faderift | every fire is a lesson learned.

Leliana smiles at the question, but it is not a mirthful thing. "Freeing those who need to be freed. Capturing those who had condemned them to suffer. The details of it are not for disclosure just yet; there is more I would like to know, before we take that step, and I would have one of my lead scouts assess your aptitude with your preferred weapon, to ensure we are not putting you in danger by sending you into the field."

And to ensure that others would not be put in dangers, as well. "However, the mission would involve a number of very seasoned agents, and I am anxious that we not waste the potential of rifters within our ranks simply for their being unknown to us, and our world to them."

She nods towards her desk, in a silent invitation to sit. "Will you tell me a little about yourself?"

Ariadne never took her big, gray eyes off of Leliana, even as she made her way to the chair and neatly sat down, her legs dangling an inch or so over the floor.

When it came to freeing those who needed to be freed...well. Ariadne could think of no higher calling. Evidently, Cole had been telling her the truth when he said that she would like Leliana. Not that she'd doubted Cole's word, exactly. But she still didn't entirely understand him. Or this world.

This was a step in the right direction, though. She was sure of it now.

"What would you like to know?" she asked, giving Leliana free rein to steer the conversation. It was always easier that way.

Settling into her own seat, Leliana takes measure of Ariadne's movements - how she holds herself, the play of her voice, little things that all build into a whole, the brushstrokes upon a canvas that a bard can often see where others cannot.

"What has raised your interest in my work? Both here, and at home; I cannot imagine it is a matter of whimsy." A beat, and then, "Relevant experience, or... those parts of your history that are relevant, at least."

What would you like to know? In an ideal world she would know all and pick people and things and scenarios apart, but alas. That was never possible, no matter what a person told. There was always the unknown, those secrets and truths that even an honest soul could not reveal of themselves.

With a bit of a frown, Ariadne started to twist the end of her braid around the tip of her finger, until the flesh started to turn white. She would never get used to her skin, but she was starting to study its nuisances. It seemed she would be in it for awhile.

"There isn't much room for whimsy back home," she said, turning to look up again. "There's a warlord--he calls himself the Red Dragon--systematically conquering the entire known realm. If you're not part of the effort to stop him, you might as well be dead."

She shrugged, letting go of her braid and tossing it behind her shoulder. "My aunt is a high-ranking official of the resistance. She started training me for certain tasks when I was ten."

"That does not sound entirely dissimilar to our own situation." The name makes just the faintest flicker of a frown pinch her brows - dragons, again. There were questions she would ask of Ariadne regarding it, if he has ties to dragons or magic, but that might have to wait for another time. Better not to veer off course now.

"Although it cannot have been easy to start your training so young." Concerning, in fact, that before her is another whose childhood was warped by her world and the training pressed on her. It seemed far too common a tale for her liking, for what the worlds should be. "What disciplines?"

"Scouting," Ariadne said. It had barely been a discipline though. Given the heightened senses that came with being Alastrian. "And I can use a sling." She made a vague gesture, mimicking the way she twirled it.

Then came a moment of hesitation...

"And...I'm also very good at...finding things...that people want. And...taking them. From the people that have them."

Leliana muses on that for a moment. "Your skills do not sound so different from those that rogues are sometimes versed in. All rogues have different skills and talents, of course, just as any warrior or mage, but work of... locating and relocating items does require a measure of stealth that not all have the inclination towards."

Calm, understanding - she understands the caution. "In my training as a bard I was an expert in sabotage and spy work. The finding of documents or the planting of items were both considered very necessary. A sling, however... a rather unusual weapon, that. Do you have any interest in archery? Bladework?"

Edited 2016-05-07 20:04 (UTC)

She was grateful that Leliana didn't call her a thief. She was tired of always having to correct people on that score. Thieves had bad intentions.

Ariadne never did.

"I know how to use a bow," she said. Her skills were...middling to good, she supposed. But she didn't like the weapon. Not at all. She didn't like its potential to kill. Of course, all weapons had the potential to kill. But her sling generally proved less lethal. "I've never had any training with any kind of blade, though. Never needed it."

"This mission will need people with an aptitude for getting hold of items," she starts. "And there will others there more than capable of assisting with combat, and with more searching for documents that might aid us. However,"

And this is important, so she pauses, makes sure Ariadne realises she is serious as she leans forward, "if you decide after this mission that you would like to commit yourself to a position as a scout, then I would advise some familiarity with blades, if only to better defend yourself against them."

Ariadne bit her lips together for a moment. She had a means for defending herself against blades, but she wasn't sure she was ready to share. Not just yet. Not until she had a better sense of what, exactly, she was getting herself into.

So, after a few seconds of consideration, she nodded slightly.

"I want to help," she said. "And if I can prove my worth to you, I would like that very much."

A nod, at that.

