[ All innocence. And all reflex. He regrets it as soon as he's said it, because it's Laura, who is in some ways still making sense of the world and doesn't need him making it any harder to figure people out. He relents immediately. ]
I mean, never is a strong word. And you don't talk about yourself very much either, in my experience, unless I ask you.
[ Except that's not quite the truth anymore; Riftwatch has had enough people come and go that murderer doesn't cling to her shadow quite so strongly as it did two years ago. ]
I was Édouard Almary, a printer who came to Val Royeaux from the Deauvin Flats.
[ Monsieur Almary had a whole story. An imaginary family. Toward the end of Bastien's six-year stint with that false identity, there were days it even felt real. But it's hardly relevant now. ]
Only for a few years, though. Before that I was a bard.
[ Of course he did. A bard, or a former bard, might change their name over and over. But Bastien has always seemed so steadfastly one thing that it still feels surprising to know. ]
Sometimes. Often, in the beginning, and less often at the end. After I quit I missed the—the work, I suppose. The excitement. It's good to be doing some of it again now, for a better reason.
Now you have to tell me...
[ A moment to think. She's right; he does know about her past. Not all of the details, of course, but enough to know it's full of trip wires. ]
[ This, she has to think about, too. Bastien has told her things she didn't already know; she doesn't want to respond with something he could easily guess. ]
I want to go back to Nevarra. I want to find the place where I lived and make sure no one can ever make someone like me again.
[ Possibly sooner than after the war - during a war is when someone would want to. ]
I think home will be Denerim. We’re excited to travel, [ him and By, ] so maybe we will live a little bit everywhere. And I have to visit Val Royeaux. She is my mother. But I think Denerim is where we will go back to.
I went to a tavern in Denerim when I was there last, and they put their stew inside bread. It was amazing. I’m obsessed. You will have to come visit so I can buy you one.
[ He’s not her father; he doubts she needs one, and the most he’s ever aspire to being for anyone is a fun uncle. But still. He’s most familiar with Matthias as someone calling Byerly a wanker and saying he wouldn’t care if he died, so— ]
And he’s kind to you? He listens? No name-calling?
[ Asked mildly, with only a small amount of real worry. He’s pretty sure Laura wouldn’t tolerate it. But only pretty. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Don't I?
[ All innocence. And all reflex. He regrets it as soon as he's said it, because it's Laura, who is in some ways still making sense of the world and doesn't need him making it any harder to figure people out. He relents immediately. ]
I mean, never is a strong word. And you don't talk about yourself very much either, in my experience, unless I ask you.
no subject
[ Except that's not quite the truth anymore; Riftwatch has had enough people come and go that murderer doesn't cling to her shadow quite so strongly as it did two years ago. ]
Do you think people will find you uninteresting?
no subject
Most people find most other people uninteresting. It's rarely personal.
no subject
no subject
no subject
And I think you are trying to distract me.
no subject
You are on a mission today, huh?
[ In a manner of speaking. ]
If you want me to talk about myself, you have to trade me. That is the rule.
no subject
[ But it doesn't sound particularly stubborn. ]
Who were you before Riftwatch?
no subject
[ Monsieur Almary had a whole story. An imaginary family. Toward the end of Bastien's six-year stint with that false identity, there were days it even felt real. But it's hardly relevant now. ]
Only for a few years, though. Before that I was a bard.
no subject
[ Of course he did. A bard, or a former bard, might change their name over and over. But Bastien has always seemed so steadfastly one thing that it still feels surprising to know. ]
Did you like being a bard?
no subject
Now you have to tell me...
[ A moment to think. She's right; he does know about her past. Not all of the details, of course, but enough to know it's full of trip wires. ]
Something you want to do after the war.
no subject
I want to go back to Nevarra. I want to find the place where I lived and make sure no one can ever make someone like me again.
[ Possibly sooner than after the war - during a war is when someone would want to. ]
And I want to visit someone at their home.
no subject
Someone, in general? Or someone specific?
no subject
[ Helpful, Laura. But if she'd meant a specific person, she'd say the name instead. ]
If the war ends, people will leave. I want to visit them where they want to live, not where they have to.
no subject
I’m certain everyone will want to see you. And of course I will. You will have to come visit me.
no subject
no subject
Have you ever been there?
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
And I will bring Matthias. He would like soup inside bread.
no subject
[ A delighted ah, not an oh no ah. ]
You are planning for after the war with him? It must be quite serious.
no subject
He understands me. I like to be understood. And I understand him.
no subject
It’s hard to think of anything better.
[ He’s not her father; he doubts she needs one, and the most he’s ever aspire to being for anyone is a fun uncle. But still. He’s most familiar with Matthias as someone calling Byerly a wanker and saying he wouldn’t care if he died, so— ]
And he’s kind to you? He listens? No name-calling?
[ Asked mildly, with only a small amount of real worry. He’s pretty sure Laura wouldn’t tolerate it. But only pretty. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)