weisshaupt.

[piketwirling]

[ There's a visitor at Weisshaupt today, a fancy Tevinter with fancy clothes and a fancy moustache. Alistair feels every bit the Fereldan oaf just knowing he's in the vicinity. When he's told that he's the one who'll be assisting this triple-fancy Tevinter, he nearly falls out of his seat. He's a hayseed who slept in the stables and doesn't even have a moustache. He's no match for this man, who he's already imagined to be absolutely bedecked with diamonds and feathers and everything else rich, fancy people wear.

He resolves to try to not look like an idiot, which is probably the best he can do in this situation. It's not hard to seek Dorian out, since it isn't like there's an excess of men walking around in nice Tevinter clothing here; it's mostly Warden armor or plain clothes, nothing like that. Alistair tap-tap-taps him on the shoulder with his index finger, then steps back. ]

Yes, hello, ser— [ He pauses. Has he already screwed up? He realizes he has absolutely no idea what it would be polite to call this man. He's not exactly versed in Tevinter politics. ] Or. Not ser. [ Ah. Nice save. He offers his hand to shake, hoping that's still acceptable everywhere. ] I'm Alistair. Grey Warden, if the armor didn't tip you off. Consider me your one-man welcoming committee.

Comments

[necrofancies]

( as luck has it, dorian isn't planning on blowing the whistle on alistair's blunder. not that he's going to take advantage of the situation or anything, but...well, he just might. it's possible he could be underestimating alistair's watchful eye, but dorian is very aware of how to play certain situations. there isn't any game with fereldans. not the way there is in tevinter and orlais. it's one thing that damns them as well as saves them. having someone like this will only help dorian rather than hinder.

maybe this trip won't be wasted after all.

dorian feigns proper interest during the abridged introduction. dutifully, he looks at the griffons on the walls. nods his head. yes, yes. all very interesting. he takes a step closer to alistair and clasps his hands together behind his back. )

Admittedly, I'm not much of an animal person.

( least of all of extinct animals. )

I would, however, enjoy a little more information on the Blight. The... ( he gestures with one hand toward his body. ) taint, really, not so much the event itself. Anything you'd care to share that wouldn't be in a book.

( because, he's read them. )

[piketwirling]

[ He's not quite sure what he expected Dorian to want, but it wasn't that. Perhaps to play at being Warden for a day, or get a firsthand look at history; not to hear more about the taint, which, quite frankly, is the last thing most people want to think about. It's... unpleasant, to say the least, and most people don't want to dwell on the fact that one Darkspawn encounter could leave someone they love a hollowed-out, dying husk. ]

I... [ He trails off and furrows his brow, perplexed and a bit wary. While he can't quite put his finger on it, something just feels odd about his line of questioning. Coming to Weisshaupt, asking about the taint. It's unusual. He can't imagine what ill intention someone would have to ask about the taint, of course — what's he going to do, make someone more tainted? — but he's skeptical all the same.

Slowly, doubtfully, he asks, ] Why do you want to know about the taint?

[necrofancies]

( so, the man isn't as foolish as he seems. that doesn't make things harder. on the contrary! it makes things just a little more interesting. dorian turns to face alistair more. he regards him quietly with just the faintest upturn to the corner of his mouth. )

Perhaps you won't fail as a guard dog just yet. You're right to be wary of such a question.

( he spreads his hands out in front of him. a gesture of innocence as well as one to illustrate his point. dorian lowers his voice to impart the follow up. not because it's a secret by any means. but, it's a personal matter he doesn't care to discuss. a solemn air settles around him. )

A very, very dear friend of mine was attacked by darkspawn. They claimed his mother, but he managed to get away. His father and I have done what we can to keep the infection from overtaking him, but I believe there are more things to be done. There's something we're missing.

( he settles back into his own space. any melancholy he may have felt dissolves as quickly as it came. )

Nothing nefarious, I assure you. I believe there's a cure for the taint, and I intend to find it.

( he lifts up a hand as if to stay any rebuttal he senses might be coming. )

And, do spare me your cries of impossibility. Nothing is impossible, and I refuse to accept that as an option.

[piketwirling]

Oh. [ He relaxes a bit. That's not so bad. A noble intention, really, even if it feels a bit fruitless. Wardens have been wishing for a cure to the taint for years. It's not as if the premature death thing is a huge selling point, here.

It's... moving, sort of, that Dorian's got a 'nothing is impossible' attitude, but, well— some things are impossible. Alistair turning into a giant cheese monster right now? Impossible. The entire fortress suddenly being flooded with living bars of chocolate, also impossible. Curing the taint? He's just not so sure. ]

Well, in that case, er. Becoming a Warden slows the process, but no one's ever cured themselves of the taint. —Well, that's not entirely true. One woman, I hear, but they say she herself doesn't even know how she did it. And before you ask me how someone accidentally cures themselves of the uncurable, no, I don't know.

There was a Warden I met who... extended his life. [ If you want to call what Avernus had a 'life'. ] But that was— you can't repeat the terrible things he did. It's not even a cure, it's just delaying the inevitable.

