human kindness is overflowing

[bloodyantivan]

Date & Time: March 6th, around 8pm
Location: whatever hole-in-the-wall Zevran frequently drinks in
Characters: Zevran Arainai (bloodyantivan), Kate Kane (gevurah)
Summary: beers and bro-ing out
Warnings: Some references to violence. Will warn for anything else as appropriate.


[What is it, Zevran ponders as he watches the door, about me and redheads?

If Zevran were suspicious, at least more so than any Chantry-educated Antivan elf, he might think that they were an omen. A bad-luck omen, a reminder of the violence he's done, a symbol of penance or even oncoming punishment. Red is the color of blood, of sin and desire, and he's known plenty of those things, and been beholden to their power more times than he's likely to ever admit. He paints himself as a master, but what man ever is?

He remembers Kate's vivid red from the hazy mess of childish emotion he recently experienced. He is curious to see what sort of adult she grew into. She sounds beautiful, elegant, and completely in control. She sounds strong. He has no doubt of that, if Leliana was at all fond of the woman she must have been rare indeed. Leliana and he held very similar tastes, after all.

Leliana. Another redhead. His charming Orlesian coquette, a rose, he'd call her, if he called her at all. Sadly, they understood each other almost too well to ever have happened. There was little trust between people who seduced and lied and laughed and looked pretty for money. Whether whores or assassins or bards, those who could see the ribbons tying on the masks were always a little bit wary, readying swords behind their backs just as flash-quick as smiles.

Zevran had meant to speak with Leliana, meant to take her into his confidence about a personal matter some time ago. Alas, he missed the opportunity, and she is gone, and his mind, no, his heart is quite full of worry about another redhead. And now he is here, waiting for yet another redhead still, to have drinks and be charming and friendly and see what worth this Kate woman has to offer as friend and ally. If there is nothing at all, at least the company seems like it will be good.

His instincts him tell him otherwise, however.

He's honestly a little relieved Kate is not the least bit interested in him. Otherwise, he'd feel almost obligated to throw himself at her, if she is even slightly as pretty as she was a child, and half as fascinating as she sounds. He is already quite fond of her, and Leliana seem quite interested. He and Leliana quite often shared tastes, in both clothes and women. But lately the prospect of all those games seems exhausting. It is perhaps the fatal illness known as being in love.

Horrible. However is he supposed to work like this? Zevran is a little disgusted by himself.

But he thinks no more on it, tapping his boot against the base of the table.

Much to the chagrin of the server, he drinks only a glass of water with a lemon sliver while he waits. He is early. He almost always is. Though it's a familiar venue, he hates settling down in a place he intends to stay for any length of time without getting to know it.

Whatever will Messere Shem-lina Kate think of him, he wonders. He has gathered from some interactions that women from other places and eras find him a bit strange. She has so adamantly told him she's does not know elves each time they've met. It is a little splinter beneath the skin, the "I'm not sure elves really existed" he keeps hearing from humans. Zevran is not sure how to work it free yet, but infection hasn't set in, so what else can he do but learn more? Outright inquiry, directing questioning into history and archaeology would be strange. Still, he intends to find out more about that, too. It almost feels like being on the job, to have such a mystery to ferret out.

The part where he's pretty sure he doesn't want to know the truth is familiar, too.]

Comments

[bloodyantivan]

It is surprisingly drinkable, though not tailored for the refined palate of upstanding citizens such as you and I. [Zevran, as usual, is all too amused by himself. He stands.]

First round is on me, my friend.

[Zevran is definitely the 'feel free to look at my legs and butt whilst I saunter' type. Not that he expects Kate to look, but it's funny how he expects attention in a bar he praised for its anonymity.

He does expect he'll be forgotten in a drunk haze, but to anyone who gives him a leer, he offers a wink before ordering two - ales? - beers! Yes, that is it. Beers, please. Oh, what would I do without your assistance, dear barkeep?]

