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[galvanising]

crystal // note // action

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[galvanising]

I heard about that. Was it definitely someone from the Inquisition? I thought maybe that was just a rumor.

[exequy]

It is, I think. But the Inquisition arrived with a dozen strange people with strange abilities, and within months a crater that had been there for six years turned into a forest overnight—

I heard it might be an elf. But that isn't what it looks like.

Gloves, though. You're onto something there.

[galvanising]

I know you're making fun, but gloves might actually help. It's coming on winter, it wouldn't look strange. It will give people a chance to speak with them without being constantly distracted by their insane glowing hands.

It's like us carrying our staffs with us. When we have them, all they see is a mage and no matter what we do all they think about is all the terrible things they've been taught about mages. Leave them at home and suddenly we're people first.

[exequy]

So they'll never see us coming.

[ J ok ing . ]

[galvanising]

Exactly. Why do you think I've been practicing staff-less magic?

[ not at all joking ]

[exequy]

[ AGGRESSIVELY DISGRUNTLED SIGH. ]

[galvanising]

[ she mimics his sigh but even more exaggerated ]

[exequy]

[exequy]

[exequy]

Want to get a drink later?

[galvanising]

Of course.

You've been here a while, have you found any good taverns yet? Every time I ask all anyone suggests is this Hanged Man place but I was not impressed.

[exequy]

You're going to get stabbed.

[galvanising]

At any other bar, or if people hear I don't like this one shit tavern in a city full of shit taverns?

[exequy]

It's a local landmark. They're very proud.

[galvanising]

Of what? It's not even impressively bad. It's the most average tavern I've ever seen and we both know that I have seen a great many.

[exequy]

The... history... [ A horselike beats me exhale. ] They used to hang people there. Varric Tethras, the author, used to live there. That's all I know.

I'd been going to the Crooked Archer, but I can't go back.

[galvanising]

[ she makes a noise that goes with a shrug, somewhere between huh and a thoughtful hmm. ]

Tethras is something I guess. How much do you owe at the Archer?

[exequy]

Not much, honestly, but I had a fight with the bartender.

[galvanising]

Like an actual punching fight or like you slept with the bartender and it didn't end well?

[exequy]

I broke his nose. Not that anyone could tell. As if I'd ever—

[ He would ever. He might yet. ]

I can't go back there. So it's the Hanged Man or somewhere new—not the Falcon's Nest, either. They don't allow staves.

[galvanising]

And not the Blue Dragon because I slept with the bartenders and it didn't end well.

And the Viscount's Head is out, they keep insisting I have a massive bill to pay from the other night.

Perrin's Folly? The Narrows?

[exequy]

I owe money to people at Perrin's Folly. That dwarf. Kaldor.

The Narrows would be all right.

[ wait ]

—bartenders?

[galvanising]

What? I couldn't decide. What was I supposed to do, flip a coin?

Is Kaldor the dwarf who twirls his mustache constantly? You lost to him? That must've been a bad night.

[exequy]

Of course it was a bad fucking night.

[galvanising]

We haven't been to Perrin's Folly together, have we? Do you want to go win your money back?

[ by cheating, she means. it's not like rebel mages are very employable, but they do need to eat. sometimes needs must. ]