faderift | [Open] You can take the Captain out of the Gaurd....

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[Open] You can take the Captain out of the Gaurd....

WHO: Character(s) Aveline + You!
WHAT: Aveline has been "promoted" to Emissary of Kirkwall.
WHEN: Current
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: It's a PR nightmare for Kirkwall's newest ambassador. Food shortages, cold weather, and people are turning blue.

It had been all of 48 hours since she had been told she would now be an Emissary of Kirkwall instead of Captain of the Guard. To say the news hadn’t been taken well was a understatement. She was well aware that she was probably the worst choice for this sort of thing, but the point was made that she was the only choice. It didn’t do well to inspire confidence, but, there was little left to argue about after that.

They required her to attend etiquette lessons with a pompous ass who delighted in teasing her about her un-femininity so much she ended up socking him in the jaw halfway through. But, she now knew the difference between a salad fork and a dinner fork, so she counted it as a success. She was given a frilly new uniform, which immediately refused to wear and a “compromise” was eventually reached after some heated words were exchanged. She would still wear her own armor, but she would also be swathed in a half cloak with the Kirkwall crest on it, to make her easily distinguishable.

This, of course, was before everything had gone to pot. Things were a mess before, but now things had become dire. The people of Kirkwall were desperate for food, for warmth, and especially for a glimmer of hope that things would turn around somehow. The guard were on round the clock posts to try and keep the populus calm, but they could only do so much. She would never ask her guard to do anything she would not do herself, so she had parked herself in the main entrance to lowtown, hoping to calm as many as she could. She had “requisitioned” (strong armed) two carts full of blankets, and several dozen loaves of bread to pass out to the citizens until she could approach the Inquistion for aid.

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"Well, now I am having a sense that we might actually be connected of spiritual level." Bethany stated from behind Aveline, her smile curving up on the corners. She was wearing her own Warden cloak, and a small handcart with bread and knitted clothing.

She came up to Aveline, put a hand on her arm gently, before she offered out a hat to each person to go with the blankets. "Here you go, stay warm. Let us know if you need wood or more food. The Wardens, and the Inquisition is here to help as well."

If it were anyone else, it would not sound as sincere.

Once Aveline could turn to see who it was behind her, she wasted no time wrapping Bethany in a tight bear hug. It had been a long while since she had seen her, and she felt her eyes get a little misty with emotion. She clamped it down as best she could. It wouldn't do to be seen weeping in front of everyone. She was getting too soft in her old age. After a few moments, she let the smaller woman go, and put both hands on her shoulders.

"Been too long, Bethany. You look well. Are you well?"

Bethany beamed brightly, hugging back as tightly as she could. Even if it felt like she was being crushed by an actual bear. Family was, after all, family. Aveline had been so very busy lately and to have her back again? It was like coming back to a warm fire in the hearth.

"I am well, thank you. Married life continues to be a joy." She looks around, her expression softening, "And I do like the perk of being able to help with Kirkwall."

She looks over at Aveline, her gaze brightening. "How about you?"

She gave her a wry half smile as she rubbed the back of her neck. How was she? Exhausted was the word she most thought of to describe herself. Grouchy was the what everyone else would probably use. She worked from dawn to dusk to keep Kirkwall functioning, often only sleeping for a few hours before getting back to the grind. She tried her best, but the same nagging thought pulled at the back of her mind. She was not Hawke, and she never would be. She couldn't capture the hearts of the people the way Hawke did. She was too ridged, too hard headed. But, there was a short list of people she could trust with Kirkwall's safety, and it continued to get shorter.

"I am well enough. Things have been...challenging here to say the least." She said paused, wondering if she should confide in Bethany, tell her how lonely she's felt, or how scared she is for her sister. But, she thought better of it. Everyone had their challenges in life, and griping about them never made any of them go away.

"The Viscount has come to the decision that I'm to act as Kirwall's Emissary for the time being. I didn't have much say in the matter, and I'm well aware I'm a piss poor choice for it, but it's how it is and I'm determined to make the best of it."

She could see Aveline judging her answer, as she did with all things, carefully and with great consideration of her audience. One corner of her mouth lifted as she gave Aveline a wry look - she knew that wasn't everything . Sobriety followed in her brown eyes.

"... to the very least. When it rains, it pours, it seems." She sighed again, before she gave her a thoughtful look. "Well, I suppose that is excellent for Kirkwall - but I have a feeling our poor diplomatic core is going to have no idea what to do with you, Aveline. You're too straight forward for flowery politics."

She let out a sign, feeling more than a little dejected. "I fear the same, to be honest. I don't know how to do any of this, and you know I've never been one for compromise, especially in things I care passionately for. But, who else would put the needs of the citizens first? We are near breaking, and I can't allow that to happen. So I have to try."

She gazes out at the line of people, desperation and sorrow etched on all of their faces. It infuriates her as much as it moves her. She would fix this. She would make Kirkwall thrive again even if it took everything she had to do it.

"I have to succeed. Or they are all lost."

Bethany gave her a sympathetic look, giving her friend's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "Well, at least you're not going at it alone. You have friends on the inside, people who care about Kirkwall within the Inquisition."

She lets her own gaze look to those in need, and breaths in softly. "... after all, if we are all not here for the people, then what are we honestly fighting for?"

Aveline was overcome with emotion again, and did her best to hide it. She felt very much alone these past few months, but Bethany lifted her spirits more than she could ever know.

