And it's the stars, the stars that lie to you.

[neverheardofhim]

[This week, Varric opted to take a page from Vanille’s book. Gathering everyone together after the roller-coaster that the first trial had been proved to be somewhat cathartic for himself. He hoped that it would prove to do the same for the others.]

[He wasn’t alone, of course, having found himself blessed with the most ragtag team of chefs and party-planners. He might have had words for and thoughts on Elda and Kimbley, Mikazuki was welcome company, and he wasn’t about to turn away potential allies, even in a fight as simple as cooking dinner.]

[Once everyone’s set to a task, baking a cake, brewing tea, or stirring stew (the only task Varric could think to assign Elda to), Varric excused himself to his room. His first task was writing up cards, each personally titled and signed by Varric.]

Food in the Library. 5 p.m. Don’t spend the night alone.

[Each note was slid under a door and accompanied by a single rap on the wood.]

[With his tasks completed, Varric returned to the kitchen to put out any potential fires and, with luck, set the food out. A table in the library would be adorned with plenty of tea, cake, pancakes courtesy of Viktor, and stew thanks mostly to Varric (sorry, Elda).]

Comments

[neverheardofhim]

[Guilt and regret hit him like a druffalo. He knew he'd been wrong to assume so much cruelty of her, but in the wake of the trial, with everything she was saying about Alani.]

[He'd been a hypocrite, to spurn her and venerate the dead girl. Especially when Elda had been smart enough to know better, with just as much weight on her shoulders. He could have argued numbers, could have argued that her people were less deserving of saving, but again, it was all assumptions. And the fact that she said families...]

[He swallowed hard.]

[When Elda swung, he made no effort to move away, instead taking the blow full-force. It crippled him, sent him onto a knee, but it was better that way. He didn't want to look at her, didn't want to face the fact that he'd been so caught up in his self-righteousness that he'd condemned her.]

[Cassandra had been right. He only thought of himself.]

[He tasted apologies on his tongue, but bit them back. He knew Elda well enough to know she wouldn't listen.]

[neverheardofhim]

[Releasing Watanuki's arm, Varric shrugged. Maybe it sounded kind to Goldie, but for him it was simply normal. The right thing to do, and the thing he was used to doing for all of his allies. In any case, it was the least exhausting thing he'd had to do for a friend. Sure as hell beat keeping assassins and debt hunters off of Blondie's doorstep, or bandits off of Daisy when she went for her nightly walks.]

Anything for a friend, Goldie.

[firstaid]

As long as I know you have it, I would be fine. It would be more fun to talk to someone about it rather than keep it for myself.

[uncouthhatcher]

Oh, don't worry! I'm as spoiled rotten as they come! You, on the other hand, a sweet girl like you'd be delicious to him, so don't tease him too much, alright?

[np np]

[uncouthhatcher]

[She's a sweet lady, that's for sure, but--]

You really don't gotta worry about me, promise. I get enough of it from Silver. [...] It's 'cause you lost your kids though, right? That you treat me and him the way you do and worry over us so much.

[Looks like someone's been talking.]

drink

[quadruples]

[ Viktor taps on the door before stepping inside her room. ]

Hey, Chiyuki. Is that sake?

[foundfate]

Yeah, I guess so. That's how it looks to me. She never does any magic, they just show up.

When I found the shop, it just looked like an old house in an empty lot. I was going to just leave it be, but some invisible force dragged me in.

[foundfate]

[It's very lucky that none of Watanuki's actual problems are here, at least. It's not on the assassin-level, but if Varric went questing with Watanuki to gain his loyalty then he would see some fucked up shit.]

And that goes the other way too, got it? If you need anything, you can count on me for it.

[matchbreaker]

For a place like that, which has magic wishes or whatever - wouldn't you just have a lot of people bringing back the dead?

