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No, no, I don't need anything.
[ His arms are folded behind his back; when he unfolds them, they're holding twin stone pots, small enough to fit in his palms. One is home to a fern, and the other a cluster of mushrooms. ]
The merchant promised me these would grow well without a lot of light.
[ Every room in the Gallows has a window, but they're narrow and on the lower floors they spend most of the day shaded by the walls of the fortress.
He passes them through the—bars? the hole where trays of food can be passed back and forth? I am unclear on the exact situation with Tav's specific door, but one way or another Bastien manages to angle the plants and get them though to be within Tav's reach. ]
This one is named I'm Sorry, [ with a wiggle of the fern, then a wiggle of the mushrooms: ] and these are named I Was An Ass.
[ His arms are folded behind his back; when he unfolds them, they're holding twin stone pots, small enough to fit in his palms. One is home to a fern, and the other a cluster of mushrooms. ]
The merchant promised me these would grow well without a lot of light.
[ Every room in the Gallows has a window, but they're narrow and on the lower floors they spend most of the day shaded by the walls of the fortress.
He passes them through the—bars? the hole where trays of food can be passed back and forth? I am unclear on the exact situation with Tav's specific door, but one way or another Bastien manages to angle the plants and get them though to be within Tav's reach. ]
This one is named I'm Sorry, [ with a wiggle of the fern, then a wiggle of the mushrooms: ] and these are named I Was An Ass.
[Tav stares back, stunned for a moment as he accepts the two pots through the bars, well after the guards inspect the pots for anything dangerous.
Which is obviously stupid, but this is Tav’s life now since his episode.
He wants to chuckle at the names, but he needs to apologize as well for his frank madness. Setting the pots on his bunk, he returns to the door.]
Are you sure you don’t want I Was An Ass back? Because I was frankly out of my mind with being an ass when we should have been cooperating.
Which is obviously stupid, but this is Tav’s life now since his episode.
He wants to chuckle at the names, but he needs to apologize as well for his frank madness. Setting the pots on his bunk, he returns to the door.]
Are you sure you don’t want I Was An Ass back? Because I was frankly out of my mind with being an ass when we should have been cooperating.
“I am, but not similar to Thedas mages,” Tav replies, wishing the issue were as simple as being a mage. “But I’m afraid my crime is worse.”
The captain has advised him against blabbing about his condition so many times so Tav finally keeps his lips shut for once.
“I’m not sure when the punishment will end, regardless,” Tav shakes his head. “I could be locked in forever.”
The captain has advised him against blabbing about his condition so many times so Tav finally keeps his lips shut for once.
“I’m not sure when the punishment will end, regardless,” Tav shakes his head. “I could be locked in forever.”
[ The smile that stretches across Bastien's face is closed-lip, asymmetrical, friendly but also acknowledging and restrained. ]
No, I don't want it back.
[ He steps back and turns aside, long enough to have a quick conversation with the guards, to tell them it's fine and they can take fifteen–look, here, he has a deck of cards, go sit down and play a few hands—so he can steal the stool one of them was sitting on. He drags it closer with his ankle to sit on in front of the door.
It isn't that he's changed his mind and decided Tav was behaving sensibly and helpfully and no one should have told him to quiet down for the time being. It's— ]
You are in a new world. You haven't been here very long or seen very much of it. And you clearly have a lot going on—and so do we. All of us. But I should have been kinder.
No, I don't want it back.
[ He steps back and turns aside, long enough to have a quick conversation with the guards, to tell them it's fine and they can take fifteen–look, here, he has a deck of cards, go sit down and play a few hands—so he can steal the stool one of them was sitting on. He drags it closer with his ankle to sit on in front of the door.
It isn't that he's changed his mind and decided Tav was behaving sensibly and helpfully and no one should have told him to quiet down for the time being. It's— ]
You are in a new world. You haven't been here very long or seen very much of it. And you clearly have a lot going on—and so do we. All of us. But I should have been kinder.
I am, yes. But I haven’t many memories from home. I’ve nearly been here longer.
[Which is almost just as frustrating.
Tav leans against the door to look at Bastien through the bars as they talk.]
I didn’t expect you to come looking for me.
[No filter Tav is back again.]
I’m not wildly popular these days. Makes sense. I think even the Captain hates me now, so I assumed you would be in the same boat.
[Which is almost just as frustrating.
Tav leans against the door to look at Bastien through the bars as they talk.]
I didn’t expect you to come looking for me.
[No filter Tav is back again.]
I’m not wildly popular these days. Makes sense. I think even the Captain hates me now, so I assumed you would be in the same boat.
Why wouldn’t he after having to deal with…
[The guards already know, Bastien saw it first hand and yet Tav finds it difficult to bring up his condition.]
I broke out of my ropes after telling him they would hold me. He took first shift and had to listen to the same amount of hateful words that you did. And now I’m even more useless in a conversation if I’m yelling at f…
[Friends is the word he’s about to say, but if he’s honest, he’s not sure if Bastien should forgive him, or if they even qualified as friends in the first place.
