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[notfoul]

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[sixfeetofdirt]

"I see. And what did your lordship hunt - game creatures, I'm assuming? Deer, boars? Most of the nobility I've encountered wouldn't level a weapon at anything that could put up much of a fight."

[notfoul]

"Deer, foxes, pheasants." Thomas replies. "So you're right. No animal that could really defend themselves from a gun." It was just part of his job as a butler, so he didn't have much of an opinion on the activity.

"Mostly for sport."

[sixfeetofdirt]

Astarion nods.

"I've encountered the type. Along with those who roam the countryside to hunt down ogres, gnolls, harpies - and dread creatures of the night such as myself, of course. Very much not for sport, no matter what they say to make themselves sound more dashing and heroic."

[notfoul]

"They sound like a bunch of pricks." Thomas replies with a frown. "Is there anyone in your world who protect beings like yourself and the others you mentioned?

He has his doubts, but he can't deny his curiosity about it.

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Ha - absolutely not," Astarion says, amused by the mere idea of it. "It would be like sheep seeking to protect wolves - our interests are, shall we say, at odds. I'll grant that not every monster hunter's quarry has the sense to avoid intelligent prey."

[notfoul]

"Ah. Then I'm sorry to hear that." Thomas replies with sincerity, his expression becoming serious for a few moments. "I don't think I would fare too well in your world. At least the hunting part. Perhaps if you were in need of a butler, I'd do alright."

He laughs softly, feeling amused.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Astarion shakes his head, smiling.

"I'm making it sound like it's all wilds and wickedness, but that's not the case - even as a vampire, I lived in one of my homeland's wealthiest cities. Plenty of men too rich to polish their own boots. You could quite easily have plied your normal trade."

[notfoul]

"Mm. Sounds like something I would take advantage of. I can do more than butler duties. I was a valet for a time - dressing the Lord of the house or a distinguished guest. Fixing his clothing and shining his shoes. Accompanying him on journeys."

Thomas pauses there before finishing his drink.

"Sorry. I don't mean to drone on about my work." He smiles. "Did you want another drink?"

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Please - the same again, thank you. And don't worry about boring me, darling; I'm learning about you, and your world," Astarion adds, reassuring.

[notfoul]

"Thank you." He ducks his head, smiling at the reasssurance. "Sometimes, I don't know what to tell people about myself. Not many asked back home." A pause. "I'll go get our drinks."

Thomas gets up from his chair and heads to the bar, ordering the same for the both of them. He returns a few minutes later, placing Astarion's drink in front of him.

"Here you are."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Thank you."

Astarion waits for him to sit down.

"...It must have been quite the thing, to go from a life in service to being labelled a Dominant," he says, levelly.

[notfoul]

The comment give Thomas pause for a few moments before he nods, agreeing with it.

"It was. I didn't believe it at first, being given such a position. To have a different status and advantages over others is something I could only imagine back home. I've always tried my best to do right by my contract partners and not treat them any less equally. It wouldn't be fair."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"It wouldn't. But there's also a great deal of temptation to misuse any power you're granted after having so little - and that, I'm afraid I can say from experience. It's a compliment to you that you've resisted that urge."

[notfoul]

"Thank you." His response is genuine, and yet he also felt that he had to be honest. "But there have been times when I have thought of the power I could hold over others just to bring myself satisfaction. Mostly in the beginning, when I first arrived. I'm glad I didn't."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"A better man than I would have proven, in your situation. Not that I'm strictly glad to be a Submissive, but - I've found a good partner, and things have worked out as best they can. I certainly wouldn't have made any friends in my first months here, as a Dominant."

Likewise honest, in a way he can only really be in retrospect.

[notfoul]

"I'm happy to hear that you found a good partner, and that they look out for you. I've been lucky enough to find a decent partner as well." Charles had helped to ground him in a number of ways, but they weren't really quota partners.

"Can I ask why you think you wouldn't have made any friends as a Dominant in the beginning?"

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Oh, because I would have thrown my weight around horribly and abused whatever measure of power the city saw fit to give me," he says. He's self-aware enough to know he wouldn't have handled the responsibility very well. "I tend not to do things by halves, for better and for worse."

[notfoul]

"I'm sure you're not the only person who would do such a thing." Thomas replies thoughtfully, considering Astarion's words. It would appear that he was a complex person, and Thomas was interested to learn more, if the other man was willing to tell him.

"Thank you for your honesty about it, Astarion. I don't know if many others would do the same."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"And I certainly wouldn't have done, until quite recently," Astarion admits. "While I've been here, I've been compelled to tell the truth, show my memories to near-strangers, be intimate in all the ways I've little experience of. Every so often I'd just prefer to do it by choice."

[notfoul]

"I have some experience of that too. Except for the memory sharing, I have yet to go through that." He sounds sympathetic, offering Astarion a soft smile. "Choice is how I would prefer it as well. But this place -" Thomas sighs, shaking his head. " - it can be unpredictable at times. That's why I'm glad to have good friends here."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Friends," Astarion echoes, and huffs a soft laugh. "Do you know, before coming here I don't think I'd had anyone I could consider a friend? Not really. There were people I had no choice but to make myself tolerable to, but - that's hardly the same."

[notfoul]

"The funny thing is, I know exactly where you're coming from. Except more people had to tolerate me than the other way around back home." He smiles ruefully, thinking about the people in the household, both servants and the family. "I could be a real bastard there."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Really," Astarion says, amused. "I barely dare wonder how you remained in gainful employment, darling."

[notfoul]

"My charm and good looks?" Thomas offers with an impish smile. "Or maybe I'm just damned good at my job. Who knows?"

[sixfeetofdirt]

"I think in your situation I would have used blackmail," Astarion jokes. "I don't doubt that you knew plenty about your masters that they would have preferred you didn't."