[ That's something. Bastien smiles a faint smile—one with a little pity in it, but not too much pity. The first rule of betraying nearly everyone Bastien knows to help a country invading his homeland is at least be good at it. ]
Most of us will be gone for Satinalia. So I have your gift early.
[ He turns the book out from where it's tucked, displaying the cover: Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi. (It's much thicker and much more detailed than twelve codex entries, of course.) ]
[ He takes a guess where that line of questioning is headed. ]
It is not a prank. [ He flips it open to display the pages, which aren’t glued together or blank or anything of the sort. ] Someone put your name in for our gift exchange, and I spoke with the leaders—
[ One leader. ]
—and you can have a book. If you do not vandalize it or try to bludgeon anyone with it, I will see if we can trade it for another in a few weeks.
[ As much as Bastien loves unwashed Tevinter prisoners, he’s not wild about mages, leashed somehow or not. He keeps his distance. But he holds the book out close enough to be reached, and if Benedict goes for it he won’t even do the teasing jerk out of reach thing. Not once. That’s practically a second gift. ]
I am trusting you, [ he says, which is more of a warning than a compliment, ] to not make me look like an idiot for arguing this was a good idea.
[Taking the book, Benedict shakes his head quickly, already almost too enthralled by being allowed such an object to assure Bastien he won’t be an idiot.]
Thank you, [he says after a moment, turning toward him with the book held to his chest.]
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no subject
Most of us will be gone for Satinalia. So I have your gift early.
[ He turns the book out from where it's tucked, displaying the cover: Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi. (It's much thicker and much more detailed than twelve codex entries, of course.) ]
Cheerful, light reading.
no subject
[Benedict sits up, perplexed, trying not to be excited.]
I can’t have—
[He pauses.]
It’s Satinalia?
no subject
[ He takes a guess where that line of questioning is headed. ]
It is not a prank. [ He flips it open to display the pages, which aren’t glued together or blank or anything of the sort. ] Someone put your name in for our gift exchange, and I spoke with the leaders—
[ One leader. ]
—and you can have a book. If you do not vandalize it or try to bludgeon anyone with it, I will see if we can trade it for another in a few weeks.
no subject
[His excitement is palpable, his eyes suddenly brimming as he gets to his feet and rushes to the bars. There has never been a more grateful face.]
I can? It’s not a trick? Really?
[If Bastien gets too close, he risks being kissed.]
no subject
I am trusting you, [ he says, which is more of a warning than a compliment, ] to not make me look like an idiot for arguing this was a good idea.
no subject
Thank you, [he says after a moment, turning toward him with the book held to his chest.]
I just— thank you.