"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"Why, it's like you know me." Thomas smirks slightly. "I have used blackmail in the past - not just against my masters, but some of my fellow colleagues too."
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notfoul
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Date: 2024-04-01 02:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-04-02 11:08 am (UTC)"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."
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Date: 2024-04-02 03:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-04-02 03:24 pm (UTC)"Really," Astarion says, amused. "I barely dare wonder how you remained in gainful employment, darling."
no subject
Date: 2024-04-02 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-04-03 05:52 pm (UTC)"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."
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Date: 2024-04-05 09:20 pm (UTC)His expression sobers after a moment.
"I'm not that man anymore though."
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Date: 2024-04-06 11:07 am (UTC)Astarion nods, thoughtful, and then lifts his glass.
"A toast, then. To the - better men we've become?"
Or still in the process of becoming, perhaps, but it still rings true.
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Date: 2024-04-07 04:01 pm (UTC)"To the better men that we've become." He repeats, tipping his glass against Astarion's before taking a sip.
"Thank you."