Life's Too Short

"So don't tell me what to do, I'm not a little girl, not your little girl. Maker's breath, you sound like you got your undies tied in a bunch!" Mya Caudell. 17. Fereldan. Human Rogue.

[shieldwielding-beefcake-blog]

He didn’t say anything. I mean, he went off for a bit on whatever business he had in Antiva; no one’s really sure what happened. But I guess she probably just has some Hero-y business to take care of. -He shrugs-

-He gets to his feet, looking down at her as he towered nearly a foot over her. He crosses his arms.- If you really want to spar, pup, I’ll get my sword.

[myacaudell]

[Mya nodded, his guess is probably as good as any.] Yeah let’s go! [She jumped around, warming up before she pulled out her daggers. She grinned, following closely behind him to see his sword.]

[roguish-nevarran]

Yeah, I’m sure. [Adrian thinks about Si Si Sheng for a moment and just shrugs noncommitally] I don’t know. Seems like a pretty low-maintenance pet. Also, I’m nevarran. We just happen to have a thing for big scaly lizards.

[myacaudell]

I guess. [Mya laughed] To each their own, tell me if you get your own snake, I’d like to meet it, if it doesn’t kill me!

[shieldwielding-beefcake-blog]

Well… now she’s gone off somewhere. Can’t just come and see her anymore. It’s weird, really. No one knows where she’s gone.

One day, you are going to meet a really good pair of boots. Then you’ll know. -He laughs heartily- Nothing’s wrong with it, but you go about picking fights with big people, and that’s just hilarious.

[myacaudell]

Yeah, do you think something happened to her? People don’t usually do that do they? Did the King say anything?

[Mya scoffs at the sound of her in new boots and stood up, poking at his nose.] Well then let’s fight, big guy!

[roguish-nevarran]

Not if you feed them [Adrian laughs]. They don’t eat that much, as far as I know. It takes them too long to digest everything. Keep them fed and they’ll have no reason to attack you in any way.

[myacaudell]

...Really? Are you sure? I saw a snake strangle someone before, that was actually kinda weird.. and kinda scary. Why snakes?

[shieldwielding-beefcake-blog]

-He chuckles- Well, she probably kicked his arse. And… I mean… have you seen the Hero of Fereldan. -He runs his hand over his hair-

Good armour is never something to snuff at. They may get dirty, but comfortable boots, warms shoes, and good armour is never ever a waste.And feast we did. We had to shove a lot of it in Gavin’s mouth, but he feasted eventually. -He shakes his head- You’re a baby, pup. And Maker, you are little.

[myacaudell]

[Mya laughed at the thought and shook her head,] True, I’d pay to see that again.

Hmph, they all feel like boots to me. Maybe I’ll never get it. Mm, food is always good, no matter what, glad you guys pigged out. [Mya reached up and punched his arm playfully.] I am not a baby! And what’s wrong with being little, hm?

[roguish-nevarran]

Well, it’s different for everyone. I learned from a mix of books and tutoring. I know some people who just learn by listening - which, for me, was a learned skill. [Adrian shrugged] I mean, mabari are alright. Good for a fight. But I don’t know, if I had to have a pet…[He considers for a long moment] A snake sounds pretty cool.

[myacaudell]

Hm.. I see... [Mya seem to go into deep thought before being dragged back into pets] Would snakes just kill you in your sleep? I don’t know, strangle you and all? [Mya made a face at the thought of it.] Hey, it happens.

[shieldwielding-beefcake-blog]

You seem raring to get into shenanigans and adventures. Who am I to deny experiences? And their skills are more than respectable, pup. If a Crow has it in for you, you usually die. I say usually because the Queen of Fereldan is one of the people I know who went into an assassination attempt and came out with an Antivan Crow for an ally.

Old!? I’m not old! I’m only 26. Maybe you’re just a baby. -He laughs as her question- Well… Gavs didn’t ever really have a thing for sex. Or romance. He just… I guess he just wanted some boots. He met Rosa Maria once and we all cuddled. He liked that sort of thing. But not the other stuff.

