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[lyrium_fused]

Where would you like to go?

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For @ liberaltus : The Arrival

[lyrium_fused]

[From Here!]

After spending so many years in Thedas' Southern lands, Fenris finds himself wishing he'd invested in gear more fit for this warm and wet clime. His thicker wool cloak and warm overcoat bear no enchantments against the constant rain, soaking through and weighing him down and causing his armor to pinch and chafe. Mild discomfort is not exactly something he's apt to complain about while he stalks through the streets with his hood pulled up over his head.

It does, however, mean that an armored drowned rat of an elf is what's going to turn up at the gate of Dorian's estate. Sopping wet and soaked through with a resting bitch face that is certain to give whichever hired help (never servants in these halls again) pause when they go to let Dorian know he's a guest at his door.

An armed guest, if the sword at his back is for more than simply show.

[liberaltus]

Rain in Tevinter is how one knows that winter is in full effect, mild and rainy as opposed to their southern neighbors. Its that time of year Dorian opts for moisture wicking fabrics and light layering for the chill, wool silk robes and full-grain leather tend to be his favorites for when he goes out. How Fenris managed to make it all the way here in full armor and heavier fabrics is something of a wonder. Dorian, being Dorian, would have had complaints, but he has an entirely different constitution one that was outspoken about discomforts of any sort even if he could endure.

As soon as Fenris turns up at his door Dorian is alerted immediately and he is quick to join his help at the gates with a canopy not only to greet their guest, but to assuage any doubts about Fenris who might look dangerous (and he was, of course) but to reassure them that anyone this soaked through would be generally displeased.

"Maker's breath, but you are soaked through aren't you. Come, we'll get you warmed up and something dry to wear."

Though it's a bit too late for Fenris the servants still hold a canopy over the both of them as they make their way inside as son as they make it to the door and as soon as the door opens a child runs up to greet them. Not a member of the staff, but likely one of their children which is fine by Dorian, the goal, after all, is to insure that the people around him can have lives and that includes families and a place to live.

"Ah, Micah is it? Would you be so kind as to check the kitchens and see if there's anything hot to eat...and a bottle of wine as well."

The child nods enthusiastically and Dorian presses a few coins into his hands before turning to one of the other servants with them.

"A room and some dry clothing for our guest, please?"

While accommodations are being made Dorian guides Fenris to a room with with an opulent fireplace. The hearth is tall and narrow, carved from black marble veined with deep amethyst streaks. The stone isn't worn smooth by age so much as polished to intimidation, which screams Tevinter.

"Are you okay?"

[lyrium_fused]

"I did not miss Tevinter's rain." Comes the deep rumble that is only slightly put off by the sound of it to Dorian's observation. "I should have bought new gear once I crossed the border." Coming by coin was easy enough if one was fine with robbing dead slavers and Venatori of their material possessions. Pawning off what weapons or trinkets they had that weren't infected with red lyrium, that is. And there was so much of that now. Fenris was running out of places to toss all of the wretched things.

He follows Dorian into the entrance and notes with some guilt that the water is puddling at his feet once he crosses the threshold. He unfastens his cloak and pulls it off. The water splatters in little plaps! against the flooring. Fenris sets the cloak down so as not to splash anyone else. Especially when a child runs up. Fenris freezes then, his body posture very clear that he has no idea how to handle children. He stares up at Dorian and despite years of learning how to be People for a second he's a cornered and nervous animal again. Waiting for Dorian to handle the strangers before he starts to unfasten his wet gear again. He sloughs off his overcoat, fur lined vest, and his plate. It leaves him smaller in just his woolen shirt and trousers underneath, bare footed in the puddles of his own creation.

Dressed down as he is and not dripping quite so badly he follows Dorian out of the entrance and toward the fire. The lick of heat is comforting against his chilled skin.

"I'll be alright once I dry out. The rain is somewhat of a boon by washing off the blood on my gear. I've never seen Venatori so brazenly active before."

[liberaltus]

Dorian was observant, though he wasn't tactless in his observations, he could tell that this was an entirely new environment for Fenris in a sense. He's certain Fenris has experienced the self-indulgence that comes with Tevinter decadence, but certainly not as a guest, and there were likely residual discomforts surrounding it.

