Post by Tom M on Sept 29, 2024 17:59:07 GMT
A few days after the events of What is Hekrati?
Co-written with ruthcd and Zaspar with input from willemf
Zaspar sidles into the bar, baskets of muffins in each hand - one basket of salted caramel, one basket of chocolate. He sits at the largest table he can find. He is, again, multiple hours too early, having misread the importance of this situation.
So he sits and waits, fidgeting with the ring on his finger, snacking on salted caramel muffins, and making sad faces whenever the staff ask him to order a drink. They remember him crying in front of Dee’arna here not long ago and don’t push it. He sits quietly, thinking about what a strange situation this is.
Dee’arna arrives from the library, wearing a white loose overshirt covering up her arms, though still buttoned only half way up. Its long sleeves are stained with black ink as are her fingers, and through the thin fabric someone might be able to make out markings going up her arm, like some kind of writing. Her eyes look tired but she still smiles in recognition when she spots Zaspar and heads over to him after getting a drink.
She drains a pint of water and grabs a chocolate muffin with a grateful look before speaking, “Zaspar. Glad you're alright. No blood sacrifices at the cult party. And you brought a feast of snacks! I hope the kitchen staff don't mind you distracting from their menu,” she grins teasingly.
Zaspar smiles broadly at the sight of Dee'arna. He stands to pull a chair out for her, one arm squeezing her shoulder in greeting.
"It is marvellous to see you, my friend. I had the early morning delivery run today, so thought I'd bring along some extras for my dear friends." he explains, gesturing to the spread with a wink. He takes his seat and, next to her, looks at her arms. "New tattoo?" he questions, pointing to the ink adorning her fingers and forearms.
"Ah, sorry. Tried to wash my hands but ink stains don't come out easily. No... it's a... It's something I am researching. Don't worry about it."
She takes another hungry bite from the muffin. "So. How was the party? Did you find useful information? Your letter said you know less than when you started, which I am sure can't be true. But with research, there is a stage where you have more questions. That's important. It's when you figure out what to look into next."
Zaspar nods at her explanation. "You must tell me of your research one day, Dee'arna. I strive to be an educated man."
He stretches out in his chair and sighs.
"Well. I had a terrible time at the party, but I think everyone else had lots of fun. Ronkk even got a tattoo, and Lylara'din got to do some... erotic duelling? I can't think how else to describe that," he begins to mumble at the end of the sentence. "I, on the other hand, ended up almost having an argument with my fiancée, having an argument with your friend, and having another argument with some terrible business people who thought they invented boats."
He rolls his eyes, and turns to look at Dee'arna lazily. "It was rather uncomfortable. You are right that I have a lot of questions - perhaps even too many questions, to the point I am beginning to question my questions, if they are valid questions, and if I should continue to question the questions underlying my questions..."
"Perhaps let's wait for Kem to arrive before we begin investigating, as he had an audience with the grand host of the evening."
He cleared his throat and straightened up in his chair. "On more personal matters, I want you to know as my friend that I am still engaged to Robin. I have told her I do not like the way she spoke about you.
She has told me to be wary of you. It is rather an uncomfortable position - my fiancé and my dear friend so at odds with each other, yet neither side seem to be obfuscating their truths nor manipulating me."
Zaspar sighed. "It is all rather a mess, Dee'arna. I am sorry once again that your name has been brought up in these circles. I do think there is a chance we could figure out what that's about though. The people at the party were quite big fans of mine so I am certain I can... if not win them over, then at least try to get some information, for the both of us."
Dee'arna leans back in her chair and a small grin of satisfaction flashes on her face for a moment. "So she was at the hekrati party though."
Zaspar gives her a strange look. "Well, yes, she was my plus one. She wasn't invited and didn't want to come but she said she would do it for me."
"She does work for them though." Kem says through a mouthful of muffin as the invisibility wears off. His bandages are gone.
Zaspar leaps out of his chair with a yell.
Dee’arna shakes her head at the sudden appearance, "You know, if I hadn't been looking at the muffins so much... you'd have really got me."
"Hey, it's not my fault you can't keep your eyes off me," Kem replies with a wink.
Zaspar shakes his head and sits back down. "Yes, how charming. Do please flirt on your own time." "Kem, thank you for coming. Have you overheard the entire conversation or do you need catching up?"
He turns to Zaspar stifling a laugh, "Yeah don't worry about it. But yeah, she's absolutely working for them. Glad you haven't broken it off, but she is." Looking back at Dee'arna he repeats, "She is."
"Kem, I - " Zaspar takes a deep breath. And another one. "Okay. Let's go with this. I must admit I had a similar suspicion but she denied it so vehemently, so beautifully, so angelically. She is stunning, isn't she?" He looked at Kem, and not getting a response, cleared his throat awkwardly. "So how do you know she works for them? And why on earth are you glad for my decision?"
Kem listens to Zaspar speak with an eyebrow raised as if they were missing the obvious and speaks slowly, "Okay, so: yes, stunning. Because her boss told me she does. And because if you break it off they'll know that you know and that's a far less useful position to be in."
"Well... I do enjoy being right. Glad you were able to put your charms to good use and get some information out of these people," Dee’arna says back to Kem.
She then looks at Zaspar, "Your fiancé seems to spend a little too much time with my name on her mouth though. I am pleased to hear you haven't brought into that story, that I'm a threat to you. Kem has a point about subterfuge... but given the ssspeed you like to operate, I am not sure you have the patience for playing those kind of games."
"She... she just told you? And that's it? This big mystery has just ended because a tiefling told you that Robin is her employee?"
He looks incredulously at Kem and rubs the back of his neck. Sighs, and then, "But, it's like you said, you have no reason to lie to me, to protect my feelings... whereas I guess Robin would have a reason to lie to me in that scenario..."
He turns to Dee'arna. "Yes, she has mentioned you to the point that I thought she was romantically interested in you, but you have both denied that avenue unfortunately," he nods gravely.
"Well. What am I supposed to do? I'll have you know we haven't even signed the engagement papers yet, so perhaps we are not moving as 'quickly' as you would think, Dee," He states smugly - not realising that does not really prove anything...
