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Nikos is not the only one of extraordinary character in the family. But I must warn you; the penchant for the dramatic is equally hereditary.
( She muses, humming quietly. )
If you arrive say... nine o'clock, or thereabouts. I'll make sure there is sufficient bribery to keep him there. And, if you tell me your drink of choice, I can make sure I don't neglect you.
( She muses, humming quietly. )
If you arrive say... nine o'clock, or thereabouts. I'll make sure there is sufficient bribery to keep him there. And, if you tell me your drink of choice, I can make sure I don't neglect you.
[ He does find it kind of charming, for the record. That passion !!!!!!!
Having some actual information instead of blind anger changes things, of course. Caspar can understand the anger, can even sympathize with a good portion of it. Kostos hadn't exactly made an endearing introduction. ]
He's simply trying to make himself relevant, Nikos. To you, to the North. You should take some peace from knowing that he does not understand either.
Having some actual information instead of blind anger changes things, of course. Caspar can understand the anger, can even sympathize with a good portion of it. Kostos hadn't exactly made an endearing introduction. ]
He's simply trying to make himself relevant, Nikos. To you, to the North. You should take some peace from knowing that he does not understand either.
Is extraordinary the word?
[ For Nikos, he means. It's obviously the correct word for Marisol. ]
Nine o'clock or thereabouts it is, then. I'm afraid my drink of choice is somewhat less extraordinary. Ale, though I would request it not be too watered down.
[ the drink of the people, he's walkin the walk ok. ]
[ For Nikos, he means. It's obviously the correct word for Marisol. ]
Nine o'clock or thereabouts it is, then. I'm afraid my drink of choice is somewhat less extraordinary. Ale, though I would request it not be too watered down.
[ the drink of the people, he's walkin the walk ok. ]
[He sighs, irritated, but he doesn't treat Caspar to a blistering shove it up your arse and never order me around again type response. It's still all there in the sigh. Caspar will be able to tell.]
Same street. Five blocks, then a right. The warehouse behind the dye shop. [And--] I don't like-- mixing. Or Marisol conspiring, which would be fucking inevitable.
Same street. Five blocks, then a right. The warehouse behind the dye shop. [And--] I don't like-- mixing. Or Marisol conspiring, which would be fucking inevitable.
( A gentle tsk. )
Always. ( Or, well. Correcting herself: ) At least twenty percent of the time, I think.
Ale? Ah, of course. Antiva is known better for its wines, but I can appreciate a fine ale. I'll see what I can do.
( Read: she's going to make sure the cellar has a shitload of fancy ale. It's probably already there, but she'll get more. Oh, and another thing— )
You aren't afraid of flamingoes, are you?
Always. ( Or, well. Correcting herself: ) At least twenty percent of the time, I think.
Ale? Ah, of course. Antiva is known better for its wines, but I can appreciate a fine ale. I'll see what I can do.
( Read: she's going to make sure the cellar has a shitload of fancy ale. It's probably already there, but she'll get more. Oh, and another thing— )
You aren't afraid of flamingoes, are you?
[Full of passion,] He can fuck off.
Spiders will learn to spell before Kostos is interested in making himself relevant to me. Trust me. It is the inconvenience that he thinks of. The interruption. There is opportunity coming. Change. The Inquisition might be half shit, but sift through it and there is the chance that real differences could be enacted, the chance that we could do something--in Nevarra, in Tevinter--one by one, governments, crumbling--opportunities that could be seized, and used--this outdated shit might finally be carried away--and Kostos tells me, preemptive to it all, not to do anything stupid.
He was part of the mage rebellion. The less daring part, that held the door, maybe. Fucking bastard.
Spiders will learn to spell before Kostos is interested in making himself relevant to me. Trust me. It is the inconvenience that he thinks of. The interruption. There is opportunity coming. Change. The Inquisition might be half shit, but sift through it and there is the chance that real differences could be enacted, the chance that we could do something--in Nevarra, in Tevinter--one by one, governments, crumbling--opportunities that could be seized, and used--this outdated shit might finally be carried away--and Kostos tells me, preemptive to it all, not to do anything stupid.
