One Short Day In Antiva City

[twoforsurprise]

Davrin might have forgotten Lucanis' offer about the tailor, but he had not. Not all of their excursions were for fighting demons or cultists or darkspawn, and eventually Rook was going treasure hunting on the Rivani coast with Taash and Harding. And just them. Quite adamant that only Taash and Harding were needed, in fact.

Andraste preserve them, Rook was apparently becoming interested in matchmaking.

It worked out, though. The timing. Lucanis ever so casually mentions that Davrin promised to assist him in some errands in Antiva and Rook is just so happy they're not at each other's throats that they're told to not take however long they need. Lucanis makes a mental note to pick up something nice for Rook when they're in Antiva City.


Ah, Antiva City. A less beautiful Treviso, Lucanis used to say. That was before the Ossuary, before the occupation, before the blight. Now it's hard to not see everything that's been lost. He doesn't insult Davrin by assuming the man can't keep up with the Crow routes along the rooftops and across ziplines, so much faster than the weaving crowded streets up the hill the city is built on overlooking the harbor the few times they need to duck down to street level.

"Should be right around - ah, there it is," Lucanis declares once they're half way up the hill, the financial district of the city settled between the Palace at the top and the harbor and all the wealth the shipping industry brings. This time when he drops down to the street level it is where they'll stay for the time being, heading to an understated store front with a simple hanging sign that looks like an embroidered rose carved into the wood of it.

Comments

[gingerwortman]

An errand with Lucanis, sans his typical plate armor. In Antiva City. Something about it felt like a trap- he couldn't imagine what else it possibly could be but a trap. But at the same time it wasn't any kind of trap he could figure out the point of. They hadn't ever actually been trying to kill each other, despite previous snipes and posturing to the contrary. And even if they had, Davrin was confident they'd moved past it. Rook wasn't here, or anyone else that Lucanis might enjoy pulling a joke over on Davrin in front of, like his little stunt where he asked for a shoulder massage after pretending Davrin needed to kill Spite to save them all.

It was just...weird. But that was nothing new with the assassin.

So Davrin did indeed keep easily up running around the roof tops of what was, undeniably, a beautiful city. One he'd never had cause to visit, considering the Blight had never really been an issue in Antiva- until recently. He didn't look over at Lucanis as the thought of Treviso slipped through his mind, but he was sure, somehow, it was never not on the other man's.

He has saved from that grim line of thought as Lucanis finally made their destination clear. He look at the sign, then to Lucanis, then back to the sign. Unmoving for the moment.

Still the weirdest damn trap he'd ever walked into.

"There's easier ways to get me flowers."

[twoforsurprise]

"If it was flowers, I would simply talk to Harding," Lucanis says easily - not at all helping offer clarification. It will become clear soon enough, he figures, though it's true there's very little on the outside to clarify about the shop's insides. It's the kind that does well enough that it's clientele know where it is and what they provide without a street barker to call anyone in. "Come - we're expected."

Somewhat. He had sent word ahead but had not specified on an exact time. None the less, he had no doubts the owner would make the time for them. Pulling the door open and holding it for Davin to follow after.

A tailor's, and not just any. The kind that serves a high enough class of clientele to have that understated kind of wealth on display. Quality items rather than flash and glitter. A few tunics or trousers in progress, some impeccible coats fit for the best dinner parties - several comfortable lounges for waiting if need be. There is a doorway to the back that is covered by a cloth that the owner steps through at the sound of the door - an older dwarven man, who smiles to see Lucanis.

"Ah, Ser Dellamorte. It is such a pleasure to see you back among the living once more."

"It is good to see you appear to have settled well in Antiva City, Mister La Rosa," Lucanis replied smoothly. Like they weren't talking about him being imprisoned for a year and thought dead.

"It is not Treviso, but it is closer to my grandchildren, so one must make to. Please, come into the back. This is the colleague you mentioned?"

La Rosa was too much a professional to do any kind of surprise at Lucanis' companion - besides, the Crows had elves with Dalish markings among their number or in association. Yet - if anything gave him pause it was that Davrin was very clearly not a Crow, and that alone prompted a curiosity.

"Indeed. Warden Davrin, we are on a job together. Warden, may I introduce Mister La Rosa - my tailor."