"Am I supposed to just keep going with this engagement? To marry her? To marry into the Hekrati?" He paused for a moment, looking down at his hands. "Though to be honest, the Hekrati have treated me more nicely than a lot of the Dawnlands have. If they hadn't said those weird things about you, Dee, I don't think I'd even care."
"Oh? So I was wrong about them being interested in you for your money?" She says.
"No, it's the money. Again: she told me. Also she's not just a tiefling, she's a vampire. Cold as ice to the touch." Kem helps himself to another muffin. "These are great, but I feel like the salted caramel could use more salt by the way."
"A vampire... why were you even touching her? On second thoughts. I don't think I want to know," Zaspar shakes his head. "So, my fiancée is employed by a vampire who wants my money. And your advice is to add more salt to the muffins? I don't even cook them, Kem, I just deliver them so I can get paid to do backflips. What on earth am I meant to do now?"
"Well... what do you want to do now?" Kem ventures.
"What I want to do, is just marry my extraordinarily beautiful fiancée, maybe open our relationship up at some point, have a child or two, inherit my Estate, and live happily ever after. But I don't think that's in the cards for me right now.
Failing that, I'd like to rewind a few weeks - no vampires, no cults, no fiancées who hate my friends..." He trails off, bitterness apparent. "I have got absolutely no idea what my options even are right now. I get married, her boss steals my money. I don't get married, they might do something to me or Dee?" "I asked Robin multiple times last night about the situation - is she in the Hekrati, does she know them, and so on - and at no point did I feel she was lying. The only time she seemed even a little questionable was when I asked why she is so concerned about who I am friends with - but then she immediately apologised for that. She didn't even try to stop me coming to see you guys today," He again sits up straighter in his chair and looks at them in turn. "I, Zaspar, First Heir to House Arthiar, am humbly asking you - one of my dearest friends, Dee, and one of my my newest friends, Kem, for your advice."
Dee’arna drums her ink-stained fingers on the table for some time as she thinks before answering. But when she does, there’s a lot of consideration in her answers.
“You always have more options than you think. Let me share a few others.
You could stay engaged, take the time to actually get to know her and like or dislike her in a more natural way, such as… are you compatible lovers? You then eventually break off the engagement based on a poor date, or your father’s disapproval, rather than ‘vampiric bosses’. The risssk is more time to lose yourself in a false romance.
You could let her break the engagement off, and take the fall - be clear about how long you will have to wait to have father’s money, how many restrictions are on its spend. Indulge your imperfections… and be ssseen as too reckless to support.
Or you could embrace the vampire cult and commit to it - try and become a power couple there. Share your wealth, advise their investments with open eyes. Hard to do whilst Robin ssstill lies to you, but you could tell her this is what you want. There are ssome who would love such a station… thrive in it. But I do not think that is you… not with your sweet dreams.
And there’s the spy option… you stay with her and use the time to find out about what exactly is happening in Daring Heights. Why ssso many vampires? What are their goals? I sssense that this suberterfuge may appeal to your romanticism, but not your training.
Though we always have the stupidity of their speed to our advantage. If I wanted to manipulate someone for their money, I’d spend months working up to it, and begin with only little favours until they were too deep into saying yesss they wouldn’t notice the creep into the strange unsettling costs. Trying to split you up from your friends on the first date, trying to ask you for money at the first party. Tragically unstrategic moves. And look - as a result - you’ve resisted both attempts!”
There is a small nod of encouraging approval. It is probably the first time Dee’arna has actually given Zaspar anything along those lines. So perhaps that will overshadow the admission that she could manipulate him if she wished.
"But, you asked for my advice… for you… I’d take the second option. Find a way for her to fuck it up, take the fall and pull the plug of her own accord.”
Zaspar nods slowly, encouraged by Dee'arna's seeming faith in him. He is more than aware that she makes use of the same manipulation spells he does - but he hadn't considered before that there are people who can achieve the same effects without magic. Perhaps this is what Robin has been doing to him.
"I... am grateful, Dee, for this. You have given me more time on this matter than I truly deserve, I fear. There is a recent development though that I feel I must share." And, uncharacteristically, Zaspar begins to blush a little.
"So... Robin and I have broken the first rule of business," he gulps, looking anywhere but at his two friends, "and mixed it with... pleasure. Forgive me, for being so crude, especially in public. And please do not think anything less of my dear Robin for this."
He shakes his head, and fidgets with the ring on his finger. "That is to say - I am not just gossipping for the sake of it, mind - that is to say that whilst you mention our false romance and my sweet dreams...there are some things that can't be faked, if you know... to what I am referring.."
And he begins to blush even more, looking up to the ceiling and tapping his foot awkwardly. "I am so sorry to make such a remark. But I fear that things are taking a more serious turn, at least in our hearts. I am aware there are things she may be holding back from me. Yet, I wake with her in my arms, and am filled by a warmth in my chest I have not encountered before."
He sighs. "I don't really know why I told you that, it is very personal information. Perhaps this is the kind of things that friends normally talk about, though. I wouldn't know, if I am completely honest. You know of my upbringing."
Zaspar begins to ramble uncomfortably. "I suppose I thought that - that I should share all my details, and put everything on the table. Because whilst I agree that it would be best to let her 'fuck up the engagement', as you put it, Dee... part of me does not want that to happen. I do not know how to navigate that." And Zaspar sank into his seat, defeated and embarrassed. "I'm not even sure what I'm asking at this point. I guess.. I wanted to be honest? To admit it out loud. And," he looks away from the pair, again, "I thought maybe you two might have some... um... experience... in these sorts of matters...."
He played his classic gambit of, 'come over my chef can make you breakfast' on Robin after the Hekrati party, and it worked for the first time ever.
Kem is uncharacteristically quiet as he listens to Zaspar speak with growing frustration. “Okay I’m sorry Zaspar but… you know this is a scam now, you know she’s using you. She’s not just using you - she’s using you to hurt your family. I’m not even fully on the anti-Hekrati team, they haven’t crossed any lines with me yet, but they sure as hells have with you. Are you not… angry?”