He was part of the mage rebellion. The less daring part, that held the door, maybe. Fucking bastard.
A number live in the gardens. When first I arrived in Kirkwall, one of the workers in the Gallows found himself cornered by one. As a rule, flamingoes do not greatly enjoy being menaced with brooms. I think both were traumatised by the event - I did not wish to leave you so scarred.
No.
[Maybe. But no is the right answer, and Nikos stares at the wall opposite of where he is crouched, beside the dead body in the warehouse. There is a stain there on the wall, a faint blue, like a strange cold blush. Comes of working with dyes, probably. He keeps fixed on it so he doesn't distract himself imagining Caspar's face. Caspar's face comes to him anyways. Remarkable, wonderful, handsome, convincing in the way he smiles. Fuck, is what he does not say. It's all so unfair.
Instead, he says--]
No. [--again, unnecessarily, and a little more quietly. And this part isn't a test; it's more like a kind of joke:] But if you were going to assume an identity. What would it be.
[hot spy flirting]
[Maybe. But no is the right answer, and Nikos stares at the wall opposite of where he is crouched, beside the dead body in the warehouse. There is a stain there on the wall, a faint blue, like a strange cold blush. Comes of working with dyes, probably. He keeps fixed on it so he doesn't distract himself imagining Caspar's face. Caspar's face comes to him anyways. Remarkable, wonderful, handsome, convincing in the way he smiles. Fuck, is what he does not say. It's all so unfair.
Instead, he says--]
No. [--again, unnecessarily, and a little more quietly. And this part isn't a test; it's more like a kind of joke:] But if you were going to assume an identity. What would it be.
[hot spy flirting]
I am famously considerate.
( She muses, though. ) Nothing should be needed. If you feel overcome by the need to bring something I will not deny you, but we should have sufficient supplies of cards, cigars and drinks. Food can be seen to if we need it, but I thought we could limit what Nikos has at hand to throw at us, at least initially.
( She muses, though. ) Nothing should be needed. If you feel overcome by the need to bring something I will not deny you, but we should have sufficient supplies of cards, cigars and drinks. Food can be seen to if we need it, but I thought we could limit what Nikos has at hand to throw at us, at least initially.
[ Nikos has called his brother a hypocrite before, so it isn't as if this is all news. It is, however, a little difficult to discern where family squabbling stops and an actual, legitimate obstacle starts. ]
Even better. If he's happiest being irrelevant and out of trouble, perhaps that will keep him out of our way. And his opinion is irrelevant — change will happen whether he finds it convenient or not. Whether we're here or not, frankly, though I hope we can be of some use.
Even better. If he's happiest being irrelevant and out of trouble, perhaps that will keep him out of our way. And his opinion is irrelevant — change will happen whether he finds it convenient or not. Whether we're here or not, frankly, though I hope we can be of some use.
[That's a positive and non-sulky way to look at it, wow. Nikos digests the points quickly, before he gives an irritated huff.]
He would get in the way just to make a point. Just because.
[He's still angry, but it's harder to be yelling angry when Caspar is making a point. This time it's harder. Not always.]
And I don't know that we'll be allowed. If we're here, we have to work within the Inquisition's confines. Even if only on the face of things. Hamstrung by that performance.
He would get in the way just to make a point. Just because.
[He's still angry, but it's harder to be yelling angry when Caspar is making a point. This time it's harder. Not always.]
And I don't know that we'll be allowed. If we're here, we have to work within the Inquisition's confines. Even if only on the face of things. Hamstrung by that performance.
Hmm.
[ Thoughtful, like he's taking the question very seriously. ]
A disgraced Templar, perhaps. Tired and noble, and committed to redemption by way of serving the Inquisition. I'd say a current Templar, if only for the dramatics, but as we've yet to find any uniforms left behind in our tower...
