"People don't always tell the truth when you're polite." [Closed]

[mutedsuspicions]

WHO: Bull and Lerith
WHERE: The Tavern Diner
WHAT: Talk about Haven and other Thedas things
WHEN: Evening time in late January
WARNINGS: None atm



Each time he's gone to the tavern, Lerith tries to go when the least amount of people are there. He gets his food, he gets out to go back to the hotel. The elf would say it's because he likes to people watch from the warmth of his room, but he's fooling no one. They probably all know he's scared of almost everyone.

But tonight... no, tonight was going to be different. The mute went to the diner to pick up his meal, but didn't immediately leave. Instead he went to sit in a booth - the one with the slightly wiggly table - to take his meal. A simple one of course, Lerith would never ask for anything fancy, but food was food.

He curled up on the bench, back against the wall and hood up as he balanced his plate on his knees to eat and keep an eye on the comings and goings of people. A new place to people watch.

Comments

[theirondragon]

He nodded. "Yeah, a peacock. It's his family crest and everything." But he was the Bull's peacock, and while that had taken a long time to make sense to the Qunari, who didn't couple in quite the same way, he wouldn't change it, to spite how complicated it made things at times.

The Bull had a lot of years of practice moving around areas that weren't built for people of his size, and he was surprisingly graceful as he slipped into the kitchen, setting about washing their dishes. "Sure, Signs. I'll come with you. Don't worry about it."

[mutedsuspicions]

Lerith had some habits left from his time in Tevinter. Bull went to the sink for the dishes, and Lerith immediately began to work with water and soap. Thinking about the collar, the magic holding it, the magic still lodged in his throat - a little piece of his present mind was pulled back to Tevinter as he started washing the dishes before Bull could really get the chance to.

The water was probably too hot but he worked at the plates until the warrior spoke again. But it wasn't really the acknowledgement of coming with, or having to worry about it, that got his attention. The dish dropped into the sink (thankfully not breaking) as he got back to the present and not Tevinter.

[What...did you call me? A name? A nickname?]

[theirondragon]

He didn't rush the guy, understanding Lerith had a lot of habits to break. It was even possible that collar had a hand in his having a hard time breaking it. Not knowing the power of the device, he really didn't have a way of knowing, but he let the guy do his thing, cracking a smile at the question.

"Yeah. That's what you do, right? Signs?"

[mutedsuspicions]

Bull was pretty close, but given what little Lerith knew about how Bull being a spy now, it made sense that he picked up on it. It was mostly why he lived by himself - he didn't feel that obligation to do everything when it was only him. Habits gained from seventeen years of shackles were harder to shake off than the status itself.

But he stared up at the Qunari for a long moment. Bull really gave him a nick name. Suds slid down pale and scarred skin as the hands hung in front of him. Speechless, on both fronts.

'I thought you only gave nicknames to your men. Your group. Like Grim or Rocky.' Lerith, in his own eyes, was just a nobody with only his name and clothes for his own.

[theirondragon]

The Bull laughed at that, deep and hearty, but also fond. He knew he remembered a lot of of Lerith than the little guy did of him, but that didn't mean the Bull didn't know him, his quiet strength, his determination.

"Everybody has a name they were given when they were born, and a name they earn. That one's the one you are. I chose the Iron Bull, and then I made it mine. People call your Lerith, but is Lerith who you are?"

[mutedsuspicions]

Lerith is almost startled by the hearty laugh, soap still dripping down his skin. He hastily washes it off and shakes the excess off while he listens.

[Yes. Lerith is my name. The only thing I still have before becoming a slave. I don't remember anything else except someone shouting it before seeing sky and blacking out.] He turns to indicate a gnarled line of scar where the hair wouldn't grow, on the back of his head. Like he had fallen and hit something hard.

He turned back to continue talking. [I like the nickname though. It is good. Very fitting, but you are a spy, so you notice things others don't.]

[theirondragon]

"I used to be a spy." There wasn't any anger in his response, but it was important to him to make the distinction. He was no longer a Ben-Hassrath of the Qun. He was the Iron Bull, leader of the Bull's Chargers and his own man. He understood what the elf was saying though, that he had skills that made him more observant.

