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Did you manage the books down?
[ introductions seem pointless when they've just been speaking ]
[ introductions seem pointless when they've just been speaking ]
I did, thank you, Isaac. I found the table cleaned and ready for me, so I am sure Anders was convinced to offer me space. Thank you, for checking on me.
Think nothing of it — we can all make use of strong arms now and again. [ get it. because anders was strong-armed into it. wow ] Kirkwall is a transition for everyone.
I appreciate it all the same. [ She sounds quite relaxed, even if she's sitting primly at her desk. ] It is certainly nothing like Nevarra City, that I can assure you of.
I don't imagine anywhere might be. I've heard tales, albeit of select quarters,
[ like, mostly the circle. like, mostly the circle that ""a rift"" demolished last year. for his part, isaac's voice holds steady, amiable — whether this is at all indicative of sprawling half off the edge of his bed, upside-down, is a question left between sidony and the maker. ]
But there's a certain character about every place. Of course, I don't wish to presume upon your travels.
[ so tell him. where ya been ]
[ like, mostly the circle. like, mostly the circle that ""a rift"" demolished last year. for his part, isaac's voice holds steady, amiable — whether this is at all indicative of sprawling half off the edge of his bed, upside-down, is a question left between sidony and the maker. ]
But there's a certain character about every place. Of course, I don't wish to presume upon your travels.
[ so tell him. where ya been ]
There are tales of all places, aren't there? My experiences of home were, admittedly, more sheltered than I might like, but I heard the tales. The kind that would have my mother upon her fainting sofa.
[ It's said with a little warmth, though it's likely clear that she's glad to be away from said mother. ]
I have not been as far as I might have liked, I'm afraid. From Nevarra to Kirkwall, as straight as I could manage. I wish that I had more stories to tell.
[ It's said with a little warmth, though it's likely clear that she's glad to be away from said mother. ]
I have not been as far as I might have liked, I'm afraid. From Nevarra to Kirkwall, as straight as I could manage. I wish that I had more stories to tell.
Is your mother a ready fainter? As a physician, surely you might seek a remedy —
[ light, teasing. ]
But you may have done well for the Marches; I can't say I recommend Orlais at the moment. Or the Anderfels. Or the Imperium, quite ever.
[ light, teasing. ]
But you may have done well for the Marches; I can't say I recommend Orlais at the moment. Or the Anderfels. Or the Imperium, quite ever.
Oh, I doubt she would listen to me no matter my qualifications. I will always be her little girl.
[ Said airily. ]
I will take care and go where the Inquisition needs me, certainly.
[ Said airily. ]
I will take care and go where the Inquisition needs me, certainly.
[One evening--after internal debate and an afternoon of wine, ostensibly for courage, but really just because he loves wine--Nikos decides, abruptly, to contact his cousin before she contacts him. Or before she is somehow used against him. His second cousin? Third? Fourth? What is a family tree but a morass, curated largely so those who care about title and inheritance can move about their pieces on the board.
He almost loses himself in that thought before he remembers. Sidony Venaras. Eight, nine, ten years younger. Nevarra City. He can picture the exterior of the Venaras home, Nevarran in its architecture and in the color of the stone used to build it, its gardens trim around it. His father, pointing it out to him as the carriage went past. Maybe he saw her at a holiday, a party, an interchangeable cousin bedecked in finery.]
All right-- [Heavily, like he's picking up a conversation when they never started a conversation in the first place--a habit of his, she'll find, if they take up any sort of regular correspondence--] --you're Sidony Venaras of Nevarra City. I'm Nikos Averesch. We're related, somewhere, somehow.
Now it's been acknowledged.
He almost loses himself in that thought before he remembers. Sidony Venaras. Eight, nine, ten years younger. Nevarra City. He can picture the exterior of the Venaras home, Nevarran in its architecture and in the color of the stone used to build it, its gardens trim around it. His father, pointing it out to him as the carriage went past. Maybe he saw her at a holiday, a party, an interchangeable cousin bedecked in finery.]
All right-- [Heavily, like he's picking up a conversation when they never started a conversation in the first place--a habit of his, she'll find, if they take up any sort of regular correspondence--] --you're Sidony Venaras of Nevarra City. I'm Nikos Averesch. We're related, somewhere, somehow.
Now it's been acknowledged.
