#viago's little sibling/ward is missing and he is not happy

[amurderandconspiracy]

Five Stages, Two Talons, and a lost little Crow

****Dragon Age Veilguard spoilers AHEAD, read at your own peril ****

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Follow up scene with Lucanis and Viago – After “Scents and Grief” and the letter This scene is prompted by what was not shown of the companions during the Regret Prison. Viago is a worried older brother, just do not tell him I said so. My Rook is a nonbinary Crow!Mage!Rook but this scene does not necessarily give any descriptions of Rook, other than their name, so you can inject your own into the scene if that helps you.

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The sound of the room’s double doors slamming woke him from his depressed slumber.  Darkness flooding his sight as he opens his eyes to the still dimness of the wardrobe and with a brief intake, the comforting perfume slips into his nose and settles into his lungs.  The feathers of the blanket brush against his skin and a crumpled parchment clutched in his hand falls to the floor of the wardrobe as he comes back to himself.  Remembrance dawns for a moment, chilling the brief warmth in his chest.  The void of anguish spreads and Lucanis starts to sink back down as his mind fights the web of miserable exhaustion and emptiness, only to remember that the loud sound of the double doors slamming woke him.

“Where the Maker are they!?” booms an angry voice laced with deeply seated fear and worry.  The familiar and irritated lilt of Viago’s voice travels through the stone chamber and bounces off the aquarium glass, barely muffled by the wardrobe doors.

Lucanis cannot seem to muster a mood to deal with Viago in this moment and Spite uses the lack of response from Lucanis to jump to the fore, responding with irritation and unkindness, “GET. OUT!”

Lucanis rolls his eyes, and directs a thought at Spite, thanks for that, pissing off Viago is not the best idea…especially when we failed to tell him what happened to Rook...

Spite seems to catch on this thought and tilts his head, NOT GONE. ROOK IS OURS; WE WILL FIND THEM. ADDER’S MUSTACHE CAN WAIT.

Lucanis goes to respond when the doors of the wardrobe are furiously pulled open, the flood of watery shimmering light from the aquarium casts a tint of greenish-blue into the dark cupboard, an enraged Viago speaking with clipped tones as he attempts to bodily drag Lucanis into the room, “Hiding Dellamorte? Answer me!” Viago is speaking through clenched teeth and the grip he manages on Lucanis’ gear feels like claws dug into flesh.

Lucanis’ emotional reserves may be numbed to the point of oblivion but his instincts are well honed and the hostile way that Viago is demanding Lucanis answer to him allows the cool exterior of indifference to slide into place as the innate need to defend himself and his safety takes hold.  Lucanis surges forward from his nest and uses the offset of Viago’s footing to push up and out of the wardrobe while grabbing the forearms of the raging Fifth Talon.  Viago senses the shift and tries to throw his mass to reorient the balance and allow Lucanis’ sprung energy to overbalance him.  In the same instance Viago attempts to drop his weight, Lucanis anticipates the use of encumbrance for leverage, feeling himself cross the center line and performs a slight spin to disengage, freeing his hands of Viago’s forearms and preparing for a more concerted response.

“Where are they, Dellamorte!?  Where is my…Rook?!” Viago seems to strain to contain an emotional reaction as he yells the final question and Lucanis makes a quick assessment, seeing the always brooding but usually composed Viago breathing irately; a wild look about his features.

Lucanis immediately disengages and holds up his hands, stepping just out of range. “Viago, I…” he responds with a stripe of shame and guilt seeping into his voice.

“Don’t you fucking dare!  Where is Rook?  And don’t you fucking say what you almost said…where is Fae!?” Viago steps forward, pressing the advantage, fear and anger mixing in his voice as he fights for some semblance of control to get an answer. An answer that does not involve apologies.

“They…were…pulled into the Fade…” Lucanis starts to explain, the guilt and the weight of his emotional decline is evident in the way his voice drops in timbre, almost breathy as he forces out words he has not wanted to say.

“And when in damnation were you going to tell me that a member of my House was in the bloody Fade? Were you going to leave me to wait obediently in Treviso without a single word?!” Viago continues to advance, though his shoulders are dropping as if a weight is dragging him past composure.

“We…I do not have answers. They were there…one moment…the next they were not and they cried my…” Lucanis swallows and stops then, unable to say more without losing face. “I was going to come to Treviso to tell you, to tell you to your face.” Lucanis almost pleads, the mask of the assassin’s calm drawing back to reveal a haunted expression.

Spite circles Viago, stalking and observing him. SMELLS LIKE POISONS…AND…ROOK. He seems perplexed by this and tilts his head like a bird, assessing the rumpled look of Viago’s hair and the puffiness of the skin below his eyes. DROWNED IN ANGER AND GRIEF. Spite steps closer at this point, knowing Viago cannot see or hear him.

Spite, back away. Viago is Fae’s teacher, their older brother of sorts. Do not push him. Lucanis mentally tries to pull Spite away from Viago.  Watching the man absorb the response.

