004 // the house of sin

[serpentis]

Who: Dorian and assorted guests
Broadcast: Fleet-wide, 3/10
Action: In a villa practically in the forest (THE HOUSE OF SIN)
When: Broadcast- 3/10 // Action- 3/9-3/31? Until we leave.

Broadcast:

[The broadcast goes out on 3/10, and Dorian smirks a bit into the feed.]

I believe I've secured lodging for myself, with room enough for several others. If you need a place to stay, do let me know. It's a quaint little villa a bit outside of town. ...please don't mind the suspicious glances, I assure you, I've done nothing entirely against the guidelines that were set.

---------

Action:

[Dorian has secured a villa, but the residents of Mor don't seem too keen on having an evil mage for a neighbor. As the month goes on, more and more villagers will show up to stand at the gates of the villa and threaten to come in after the "evil wizard".

Maybe he shouldn't have gone so overboard with the whole "contacting the spirits of the dead" thing.]

((OOC: Mingle post for the House of Sin. We'll pretend there are enough rooms in here for everyone! Even if you character only drops by to rest their feet a bit, everyone is welcome to visit and stay the night if they want.))

Comments

[serpentis]

Very true.

[Dorian thinks on it, and then he nods, standing.]

I will think on it, see what I can come up with. You are free to visit me if you wish. I have books, as well, if you need something to busy yourself with. It's no library in Skyhold, which isn't entirely a bad thing.

[wolfuncaged]

[Fenris frowns, slightly. ]

I...cannot read all that well. Danarius never permitted us to learn. Hawke was helping, and a girl in Exsilium, but it's rudimentary at best.

[serpentis]

...I see.

[And then he smiles a bit, giving him a bow.]

Then I suppose that is one thing I ought to see to. I will be your tutor. Everyone ought to know how to read, and it's no surprise that Darnarius never permitted you to. A man who reads, thinks.

[He tilts his head a bit, thinking.]

I will find something suitable that won't bore you to tears. Something that will inspire you, or, at the very least, be profane and lewd enough to be entertaining.

[wolfuncaged]

That was exactly it. If we thought at all, we might start consider ourselves worthy beings.

[Still, the offer gets a small smile. Perhaps if it had been given earlier, when they were still acquaintances at best, he would have turned Dorian down. Considered it condescension, or worse; pity. As is, he's come to trust the mage, insane as it might be, and knows the offer comes from a good place. ]

Thank you. That is...kind of you. I'm sure if anyone can find an entertaining read, it will be you.

[serpentis]

Well, you certainly are one, more than that viper ever was.

[Perhaps some of Jove has sunk in, perhaps it was true hate for men like Darnarius. Regardless, Fenris was worth more than the entire Venatori gathered together, and he would trade every crooked Magister for just one man like him.

The smile doesn't leave his lips, but it's honest, kind, even.]

I'm certain I could find something to hold your interests. "Heaving bosoms" and "hard members" and everything. Terribly exciting, what some people write.

[And he chuckled softly. He wasn't much one for those novels- he preferred histories, and explorations of magic. Still, if it helped Fenris to read, there was no harm in it.]

[wolfuncaged]

I-

[He hesitates, before clearing his throat, smiling faintly. ]

Thank you.

[He could say more. That Dorian is easily one of the most decent people he's met. That he gives him hope that even Tevinter might one day be fixed. He doesn't, of course. He knows he'll get the words wrong and they'll come out an awkward jumble.Much easier to focus on the less serious conversation. ]

Sounds a little like Varric's stories.

[serpentis]

I will have to enlist him to write something.

[He chuckled again. Fenris deserved for more than he could give him- Fenris was a reminder of how broken some Magisters were, how depraved some men in Tevinter were.

Because the truth that Dorian knew was that true evil wasn't about cackling madly and trying to end the world. Certainly, that was a type of evil. But the more common type was when a man tried to control another, tried to shape someone into what they wanted, often with pretty words and promises, sometimes with worse.

That was the type of evil that infested Tevinter, where pretty slaves were kept as pets, possessions to parade around. And he understood that now, that even that was just part of what was wrong. It wasn't just blood magic, it was everything down to the foundation.

He understood that now, and he would not have, not without meeting Fenris and having to face the fact that his father was truly a decent man in that regard, and Halward Pavus was not a benchmark to judge other men by. The slaves he grew up around were treated well, but elsewhere...

He gave fenris a considering glance, remembering how keenly he smelled lyrium on his when he tried to touch him, on Accendo. How Fenris glowed, almost like he was some otherworldly being that was showing how dangerous he was, as a warning.

He owed Fenris all of the penitence the Imperium could not give him.

But Dorian was too proud to say that, to give voice to the fact that Fenris deserved for more than he could give. So, instead, he smirked.]

Don't thank me just yet. I assure you, I hold high expectations of those I tutor.

[He had tutored before- he was the head of his class, of course he had been expected to. It was nearly regretful that he would never instruct at the circle one day- and he would have, with pride, were he not being groomed for the Magisterium.]

[wolfuncaged]

I'm sure he would be delighted at the opportunity.

[It was so much easier to stay around the subjects they could handle. Much safer than admit the truth. Fenris was well versed in guarding himself from everything and everyone, even after they began to get closer to him. ]

I have high expectations of myself.

[serpentis]

As well you should.

[Dorian bowed again and then chuckled softly.]

Feel free to visit my chambers if you wish, Master Fenris. I will see you again soon.

[It was an odd quip, addressing Fenris as if he were an honored member of the household, but it wasn't entirely whimsy.]

[wolfuncaged]

[The title brings a confused furrow of the brow. Even on trips out with Hawke, he's never been addressed as such. After a moment, he allows a small smile to cross his face. ]

I will do that. Thank you.