#this is set like. directly after eight little talons btw

[arealcrow]

plucked

>2k words, dragon age: the veilguard

Rhava meets his mentor. or : Viago de Riva picks up a stray.

"You are either very stupid, or very brave."

Sharp words from a tall man, just loud enough for Rhava to hear as a gloved hand closes around his wrist. He's held still, his fingertips a hair's breadth away from slipping into the pocket of the man's coat.

"Let me go!" Rhava yelps, trying to yank his arm back. It's no use- he's weak from exhaustion and hunger, and the man towers over him.

"I'm surprised you let the kid get this close, Vi," the woman standing next to his mark speaks as she turns, and it's only then that Rhava realizes the gravity of his mistake. Where the man was swathed in rich, indigo silks that gave very little away, his companion was wearing a coat adorned with feathered details. His mark didn't appear armed, carrying only the ornate walking stick that first caught Rhava's eye, but the longer he looked at this woman, the more knives he saw. Knives decorated with wings and crow's heads.

The man- Vi? uses the grip he has on Rhava to pull him into the air, dragging him to stand on his toes.

"Who are you? Who sent you?"

"What? I don't-" Rhava shakes his head in confusion, "Let me go!"

He tries to pull away again, even less successful now that he's been pulled off balance.

"I'll only ask once more. Who sent you?" the man pulls him off his feet, holding him up by his wrist. It hurts, making Rhava struggle even harder, squirming in the air like a fish caught on a line. The two assassins are inspecting him, fishmongers taking in the size of him to put a price on it all.

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

Rhava flails, thrashing his legs out to try and kick at the man holding him up. As a reward for his struggle, he's tossed back into the alleyway he'd slunk out of. The man throws him like it takes no more effort than throwing a bag of rice. The two Antivan Crows stand between him and the street, casting him in shadows.

"I'm not sure I believe you."

The man wraps two hands around his walking stick, starting to pull it open. Rhava expects him to pull out a hidden blade, and falls over himself scrambling backwards. The man pauses the motion when his companion places a placating hand on his arm. The cane clicks shut, and the sharp man shoots an even sharper look at woman.

"Viago, no need to go to such extremes," she says, giving him a look Rhava can't read, "I don't think this one is anything more than a street kid."

"And what does a street urchin," Viago spits the words like they leave a bad taste in his mouth, making both Rhava and the woman flinch, "think they're doing trying to steal from the Crows?"

"I didn't- I didn't know," Rhava's shaking his head again, babbling as he pushes himself to his hands and knees, "Ir abelas, I'm sorry, I just- I'm hungry."

They're both just watching him now. Viago's sharp blue eyes have softened to a duller edge. His companion's expression has shifted to something sad, and her eyes glint with recognition. He feels pathetic, driven into the gutter by the gnawing pain in his stomach. No different from a rat, trying to steal scraps.

"Maker, he's Dalish," she says, elbowing Viago. The way she says it makes Rhava's blood boil, words filled with pity like being Dalish makes him helpless here in the city. He wishes it didn't feel true.

"I noticed," Viago says coolly, "It's likely how he got the jump on us. No boots."

"We should bring him to lunch with us."

"I am not bringing a muddy stray that tried to steal from me to our reservation."

"Then we'll get something we can eat while walking."

"Teia," Viago protests, "We need to discuss what happened at the-"

He cuts himself off, turning his narrowed eyes from Teia's soft expression back to Rhava. Whatever he was about to say was clearly not meant for his ears. He gives Rhava a long look, assessing and judging.

"Get up."

They watch Rhava shakily get to his feet, neither offering a hand.

"You're hungry," Viago says, half confirmation, half question.

Rhava nods.

"When was the last time you ate?" Teia asks.

"Day before yesterday," he says honestly, and then embellishes with, "In the morning."

"You're a poor liar," Viago says, and then sighs, "Come along, then."

"Good instinct, though," Teia winks at him, and turns away in unison with Viago.

The two of them don't wait for Rhava to acquiesce to them taking him out to lunch, they start walking with the confident expectation that their orders will be followed. Rhava's starting to get the impression that in addition to being Crows, these two might be important Crows. It would make sense why they were dressed so well, and accessorized with tasteful but expensive pieces. Potentially powerful benefactors. Rhava follows.

Viago gives them the grace of a peaceful meal before he starts his questioning.

Of course, he spends the entire duration of the meal watching Rhava, who sits on the dock pilings with Teia. She has to remind him to slow down a few times as he scarfs down fried fish, lest he make himself sick, and to drink water. Each reminder seems to furrow Viago's brow further, and if Rhava wasn't so hungry, he'd lose his appetite under the scrutiny. Viago looks like a king judging a subject from his throne of shipping crates, and he looks like he's finding Rhava wanting.