[ The sound of someone speaking through the crystal makes her jump, just a little, moving away from her books to pick it up. The voice is a little bit familiar, her eyes narrowing for a moment before she listens to it all the way through. She's not sure what to say at first, her eyes staring down at her table as she taps her fingers, thoughtful for a moment before she sighs.
It's now or never, she supposes, as snippy as this person seems. She could just ignore it, but that would be rude, and she has the politeness of her own heritage and parents to think about. ]
Cousins. I've been informed. [ A considering noise. ] Your brother is Kostos and I am to be his personal surgeon if words are to be believed. Do you need the same?
It's now or never, she supposes, as snippy as this person seems. She could just ignore it, but that would be rude, and she has the politeness of her own heritage and parents to think about. ]
Cousins. I've been informed. [ A considering noise. ] Your brother is Kostos and I am to be his personal surgeon if words are to be believed. Do you need the same?
Perhaps. I'm sure he'll tell you if it's important.
[He snorts.]
This reminds me that we are no better than strangers. Kostos wouldn't tell me if he was fucking run through with a pike and on death's door. He's a-- [there are so many words for what Kostos is, and Nikos flips through them all before settling on the diplomatic,] prick.
I'm sincerely surprised that he would imply the need of a surgeon.
This reminds me that we are no better than strangers. Kostos wouldn't tell me if he was fucking run through with a pike and on death's door. He's a-- [there are so many words for what Kostos is, and Nikos flips through them all before settling on the diplomatic,] prick.
I'm sincerely surprised that he would imply the need of a surgeon.
A family trait, then. My own brother is - [ a traitor, cruel, hurtful, in the past - ] - disappointing. I will learn, in time, given the chance. I have no reason to avoid you, if you'd have my company.
[ But the rest - well, she doesn't care. ]
Better your kin than a stranger who might whisper, I suppose. It's no concern of mine if he comes or not.
[ But the rest - well, she doesn't care. ]
Better your kin than a stranger who might whisper, I suppose. It's no concern of mine if he comes or not.
[ Hm. Curious. Something to keep in mind, for now. ]
Does that mean we cannot enjoy it, at times?
Does that mean we cannot enjoy it, at times?
That would require my brother having the presence of mind to visit.
Lucky.
[Just kidding, it's not like his brother ever visited. Or like he wanted him to. And now they live in the Gallows, and are often within spitting distance of one another. Spitting distance for a champion spitter, at least, which Nikos is. So it could be worse, unless--]
Unless that implies you wished for a visit.
[Just kidding, it's not like his brother ever visited. Or like he wanted him to. And now they live in the Gallows, and are often within spitting distance of one another. Spitting distance for a champion spitter, at least, which Nikos is. So it could be worse, unless--]
Unless that implies you wished for a visit.
No. [ There’s a little heat in it - frustration and hurt colours her tone just a little bit. ] I’d rather he never step foot out of Nevarra. Better for the both of us, I should think, since I’ve no desire to see his face.
[No shit, Nikos thinks, with some mild interest. To say that he cares would be an overstatement. Interest is a better word.]
Good. Because I've no desire to bloat the region with any more relations. Three is enough.
[This is a request, phrased more like a statement, but--]
Remind me of his name.
Good. Because I've no desire to bloat the region with any more relations. Three is enough.
[This is a request, phrased more like a statement, but--]
Remind me of his name.
I am more than happy to agree with you. His arrival would likely indicate my departure.
[ Half because she would run away and half because he might drag her home. ]
Lord Octavian Venaras, of the Mortalitasi order.
[ Half because she would run away and half because he might drag her home. ]
Lord Octavian Venaras, of the Mortalitasi order.
[ Guess who just found her favourite cousin. ]
I was luckier than he was when it came to names. He tries to go by ‘Tav’.
I was luckier than he was when it came to names. He tries to go by ‘Tav’.
Likely because he was called 'Octopus' too often.
[In the interest of fairness and full disclosure, and nothing else:]
Si-Drone-y. Your voice was too high-pitched to be called a drone, probably. It was just the closest pun. Think it was meant to indicate boredom.
[In the interest of fairness and full disclosure, and nothing else:]
Si-Drone-y. Your voice was too high-pitched to be called a drone, probably. It was just the closest pun. Think it was meant to indicate boredom.
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