The juxtaposition of a such a place brimming with a different kind of life, one that invited equity instead of slavery and submission also had to be jarring. That a child could run up to a magister without standing on any sort of rigid ceremony is a testament of Dorian's own way of running things. The child wasn't a servant, but seemed to know that being present could earn him some pocket coin for things like entertainment or luxuries. Dorian simply indulged it, offering simple "go for" tasks that were safe and on the grounds.

He could tell immediately that the strangers and the presence of children made Fenris nervous. He could also see that there was also a bit of awkwardness attached to dragging water through the estate.

"Well once you've warmed yourself, I'll give you a tour of your quarters, my quarters, the kitchen, and naturally the wine cellar...any other points of interest," Dorian takes a seat near to the fire himself, gesturing for Fenris to do the same if he wished, fully aware that he was damp and not caring as things could be dried, "we'll eat and you'll be free to sleep, bathe, read a book, drink wine...do all of them at once if you wish, unless you just prefer rest which I'd also understand. I can only imagine the sheer number of Venatori you've met along the way has taken some of the wind out of you."

He tips his head to the side, his smile warm, it's a private kind of warmth given that he's generally not predisposed to emotional exhibitionism, but it's a little different in cloistered places.

"If all of this is a little overwhelming, I'll do what I can to make it easier. I want you to feel welcome, this should be a home of operations for you."

[lyrium_fused]

The only estate Fenris has ever lived in aside form his master's was the wreck of a manor he'd haunted for some years in Kirkwall's Hightown. That was not a cheerful nor lived-in place. Certainly it held no servants or magisters there. Dorian's home by comparison is not unlike Denarius' once was, in some respects. And at the same time it is utterly alien. No child, Denarius's own much less some soporati brat would dare run right up to the master of the house. No slaves would...they aren't slaves.

He. Isn't a slave. Fenris takes a long, deep breath as he stares into the fire.

"I apologize in advance if I snap at anyone while I adjust here." Fenris says instead. "I have not been in a Tevinter magister's home since I was property." He watches Dorian take a seat and stares with some confusion at first when he's gestured to do the same. The elf shifts on his feet, clearly uncertain of what action to take at first. He decides to wring out his clothes and hair as best he can where he's standing then before taking a delicate seat on the edge of a richly dyed sofa next to where Dorian has seated himself. "My arm is sore." He admits. "I am not as young as I once was."

[liberaltus]

While Dorian has very little control over the architectural design that generally screams Tevinter--strong horizonal and verticals, high contrast accentuations, precious stones--Dorian himself did try for more warmth and less severity. It helped that it looked like there were actual people residing inside of it and not some sterile environment with scores of empty rooms that no one was using. For his part Dorian endeavored to strive for difference when it came to his contemporaries and that's because he was different and with so much of his time spend in the South his strong disillusionment with their homeland has only influenced some of his behaviors.

"We will all endeavor to be understanding of your needs here, that I can promise...and I can assure you that here you are as welcome as if it was your home," it's also the reason he doesn't flinch or react at all when Fenris sits in the chair, still completely damp from his travels. It's better to simply treat this as normal, and while Dorian does enjoy luxuries, he is after all Dorian, he's not at all precious about material objects. There's nothing that can be done that couldn't be undone, replaces, or refurbished and so comfort was far more important. He would let Fenris come to that realization as he spent more time here as opposed to pushing the issue, he already appeared anxious.

"Ah, don't remind me, if you're getting older then that means I am getting older," and we cannot have any of it, "I'll draw you a warm bath with epsom salts, oils, and some potions...hopefully that will help with your aches. Do you have any questions for me before I show you around?"

[lyrium_fused]

"I didn't think it was something I needed to be concerned about until I was actually inside a manor." He admits. Fenris tilts his chin up and takes in the decor. A small action itself an act of defiance. A bodyguard didn't need to appreciate architecture or design. But Fenris is a free man now in Tevinter. He can do as he pleases. "It's interesting to find knickknacks from the South used as decor here amid the more Tevine trappings."