[ He purses his lips. ] If there were a cure for the taint, Warden-Commander Duncan would have found it. He was the greatest man I ever knew.

[necrofancies]

( likely, this is a fruitless venture. dorian knows it deep down. but, he's still very entrenched in his denial phase about this whole ordeal. felix is too important to lose. so, dorian refuses to see that as an option. diseases can be cured all the time. wardens manage to live with the taint living inside of them for years. the right combination can be figured out somewhere. what good is magic if it can't be used to erase a mistake like this?

and, see? that right there is why it isn't impossible. someone's cured themselves. dorian doesn't believe it was an accident. she must know something.

dorian waves his hand almost dismissively as he huffs. )

No one lives forever. Death is inevitable already.

( but, dying so young is out of the question. there's more that felix needs to accomplish in his life. dorian will see to it that he does. he's not giving up. )

What can you tell me of becoming a Warden? ( he knows it's a closely kept secret. but, dorian pavus isn't here for secrets. ) I'll keep asking until you give me some information -- and I can be incredibly annoying.

( he smiles. not unkindly. ) Or incredibly persuasive. Your choice.

[piketwirling]

The Joining's a secret. [ Enunciating: ] Se-cret. That means we're not allowed to tell anyone about it.

[ It feels all very childish telling someone it's a secret, like he can't tell Dorian who little Timmy said he has a crush on, but it isn't like he made the rules. If it were up to him, maybe they would tell everyone straight off the bat that they'd have to drink Darkspawn blood like it was apple juice and then die tragically young. It's only fair. Unfortunately — or... fortunately, really, because no one really wants Alistair in charge of the Wardens — it's not up to him.

He sighs. Dorian was right; Alistair's already a bit annoyed, and he probably wasn't even trying yet. It's for a good cause, though, even if it might be a lost cause, so perhaps he can skirt the line a bit, tell just as much as he possibly can without giving anything away. ]

It's very... secretive. Obviously. And dangerous. Not all recruits make it. [ He grimaces a little, remembering his own Joining. ] If you mean to get your friend recruited, that's not how it works.

[necrofancies]

( immediately, dorian shakes his head. )

No, he would never. ( a hand lifts in an innocent gesture. ) Offense not intended. He'd never make the trip here. No Warden would make the trip to Tevinter to do it.

( he should stop there, but he doesn't and begins to pace a small circuit instead. )

Even if one would, he'd be absolutely furious with me. He's already resigned himself to his fate -- he says, anyway. But, I know him. He'd not take the powders and serums his father and I have worked so hard on. He wouldn't sit through the magic only to appease us.

( he stops several paces away with his back to alistair. dorian knows this is likely a lost cause and felix will die. but, he can't let him go without trying to find something. dropping his head down, he sighs softly as he rubs his forehead. )

There's so much more he was meant to do.

( that...was more to himself than anything. dorian rallies himself with a deep breath, straightens, then turns around. all pretense is gone. )

I'll swear you a dozen oaths that I will keep this to my grave. You can kill me with your own hand if I speak a word of it. I'll be your patron or someone else if you don't want it. We'll bloody build you an new fortress somewhere! You do not understand the severity of what I'm willing to do. I'm showing you my hand even though it goes against every fiber of my being.

( he feels terribly out of breath and exposed. foolish. but, he finds his resolve and stands even straighter with his hands fisted at his sides. )

It's worth keeping it a secret to you, knowing you have the possibility of finding a cure? You're holding that possibility right in your hands. You're just going to throw it away?

[piketwirling]

[ Alistair makes an exasperated sound, throwing his head back. ] That's not— that isn't fair. [ He points at Dorian, frustrated at him and his unfairly noble intentions and his stupid face and his ridiculous mustache. ] That's against the rules. Who told you I've got a weakness for impassioned speeches?

[ Duncan would be so disappointed. The other Wardens would probably kill him, literally, if they caught wind. But Maker, it's like Dorian's a kicked puppy — he can't just abandon him. The least he can do is give him enough to let him try to help his friend, regardless of its impossibility. Let him bury this man with a clear conscience.

Like hell he's going to do it here, though. He's not stupid. He runs his fingers through his hair and resists the urge to rip it out, since, y'know, that might give the impression that he's slightly crazy, and says, very subtly, ] You know what I love? Walks. Let's take a walk. Away from the area that we are in right now.

[necrofancies]

( it worked.

it honestly worked! dorian hadn't expected anything to come of it, yet here it is. he doesn't expect to get much information from alistair. but, even a little is enough for dorian to start working with. that's the hope, anyway. he's old enough now to know that hope is usually wasted and useless, but that's not going to stop him. he'll do anything for felix. including making a fool of himself and pleading in front of a warden.

a very real, very bright smile steals across his mouth. if it wasn't weird, he'd honestly kiss alistair right now for doing this. he doesn't, and instead nods in agreement. )

I could do for a bit of fresh air.