Zaspar flinches at Kem’s words, the bluntness cutting through the fog of his emotions. He sits there for a moment, stunned into silence. The frustration bubbling beneath the surface starts to rise, but not in the way he expects.
“Angry?”
He repeats quietly. He looks down at his hands, twisting the ring on his finger again, the weight of the question pressing on him. His voice wavers as he continues, still avoiding their eyes.
“I should be. I can see that. It’s just... everything I thought was real, all the feelings, if that was all just part of some scheme… I thought there was... there was something there. I know she wants my money. Mother warned me that most people I meet in life will want my money, though, so... I don't know, it didn't bother me that much.”
He sadly takes a salted caramel muffin and peels it despondently, slowly taking a bite. "It does need more salt," he acknowledges. Even the muffin cannot cheer him up. He slams it back onto the table, far more forceful than is necessary. "It's just shit, man. I finally meet 'the one', and she is using me for a cult." He fidgets in his chair again.
“Maybe… maybe I don’t have to figure this all out alone. What if we… invited her here? A Sending spell, perhaps? You and Dee could get a better read on her and see if what I’m feeling is clouding my judgment. If something’s off... you’d know.”
He glances between them, nervous but determined. “I’ve clearly missed some things before. Maybe with all of us here, we can get a clearer picture. I just… I don’t want to make the wrong choice.”
"No. We've already given you our reads. I have had a long week, I do not intend to share drinks with her, and not in this state. But I will get another one."
With that firm rejection, Dee'arna goes to the bar for a moment.
As Dee’arna leaves Kem leans in closer to Zaspar, speaking so that his voice doesn’t carry, “Zaspar, I hate to break it to you, but if there’s two things I know about, they’re stories and romance. What you think is the latter? It’s the former. People who believe in stuff like ‘true love’ are just setting themselves up to get used.
Flirting is fun. Sex is fun. You’re some kind of noble right? Marriage can be really useful for you. But if you keep playing the game like this you’re just going to get hurt by someone who’s playing it better. Love isn’t real.”
Zaspar is fuming at being referred to as 'some kind of noble', but he will hold that for now, Instead Zaspar just stares at Kem for a long minute.
And then he blushes again. "It is fun. I do so enjoy flirting with people. And sex is... quite nice, too?" he almost squeaks out, then clears his throat awkwardly. "Forgive me, that was not very gentlemanly. That is to say, I agree with your assessment that... those things... are fun."
"Kem. I know you think me a naïve, sheltered fool. A dimwitted moron. A... halfbrained ignoble asshole? I don't know, I'm not that good at talking about myself in negative terms." He chuckles slightly. "I - Dee'arna has met my parents. I think she will understand why I want something... more... than that. Their marriage is just..."
He almost shudders as he thinks about it, and looks away for a second. "Well. It began as love. Or at least lust. Mother was a servant in the House, and Father grew enamoured. But, they don't even like eachother now. The things my Father says about her are not right." He pauses, trying to think of the point he is making, and doesn't quite find it.
"I just don't want to end up like my Father. And if I don't believe in there being more to relationships than business, I am afraid I will just become his duplicate. I want to believe in something real, and I want to find that connection, even if it means risking the chance of getting hurt."
He sighs and meets Kem's eyes, finally. "But I think I have to concede that Robin isn't that person. Yet, if I end the engagement, things become even more complicated. I know the right thing to do is what Dee suggested, and let her fuck it up herself. But the feeling of letting her fail makes my heart ache."
Kem sighs, “Okay what do we need to do for you to get over that? If it was me and I found out I was being played I’d want to turn the tables. I’d want to be the one driving the cart and it actually pains me a little to watch you throw that chance away… but Dee’s right though - you’re not ready for that. Her plan’s a good second choice.”
As Dee’arna returns to the table he raises his voice again and smiles toward her, “So if you want her to break off the engagement and you want it to happen fast then we don’t just ‘let it happen’ right? I don’t know if Zaspar has your god’s patience. What’s the plan?”
Dee'arna sits back down with a tall glass of something dark purple and bubbling slightly. She closes her eyes as she drinks it, finding a calm moment for herself.
"You two getting along now? And Zaspar... you're coming round to the idea of moving on? Sssplendid. Well, I'd push on ssseveral fronts at once. Explaining how tied up your father's finances are, the long life of an elf meaning no expected inheritance for some time. If they are not already, tie them up further! Maybe... invite her to some kind of holy blessing in the meantime... I wonder which god most upsets the demons of her cult? Kem might know that?
You could go for long walks near those weird paladins... the Crimson Fists... Because I think they are the type that the Hekrati will not want noticing. Befriend more paladins, so you have ssso many contacts who can hurt undead. And there has to be some way we can involve your father - show him at his worst... an invasive patriarch for a father-in-law, should give anyone pause.
But even then... end with a Suggestion that she break it off, and tell her boss they've got what they can out of you. If the spell works, she'll never even know it was cast. Maybe Kem or I could do that, just in case it fails... "
“Ooh I like the blessing thing.” Kem chimes in, “Maybe tell her that your family are all dedicated servants of say… Kelemvor. Vampire hunters often wear his symbol in my experience.” He grins, “Maybe you could even buy her a necklace?”
Zaspar nods and even smiles at the suggestions. "Well. She already knows I can't claim my inheritance until I finish my adventures and am in a stable marriage. Some of your suggestions are much easier than I expected. Plus Father wanted me to marry Yvette, not Robin, so all I need to do is get her in the same room as Father and she will get that experience." He sits back and nods.
"Thank you, both. You are good friends and even better advisors. And, thank you Kem for giving me a second chance. I shall commission her a special set of jewellery, all with Kelemvor symbols inlaid. Now... you have both given me a lot of things to think about, and I am grateful. But Dee'arna," and he turns to her, full of sincerity.