Now he just used them to take care of people, make sure they had what they needed. Lerith needed his own identity, and that was a stance the Bull could sympathize with. While not involved directly with his progress, Bull remembered all Lerith accomplished and he was happy to help in whatever way he could.

"Great. Glad you like it, Signs."

[mutedsuspicions]

[Were a spy, yes. Sorry.] Lerith briefly ducked his chin down before straightening back up. He didn’t have to look away or wait for reprimands anymore. Lerith was a free elf! He grinned up at the Qunari, the emotion behind it lighting up his eyes. He was free and had a cool nickname! One hand went up to give the warrior an easy "punch" against the muscular arm.

[Best nickname. I miss Varric calling me Mouthy sometimes. That was a funny nickname.] Lerith finally finished the dishes he had started and set them to the side to dry. [How long have you been here, Bull?]

[theirondragon]

"Varric's a funny guy. I miss him, too." He chuckles, smiling down at the guy before patting him on the shoulder. It was a gentle pat, too, to spite those massive hands of his.

He was thoughtful for a moment, doing some mental math. "Almost three months, I think. What about you?"

[mutedsuspicions]

There was a very minute tensing of muscle under the pat, but immediately relaxed. Lerith hadn't really been expecting it, but grinned despite it. The mute did have to think about when he had gotten here.

[Month and a half ago, maybe two? Before the party where we all got gifts from the Agrii. They gave me seeds from Thedas to plant, which I'll do when it starts warming up again.] He smiled at the thought and wiped his hands dry on his shirt.

A pause. [Qunari aren't so bad like I heard about in Tevinter. Or maybe that is just all...] Lerith had to think about the word and just spelled it out instead, [propaganda.]

[theirondragon]

"Nah, some Qunari can be bad, just like everybody else. Besides, I was pretty bad at being a part of the Qun." He chuckles. "I eat too much, drink too much. They aren't into the excess thing. I like things, but I also like people. My people."

And at the 'my' he gave Lerith's shoulder a slight squeeze as though to say you're on that list too, now.

"Yeah...that party was weird. It reminded me of something, but I can't quite remember what." And that bothered him more than he cared to think about.

[mutedsuspicions]

[Also too loud maybe,] but it's a joke. To Lerith, if Bull was laughing, things were still good. At the squeeze to his shoulder, Lerith knew that the Bull meant what he was saying. And that he was included with that 'my'. And he can't help but flush hotly because how long had it been since he had been included into a group at all? Not just another face trying to blend in.

He pulls his thoughts away from that. Frowns a little at what the Qunari says. [Maybe it reminded you of something from Thedas?]

[theirondragon]

He shook his head, denying that to be true. It had seemed like a half-remembered dream, not something that happened back home, like most of this place did. It was hard to shake the idea he'd been here before, and he wondered sometimes if he'd been on the ships, with the Atroma. It almost felt right, thinking of it that way.

But why had he forgotten? Was it another trick? That train of thought often derailed then, as he shoved it down and away. It was too close to crazy talk for his comfort.

"Nah, but with all the other weird in this place, what's one more thing?"

[mutedsuspicions]

Lerith is studying Bull's face. He didn't have the former-spy's abilities with reading people, but he had been around slaves that tried to hide emotions on their face. It looked like Bull was just thinking about what they were talking about. Trying to find the memories that were displaced.

[That is true. Would it help to relate? I can't remember anything from before slavery.] He turned his head so Bull could see the nasty scar untouched by his white hair where a gash had cut into his head. [I think we're pretty normal compared to others here. There's a guy who's super fast here! Really nice too.]

[theirondragon]

He looked over to the guy before smiling. "Hey, yeah. I guess it's fine I don't remember this place, right?" He nodded. "Yeeah...Tommy, right? Silver hair, real easy to miss?"

[mutedsuspicions]

[Yeah, that Tommy! Really easy to miss because he's going too fast.] But sometimes that was good. Easy to catch stuff that falls. Get from one place to another.

He started to the doors that led back to the main dining area. [I think if anyone can do good here, I think it's you. Adapting I should say. You are good at adapting. That's why you are a good warrior with the Inquisitor! And have your Chargers!]

It didn't take long for Lerith to attempt to be a little bit of a hype man elf.