Josephine pinched the bridge of her nose before looking down at herlover. Maker save her from stubborn dwarves. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s a dress,” Iske said, flopping down on the sofa in front of thefire. “Have you ever seen me in a dress?”
“It’s the latest in Orlesian fashion,” Josephine said. It’sridiculous, but she felt a bit hurt at the refusal. “I picked out the colorspecifically. I thought it would look good with your eyes.”
“But it’s a dress,” Iske said, drawing out each word. “I hate- I wouldreally prefer not to wear a dress.”
There was a mystery there, and if there was anything Josephine didn’tlike, it was mysteries. She placed the dress with the beautiful light blue silkand silver trim carefully onto the bed.
A chill was spreading through Iske’s quarters, even with the fire. SoJosephine walked to the balcony window and put her hand on the handle. With aquestioning look to Iske, who nodded, she closed the door.
“Will you tell me why?” Josephine asked as she walked towards thesofa. For a moment, an unworthy thought crossed her mind and she wanted to bepetty and sit on the other side of the sofa. Instead, she sat down right nextto Iske, so their thighs touched.
But Iske scooted back on the sofa, pulling her legs up under her.“Ready to learn something new about me?” she asked, her voice quiet.
It was the quietness that worried Josephine. Iske was not quiet. Neverquiet. She probably didn’t have a quiet voice in her body. “Always, my love,”Josephine said. She wanted to reach out, but experience held her back.
“Before I joined the Carta, I was a Noble Hunter in Orzammar,” Iskesaid.
She left the sentence dangling, clearly waiting for Josephine to makesome sort of reaction. What did she expect? Josephine had heard of NobleHunters, of course. She also knew Iske well enough to know that life would haveabsolutely suffocated her.
The silence was starting to become uncomfortable so Josephine said,“As you are sitting here with me now, I will assume it didn’t take.”
“You could say that,” Iske said with a bitter laugh. “I had a patronand everything. But then I couldn’t find a noble who actually wanted anythingmore than a quick fuck.”
Without thinking, Josephine put her hand on Iske’s wanting to comfort.To her surprise, Iske gripped it tightly. “I can’t imagine that pleased yourpatron,” Josephine said.
“It did not,” Iske said. “After a year, I had enough. So I managed tosneak away from my patron and ended up with the Carta. A year later, theysmuggled me out of Orzammar.”
“That does explain a few things,” Josephine said, giving Iske’s hand asqueeze. “I had wondered where you had learnt Elven poetry. And your tablemanners are impeccable.”
That brought a bit of a smile to Iske’s face. “But that’s why I don’twant to wear a dress to the Empress’s ball, you see,” Iske said. “It would justremind me of dressing up for stupid nobles.”
Josephine knew the comment was not directed at her personally, so shelet it roll off her back. “Well, now that I know this,” she said, “I wouldn’tdream of having you wear a dress to the ball. Perhaps a uniform of some sort?”
The idea took root immediately. They could all wear a uniform, go tothe ball as a united front. She would have to talk to Leliana, figure out cutand colors that would be the most flattering on everyone.
Without warning, Iske slipped off the couch and walked to the bed.Josephine sat up on her knees and turned around, watching her lover.
“You know, this is a really pretty dress, though,” Iske said, runninga finger down the silk. “Far nicer than anything I wore in Orzammar.”
“Perhaps we could dress up one night, just for each other. I couldhave dinner brought to the room, so only I would see you,” Josephine said.
Iske’s face lit up. “I’d like that,” she said. “Be nice to see you alldressed up.”
Josephine smiled back, trying to decide which outfit she herself mightwear. Perhaps her velvet dress in emerald green. “Let’s get that hung up,” shesaid, nodding towards the dress. “Then we can talk to Leliana to figure outsomething else to wear to the ball.”
He’s known all his life: hustle is way more important than a good break. You don’t get food in your stomach by getting lucky, and you sure as hell don’t get to be Taako from TV by chance, y’know?
And yet. He meets two idiots in Neverwinter. They lead him to the Bureau of Balance, and the reacquisition of his heart. He gains a little brother and a boyfriend. And somewhere along the line, an actual family he is annoyed by, loves, and is ambivalent about in equal measure. He couldn’t have worked for this. But he’ll take it anyways.
If you're still taking prompts how about #27 and "don't be an ass." Happy New Year!
This is Denravi Tabris and Zevran!
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“Don’t be an ass,” Denravi says, not able to keep the laughter out ofher voice.
“You as that as if it’s possible for me to be any other way, my love,”Zevran says, waggling his eyebrows. “Is that not why you keep me around? Toprovide you with something beautiful to look at along with a dose of laughterwhen needed?”
Denravi smiles, and for a moment, a beautiful glorious moment, thedrums stop. She doesn’t even remember what Zevran said earlier, but it doesn’tmatter, because the drums are gone. And when they are gone, she feels likeherself again, whole and free.
Night in the Western Approach is chilly enough that she needs noexcuse to scoot closer to Zevran. How grateful she is that he came along onthis journey. She tried to dissuade him at first, thinking this be Grey Wardenbusiness, but oh how her lover can be stubborn.
His arm goes around her shoulder as she leans into him, his bodywarming her more than the campfire ever could. Her hand rests on his knee,taking simple comfort in his touch.
“And suddenly you are quiet,” Zevran says. “We were having a good time,no?”
She nods, not sure of how to explain. She wants to enjoy this moment.This moment when there are no drums and she’s in the arms of the man she loves.
But of course, he understands. Zevran always understands.
“We will find a cure,” he says, his voice soft, but not enough to maskthe strength Denravi desperately needs to hear from him right now. He kissesher temple as she closes her eyes. “The Calling will not take you from me, mylove.”
When he speaks like that, Denravi almost believes him. She looks intothe fire, the flames dancing in time with the beat of the drums.
For years, I’ve wanted to try my hand at cosplaying, and I’ve considered so many characters (Sloane from TAZ, Morrigan, Moonshade from Elfquest, and now Xayah) --
-- but never once, till this evening, did I consider Bethany Hawke.
Happiest of birthdays bestest Bee! I hope it’s filled with good food and lots of snuggles with a certain round and glorious feline 🙂 *all the hugs*
Oh, there have already been lots of cuddles with a certain round and glorious feline, and soon I will make pancakes and cake and eat myself into a food coma! Thank you! <3