[gingerwortman]

It would be against some form of honor to just heel turn and walk out, he was sure. He's not exactly sure where in the Warden oath running from a tailor would be, but it seems like something the general oath of no retreat until death would cover. But the temptation is there, clear as day written across his face. Dalish elves don't get outfitted by a prince's tailor. This clothes on display in this shop probably cost more than all the coin his clan had gathered in trade since he was born.

He gave Lucanis a look out of the side of his eye. What joke was this.

"You need a body guard while you get a new shirt?"

[twoforsurprise]

Oh, there's nothing really stopping Davrin from running... except Lucanis is watching him, with that damn slight smirk like he's daring Davrin to do it, to admit failure, to choose escape instead of some simple harmless task.

"You are getting a new shirt," Lucanis said smoothly, before pausing and correcting (after looking Davrin up and down and remembering that shredded pile of cloth). "Several new shirts."

La Rosa was politely silent while they talked, until Lucanis turned to him again.

"Just one for today to ensure the correct fit, the rest send to the Estate. I will need my measurements taken again as well, I think, but please take care of Warden Davrin first. Does your wife still make the coffee?"

"She does!" La Rosa said cheerfully, gesturing them to follow him into the back where the setup was far more intimate, a space for someone to stand to have their measurements taken with mirrors all around to check a proper fit, and another chaise longue for whoever was with. Lucanis removed his coat to hang near the doorway and took that seat.

"Alessa, darling!" he called into a different back room, "Ser Dellamorte and his guest, coffee if you please!"

[gingerwortman]

"You really don't have to do that."

His tone was utterly flat, even as he followed after the pair of, apparently colluding Antivians. He could leave. He really could. But Lucanis knew damn well that little smirk made sure he wouldn't. It was the strangest battle of wills he'd ever been in, and he wished he'd just insisted on taking Assan with them instead of leaving him playing with Emmrich and Manfred. Avoiding getting feather dust all over the shop would have been a sound and tactical retreat.

As it was, he paused next to Lucanis in the back room as the tailor went about getting them coffee.

"This is revenge for the herbal tea, isn't it."

[twoforsurprise]

"Alessa's coffee is a privilege, not a punishment," Lucanis said, lofty. His eyes said oh yes though. He was going to enjoy this. The man needed more shirts with a proper fit to them anyway that didn't look like they'd been passed down for three generations, so this was a perfect excuse. He didn't quite manage to keep all the teasing out of his voice when he asked "Besides, what if Rook needs to take us someplace nice and you have nothing to wear?"

"Have you ever had your measurements taken before, Ser Warden?" La Rosa asked when he returned, a stout dwarven woman of similar age following after holding a tray with delicate cups filled with a strong smelling coffee, small containers for cream and sugar laid out as well.

"He has not," Lucanis answered for him, another small smirk at Davrin. A guess, perhaps, but he thought he was probably correct. He took up a cup with a murmured thank you and a few other pleasantries exchanged with La Rosa's wife who seemed just as happy as the man to see Lucanis again.

"Then I am honored to be the first and will make it as painless as possible," the tailor said cheerfully.

[gingerwortman]

"That's- thanks."

He was not going to put innocents in the line of fire. He would allow himself to be pushed and prodded and whatever it was the clearly kind dwarf wanted from him, following orders like the soldier he was. But even as he stumbled a bit in his politeness with La Rosa and wife, in his heart he vowed to remember this. Somehow, someday, though he didn't know when or where, he would have his revenge against the Crow.

For...buying him shirts.

Look, just because no one else would understand that this was clearly a battle of escalation between the two men didn't make it any less so. Lucanis knew exactly what was happening. That was all that mattered.

"Don't you have other people to," bother, "visit while I'm here, Lucanis? I know you don't get out much. Wouldn't want you to waste your day."

Inner Demons!

[twoforsurprise]

A ring found outside of the Dellamorte Estate, of which only Illario was currently in residence. Caterina's, tossed out as if with the trash. No way he would do such a thing - he'd try to at least pawn it... And it wasn't just any ring, but the one she'd given Lucanis' mother to mark her as her favored. The one that was sent back to her by the people who killed Lucanis' mother.

