[ Astarion blatantly doesn't respond with whether he plans to return the hat. Who cares!! It's just a hat. He frowns at the semi-order G'raha gives after, scoffing. ]
Well. I'm borrowing it now because I want to.
[ Not because G'raha told him to! He stands, dusting off his trousers. ]
Do hurry. I'd like to have my coin back within the next few hours.
[ Not that he feels very confident about G'raha's ability to win it back by playing fair, but they'll cross that bridge when they get to it. Once they get there and G'raha sees how futile it is, surely he'll change his mind about the whole 'stealing is bad' thing. ]
[ That scoff gets G’raha to look up, and he has to bite back his amusement. He’s beginning to learn a little bit about the way Astarion works, he thinks.
It is, after all, pretty obvious that Astarion likes to get his way. G’raha doesn’t mind it, though. It’s amusing in its own way, even if this is the sort of personality he has the least amount of experience dealing with.
An adventure on its own, perhaps. An interpersonal adventure. ]
The trek towards that camp may take an hour on its own… a mere few hours’ time may not be enough.
[ But he could always amp up his walking speed if need be. ]
Even so, your coin will be back in your hands by morning, I assure you.
[ With most of his things assembled, he starts buckling up his pack. ]
All the same, Astarion slips away to take care of his own task: that is, stealing from Wyll. It's easy enough, because Wyll is far too trusting, and therefore doesn't even bother hiding his belongings. The hat is jaunty indeed; brown leather with a wide brim and a dapper little feather. He plops it on G'raha's head, right over those kitty ears. ]
Now you'll just need to control that tail.
[ He's noticed it's rather expressive, too. Sort of cute, honestly—if you find that sort of thing cute, which obviously he does not!!!—but unhelpful in this situation. ]
[ Oh. Astarion has taken care of the hat quite quickly and it's now resting upon his head. G'raha adjusts it, taking ahold of the brim and lifting it so that it rests above his eyes. ]
I would much rather not!
[ His tail sticks up rod-straight behind him, eyes widening with shock at the very thought.
... ]
Ahem. That is, sitting on it would be a danger, were it to slip out from underneath me. I can hide it well enough underneath my clothes.
[ It won't explain the cutout in his jacket for his tail, but... his pants are loose enough that all he needs to do is loosen his belt and shove his tail back in his pants. It creates an odd shape in the seat of his pants, but it's nothing he can't hide with his clothing anyway. ]
saw jonathan bailey got voted sexiest man alive, congratulations g'raha
[ Ugh. When G'raha's sweet little tail sticks up like that, it really makes Astarion want to yank it. Stop being so yankable!! He somehow resists the urge, primarily because he's still trying to stay on G'raha's good side (sort of). ]
I had no idea how sensitive your tail was, [ Astarion muses, curious, before: ] Ah, well. Do what you have to do with it, then. I don't intend to lose because your tail gives us away.
YES.... happy for g'raha now being sexiest man alive
[ G'raha has to hold himself back from refuting that it's sensitive. It is, sure, but he doesn't like the way Astarion remarks on it simply because it's embarrassing and he feels like he's been seen. ]
I do not intend to lose, tail or not.
[ Which he'll... start working on covering up now, actually, ensuring that his jacket properly covers his lower back. With his pack and everything, it should be just fine, he's sure, and he readjusts his belt. ]
'Twould seem you are eager to win against them.
[ Amusing to him, given the way Astarion was so hellbent on stealing. Bending down to pick up his pack, tail now tucked away, he lugs it over his shoulder. ]
Shall we?
[ He asks, but he's itching to get moving and so he'll start to head out of their camp with or without confirmation. ]
[ Well, maybe he's eager to win against them. So what! So maybe it would be sort of fun, if this whole thing works out. Astarion of course doesn't expect it to, given that he's the most cynical man in the world, but he at least hopes it'll fail in a way that's beneficial for him. Maybe once G'raha loses all of his coin, he'll finally agree to let Astarion steal it all back and then some.
The walk is somewhat lengthy, backtracking the way they first came. There are a few wayward beasties along the way, but nothing too challenging; the real challenge is having to walk at all after a day of traveling, And, for G'raha, having to listen to Astarion bitch about his sore legs. In between complaints, Astarion does have the good sense to share some card strategy with G'raha. Might as well give him a shot in the hells, even if it feels exceedingly unlikely to work.
