#char. » zaahyr

[fadedpath]

" amatus, close your eyes. " a sly smile rested on the mage's lips as he took another step forward, shortening the distance between them. gently, he placed two wrapped gifts in zaahyr's hands. " go on then - open them! " it hadn't been easy, finding these gifts - two sets of clothes for his nug ; a dragon costume and a halla costume. " i hope you like them. " (a little silly valentine gift for zaahyr from dorian!)

He did as told, even if he peaked only a smidge when he felt the weight in his hands. Surprises were never his strongest to keep, perhaps why Dorian was so quick to allow him to open the presents—to which he did, with more than enough excitement to be had. Excitement that changed fast to amusement, a laugh bubbling out at the sight of the tiny costumes. ❛ Oh, Truffle's gonna hate this, but I love it, ❜ Zaahyr said, reaching up to guide Dorian into a kiss. ❛ Thank you, vhenan. Though, I'm starting to think you're warming up to the little guy. ❜ A knowing grin before it vanished in an instant upon remembering his own gift for the other. ❛ But, wait … ❜ he detached himself and ran from the room, only to come back with a small stack of books in hand, to which he handed over to Dorian. ❛ I didn't have time to wrap them since they just came in—went through hell just trying to find them. You know there's only two copies in existence? But I thought you'd be the best person to appreciate them. ❜ Or so he hoped. He knew that Dorian had a love for books, and scouring the man's library to make sure he wasn't giving him a duplicate took far too much time. Finding a rarity, one even upon magical artifacts of the Fade, took him almost a full year to track down ( not counting the years before trying to find if it even existed ). ❛ Unless you wanted another nug— ❜

@stcrforged !

[fadedpath]

The finger jabs may have been light, but his body moved as if each jab was the force of a boulder being thrown at him. Each poke, he flinches back, and even tries to swipe at the offending appendage, all while arguing the point. ( No pun intended. )

❛ Well—WELL ... I forgot, so you know what—would you stop that! ❜ Zaahyr remarks, finally grabbing the finger and shaking it a little with a small laugh under his breath. The subject endlessly brought up, and it was not just Eilruana who did so either. Every visit back to what is left of their clan brings with it an earful of one little mistake.

❛ Also, if I had anything to say on the matter, I'd force him to move out of Tevinter entirely, but I can't. Soft spot for homelands, you know how it is, ❜ he says, all while tossing her finger to the side. ❛ But you've always been invited to the tour, like we're on now! And you ruin it with, none other, uncle baby. At least Dorian has hair. ❜

eil shook her head, a small, exasperated sigh escaping her lips—not out of annoyance, but something more amused, more indulgent. she stepped closer, jabbing her finger lightly against zaahyr's chest, each poke timed with her words.

❛ you have been the one on tour, if anything. always back and forth these past ten years to minrathous to see your husband— ❜ jab. ❛ —a husband i did not even know about until he mentioned that second honeymoon. let us not forget. ❜

her tone was pointed, but there was no malice behind it. if anything, her words carried a begrudging fondness, as though she were scolding him for some long-standing joke she had not been let in on.

[fadedpath]

Zaahyr laughed. A bit of a short burst before quieting, not willing to risk others coming over to join them. But the amusement remained still, finding Dorian to be someone he can share that with despite what he had first thought of the man. To his embarrassment, what the Tevinter listed, was not too far from those original thoughts were. There was no room in his mind to even humor him at the start, finding that his background being what it was as something to judge his character by, and thus, force a distance despite working together. Mistakes were made, stumbles were had, but perhaps it was in being around him that was enough for earlier biases to finally be replaced.

And thank the Creators they did. So, he smiled at Dorian. Now, under the light of the moon and the torch fires around the treetop camp. The amusement within his features from the jest of before only melted into a certain care, laced with concern and, above all, love. It only hesitated, almost falling, when the talk of Dorian returning to Tevinter popped into the air. It was a subject Zaahyr wanted to think less of, almost to the point of convincing himself it would never happen. So he took a sip of his cooler tea to hide the sick feeling he had at the thought of the future.

❛ I know what you mean, though, ❜ Zaahyr admitted quietly, as he set his cup back down. ❛ Granted not being cased as snobbish or arrogant, but not belonging. I know that far too well. ❜ From his clan who held no patience for him, to being named Inquisitor in a world that desired nothing to do with him ( and him agreeing because he was no leader ). ❛ Maybe that's why we work so well together—just two guys who will never fit in. ❜ His smile returned, looking back at Dorian. ❛ But if it helps at all, I'd hate to see you go. You're always welcomed wherever I am, even if there's people who don't understand you. ❜

eyes that were made out of SILVER threads from the moon itself looked at the other before head tilted slightly and yet the gaze did not wander away. " a good question. a little bit of both i suppose. " bare arms reached forward, acceptying the cup of tea. the hot liquid warmed his cold hands and the steam gently caressed his face. the herbs and flowers reminded him of home. of tevinter. even though they did not exactly have the same flora and fauna. that gave dorian an idea. he should ask the ambassador if she could find someone who could deliever tea from tevinter (and maybe some wine too). such things NEEDED to be shared and he just happened to have someone in mind. a certain someone. " well, i wouldn't call my butt big but it is nicely shaped. " a corner of his mouth was raised, forming a sly smirk as he winked at the inquisitor. he knew very well what zaahyr was implying and it had not been his physical attributes. " are you saying that there are those who will NEVER really appreciate my clever humor? what a terrible world we live in, truly terrible. " the mage shook his head in disbelief. " never mind saving the world - we have bigger problems to solve. like this one. "

the confidence. the cleverness. the smile. it all VANISHED when he understood that his play didn't captivate the man beside him. there was no applause. no cheering. no flowers. " ah - so you have seen through my facade. i think you are the only one who truly understands me. " and dorian would not have it any other way. when he had arrived here, to this new country, to participate in this HOLY war - love had been the last thing he had expected to find, but somehow he had found it.

perhaps that was why it was impossible to imprison the quiet chuckle that escaped his lips when zaahyr suddenly burned his tongue. every moment with him was a moment TREASURED. he dreaded the day he would return to minrathous. who would help him then? care for him? love him? the sigh that left him was heavy. " i just have the impression that some find me... snobbish and arrogant and well, sometimes it just feel like i don't belong here. and then i worry how i will survive when i return home. " hand was raised and another sip was taken as moonlight orbs appreciated the view in front of them. frostback basin was truly beautiful (a bit cold but at least it was not as cold as in empris du lion). " it is difficult to describe. "