ataraxioff | SEATBELTS EVERYONE!!

[Rather distracted by the device in his hands, Dorian doesn't notice Krem until he's rudely interrupted - though considering the topic, it isn't so rude after all.]

You're in luck. Knowing where to find a drink may be what I'm best at.

[He looks Krem over. This is one of Bull's men - Dorian does recognize him, even if they've rarely spoken. A new face, here, and not an unwelcome one. Anyone from home is a sight for sore eyes, really, and Dorian's smile is genuine, even if he's not entirely sure what to expect.]

I'd no idea we'd gotten more Thedosians onboard. What a hopefully pleasant surprise.

[Oh, that's the Altus, isn't it? Krem stands a bit straighter, looking away for a moment. He could remember boys like Dorian, ones he was always told to be pleasant and demure for, to hopefully charm his family's way into nobility. No one as high up on the ladder as House Pavus, but nouble enough to count when your family was trying to avoid slavery.

It's nothing personal, but he finds himself uncertain. When he finally speaks, it's in Tevene, a language he hasn't spoken in some time but he could never forget- it was the language that narrated his own thoughts, after all.]

Dorian of House Pavus, correct?

[And then he feels almost unsure, knowing that the way he strung his words and his accent marked him as a commoner.]

[It's odd, after so long, to hear the language of his homeland. The last time he heard it was from Fenris - right before Fenris apparently wished to kill him. Hopefully this will go a bit better than that did.

It's clear from the accent that Dorian is speaking to one of the lower classes - a Soporati, certainly. Well, there's nothing really wrong with that, in Dorian's mind. If anything, it means he's probably less likely to be a corrupt, ambitious fool.

He responds in Tevene, his smile remaining.]

I didn't realize we shared a homeland. You have me at a disadvantage - I've no idea what your name is.

[Ah, it feels good to speak it again. The common tongue isn't so bad, but it's not home.]

[For Krem, it's bittersweet. It's been some time since he spoke his home tongue, and he doesn't share any of Dorian's idealism.

He just figured it would be easier. There are nuances in Tevene that he knows, turns of phrase, and it's easier to make his thoughts known.

He inclines his head a bit, and folds his arm behind his back, standing a bit at attention and looking up at Dorian.]

Lieutenant Cremisius Aclassi. Just call me Krem, everyone does.

[He's half thankful, half sad that the Chief isn't here to make stupid jokes about his name.]

[He notes the posture - of course. This Krem is a soldier, or a mercenary, at least. It should be no surprise when he acts like one, and indeed Dorian's grown used to seeing that sort of posture on Cullen.

Still, it feels... odd, to be speaking Tevene to someone like Krem in a place like this. Dorian's had to get used to quite a bit of oddness, but it never seems to stop.]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Krem. You must be newly arrived, or else I'm sure I'd have run into you.

[Probably at the bar, because that's where cool kids from Tevinter hang out.]

How odd to find another countryman here.

You know what they say, you let in one Vint, next thing you know, you've got an empire knocking on your door.

[He smiles a bit, and then realizes that maybe he shouldn't be so glib, and maybe should be calling Dorian a slur, but...he's a soldier. And he's used to being able to have cameraderie with other men.

And at the very least, if Dorian was outside of Tevinter and working for the Inquisition...despite the rumors that people gossiped about him back at Skyhold, he was either a great liar or a decent person. Hard to tell, with an Altus- most of them leaned toward being great liars.]

[He laughs, of course. Dorian's not overly fond of the term, but he's heard it often enough that it doesn't truly bother him even from an enemy - and Krem isn't that. They're both from Tevinter. If anyone should get to toss around slurs, it ought to be them.]

Indeed. We're like incredibly well-dressed ants, in a way.

[Not that Krem's very well-dressed, but they've only just met. Dorian will wait at least a few minutes before pointing that out.]

Luckily, you're a soldier - we've quite a few here who aren't overly fond of mages, and Tevinter mages especially.

[So really, nothing's changed.]

Do they like dogs, too? Must be just like back home.

[He huffs a laugh. Despite his misgivings, Dorian didn't seem entirely terrible. There was something different about him from a normal Magister- Krem wasn't the Chief with how good he was at reading people, but he knew a thing or two. Mostly, he found his instincts with people were usually good.

And right now, he was enjoying Dorian's company, so there was that.]

Rather less mud, thankfully.

[He's not entirely sure what to expect from Krem - a commoner, a soldier, but someone else from Tevinter, and someone who (perhaps surprisingly) didn't seem to hate him for what he was.

Not that Krem knew anything about him except what he could pick up from Dorian's admittedly well-bred Tevene. But that was more than enough for hatred, with some people.

