His laugh melding in with hers sent Leaf’s mind back to days long past. Simpler times, where the grandeur scheme was unclear and they were just trying to scrape by and make their way out of a shit situation. Only the shit situations got bigger, and meaner, and more frightening than anyone could hope to brace against. And then he took a play out of the dwarf’s handbook and she groaned, eyes rolling off to another side of the room.
[color=#0074d9]“... Both. I care about the “square” because he’s one of the few friends I have left to protect and… repay for his kindness once.”[/color] And without missing a beat. [color=#0074d9]“Plus the fact you still owe me money.”[/color] The smirk across her face was slight, head bobbing confirming that it was, indeed, true. Who else held sway enough with Varric to spare the incessant prodding for the man’s sordid details?
[color=#0074d9]“Well, when I’m not dying of a hangover… I’ll give you a run for your money, deal?”[/color] A hand stretched forth to shake on it, face serious. [color=#0074d9]“If shit hits the fan we need to be ready. I might not be here to rescue you.”[/color] He did no-one any favours being a fat cat and not putting himself through the paces, not in time of war when the enemy next door was on the move. That meant she too had to buck up and get into it, yet it was significantly better than being dead, Leaf supposed. She’d make better company than the stuffy council members and he could work out some of the frustration in dealing with them.
A shit-eating grin spread across her face. There were many things to be said, all at the tip of her tongue but the mage swallowed them back. This required deeper thought than just a witty retort of an answer. Lips pursed together as she decided, musing over what she could ask seriously of him, leaving him holding the ale to take a turn about the room.
[color=#0074d9]“What are you willing to bargain?”[/color] Hoisting herself up to sit on the desk, a pipe found its way into one hand, the thumb of the other cleaning and repacking the bell with muscle memory. She didn’t blame him for the suspicion, she would have questions if he had come to her out of the blue, without a word. It needed some explanation, but to her own ears it sounded terrible. [color=#0074d9]“... Do you remember the last time you saw me?”[/color]
[color=#0074d9]“... Both. I care about the “square” because he’s one of the few friends I have left to protect and… repay for his kindness once.”[/color] And without missing a beat. [color=#0074d9]“Plus the fact you still owe me money.”[/color] The smirk across her face was slight, head bobbing confirming that it was, indeed, true. Who else held sway enough with Varric to spare the incessant prodding for the man’s sordid details?
[color=#0074d9]“Well, when I’m not dying of a hangover… I’ll give you a run for your money, deal?”[/color] A hand stretched forth to shake on it, face serious. [color=#0074d9]“If shit hits the fan we need to be ready. I might not be here to rescue you.”[/color] He did no-one any favours being a fat cat and not putting himself through the paces, not in time of war when the enemy next door was on the move. That meant she too had to buck up and get into it, yet it was significantly better than being dead, Leaf supposed. She’d make better company than the stuffy council members and he could work out some of the frustration in dealing with them.
A shit-eating grin spread across her face. There were many things to be said, all at the tip of her tongue but the mage swallowed them back. This required deeper thought than just a witty retort of an answer. Lips pursed together as she decided, musing over what she could ask seriously of him, leaving him holding the ale to take a turn about the room.
[color=#0074d9]“What are you willing to bargain?”[/color] Hoisting herself up to sit on the desk, a pipe found its way into one hand, the thumb of the other cleaning and repacking the bell with muscle memory. She didn’t blame him for the suspicion, she would have questions if he had come to her out of the blue, without a word. It needed some explanation, but to her own ears it sounded terrible. [color=#0074d9]“... Do you remember the last time you saw me?”[/color]
03-28-2023, 09:46 AM
