But it isn't exactly the right thing, either, and Kostos gives Ilias a considering look that stretches into a silence that other people might find uncomfortable, which is part of why he's developed the habit. His stare does a decent job pinning people against walls to squirm, when they're not also strange foreign mages and likely immune to thinking he's going to light them on fire and then make their bones dance for the king. He's also thinking, though. Hard, and quickly. Like Ilias is a logic puzzle to be deciphered from a sparse handful of clues.
Ilias knew Casimir; Ilias makes his own reckless decisions at least occasionally; Ilias covered for him thus far.
It's still a gamble. Kostos is too much of a pessimist, especially about Ilias, to think this is a good idea. Which has stopped him from doing things approximately never. ]
Before the rebellion, they found a way to reverse Tranquility. They say they managed it once.
[ That shouldn't be news. ]
But the Seekers murdered him— [ Not true, but there are two mages in Thedas who know that, and Kostos isn't one of them. ] —and since then—nothing. No word. No attempts. Whatever else is done with us, I would see that...
[ Ended. Him, and several other people. It's been a fairly massive undertaking, reaching as high up as to encompass two of the division heads and a handful of other people more important than he is to the Inquisition's larger cause. He'll stop taking all the credit as soon as he's sure the credit isn't coming with a dungeon cell.
In any case, he trails off, tongue slightly tied by uncertainty even if he refuses to look the least bit repentant or afraid. Killing Ilias and hiding the body isn't entirely off the table. ]
[ For Kostos's personal achievement scrapbook, that extended silence does in fact earn an uncertain eye-shift from Ilias, who is momentarily forced to consider the possibility this conversation might result in anything more serious for him than annoyance. It's not his favorite sensation.
But the explanation is— not what he was expecting, if the careful tilt of his head is any indication. It's not that he doesn't think of Kostos as a decent person; he does, in the way he thinks more people are at some level, the way he imagines anyone who works this hard trying to save the world via a position he clearly dislikes must be, and Kostos has proven he can be counted on to put other people’s lives before his own when presented with that choice. But part of Ilias still looks at him and sees the sulky teenager vying for some Enchanter's approval.
Reversing Tranquility won’t earn anyone a pat on the head. A noose, maybe. At least Ilias doesn't look ready to tie it personally. (Imagine what could be undone—) ]
And you would see that work done here. Under the nose of a Seeker-led organization, with the Inquisition's resources, with—
[ With the Inquisition's Tranquil. He swallows, eyes going wide and still. ]
[ With Casimir—but he doesn’t specify agreement to that specific part. Not yet. There are a few very simple ways to make sure this can’t be gone through with, if someone decides it needs to stop, and Casimir is the component that would most quietly disappear.
He does relent in the eye contact department, at least. Victory already assured on that front. He looks back at the map. ]
People need us more than they hate us. That will only last until the war ends.
[ It needs to be done here, now, regardless of who is in charge. They can only be as much trouble as they’re worth, or they’ll risk everything, but they’re worth a lot. They can move mountains.
—he thinks about Nikos, and the multitudes in Tevinter. His jaw tightens for a second. ]
We can’t help them all now. But if we know what it means, for them to be brought back— [ a twinge of uncertainty: it may be the wrong word ] —then we will not be arguing about theories and possibilities, when we have to decide what we’re willing to live with.
[ If they live at all. Maybe Corypheus will win. Kostos flicks over a pin-flag stuck into the map—solely out of ill temper, he’ll have to put it back later. ]
[ Silence isn't denial. It isn't confirmation, either, but the possibility of Casimir's involvement, once bloomed, swiftly colors everything that does come out of Kostos's mouth.
It is a sounder argument than he expected. A goal that will help them make decisions, instead of a decision already made in the seeking, and while that doesn't erase any of the dangers inherent in what he's attempting, it does make them easier to ignore. But Kostos is talking about the fate of mages across Thedas, and Ilias is still stuck on the fate of just one. ]
No.
[ He answers softer, not willing to concede defeat in so many words, but no longer on the cusp of a rebuttal, either. ]
Are you going to tell me if--?
[ Who else would it be? How many Tranquil are even in the Gallows? Ilias's mouth pulls, struggling to keep his emotions in check. Of all the people to have to bare this vulnerability to, it had to be Kostos, who he fully expects will elbow him right in the metaphorical ribs. But there's nothing for it now.
A hand scrubs at his face. Trying again: ]
Is it for Casimir? [ Equally important, ] Is that what he wants?