The camp of adventurers is still somewhat rowdy at this time of the evening. There's a group of three incredibly burly and grizzled men—a half-orc, a tiefling, and a human—all sharing drinks and stories around their campfire. When they see Astarion and G'raha approaching, the half-orc stands.
"Not you again," he says, obviously referring to Astarion. ]
Gentlemen! After our little... misunderstanding—
[ "You tried to cheat us," the human points out. ]
Right, that misconception of yours. Well, I told my friend here about it, and he's eager for a rematch in my honor.
[ Astarion kicks G'raha in the shin. ] Isn't that right, G'raha?
( just wanna apologize for my slowness 🙏 currently modding a 6 week game and WHEW.... )
[ G'raha is at least polite enough to entertain some of Astarion's complaints about his legs, even as he has no problem traversing back over the dirt paths and occasionally woody terrain himself. It's fun exercise for him, and doubling back means he can allow his gaze to pore over scenery he previously skipped over.
He is, however, much more interested in the card talk, asking Astarion follow up questions about the minutiae of the rules and of potential situations he might come across.
It's when they arrive to camp that he realizes the exact reason why Astarion was so hellbent on stealing it all back. It would have been the "cleanest" option, albeit the riskiest—and one that G'raha wasn't too keen on assisting with, besides. Momentarily swerving to shoot Astarion a glare when he's kicked in the shin, he turns back to the men and clears his throat.
Ahem. ]
I should like to see if I can win back his coin. I understand he may have made an attempt at trickery, but rest assured that I shall play honestly. I would like to prove to him that skill and forthrightness can win, if possible.
[ G'raha smiles and the men seem... unconvinced, at least for the moment. The human lifts a brow and the half-orc scoffs while the tiefling calls the other two towards him so that they can hold an impromptu discussion.
He takes that moment to turn towards Astarion. ]
When you next challenge someone to cards, do take care not to cheat...
( UR SO GOOD obviously i've been egregiously slow too but feel free to be as slow as you need, i'll still be here for mr. tia!!! )
I didn't cheat, [ Astarion hisses back. ] I just...
[ He stiffens, obviously unable to find a way to describe what he did that doesn't sound like, well, cheating. ]
Played by a different set of rules.
[ That's all! Watching the men as they converse, Astarion bites his fingernails. G'raha barely knows how to play cards, and if he loses even more of their coin, they'll really be fucked. Will he be amenable to helping Astarion steal back their lost money if he's now half-responsible for losing it, or will they have to return to the others with their (literal and metaphorical) tails between their legs? Gods, Lae'zel will kill them both if she finds out.
The human, seemingly the leader of the pack, turns back. "What's your game?" Astarion pokes G'raha in the ribs with a sharp elbow. ]
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no subject
Well. I'm borrowing it now because I want to.
[ Not because G'raha told him to! He stands, dusting off his trousers. ]
Do hurry. I'd like to have my coin back within the next few hours.
[ Not that he feels very confident about G'raha's ability to win it back by playing fair, but they'll cross that bridge when they get to it. Once they get there and G'raha sees how futile it is, surely he'll change his mind about the whole 'stealing is bad' thing. ]
no subject
It is, after all, pretty obvious that Astarion likes to get his way. G’raha doesn’t mind it, though. It’s amusing in its own way, even if this is the sort of personality he has the least amount of experience dealing with.
An adventure on its own, perhaps. An interpersonal adventure. ]
The trek towards that camp may take an hour on its own… a mere few hours’ time may not be enough.
[ But he could always amp up his walking speed if need be. ]
Even so, your coin will be back in your hands by morning, I assure you.
[ With most of his things assembled, he starts buckling up his pack. ]
no subject
All the same, Astarion slips away to take care of his own task: that is, stealing from Wyll. It's easy enough, because Wyll is far too trusting, and therefore doesn't even bother hiding his belongings. The hat is jaunty indeed; brown leather with a wide brim and a dapper little feather. He plops it on G'raha's head, right over those kitty ears. ]
Now you'll just need to control that tail.
[ He's noticed it's rather expressive, too. Sort of cute, honestly—if you find that sort of thing cute, which obviously he does not!!!—but unhelpful in this situation. ]
Maybe you can just... sit on it.
no subject
I would much rather not!
