Redblossom Special,

a.k.a. Chapter 10.5 (for bedandbreakfast)

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~This story takes place between chapters 10 and 11 of Silver Blue. If you haven't read them, you can still follow this one-shot, which takes place after Carver has become a Grey Warden and left Kirkwall, and during Sebastian's personal quest, Repentance.

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"Andraste's Flaming Heart!" The phrase escaped Sebastian's lips before he could process whether he was praying, invoking the name of the Holy Bride, or simply reverting to those years in which he'd sworn more often than not. "You made me carry this… this… wicked thing all the way here and you knew what it was?" To his dismay, even Fenris chuckled. He blushed to the tip of his ears and pressed his lips together. "I do not find it amusing."

Varric laughed. "Now, Choir Boy, relax… It's just a little joke. Besides, it's just an object. Not that it's made you sin or anything."

"But this salve… It's to treat-"

"The most wonderful kind of rash," Isabela purred, mortifying Sebastian even more.

"Maker…" the Brother muttered, pacing uncomfortably.

"Enough, Isabela," Fenris droned. "You too, Varric. You've had your fun." He bore no love for Sebastian since he'd insinuated his intentions of marrying Irina, but he thought that sometimes the dwarf and the pirate went too far. They wouldn't have dared tease Aveline that way, though, so they weren't completely irrational.

But Sebastian was different. Either because his clothes were immaculate or his demeanor was always holier-than-thou, the archer had never been truly integrated to the group. Once Carver was gone, he rarely spent time with them. But now he needed some help, and since it was a personal matter, Aveline had referred him to Varric and the others, much to his disappointment.

However, Varric and Isabela had found a way to justify their help, and they'd made him carry the jar of Red Blossom Special that they'd retrieved from the Wounded Coast all the way to Darktown.

"Take care, Dalian!" Isabela waved goodbye as Varric pocketed the coins.

"You know that man personally?" Sebastian couldn't seem to keep his tongue still. It was no business of his if the pirate knew the owner of the tincture.

"He sometimes works for Seneschal Bran," she shrugged. "I bet the Redblossom was for him."

"You mean… But… Seneschal Bran is… Why would he need…?"

"Do you really want to know?" Fenris muttered, almost amused.

Sebastian sighed.

"So you want us to accompany you to the Harimanns'," Varric mused. "Did you know that Hawke gave Lord Harimann a reprieve? A couple of years ago, if I remember correctly."

"I didn't know," Sebastian replied. "Lord Harimann's ship capsized last year, possibly while he was sailing the Amaranthine. He was on his way to Denerim, but he never made it. That's when his daughter, Lady Johane, took over the family." He rubbed his neck uncomfortably. It was evident that the last heir of the Vael clan was having trouble asking for help.

Varric did his best to hide an incipient smirk. "Very well," he conceded. "If you lead the way, I'll give you a hand with that. After all, that's what Carver would do."

Sebastian regaled him with one of his rare smiles. "I was wondering… Perhaps Irina could come along?"

Varric was momentarily dumbstruck. "The Princess?" he asked eventually. "Why would you need her there?"

"Perhaps we could make Lady Harimann believe that we want to negotiate…" But the words met Varric's raised hand. The dwarf squinted.

"Oh… Oh, I see. You think that we're going to trick you, don't you? You know that we won't attempt anything foolish if Irina is there. Is this still about the Red Blossom Special?" Sebastian's blushed cheeks told him everything he needed to know. He sighed. "Messere, you wound me. We are professionals. When a job needs to get done, who else are you gonna call?"

Isabela snuck quietly down the steps to the pantry, where the noise was coming from. She signaled her companions to follow her when she saw only one woman.

"That's Flora Harimann," Sebastian murmured as he stood straight. "She's always been a reasonable young lady; when I first met you," he told Irina with a smile, "you reminded me so much of her." He saw Fenris standing behind the mage. He looked a little jealous, and even though he knew that taking pleasure in such petty thoughts was no humble action, Sebastian felt that reminding Fenris of his place was the right thing to do. "We should talk to her. Milady Harimann. Flora!" he called out.

But the young lady was mumbling to herself as she patted a wine cask. "Come ooon!" she groaned in frustration. "I know you have more of that grape juice in there. Don't be selfish!" She knelt down and placed her lips around the end of the tap, licking a few drops with gusto.

"Oh, wow… Is that what I look like after drinking all night long?" Isabela asked, amused.

"I never thought I'd say this," Varric replied, "but you ooze dignity in comparison."

"Speaking of which," Fenris smirked, "weren't you just comparing Irina to this lady, Sebastian?"

"I certainly hope you don't see me that way," the mage murmured.

"No!" Sebastian shook his head emphatically. "There's… It's a mistake. This cannot be. Flora!" he called out again.

But the young Lady Harimann kept banging her fists against the barrel. "Why are you so meeean… Just… Just gimme more… I need it!"

"Ooh, things are steaming up," Varric chuckled.

"I have no idea what is going on…" Sebastian murmured. "It's like she cannot hear m-"

"I need to drink… How else am I s'pposed-" she started hiccupping, "to marry that brute Goran? I ca- I can't do it sssober! But if it'd been Seb-Sebassstian… Oh, that man… Those eyes… And that sleek hair…" Her hand cupped her own breasts as she rubbed her body against the wine cask.

