Diplomacy
My half of the art trade with @ephemereon <3 I hope you like it, dear!
Pavelyan. Xalynir Trevelyan x Dorian Pavus (approx 1200 words)
Dorian jolted slightly as the door to his quarters slammed open, the wood rebounding off the wall, nearly swinging back to clobber his amatus right in the face. Turning, he raised a brow as Xalynir stalked into the room, an apology already leaping from his lips, the entire sentiment rather at odds with the expression on his usually cheerful face.
“If I had to guess,” Dorian began carefully, snapping his book closed – one of Genitivi’s slower works – and setting it down on the desk, “I’d say something has you rather upset.”
Xalynir’s arms were folded tightly across his chest, his gaze bright with what Dorian could only assume was anger. After all, he had never truly seen such an expression on his amatus’ face before.
“Dorian, do you think I’m naïve?”
The question was rather sudden. Dorian blinked a few times, attempting to process the demand. It seemed his silence spoke before he had a chance to, because Xalynir groaned, reaching up to scrub his hands over his face. “You do, don’t you? Why? I don’t get it! I’m not naïve. It was just… just a misunderstanding. That’s all.”
Well, they were getting somewhere. Not quite directly, but that was fine. Some matters took a delicate touch. Dorian supposed that was about all he could hope for, with Xal in such an unsettled state. “Why don’t you sit down and tell me what’s going on, yes? I am beginning to sense I missed something rather interesting tonight.”
The Inquisitor rolled his eyes, but sat as he was asked, the bed squeaking beneath his muscular frame. Turning in his chair, Dorian folded his hands over his knee and nodded to Xalynir; a silent gesture for the man to continue.
“So… well, there was this meeting, right? With a nobleman. Josephine and Leliana arranged it a few weeks ago.”
Dorian arched a brow as Xalynir hesitated. “Go on…”