Put that down, it's not a toy

Zevran’s grin widened at Adaria’s request for gossip, a gleam of mischief lighting up his eyes. The serious tone of their conversation was giving way to something far more enjoyable, and he leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand, clearly delighted by the sudden shift in mood.

Ah, now we get to the fun part, do we? You want the real dirt, not just the political schemes and courtly nonsense. Well, my dear Adaria, you’ve come to the right person. He chuckled softly, the sound low and warm, like a cat purring before pouncing on its prey.

He let a beat of silence pass, as if deciding where to start, before finally launching into it. Orlais, for all its pretense, is indeed a cesspit, as you say. They’re just very good at pretending their scandals are elegant affairs. But the truth? He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret meant only for her ears. I’ve heard rumors—juicy ones—about the Chevalier de Fontenay, a supposed paragon of honor. You see, it turns out that beneath all that polished armor and self-righteousness, the man has been… let’s say, taking his duties to the ladies of the court a bit too far. Multiple women, married and otherwise, have found themselves in *compromising* situations with him. But here’s the real kicker—one of those ladies? The wife of the Grand Duke’s cousin. Oops.

Zevran’s grin grew even wider as he leaned back again, clearly enjoying himself. And it gets better. Apparently, there’s talk that the Duke himself might have known about it—perhaps even arranged a little ‘accident’ for his dear cousin in the hunting grounds last year. A tragic loss, of course, but it’s amazing how convenient these tragedies can be, isn’t it?

He paused to sip his tea, his eyes never leaving hers, gauging her reaction to the story before continuing.

But if you’re bored with Orlais already, let’s move closer to home. You want to hear about Antiva, yes? I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground, and let me tell you, things are stirring. I hear there’s been a lot of quiet movement among some of the Merchant Princes—gatherings that are happening without the usual fanfare. Seems they’re planning something, though no one knows exactly what just yet. Could be as simple as trade deals, or as dangerous as a coup, and with the state the Crows are in, stretched a bit too thin these days, well they believe they may be poised to a grab for power.

@Adaria Campana