"Nerissa would have a fit if she were here." If Nerissa were here Araceli's work would be easier because someone else who thinks like here would be doing it with her and the smile hurts. Eighteen months then Kirkwall dredges up the familiar aches she thought she'd put to bed.

A strangled noise escapes her, stifled not quick enough because when she hasn't had nearly enough sleep and even her dreams are plagued with all the things she'd been doing, will be doing, is yet to do, it's not as if she's sleeping well. "Hopefully the entire city hasn't heard that repeated by everyone going about their business, it will do so much to endear us to our new neighbours given some of the members of the Inquisition already present and yet to arrive." Everyone with horns for a start. Then the not inconsiderable matter of Anders that might reignite a matter if not put to bed then at least placated many months ago. Then the general mage population and the Templars too.

Rifters, well, that's not her concern now but what one does reflects on them all and her stomach lurches sometimes just thinking about it--

So it's not Alan's fault.

"There are ways to tell them without making them so angry. And them getting angry can be useful, in its own way." There's an air of resignation in the last part, mouth twisting in a tired attempt at a smile. (She should have put money down on how many times she'd be shouted at in a day, at least she'd get something real and useful in the here and now out of it.)