Dorian of House Pavus

“Oh, I have a room.” Reina says, a bit embarrassed. “But it’s rather common knowledge where it is so I can’t really hide there.” The nature of her position here means she does a fair amount of visits there. Dupuis himself would come to her room to play cards with her, all the while judging the set-up of the small room, just off the second floor of the round tower of the great hall.

She gives him a once over. “Would you though? Perish the thought?” She chuckles. “You don’t strike me as the shy type, though I’ve been wrong before.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary. I know how to remain unseen. Though, apparently not quite well enough.” She turns to gaze over distant mountaintops. “I was actually thinking, hopefully when it warms up a bit later, I might walk beyond the battlements and head out to gather some herbs. Or something.” She wasn’t sure, yet. She would probably find out from the guards when Dupuis left. Then she wouldn’t have to scarper around like a mouse.

“If only my mother could see me now…” She murmured to the wind. Seraphina would have known how to handle Dupuis…

"Oh, I'm usually not the one who gets shy at my nakedness", Dorian casually teased back. But it was a relief to know, that she wouldn't be loitering on the rooftops the entire time. That thought was a bit disconcerting, after all.

“Mmm, I knew I picked the right accomplice.” Faye nodded approvingly. “Someone who has an eye for beauty…and gossip.” She winked at him, and sipped her own drink again, enjoying the refreshing coolness against her throat.

“I’m quite certain the Commander is not my type, nor I his. And Lady Montilyet and Lady Nightingale are both absolutely stunning, but I think I’m a step down for them.” She smirks at her self-deprecating comment. It’s not said to invoke pity; she knows her place in the world and she is not one to be involved with nobles and the like.

She leans back in her chair. “Blackwall is quite the looker, I can’t get a good read on him. Solas…I don’t think we’d get along.”

She turns her head across the bar. “He is a fucking specimen, though.” She lets out a low whistle, admiring The Iron Bull across the bar where he’s laughing and drinking with his men. She’s been around enough to know these key players; has gotten a fair few of them some merchandise from beyond the walls of Skyhold.

Following her line of sight, Dorian's face did something odd and complicated, before it settled on an indifferent smirk and a shrug.

"He is decent, when he wants to be", he admits reluctantly, "But.. kaffas, his humor takes a lot getting used to, to say the least."

As if on cue, The Iron Bull laughed loud and boisterous, at whatever joke had been just told at his table. Dorian pulled a face.

“Maybe.” She sniffs. “That is the type. Mostly he just passes snide judgements on me and makes such underhanded comments about my character and my mother.” She makes a face, almost a sneer. “Only when we’re alone though. Pig.”

She shakes her head then, as if to clear the venom she’s spoken. “My apologies. I am not normally so…critical. And I don’t need to unload my burdens onto you.”

His comment makes her laugh and she grins coyly at him. “Oh, do you now?” She makes a show of posing on the rooftop, her long, abnormal hair catching the slight breeze that comes from off the mountains. “Well then maybe I’ll stay longer. For your sake, of course.” She adds. Then gives a slight breathy laugh. “I don’t imagine anyone will come looking for me. I think Dupuis is leaving soon, back to Orlais. He has outlived his welcome. And on top of that, if he asks anyone where I am, they’ll lie.” She’s made enough friends here that they’ll cover for her, especially against a common irritant.

Dorian laughed at that, before he finally stepped away from the window and gestured into his room.

"Well in that case, you might wanna talk to the quartermaster down by the stables soon. As charming, as your company is, I'd feel more at ease, knowing you got a room of your own. What if I forget you're there and walked naked through my room!? Perish the thought!"

He originally intended to take a rest, but it appeared, he had just made a new friend who needed some semblance of assistance. Also, if she did turn out to be a thief afterall, it was probably better, to have her be seen by people with a little more administrative authority in here.

Her grin in return at his mock gratitude is wide and toothy. “Convenient for us indeed that Sera lives in the tavern.” She nods as they take a seat and are soon into their drinks, casting excited looks to the door. At Dorian’s question, she shrugs. “Not a clue. Like I said, I’m pretty sure she was pranking Solas...and then Cullen?” She waved a hand. “I’m sure it won’t be long.” She’d told Maryden not to worry about the warning, but the bard had simply shrugged and said she’d probably still play the song anyways, just for Sera’s reaction. “So...Dorian.” Faye leans back in her chair, taking a swallow of her drink. “Anyone worth fancying around here?” One eyebrow arched, waiting for his reaction.

[starter meme] accepting

✋   -  a  starter  where  my  muse  traces  your  muse’s  scars.