[gevurah]

[ Since her arrival, there's really been no beer as good as the drinks at Molly's Bar back in Gotham. Not that it's horrible, just a reminder that this isn't home.

Who knows when she'll be able to return. Her objective is to get out of here eventually, but she's not the type to resist the call of duty. She knows she can help these people here. ]

You weren't here for Versailles, right?

[bloodyantivan]

Alas, no. They say such thing is an equipment malfunction, or something like that, but I cannot help but wonder if the Initiative simply wishes to cause headaches.

[Zevran settles in with his drink, watching the bubbles.]

What shall we drink to?

[gevurah]

[ Her eyes glance at the ceiling for a moment, thoughtful. ]

How about to us not being kids anymore?

[bloodyantivan]

[There's just the slightest, almost imperceptible twitch at the corner of Zevran's mouth when he isn't certain he wants to smile about that particular toast.

It was... he tells himself he had it no worse than most elves, that he in fact had it better, but it has been many years. And to remember what it felt like to live in rags and small bones, to ache, to fear, is entirely unpleasant. He cannot shake that Kate learned more about him than vice-versa, which he dislikes. So far, she hasn't seemed to mistake the incident for understanding his weaknesses, which is a relief.]

¡Salud!

[Zevran clinks their glasses.]

[gevurah]

Cheers.

[ She downs the entire thing in one shot. Kate doesn't allow herself to get too buzzed anymore, but she's still one to hold her liquor and drink fast. Before patrol she'll eat something heavy. ]

The Transporter is always malfunctioning, isn't it?

[bloodyantivan]

[Zevran drinks his beer a trifle more moderately, his expression mildly amused.]

Indeed so. Their desperation is quite clear in utilizing us.

[gevurah]

[ How peculiar though, that it can work when it needs to-- at the behest of missions, but not other times. The hard part about all this speculation is that she can't get too close to inspect the machine.

And she doesn't want to tamper with something that could be their only ticket out of here. ]

Desperate times. [ She looks around the bar for a moment. ] War calls for ugly choices.

[bloodyantivan]

War is only one of many excuses. [Zevran shrugs. He's seen a lot of ugly. He raises his glass, but only barely takes a sip of the beer.] It is always easier to force someone else to do your dirty work. I am only surprised they don't work harder to convince us of their cause and ensure our loyalty. Not that I am complaining. [Now he drinks.]

[gevurah]

[ She takes another sip, thoughtful. ]

Maybe that's how they win us over. They didn't mean to bring us specifically, but now we're stuck here. Free food, housing, money, and they don't force us to get our hands dirty.

I think a lot of people would grow less suspicious and more empathetic over time.

[bloodyantivan]

Do you really believe they did not mean to bring us in particular? Everyone I have seen from Thedas is someone bright, dangerous. A good fighter. Even as children, you and I had a lot of potential.

Perhaps you more than me! [laugh]

Naturally, being thrown into the situation ourselves, we have become somewhat invested in it. But it that does not make it our fight. No matter how well they treat us, we have been recruited against our will.

[gevurah]

Maybe not everyone.

[ Her shoulders rise and fall gently as she breathes in and out. She taps the edge of her nail against the glass. ]

There are plenty who clearly have no idea what they're doing.

[ She nods. ]

Where I'm from, you meet with a recruiter and decide on whether joining the Army is the path for you or not.

[bloodyantivan]

They may yet have some use. This is where I am surprised they do not take a heavier hand with us. Many simply require... encouragement, to blossom into their true potential.

And by encouragement I mean grueling training, routine torture, mind games, and so on. [A little chuckle.] Again, not complaining, but imprisonment does not seem to be quite enough. Perhaps these malfunctions mean to show us all that could be done to us, should we become complacent.

As for recruitment, hmm, the armies of kings, the city guards, and templars work this way, so I have heard. Human organizations to protect the safety of humans, of course. [He thinks perhaps the 'of course' isn't necessary, because it probably isn't 'of course' to Kate, but, it's said now.] But there are other groups who are trapped into fighting, because they are who they are or they have nothing else. And the dwarves are born into castes by their family lineage.

