There are nine thousand tales in the City of Chains...

[tallishtales.livejournal.com]

But I'll wager not one of them is quite like mine. And now, here I am in a whole new city of stories, all of them just piled up and waiting to be told, and nobody with any real flair to tell them until now.

So! Fellow refugees of narrative! Let me know why your story needs to be told. I'll make you famous. Immortal, you could say. And my rates are very reasonable. You can find me any evening down at the Nancing Phony (and never was an inn better named), and assuming you're properly heroic, we should be able to work out a distribution deal pretty painlessly.  Varric Tethras, at your service.

Comments

[chronosexual]

Exactly. I figure that if I have a reputation preceding me, there might be people out there who don't exactly like me. I wouldn't like running into them when I'm having a good time.

[tallishtales.livejournal.com]

Still, if I were you I wouldn't rule it out just yet. Let's say I just use your name, no descriptions. You seem like an imaginative fellow. Imagine the looks on the faces of the single ladies at the bar when you introduce yourself.

[chronosexual]

Oh I don't have to imagine. Makes for a fabulous pick-up line.

[tallishtales.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you've already got a story, then. Tell you what, I'll give you the same deal I gave that other fellow: come on down to the bar, first round is on me. Give me a rough outline of your story, and afterward we can talk about our options.

[chronosexual]

Sounds like a good deal. Captain Jack Harkness, by the way.

[tallishtales.livejournal.com]

Oho, a Captain! Captains are good. Everyone loves a man in uniform.

[chronosexual]

Well maybe not everyone, but it does seem to be more popular than not.

[tallishtales.livejournal.com]

It's a good beginning, at any rate. So tell me, Captain Harkness: what exactly is it you're a captain of?

[chronosexual]

Used to be a volunteer regiment in a war. To be honest, wasn't a rank I really earned. Closer to picking up a torch from a fallen runner, really.

[tallishtales.livejournal.com]

Hm. That's good. That's quite good.

Would you say that's where the story starts? Or is there something earlier?

[chronosexual]

Oh there's lots before and plenty after. Daring, adventure, trails of broken hearts, and lots of waiting.

[tallishtales.livejournal.com]

Well. That sounds like it a story that deserves to be shared. Maybe not the bits about the waiting, unless there's some pining involved as well. And I understand your concerns that being too can be more burden than blessing. Still, I think we could probably reach an accommodation...

[chronosexual]

There's no use in waiting if you're not waiting for something. Or someone.

What did you have in mind?

[tallishtales.livejournal.com]

How does 'free drinks for as long as the tale lasts' sound to you? I can leave your name in it or take it out as you like, and all I ask is two conditions. First, that you don't sell your story to any of my competitors, if any such sad souls show up about town. Second, if any business ventures or other windfalls come your way because somebody was impressed by my story, I get a cut. Let's say, twenty percent?

[chronosexual]

Oh ho. A business man. I see how it is.

That sounds fair. I hope you've got some coin, friend. My story likes to hop around time.

[tallishtales.livejournal.com]

Hm. Since the local merchants won't take honest silver, we may have to do this a little at a time. On the other hand, time is a commodity I expect to have plenty of.

[chronosexual]

You and me both, friend. And I look forward to spending some of it with you.