Viago sees the strain on Lucanis’ face and the pieces of fragmented information starts to paint a saddened expression of understanding and commiseration, “Who and what do I have to kill to get them back…is there another of these so-called gods that we need to sacrifice to bring them home?” Viago looks directly into Lucanis’ eyes, the wheels of negotiations and plans already churning in his mind.

Lucanis hesitated for a moment, not knowing the right answer and after their little breakdown last night, he was not currently apprised of the battle plans or developments from the rest of the team.  He knew Emmrich had been formulating some theories; Neve as well.  Harding and Taash had immediately started reaching out to their contacts and network.  The loss of Davrin and Assan, and the capture of Bellara had not even been discussed, everyone avoiding the subject all together.  The team had been in shock, disassociated from the reality of their losses when they had mercifully escaped Tearstone Island following the firestorm that Elgar’nan had kicked up in response to the slaying of Ghilan’nain.

Viago looks at him in anticipatory silence, Lucanis shakes off his hesitation and responds with a voice of surety he is certainly not feeling, “Let us go down to the kitchen table, we can put on coffee and discuss with everyone our strategy going forward.” Lucanis steps forward then and places his hand on Viago’s arm, redirecting him with very little effort toward the doors.

“We will get them back Viago. We must.” Lucanis promises, not entirely to Viago, not allowing acceptance of anything less.

WE WILL. Spite affirms, settling into Lucanis with purpose and determination.

[amurderandconspiracy]

An Antidote: Hyacinthus Litwinovii Purpura

Dragon Age Veilguard Inspired Scenes, follow up to previous scenes (in order): + Scents and Grief + Letter to Lucanis + Fives Stages, Two Talons, and a lost little Crow + A Crow's Caw and Crumbling Masks This scene is prompted by what was not shown during/following the Regret Prison. This scene is for Viago and my Rook, Faelarin de Riva. Fae is a nonbinary Crow!Mage! [see here]

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Lucanis had sent an urgent message to Teia and Viago’s respective residences, informing them to be prepared, that the Veilguard was very sure they were closer to finding Rook and if they were recovered Lucanis would honor House de Riva and House Cantori’s request to be present for their return. That missive had come through a day ago and Viago was beginning to wear a track in the floorboards of the Diamond as he paced anxiously. Teia had twisted and untwisted locks of her hair between her fingers, fraying the ends with worrying as she watched the hours pass with each turn Viago made around the Crow’s main gathering space.

“Vi! Maker help me, stop pacing!” scolded Teia, as she sat up in her chair, looking like these hours of waiting and worrying were breaking through her presentation of calm. The usual teasing intonation in her voice was stressed as she gathered her hands in her hair line and shook her fingers through her capacious curls and turned her head slightly, right then left, to loosen muscles.

Viago swung around and rolled his eyes, retorting, “I am waiting for news. He said to be prepared. That was an entire day ago. What am I to do in the meantime, this is not a stakeout or a contract…” he spoke distractedly and while he was responding to Teia, the words were more of an exposition of an internal dialogue than reply.

“Lucanis will bring Fae home.” Teia recited, the indemnity of the statement not entirely permeating her voice.

“No, Fae had better pull their own ass out of whatever crevasse of the Fade they found themselves and stop embarrassing House de Riva with these idiotic notions of getting themself killed.  And Lucanis better bring them home if he knows what is good for him…” a frenetic somersault of grumbles followed as Viago mumbled additional threats under his breath, his pacing resumed as he looked from time to time to the exits, eyes assessing and mind turning in eventualities.

“I am sure they will not disappoint you…” Teia soothed from a distance; her eyes trained on Viago. Her own worries shunted to the side as she worried over the possibility of Rook not being recovered alive and what that horrible reality would do to the already overwrought nerves of the Fifth Talon. Teia guarded well the secrets and weaknesses Viago allowed her to see, regardless of whatever status they found themselves in these were not points to be exploited but to keep sentinel over and prepare for the inevitable moments when existence decided to focus its attentions on those stress points.

Teia had admonished him enough after the Antaam incident, chastised the always distrustful Crow that he needed to admit how he felt about his protégé and tell them that he cared. Not the way he already demonstrated that he cared by poisoning Faelarin’s food and drink to build up tolerances and safeguard against poisons meant for Viago. Or the ever-increasing incidents of hidden traps in the residences of House de Riva, never allowing a moments complacency, so that Rook would never be caught unaware should someone decide to eliminate those closest to Viago. These subtle and somewhat psychotic methods of showing he cared were not the full-throated admission she had pushed for. And his efforts to save Rook after the debacle of the Antaam incident had gone misunderstood, causing a rift between the two almost-siblings that Teia knew was eating at each of them. Rook had not needed to explain how hurt they were when Viago sent them away, effectively banishing them from the Crows and House de Riva, the only family they had ever known. She did not need to be told how anxious and terrified Viago had been that the other Talons would take out a contract on Fae, like they did for any errant fledgling who ruined plans or tarnished the image of the Crows in any way. Viago had railed about how idiotic Fae had been to blunder this badly, to act without thinking through the probabilities and risks. He had smashed beakers in his lab in a fit of anger, ruining hours of work on his poisons and antidotes because he was afraid, afraid one of few he cared for most in this world would be taken from him and he would not have properly protected them; he would have failed them.

