dear_mun | (no subject)

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Maker's breath, you mean to tell me Maric goes back to the Deep Roads? Willingly? After the hell if was for us to get out of it with our lives? What for? Don't tell me he's following another attractive elf he's trying to get into the pants of-

...

Please tell me that was a joke.

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[Walk away, Alistair. Walk away, pretend you saw nothing. Because everything about this seems like a fantastic idea, he doesn't. Though it's curious why he seems to care so much, given that he'd never known Maric and claims so fervently to not care at all.

It's not as if he can claim this is out of character for Maric either, given that his existence alone is proof that his father's "fidelity" was not something to be commended.]

Oh, don't tell me. You strand him down there too?

[No, he hasn't had a lot of interaction with Loghain before the incident at Ostagar, but one look at that scowl, and he only needs one guess as to who he's talking to.]

[Loghain's scowl is basically legendary without actually being legendary. He was born with the scowl. He will probably die with that scowl. This is his neutral face.]

Strand...?

Ah. So which one are you then? The prince or the bastard?

[Because either way you look like Maric.]

You know, leaving your king on the battlefield to a hoard of Darkspawn. Because nothing says undying loyalty quite like leaving your best friend's son to die horrifically, right?

[The unmasked sass alone should say that he was hardly raised a noble, but Alistair is also careful to refer to Cailan in detached terms. Not that he knows his half-brother any other way. He's fine with the idea of being unremarkable, and frankly doesn't even like talking about Maric as his father at all. But he'll be damned if he stands idly by and says nothing at all.]

From what I understand, he was ready to hand the kingdom off to the Orlesians.

[Maric was pretty sassy and raised more or less noble, though Loghain wants to believe Rowan at least would raise her son to be sensible.]

[Ironically, Cailan had quite a bit less sense according to anyone not speaking directly to the king or the court; Anora's a sure enough sign of that. But that's neither here nor there.]

Last I checked, asking for help when you need it isn't the same thing as rolling over and playing dead. Except now I guess he's not playing at it. Look, I don't care why you did it, Loghain. Er, do it, I suppose, that scowl's lacking some age lining.

No one deserves to die like that.

What part of that judgement do you take umbrage with? 'Deserves to die' or 'like that'?

[It's Alistair's turn to scowl now; are they really delving into semantics?] Both. But the "like that" sure takes home a special medal for poor judgment. Congratulations.

I'd just like to know what future action I've got to defend myself over from a bastard who is less than half my age and a fraction of my experience.

[Less than half his age ... later. Because Alistair might actually be older than him as-is.

The experience thing is valid, though.]

Maker, it always comes back to the experience bit, doesn't it? You leave a boy half your age to get eaten and who knows what else by an army of darkspawn, your king, and it comes back to experience? I hate to be the bearer of bad news...wait, no I don't. No one cares about your bloody experience.

Cailan trusted you. Everyone knew that. And instead of doing anything to help fight the Blight, you decide to play politics like an Orlesian.

[Though this Loghain is clearly younger, everything about Theron's stance says he's ready to fight. He doesn't trust him, but at least his bow is still at his back.]

Attractive elves are worth a little danger.

[OH BOY YOU DID NOT.

YOU DID NOT.

Alistair, you had to see that punch coming. You had to. That vicious son-of-a-poacher-had-to-beat-people-into-submission punch right across the jaw, grabbing Alistair by the collar because he does not take that kind of shit from anyone.]

YOU DIDN'T LIVE DURING THE OCCUPATION.

IT'S NEVER 'HELP', YOU THINK ONCE THEY COME THEY'LL EVER LEAVE?

YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SEE YOUR MOTHER GET DRAGGED OUT OF YOUR HOUSE BY CHEVALIERS BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T PROPERLY PAY TAXES TO YOUR ORLESIAN 'LORDS', YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SEE MASKED NOBLEMEN KILLING FERELDEN FARMERS FOR SPORT. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE WE DROVE THEM OUT AND WHATEVER I DID TO KEEP THEM OUT I'LL DO A HUNDRED TIMES OVER!

I'll take your word for it.

Didn't think the Dalish spoke to 'shemlins'.

[Once upon a time Loghain was a younger man and actually got along quite well with elves.]

As I intend to murder you and take control of your armies, I decided I could spare five minutes of my time. You might not want to waste it, however.

[and, because clearly this is more important:] You don't find elves attractive?

[Of course he did; Loghain isn't exactly a man reputable for his cool temper. He takes the hit--he's had worse, though he can feel the blood at his nose--but shoves at Loghain immediately after.]

And you think Fereldens are so small minded that they wouldn't see that coming? Cailan called for Wardens not chevaliers! And we don't play the Game. And certainly not half as well as you do.

[Though Alistair can't see it, he has a case of assuming the best in people according to the loyalties they present, which is why he's taken Loghain's betrayal so personally. Loghain was supposed to be the best of them, loyal to Ferelden to a fault. But he'd never caught on to the last part until now. But even Alistair's own loyalties put him in the same faulted position: he also assumes all Grey Wardens are as bound and loyal to their obligations and duties as he is.]

[Sounds fair.]

I don't feel compelled to drop everything including ruling of a kingdom to cheat on my wife with one or two, unlike some.

[Look Maric was his friend but the man had flaws. One of them was the complete and total inability to keep it in his pants.

Sure Rowan had passed on before the second one ~~apparently~~ but that's not the kind of woman you cheat on the memory of.]

You're young, the trials of the generation before are easily forgotten if the threat isn't imminent. I play no 'Games' - though it sounds like had I left it up to the Prince that's exactly what would have happened.

You don't know anything about me, bastard.

That might be your problem. You've always looked to me as if you need a holiday.

I know enough. [Alistair, just stop. But, like Maric, he doesn't know how.] And you play it plenty well for saying you don't. I don't care how angry at Cailan you were, I don't even care what he's done. Everyone knew he relied on you to help him see reason.

What would my father think? [Not that he particularly cares, alright? Maric means nothing to him. N O T H I N G.]

[There is a pause, then Loghain crosses his arms, giving Alistair a measuring look.]

What would Maric think?

Well?

Tell me, if you knew him so well.

That isn't why he went. [ Fiona glares, her tone sharp. There had been important things at stake, things that went far beyond Ferelden. ]

Because that turned out so well for him.

Just as your life will turn out well for you.

And what happens to this supposed daughter I have?

Then why did he go? [Because he could have drawn a Maker dammed map from the sounds of it. Loghain does not like the idea of being left to watch Maric's stupid kid.]

I've never met her. Is she attractive?

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