"Several very experienced agents are participating in this mission, The Iron Bull and Zevran amongst them. I will ask them to assess you performance and aptitude, and I trust that you will go to them if you find yourself in need of aid on this mission. I will also be contactable via crystal."

Leliana stops a moment, assessing Ariadne, watching her expression, her motions, her posture - all the small things that create the score a person, that tell Leliana as much as sheet music might tell her of a song.

"I protect my people fiercely. Those who betray me or the Inquisition are looked upon far less favourably."

She nodded slightly. Iron Bull, at least, she'd met. And she was reasonably sure she could pick out Zevran in a line-up. She'd started long-ago acquainting herself with all of the regular smells of the regular people in this place.

"Cole told me..."

She stopped. Then started again.

"I'm very particular about the people I work for," she said carefully. "There are a lot of things I stand for and believe in. And Cole told me that you were a good person. I don't betray goodness."

Goodness.
Oh, but that was complex. Leliana fought for what she believed was good and right - freedom, equality. Her methods were based in tactics and necessity, not goodness. Her methods spoke to her, and her causes spoke to what was better for the world. Leliana was not so selfish, not so naive, to think that she should ever be able to enjoy that goodness. She would stay in the shadows, and by entrenching herself so she could ensure as few others as possible had to stray to those same miserable depths.

"It is wise to be particular, in such a line of work as this. Do you have any questions you would ask of me?" Whether she will answer is another matter, but taking someone else's word seems dangerous, even if it is Cole's. Especially, perhaps, because Cole speaks a language of his own that is so difficult to decipher at times.

"Yes," Ariadne replied. She had a great deal of questions, actually. "But I think it would be better to wait until after I decide to sign on with you." There was, after all, the possibility that she wouldn't prove her mettle. Or that she wouldn't want to sign up.

But the probabilities for both seemed slim. Better to save the questions, then, for after she had a measure of credibility.

"For now, I guess I'll just ask what I need to bring. I don't have much."

"Very well." A fair enough trade, Leliana's agents able to assess and offer feedback, and Ariadne able to ask questions.

Before she answers the question, Leliana holds out a small scroll of parchment for Ariadne. "This is confidential." Nothing that would endanger the mission should it be shared or fall into the wrong hands, but enough to give Ariadne an idea of some of the mission's nuances. In it was writing outlining information on the Orlesian and the the Merchant Prince. "For your eyes only, understand? Familiarise yourself with the contents and then burn it to ashes. As for what you must bring, I would recommend limiting yourself only to what you can carry and what is necessary. Simple clothes are best - the arrival in Antiva will be under the guise of a group of pirates. Bedding and food will be provided in Antiva, and some on the journey. If you are a hungry sort, I recommend taking rations with you, unless you can fish or hunt before you reach the boat."

Ariadne took the scroll, immediately unrolling it and reading it right then and there. Her gray eyes flicked back and forth rapidly, before narrowing in disgust. "Slaves," she muttered under her breath, with obvious distaste. It was a practice that still persisted back home. One she didn't like at all.

And not just because her people were more likely than others to wind up as slaves.

She read all the way to the bottom before rolling up the paper again. When she looked up at Leliana, there was a new fire in her eyes. Because Cole had been right. This was definitely a worthy fight.

There was new respect for Leliana.

"Simple I can do," she said, the corner of her lip quirking. "Surprisingly believably." Which implied not only her clothing, but her very countenance. Looks could deceive when it came to her.

"Their safety is paramount. Once they are freed, I have people in Antiva who can begin the process of seeing them back to their homes, or somewhere else, should they have wish of it. Some may wish to return to Skyhold, but they are free to decide for themselves. My concern lies in ensuring they do not fall prey to others that would take advantage of their vulnerability, and finding out what Oleastro intended to do with them. The more information we can gather from his estate, the more we will learn."

The people of the Venatori are not, she has discovered, terribly forthcoming when it comes to interrogation. He may be different, of course, he is not a Venatori himself, but his ties to them rile her.

"That is good to hear. Being able to camoflage yourself in such a way is invaluable." She does not smile, she rarely does that any more, but there is approval in the quirk of her mouth. "If you meet with Maguerite in the courtyard she will do an assessment of your skills and see that you have any equipment that you might need, if that is all?"

There is a scout lurking in her periphery with what looks like a scroll, but she keeps her focus trained on Ariadne.

Ariadne rose to her feet in one graceful sweep. She gave Leliana a small curtsy. Not too deep, but entirely respectful.

"I thank you for this opportunity, my lady," she said. "And I will not fail you."

Said with absolute certainty.

Ariadne didn't fail.

"Thank you for agreeing to the mission." She does not question the certainty - it shows promise, conviction, if nothing else. Sometimes that is the thing needed most.

A nod to Ariadne, and she turns her attention to the lurking scout. All would progress well. It must.

every fire is a lesson learned.

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