[myacaudell]

Absolutely, if you’re up for it, I’m up for it. I’m not one to wait until I’m in the grave to regret. [Mya chuckled to the great legendary story,] More like the only one. I’m curious, how do you think she did it?

Boots just seem to be such a waste, they get dirty anyways. Guess that’s okay, hope you guys all at least feasted on the good food. [She grinned and processed his earlier comeback statement on her before pouting.] Hey! I’m not a baby, I’m almost 18, okay. And yes, enough people have commented about my height. 

[roguish-nevarran]

[Adrian shrugged and took a drink of his ale] Well, needed something to do when I was young. It kept me out of my parents hair. So I learned as much about music as I could. That and animals, but animals are a bit more difficult to travel around with. They also don’t make you money.

[myacaudell]

I always wondered how people learnt music, like from books? Sittin’ in a tavern? It’s so pretty to listen to though, always nice to linger around in a tavern for music. [Mya sighed nostalgically.] Aw, but animals make great companions! Wouldn’t you want a mabari?

[roguish-nevarran]

Don’t worry about it, kid. [He returned her grin with one of his own] And now I do know your name. Funny how that works. I’m Adrian. [He offered her his hand]

[myacaudell]

It should work like that more often, more interesting way of meeting people, don’t you think? [She returned the handshake, her hand much smaller than his. Soon enough her big mouth comes back again.] So how did you learn to play the lute?

[shieldwielding-beefcake-blog]

Agreed. We have a Crow here in the Safehouse, I think? Can’t be sure of that, but I’ve heard murmurings. I’d like to have a chat with her. But I’ve also heard that the Crows are super secretive. 

It’s a life she likes, I think. They feed her, keep her with a roof over her head, and she makes a load of money. Why not be happy? -At her question, he laughs- My brother and I were visiting Antiva just to go. It was two years before the Blight and I had just turned 18. I wanted to go to one of the brothels, and he wanted a new pair of boots—he was boring that way. So I went and got matched with Rosa Maria; she was just starting out then. We had a roll in her bed, and it was instantaneous friendship when the next words out of her mouth were “So are you hungry?” I visit her now and again, but she’s more like a sister than a bed mate to me. In a completely non-incestuous way, I swear. Besides, when she told me she was really only attracted to women and just didn’t mind working with men, I told her that I didn’t want to sleep with her anymore. Because what’s the point if the partner doesn’t enjoy it as much as you do? Besides, I fancied one of the men at the brothel after a while. -He shrugs- Now we meet up, eat everything we can get our hands on, and lay about.

[myacaudell]

Really? Now that’s cool! If you ever do talk to her, bring me with you would ya? Who knows, we could screw up and get our names on their hit list, fun. Though their assassination skills are respectable. [Mya nodded animatedly, thinking of the Crow action back in Denerim.]

Man, I’m sold. I would do that if I could, maybe just the food and the roof. [She turned about to face him, hugging her knees as Fabian went into story time mode.] Maker’s breath, you’re old. [Mya swallowed her laughter and felt bad for interrupting] Sorry, continue please. [The smile on her lips just got wider and wider as he continued the story, resting her chin on her knees.] Aw, I think that’s really cute. And to think you guys really did meet at the brothel! But she seems really nice. Hm.. One more question thought, [She thought for a while as she face turned serious, trying to maintain that face while her question choked in giggles.]Why boots?

[roguish-nevarran]

[Adrian shrugged] Compared to the other guys her parents could have chosen? He wasn’t the worst. But yeah. Definitely not a fan of him. [Adrian looked to her as her mood shifted, and shrugged again.] Why not? Look, if you’re hungry enough that you gotta steal to eat, then it’s no skin off my back if I help you not get in trouble for it.

[myacaudell]

[Mya dropped her head, her short hair falling to cover the small smile forming on her lips as she shook her head,] Because no one ever does. [She looks up to him soon enough, pulling a bigger grin.] ..Thank you. Really. I’m Mya. Wow look at that, you don’t even know my name!

