The Warden's New Clothes
As the glow of the healing spell subsides and Wynne removes her hands from the injury, Kyana dares to glance at her side once again. What was a miserable sight mere moments ago is now a perfectly healthy patch of skin, no trace of the burns left on her torso or left arm.
It’s not the first time she wishes Wynne had been there when they climbed the tower of Ishal.
There is, however, a problem remaining. Where skin can be fixed, fabric not so much; the remains of her sleeve are hanging in sorry tatters and the state of the left side of her robe is definitely indecent. Adding insult to injury, the enchantment has evaporated from the garment, the fabric hanging heavier and colder than usual.
“Blast it,” Kyana murmurs - and startles, suddenly remembering that Wynne is still there. Have her manners spoiled so much that she curses at a senior enchanter without a second thought?
To her relief and wonder, Wynne does not express any disapproval, simply nodding:
“We should get you changed. Boys - “ the enchanter steps out of the corner they had retired to so that she could heal Kyana with some privacy - “One of you should go back to the mages’ quarters, see if there are any clothes intact in the wardrobes. We need a new set of robes, as close to Kyana’s size as you can get.”
It’s a strange experience, hearing Wynne give out orders to… yes, to her team; Kyana has to admit to herself that she has come to view them as such. Even Zevran, new as he is to the group. He had sworn his loyalty to her, personally; surely that counts for something?
Speaking of the assassin - it’s his voice that she hears answering Wynne.
“What about this one? There’s barely any blood on it - “
“Maker, ew. Really?”
The second voice is Alistair. At that point, Kyana decides to see what the fuss is about and joins the rest, holding the left side of her robe together with her hand.
The scene which appears before her is self-explanatory. Zevran is pointing at a corpse on the ground. Wynne and Alistair are looking upon it disapprovingly.
The body belongs to the blood mage they just fought. Her clothes are… unusual, definitely not of the Circle, and yet familiar. It takes Kyana a moment to place the image, but then she remembers: the vault. There was definitely a robe of a similar design in there, hanging in a glass case. Was it the same one, or just a similar item? Either way, if she’s right, it’s old, it’s from Tevinter, and it probably bears a powerful enchantment.
Kyana reaches for her magic, just slightly, but enough to confirm one half of her theory: the dead woman’s robe is very enchanted.
She definitely wants it now.
“Zevran is right,” she says. “We don’t have time to search the rooms. This will do.”
With that, she begins to direct her magic further. The force of telekinesis lifts the body up from the ground; Kyana lets it rotate mid-air for a few moments, getting a feel for the object she’s about to manipulate. Then, the same telekinetic force begins undoing buttons, buckles and clips, pulling elements of clothing off of the corpse.
Part of her is glad that Wynne is watching; she’s been honing her precision telekinesis for a while. Nobody in the camp, not even Morrigan, seemed to appreciate it much - but, surely, the senior enchanter understands the work that has gone into this.
Another part of her wonders whether she’s supposed to be more hesitant to undress a dead body, but it’s not a very useful thought, and she lets it go fairly quickly.
If Kyana had to guess, she would say that the whole process takes less than two minutes; definitely less time than it would require to search the living quarters again.
The new robe fits tighter than the Circle one, mostly due to panels of some stiff material sewn into it in several places. It's definitely more restricting, though Kyana finds that she doesn't mind that much; it feels almost like wearing armor, or, at least, what she imagines wearing armor feels like.
It is strange, though. She somehow feels more dressed than she ever was before; the Circle robes were so familiar that they were almost a part of her, but this... this is alien, a tangible barrier between her and the rest of the world.
“Well… You know, it is quite pretty,” Alistair says. “It’d be even prettier if I could unsee you taking it off of a corpse.”
“Shall I remind you where your armor came from?” Kyana asks dryly.
“That’s different! The armor’s not touching my skin. Also, I cleaned it before putting it on.”
“I also cleaned it! Who do you think I am?”
Alistair raises an eyebrow.
“Cleaned how?”
“Magic.”
“Well, I hope those spells were effective, because otherwise - that’s pretty gross.”
“If I may, Warden,” Zevran pipes up, “Please do not take this the wrong way, but… may I have your old clothes?”
Alistair gives him a look.
“Is there a right way to take this?”
There seems to be some kind of lewd joke implied - she’s been getting better at noticing those kinds of things - but presently, Kyana doesn’t have time to unpack the exact meaning of it. If Zevran wants the rags, he can have them.
She uses a small burst of telekinetic force to pick up the robes and toss them to the assassin.
“Many thanks,” he says.
The sound of tearing fabric follows immediately after. It takes her a moment to understand what he’s doing, but when Zevran tears a narrow strip of fabric from the robe and starts wrapping it around his right hand, Kyana finally notices:
“Your gloves are ruined.”
