sayhitobianca | 001

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001 | [Text]

Well, this is a particular brand of crazy I haven’t seen before. It’s almost refreshing, really.

Through mysterious and mystical forces, your world never has and never will exist. But fear not, a tremendously kind lord is taking care of everything, because he has nothing better to do with his time than recreate the world. Add in some shadowy staff, an obvious ulterior motive, some attractive heroes, a couple of twists and betrayals, a suspicious request for record keeping, and I can work with this. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s record keeping.

Of course I prefer to do my record keeping in the comfort of the Hanged Man and not in a random room of a keep run by an insane nobleman who writes strange letters on his prisoners while they’re unconscious.

What have you gotten yourself into this time, Varric?

I’m sure this is Hawke’s fault. It always is. Well, aside from all the times it was Rivaini’s. And Blondie’s. Or the elf-

Andraste’s dimpled buttcheeks. I’ve got to get myself some better friends.

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[She cuts off a bit of a laugh at that, unsure whether he's serious or not.]

Okay. Varric, then.

[He hears that. It's a definite improvement over tears and a cracking voice.]

Where were you before you found yourself here?

...What do you mean?

[Was that a hesitation in her voice? Yep. She is definitely hedging.]

[Yeah, he catches that hesitation. And it gets a headshake. Nice dodge.]

I’m immensely curious about people’s locations. I always like to know if people were in the kitchen, in their bed rooms, maybe in the bath...

I don’t care if you’re on the run from the templars or hiding from the Carta, I just want to know what city you were in.

He wants to know how far this insane lord is going to capture his prisoner; if it’s only in Kirkwall or if he’s got prisoners from farther out. There’s a pause, then he adds.]

If you want to dodge answering, Birdie, there’s much better ways than asking for clarification to a reasonably straightforward question.

[Aara doesn't know what to say to his blunt reply, but finds herself blushing and quickly searching within herself for a reasonable answer at his mention of the bath.]

I--I'm not--!

...What are templars? Are they anything similar to Homa? Are they very dangerous?

City? I am not from any city. I have never stepped foot in one, though the people at the village I was at mentioned cities and boats and water so big the eye cannot see land. Have you seen this large body of water? It sounds... like something truly wonderful to behold. I hear it tastes like tears.

I do not know these names you speak of. Carta? They are... odd sounding on my tongue. Does Birdie hold specific meaning to your people, or was that only meant for me?

I... am from Shahar. If you have heard of my home, I will be truly surprised. And delighted. [For that would mean she wasn't the last of her kind.]

[Varric's silent as he listens to her, taking in all the information. Doesn't know what templars or the Carta are, has never been to a city, never seen the ocean. By the end, he's concluded that she's Dalish.

Actually, she kind of does remind him of Daisy. It's cute.]

Just for you. It's a nickname.

The ocean? I have seen it, actually. A friend of mine used to be a captain on a boat.

I haven't heard of it. I don't suppose it's in the Free Marches, is it?

...Oh...

[Is that slight awe and hesitance and wonder in her tone?]

You have seen it? Did it make you feel small? It must have been a joy for that friend.

Not many have. I have never heard of the Free Marches, so I do not believe it is there. The land does enable one to feel free, however. Especially when the wind is just so...

[He'll never understand people's fascination with the ocean. Her question gets a chuckle.]

Lots of things make me feel small. Joy's probably one of the words she would use.

[Along with a number of other, more inappropriate words that he's not going to repeat. And yeah, definitely Dalish. Though the fact that she's never even heard of the Free Marches is somewhat troubling.]

Ferelden? Nevarra? Thedas, at least?

[She hums in agreement and appreciation.] I know what you mean. Trees, and hills, and forests and mountains--they all make me feel small, certainly. [Then, after a small and considered pause.] The sky...

Oh! The captain was a she? [That was a new concept for her, and Aara finds herself smiling.] I think I would like to have such adventures.

[A considerate pause.] I am afraid none of those names are familiar. Thedas sounds quite funny, actually. [The tiniest of giggles.] Perhaps you live farther away? Is your climate warm, or cold?

