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contact part deux
if this were modern times byerly would probably make you listen to total eclipse of the heart before you were able to leave a message
That's two lies.
[ There's a touch of amused teasing in his eyes, alongside the defiance, which is also tempered by the lean of his head into By's hand. He's not mad about it. Little lies, I'm fine, it's nothing, those don't really count. He does it too. ]
It does matter. You told her the truth—you would not have exposed something fragile to her like that if you did not care for her. And you are doing a good, hard thing, and the first time you say so where people can hear, you are chastised for it? That is bullshit.
[ There's a touch of amused teasing in his eyes, alongside the defiance, which is also tempered by the lean of his head into By's hand. He's not mad about it. Little lies, I'm fine, it's nothing, those don't really count. He does it too. ]
It does matter. You told her the truth—you would not have exposed something fragile to her like that if you did not care for her. And you are doing a good, hard thing, and the first time you say so where people can hear, you are chastised for it? That is bullshit.
You have.
[ A blind yet very confident agreement. But the fact that Byerly isn't arguing that he isn't due any faith, only downplaying how much, makes Bastien settle down a bit, cinching his arm tighter and resting his cheek against By's shoulder. ]
Did you work out what was wrong, before? Or only stop talking about it?
[ A blind yet very confident agreement. But the fact that Byerly isn't arguing that he isn't due any faith, only downplaying how much, makes Bastien settle down a bit, cinching his arm tighter and resting his cheek against By's shoulder. ]
Did you work out what was wrong, before? Or only stop talking about it?
Mmm—oh, in the bad way? [ asks one semi-secret goofball of the other, as the petting turns him into a pliant new chair-cushion under and around Byerly. ] And she was that upset?
[ On one hand, he can see it: a rifter, a young woman, her wild-to-Thedas ideas and enthusiasm. It must be an uphill battle to be taken seriously. On the other hand, she seems to be handling herself quite well with most everyone else. ]
I am glad she cares what you think, at least. Ten points in her favor.
[ On one hand, he can see it: a rifter, a young woman, her wild-to-Thedas ideas and enthusiasm. It must be an uphill battle to be taken seriously. On the other hand, she seems to be handling herself quite well with most everyone else. ]
I am glad she cares what you think, at least. Ten points in her favor.
You come with skin. You build your own armor.
[ He moves his tapping hand to tap the tip of By's nose instead, before the tapping ceases entirely. ]
And you put it on every morning. Maybe it is such a habit you do not think about it anymore, it's not a choice—but you put it on. You can take it off, if you trust people. Even if you don't, there are places people can get past it. And every time a blow glances off, you know that it could have hurt.
[ He moves his tapping hand to tap the tip of By's nose instead, before the tapping ceases entirely. ]
And you put it on every morning. Maybe it is such a habit you do not think about it anymore, it's not a choice—but you put it on. You can take it off, if you trust people. Even if you don't, there are places people can get past it. And every time a blow glances off, you know that it could have hurt.
[ Bastien nods up at him, starry-eyed for a lingering moment in the wake of that kiss before he blinks it away. ]
Very.
[ He snuggles back in against By's shoulder. Maybe he'll just live like this. Change his Riftwatch job title to chair. ]
If you don't want me to talk to her, you should talk to her.
Very.
[ He snuggles back in against By's shoulder. Maybe he'll just live like this. Change his Riftwatch job title to chair. ]
If you don't want me to talk to her, you should talk to her.
[ Bastien grins, sighs happily— ] Mon héros. [ —and then hitches his gut and squirms when Byerly's fingers return to the upper region of his neck for the second or third time. The ghost of his ticklish past, taking advantage of how utterly unguarded he is to seize brief possession of his body.
It's not a bad thing. But it does surprise him, and once he's paying attention, there's no stopping the faint tension of control from seeping back in.
All very subtle, barely conscious. He's still grinning. ]
You might even be tied with the Black Fox.
It's not a bad thing. But it does surprise him, and once he's paying attention, there's no stopping the faint tension of control from seeping back in.
All very subtle, barely conscious. He's still grinning. ]
You might even be tied with the Black Fox.
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