It’s a horribly lonely life behind bars.
Tav clears his throat and shakes his head.]
Thank you for coming. There’s no apology needed. Visiting is a kind enough gesture.
[The guards already know, Bastien saw it first hand and yet Tav finds it difficult to bring up his condition.]
I broke out of my ropes after telling him they would hold me. He took first shift and had to listen to the same amount of hateful words that you did. And now I’m even more useless in a conversation if I’m yelling at f…
[Friends is the word he’s about to say, but if he’s honest, he’s not sure if Bastien should forgive him, or if they even qualified as friends in the first place.
It’s a horribly lonely life behind bars.
Tav clears his throat and shakes his head.]
Thank you for coming. There’s no apology needed. Visiting is a kind enough gesture.
[ As Tav explains, Bastien nods. Hums once. No sign in any of that that Rowntree hates anyone, of course, but plenty of sign that Tav hates himself—which is fair, honestly. If Bastien couldn't help murdering people who didn't deserve it, he wouldn't be overly fond of himself either. ]
Yes, well,
[ is his only answer to the second part, a polite semi-agreement for the sake of not wasting time discussing when apologies are or are not needed.
He waits until he's successfully found and lit a cigarette to say anything else. ]
No one hates you, Tav. Not that I know of. Certainly not for what happens when you are not yourself. When people seem frustrated, it is...
[ Inhale, exhale, in anticipation of a mouthful. ]
We are at war, you know? We all work a lot. We have a lot to worry about. And in the meantime we are home to all kinds of people who are not easily accepted in Thedas—rifters like you among them—and we have spent years and money and sweat and blood convincing the world that they can trust us to do our work and to keep people safe, insofar as that is ever up to us.
So what is happening with you, it is very inconvenient. It is not only that we can't let you kill someone. Of course we can't. But we also can't let people outside of this fortress know that it was ever a risk.
And in the meantime we have the war, we have dozens of other problems we cannot set aside to worry about you. We thought our people were dead, you know? Benedict had been replaced by a demon. We thought he was dead. We were realizing he was not the only one. I should not have been short with you that way, and I am sorry, but if people are brusque with you, it is not because you hurt anyone's feelings threatening to kill them. People threaten us all the time.
Yes, well,
[ is his only answer to the second part, a polite semi-agreement for the sake of not wasting time discussing when apologies are or are not needed.
He waits until he's successfully found and lit a cigarette to say anything else. ]
No one hates you, Tav. Not that I know of. Certainly not for what happens when you are not yourself. When people seem frustrated, it is...
[ Inhale, exhale, in anticipation of a mouthful. ]
We are at war, you know? We all work a lot. We have a lot to worry about. And in the meantime we are home to all kinds of people who are not easily accepted in Thedas—rifters like you among them—and we have spent years and money and sweat and blood convincing the world that they can trust us to do our work and to keep people safe, insofar as that is ever up to us.
So what is happening with you, it is very inconvenient. It is not only that we can't let you kill someone. Of course we can't. But we also can't let people outside of this fortress know that it was ever a risk.
And in the meantime we have the war, we have dozens of other problems we cannot set aside to worry about you. We thought our people were dead, you know? Benedict had been replaced by a demon. We thought he was dead. We were realizing he was not the only one. I should not have been short with you that way, and I am sorry, but if people are brusque with you, it is not because you hurt anyone's feelings threatening to kill them. People threaten us all the time.
[Inconvenient is a word for his condition, but with war going on around them? How much has Tav complained to Strange, to Lazar? Been downright hostile when he feels ignored in his impromptu incarceration?
When Rowan explains it all, Tav returns to the two plants to hand them back through the bars.]
I’ve been an enormous ass.
When Rowan explains it all, Tav returns to the two plants to hand them back through the bars.]
I’ve been an enormous ass.
[ Bastien doesn't stand up from his place on the stool to accept the plants back. He shakes his head, flicks his free hand to say no. ]
I'm no good with plants. They would be dead in a week.
[ Hyperbole. But he doesn't want them back. ]
And you haven't been an ass. You've been, [ with no insult intended, only a throwback to his prior joke about Tav's limited memories, ] a baby, in a new world where you do not know the score.
I'm no good with plants. They would be dead in a week.
[ Hyperbole. But he doesn't want them back. ]
And you haven't been an ass. You've been, [ with no insult intended, only a throwback to his prior joke about Tav's limited memories, ] a baby, in a new world where you do not know the score.
A baby that murders others at random and then complains about his jailing conditions while demons run amok.
[Tav leaves the plants to balance on the window, disappearing again back toward his bunk. Maybe he should shatter his crystal to stop him from interfering with any further Riftwatch actions. And just when he thought he’d done good, using his healing magic. Seal the hatch on his door, allow himself to be truly jailed, rather than this sort of in between going on.
