Quest 001: A Favor for a Favor

[neverheardofhim]

[Varric had lost track of the days he'd been on this backwater planet. New time systems and science involving orbits and science the likes of which he'd never had the time for made him feel a bit... temporally lost. He'd spent most of his time fiddling with his new devices, wandering about and grousing about how he was effectively useless, thanks to his weapon being strapped to his back.]

[But there was one thing missing.]

[He'd done enough fucking around to figure out just how the TAB worked. He'd experimented by sending a few small videos to the contacts he'd gathered up -- mostly insisting that the Hawke's eat their meals and drink whatever water they could find. The usual stuff.]

[Now it was time to get down to the important business. The feed clicked on, with Varric's face perfectly in view. He gave the device both a crooked smile and a nod of acknowledgement.]

A message to whoever's listening. You don't know me, I don't know you. That's all well and good, but I make a living off of knowing people. [Varric lifted a bottle of clear liquid into view.] So. What better way to bond than over a drink or two?

[He lifted the bottle to his lips, taking a long swig from it. When he looked back, his lips cracked into a grin.]

You can have a bottle all for yourself if you do me just one favor. Find me a quill, some ink and a decent notebook, and it's all yours.

Comments

[tearsinajar]

[ Chloe called her 'Sunshine' and now this. ]

I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.

Okay but does it smell like anything?

[ S2G if he said that it smelled like piss.... ]

[neverheardofhim]

Like a good night.

[Maybe it's the fact that this was the longest he'd ever managed to go without alcohol, but the laughs just seem to keep pouring from his mouth tonight.]

You asked about this fireball stuff, didn't you? Whiskey, you said? That'd be it. [More rummaging, more plucking of bottles.] Tell you what: you can have it if you try the Piss.

[tearsinajar]

[ Fireball whiskey? Sign her up.

Elena held up a hand, though, brow quirking. ]

Hold on, I thought you said you were after journals to write in? Not someone to puke in your lap.

[neverheardofhim]

[Varric lifted a hand, running it through his hair for a moment. His eyes closed in an attempt to focus, finding it just a bit harder to gather this thoughts. Embarrassing.]

I also said I was in the business of knowing people. You know what they say. You make more friends with honey. Or... cinnamon, in this case.

[tearsinajar]

As long as you aren't attempting the cinnamon challenge, we might still be able to get along.

Why are you in the business of knowing people? Are you a journalist?

[ That might get him bonus friend points in her book. ]

[neverheardofhim]

[Varric did what he could to hide his confused expression. Elena sure did rattle off a lot of things that he didn't understand.]

A writer, actually. Most of my work is based off of people I know. Even wrote a biography on my best friend.

The more people I know, the more inspiration I have.

[tearsinajar]

So you're a people person. You'll fit in just fine here, then. And I'm glad to see I'm not the only writer around.

Name's Elena Fisher. Good to meet you, Mister...?

[neverheardofhim]

Oh, you too? Anything I might recognize? [Highly unlikely, considering how advanced everyone else seemed to be. But maybe if he was lucky, she'd produce some reading material. Give him something to do.]

Tethras. First name Varric.

[tearsinajar]

I doubt it. Anything I've published didn't make it over with me. [ Which is a shame. Though, if she really wanted, she could start it up again here. ]

Varric. Nice to meet you.

[neverheardofhim]

[Varric grimaced. He had been looking forward to a refreshing read.]

You'll have to write something new for me then, Elena. Don't keep me in the dark in regards to your surely amazing talents. [She couldn't possibly be as good as him, but second best wasn't something to sneeze at, either.]

[tearsinajar]

It's been a while. But I don't doubt I could come up with something.

[ He was lucky someone had been kind enough to heal her arm. It should make for holding her journal and pen easier. ]

Anything in specific?

[neverheardofhim]

Depends, you write fiction or non-fiction? [Varric leaned forward, fingers stroking at the stubble beneath his chin.]

Fiction, you write a story about a tall, human man with a sharp-wit and impeccable writing skills. Non-fiction? The man is a dwarf.

Sound good?

[tearsinajar]

I write articles. I'm a journalist. I write stories that uncover the truth.

[ Which wasn't to say she couldn't come up with something. ]

[neverheardofhim]

So... uncover the truth about that dashing dwarf then. [Despite the joke on his lips, said dwarf was extremely interested in the role that Elena carried. It wasn't something that Thedas had, at least not in an official capacity. If they had, Varric could have seen himself diving into it.]

Tell me more about it?

video;

[otiosity]

Oh, don't worry. He's no stranger to that. He'll get cross and then get over it.

[SUCH HELPFUL. SO FRIEND.]

video;

[tearsinajar]

[ WHAT IS FRANDSHIP. WHAT IS LOVE. ]

You know him. Does that mean you also know what it's like to puke in his lap?

[otiosity]

I'm more of a shoes girl, but yes.

[tearsinajar]

[ Recoils in mock horror. ]

Not the shoes. Won't someone think of the shoes.

[otiosity]

They're just so conveniently placed in the way of vomit! I don't think Nate will ever allow me near his again. He might have a bit of trauma.

[tearsinajar]

Better his shoes than anywhere else. But do tell, he never told me you decided to barf on him.

[otiosity]

Decided is a bit of a harsh word. It more sort of just... happened in an unexpected moment.

[tearsinajar]

Were you drinking?

[otiosity]

Is that a trick question?

[tearsinajar]

I don't know. Is it?

[otiosity]

Could be. Or perhaps rhetorical?