[ A flicker of something—annoyance, uncertainty, both—but Kostos nods, one answer to both questions. It’s for Casimir. He wants... ]
There is a way to undo it temporarily. We did it long enough to ask him. And afterwards, he—
[ He doesn’t want to die. ]
He’s agreed to go through with it. And there are others involved— [ as conversational in tone as he gets with anyone he doesn’t like enough to smile for, quiet but still sullen ] —so if you do interfere, someone you can’t see coming will make sure you regret it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
But it isn't exactly the right thing, either, and Kostos gives Ilias a considering look that stretches into a silence that other people might find uncomfortable, which is part of why he's developed the habit. His stare does a decent job pinning people against walls to squirm, when they're not also strange foreign mages and likely immune to thinking he's going to light them on fire and then make their bones dance for the king. He's also thinking, though. Hard, and quickly. Like Ilias is a logic puzzle to be deciphered from a sparse handful of clues.
Ilias knew Casimir; Ilias makes his own reckless decisions at least occasionally; Ilias covered for him thus far.
It's still a gamble. Kostos is too much of a pessimist, especially about Ilias, to think this is a good idea. Which has stopped him from doing things approximately never. ]
Before the rebellion, they found a way to reverse Tranquility. They say they managed it once.
[ That shouldn't be news. ]
But the Seekers murdered him— [ Not true, but there are two mages in Thedas who know that, and Kostos isn't one of them. ] —and since then—nothing. No word. No attempts. Whatever else is done with us, I would see that...
[ Ended. Him, and several other people. It's been a fairly massive undertaking, reaching as high up as to encompass two of the division heads and a handful of other people more important than he is to the Inquisition's larger cause. He'll stop taking all the credit as soon as he's sure the credit isn't coming with a dungeon cell.
In any case, he trails off, tongue slightly tied by uncertainty even if he refuses to look the least bit repentant or afraid. Killing Ilias and hiding the body isn't entirely off the table. ]
We cannot continue that way.
no subject
But the explanation is— not what he was expecting, if the careful tilt of his head is any indication. It's not that he doesn't think of Kostos as a decent person; he does, in the way he thinks more people are at some level, the way he imagines anyone who works this hard trying to save the world via a position he clearly dislikes must be, and Kostos has proven he can be counted on to put other people’s lives before his own when presented with that choice. But part of Ilias still looks at him and sees the sulky teenager vying for some Enchanter's approval.
Reversing Tranquility won’t earn anyone a pat on the head. A noose, maybe. At least Ilias doesn't look ready to tie it personally. (Imagine what could be undone—) ]
And you would see that work done here. Under the nose of a Seeker-led organization, with the Inquisition's resources, with—
[ With the Inquisition's Tranquil. He swallows, eyes going wide and still. ]
With Casimir.
no subject
He does relent in the eye contact department, at least. Victory already assured on that front. He looks back at the map. ]
People need us more than they hate us. That will only last until the war ends.
[ It needs to be done here, now, regardless of who is in charge. They can only be as much trouble as they’re worth, or they’ll risk everything, but they’re worth a lot. They can move mountains.
—he thinks about Nikos, and the multitudes in Tevinter. His jaw tightens for a second. ]
We can’t help them all now. But if we know what it means, for them to be brought back— [ a twinge of uncertainty: it may be the wrong word ] —then we will not be arguing about theories and possibilities, when we have to decide what we’re willing to live with.
[ If they live at all. Maybe Corypheus will win. Kostos flicks over a pin-flag stuck into the map—solely out of ill temper, he’ll have to put it back later. ]
Are you going to report me?
no subject
It is a sounder argument than he expected. A goal that will help them make decisions, instead of a decision already made in the seeking, and while that doesn't erase any of the dangers inherent in what he's attempting, it does make them easier to ignore. But Kostos is talking about the fate of mages across Thedas, and Ilias is still stuck on the fate of just one. ]
No.
[ He answers softer, not willing to concede defeat in so many words, but no longer on the cusp of a rebuttal, either. ]
Are you going to tell me if--?
[ Who else would it be? How many Tranquil are even in the Gallows? Ilias's mouth pulls, struggling to keep his emotions in check. Of all the people to have to bare this vulnerability to, it had to be Kostos, who he fully expects will elbow him right in the metaphorical ribs. But there's nothing for it now.
A hand scrubs at his face. Trying again: ]
Is it for Casimir? [ Equally important, ] Is that what he wants?
no subject
There is a way to undo it temporarily. We did it long enough to ask him. And afterwards, he—
[ He doesn’t want to die. ]
He’s agreed to go through with it. And there are others involved— [ as conversational in tone as he gets with anyone he doesn’t like enough to smile for, quiet but still sullen ] —so if you do interfere, someone you can’t see coming will make sure you regret it.