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

[sketchycharacter]

First chapter? You already working on a novel?

[neverheardofhim]

More of a collection of short stories. If anyone ever finds our charred bodies, it might be nice for them to know where we came from.

[sketchycharacter]

Cheery. [Nate sounds oddly cheery himself. Maybe he fakes it well.] Let me know if you need any illustrations.

[neverheardofhim]

Of dead bodies? [He chuckled.] I'll pass on that one. But maybe you could sketch up something about the fearless dwarf with legendary chest hair? The one who's going to save you all from yourselves.

Just a thought.

[sketchycharacter]

Or, you know...stuff. People.

[The living ones.]

Legends must be interesting in your world. What makes the chest hair so legendary?

[neverheardofhim]

It's a tempting offer. Show me what you can do and I'll think on it, how 'bout that?

[Varric glowered through the screen. He jabbed a thumb toward his chest, and directed the TAB so that it focused on his unbuttoned shirt.]

You trying to tell me that that isn't the stuff of legends?

[sketchycharacter]

Fair enough.

[He'll have to flip through his most recent sketchbook, see if there's anything he'd want to show off.

Nate leans closer to the TAB, squinting for effect.]

It's pretty good. I'll give you that. But I've seen better.

[neverheardofhim]

Better. [Varric's been insulted repeatedly in the past, but only one has ever managed to elicit such a reaction. He huffed at the screen and jerked the TAB back up to his scowling face.]

Who in Thedas has better chest hair than that?

[sketchycharacter]

Uh, I have no idea. I'm not from Thedas. I suppose you can be the best chest hair fromt here, if you don't mind qualifiers.

[neverheardofhim]

Why not from here? [Varric's brows tightened.] You trying to tell me that someone here has a better chest than me?

[sketchycharacter]

I don't know about better. It's not my place to judge. But they could put up a fight, sure.

[neverheardofhim]

Just what are you trying to say, Drake?

hypnotized by that icon

[sketchycharacter]

Oh nothing, nothing. But there are a lot of people here from a lot of different worlds. You can't assume you're the best just because you're the best where you're from.

Good.

[neverheardofhim]

Uh. Yes I can?

[sketchycharacter]

But you might be wrong.

[neverheardofhim]

Impossible.

[sketchycharacter]

Nah.

[neverheardofhim]

Ass.

I can see why Chuckles likes you.

[sketchycharacter]

Who's Chuckles?

[neverheardofhim]

[Congratulations, Nate, you've won an exasperated eye-roll.]

Hawke.

[sketchycharacter]

[That makes him chuckle.]

Oh, I bet she loves that you call her that.

[neverheardofhim]

[At least someone is laughing about it.]

I had to give her that nickname because we have two Hawkes running around. I doubt she's very pleased at all.

[sketchycharacter]

Oh, yeah, Dick Hawke. Christ, that's weird.

[neverheardofhim]

Garrett. [Listen... someone has to defend the guy.]

Hardly the weirdest thing I've come across at this point.

[sketchycharacter]

Eh. I can't be bothered to remember his name.

[Dick Hawke is Dick Hawke.]

What's the weirdest thing, then?