"If something is going on with you, I do hope you know you can tell us. You brushed me off very quickly earlier about your research and then said you are in 'a state'. I shan't push but do know that I have been practicing my discretion skills. I didn't even tell Kem, Lylara'din and Ronkk why they were invited to the party. It is difficult but I am learning to be more, shall we say, patient."
He smiles gently at her. "Yes. Not to push, but if there is something going on, I would like to help you as you have helped me."
"Nothing you can help me with. I went to the Feywild with my good friend Yinmaris. I helped him with something. And there was a cost," Dee’arna replies.
She shakes herself and takes another long drink, "That’s all there is to say on that."
Kem looks Dee’arna over carefully, keeping a practiced smiling poker face as he does so. There’s a faint crack. Just for a millisecond. He’s actually concerned for her.
Zaspar does not know how to hide his emotions, and his concern is evident all over his face. “The Feywild can be a tricky place,” he began, measured. “Would you like to… talk about it? I can open a tab in Fathers name and get us some lunch and more drinks…” he suggested quietly.
He’s not wanting to push her but it’s the first time he’s seen her demeanour be anything other than calm or angry and he’s not sure what to do.
“If you’d rather talk to just Kem I can still open that tab and leave you two to it. I don’t want to intrude or force you to say anything but you have listened to us so much, Dee, you more than deserve to be listened to as well….”
He bites his tongue to keep himself from rambling on as his tendencies usually dictate, and shares a brief look with Kem.
Kem acknowledges the look and subtly gives a nod of reassurance to Zaspar before turning back to Dee’arna, “The kid’s not wrong. If you want to talk then we talk. I’m not going to judge anyone else’s business and sometimes you’ve got to suffer a bit to get what you want,” he stretches, revealing that the bandages are gone, “but I’m always here to at least hear the story.”
"Look, how about this - there was some insssight temporarily obtained and I'm trying to... catch it before it fades. Words on the skin, parts of a riddle... "
She looks at Kem for a moment, "And I need to follow that up. And I have other research topics... so I've just been in the library a lot. It's all archeology stuff though really, history things. I jusst haven't been getting enough sleep."
With this barely concealed list of half-truths the pair can see she’s not at her best. The curse combining with whatever happened in the feywild seems like a toxic combination to Kem. And Zaspar can tell there's clearly things going on that she doesn't want to talk about.
However, Kem would be a hypocrite if he had a major problem with being lied to a little bit, even if he does smell a rat (or perhaps a crow), “Archaeology stuff huh? Well if it gets too much and you want to talk about it I bought you a present.”
He pulls out a rolled up scroll and slides it across the table.
At this, Zaspar will head to the bar to open a tab in his Father's name, and order one of every special for their table.
Dee'arna looks at Kem and says quietly, "It's my caravan. You know what I mean?"
As Zaspar gets up Kem rounds on Dee’arna and drops the carefree act entirely as she speaks. “As long as you’re sure. Believe it or not I actually do trust your judgment.”
"I am. I'll be fine with some rest, this will all be gone next time," she gestures to the writing on her arms. "And... I am getting somewhere with the Watchers... But anyway... you said you had a present?"
Kem places a finger on the crook of her elbow and runs it along her forearm as he casts Comprehend Languages.
She hadn't meant to encourage him to read it, only an assurance that she had things in hand. But as he brushes her sleeves up with this touch he sees that there are no full sentences here, it's pieces of words and then squiggles to indicate where the rest of the sentence was.
But there are things that clearly relate to yuan-ti religion, and the words naga, maze, and sacrifice, and mentions of a black and gold snake. She sees him trying to read them and pushes his hand away gently, rolling the sleeve down again, "Ooh, now who can't hold their curiosity back? So keen to see me undressed again already?"
“If you’re expecting me to deny that you don’t know me at all, but sure.“ he backs away smiling as he casts Message to be absolutely certain he’s not overheard, “Talking of things that happen in the dark, I managed to get a little gift out of my master.”
Kem closes his eyes and reopens them. His irises have changed to a blood red with an ominous glow. As Dee looks at him she feels a faint shiver down her spine. The eyes looking back at her are not human - they’re very clearly of something that takes up a position squarely above humans in the food chain.
He blinks again and they return to their usual green. Speaking out loud once more, “Seems I don’t need torches anymore. And also… hot right?”
"Interesssting. I guess you won't be fumbling round in the dark any more..." she winks.
“Hey, I can always use more practice.”
Kem turns back to the bar, watching Zaspar locked in an argument with the bar staff over the price of champagne for a moment and looks back, “This is ‘our own time’ right? I wouldn’t want to get in trouble.”
Dee'arna laughs for the first time since she got there, "It's definitely our time.
Oh poor Zaspar, I don't even like champagne and you don't drink it... so you may have to use your sending on calling his butler later when he's got through the bottle. Talking of which, thanks for the scroll. I'll save it for an emergency. A very handy trick, which I hope one day to become blessed enough to learn for myself."
“Not a worry. Stops me from being tied down if you can get hold of me anywhere.” He watches the argument begin to escalate and stands up, straightening his vest, “I’m going to go smooth things over. You sure you’re okay?”
"I've... been better. But hey, Yinmaris, and maybe even a fey Queen if I am lucky, owe me a favour now. And ssso... could be worth it. Go help Zaspar out... again."
Zaspar struggles back to the table, an ultra wide tray in his hands, with seven plates of food precariously arranged on it. Behind him is a mage hand carrying three bottles of the last drinks the party ordered. He lets the plate down to the table gently, with as much control as he can, so as not to spill anything, then looks at his friends and grins.
“You know, I must introduce you all to salt and paprika some time.” He takes a seat between Kem and Dee and gestures to them to enjoy. He raises his apple juice and smiles. “To friendship, on my Father’s tab.”
Moments later, Zaspar uses a Message cantrip to reach out to Kem. “Can I ask you like - a “bro” question - basically you slept with that Hekrati vampire woman right? Do you have any um… any tips? I’ve done it once now so I’m quite proficient but…”
What follows is a cascade of awkwardness and laughter as Kem moves the conversation to verbal speech, like a grown up, and Zaspar tries to understand exactly what is normal to discuss about your ‘first time’ with your new friends.
