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To his credit, Ellis doesn't flinch back from that sound.
But he doesn't know what to do for it either, hands fluttering indecisively before one catches at Vance's shoulder. Light, then fingers dug in, pressure meant to steady without fumbling over any kind of vocal assurances.
It's alright is a lie, so Ellis doesn't bother. Just waits for Vance to gather his composure, decide how they'll part ways this time.
But he doesn't know what to do for it either, hands fluttering indecisively before one catches at Vance's shoulder. Light, then fingers dug in, pressure meant to steady without fumbling over any kind of vocal assurances.
It's alright is a lie, so Ellis doesn't bother. Just waits for Vance to gather his composure, decide how they'll part ways this time.
Tony and Messer de Fonce both refused to listen to me when I suggested that I be the only one to bleed all over everything. [ She takes a breath and sighs. ] I suppose I should be glad that we all made it out alright.
Should I say anything about the Calling there?
Should I say anything about the Calling there?
[ somehow, unsurprising tidbit to hear. the huff of amusement gives way to a sigh. ]
No. [ who could have guessed ] We needn't put name to it. We should mention sensing something amiss, but the specifics of it...that's more than we should be parceling out to them of our accord.
[ for many reasons, not the least of which that a magister's son roams unchecked through the ambassador's office with more access than ellis finds advisable. ]
Was there a great mural of Dumat presiding over a miniature city, on your side of the temple?
No. [ who could have guessed ] We needn't put name to it. We should mention sensing something amiss, but the specifics of it...that's more than we should be parceling out to them of our accord.
[ for many reasons, not the least of which that a magister's son roams unchecked through the ambassador's office with more access than ellis finds advisable. ]
Was there a great mural of Dumat presiding over a miniature city, on your side of the temple?
Vance should know about it. [ A pause. ] I can tell him.
[ She's not sure where they stand, Vance and Ellis, but she and Vance get along well enough. ]
No, there was a room with a large statue of Dumat inside of a cistern, with three bells and a door underwater when we arrived. Solving that puzzle was difficult, and then we were in a labyrinth that made no sense. We had to address spirits that manifested as fears.
[ She's not sure where they stand, Vance and Ellis, but she and Vance get along well enough. ]
No, there was a room with a large statue of Dumat inside of a cistern, with three bells and a door underwater when we arrived. Solving that puzzle was difficult, and then we were in a labyrinth that made no sense. We had to address spirits that manifested as fears.
[ In Orlais, the traditional and polite question to ask a fellow you’ve given dance lessons specifically so he could please a woman who’s since announced her engagement to someone else is: ]
Monsieur Warden, you must forgive me for stereotyping you—but do you know much about horses?
Monsieur Warden, you must forgive me for stereotyping you—but do you know much about horses?
A few. I have accidentally acquired one.
[ There is a horse snort, not far from the crystal, to emphasize this point. ]
And I was going to hand him over to the stables and let Riftwatch sort him out, but he has so many spots, and he bit me, and I think I love him.
[ There is a horse snort, not far from the crystal, to emphasize this point. ]
And I was going to hand him over to the stables and let Riftwatch sort him out, but he has so many spots, and he bit me, and I think I love him.
I would appreciate it very much, if you have time.
But if I've interrupted something, it is no rush. I'll just, ah. Be here staring at him without blinking in case he is secretly sick and about to die.
[ That's a joke. Kind of. He has something to read in the meantime, at least. ]
But if I've interrupted something, it is no rush. I'll just, ah. Be here staring at him without blinking in case he is secretly sick and about to die.
[ That's a joke. Kind of. He has something to read in the meantime, at least. ]
Rather than make assurances, Ellis gathers himself and descends from his room in the Gallows out to the stables.
Even if Bastien weren't present, it'd be easy to mark out which horse is his based off the sparse description. Crossing the stable, he lifts the loaned book, The Life of Katrin Lindner, in his hand for Bastien's benefit.
"I'd meant to come find you, horse or no," he says, drawing up alongside Bastien. "I haven't finished the other yet."
Even if Bastien weren't present, it'd be easy to mark out which horse is his based off the sparse description. Crossing the stable, he lifts the loaned book, The Life of Katrin Lindner, in his hand for Bastien's benefit.
"I'd meant to come find you, horse or no," he says, drawing up alongside Bastien. "I haven't finished the other yet."
"Oh! That was fast."
His hands are both occupied at the moment by oats and horse lips, but as soon as they're empty of food he wipes them on a nearby blanket and takes the book. Meanwhile the horse snuffles at his shoulder and back in search of something else edible. Additional biting is possible. But Bastien lets him do it.
"And you can keep the other one," he says, "or pass it along, or put it in the library. I'm not attached to it."
His hands are both occupied at the moment by oats and horse lips, but as soon as they're empty of food he wipes them on a nearby blanket and takes the book. Meanwhile the horse snuffles at his shoulder and back in search of something else edible. Additional biting is possible. But Bastien lets him do it.
"And you can keep the other one," he says, "or pass it along, or put it in the library. I'm not attached to it."
A gift.
Ellis considers that as he steps up alongside Bastien, hums softly at the sight of the horse lipping along Bastien's tunic.
"It was a good book," he says at last, studying the horse's bright gaze. "It kept me company on watch."
Is biting a sign of health? Ellis is willing to count it as a tentative yes.
"Where did your new friend come from?"
Ellis considers that as he steps up alongside Bastien, hums softly at the sight of the horse lipping along Bastien's tunic.
"It was a good book," he says at last, studying the horse's bright gaze. "It kept me company on watch."
Is biting a sign of health? Ellis is willing to count it as a tentative yes.
"Where did your new friend come from?"
Bastien flips through the book. It's too quick to be checking for damage. More of a fond welcome back to the pages. Then he sighs. It doesn't actually sound exasperated, and the glance he turns back toward the horse is already very fond.
"Antiva."
His pause briefly threatens to make that the whole explanation.
"They are not all good at cards. This man owed more than he could pay to me and to another fellow—he was trying to make the money he owed someone else off of me, you know how it goes. He said I could have the horse instead. And I said," with a self-effacing deepening of his accent, "I don't want ze horse! I barely want ze money. And the other fellow, Clifford Hayden, he said he wanted the horse. But I know him, and I have seen him kick a dog minding its own business in the street. So I wanted the horse after all."
The horse bites him. Bastien doesn't flinch, but he does aim a second look over his shoulder, this time stern.
"Antiva."
His pause briefly threatens to make that the whole explanation.
"They are not all good at cards. This man owed more than he could pay to me and to another fellow—he was trying to make the money he owed someone else off of me, you know how it goes. He said I could have the horse instead. And I said," with a self-effacing deepening of his accent, "I don't want ze horse! I barely want ze money. And the other fellow, Clifford Hayden, he said he wanted the horse. But I know him, and I have seen him kick a dog minding its own business in the street. So I wanted the horse after all."
The horse bites him. Bastien doesn't flinch, but he does aim a second look over his shoulder, this time stern.
"That's good of you," is said very sincerely. Ellis' voice warms over the praise, moving past Bastien to pass his hands down the horse's neck, shoulder, then chest, crouching to carefully run his hands down one leg.
"Have you decided on a name?"
Bastien seems either unbothered or charmed by the biting, so Ellis doesn't count it against the beast. It suits, somewhat. From the stable floor, he points out, "You're charming enough that I've gone mostly unnoticed."
"Have you decided on a name?"
Bastien seems either unbothered or charmed by the biting, so Ellis doesn't count it against the beast. It suits, somewhat. From the stable floor, he points out, "You're charming enough that I've gone mostly unnoticed."
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