[IC] Faderift Voicetesting

[dendarii]

[ Well this is a surprise. Miles has been all over the damn continent, and a decent portion of the ocean besides. But the last thing he expected when he'd offered his totally-legtimate-definitely-pirates pirate fleet to the Inquisition was to see his family again. Probably the only two people in the damn world who'd care to torpedo the image of Miles the Rivaini Mercenary Captain - Byerly out of spite, and Sonia out of joy. (It's kind of a shame in Sonia's case, because he's quite fond of his second cousin.) ]

What in damnation are you doing here?

[ Accusatory in Byerly's case, quietly exasperated in Sonia's. He's trying to cut an impressive figure here. Hard when he's a slim little thing in slightly tattered mercenary grays - though perhaps the hulking Qunari mage nearby makes up for it. ]

Comments

[bouchonne]

My dear cousin.

[ Byerly did not...expect this. He did not expect to see Miles here. Indeed, it's unexpected enough that if Miles were not quite so distinctive he might not have recognized him at all. But there he is, large as life ("large" as life) and flanked by...someone very large. By gives the Qunari a once over, then smiles ever so pleasantly at Miles and greets him: ]

Did you get lost?

[dendarii]

[ Miles twitches a little. There's a clear moment of struggle on his face where he tries to decide how the hell to play this. The Qunari is already turning, looking delighted - Miles has cousins? Why didn't he tell her? - which sort of decides things for him. Blight. Blight and destruction ... ]

I ought to say the same for you. Last I heard you were a drunkard sleeping with your sister.

[bouchonne]

[ That lands. It's a rare hit that lands on Byerly, slippery and twisty as he is, but that does, and visibly so; for a moment, he stiffens, and his eyes widen, and his hands clench into fists so hard that his knuckles go white and he trembles. And there are no words. Rare, that Byerly is without words.

It doesn't last long. Just a single heartbeat before By forces himself to relax, even though he hears his pulse pounding in his temples, even though he feels queasy. Even though he'd like to put a fucking dagger in Miles' throat. He feels his mouth smiling, and he hears his voice saying: ]

Sometimes one craves a change. But of course I needn't tell you that, coz. Since you're constantly running from one thing to the next soon as the last one fails. Say, have you killed Old Man Piotr yet?

[dendarii]

[ Miles doesn't get much joy out of the jab anyway. A glint of smugness at By being lost for words - replaced by a wince of his own in turn. Piotr is and will always be a sore spot for Miles. He'd spent his whole like desperate for the man's approval, and then his magic had shown up ... ]

How could I have? I've not been home in ages. I'm surprised you recognized me at all.

[ He's kind of built this whole pirate thing out of people not recognizing him. ]

[bouchonne]

Well, you're so distinctive.

[ The sneer is audible. And - just to ensure Miles doesn't miss his point - he holds up thumb and forefinger to his eye, only an inch or so apart. ]

You know, I'm not sure that the Inquisition needs another apostate.

[dendarii]

[ That's an easy target, long since scarred over, but he still smarts. Byerly gets a bright-eyed glare. ]

A Rivaini Seer with a free mercenary fleet, you mean. Haven't you heard of Admiral Naismith?

[bouchonne]

No.

[ Yes. ]

[dendarii]

[ A small eye roll. ]

Oh come on. Give me that much. I know our raid on Dagoola Isle was famous enough.

[bouchonne]

[ An elegant shrug. ]

Perhaps you're famous in the shallow waters of your homeland. Ferelden cares little for you.

[dendarii]

[ Another wince. ]

I'm Ferelden too. As much as I am Rivaini. Gran'da was going to make me his heir.

[ Until the magic showed up, anyway. ]

[bouchonne]

Are you?

[ By makes a grand show of looking Miles up and down. ]

You don't look Ferelden. You look like a foreign hedge-mage. Showing up here with a ragged bunch of outlaws.

[dendarii]

A seer with a mercenary fleet. What did you turn up with, a bottle?

[ Though Miles' own little band is kind of ragged honestly. Taura is the most impressive one of the lot of them. ]

[bouchonne]

[ Yes. ]

And my wits. Alas, would that you'd come with something similar.

[vorbratta]

Miles!