Co-written with ruthcd and Zaspar with input from willemf
Zaspar sidles into the bar, baskets of muffins in each hand - one basket of salted caramel, one basket of chocolate. He sits at the largest table he can find. He is, again, multiple hours too early, having misread the importance of this situation.
So he sits and waits, fidgeting with the ring on his finger, snacking on salted caramel muffins, and making sad faces whenever the staff ask him to order a drink. They remember him crying in front of Dee’arna here not long ago and don’t push it. He sits quietly, thinking about what a strange situation this is.
Dee’arna arrives from the library, wearing a white loose overshirt covering up her arms, though still buttoned only half way up. Its long sleeves are stained with black ink as are her fingers, and through the thin fabric someone might be able to make out markings going up her arm, like some kind of writing. Her eyes look tired but she still smiles in recognition when she spots Zaspar and heads over to him after getting a drink.
She drains a pint of water and grabs a chocolate muffin with a grateful look before speaking, “Zaspar. Glad you're alright. No blood sacrifices at the cult party. And you brought a feast of snacks! I hope the kitchen staff don't mind you distracting from their menu,” she grins teasingly.
Zaspar smiles broadly at the sight of Dee'arna. He stands to pull a chair out for her, one arm squeezing her shoulder in greeting.
"It is marvellous to see you, my friend. I had the early morning delivery run today, so thought I'd bring along some extras for my dear friends." he explains, gesturing to the spread with a wink. He takes his seat and, next to her, looks at her arms. "New tattoo?" he questions, pointing to the ink adorning her fingers and forearms.
"Ah, sorry. Tried to wash my hands but ink stains don't come out easily. No... it's a... It's something I am researching. Don't worry about it."
She takes another hungry bite from the muffin. "So. How was the party? Did you find useful information? Your letter said you know less than when you started, which I am sure can't be true. But with research, there is a stage where you have more questions. That's important. It's when you figure out what to look into next."
Zaspar nods at her explanation. "You must tell me of your research one day, Dee'arna. I strive to be an educated man."
He stretches out in his chair and sighs.
"Well. I had a terrible time at the party, but I think everyone else had lots of fun. Ronkk even got a tattoo, and Lylara'din got to do some... erotic duelling? I can't think how else to describe that," he begins to mumble at the end of the sentence. "I, on the other hand, ended up almost having an argument with my fiancée, having an argument with your friend, and having another argument with some terrible business people who thought they invented boats."
He rolls his eyes, and turns to look at Dee'arna lazily. "It was rather uncomfortable. You are right that I have a lot of questions - perhaps even too many questions, to the point I am beginning to question my questions, if they are valid questions, and if I should continue to question the questions underlying my questions..."
"Perhaps let's wait for Kem to arrive before we begin investigating, as he had an audience with the grand host of the evening."
He cleared his throat and straightened up in his chair. "On more personal matters, I want you to know as my friend that I am still engaged to Robin. I have told her I do not like the way she spoke about you.
She has told me to be wary of you. It is rather an uncomfortable position - my fiancé and my dear friend so at odds with each other, yet neither side seem to be obfuscating their truths nor manipulating me."
Zaspar sighed. "It is all rather a mess, Dee'arna. I am sorry once again that your name has been brought up in these circles. I do think there is a chance we could figure out what that's about though. The people at the party were quite big fans of mine so I am certain I can... if not win them over, then at least try to get some information, for the both of us."
Dee'arna leans back in her chair and a small grin of satisfaction flashes on her face for a moment. "So she was at the hekrati party though."
Zaspar gives her a strange look. "Well, yes, she was my plus one. She wasn't invited and didn't want to come but she said she would do it for me."
"She does work for them though." Kem says through a mouthful of muffin as the invisibility wears off. His bandages are gone.
Zaspar leaps out of his chair with a yell.
Dee’arna shakes her head at the sudden appearance, "You know, if I hadn't been looking at the muffins so much... you'd have really got me."
"Hey, it's not my fault you can't keep your eyes off me," Kem replies with a wink.
Zaspar shakes his head and sits back down. "Yes, how charming. Do please flirt on your own time." "Kem, thank you for coming. Have you overheard the entire conversation or do you need catching up?"
He turns to Zaspar stifling a laugh, "Yeah don't worry about it. But yeah, she's absolutely working for them. Glad you haven't broken it off, but she is." Looking back at Dee'arna he repeats, "She is."
"Kem, I - " Zaspar takes a deep breath. And another one. "Okay. Let's go with this. I must admit I had a similar suspicion but she denied it so vehemently, so beautifully, so angelically. She is stunning, isn't she?" He looked at Kem, and not getting a response, cleared his throat awkwardly. "So how do you know she works for them? And why on earth are you glad for my decision?"
Kem listens to Zaspar speak with an eyebrow raised as if they were missing the obvious and speaks slowly, "Okay, so: yes, stunning. Because her boss told me she does. And because if you break it off they'll know that you know and that's a far less useful position to be in."
"Well... I do enjoy being right. Glad you were able to put your charms to good use and get some information out of these people," Dee’arna says back to Kem.
She then looks at Zaspar, "Your fiancé seems to spend a little too much time with my name on her mouth though. I am pleased to hear you haven't brought into that story, that I'm a threat to you. Kem has a point about subterfuge... but given the ssspeed you like to operate, I am not sure you have the patience for playing those kind of games."
"She... she just told you? And that's it? This big mystery has just ended because a tiefling told you that Robin is her employee?"
He looks incredulously at Kem and rubs the back of his neck. Sighs, and then, "But, it's like you said, you have no reason to lie to me, to protect my feelings... whereas I guess Robin would have a reason to lie to me in that scenario..."
He turns to Dee'arna. "Yes, she has mentioned you to the point that I thought she was romantically interested in you, but you have both denied that avenue unfortunately," he nods gravely.
"Well. What am I supposed to do? I'll have you know we haven't even signed the engagement papers yet, so perhaps we are not moving as 'quickly' as you would think, Dee," He states smugly - not realising that does not really prove anything...
