seek in a tavern, anyway?

[cozen]

Seating.

[ Ha, ha.

The answer used to be drinks, obviously, but Byerly has given that up, so Bastien has, too. Mostly. Definitely when Byerly's there. ]

And a surface for cards. People to watch and gossip about and talk to. Music, if we are lucky.

Not your scene?