They’re in a similar state to her old robe; the top part is almost entirely burned away. Was he the one to finish off the Rage demon? Likely so, considering the singe marks on his arms and the rest of his armor.
“Unfortunately, yes,” Zevran says. “If you see nice leather gloves on someone here, do let me know.”
He finishes securing the remains of his right glove to his hand and prepares to tear off another strip of fabric.
“…Wait.”
Kyana opens one of the pouches on her belt. There, nestled alongside a few healing potions, is a rolled-up pair of leather gloves.
“Here.” She holds them out. “I bought these a while ago, but didn’t end up wearing them that much. They’re warm, but not that good for spellcasting.”
Zevran stops mid-tear.
“You’re… giving me gloves?”
“Well, I don’t use them. Do you not want them?”
“No, no - I did not mean to sound ungrateful. I’ll take them.”
As he approaches to collect the gloves, something about them seems to catch his attention; Zevran lingers for a moment before finally taking them from her hand.
“These are Dalish, are they not?” he asks.
“Yes. I bought them from a Dalish craftsman.”
Zevran turns the gloves in his hands, runs his thumb along one of the stitches - appreciating the craftsmanship, maybe?
“No one has simply… given me a gift before,” he says finally. “I shall treasure these. Thank you.”
It didn’t occur to her to think of it as a gift, but technically, he’s correct.
It’s just as well. If they’re of a better use to Zevran than to her, he should have them.
“It’s nothing,” Kyana says. “I hope they fit.”
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OK I'd imagine that, out of all the possible dream friends, the only one that would have some major beef with Magalor and Oakley would be Taranza.
Susie? She would offer them a 10% off discount for couples and ask if she can run some tests.
Gooey? This man probably doesn't even understand the concept of romance, let alone the complexities of it? Still supportive, but doesn't quite get it.
Daroach (bc we always need more Daroach content in this fanbase)? Probably would just try steal Oakleys apples. Could he ask for some? Sure, but the challenge is half the Fun.
But Taranza, out of everyone, runs closest to Magalor. He lost a lover to an ancient artifact, so why does Magalor get to stay happy when he can't be with Sectonia. I imagine Taranza wouldn't exactly be happy with these thoughts, and would probably just shut himself away until they go away.
... or maybe, just maybe, he can find the shards of that damned mirror to bring her back. Afterall, if the Master Crown can become a new life, then what's to say the mirror can't become an old one...
(It will take him regrettably long to realise the mirror isn't her, and never will be her)
Damn.... Honestly I was originally planning on Taranza being the "sweet and supportive" friend cuz cuz I picture him has a hopeless romantic.
But then YOU barged into my house through the window and said "HEY! HAVE SOME SPIDER ANGST!! GOODNIGHT!!" and then LEFT ME WITH A SHATTERED WINDOW AND SAD SPIDER THOUGHTS!
I... I kinda want to take this idea... It's really good idea.. Good lord...
Like.... damn... that's depressing as shit.. I LOVE IT!!!
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VERSE: WHISKEY & NICOTINE
↪ modern.
he never liked the idea of retirement. he's estranged from the deadlock gang — but gun running was all he's ever known, aside from drinking and smoking. so he bought that shady biker bar at the end of 5th street and opened the high noon saloon.
a young colton cassidy is found strapped for cash after the passing of his father and late stage diagnosis of his mother's cancer — following in the footsteps of his main verse, he finds a quick fix in GUN RUNNING. he recruits a team and makes DEADLOCK a very well known name in the business throughout the american southwest. so it doesn't take long for the LAW to get word of a new player in the streets.
they're assigned to a task force specializing in dismantling nationwide gang operations, who watches him and the gang very closely over the next few years, compiling all evidence needed to greenlight a sting operation on what was believed to be the gang's headquarters.
it's considered successful at the time, after partially disbanding the team and taking the then 21 year old colton in for questioning and holding. impressed with skill and mental fortitude, as well as vast knowledge on their current subjects, they offer the kid an ULTIMATUM: join up or lock up.
he chooses the former.
he works on this specialized task force for a little over 10 years. they have their ups and downs, but they get by and get the job done. shortly after getting word of the resurrection of the DEADLOCK GANG, the team is hit hard — assumingly by the aforementioned gang.
the force crumbles — half dead, the rest severally injured, the team's disbanded. colton, having paid his dues, hits dirt and goes into hiding, roaming from town to town for the next several years.
as the heat finally dies down, an investment opportunity lands in his lap. an old, shoddy bar in a middle-of-nowhere town full of nobodies — perfect for a nobody with nowhere to be.
he buys the bar and rebrands as the HIGH NOON SALOON. with a little help from an old friend, bars, in the kitchen, the place is brought back to life, quickly drawing in the locals and travelers alike — and all the TROUBLE that comes with them...
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