"Am I supposed to just keep going with this engagement? To marry her? To marry into the Hekrati?" He paused for a moment, looking down at his hands. "Though to be honest, the Hekrati have treated me more nicely than a lot of the Dawnlands have. If they hadn't said those weird things about you, Dee, I don't think I'd even care."
"Oh? So I was wrong about them being interested in you for your money?" She says.
"No, it's the money. Again: she told me. Also she's not just a tiefling, she's a vampire. Cold as ice to the touch." Kem helps himself to another muffin. "These are great, but I feel like the salted caramel could use more salt by the way."
"A vampire... why were you even touching her? On second thoughts. I don't think I want to know," Zaspar shakes his head. "So, my fiancée is employed by a vampire who wants my money. And your advice is to add more salt to the muffins? I don't even cook them, Kem, I just deliver them so I can get paid to do backflips. What on earth am I meant to do now?"
"Well... what do you want to do now?" Kem ventures.
"What I want to do, is just marry my extraordinarily beautiful fiancée, maybe open our relationship up at some point, have a child or two, inherit my Estate, and live happily ever after. But I don't think that's in the cards for me right now.
Failing that, I'd like to rewind a few weeks - no vampires, no cults, no fiancées who hate my friends..." He trails off, bitterness apparent. "I have got absolutely no idea what my options even are right now. I get married, her boss steals my money. I don't get married, they might do something to me or Dee?" "I asked Robin multiple times last night about the situation - is she in the Hekrati, does she know them, and so on - and at no point did I feel she was lying. The only time she seemed even a little questionable was when I asked why she is so concerned about who I am friends with - but then she immediately apologised for that. She didn't even try to stop me coming to see you guys today," He again sits up straighter in his chair and looks at them in turn. "I, Zaspar, First Heir to House Arthiar, am humbly asking you - one of my dearest friends, Dee, and one of my my newest friends, Kem, for your advice."
Dee’arna drums her ink-stained fingers on the table for some time as she thinks before answering. But when she does, there’s a lot of consideration in her answers.
“You always have more options than you think. Let me share a few others.
You could stay engaged, take the time to actually get to know her and like or dislike her in a more natural way, such as… are you compatible lovers? You then eventually break off the engagement based on a poor date, or your father’s disapproval, rather than ‘vampiric bosses’. The risssk is more time to lose yourself in a false romance.
You could let her break the engagement off, and take the fall - be clear about how long you will have to wait to have father’s money, how many restrictions are on its spend. Indulge your imperfections… and be ssseen as too reckless to support.
Or you could embrace the vampire cult and commit to it - try and become a power couple there. Share your wealth, advise their investments with open eyes. Hard to do whilst Robin ssstill lies to you, but you could tell her this is what you want. There are ssome who would love such a station… thrive in it. But I do not think that is you… not with your sweet dreams.
And there’s the spy option… you stay with her and use the time to find out about what exactly is happening in Daring Heights. Why ssso many vampires? What are their goals? I sssense that this suberterfuge may appeal to your romanticism, but not your training.
Though we always have the stupidity of their speed to our advantage. If I wanted to manipulate someone for their money, I’d spend months working up to it, and begin with only little favours until they were too deep into saying yesss they wouldn’t notice the creep into the strange unsettling costs. Trying to split you up from your friends on the first date, trying to ask you for money at the first party. Tragically unstrategic moves. And look - as a result - you’ve resisted both attempts!”
There is a small nod of encouraging approval. It is probably the first time Dee’arna has actually given Zaspar anything along those lines. So perhaps that will overshadow the admission that she could manipulate him if she wished.
"But, you asked for my advice… for you… I’d take the second option. Find a way for her to fuck it up, take the fall and pull the plug of her own accord.”
Zaspar nods slowly, encouraged by Dee'arna's seeming faith in him. He is more than aware that she makes use of the same manipulation spells he does - but he hadn't considered before that there are people who can achieve the same effects without magic. Perhaps this is what Robin has been doing to him.
"I... am grateful, Dee, for this. You have given me more time on this matter than I truly deserve, I fear. There is a recent development though that I feel I must share." And, uncharacteristically, Zaspar begins to blush a little.
"So... Robin and I have broken the first rule of business," he gulps, looking anywhere but at his two friends, "and mixed it with... pleasure. Forgive me, for being so crude, especially in public. And please do not think anything less of my dear Robin for this."
He shakes his head, and fidgets with the ring on his finger. "That is to say - I am not just gossipping for the sake of it, mind - that is to say that whilst you mention our false romance and my sweet dreams...there are some things that can't be faked, if you know... to what I am referring.."
And he begins to blush even more, looking up to the ceiling and tapping his foot awkwardly. "I am so sorry to make such a remark. But I fear that things are taking a more serious turn, at least in our hearts. I am aware there are things she may be holding back from me. Yet, I wake with her in my arms, and am filled by a warmth in my chest I have not encountered before."
He sighs. "I don't really know why I told you that, it is very personal information. Perhaps this is the kind of things that friends normally talk about, though. I wouldn't know, if I am completely honest. You know of my upbringing."
Zaspar begins to ramble uncomfortably. "I suppose I thought that - that I should share all my details, and put everything on the table. Because whilst I agree that it would be best to let her 'fuck up the engagement', as you put it, Dee... part of me does not want that to happen. I do not know how to navigate that." And Zaspar sank into his seat, defeated and embarrassed. "I'm not even sure what I'm asking at this point. I guess.. I wanted to be honest? To admit it out loud. And," he looks away from the pair, again, "I thought maybe you two might have some... um... experience... in these sorts of matters...."
He played his classic gambit of, 'come over my chef can make you breakfast' on Robin after the Hekrati party, and it worked for the first time ever.
Kem is uncharacteristically quiet as he listens to Zaspar speak with growing frustration. “Okay I’m sorry Zaspar but… you know this is a scam now, you know she’s using you. She’s not just using you - she’s using you to hurt your family. I’m not even fully on the anti-Hekrati team, they haven’t crossed any lines with me yet, but they sure as hells have with you. Are you not… angry?”
