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

[tsugomori]

I see, I see... well, then take it from me that I prefer battles, yes, and fighting is quite fun, but the ones where you're fighting for your life on the false promise by this man aren't very honorable in the slightest.

Neither do I like it very much.

[ Fighting until you die a noble death...for a cause that is worth it (not one veiled with empty promises), is something that would be acceptable to him. ]

[matchbreaker]

[ Spoken like an actual Samurai or something. She hums a little, looking off at the bookshelves before she shakes her head and stands, stretching herself out a bit ]

Well, then let's hope I don't need to drop you into that shadow pit later. That wouldn't be fun for anyone.

[tsugomori]

Oh yes, I hope not. But if it happens, it happens.

[ Life eventually comes to an end, after all. No matter how much he cares about someone, he won't be able to deny this. ]

[matchbreaker]

[ You know she...

... Appreciates that he didn't say it was impossible he would kill someone or something like that. She actually hums and approving noise, but then waves her hand by way of a goodby and makes to leave. She's totally said her peace, so. ]

[neverheardofhim]

Mm? [Varric lifted a brow. For a moment, he considered rattling off the usual lies, ones that had almost become instinctual for the dwarf. It was only the fact that Vanille had been so open with him that stayed his tongue, at least long enough for him to consider his thoughts.]

[The truth, then.]

Named her after the woman who helped design her. It was another dwarf's invention, but he could never get it right. Bianca was... always smart, smarter than most of our race, really. Damn beautiful, too. [A wistful sigh escaped him.] She's what you might call the one who got away. If by "got away" you meant torn away from me by her family and the Guild alike.

It's... a complicated thing, really.

[neverheardofhim]

Exactly why I'm not jumping on the idea. I can't trust him as far as I can throw him. [And seeing as how the Wordsmith remained out of throwing distance, he was decidedly not very trustworthy at all. Never mind the rest of his bullshit.]

[Though, speaking of other bullshit, Mikazuki's words seemed to stick in Varric's ears. Leaning back, he gave the man a scrutinizing glance.]

What was all that stuff about being dissembled?

[neverheardofhim]

[It's enough of an improvement that Varric won't complain. Instead, he offered a smile, bordering on the sheepish. He was trying, at least, and for once his efforts were both paying off and not being criticized by someone.]

Just doing what I can. [He tilted his chin up.] Really, I should be thanking all of you. You're... you're a good bunch. Better than all this shit.

[firstaid]

I would love to join you. I think this is good not only for our souls, but in remembrance of others.

[She steps out as well with Hanyuu's help. It's cold now, but perhaps that feeling is for the best.]

[tsugomori]

[ He'll give a dismissive hand-wave. ]

Oh, that? That is just special lingo for being 'chewed out' back at home.

I'm just glad to know you're not serious.

[ ...He got a little worried here. ]

[neverheardofhim]

[He raised a brow, but given the fact that he had no reason to question it, he kept quiet. Interesting turn of phrase, he figured, nothing more.]

If I had any other reason to suspect it might work I'd suggest it, but you're right... I wouldn't expect anyone to want to be subjected to that. [Thanks for putting it into perspective, buddy.]

tfw you lose a tag

[oyashiromama]

...Others have had the same. [She doesn't want to take a monopoly on pain, not when Killia lost someone he knew and...everything else that trial was.]

[acherontiastyx]

...

[he thinks about it.]

If it's someone I don't like, if someone kills someone I like, or if their reason is really, really bad and dumb.

[sportadork]

Oh. [he can't call him that he's not even sure what it means]

Does he not like being called cute?

[elepe]

...Good. That's all I can ask of you, but I want what's best for you. I don't want to see something happen to you.

[...that reminds her, let her just. Get out of the way so Vanille can actually have what Lusamine brought in for her, oops.]

You're the most trustworthy of us, Vanille. You remind me of someone I knew, once.

[elepe]

...Ah, they can understand speech. But I'm afraid they cannot speak themselves.

[Clefable demonstrates a bit, trying to say hello and...succeeding at saying her own name, basically.]

They can understand instructions, so perhaps it would be good to utilize them for simpler task.

[She's...wary, admittedly. But hey, perhaps it could work.]

[matchbreaker]

[ She nods to herself ]

Check, check, check. All've those make sense to me too.

[ She laughs a little ]

'Course, I'm not that good-hearted to begin with.

[plegia]

...I don't know if that's the best way to put it. It's not as though I don't believe there are gods, it's just that I don't follow the Grimleal's version of religion. I certainly don't follow whatever the Ylisseans are doing either.

[FIRE EMBLEM RELIGION IS COMPLICATED]

[iaspis]

No.

We need to find him, and quickly, otherwise we may lose the numbers we need to face him.

[deofoled]

He probably needs them that way, or he'd be defeated instantly.

[iaspis]

Maybe not. It's difficult to say either way.

But the Wordsmith did plenty of research.

[iaspis]

Can you... understand their meaning?

[It might be an odd question, so she clarifies after a moment.]

Maybe nothing too specific, but being able to answer basic yes or no questions.

[elepe]

What exactly do you believe in, then?

[It's not quite the answer she was expecting, but not everyone fucks off to their own island to do creepy shit so the gods won't get pissed. It's interesting.]

[matchbreaker]

Yeah, he really did.

[ A beat ]

Anyway, did you wanna take any of these? You can play with them or take 'em I don't mind. I've got to go and check on something though, I'll be back.

[ She said, getting to her feet to just... ollie out. Or such is her intent ]

[iaspis]

Yes, I think that's likely. We'll find him. I'm sure of it.

[deofoled]

I'll save a piece of him for you. [ That is very forward, but Killia tends to run either cool or hot and man does he want to rip the Wordsmith to shreds.]