[ the surprise is mutual, coz -- sonia's eyes go absolutely wide with surprise and then delight, because even after all these years, how could she not remember that face? it probably helps that he hasn't grown since she last saw him...at all, really. they've at least kept in touch, but he left so suddenly all those years ago, and under such strained circumstances, that she's never been certain when she might see him again.

the imposing qunari woman is noted -- bookmarked for later curiosity -- but sonia goes right for miles with a joyful laugh, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug that even lifts him off the ground an inch or two. sorry, miles, did you have a question? sonia didn't hear a question. ]

Oh, Miles, it's really you! It's been ages!

[dendarii]

[ Not an inch, much to his eternal dismay. He's done what he can to research it, suspecting magic or elf blood, but - no, he was just a sickly child from a family with kind of short men in it already. At least Sonia would never mistake him for a dwarf.

He makes a protesting noise when she lifts him bodily - Order why, why do this to him - but he can't help but hug her a little in return. Sonia was always one of his favorite cousins, along with Ivan, anyway. ]

Nearly a decade in fact. [ Another faintly plaintive noise. ] Could you put me down?

[vorbratta]

Sorry, sorry!

[ she only sounds so apologetic, though, laughing as she is, just happy to see him. seeing him whole is good enough for a smile right now. everyone's acted so spooked and on eggshells about the subject of miles's magic that it's gnawed at sonia a bit, worrying her, but he seems alright. that's good enough.

she sets him down firmly on his feet before she lets go, pressing a kiss to his forehead -- and then she actually gets a look at him and holds him out at arm's length, plucking at his tattered sleeve with a scrutinizing frown. ]

And what is this? Good God, Miles, you don't dress yourself like this, do you?

[dendarii]

[ He seems - well, as healthy as he ever is. Tiny and frail, but certainly bright-eyed. The outfit is a bit rough around the edges to be sure, and definitely in a Rivaini style rather than something Ferelden. He tries to strike a pose, though secretly he's dismayed by her frown. He'd like very much to impress her. ]

What, you don't like it? All admirals dress like this in Rivain.

[ They really don't. ]

[vorbratta]

Then I'm afraid to break it to you, dear cousin, but you're absolutely blind to fashion. No self-respecting man of rank would walk out of his house dressed like that on purpose.

[ it is delivered utterly fondly, though, and while she might be strongly tempted to take him on an immediate shopping trip, she looks intrigued, her eyes bright. ]

Oh? So it really is true, then -- you haven't been telling me tall tales in all those letters? You've really got a whole fleet?

[dendarii]

Ah, well. I admit we had a bit of a rough journey here. We're doing our best.

[ He really ought to tell her the truth. Now, before she finds out from someone else. But - that intrigue in her face is something else, isn't it? He can't help but try to live up to the image he presented in his letters. ]

I truly do. The Dendarii Free Mercenary Fleet - perhaps you've heard of it?

[vorbratta]

Hm, well -- I suppose you're forgiven, then.

[ all in good humor; she's just happened to see him. and now he really is impressing her -- her eyes go wide, and she claps her hands together. yes, of course she's heard of them, how could she not? it's not the kind of thing she keeps an ear to the ground for, but she's heard plenty of third-hand tales over a bottle of wine. no doubt some of them are just as exaggerated as she suspects some of miles's letters are, but those stories got around for a reason. ]

That's you? Miles, that's incredible! I thought you'd went off to Rivain to study.

[ at least, that's as far as she'd been told. she'd always worried the truth was something somewhat less benign. ]

[dendarii]

[ Ah, how can he tell her the truth when she looks so excited. It's much easier to lean into the lie. ]

I did go to Rivain to study. I just also took over a mercenary fleet in my spare time.

[vorbratta]

Clearly they didn't give you enough to study.

[ she's practically radiating delight. all the apprehension about magic, the questions she has and the worries, too -- those can all wait. right now, she just wants to hear about miles...being miles. ]

Goodness, how fast did you have to talk for that? That's quite impressive even for you, Miles.

[ she's known him since he was little. he's always talked his way into everything, just like she's always tricked her way into everything. well, tantrums have always been a good failsafe. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles is always gonna Miles no matter where he is. He grins back at her, hands on his hips. ]

I promised a captain a little ancestral land. By the time he realizes it was Blight-ruined, I'd made off with the ship. One thing led to another.

[vorbratta]

You didn't. [ she sounds absolutely gleeful. ] And you got a whole fleet out of that? You've really outdone yourself, Miles. I'm so proud.

[ maybe she shouldn't be? but come on. ]

[dendarii]

[ Probably not but. That's. Quite okay really. ]

It all got out of control, honestly. I kept digging myself in deeper.