Rhava tosses the wooden stick his fish had been served on into the bay, and then meets Viago's piercing look. A confirmation of his readiness for whatever questions were brewing behind those stormy eyes.

"Rhava," Viago says his name, which had been pried out of him by Teia as they'd walked.

Rhava nods. He hadn't given his clan name, and they hadn't offered him any more of their names than he'd already heard.

"How old are you?" Viago asks.

"Seventeen," Rhava says. It's an easy truth.

"He's bit older than we usually begin training…" Teia starts.

"I was close to his age when I started," Viago says, eyes not leaving Rhava.

"Where is your family?" Teia asks.

"I… am an orphan," the words are true but unfamiliar to Rhava, and come slowly from his mouth.

Teia catches his eye to give him a comforting smile, "Hey, me too."

"It's clean, at least. No loose end there to worry about," Viago says, earning him a cool look from Teia.

"Have you ever killed before?" he asks after a beat, and then clarifies, "A person. Animals don't count here."

Rhava looks down, swallowing thickly, and nods.

"Look at me when you answer."

Rhava lifts his head, expression grave, "I have, yes."

"Who?"

He's not sure if Viago just doesn't believe him, or if the details are actually important to the Crow. He hesitates.

"I will know if you lie," Viago adds.

"It was my parents," Rhava resists the urge to avert his gaze again, letting Viago see the tears that start to well up in his hazel eyes.

It's been just under a year since it happened, a fresh wound in his heart, still leaking. He can hear Teia make a sad noise beside him, but he doesn't dare look, still clinging onto to what little composure he has left. Viago sighs, and Rhava can't tell if it's a noise of pity or disappointment.

"On purpose?" Viago asks, the question sounding strained.

Rhava shakes his head emphatically, welled up tears scattering at the motion. The last of his composure starts to crumble. He's never said it out loud before, and has tried to avoid any questions about it in the time he's spent on his own. He left home so he wouldn't have to talk about it. He left home because he couldn't talk about, couldn't bear to stay long enough to see their bodies get cold.

"I didn't-" he gasps, "It was an accident, I didn't want- I couldn't-" More tears are flung from his face as he shakes his head harder.

Teia stands to wrap a comforting arm around his shoulders, and a small pull from her is all it takes for Rhava to gratefully collapse into her and let sobs overtake him. Sorrow rattles through his body, clawing it's way out his throat in quiet, strangled noises. He wants to go home- a place he drenched in his family's blood. He doesn't think he will ever be able to go home again.

"I think that's enough questions for now," she says, rubbing her hand back and forth over his back. The gesture is as soothing as she intends it to be, Rhava's breathing starting to even out.

"I've heard all I need," Viago confirms, and Rhava can hear the wry smile in his voice when he repeat's Teia's, "For now."

Rhava looks up at him over Teia's shoulder, eyes still wet with recently stopped tears. There's a half smile pulling at Viago's mouth, and a look in his eyes that Rhava has yet to see from him. Curiosity, approval, interest, or some mix, he's not sure, but it's a look that feels good to get.

"Now, Teia, if you don't mind releasing my fledgling.. I need to take him to buy a pair of boots."

Teia does release him, and turns on her heels to face Viago, hands on her hips.

"Your fledgling?"

Viago's mildly pleased expression is replaced with a mask of innocence as he shrugs one shoulder.

"He tried to steal from me. I found him. That makes him mine to recruit into house de Riva."

Rhava makes a surprised noise, that either the Crows don't hear to choose to ignore as they continue talking about him as if he isn't standing right there.

"You wanted to leave him in the alley we found him in, or worse-" Teia protests.

Viago cuts her off, "I changed my mind. You're not the only one who can take in strays."

Teia looks like she's about to start in on Viago again, who's expression softens as he jumps in again before she can get the words out of her mouth.

"I will get our reservation changed to dinner tonight," he offers, "And make it up to you."

"You're going to have an awful lot of making up to do."

"I'm sure."

Rhava's eyes dart between the two as they talk, trying to decipher the nature of the tension between them. It was something more than professional, that much he was sure of.

"Very well. Will you be bringing your new fledgling to dinner, tonight?," Teia puts on an air of bitterness when she says the words, but her stance has relaxed enough that Rhava can tell she is just having fun with bantering at this point.

Viago sighs, genuinely beleaguered by her question, "Is that what you want?"

"Hmm. Yes."

"Then we should take our leave. He's going to need better clothes to go with those boots if he's coming with us tonight," Viago says, finally rising from his seat among the crates, "Rhava, come along."

He turns to leave, but this time he waits until Rhava is at his left heel to start walking. Though Rhava has the feeling there will be more discussion and formality to it later, he senses this as his first chance to say no to Viago's invitation, and promise of care.

He follows Viago, and the two leave the docks of Antiva City as a pair of de Rivas.