Irina gaped at the young woman with wide eyes. Isabela and Varric snorted, and to Sebastian's embarrassment, even Fenris let out a chuckle.

"Let's just get out of here!" Sebastian shouted, pushing his companions up the stairs. He was starting to regret his decision to bring Irina along.

"Calm down, Sebastian," Irina said, patting his arm gently. "You had no idea-"

"Besides, it was not so terrible," Isabela reassured him. "It's perfectly normal for young ladies to have bodily urges…" She inconspicuously eyed Irina, whose face became flushed. "And creating a fantasy for their alone time is the easiest way to 'praise the Maker', if you know what I mean…"

Fenris coughed uncomfortably. "Perhaps we should move on."

"Right," Sebastian sighed. He heard some noises coming from one of the back rooms. He signaled his companions to follow him. "That has to be Ruxton Harimann's study. Of course! He's a pious man. Something must have happened to him – he wouldn't have let his daughter descend into that state of… Of…" His hand was on the doorknob, but he had paralyzed.

Those sounds… He knew them well…

"Sebastian, are you alright?" Irina asked, concerned. She looked at the others and shrugged.

"What is going on?" Fenris said as he moved closer to the door.

As soon as his ears caught the lustful moaning coming from the room, he turned crimson. "We should stay away from here."

"Oh, for fuck's sake, what is the matter?" Isabela asked, annoyed. She kicked open the door and barged into the room, Varric and Irina trailing behind her. "Oh! OH!"

Varric snortgiggled. "If that is pious, then I'll attend the Chantry sermons more often!"

"Irina, please!" Sebastian said, covering the eyes of the mage. "I swear, this man is a complete prude!"

"My kind of prude!" Isabela muttered, fascinated.

"Would you kindly get your hands off her?" Fenris hissed at Sebastian.

"My hands were being decent!" the archer replied, offended.

"Unlike those of your friend, it seems!" the warrior quipped, grabbing the mage from the arm and leading her out of the room.

"But I didn't see… much!" she protested.

"Well then, much better!" Fenris grumbled. "You don't need to get any more ideas," he murmured. In spite of himself, he found it amusing that she seemed so curious about physical questions. Of course she was – the last time they'd parted, things between them had been almost too hot to handle. He no longer saw her as an innocent young woman, but he refused to expose her to unnecessary depravity. He'd seen more than his fair share back in Tevinter, and he thought that she didn't need to be spoiled. He liked her just as she was, simple and pure, with honest eyes that were watching him with a hint of desire. Actually, it was more than just a hint.

Wait, what?

"Elf!" Varric snapped his fingers in front of Fenris's eyes. "You might want to get a room before doing anything. Just saying…"

"What are you talking about?" the elf frowned, noticing that Irina was clearing her throat and adjusting her hair underneath her cowl.

"The way you two are looking at each other… It's a good thing that Sebastian is not here. He wouldn't like you toying with his bride…"

"You must mean that Andraste figure on his crotch," Fenris replied angrily, "because Irina's not his bride, and where is he?"

Sebastian came out of the room, huffing and dragging Isabela behind him. "Wait! Just… Let me see! She was just about to use the feather!" the pirate whined.

"A feather? What for?" Irina asked, intrigued.

"Oh, for the love of Andraste," Sebastian whimpered, "can't we just move on?"

He was glowering. Nobody had seen him this angry before. As he stomped along the corridors, they heard the voice of a man shouting, "Release her!"

"Finally!" Sebastian sighed, relieved. "Brett Harimann's in there. He was always the voice of reason!" He opened the door. "Brett!"

"Can't you see we need to melt those locks as well?" young Master Harimann was scolding his manservant. "How else are we going to turn her into a statue? You'll be so beautiful, my dear…" he cooed.

Letting out a howl of frustration, Sebastian ran towards Brett Harimann and punched him square on the jaw. The young man, however, did not seem to notice, so he punched him again.

Varric and the others watched his companion shake the Harimann boy by the shoulders, and all the while Brett was shouting, "More locks! More locks!" They quietly slipped outside and waited.

When it was finally over, Sebastian came out of the room, passed his fingers through his hair, and quietly told them, "Let's go find Lady Harimann, please."

"I am grateful for your assistance," Sebastian said to Varric a few days later, as they walked across the Gallows yard. "Even though Lady Harimann's actions were beyond questionable, her claims were never considered seriously. It'll take some time, but I might be able to reclaim my rightful place after all."

"Good to hear that," Isabela smiled.

"Why are we here?" Sebastian asked, watching the people shopping for magical wares.

"Oh, I thought that since we're planning to spend more time together, you could meet Solivitus," Varric explained. "He's sometimes in need of precious supplies, and there's good coin for it if you want to do some charity."

"Sounds interesting," the archer smiled.

"Sol!" Varric grinned, shaking the merchant's hand. "This is Sebastian. He'll be helping us on our next trip. You can talk to him and give him all the details."

"Ah, new friends! Always so good to meet new people, eager to work," the man said. "Now, the first item is a harlot's blush-"

"Oh, for-!"

Sebastian turned on his heels and walked away.

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