Teia stopped studying the pacing figure of Viago, all these thoughts churning as she anxiously searched the Diamond for any signs of movement or a hint that word would reach them soon, any longer and she would probably develop a bleeding ulcer from her own worrying. During this time none of the Crows who frequented the upper floor were apparent, Chance having surrendered his favorite corner for eavesdropping, Jacobus had retreated quickly after asking innocently for an update on Rook, causing Heir to materialize as they always did from somewhere in the shadows and wordlessly encouraging the newest head of House Egrativi to be elsewhere. All other Crows found themselves otherwise occupied as the Fifth and Seventh Talons had sparred irascibly while taking up this watch. The tension in the air felt like a malaise settling over everything in an uncomfortable down of agitation, with Viago’s straining temper and Teia’s attempts to hold together a semblance of calm, no one with even half their wits had wanted to be within two blocks of the Diamond in the last twenty-four hours.

Finally, the bells of Treviso struck the hour, and a heavy thudding run sounded from the balcony nearest the eluvian. The breathless sound of a large body hurtled through the window entrance and the tell-tale sound of scales creaking and various metals of jewelry chiming against each other signaled the arrival of Rook’s Qunari companion, Taash. With the initial sounds Viago and Teia had already relinquished their places and were racing toward them, eyes bright and relief clearly shown on both their faces.

“Hey! Come quick! They are home!” yelled Taash in a triumphant and thankful voice that roared through the space. Their exuberant energy only reenergizing the two Crows as they swiftly made their way from the Diamond to the eluvian, barely pausing to register the change of scenery. Viago did not wait for his eyes to adjust to purple-blue terpsichore light of the Lighthouse’s eluvian or the eerie green cast of the water below the pathway at the center of the room. The door clicked and swung open to accommodate his frantic pace as he careered out of the room and up the stairs, the details of the world bleeding away as he flew toward a collection of excited voices ahead. Viago’s mad-dash came to a violent abrupt stop upon seeing the backs of three companions who stood in a semi-circle around the huddled forms of two figures on the ground. Voices stilled as everyone in the room registered the new arrivals, the faces of Emmrich, Neve, and Harding quietening as Viago registered the approach of Taash and Teia behind him. The three standing parted slightly to allow Viago to see the two on the ground, his usually discerning eyes could not make out space between the two Antivan leather clad forms at first until he noticed the protective, almost possessive hold one had, curling the otherwise taller one into his arms, as if sheltering them under his wings. It was at this point where Viago registered fully that Lucanis was cradling Faelarin’s head against his neck, fingers entwined within their hyacinth-colored hair, pressing them into him as if to fuse their essences.

Viago narrowed his eyes, biting down his emotions as he cleared his throat and commandingly barked, “Faelarin Vitto Fede de Riva,” enunciating each syllable and watching as his voice reached its target. Their shoulders and back tensed and Viago watched their sides move as they took in a deep stuttering breath before nodding and prepared to remove themself from Lucanis’ shielding hold. Viago started to speak again, this time all the venom gone as he started to berate Fae, “you insufferable, thick-headed, overconfident, inconsiderate,” his expressive and melodic voice breaking as he spoke the next few words, stepping forward and stretching out his arms, “incomparable, idiot…” With the final utterance, he had opened his arms, no weapons in hand, body exposed and unguarded to attack. His usually stern face was showing the sign of an internal fight, chin shaking and he looked at Faelarin with softened eyes; waiting.

Faelarin, who had extricated themselves from their huddled embrace with Lucanis, stood up and tried to gather themself for the inevitable diatribe of his disappointment.  They could not accomplish a straightened back and looked up with trepidation from hunched shoulders, struggling to maintain their composure and wearing the expression of a censured youth. They started to open their mouth, an apology teetering on their tongue as they finally registered the image in front of them. Viago’s arms held wide and his face showing no sign of the disapproval the words seemed to convey, the opposite emotions seemed barely contained there however. For a moment, Faelarin held still perplexed and unsure. But they were quickly decided when they made eye contact with their mentor, seeing a familiar need for familial comfort, one they had long forgotten had existed between the two. Faelarin slipped forward and buried themself into Viago’s chest, their right hand in a gesture of muscle memory reached out, dragging the edge of the Talon’s leather cape into their grasp and pulling themself close to the only older brother they had ever known or loved. Viago sputtered a moment as his arms closed swiftly around Rook, drawing them close as he attempted to breathe through a swell of emotions and memories of this comfort and ease, they once shared.

“You are home. You are home now,” was all Viago could manage as he breathed into the top of Faelarin’s hair and held them until they both felt their anxiety melt into relief.

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Author Note: this scene is obviously out of chronological order, I promise I am in the midst of writing the Lucanis & Rook reunion, it's just a bit heavy and I want to do it justice. I hope you all enjoy these scenes. Thank you for reading.