If he called the guards to shoo Bastien away, would he ever come back?
Tav lays down on his bunk, springs squeaking. Perhaps it would be better to set the guards to disallow visitors after Bastien leaves.]
[Tav leaves the plants to balance on the window, disappearing again back toward his bunk. Maybe he should shatter his crystal to stop him from interfering with any further Riftwatch actions. And just when he thought he’d done good, using his healing magic. Seal the hatch on his door, allow himself to be truly jailed, rather than this sort of in between going on.
If he called the guards to shoo Bastien away, would he ever come back?
Tav lays down on his bunk, springs squeaking. Perhaps it would be better to set the guards to disallow visitors after Bastien leaves.]
Worse. So, probably not arson or larceny. Lazar's shoulders relax - he's in the clear.
"Well," He decides after a moment. "That's not gonna work for the bird."
No shit.
"You tell 'em you wanna touch grass?"
"Well," He decides after a moment. "That's not gonna work for the bird."
No shit.
"You tell 'em you wanna touch grass?"
Edited 2024-03-29 04:31 (UTC)
"Walk around. Breathe some air. Talk to your birds, or whatnot." He chugs the last of his cup, scrapes up to his feet. "Don't need to leave nowhere for that. Seagulls shitting all over this place - griffons're probably worse."
Lazar doesn't know. He's not putting an arm anywhere near those beaky fucks.
Lazar doesn't know. He's not putting an arm anywhere near those beaky fucks.
[ Bastien pauses his conversation with the guards to call back, ]
I told you, with me they will die,
[ and resumes it without missing any additional beats.
He's not coming back; once he's scooped up his cards, he heads down the hall and down the stairs. ]
I told you, with me they will die,
[ and resumes it without missing any additional beats.
He's not coming back; once he's scooped up his cards, he heads down the hall and down the stairs. ]
"Hell, kid. Look out your window." Lazar stretches a heavy arm, squints to the door. It's shift soon. "Dunno how Williams ever keeps 'em in the eyrie."
But they fly plenty.
"Well, I gotta piss. Thanks for the roll."
But they fly plenty.
"Well, I gotta piss. Thanks for the roll."
Strange had promised Tav a break after the demonic infiltration, only for their little world to go promptly askew. The Gallows attacked, Kirkwall itself attacked, priorities slipped and slid and were continually rearranged.
But it had been a few weeks now, and the man carried a perpetual awareness of it like a pebble in his shoe. The more that the elf was pent-up and miserable, who was to say it wouldn’t increase the chances of an incident occurring, or Tav doing something supremely reckless?
So, Strange had finally taken the initiative to arrange an outing. Parts of the garden had been crushed during the tower collapse, and they should go foraging soon anyhow for more seeds and plants to transplant into all that broken soil, trying to catch up with the growing season. There had been some hemming and hawing about the Head Healer heading out with such a known liability, but he’d bristled with some professional affront; he had once been Sorcerer Supreme of an entire dimension, he was a powerful mage, he could certainly take care of himself, etc, etc.
Which is how they’re here today: tromping along in Planasene Forest. Late-spring early-summer means it’s quite nice, and for all that Stephen Strange has become a city boy, it’s not the worst thing ever. The clean air without the constant churned-up dirt and noise of reconstruction, away from the crowds of Kirkwall. Dressed for a hike, wearing a worn leather backpack with a bedroll and tent tied to it, carrying supplies enough for a day and night away, with the plan to camp out under the stars.
A little break, as it were.
“Did I ever mention I grew up on a farm?” Strange asks offhand, as they walk along under the trees. “I prefer cities, but the outdoors isn’t exactly unfamiliar to me either.”
But it had been a few weeks now, and the man carried a perpetual awareness of it like a pebble in his shoe. The more that the elf was pent-up and miserable, who was to say it wouldn’t increase the chances of an incident occurring, or Tav doing something supremely reckless?
So, Strange had finally taken the initiative to arrange an outing. Parts of the garden had been crushed during the tower collapse, and they should go foraging soon anyhow for more seeds and plants to transplant into all that broken soil, trying to catch up with the growing season. There had been some hemming and hawing about the Head Healer heading out with such a known liability, but he’d bristled with some professional affront; he had once been Sorcerer Supreme of an entire dimension, he was a powerful mage, he could certainly take care of himself, etc, etc.
Which is how they’re here today: tromping along in Planasene Forest. Late-spring early-summer means it’s quite nice, and for all that Stephen Strange has become a city boy, it’s not the worst thing ever. The clean air without the constant churned-up dirt and noise of reconstruction, away from the crowds of Kirkwall. Dressed for a hike, wearing a worn leather backpack with a bedroll and tent tied to it, carrying supplies enough for a day and night away, with the plan to camp out under the stars.
A little break, as it were.
“Did I ever mention I grew up on a farm?” Strange asks offhand, as they walk along under the trees. “I prefer cities, but the outdoors isn’t exactly unfamiliar to me either.”
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