Caterina wasn't dead. Not yet, anyway. Illario had her. And Zara - dead, but not the vengeance Lucanis wanted. Hoped for. Not with the knowledge of who had betrayed him. Maybe it would have been obvious to anyone else - maybe by that point it was obvious to everyone else - but Lucanis had a big blind spot when it came to his cousin.

Lucanis wasn't coping well. Even with Davrin's help, he'd fallen into old bad habits, him and Spite regularly at each other's throats. He paced back and forth in the small pantry. They needed to meet up with Teia and Viago to get more information. He had to focus, he had to wake up -

{{ LET US OUT! }} Spite howled, following Lucanis' every step.

\o/

[gingerwortman]

There were stories that fit in Bellara's serials- the obvious betrayer, the suspected lover that would be redeemed, the close friend with villainous intent- and then there was real life. Real life, tragically, rarely fit into those nice and neat boxes of the fictional. If they did, Varric would have retired a decade ago and served as a wise sage rather than dying at the hand of a friend. So Davrin didn't wonder why Lucanis hadn't seen it, didn't think it was such an obvious, age old tale. Not when the traitor had gone out of the way to watch a childhood pet murder- ahem- venomous snake after betraying his brother. Not when Illario had been loved.

He did see Lucanis and Spite ripping into each other as an inevitable end to this kind of emotional turmoil, however. Leaving him to lean at the entrance to the pantry, arms crossed, and watching the one visible member of the pair pace.

"You could stay here."

[twoforsurprise]

"No!" Lucanis yelled- the same time Spite howled out the same, though only Lucanis could hear it. The first agreement they'd had in days. It showed on Lucanis' face, the dark circles under his eyes. He took a breath, clenched and unclenched his hands.

"No."

There, more calm, more reasonable sounding. He began to pace again. The water wasn't boiling fast enough.

"This is my business. I will take care of it. I need to."

[gingerwortman]

Davrin didn't disagree, really. In an ideal world of justice, punishment would be handed out by an impartial force. In reality, justice was a hard enough thing to come across that any flavor it came in- personal or otherwise- had to be respected. But he had needed to offer, at least.

"Fine. So what's the plan?"

And serve as a sounding board. That, too, he could manage.

[twoforsurprise]

Lucanis was not good at talking about his plans. Once he'd made one, he preferred to not speak to anyone, to just do it. Unfortunately, he wasn't even to that stage yet. He had no plan, just awful feelings he was struggling to contain. He needed to focus-

{{ VENGEANCE! We trusted him! KILL HIM! }}

"NO! NO, that is NOT an option!"

{{ BLOOD FOR BLOOD! }}

"Be quiet and let me think!"

{{ DO NOT THINK! JUST SIT IMPRISONED! WE HAD A DEAL! }}

Lucanis' nose was bleeding again and he pressed the heel of his palm to the side of his head. Ignore him. Ignore him

"We ... need to meet with Teia and Viago- they can tell us what's been going on in Treviso."

The last part said through gritted teeth. While he had been returning - often, really, it had been to take care of blight. He rarely spent any time in the company of other crows, and seemed to be outright avoiding them in some cases. Illario had impressed upon him the danger his demon posed, and he was not wrong.

[gingerwortman]

"Right."

Spite usually wasn't this bad, but while Davrin hadn't made total peace with the demon, he'd at least learned to adapt to the fact it was there. So it's little surprise he has a clean cloth on hand to pass to Lucanis for the not terribly uncommon nose bleed. It wasn't a sight he enjoyed, but given everything? This seemed like the pot finally boiling over after threatening to for so long. Unpleasant, but inevitable.

"Can you make it? I can bring at least one of them here."

Gingerwort Tea

[twoforsurprise]

Evka and Antoine had apparently insisted Davrin take a break, so... there were worse ways than a picnic out in the forest. It wasn't like Lucanis didn't need a break, too.

Even if he was eyeing the yams with more suspicion than they deserved. It was almost enough for him to overlook the tea.

Almost.

"This smells like a focaccia. I don't think that's how tea is supposed to smell."

[gingerwortman]

((up to you if they've saved Caterina yet or not and he's first talon, just let me know))

"You have no idea how tea is supposed to smell."