The elf is...trying. To be casual. He comes off as stiff and awkward, but it's better than angry and defensive. He snorts when Dorian moans dramatically about their ages.

"I trust we're both yet spry enough to do the work that needs doing. So it seems pointless to worry about it just yet." Fenris wonders how long it will take the Venatori to realize the Wraith is in the heart of Tevinter. If they will attempt to hunt him or if they will be scared at all out of some of their machinations. Will Dorian come to trouble if its discovered he's housing the elf? A problem for later, perhaps.

"You? Personally?" He's raising an eyebrow at the image, mildly amused. "I feel spoiled already." He glances back toward the entrance once more, then shrugs idly, as if it hadn't shaken him before. "How many others are living in this home at the moment?"

[liberaltus]

"I am actively working on having the whole place renovated, Tevinter architecture has always struck me as decrepit and oppressive. Hopefully some of the Southern touches will mute the severity," as much as he does like to criticize the rustic charm in the south there are certain things that give their spaces a lived in and welcoming quality. Ferelden with their rounded edges, their warm colors, and their attachment to wooden creations and Orlais drapery and use of colors did inspire him and while he couldn't completely change the manor brick by brick, he could certainly elevate the space, "if there's anything you think I should add to improve the ambiance, feel free to make suggestions."

Fortunately Dorian is more than capable when it comes to holding a conversation, though he's certainly not going to obligate Fenris if it's uncomfortable for him. If nothing else Dorian is quite capable of listening to himself talk, but it's always nice when the conversation operates in more than one direction.

"Well, we both still have our dashing good looks, so I am not fretting as of yet, despite the marching on of time," Even if he is charming," there is no avoiding the vanity that comes with it, "a distinct priority for one to have."

While Dorian is aware of the risks, he is prepared to take swift and aggressive action if the Venatori should darken his doorway with the intention of harming his household. Of course it's not in the forefront of his mind, but he's aware that it is a distinct possibility. The less invasive tactics of the Lucerni is something that even he is discovering is too soft for any sort of real reform, he is prepared to seek other methods especially if attacks become pointed.

"Certainly, you're my guest so I have an obligation to see that you are taken care of as well, and you've grown used to my unapologetically dashing presence. At least I hope," he offered Fenris a slanted grin, "of course you don't want me preparing your meals, but you can call on me if it helps you acclimate."

And Fenris's rooms wouldn't be too far from his own in the even there is an emergency or he simply needs Dorian for any reason.

"Ah? Well it is a sizeable estate, there are twenty-seven attendants and five children," that does make for a handful of small family units, each of them performing various tasks, "I understand this is probably very new, I want them to be safe. I want them to thrive and have their own families, to be in a position to provide and have educated children. This is how we make Tevinter better."

Giving opportunities, respecting the people that tend to you instead of enslaving them and treating them poorly. Dorian did a lot of growing in the South.

Busts out of the topsoil of overtime like the wage zombie I am

[lyrium_fused]

"Wasteful. Was always the word I associated with it. But having travelled more I see now it's a class problem more than it is any one place." Here he is only freshly out of the rain and Dorian asks him for decorating advice? Fenris can't help but give a wry smile. A bit of black humor for memories perhaps only He will find amusing. "I doubt you want my taste in decor. I had the bones of Denarius' men littered in my foyer as a warning to any more of his men he'd send for six years in Kirkwall."

He casts a glance around the fireplace and snorts.

"Better to litter the bodies of Venatori in your front garden though if you want to avoid the smell. And deter anyone from approaching Before they get inside your front door."

The topic moves on to actually Improving Tevinter though, rather than humoring the broken men the system has created up until now. And Fenris falls silent once more. Listening. Sure, there's discomfort in knowing so many strangers live in these halls. But this is Better. This is change. Of a kind he's only heard people Talk about before. But Dorian is putting it to action. Hawke would like him, Fenris realizes absently. The thought warms something in the elf's chest.

"Who am I to turn down my host's sizeable charms and generosity then? Let us make me fit to be seen in your company."