[ His tail sticks up rod-straight behind him, eyes widening with shock at the very thought.
... ]
Ahem. That is, sitting on it would be a danger, were it to slip out from underneath me. I can hide it well enough underneath my clothes.
[ It won't explain the cutout in his jacket for his tail, but... his pants are loose enough that all he needs to do is loosen his belt and shove his tail back in his pants. It creates an odd shape in the seat of his pants, but it's nothing he can't hide with his clothing anyway. ]
saw jonathan bailey got voted sexiest man alive, congratulations g'raha
I had no idea how sensitive your tail was, [ Astarion muses, curious, before: ] Ah, well. Do what you have to do with it, then. I don't intend to lose because your tail gives us away.
YES.... happy for g'raha now being sexiest man alive
I do not intend to lose, tail or not.
[ Which he'll... start working on covering up now, actually, ensuring that his jacket properly covers his lower back. With his pack and everything, it should be just fine, he's sure, and he readjusts his belt. ]
'Twould seem you are eager to win against them.
[ Amusing to him, given the way Astarion was so hellbent on stealing. Bending down to pick up his pack, tail now tucked away, he lugs it over his shoulder. ]
Shall we?
[ He asks, but he's itching to get moving and so he'll start to head out of their camp with or without confirmation. ]
no subject
The walk is somewhat lengthy, backtracking the way they first came. There are a few wayward beasties along the way, but nothing too challenging; the real challenge is having to walk at all after a day of traveling, And, for G'raha, having to listen to Astarion bitch about his sore legs. In between complaints, Astarion does have the good sense to share some card strategy with G'raha. Might as well give him a shot in the hells, even if it feels exceedingly unlikely to work.
The camp of adventurers is still somewhat rowdy at this time of the evening. There's a group of three incredibly burly and grizzled men—a half-orc, a tiefling, and a human—all sharing drinks and stories around their campfire. When they see Astarion and G'raha approaching, the half-orc stands.
"Not you again," he says, obviously referring to Astarion. ]
Gentlemen! After our little... misunderstanding—
[ "You tried to cheat us," the human points out. ]
Right, that misconception of yours. Well, I told my friend here about it, and he's eager for a rematch in my honor.
[ Astarion kicks G'raha in the shin. ] Isn't that right, G'raha?
no subject
[ G'raha is at least polite enough to entertain some of Astarion's complaints about his legs, even as he has no problem traversing back over the dirt paths and occasionally woody terrain himself. It's fun exercise for him, and doubling back means he can allow his gaze to pore over scenery he previously skipped over.
He is, however, much more interested in the card talk, asking Astarion follow up questions about the minutiae of the rules and of potential situations he might come across.
It's when they arrive to camp that he realizes the exact reason why Astarion was so hellbent on stealing it all back. It would have been the "cleanest" option, albeit the riskiest—and one that G'raha wasn't too keen on assisting with, besides. Momentarily swerving to shoot Astarion a glare when he's kicked in the shin, he turns back to the men and clears his throat.
Ahem. ]
I should like to see if I can win back his coin. I understand he may have made an attempt at trickery, but rest assured that I shall play honestly. I would like to prove to him that skill and forthrightness can win, if possible.
[ G'raha smiles and the men seem... unconvinced, at least for the moment. The human lifts a brow and the half-orc scoffs while the tiefling calls the other two towards him so that they can hold an impromptu discussion.
He takes that moment to turn towards Astarion. ]
When you next challenge someone to cards, do take care not to cheat...
no subject
I didn't cheat, [ Astarion hisses back. ] I just...
[ He stiffens, obviously unable to find a way to describe what he did that doesn't sound like, well, cheating. ]
Played by a different set of rules.
[ That's all! Watching the men as they converse, Astarion bites his fingernails. G'raha barely knows how to play cards, and if he loses even more of their coin, they'll really be fucked. Will he be amenable to helping Astarion steal back their lost money if he's now half-responsible for losing it, or will they have to return to the others with their (literal and metaphorical) tails between their legs? Gods, Lae'zel will kill them both if she finds out.
The human, seemingly the leader of the pack, turns back. "What's your game?" Astarion pokes G'raha in the ribs with a sharp elbow. ]