therookery | (no subject)

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FORM: Sending crystal.
SENDER: Twisted Fate.
RECIPIENT: Everyone!
WHAT: The party returns, and Fate has a request.
WHEN: Backdated to Cloudreach 29.
WHERE: Skyhold.
NOTES: N/A

Ah, Skyhold. Terribly good to be back home. I'm certain you all missed me, didn't you?

In any case.

Clan Frandruil has notified me that they wish to send halla our way. Terribly considerate of Keeper Shoshanna to show such gratitude. I don't particularly care what the Inquisition wishes to do with them, so I defer to those part of Clan Ashara. They are yours, as far as I am concerned.

In any case, something of more immediate concern and interest to me: I've received a mark from the rift we dealt with. As terribly excited as I am to be blessed with this, I'd like to do a little more research on this. [And maybe remove it, but he has a feeling that's impossible.] Those of you already familiar with your own magical glowing green marks, please, enlighten me with whatever you know.

And before I forget: Sera, I've placed your things back in the room in the tavern. If you happen to find anything of mine left in there, it's yours to do with.

I think that ought to do it. I'll be in the tavern, drinking myself silly.

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[Oh. Oh.

Creators, she got him. Twisted Fate lets out a soft laugh and shakes his head.]

I think I'm a wicked influence on you, Nerva. [But he's glad for her sense of humor.]

I know you won't. I won't like swimming, but I'll do it.

Yes, I think that is probably a safe assumption. [Almost definitely a wicked influence.]

And I think you'll enjoy it. It can be quite relaxing. The water holds you up far more than you think it would. And I-- [She paused, the thought that occurred to her suddenly one she didn't want to voice, but it made her smile a little warmer] - ah, just trust me.

I do trust you, a matter of fact. So, I will simply take your word for it and try not to fuss much.

Hopefully that won't be too difficult for you.

But I am willing to - make a concession. If you allow me to teach you to swim, I will allow you to teach me something in return.

Oh, that is too good. I'll have to make it count, then.

I expect you to. [Fate could always be counted on to rig the game in his favour. At least in this case, it would be rigged to hers as well.]

Just - ah - make sure you can take a whole day off. It is a few hours hike from here, and I wouldn't want you to be considered to be shirking your duty.

Ah yes. My list of duties. I suppose I'll just have to give them to someone capable for a day.

[Sera will do nicely.]

Give me a day, and we will go.

Soon, I think. [There is a pause, a hesitation, and she can't quite hide the flickered glance to his hand. He needed rest. Even if it meant dragging him off into the mountains. But she needed it, too.]

I'll let you know once I've arranged it.

[There's another pause, because by the Maker she has no idea how she's supposed to act around him now. It was a lot simpler when she could just speak her mind, but her mind was far too confused and conflicted to do so any more.]

... Your clan are really sending Halla? After everything we went through? [There we go. Safe topic of conversation.]

Of course. I understand.

[A strange change of subject, really. It causes him to raise his brow, but he doesn't call it out.]

A gesture of goodwill to the Inquisition, I suppose. Or a way to pry into my life. Either way, I don't particularly care. Keeper Shoshanna's motives mean nothing to me.

For good reason. [Her expression darkened.] I - did not enjoy allowing her to speak to you as she did. She had no right. Asking you for help, and then -- [She cut off, because thinking about it was making her angry, and she was trying not to get angry about it. So she sighed, instead.]

... I - you don't need to go back. After. If we survive this, you - I doubt I'll be returning to the circles, if you wanted-- [She was getting flustered again, and great, she'd managed to go from a safe conversation to an incredibly loaded one in ten seconds flat. She made an annoyed sound and ran her fingers through her hair.]

I - apologize. I - I'm not even sure what I'm meant to say, or how to say it, or-- [She glanced up at him, frowning.] ... I want to be enjoyable company, but I am not very good at it.

[There's a small, wry laugh.] Not to worry yourself. After everything with Corypheus is dealt with, I had zero intention of ever going back to Clan Frandruil, or any other that should somehow insanely ask me.

My plans for the future are really simply limited to surviving as best as I can, and enjoying it while I do.

[Gently, he slips his hand over hers.]

Nerva, you don't need to act differently for me. I enjoy your company based on who you are, not how you think you need to act.

That is probably the best plan, all things considered.[And one that she was struggling with herself.]

[When she felt his hand on hers, she turned his eyes up to meet his, brows gently knit.]

I - wanted to. I would have preferred to - speak somewhere more private, but I know that your friends often stop by to see you on such nights, and I did not wish to become a barrier to that, so I thought... I merely - want you to be happy, Tobrevas. But it's been a long time since anyone's happiness was tied up with me in any way, that I - My instincts mislead me.

You are no barrier. Nor do I require my companions to enjoy each other, really. I have a wide variety of taste in people, I suppose. [That much is obvious. There are few people that he dislikes, truly and fully.]

And how is it that you wish to make me happy, madame?

You are... surprisingly capable of seeing the good in many different kinds of people, and enjoying people for what they are. [The words were soft, and grew fond.] I wish I could do the same. But all I can offer it to attempt not to hinder it.

I ... wish I knew, exactly. [Beyond wanting to pull him into a dark hall and kiss him until he couldn't breathe, but that was a different thing all together.] I want to learn... how to. That's all I mean. [She gave him a small, helpless look.] You are far more adept at happiness in general.

I've had to. Much of my life was spent parading around Thedas with pirates, swindlers, and conmen alike. If you can't find something enjoyable in those people, why bother be with them at all?

But we come from different worlds, you and I. So we've different approaches. Different does not mean bad, and all I can ask is for your patience.

[Twisted Fate laughs quietly.] Am I? I know how to have a good time, but true happiness is such a rare and beautiful thing -- all I know is when it is found, you hold on as tight as you can before it finds a way to flee. What you can do right at this moment is tell me how you'd like to spend the night with me.

[She looked up, because there were two different ways she could interpret that statement, and one, if she were someone else, may have made her blush. But instead she just met his eyes, considering for a moment, and then said in a low, even, calm voice:]

I want to steal you away from here to somewhere dark and quiet where I can hold on tight to happiness.

[That is quite the confession. His eyes become curious, and he leans in closer to Nerva.]

Should you like, we can go somewhere private. As I said, I am yours now, Nerva.

Not only mine. [She pointed out.]

You did tell others that you were here. They may be expecting you.

Tsk tsk. I go where I please. Right now, I'm pleased to be with you. If someone desperately needs me, that's what the crystal is for.

You're awfully keen on not taking advantage of my very open invitations, Nerva.

[She looked at him, eyes narrowing slightly, gears behind her eyes moving - then she grabbed the wine bottle in one hand and his wrist in the other and tugged him up away from the table.]

I wouldn't make assumptions about what I am and am not keen about.

[Now this is exciting. Fate raises his brows, then grins sharply as he follows her lead.]

Then perhaps you need to show me what you want.

[She pulled him along, up the stairs of the tavern, past the room that was no longer his, through the attic and out onto the battlements.]

If you require an in-depth demonstration, I will give you one.

[She shoved open the door of the next tower down with her shoulder - both hands otherwise occupied - and pulled him into the dark only semi-completed room. Private enough. She didn't release his hand, but she did set down the wine bottle, before pushing Fate up against the stone wall and taking a hard, deep kiss.]

[She'd show him who was keen.]

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