[ Somehow that was easier to say than she expected ]

[foundfate]

The price has to be equal to the wish. People have asked before, but Yuuko always says 'the price is too steep'. Trust me, if it could be done, I would have been the first person in line for it.

[matchbreaker]

Who?

[ She knows that's insensitive. But after everything tonight including her friendship ending argument with Varric earlier, she really doesn't care ]

[foundfate]

...

[His initial thought is to not tell her. Not so much because it's personal (he has absolutely no problems admitting to being an orphan, he came to terms with it ages ago), but moreso because Elda has shown in the past that she will take information like that and use it to hurt people. And Watanuki doesn't want to get hurt anymore.

But she's missing her parents too, right? Maybe having that common thing between them would be enough to make her not hurt him.]

Let's just say I understand what you're going through. Well, not the vampire part, but the rest of it.

[Hopefully that's enough for her to get the point.]

But regardless, it won't work. The price has to be exactly the same. If you try to bring back even one person that you truly care about, then you might have to let someone else you really care about die in their place.

[matchbreaker]

[ She doesn't correct him or resent him for that vagueness. After all, she had lied to him too. Her parents were on her mind, especially after she blabbed about her past to Varric, but...

That wasn't the one coiling around her heart.

Still, that explanation makes her smile once more, turning away and picking up the sharpie so she can finish off Kyrie's eulogy. In the end, it'll read: ]

"Kyrie Ushiromiya used her gumption and intellect to help the rest of them find a hidden passage which led to the Wordsmith's doorstep. The burden of patience was great, but she was returned to her beloved husband and family."

[ It's a lie, of course. Probably an even bigger lie than the ones Tethras had put up for the other three. But it makes Elda feel better. ]

That sounds like the sort of things you'd hear in old myths. I hope you guys don't lie too much about the pricing.

[alchemicals]

I used my alchemy to do it, actually.

[...i mean he also used, like

an entire guy to do it, too

but that's beside the point]

[alchemicals]

[...Slightly better, yes.]

Rich people have a certain way of doing things, that's all. Not really a good or a bad thing, they just operate differently.

[deofoled]

[ There's not a verbal reaction but a physical one, and for a second it looks like Killia might punch the nearest wall like he did earlier this week.

...

But that wouldn't accomplish anything, other than injuring his hand again. It's not that Varric's words aren't adequate, but that it just reminds him of someone else. Someone else who enjoyed his curry who never should have died either.]

He didn't need to do something like that.

[ Later when it's not so raw, he'd likely appreciate it more.]

[foundfate]

I'm not the one who grants the wishes, so I don't set the prices. I just watch what Yuuko does, and sometimes get stuck with doing the work to actually grant the wish.

...I think that's a better end for Kyrie, though.

[matchbreaker]

[ She nods, as if to agree, but... turning back, she smirks ]

You know, I thought Kimbley was a weird human. You work part time for a genie, that's very/i> strange.

[foundfate]

[SHRUG]

I'm just weird, then. But at least my life isn't boring.

[matchbreaker]

[ My poor html.

Either way, she nods, and then claps him on the back, laughing! ]

Well, I sure know I'm feeling better for it! Might as well let you get back to that party or ghost hunting or whatever you were up to!

[foundfate]

[Oh geez don't knock him over there. But he is glad that she's feeling better.]

Ghost hunting without being able to see ghosts right now seems like an exercise in frustration. A party would probably be a better choice.

[matchbreaker]

Good, good. Go back and have that stew! I even helped get it thick!

[ She stirred it!

... That's what stirring does, right? Either way, she's urging him to leave and go back to the library. She's going to head somewhere else ]

[introspects]

I'll be okay. I promise.

[ Maybe not right now, not while the wounds are still fresh, but she will manage. She will recover. ]

...Have you checked on Killia-kun?

[plentyfriendly]

I don't think I ever had what people would call a normal life.

[firstaid]

I have. I got him some food and I plan on getting him some more.

[He was the first person she checked on for all the obvious reasons.]