Though this one certainly smelled different than any Davrin had brewed before. That was besides the point, though. The coffee maestro didn't get to comment on the tea. Assan chirped at them both, happy to be involved in the conversation, and Davrin decided the griffon was agreeing with him as he continued brewing the...interesting beverage.

It had been a bit of time since they'd managed to actually be alone. Their lives what they were, there was a reason it had taken a lecture from his fellow Wardens for Davrin to actually carve out some personal time. That Antoine had held prolonged eye contact in that overly sincere way of his and emphasized how even he and Evka had dates might have made him blush just a bit- luckily nothing, he hoped, that could be seen in the hazy light of the wet lands. But he took the point to heart. A fire, tea, some snacks (including yams), and a bag with a thick blanket and some other items just incase. The point was just to spend time with Lucanis, but a grey Warden was always prepared.

Lmk if this works, I can modify anything!

[twoforsurprise]

Lucanis continued to hem and haw over the tea as it brewed, but he didn't actually refuse it. It was ... nice. He never considered himself much if a forest person - existence in them was a necessity at times, but he did not spend time in 'the great outdoors' as his fun.

(Just don't ask what he DID do for fun, as that list was basically nonexistent. )

Being out here with Davrin - and Assan - though, it was good. There was a peace he had not considered before. The sunlight felt warmer, the breeze gentler.

It was, kind of, their first date.

He had not yet dealt with his cousin. There was a plan in action for it though. He was going to make a power grab for First Talon at the end of the month. It would be smarter for Caterina to not be around for it - but it would have been smarter to kill her immediately. If he had not done so yet, he would not before he had the position of First Talon, whatever stayed his hand.

("He wants her to see him take power," Lucanis had told Davrin and Rook later. It was a trial, realizing the whole of his life had been basically a power struggle between cousin and grandmother.)

Acting before then would only put Caterina at risk. So they had to wait, and gather as much information as they could. It was making Lucanis restless, even if it gave him the time he needed to talk more with Spite one on one now that the worst misunderstanding between them was past. And for Teia to tease him about 'his Warden'. Viago disapproved of the match initially - 'He's not even FROM Treviso' had been said at least once, but Teia argued successfully that Davrin had done more for Treviso than any noble in power put together. That counted for something. Lucanis had to wonder if Viago would still be so judgemental of Lucanis' romantic choices if he had any idea that he had once been one of them - and that Lucanis was definitely taking that secret to the grave, as far as any Crows were concerned.

"Assan is surely agreeing with me."

But he wasn't going to turn down a chance to tease Davrin.

perfect

[gingerwortman]

"Assan wants to just eat them raw," he glanced over at the ear-perked griffon, a small smile appearing unconsciously. "You have to share if you want us to get the appeal."

This was, if not a winning argument, at least acceptable to Assan who, with a sad glance and the ginger wort in the kettle, wandered over to curl up next to (and partially on) Lucanis. Davrin wasn't entirely sure if Assan understood the difference between Lucanis and Spite, that only one of them was part of his aerial romps, but the griffon seemed to like the man whatever his eye color or voice. Davrin could understand the sentiment.

It was only another few seconds for the tea to be ready and Davrin to distribute it- a large mug for himself, a much small cup that may or may not have been borrowed without permission from Neve or Emmrich for Lucanis.

...Even if this was all his idea, surely it was a good plan to let it cool for a second before partaking.

"I brought some mint, if it's that terrible you need to rinse the taste out."

He privately suspected Lucanis may have smuggled coffee into this date in preparation for just that outcome, but he would let the Crow keep his secrets.

[twoforsurprise]

Truly, it was better to assume the man was prepared to make coffee on a moment's notice than not. One never knew when emergency coffee would be necessary. It was like keeping basic antidotes on-hand, just good practice.

Lucanis let out a little exhale of breath as Assan decided to make a pillow out of him, raising an arm up and out of the way so the griffon could have his run of Lucanis' lap, setting it over him and gently stroking his feathers when Assan had gotten comfortable to his liking. He accepted the cup with both hands, noticing it was not one of Davrin's and raising a little eyebrow but saying nothing about the potential theft. Such a petty act was strangely heartwarming.