[gevurah]

[ She props up her elbows on the table, her chin nestling onto the top of her hands while she thinks about what he's said. It's true; they often claim it's United Earth at work for these malfunctions, or a mission gone wrong, but turning people into children or adults? That doesn't seem like enemy-like behavior in war.

Then again, this isn't a war she's familiar with. ]

Not everyone has the stomach for war. [ Regardless of seeing the front lines or not. ] ... I don't know. I never thought I'd end up in a place like this.

[bloodyantivan]

['Not everyone has the stomach for war.' Zevran makes a mild noise of disagreement. Oh, there are those who can't stomach it, but he suspects most will eat and digest whatever they have to in order to survive. If not, well, there's always more where they came from.]

What sort of place does a woman like you expect to end up, I wonder?

[gevurah]

[ The funny part of all this is Kate was a cadet. A long time ago, she had been this close to graduating as a Commissioned Officer. Top of her class, cadet captain and brigade XO.

There was no doubt in her mind then she would have been in overseas one day. Not then. Not until she had outed herself. ]

I go wherever.

[bloodyantivan]

Ah, yes, Wherever! [He gives a theatrical laugh, and finishes his ale.] I was headed there after I left Antiva and found myself in the most unpleasant country, full of dogs and mud and darkspawn. And then here.

But tell me, which part of Wherever do you prefer? There are no elves, it seems, but are there perhaps dragons? Is there dancing? What are the parties like?

[gevurah]

No elves or dragons. [ She almost snickers. ] If there are, they hide themselves well.

Parties can go on till late night. Always loud and always energetic. But there's no fun in a party where everyone's standing around.

[bloodyantivan]

You are better off not having to deal with dragons. Or darkspawn, for that matter. They have an unrepentant love of destruction that would be admirable if not for the smell of them. [Zevran laughs.] So is there dancing at these parties? Small games, orgies, other such entanglements?

[gevurah]

[ She's about to down the rest of her drink when she hears "orgies" and pulls the mug away from her mouth, letting out an amused noise in the back of her throat. Just so she doesn't spill the drink, she sets it down on the table. ]

Depends on the kind of party. Orgies are... frowned upon. Public display of sex can get you fined by the authorities.

[bloodyantivan]

Such a shame! [Zevran 'tsks' quietly.] I must admit the world outside Antiva is less exciting than I imagined it. It seems everywhere I go people are missing perfectly good chances to have fun. Chantry services, mage's towers, and even faraway parties... [He sighs dramatically.] I suppose that the only place orgies are in style are in brothels, and Imperium parties.

[Somehow he'll have to live through that disappointment.]

I do believe it's your turn to get the drinks...?

[gevurah]

Have you lived there your whole life? [ He's mentioned it a couple of times to pique her curiosity. She wonders what it's like. ]

Sure. [ She waves over one of the barkeeps and orders another two, tall drinks for herself and Zevran. ]

[bloodyantivan]

Most of it. I only left just recently. Unfortunately, everywhere else seems quite cold in comparison, and nowhere near as amusing.

[Zevran smiles when the drinks arrive, and raises his glass.] ¡Salud!

[gevurah]

[ She raises hers once more and her head pulls back as she takes a shot. As soon as she's swallowed, she wipes the corner of her mouth and continues to pursue the topic. ]

Moving onto better things? [ She remembers their first conversation. Hard not to wonder what's going on with a man covered in blood, after all. ]

[bloodyantivan]

Ah, more that I was taking a small, well-earned sabbatical. [He had been running away, though toward what, he never was quite certain.]

As I said, I had never before been outside Antiva. I ended up taking a contract in Ferelden, and, failing in that, was taken in by the very woman I was hired to kill. Thus, in Ferelden I have remained, to fight by her side.

[Normally this is a story to be told with great romantic embellishment, but Zevran hurries past it.] And what of you, my friend? You have the worldliness of a traveler, if my impressions are not mistaken.