[ Is hot Templar roleplay a running joke now?? mAYBE
and also for some pretense at real spy work, an ETA: ]
Four blocks.
[ Thoughtful, like he's taking the question very seriously. ]
A disgraced Templar, perhaps. Tired and noble, and committed to redemption by way of serving the Inquisition. I'd say a current Templar, if only for the dramatics, but as we've yet to find any uniforms left behind in our tower...
[ Is hot Templar roleplay a running joke now?? mAYBE
and also for some pretense at real spy work, an ETA: ]
Four blocks.
Then we'll have to have more than one face. And I may be mistaken, but I don't believe revolution often asks if it's allowed.
[ Sly and teasing, and hardly meant as a real correction. A reminder, maybe, that Nikos should have a bit more faith and a bit less fretting; but still, it's a very fond one. Nikos' point is entirely valid, of course. There will be constraints, and they'll have to make some compromises. Within reason. ]
Are you planning to ask permission?
[ Sly and teasing, and hardly meant as a real correction. A reminder, maybe, that Nikos should have a bit more faith and a bit less fretting; but still, it's a very fond one. Nikos' point is entirely valid, of course. There will be constraints, and they'll have to make some compromises. Within reason. ]
Are you planning to ask permission?
[Sensibility and teasing. The foundations of Nikos' pillar of anger is weakened. Stubborn, he piles more stone on top, trying to crush Caspar's good sense.
No, is the answer. Instead, irritated (but not angry, certainly not seething any longer):]
I hate it when you do this.
No, is the answer. Instead, irritated (but not angry, certainly not seething any longer):]
I hate it when you do this.
That's Ser Four Blocks. Three, actually.
[ Don't get too cozy with your corpse, pal. And the thought hadn't occurred to him before now, somehow, but: ]
Is his face no longer identifiable?
[ It's possible that the ring is just part of the job. People can be specific. If not, there's bound to be a story behind an assassination that's ruined a man's face. ]
[ Don't get too cozy with your corpse, pal. And the thought hadn't occurred to him before now, somehow, but: ]
Is his face no longer identifiable?
[ It's possible that the ring is just part of the job. People can be specific. If not, there's bound to be a story behind an assassination that's ruined a man's face. ]
I can't help it, I'm afraid. I'm terribly sensible and charming.
[ In the tone of a joke, but also only kind of. There's a short pause; when he speaks again, his voice is sincere. ]
You're not wrong to worry, Nikos. But we've handled worse than this, and I have no doubt that we'll handle worse again.
[ Just to make it extra clear that the teasing's for his benefit, and not (entirely) at his expense. ]
[ In the tone of a joke, but also only kind of. There's a short pause; when he speaks again, his voice is sincere. ]
You're not wrong to worry, Nikos. But we've handled worse than this, and I have no doubt that we'll handle worse again.
[ Just to make it extra clear that the teasing's for his benefit, and not (entirely) at his expense. ]
[And yet Caspar is terribly sensible and charming and that's unfair. And also: the best.
But once the conversation takes a turn toward the meaningful again, Nikos resumes his glare at the wall. Caspar has tempered the worst of his anger. He's not going to go and find Kostos and punch him in the head, and he's not going to set fire to something in protest of the Inquisition's disinterest. Small concessions. He gnaws on that reassurance, trying to get at the hope of it, to let it live in him the way it lives in Caspar.
Instead:]
You're staying, then.
But once the conversation takes a turn toward the meaningful again, Nikos resumes his glare at the wall. Caspar has tempered the worst of his anger. He's not going to go and find Kostos and punch him in the head, and he's not going to set fire to something in protest of the Inquisition's disinterest. Small concessions. He gnaws on that reassurance, trying to get at the hope of it, to let it live in him the way it lives in Caspar.
Instead:]
You're staying, then.
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