"Hopefully enough for two, so I don't have to suffer through the taste a second time when kissing you if it's so bad."

[gingerwortman]

"I'm touched I'm so hard to resist."

He cleared his throat slightly before he replied, still getting his footing with Lucanis dabbling in being the hunter over the hunted, and used blowing on the cup and the heat it sent up over his face to hide any faint blush.

"A toast to not accidentally poisoning ourselves?"

A Murder of Crows

[twoforsurprise]

Fighting their way through the estate positively infested with Venatori was not how Lucanis had imagined introducing Davrin to his home. Though, given everything else, he could have guessed that's how it would have gone with Rook. Seeing Caterina again, alive, very alive and well - it felt unreal. Almost as unreal as fighting Illario with both their lives on the line, not just for practice.

As unreal as Caterina declaring him First Talon in front of all the Houses and every Crow in Treviso.

Illario's planned victory celebration had become Lucanis' own, and he'd had maybe a little more wine than he was intending to deal with all the people. He made an effort to be there, to be with Caterina as much as possible, but this was all about performance. A chance to reconnect would come later. And he'd played his part.

He found Davrin in the crowd, reaching out to slip his hand into the Warden's.

"Want to make a discreet exit?"

[gingerwortman]

It probably wasn't a surprise to anyone that knew him, but the battle had been the highlight of the night so far. Not to mention a superior tour of the estate to any guided and narrated showing by a servant. For the rest of it he had indeed melted into the crowd, lingering in the back, keeping an eye for anyone that still may have a bone to pick, and very much not drinking in celebration. Both because he wanted his wits about him and, despite having known something like this was on the table, not being prepared to raise a glass to Lucanis' promotion.

First Talon. The assassin that okayed all the other contracts. He watched Lucanis trail through the crowd at his grandmother's side all night, trying to reconcile the man he knew- the one he was going to share a bed with tonight, unless this had changed everything- and the title. He hadn't quite managed it by the time Lucanis slipped his hand into Davrin's, though the gesture brought the same small smile it would have on any other night.

"I'm not sure that's possible, Ser First. Ser Talon? First Talon, sir?"

[twoforsurprise]

"Don't even start with that, not from you."

Exasperation and just a touch of desperation mixed in. He tugged Davrin towards one of the side exits of the Opera house. Honestly he wanted to go back to the Lighthouse and just hide and drink coffee for a while, but once things calmed in the morning he would need to speak to Caterina, and...

If he was going to deal with all that, he wanted to share the best bed at his disposal with Davrin first, even if all they did in it was sleep.

[gingerwortman]

"Hey, I'm being practical. I wouldn't want one of your birds challenging me to a duel in your honor if they hear me getting it wrong."

The small smile was growing by the moment in the face of Lucanis' exasperation. It seemed somethings would never change, whatever the titles. And Davrin was grateful for it as he allowed himself to be tugged along. Hardly the exit of a bodyguard, but it wasn't his place to try and shape a perception of what they were before the Houses of Crows. It was thrilling, really, to be something close to claimed, no matter how discreetly. This was no master of the house keeping a secret elf in his bed hidden behind closed doors.

[twoforsurprise]

Not even a little. A discreet exit but hardly unseen - impossible to be completely invisible in this gathering, especially when you were sort of the focus. But the two and their clasped hands were allowed to make their escape with only one or two 'congratulations' needing to be politely accepted with a nod.

Even the red-tinted night sky was welcome after such a crowd. The grounds had been largely spared of blight compared to much of the city, but it was still impossible to miss the sight of all around them.

"I need to find one of the staff, I don't even know what state my room is in."

The last part thinking aloud, still holding Davrin's hand to head to the main building once more. No fighting through venatori this time, though marks on the landscaping from earlier tussles remained.

[gingerwortman]

"Why don't we just go see, hm? The staff have enough with the party. We can handle any spawn sleeping in your bed."

The lone creepy servant of the Lighthouse was more than enough for Davrin to deal with in a day. He didn't need more feeling off-footed with flesh and blood staff here in a Blighted city. Particularly not when he was here on personal business instead of as a Warden. He tugged lightly on Lucanis' hand, trying to get his attention.

"Besides, haven't we seen enough other people for the month?"