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

[alchemicals]

[He just sort of shrugs a bit at that.}

It's not like anything happened to me, you know, to make me like this. Some people are just wired wrong, you know? The sort of people that you just know are going to die before they're thirty, because they weren't made to live very long.

I've always been like that. I'm not really the guy people come to for understanding or compassion, because it's really obvious that I don't have any to give anyone. I don't know why, but then, it doesn't bother me or anything either. It's just the way things are.

[neverheardofhim]

I get that. [He'd met his fair share of prickly types, after all. Granted, most of them weren't as bad as Kimbley -- most of them tended to have some way of warming up.]

No one is asking you to warm up to them and offer a kiss and a good time. Though I'm sure that might be something that comes easily for you. [He snorted.] Just... there's a lot of fear here. A lot of emotion. The least you can do is not be so opposed to it.

You don't have to offer advice, just maybe keep your mouth shut. [He tries to say that last bit as nicely as possible but... it's not exactly easy.]

Like it or not, we're stuck together, Kimbley. Until death do us part. And I'd like to think you don't want to wind up in the pit next trial so... the least you can do is try to adapt a little.

[alchemicals]

[...varric he is pretty sure that you just called him, to put it in scientific terms, a tremendous ho

he is not going to argue that notion but god it's going to get a snort out of him, thanks]

If I didn't know any better, I'd say you think I'm dangerous. If that's the case, you can come right out and say it, I'm not going to fault you for it and I'm pretty sure no one else here would, either.

[neverheardofhim]

[Well, he's never been to a murder trial before this, but he's pretty sure the Chantry sisters there don't sit around talking about their kinks or being bitten by vampires.]

I think you could be dangerous. Moreso than the rest of us. But the fact that you're trying to devise a way out of here, that you're considering sending thank you notes, and hell, the fact that you're making cake for everyone tells me that maybe, there's something in there that doesn't want to do it.

Consider this an appeal to that side, more than anything.

[alchemicals]

And what makes me more dangerous than everyone else here? Asking for curiosity's sake.

[neverheardofhim]

You said it yourself. You lack empathy.

[alchemicals]

So I do. But there's a difference between not caring if people die and actively trying to murder everyone, right?

[neverheardofhim]

Is there? I'm not so sure.

Alani was one of the best of us. If she could be swayed, who says next week you won't be?

[alchemicals]

If I really didn't see a difference between not caring and wanting you all dead, if I really wanted to get out of here, I wouldn't waste my time waiting for one of his stupid incentives. I'd have killed you all within the first week and been done with it.

But I'm not really interested in that. And the fact of the matter is that two people have killed someone, and I haven't.

[neverheardofhim]

[That's... a good point.]

Look. I'm just looking out for everyone here, alright? Like I said, I'd like to think you're not that kind of guy. And you're certainly not the worst of us. [Thanks Gangrel.]

[alchemicals]

Well, fortunately for everyone here, I'm not interested in ending up in the pit, and I have to play by the same rules as everyone else.

Also fortunately for everyone here, there are a few people I'm particularly invested in not seeing dead.

[neverheardofhim]

[That... was a language Varric could speak.]

I hope you keep them safe then. Seeing someone you care for dead... [But he wouldn't wax sentimental to Kimbley. It wouldn't be appreciated, for starters, and Varric didn't want to waste his limited capacity for emotional expression on him.]

It's a cruel game, this. So keep them close.