Krem didn't seem all that bad, really.]

I can't say I've seen any dogs, either. My awful memories of Ferelden are fading already.

[He scoffs.]

I can think of worse places than Ferelden.

[It could be worse, it could be the Imperium. How he'd once been such a proud soldier, full of spirit and nice exactly love, but loyalty.

He looked Dorian over, a little intrigued. He'd never had the chance to speak with him before, andf there were a few things that stood out of place. He knew enough about the Spymistress to know that she wouldn't let someone come within a town of the Inquisition if they didn't check out.

Dorian was probably a spoiled, pampered highborn, but that meant he was even more out of place in Skyhold, of all places.]

So what's your story, you an ambassador or something?

I'd be an excellent ambassador - charming, handsome, intelligent, and I hardly ever murder people in order to use their blood for power. But no, I'm afraid I left Tevinter of my own accord, and found myself among the Inquistion thanks to a delightful and entertaining series of hijinks. Forbidden magic may have been involved.

[The story is long, and some of it is quite personal, so he'll just skip that. The short version is no doubt all that Krem really cares about in any case, so this is better all around.]

I'll admit I'm curious about your story, as well. You keep strange company.

A Vint and a Qunari, I know. Spent my time in the Imperium fighting the horned bastards, and now I fight for one.

[Krem looks him over, and rolls a shoulder, folding his arms behind his back. There's likely little that Dorian can do here- he can't turn him in as a deserter. Krem isn't as cunning or calculating as others- he's earnest in a way that even the Imperium couldn't erase.]

Got into a spot of trouble with the military. I was a soldier, but I told a couple of lies to get there. When they found out, I was facing slavery or death for lying on imperial documents. I fled South, ran into the Chief in a border town near Nevarra. He saved my neck, and in return I figured I'd stick around for a bit. Maker's tits, that almost seems like ages ago, now.

Hmm, yes. That sounds rather like Tevinter.

[The 'slavery or death' part, at least. Dorian's not really one to throw stones, all things considered, and he has no doubt that if Krem lied, he did so for a good reason.]

It doesn't sound like what I know of Qunari - it's a surprise he didn't break your neck rather than save it. But wanting to repay the one who saved you, even if they're large and smelly and uncouth, that is entirely understandable. And you've never been tempted by the idea of returning to our homeland?

Chief isn't so bad, once you get past his awful jokes.

[In truth, Krem liked the jokes, but he wasn't going to admit to that. It was just part of this odd group of people that were now Family- The Chargers were now his, because he had no one else.]

Burned a few bridges in Tevinter. Aside from the whole lying on documents thing, I've got nowhere to go. Mother hasn't spoken to me in years, father's a slave now and for all I know, he could be anywhere.

[He shakes his head, and shrugs a little.]

I've got The Chargers, now, that's good enough for me.

I'm surprised he allows a 'Vint' in his company, even one as agreeable as you.

[Their circumstances are very different - there's a big difference between being unable to return home and refusing to. But in Dorian's mind, of course, he's unable to as well - the consequences for a return are too high to consider. Still, they're from very different classes. Merely the idea of 'father's a slave now' is difficult to understand for someone from such well-bred circumstances as Dorian.

Nevertheless, he understands having nowhere to return to. He lacks a found family of his own, but he can see why Krem would want to stick with them. That sort of thing isn't easy to find.]

I could never fault anyone for burning Tevinter bridges. More need to be, in my mind. Anyway, no doubt the Chargers are better off with you. At least one of them has a decent head on their shoulders, in any case.

[Not that Dorian knows the others. But Bull is clearly quite mad, anyone can tell that.]

[The way Krem sees it, Dorian can't understand what he went through. Oh, he could certainly tell him, but in Krem's eyes the Alti were privileged. They never had to worry about saving themselves from slavery, never had to worry about that being your burden.

He laughs a bit.]

Cheif's not too bad. I thought he was bad, at first, but he's a good man, a bit more cunning than most give him credit for.

[Krem was fooled by him, too. If The Iron Bull had never told him he was Ben-Hassrath, he would have never guessed.]

You'll find there are plenty of interesting people here, as well, and most of them smell better. I'm afraid the Iron Bull hasn't yet graced us with his presence.

[And much as Dorian might bluster, he wouldn't mind if Bull did. Dorian was even happy to see Solas, that's how much he misses the Inquisition sometimes.]

Which reminds me, you did mention wanting to find the alcohol, correct? That, I can most certainly do.

SEATBELTS EVERYONE!!

halls

hello. :>

hello! /piles on

It will be nice to play against another Dorian (I play him in my main game)

yay!! more dorians! \o/

:D

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