[roguish-nevarran]

Well, for one, he liked to talk like she was his. Like he owned her and what not - before they were even remotely together. That got on her nerves. Then you had the fact that he cared about his money more than anything else. He didn’t really see her as a person - more like a business investment. He acted like nobody was actually a person, like they were all just pawns and pieces you could move around. She could’ve gotten past that, if he treated her remotely nice, but he just acted like she was stupid. So, I’d rate him about a 6 for ‘asshole of the year’.

[myacaudell]

Andraste’s ass, he sounds like an 11 to me. Did you steal anything from him? He would totally deserve it. I would if I was there. Maybe you could give me a name, I could help you out. [Mya sat a little straighter, almost excited to plot ‘heists’ against awful people. She stared at her empty cup and glummed back down as she asked.] Why are you helping me?

[roguish-nevarran]

[Adrian nodded at her logic] Makes sense to me. Sometimes, people need a good kick in the butt - literally or figuratively - to get their heads dislodged from them. I remember once, this girl I grew up with was trying to get her parents to break their betorthal to this real piece of work. So, I challenged him to a duel, humiliated him in front of a crowd - nothing like being beaten by the resident cautionary tail - and ruined his reputation so badly that her parents wanted nothing more to do with him.

[myacaudell]

Ooooh, nice. [Mya made a face, as if empathising with the pain of that poor guy. As he started a story, Mya picked up the small chicken and started eating. Why waste something no one would miss?] So on a scale from 1 to 10, how horrible was this guy? I’m sure he must be quite the shoddy piece of crap if your friend wanted him gone to badly. [She talked with food in her mouth.]

[shieldwielding-beefcake-blog]

No reason why you shouldn’t. Just don’t piss off the Crows, and you’ll be fine.

Well… for a poor and sad whore, maybe it is. But Rosa Maria’s an expensive whore who can afford to be choosy and to eat the brothel out of house and home because she makes them all their money. As far as I know, she loves her job.

[myacaudell]

Man, The Crows huh? I’d be stupid to. But I think we’re far enough from Ferelden already. One day though! I’ll visit Antiva.

Oh. Wow, well then, that sounds like a fabulous life. How did you even meet her and becomes best of friends? [Mya tilted her head up as she speculated, grinning.] Did you visit her in her brothel?

[roguish-nevarran]

[Adrian shook his head, grinning slightly] You tried to take his lute? That’s just cruel, separating a man from his lute. [He was clearly teasing] He must have had a lot of stamina to bother chasing you that much, though.

[myacaudell]

Well I needed the money, and he looked rich enough to buy himself a new, better lute anyways. [She shrugged and stuck her tongue out before laughing again at the thought.] Oh, he tried, I’d give him that. He tried so hard to climb up that roof I was on. So worth stealing from him.

[shieldwielding-beefcake-blog]

You ever been to Antiva? The food there is spiced in a completely different way from Fereldan. It’s great.

-He bursts into laughter- Because she’s a whore, pup.

[myacaudell]

Now you’re just tempting me to go there, [Mya grinned, food always was good.]

Hey, I know that! It’s just.. It sounds like a horrible job. I mean, why not just look for something better? Or not, I lived off stealing just fine.

[myacaudell]

[Mya stopped for a moment before continuing to laugh.]No no there’s nothing wrong with it. I just have very… fond memories of lutes. [She paused and smiled, grabbing the cup of water and chugging it down as fast as she could.]

[roguish-nevarran]

[Adrian raises a brow] Oh? What sort of memories? I mean, aside from fond, obviously.

[myacaudell]

[Mya bit her lip to hold back her laughter, trying to regale the lute tale.] Once upon a time, I tried to steal from this lutist, some food, his bottle of ale and yes his lute. Dumb move on the lute really, I thought I could do it. End up he chased me three times around the city, waving his lute in the air. [Mya tried to mimicked the angry bard waving his lute like it’s a floppy fish.] Ah, good times..