You don't want to talk, that's fine. I'm more than happy to do it for you.
I'm generous like that.
[He clears his throat, and it's almost like a flipped switch, how quickly he reverts to that otherwise cheerful act. Ever so congenial.]
You see, I don't care much for secrets. Mmph, well, that's not entirely true. I do love a good, scandalous tale just as much as anyone else— but when it comes to the people fighting at my side, surprises are the last thing I want welling up behind my back.
So let's make a deal, you and I.
Play nice. Don't get any ideas whatsoever about even making eye contact with her, let alone trouble, and I'll happily keep all this to myself. And by this, I mean the fact that I witnessed the entire altercation with my own two eyes. That you started it, and exacerbated it, and clearly had every murderous intention of utterly ruining the life of one of our own.
And— oh, I don't know. I have a feeling a report like that might upset our dear leaders. Especially if the only other party involved isn't willing to talk about it.
(she'd guessed that ellie had astarion in her pocket but she didn't know how deep in there he truly was. having it confirmed like this is– nasty. it's unfair, and made even worse because abby knows that if she opened her mouth and let every single ugly detail spill out of it, he would let her say her piece. maybe he would understand it. all that joel took from her, and ellie, finishing off the job in his stead. abby holds all of it for a long, deliberating moment, right on the flat of her tongue, and–
swallows. she isn't going to use her dead as some kind of sick gotcha.
that's the difference between her, and ellie.)
Fine. (her voice breaks over the word. it's absolutely infuriating to be blackmailed into something she was already planning on doing– and she can't even call his bluff, ask him if he really thinks they'd believe him over her. of course they would. she's newer, younger, and she has barely any footing in riftwatch. he's the only person who saw her injured.
after a soft hiss of breath she adds,) If you stay the fuck away from me.
(because it doesn't fit what abby knows of her, even though only a handful of time was spent with ellie at her throat. what was it that she had rasped out at abby in the dark red of that basement? you're mine.)
Of course not. Why, are you going to tattle on me?
I’d advise against it. [The words are smooth and cool, punctuated by an easy chuckle that rolls between sharp teeth. He isn’t afraid. Not of her, not of being caught, not even of all the potential consequences that might come tumbling down from tightly pulled strings.
Consequences, after all, are someone else’s misery to endure.
Not his.]
After all, I might get the itch to go running to our division heads all the more quickly if I start to feel a little pressured.
But— it isn’t all bad, really. Your life won’t change, will it? And you’ll have a new purpose here.
Her happiness.
Because as long as she’s content, and safe, you’re going to live the best of lives, both of you. If you think about it, I’m practically doing you a favor.
(it's really one thing to be told stay away and another for it all to lead into this. abby holds her indignance as best she can but it's a close thing. she wants to spit and swear at him just as much as he doubtlessly wants her to.)
Don't push it. (she has to grit the words out from between her teeth.
another message like this and she might just throw her crystal out the fucking window in response,) I said I'd do it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I'm generous like that.
[He clears his throat, and it's almost like a flipped switch, how quickly he reverts to that otherwise cheerful act. Ever so congenial.]
You see, I don't care much for secrets. Mmph, well, that's not entirely true. I do love a good, scandalous tale just as much as anyone else— but when it comes to the people fighting at my side, surprises are the last thing I want welling up behind my back.
So let's make a deal, you and I.
Play nice. Don't get any ideas whatsoever about even making eye contact with her, let alone trouble, and I'll happily keep all this to myself. And by this, I mean the fact that I witnessed the entire altercation with my own two eyes. That you started it, and exacerbated it, and clearly had every murderous intention of utterly ruining the life of one of our own.
And— oh, I don't know. I have a feeling a report like that might upset our dear leaders. Especially if the only other party involved isn't willing to talk about it.
no subject
swallows. she isn't going to use her dead as some kind of sick gotcha.
that's the difference between her, and ellie.)
Fine. (her voice breaks over the word. it's absolutely infuriating to be blackmailed into something she was already planning on doing– and she can't even call his bluff, ask him if he really thinks they'd believe him over her. of course they would. she's newer, younger, and she has barely any footing in riftwatch. he's the only person who saw her injured.
after a soft hiss of breath she adds,) If you stay the fuck away from me.
no subject
[It’s soft, the way his tongue hits the back of his teeth. In someone else’s hands, this might even sound sincere.]
I thought we were friends.
no subject
(because it doesn't fit what abby knows of her, even though only a handful of time was spent with ellie at her throat. what was it that she had rasped out at abby in the dark red of that basement? you're mine.)
no subject
I’d advise against it. [The words are smooth and cool, punctuated by an easy chuckle that rolls between sharp teeth. He isn’t afraid. Not of her, not of being caught, not even of all the potential consequences that might come tumbling down from tightly pulled strings.
Consequences, after all, are someone else’s misery to endure.
Not his.]
After all, I might get the itch to go running to our division heads all the more quickly if I start to feel a little pressured.
But— it isn’t all bad, really. Your life won’t change, will it? And you’ll have a new purpose here.
Her happiness.
Because as long as she’s content, and safe, you’re going to live the best of lives, both of you. If you think about it, I’m practically doing you a favor.
no subject
Don't push it. (she has to grit the words out from between her teeth.
another message like this and she might just throw her crystal out the fucking window in response,) I said I'd do it.
You can go now.
no subject
And— in the meanwhile, do let me know if you need anything. Anything at all. I’m here for you just as much.
[...and just like that, he’s gone.]