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]

Good point. Maybe I'll send him a little love letter soon.

[ He's ... joking, really!! ]

But, what question did you ask him, just out of curiosity?

[neverheardofhim]

Oh I'm sure he'd love that. [Meaning an actual love letter. Maybe Varric would try it in the following week.]

[Mikazuki's question had him sobering up relatively quickly, however. A frown replaced the grin that had been working its way across his lips. He gave a shrug, as if what he was about to say didn't carry much gravity.]

I proposed a theory. If everyone took part in a killing, what would happen? [He looked to the floor.] It's... an idea, but without full conversation, I'm not about to suggest it.

[tsugomori]

Then maybe we should actually do it?

[ Mikazuki's plans are bad... ]

Your idea is probably something that shouldn't be suggested at all, so it's a good thing you haven't. I do get why you would ask something like that, though.

[neverheardofhim]

I'll do it if you will.

[Varric shook his head slightly, realizing how he might have sounded.]

It wasn't like I was going to tell one of you to sacrifice yourselves. [He grunted, looking altogether disgusted with that particular idea.] It isn't like I have much to go back to. And I'd much rather see people like you, Vanille or Goldie walk free of this place.

If that was a way to guarantee freedom, then it's a sacrifice I would have been willing to make.

[tsugomori]

[ He's about to say 'it's a plan' regarding their silly plan regarding the letter, but Varric's words take the wind out of his sails, so to speak, and the words don't seem to really come for a moment. ]

If I seriously participated in something like that and walked free, my Master would no longer have any use for someone like myself, and dissemble me immediately.

[ ... Why yes, that is his way of objecting to it. ]

Besides, who is to say the Wordsmith will honor his words?

[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?

[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.]