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Valeriu was beautiful. Every part of him was breathtaking and it was always a pleasant end to the day, when they were getting ready for bed and Dorian got to reveal every last bit of his husband's beautiful body, helping him undress.

[starter meme] accepting a  starter  where  my  muse  is  patching  up  your  muse’s  injuries.  ( add  + reverse  for  your  muse  to  be  patching  up  my  muse’s  injuries. )

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Dorian felt very silly right now. Usually he was the reasonable one in their marriage, for whatever that's worth. But people in the magisterium had been particularly obstinate - no, downright obstuse today. They had returned home with Dorian fuming like a fresh heap of cow poo. As was their usual practice by now, they sat down together with some wine and started discussing the day's progress and took apart the parts in their statements that had been attacked, or opposed in the magisterium to try them for fallacies or weaknesses.

Dorian had gotten so infuriated over that one particular argument, that he had banged his fist on the table. Only that he missed the free space on the tabletop by a fraction and hit his wine glass instead, shattering the crystal and ending with a bleeding hand spiked with shards like a deformed porcupine.

Valeriu's lips were pinched while he focused on the tedious task of removing every last little shard from Dorian's abused hand.

Reina opens her mouth to retaliate, then closes it, then opens it again.

“Well I didn’t know it was your room.” She says, exasperated. “I can leave, if you’d like…” there are other places she can hide that the Orlesians won’t come….but they’re all under the Keep and she’d rather see the sky.

She watches him, and then stands upon the roof, careful as always of her footing. With a deep, low curtsey that calls upon that balance she claims, she introduces herself as she straightens.

“Cort’esa Reina of Vermahna.” She offers a smile. “And I won’t ask you to come out onto the roof, though the pigeons are quite friendly.” He has a way about him that makes her feel at ease. The bite of sarcasm but without venom.

“Monsieur Dupuis? She asks, lowering her voice, seeking confirmation it is the same Orlesian. Most of them aren’t horrid but Dupuis is…something else.

"Is that the one, who can't tell a roast pork from a deep fried chicken, or the one that loudly stories of the most recent beheadings during dinner?" Dorian asked, on, pretending to be thoughtful, before he finally shrugged with a crooked grin.

"Honestly, I can't tell them apart anymore. At this rate, they all keep blending together in a massive blur of bad manners and even worse outfit choices."

[starter meme] accepting

🛏️  -  a  starter  where  our  muses  have  to  share  one  bed.

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Dorian stares at what he was told, was supposed to be their bed for the night with a mixture of apprehension and amusement.

"That's got to be", he said after a moment of contemplation, "The world's narrowest two men bed. And it's not like the didn't have room for a little more... well bed in here."

Laughing softly, he turned to Vali with a crooked smirk.

[starter meme] accepting

😴  -  a  starter  where  my  muse  is  comforting  your  muse  after  a  nightmare.

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Nightmares, Dorian has learned long before their marriage already, were a regular occurrence in their bedroom. Especially, when their work in the magisterium became particularly stressful, Valeriu would occasionally wake up in the middle of the night panicked and sweating and the only way to help him back to sleep, was to simply hold him, until whatever shadows had been chasing him in his dreams finally dispersed.

This night was no different. Dorian was startled awake, when his husband suddenly sat up ramrod straight, breathing heavily. His beloved jumped, when he carefully touched his shoulder to help him find ground in reality again.

He was now sitting with the other mage rolled up between his legs, face buried in Dorian's chest, while he drew gentle patterns on Valeriu's back.

Faye sticks out her tongue.

“Hey, I’m allowed to take some time off! I’ve sold my wares and the pass has been treacherous to get back to Orlais so I’m having a bit of fun!” She elbows him. “You should, too, Moustache. Relax, take a load off before going back to your busy days of reading, drinking and judging.” She pauses pensively. “Damnit, that sounds perfect though.”

She puts her hands on her hips and stares around the room, at the work they’ve done so far. “Maybe this is enough.” She stares at Dorian through the corners of her eyes. “Pranking is thirsty work, if you catch my meaning?” She jingles the coins in her pockets. “My treat, as a thank you for the amusing hijinks? Because now that you mention it……I don’t want to be running all over Skyhold….”

Smiling broadly, Dorian held the door open for her, he said jokingly: "You truly know how to make a man feel appreciated!" Walking besides her down the stairs, he added: "Lucky for us, we don't need to run all across Skyhold for a good drink, right now, yes?"

Once they were both seated with a tankard of wine before them, he cast another look up the stairs.