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[staysail]

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[hassaran]

[ A little more sharply than she means to: ]

What?

[staysail]

I said, could be I'll see you there. In Tevinter.

Anything else you want t' tell me?

[hassaran]

[ Plenty. ]

You're going?

[staysail]

Should I not?

[hassaran]

I'm just surprised. As you said, it will take a while. Even by sea. [ when there's no profit to be made on it, she means ]

[staysail]

[hey babe thanks for being sweet enough not to mention the lack of profit, which hurts like a rotting tooth]

Perhaps I miss the sea that much. Any excuse to be on the water instead of scrubbing floors in this miserable pile of wet rock. Somewhere I'm actually useful, yeah?

Is that about your thinking as well?

[hassaran]

[ fair enough. she probably should have guessed as much from the start, especially since the ship going is full of pirates anyway. ]

More or less. [ she hesitates a second and then adds ] Good luck. Be careful.

[staysail]

Now, there's no need for that. You already know I'm lucky.

[After all the stories he's told her, after all that she knows about him. Even with exaggeration stripped away, the truth of his luck would remain.]

What about yourself? Should I be wishing luck to you, too?

[hassaran]

[ Maybe he really is lucky, she could believe that. It fits him. Or maybe it just means he's due. As for herself ]

It couldn't hurt.

Don't underestimate the mages, if you meet any. [ she can't resist warning. It's Tevinter after all. ]

[staysail]

[He huffs something like a laugh.]

Mages can be cut in half, same as anyone else. But I'll remember. If you're giving a warning, it's got to be serious.

[hassaran]

It's difficult to cut someone in half when you can't move.

[ a very reasonable concern when dealing with mages, and also a call back to that story she told him once, in case he needs a reminder that she speaks from experience and is absolutely serious.

anyway. ]

Let me know when you return?

[staysail]

[Well, when she puts it that way... The story is known to Darras and as he's remembering it, he remembers, too, the day she told it to him. That strange feeling of belated concern and anger, for something that happened beyond his control. Something that Yseult got herself out of--but she got into it because of her work, because she was ordered to do something dangerous, which in of itself was no problem except she could have been killed, and for what--]

I will.

[She chose the Inquisition, because she believed in it. So. Darras plucks at a loose thread on the sleeve of his coat and twists at it.]

This mean you're worried for me, then?

[hassaran]

Of course not. [ she is almost smiling, just the slightest bit. he'll hear it. ] Why would I be? You're lucky.

[staysail]

Still nice to be worried about.

[hassaran]

[ she sighs, audible. not upset, just a little tired and a little sad. quieter. ]

I wouldn't have asked if I didn't.

[staysail]

[Wait, no, that was the wrong reaction--]

That was meant to be a joke, y'know.

[hassaran]

Oh. [ she rewinds it in her head, plays it back again ] It's harder to tell when I can't see you. These crystals are amazing, but strange.

[staysail]

Are you saying you want t' see me?

[And, before she can really answer:]

Also a joke.


[Kind of.]

[hassaran]

I'm saying goodnight, Darras. [ she makes sure to sound amused, because she is and to soften the sting of saying anything but 'yes' ] Come back safe.

[staysail]

[It still does sting, a little. Or else, he doesn't know what to do with the feeling, or how to read it. Does it sting? Does he care? Did he want her to invite him back?

Yes, yes, and yes. Of course yes. Hopelessly yes.]

Lucky. [In case she needed the reminder.] You take a charm with. Keep yourself safe, too.

[hassaran]

I will. [ She lingers a moment, then cuts off the message. ]