[Then, after an even longer pause and a slow indrawn breath of air, Aara's voice returns, hesitant and yet containing the smallest strand of hope--excitement.] If you do not know Shahar... maybe you are like me. Please tell me, have you ever seen someone with pale hair and eyes? [And now she is holding her breath, heart pounding loud enough for her to only hear it in the silence that ensued.]

Edited 2011-07-30 06:42 (UTC)

[Not exactly what Varric had meant, but he'll go with it. Saves him from having to talk about nature more. Ugh. Nature.]

I'm sure she'd love to have you on her adventures. She's always trying to recruit people as crew for her non-existent ship. Sorry, the ship she'll soon get.

[Just in case Isabela ever finds this. He wouldn't put it past her.

Shit. She hasn't even heard of Thedas? Either the Dalish of other parts are really lax on the education thing - or really strict on the shunning of all shemlen thing - or there might be more truth to that letter than Varric thought.

There's a pause after her last question.]

Pale, like white? Yeah, some. Or like blonde? I know a lot of those. Shit, I've got blonde hair.

[a light, breathy laugh at that.] I've never been on a ship.

White? Blonde... [Filled with awe.]

You...you know a lot? [Then, softer than a whisper:] You're blonde, too...

She'd still try to recruit you. Probably even more, to show you the 'wonders of the sea' that you've been missing.

[Varric, however, was keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

Her response to his blonde comment is met with a bit of amusement. Awe is definitely good, but this is the first time Varric's gotten awe over hair colour.]

Yeah, Birdie, I am. Does that have some kind of special significance where you're from?

[Chuckles a bit at that.]

Ah! It... It does. Only it's not that--I mean, I'm not special I'm just...

Different.

[Lengthy pause here.]

The others--where I'm from--no one looks the way I do. [There is a definite sadness and vulnerability to her tone.]

[...oh. And here Varric was worried she was in awe because blondes were considered some kind of sacrifice or deities or something. This is more reassuring, but also more ... depressing.

When he speaks, his voice is filled with his normal good humour, but it's gentled a bit.]

Different's good, Birdie. It'd be boring, if everyone was the same.

'Sides, you've got good company, now. I'm blonde, and so is one of my best friends. Even call him Blondie.

[There is silence at first, Aara considering his words with a new and light feeling in her chest. She can't help but smile, feeling something his words provoked that she never before felt until that moment.]

Thank you.

[Then, after a short moment, she laughs.] Is this friend of yours here, then? [Don't think she didn't hear that she had good company, Varric. She is very tickled by that.]

[He doesn't say 'you're welcome,' because, well, that'd be acknowledging that he was trying to make her feel better.

That laugh of hers makes him chuckle as well, though. Success.]

He is, actually. I'm just lucky enough for that.

[She's still smiling a little.]

So this friend is dear to you? This... Blondie?

[Shit, don't put words like that in his mouth, Birdie. Especially not over these magic journal things that presumably anyone can listen into.]

Well, he's a friend, anyway. Someone's gotta look after him.

[Another short chuckle.]

You look out for this friend often? [Did she sense Varric's unease? She just might be teasing him.]

[No chuckling. Quit that. Varric admits nothing.]

As often as he gets himself into trouble.

[Aara hums warmly, a smile on her face.]

You must be a good friend.

[Now that's a bit better.]

The best. You don't make it anywhere without being friendly.

[What exactly 'friendly' means tends to change depending on who he's talking to and what they want (or what Varric himself wants), but still.]

[She is quiet after that, calculating his tone of voice to his words and attempting to make something of them.]

Friendship is not about...making it somewhere.

[Aara's tone is soft, yet somewhat confused. To those who knew her well, or quickly picked up on this sort of thing, they might notice a bit of chiding behind her tone.]

[There's a soft snort. He's well aware of that. He'd certainly be a lot richer without some aspects of friendship.]

Course it's not. You're getting me backwards, Birdie. Friendship's not about making it somewhere, but making it somewhere's all about being friendly.

It's a complicated business.

[She repeats a very similar snort, with a bit of a chuckle tacked on at the end.]

You are a confusing man, Varric.

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