Zaspar flinches at Kem’s words, the bluntness cutting through the fog of his emotions. He sits there for a moment, stunned into silence. The frustration bubbling beneath the surface starts to rise, but not in the way he expects.
“Angry?”
He repeats quietly. He looks down at his hands, twisting the ring on his finger again, the weight of the question pressing on him. His voice wavers as he continues, still avoiding their eyes.
“I should be. I can see that. It’s just... everything I thought was real, all the feelings, if that was all just part of some scheme… I thought there was... there was something there. I know she wants my money. Mother warned me that most people I meet in life will want my money, though, so... I don't know, it didn't bother me that much.”
He sadly takes a salted caramel muffin and peels it despondently, slowly taking a bite. "It does need more salt," he acknowledges. Even the muffin cannot cheer him up. He slams it back onto the table, far more forceful than is necessary. "It's just shit, man. I finally meet 'the one', and she is using me for a cult." He fidgets in his chair again.
“Maybe… maybe I don’t have to figure this all out alone. What if we… invited her here? A Sending spell, perhaps? You and Dee could get a better read on her and see if what I’m feeling is clouding my judgment. If something’s off... you’d know.”
He glances between them, nervous but determined. “I’ve clearly missed some things before. Maybe with all of us here, we can get a clearer picture. I just… I don’t want to make the wrong choice.”
"No. We've already given you our reads. I have had a long week, I do not intend to share drinks with her, and not in this state. But I will get another one."
With that firm rejection, Dee'arna goes to the bar for a moment.
As Dee’arna leaves Kem leans in closer to Zaspar, speaking so that his voice doesn’t carry, “Zaspar, I hate to break it to you, but if there’s two things I know about, they’re stories and romance. What you think is the latter? It’s the former. People who believe in stuff like ‘true love’ are just setting themselves up to get used.
Flirting is fun. Sex is fun. You’re some kind of noble right? Marriage can be really useful for you. But if you keep playing the game like this you’re just going to get hurt by someone who’s playing it better. Love isn’t real.”
Zaspar is fuming at being referred to as 'some kind of noble', but he will hold that for now, Instead Zaspar just stares at Kem for a long minute.
And then he blushes again. "It is fun. I do so enjoy flirting with people. And sex is... quite nice, too?" he almost squeaks out, then clears his throat awkwardly. "Forgive me, that was not very gentlemanly. That is to say, I agree with your assessment that... those things... are fun."
"Kem. I know you think me a naïve, sheltered fool. A dimwitted moron. A... halfbrained ignoble asshole? I don't know, I'm not that good at talking about myself in negative terms." He chuckles slightly. "I - Dee'arna has met my parents. I think she will understand why I want something... more... than that. Their marriage is just..."
He almost shudders as he thinks about it, and looks away for a second. "Well. It began as love. Or at least lust. Mother was a servant in the House, and Father grew enamoured. But, they don't even like eachother now. The things my Father says about her are not right." He pauses, trying to think of the point he is making, and doesn't quite find it.
"I just don't want to end up like my Father. And if I don't believe in there being more to relationships than business, I am afraid I will just become his duplicate. I want to believe in something real, and I want to find that connection, even if it means risking the chance of getting hurt."
He sighs and meets Kem's eyes, finally. "But I think I have to concede that Robin isn't that person. Yet, if I end the engagement, things become even more complicated. I know the right thing to do is what Dee suggested, and let her fuck it up herself. But the feeling of letting her fail makes my heart ache."
Kem sighs, “Okay what do we need to do for you to get over that? If it was me and I found out I was being played I’d want to turn the tables. I’d want to be the one driving the cart and it actually pains me a little to watch you throw that chance away… but Dee’s right though - you’re not ready for that. Her plan’s a good second choice.”
As Dee’arna returns to the table he raises his voice again and smiles toward her, “So if you want her to break off the engagement and you want it to happen fast then we don’t just ‘let it happen’ right? I don’t know if Zaspar has your god’s patience. What’s the plan?”
Dee'arna sits back down with a tall glass of something dark purple and bubbling slightly. She closes her eyes as she drinks it, finding a calm moment for herself.
"You two getting along now? And Zaspar... you're coming round to the idea of moving on? Sssplendid. Well, I'd push on ssseveral fronts at once. Explaining how tied up your father's finances are, the long life of an elf meaning no expected inheritance for some time. If they are not already, tie them up further! Maybe... invite her to some kind of holy blessing in the meantime... I wonder which god most upsets the demons of her cult? Kem might know that?
You could go for long walks near those weird paladins... the Crimson Fists... Because I think they are the type that the Hekrati will not want noticing. Befriend more paladins, so you have ssso many contacts who can hurt undead. And there has to be some way we can involve your father - show him at his worst... an invasive patriarch for a father-in-law, should give anyone pause.
But even then... end with a Suggestion that she break it off, and tell her boss they've got what they can out of you. If the spell works, she'll never even know it was cast. Maybe Kem or I could do that, just in case it fails... "
“Ooh I like the blessing thing.” Kem chimes in, “Maybe tell her that your family are all dedicated servants of say… Kelemvor. Vampire hunters often wear his symbol in my experience.” He grins, “Maybe you could even buy her a necklace?”
Zaspar nods and even smiles at the suggestions. "Well. She already knows I can't claim my inheritance until I finish my adventures and am in a stable marriage. Some of your suggestions are much easier than I expected. Plus Father wanted me to marry Yvette, not Robin, so all I need to do is get her in the same room as Father and she will get that experience." He sits back and nods.
"Thank you, both. You are good friends and even better advisors. And, thank you Kem for giving me a second chance. I shall commission her a special set of jewellery, all with Kelemvor symbols inlaid. Now... you have both given me a lot of things to think about, and I am grateful. But Dee'arna," and he turns to her, full of sincerity.
"If something is going on with you, I do hope you know you can tell us. You brushed me off very quickly earlier about your research and then said you are in 'a state'. I shan't push but do know that I have been practicing my discretion skills. I didn't even tell Kem, Lylara'din and Ronkk why they were invited to the party. It is difficult but I am learning to be more, shall we say, patient."
