[ The pinch earns a wiggle—one that he could have suppressed, of course, but the impulse behind it is genuine, and the lack of suppression unguarded. ]
Earliest opportunity, [ he agrees, agreeably, ] and if a good one hasn't come by August, we go even if it is inconvenient. Yeah?
[ Bastien rubs Byerly's knuckles with his interlaced fingers. ]
You never let me doubt it. I am only teasing.
[ Still pleasant to hear, of course. ]
Although if we are traveling through much of Ferelden—the little villages and places, you know—maybe I will be your Marcher instead of your Orlesian. Depending on how things feel.
[ without any real offense. But he says it in a Marcher accent. Keyword being a. There are as many Marcher accents as city-states, and as Bastien continues mimicking this one, he doesn’t sound like his family. Or really like a Kirkwaller. He sounds east and coastal—the accent Yseult taught him. ]
I am much better than I was.
[ And, fine, he does still sound a little Orlesian. But not in a way isolated southern villagers would notice. ]
[ Bastien nods, stirring his soup, and takes a few seconds to decide that the appropriate response to that is to stand up, take Byerly by the chin to turn and tilt his head, and give him a kiss that's firm and sure and reasonably lengthy.
When he stops he stays close. Nose to nose. His breath is soup-scented, but at least they have that in common. ]
If I don't get to watch you go grey, I won't be satisfied. So I will have to be careful. For my own sake.
[ whispered seductively, punctuated by shifting his head the inch required to bite the tip of By's nose. Gently. A toothy beep beep, if Thedas had things that went beep beep. ]
You know how the project offices are mostly empty now?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ He blows out a breath and pinches Bastien's waist in revenge for the very idea - then reaches his hand down to interlace their fingers. ]
But - yes. We should go. And soon, before the weather truly turns nasty down there.
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Earliest opportunity, [ he agrees, agreeably, ] and if a good one hasn't come by August, we go even if it is inconvenient. Yeah?
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[ Sentimentally: ]
I’m very proud of you. Of having you in my life.
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You never let me doubt it. I am only teasing.
[ Still pleasant to hear, of course. ]
Although if we are traveling through much of Ferelden—the little villages and places, you know—maybe I will be your Marcher instead of your Orlesian. Depending on how things feel.
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Well, they won’t have met Marchers. So your accent might pass.
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[ without any real offense. But he says it in a Marcher accent. Keyword being a. There are as many Marcher accents as city-states, and as Bastien continues mimicking this one, he doesn’t sound like his family. Or really like a Kirkwaller. He sounds east and coastal—the accent Yseult taught him. ]
I am much better than I was.
[ And, fine, he does still sound a little Orlesian. But not in a way isolated southern villagers would notice. ]
I could be your manservant, Ben.
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[ Even in play, By remembers well how Bastien feels about taking on the role of a servant. ]
No one would believe that. But I could be your manservant.
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The finest in the world.
[ But as much of a kick as they both might get out of it for a moment—or an evening, privately— ]
Or we could both be traveling musicians who can't afford servants at all.
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I wonder if that says something about us.
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[ Then: ]
I want you to do whatever makes you feel…fulfilled. At the end of the day. I want you to feel satisfied with your life.
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When he stops he stays close. Nose to nose. His breath is soup-scented, but at least they have that in common. ]
If I don't get to watch you go grey, I won't be satisfied. So I will have to be careful. For my own sake.
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[ There's a little bit of innuendo in that. Not too much. ]
We'll have to eat all our soups mashed up.
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[ whispered seductively, punctuated by shifting his head the inch required to bite the tip of By's nose. Gently. A toothy beep beep, if Thedas had things that went beep beep. ]
You know how the project offices are mostly empty now?