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[ His face, already clouded, darkens further. But she’s spared from the brewing demand to know what anyone is supposed to do to hide who they work for in Kirkwall by that next bit—which doesn’t lighten his expression, exactly, but does move it through a quick sequence of dark and confused, dark and concerned, and then dark and indignant. All of which are maybe slight improvements over dark and petulant. Maybe. ]
No. I would have told you if they had.
No. I would have told you if they had.
[Water. Darras pours out, once he's confirmed it--not quite as good as rum, maybe, but better than Kirkwall ale. He leaves out the ice and crosses over to the couch. By the time she looks up, he's come around to stand behind her, looking at the letters over her shoulder. Thin grayish writing, as obscure as runes.
He meets her eye as she looks around at him, and gestures with the cup.]
Oh, aye. Fascinating, this. The agent's name is 'One Thirty-Seven'? Didn't know Tevinter was so ruthless to their children.
[He comes around whether or not she picks up reading again, puts himself on the couch beside her, and slips his feet into her lap. Probably crushes some reports while he's at it, unless she rescues them in time.]
He meets her eye as she looks around at him, and gestures with the cup.]
Oh, aye. Fascinating, this. The agent's name is 'One Thirty-Seven'? Didn't know Tevinter was so ruthless to their children.
[He comes around whether or not she picks up reading again, puts himself on the couch beside her, and slips his feet into her lap. Probably crushes some reports while he's at it, unless she rescues them in time.]
Yes, and "The Subject" was a very popular name for boys in Starkhaven one year. [ Yseult's reply is dry, as is the flat look she shoots him as she snatches reports out of the way of his foot, smoothing out a few of them on the arm of the sofa. ]
Minor suspected agents that don't yet have names or identifying characteristics get numbered, [ she explains] Otherwise we'd run out of code names for everyone that needs them.
[ She turns back to her reading, but does not continue aloud. ]
Minor suspected agents that don't yet have names or identifying characteristics get numbered, [ she explains] Otherwise we'd run out of code names for everyone that needs them.
[ She turns back to her reading, but does not continue aloud. ]
Hmm.
[Darras settles back on the arm of the couch, taking great care and pride in settling himself in comfortably. He balances the cup of water on his chest, keeping one hand at its side, to keep it upright. Takes a moment to stare up at the ceiling. After letting her read--]
Thought my name was boy for a short while. D'you think my aunt thought I was a minor suspected agent?
[He tips the cup, carefully, so he can take a sip of water.]
[Darras settles back on the arm of the couch, taking great care and pride in settling himself in comfortably. He balances the cup of water on his chest, keeping one hand at its side, to keep it upright. Takes a moment to stare up at the ceiling. After letting her read--]
Thought my name was boy for a short while. D'you think my aunt thought I was a minor suspected agent?
[He tips the cup, carefully, so he can take a sip of water.]
I'm sure she suspected you were a minor something. Pain in the arse, most likely. [ She flicks the sole of his foot, but doesn't actually shove them out of her lap, instead just lifting the reports up above them to keep reading. ]
I'll need to go to Wycome at the end of the week, [ she tells him, glancing over and then turning a page ] And Antiva after for a few days. If you wanted, I could meet you at the cottage on my way back. Check in on it.
I'll need to go to Wycome at the end of the week, [ she tells him, glancing over and then turning a page ] And Antiva after for a few days. If you wanted, I could meet you at the cottage on my way back. Check in on it.
[ Too bad, she's making a mental note that everyone needs to be taught how to follow people and, more importantly, avoid being followed themselves.
As for this confused/concerned/indignant assertion, she considers Kostos for a long moment, examining the shades of irritation in his expression. ]
Good [ she says finally. ] It's likely that someone will at some point. Are there any others in Riftwatch you know to be gamblers?
As for this confused/concerned/indignant assertion, she considers Kostos for a long moment, examining the shades of irritation in his expression. ]
Good [ she says finally. ] It's likely that someone will at some point. Are there any others in Riftwatch you know to be gamblers?
Honestly, no, but this is when we had the seal of approval from the Inquisition. I don't know what the rules are now, since we're Riftwatch.
Yes. Coupe had wondered if she could be spared, but we had an interesting thought.
[ ""we"" ]
Are there any homes in Hightown you'd be particularly interested in getting some ears into?
[ ""we"" ]
Are there any homes in Hightown you'd be particularly interested in getting some ears into?
Not without you, I've not.
[He tips the cup again, but doesn't take a drink--just watches the way the water sloshes around inside of it, swelling up toward the rim as he leans it one way, receding back into the depths when he leans it the other.]
Sounds like a good distraction. Something different than Kirkwall. The Gallows. I'm for it. Need any help, with your merchants?
[He tips the cup again, but doesn't take a drink--just watches the way the water sloshes around inside of it, swelling up toward the rim as he leans it one way, receding back into the depths when he leans it the other.]
Sounds like a good distraction. Something different than Kirkwall. The Gallows. I'm for it. Need any help, with your merchants?
[The Forces Division office has a broken window hinge that's yet to fixed and a drafty fireplace which will, in short order, be a point of misery once the weather truly turns. But at present the combination serves only to cut the lingering smoke and smell from the burning elfroot as it's sucked up and out the whistling chimney floo.
Flint passes the joint back to Yseult. The conversation resumes:]
I have every faith in the man. He'll find a way to get on her last nerve and she'll throw him from one of Diplomacy's windows.
Flint passes the joint back to Yseult. The conversation resumes:]
I have every faith in the man. He'll find a way to get on her last nerve and she'll throw him from one of Diplomacy's windows.
Yeah. [--Darras says, and it isn't a question. He knows she has. And,] I've missed it too.
[He lets silence fall between them, turns the moment over it over in his mind. Comfortable, in the sunlight that falls in the window, with Yseult just there, just within reach.]
So who's going to be along with you, if not me?
[It's not a sulk or a challenge. A question, only.]
[He lets silence fall between them, turns the moment over it over in his mind. Comfortable, in the sunlight that falls in the window, with Yseult just there, just within reach.]
So who's going to be along with you, if not me?
[It's not a sulk or a challenge. A question, only.]
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