contact part deux

[bouchonne]

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

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[altusimperius]

[A Look right back, eyebrows raised, requesting elaboration.]

[bouchonne]

[ A shrug. ]

Fine. As you will.

[altusimperius]

Is this about the dream again?

[bouchonne]

Aye.

[altusimperius]

I can't take it that literally. It just... doesn't match up.

[He sighs faintly.]

He felt awful, the next day. He could barely look me in the eye. If there'd been any truth behind what happened...

[Pausing, he considers what he wants to say. If it came out that Edgard would turn him back over to his family, regardless of the anguish it would cause?]

...I feel like I'd know.

[He furrows his brow down at his desk.]

He's a pain in the arse sometimes. But I trust him. ...he looks out for me, in his way.

[bouchonne]

Hm.

[ Byerly's smile is unreadable. ]

That's nice.

[altusimperius]

[This yields a suspicious look, but Benedict's danger alarms have gotten a bit more reactive since working with Byerly. He's not going to push him.

That doesn't mean it's settled.]

[bouchonne]

So when are you leaving?

[altusimperius]

Oh. Um.

In a couple days, probably.

[bouchonne]

And where are you going?

[altusimperius]

Orlais. Some estate on the Exalted Plains.

[bouchonne]

Ah, Orlais. Have you spent much time there?

[altusimperius]

A fair amount. My mother actually has family there.

...she'll never admit it, but she's at least a quarter Orlesian.

[bouchonne]

Shameful!

[altusimperius]

Isn't it?

[bouchonne]

I'm surprised she let you learn of it.

[altusimperius]

It was bound to happen. I think Great Grandfather Devouchet was to her what she is to me.

[bouchonne]

What, a tormentor?

[altusimperius]

[That throws him off. Perhaps not how he might have phrased it.]

...um. Demanding.

[bouchonne]

[ A little drolly - far too humorously, given the topic - ]

Apologies. Too blunt?

[altusimperius]

Not inaccurate, I guess.

[He sounds sad to admit it.]

[bouchonne]

Indeed. And it's better to name someone what they are, rather than using euphemisms.

[altusimperius]

I suppose.

[He finds himself gazing into the middle distance as he considers it.]

...but tormentor doesn't feel right, either. That require mean so much more... involvement.

[He shrugs one shoulder, uncertainly.]

It's more like... a predator. You know she's nearby, and you can live your life, but if she's paying attention to you, it's already too late.

[bouchonne]

And you don't know whether or not she's full, or if she's hungry.

[altusimperius]

Yes.

[Now that they're talking about it, that's it exactly.]