He smiles gently at her. "Yes. Not to push, but if there is something going on, I would like to help you as you have helped me."
"Nothing you can help me with. I went to the Feywild with my good friend Yinmaris. I helped him with something. And there was a cost," Dee’arna replies.
She shakes herself and takes another long drink, "That’s all there is to say on that."
Kem looks Dee’arna over carefully, keeping a practiced smiling poker face as he does so. There’s a faint crack. Just for a millisecond. He’s actually concerned for her.
Zaspar does not know how to hide his emotions, and his concern is evident all over his face. “The Feywild can be a tricky place,” he began, measured. “Would you like to… talk about it? I can open a tab in Fathers name and get us some lunch and more drinks…” he suggested quietly.
He’s not wanting to push her but it’s the first time he’s seen her demeanour be anything other than calm or angry and he’s not sure what to do.
“If you’d rather talk to just Kem I can still open that tab and leave you two to it. I don’t want to intrude or force you to say anything but you have listened to us so much, Dee, you more than deserve to be listened to as well….”
He bites his tongue to keep himself from rambling on as his tendencies usually dictate, and shares a brief look with Kem.
Kem acknowledges the look and subtly gives a nod of reassurance to Zaspar before turning back to Dee’arna, “The kid’s not wrong. If you want to talk then we talk. I’m not going to judge anyone else’s business and sometimes you’ve got to suffer a bit to get what you want,” he stretches, revealing that the bandages are gone, “but I’m always here to at least hear the story.”
"Look, how about this - there was some insssight temporarily obtained and I'm trying to... catch it before it fades. Words on the skin, parts of a riddle... "
She looks at Kem for a moment, "And I need to follow that up. And I have other research topics... so I've just been in the library a lot. It's all archeology stuff though really, history things. I jusst haven't been getting enough sleep."
With this barely concealed list of half-truths the pair can see she’s not at her best. The curse combining with whatever happened in the feywild seems like a toxic combination to Kem. And Zaspar can tell there's clearly things going on that she doesn't want to talk about.
However, Kem would be a hypocrite if he had a major problem with being lied to a little bit, even if he does smell a rat (or perhaps a crow), “Archaeology stuff huh? Well if it gets too much and you want to talk about it I bought you a present.”
He pulls out a rolled up scroll and slides it across the table.
At this, Zaspar will head to the bar to open a tab in his Father's name, and order one of every special for their table.
Dee'arna looks at Kem and says quietly, "It's my caravan. You know what I mean?"
As Zaspar gets up Kem rounds on Dee’arna and drops the carefree act entirely as she speaks. “As long as you’re sure. Believe it or not I actually do trust your judgment.”
"I am. I'll be fine with some rest, this will all be gone next time," she gestures to the writing on her arms. "And... I am getting somewhere with the Watchers... But anyway... you said you had a present?"
Kem places a finger on the crook of her elbow and runs it along her forearm as he casts Comprehend Languages.
She hadn't meant to encourage him to read it, only an assurance that she had things in hand. But as he brushes her sleeves up with this touch he sees that there are no full sentences here, it's pieces of words and then squiggles to indicate where the rest of the sentence was.
But there are things that clearly relate to yuan-ti religion, and the words naga, maze, and sacrifice, and mentions of a black and gold snake. She sees him trying to read them and pushes his hand away gently, rolling the sleeve down again, "Ooh, now who can't hold their curiosity back? So keen to see me undressed again already?"
“If you’re expecting me to deny that you don’t know me at all, but sure.“ he backs away smiling as he casts Message to be absolutely certain he’s not overheard, “Talking of things that happen in the dark, I managed to get a little gift out of my master.”
Kem closes his eyes and reopens them. His irises have changed to a blood red with an ominous glow. As Dee looks at him she feels a faint shiver down her spine. The eyes looking back at her are not human - they’re very clearly of something that takes up a position squarely above humans in the food chain.
He blinks again and they return to their usual green. Speaking out loud once more, “Seems I don’t need torches anymore. And also… hot right?”
"Interesssting. I guess you won't be fumbling round in the dark any more..." she winks.
“Hey, I can always use more practice.”
Kem turns back to the bar, watching Zaspar locked in an argument with the bar staff over the price of champagne for a moment and looks back, “This is ‘our own time’ right? I wouldn’t want to get in trouble.”
Dee'arna laughs for the first time since she got there, "It's definitely our time.
Oh poor Zaspar, I don't even like champagne and you don't drink it... so you may have to use your sending on calling his butler later when he's got through the bottle. Talking of which, thanks for the scroll. I'll save it for an emergency. A very handy trick, which I hope one day to become blessed enough to learn for myself."
“Not a worry. Stops me from being tied down if you can get hold of me anywhere.” He watches the argument begin to escalate and stands up, straightening his vest, “I’m going to go smooth things over. You sure you’re okay?”
"I've... been better. But hey, Yinmaris, and maybe even a fey Queen if I am lucky, owe me a favour now. And ssso... could be worth it. Go help Zaspar out... again."
Zaspar struggles back to the table, an ultra wide tray in his hands, with seven plates of food precariously arranged on it. Behind him is a mage hand carrying three bottles of the last drinks the party ordered. He lets the plate down to the table gently, with as much control as he can, so as not to spill anything, then looks at his friends and grins.
“You know, I must introduce you all to salt and paprika some time.” He takes a seat between Kem and Dee and gestures to them to enjoy. He raises his apple juice and smiles. “To friendship, on my Father’s tab.”
Moments later, Zaspar uses a Message cantrip to reach out to Kem. “Can I ask you like - a “bro” question - basically you slept with that Hekrati vampire woman right? Do you have any um… any tips? I’ve done it once now so I’m quite proficient but…”
What follows is a cascade of awkwardness and laughter as Kem moves the conversation to verbal speech, like a grown up, and Zaspar tries to understand exactly what is normal to discuss about your ‘first time’ with your new friends.