and it takes, and it takes, and it takes

[acherontiastyx]

[It... definitely takes a while for the weekly after-execution note to arrive, but it does --- kind of scrawly and on ripped paper rather than nice stationery.]

EY. YO. WE GOT EFFIGIES IN THE DINING ROOM AND WE'RE GONNA BURN EM.

FOOD TOO. THE USUAL AND HOT COCOA. GOOD FOR THE SOUL. GET SOME. MAYBE TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR ROOM IF YOU HAVE TO. JUST GET SOME.

[Anyway, in the dining room, there's plenty of mugs set out, with a janky looking arrow sign pointing into the kitchen to where you can get your hot cocoa. On the table, there's Vichyssoise, a pot of green tea, and some booze. There's also a cookie tray on the floor away from the table on which to burn the Wordsmith and Kimbley effigies, which are handily placed near the food on the table.

...also if you go in the kitchen without shoes on just. Watch the northern corner. There's no kidneys, but there's a lot of broken plates there for some reason...]

Comments

[neverheardofhim]

Your soul? [He glanced down at the creature, and used a spoon to flick away some of that "extra seasoning." At least Varric was used to things getting into his food. Outdoor cooking and all.]

How the hell did that happen, and how did he manage to stop it?

[foundfate]

There's a kind of spirit in my world, they look kind of like angel wings with a bunch of tentacles, and they latch onto a person's back. Their tentacles dig in deep, and eventually they rip out a person's soul, leaving them as an emotionless husk of a person.

One of them tried to do that to me, and Mugetsu burned it to a crisp.

[Mugetsu looks pretty proud there too. He will always protect Watanuki, no matter what.]

[neverheardofhim]

Huh. [It sounded a bit too familiar for Varric's comfort. He quickly distracted himself by reaching over to pet the creature. Even if he was Maker only knew how late, the thing deserved some praise for saving Watanuki.]

Damn good of you, Puff. You can have extra booze tonight, just for that.

[foundfate]

[Mugetsu lets out a happy squeak at that.]

Yeah, he's pretty great. I owe a lot to him. Him and Doumeki, they're both always looking out for me.

[neverheardofhim]

You've got a lot of people protecting you then. That's... that's good, Goldie. I'm glad. [He would keep Watanuki safe as long as they were here, but like with Estelle, he was worried about what might happen once they all broke free]

[It wasn't like he could split himself between universes. Even if he could, it'd be a handful, trying to check in on everyone else.]

[foundfate]

Yeah, I do. I'd like to be able to protect them myself someday, though.

[He's thinking back to what that spider spirit said to him, about how he has a lot of power within him. If he does, then why is he so useless? All he can do is see ghosts and spirits, if he's really that powerful then he should be able to do more, right?]

[neverheardofhim]

Could always teach you, if you'd like. [He leaned back, trying to look casual. It was an action that was thwarted by the fact that he attempted to flex some. Subtle, Varric.]

I don't know if you've heard, but I'm good with a crossbow. I was trying to teach Judy how to use a bow but... [Obviously they didn't get far.]

[foundfate]

How heavy is a crossbow? I got this sword from the vending machine, but I think it's too heavy for me to use.

[neverheardofhim]

Bianca was a lot heavier than most, but she's special. There's a couple of more... modern crossbows upstairs. Could always try one on for size -- see how it fits you.

[foundfate]

That wouldn't be a bad idea, I guess. ...I'm not sure I could actually shoot it at someone, though.

[neverheardofhim]

Sometimes you don't need to shoot. You just need to to scare people off. [He glanced down at his fish, flipping it over.] After we're done eating, we can always head up there. Puff can drink and we shoot.

[foundfate]

Fine, fine, threats are something I can actually do.

[He feels like he would be dragged into it anyway.]

Is that what Bianca is for, then? Scaring people off?

[neverheardofhim]

Maker, no. Bianca is for shooting fools who think they can mess with my friends. [And other assorted things, but those were all unnecessary details, he figured.]

But not everyone is as acclimated to violence as me. It was the kind of world I grew up in, but that doesn't mean everyone came from the same background.

[foundfate]

Yeah, I definitely didn't. Where I grew up, weapons were only used by the military, or for sports like archery and skeet shooting. That's more Doumeki's thing too, I never learned any of it.

[neverheardofhim]

Plenty of time to learn now. [He winked.] We are in school after all.

[foundfate]

[His eyes, they are rolling.]

Fine, dad, I'll be a good kid and study at school.

[He meant that sarcastically. Probably. It's not like he actually sees Varric as a father figure or anything.]

[neverheardofhim]

Dad?

[The look he gave Watanuki was half-confused and half-amused. Both expressions were a mask in their own right -- in truth he was touched by the gesture, just as he had been when the girls had called him the same.]

[foundfate]

You know, because you're being bossy like a dad would be?

[He's assuming, because. Yeah, he doesn't really remember his own father.]

[neverheardofhim]

God forbid I want my kid to take care of himself.

[Two can play at that game, Goldie.]

[foundfate]

[He scoffs at that.]

Your 'kid' has a good 70 years on you, you know.

[Not that he remembers them, but still.]

[neverheardofhim]

You're the one who called me dad, first. I'm just complying with what you seem to want. [The grin directed at Watanuki was absolutely devious.]

[foundfate]

I already have a dad, you know.

[A very dead one, but details.]

[neverheardofhim]

I know. And I wouldn't try to take his place.

[He wasn't much for parental responsibility anyway. Even if... that was exactly what he had been doing for the past five weeks.]

[foundfate]

[Varric don't lie, you always watch out for the kids.

And Watanuki just shrugs at that, though he's looking away now. He definitely didn't expect things to go this way over a dad joke.]

It's hard to compete with someone I barely remember anyway.

[neverheardofhim]

Doesn't mean he isn't still your Dad, kid. [He glanced at Mugetsu, making sure he wasn't about to burn any of their food, added some rice to the pot, then finally moved over to Watanuki. He clapped a hand on his arm, giving him a firm look in the process.]

You've kept your head here better than most of us. You've been a good cook and an even better friend when a lot of us weren't in our right minds.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Anyone with a brain would be proud of that. I sure as hell am.