She threw her arm around her shoulders, squeezing her close. "Yes, I do as luck would have it. Enough brooding, or Fenris will likely pop around the corner for fear of being left out. You're married? What are they like? Are they good enough for you?"

Bethany laughed as Aveline pulled her into a hug, and she felt a stab of wistfulness for the old days once more. Just all of them, sitting around a table in the Hanged Man.

Another laugh escaped her, "Fenris will never let his title of Best Brooder go, you know. You'll never wrest it from his grumpy, grumpy hands." The laugh softened, into a loving smile, "He is more than good enough - you have to come to supper and finally meet him. I'm just sorry you couldn't make the wedding, but I know how busy you must be. You'll love Aleron ... he's very much like you. Strong, dependable, secretly soft under a tough shell."

She played at looking affronted at Bethany's declaration. "I'll have you know there's naught but ice water flowing through these old veins. Ask anyone." She waved her hand around to add to the point, but a small grin broke through giving her away.

"I would like to meet Aleron to see if he is really is suitable. If not, the two of us might go have a little chat outside." She dropped her hand to her sword and cocked her hip out dramatically.

"Uh huh. I believe that you are something of a bad-arse, but I know you are a sweet one at that." She beamed up at her friend, dimples deep and brown eyes bright.

A pause, thoughtful. "You should come over for dinner. With Carver, Aleron, and myself have a house."

"If I remember correctly, you have a bad-ass streak yourself. Mostly when you are angry." She smiled and gave her a nudge with her elbow.

"And you just tell me when. I'd like to catch up, and Carver can help me hold your husband down if he gets feisty."

"Well, yes. I'm a Hawke." She grins, her brown eyes flashing warmly, letting herself rock back and forth from the swat. She lets out a laugh.

"Oh, now, that will be a wrestling match."

"Between Carver's competitiveness, and my, I believe Carver once called it freakish, strength I think he'd be in trouble. But, I'd have to see him before I could come up with a plan." She crossed her arms confidently.

"Although I'm getting old. He might get a leg up on me."

"He likes strategies." She smiled softly, before she gave out another laugh, and then went to give her another hug. "You are never that old. You are immortal, we all know it.

She scoffed at her comment, and rubbed her hand on her neck again. "Immortal. Ha! Tell that to my body every morning. I creak like a old oak tree." She leaned back and popped her back for dramatic effect.

Years of fighting and abuse had taken their toll on her, it was true. She was covered in scars and bruises, and she was sure she must look like a fright. Not that there was anyone looking at her anymore. She had pretty much written that off as a possibility. But she had her work, and she was content. She knew a time would come for her to slow down, but it was always a distant thing. Too much to do, to many people depended on her.

"Well if you are creaking like an old tree -- then I am not going to look forward to how I am sounding in a year or so." Her dimples flashed again, and she bumped her hip against Aveline's.

She tilted her head to the side, looking at the people coming towards her, and her voice quieted a little. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Another pause, before she smiled again, "So aren't we glad that half the band is back together?"

She chuckled, and then let out a sigh. "Immensely glad. I have missed you all more than I should admit. It warms my cold heart to see you again."

She looked out at the people in front of her too. She wrestled with just one question now, afraid of the answer, but desperate to know all the same.

"Have...have you heard anything about your sister?" She didn't want to get hopeful. She couldn't afford to. But maybe she knew something. Anything.

"See, I knew inside that cold heart was the warm ember of friendship and love." She beamed at Aveline, but that smile fell away at Aveline's question. She inhaled, and then exhaled.

"I'll answer that question with a question. How do you feel about going back to where our red lyrium problems all started?"

She doesn't hesitate. "I will claw my way through every sodding darkspawn in the Deep Roads to get her back if I have to. Is that where she has been?"

Her gut twisted at the thought of Hawke being trapped down there. She looked at Bethany, wondering why they hadn't done so themselves. She knew what Hawke meant to them, what she meant to all of their group. They wouldn't stand by and let her say there would they? No, she couldn't believe that. If there was a way to get Hawke out, they would have found one.

"What has happened, Bethany?"

"I think so. Or she was captured on the way." Bethany set her chin, her dark eyes flashing as she looked up at Aveline, "I don't know, Aveline. I swear by the Maker, though, if they've hurt my sister I will rip them apart with my bare hands. They won't have to worry about my magic. They'll just have to worry about a very, very upset baby sister."

Now her concern skyrocketed. Panic and grief gnawed at her gut, and she started pacing a bit.

"They? Who are they? What do they want with her? I can go to the Viscount now and demand that they get us forces enough to go after her. They owe her that much. We can be gone in days if you know where she is."

Bethany's lips pressed together, as she looked back at the people starting to gather again. She didn't want to start a panic, letting people believe that something horrible had happened to Marian. So she snagged Aveline's hand.

"Come by for dinner. We'll talk about it then. Just not here."

She grumbled, but if she didn't feel she could say anything here, than perhaps it would be better to wait.

"Alright." She sighed and ran a hand over her face. "I-I'm sorry. It's been a long while since I knew... well anything. We'll talk at dinner then, and I'll get to meet this man of yours. Just tell me when and where, and I'll be sure to be there."

"We live in the small villa just off of the marketplace, down the steps. It's ... modestly opulent for Hightown." She gave her friend a warm, understanding smile, "I know. I get it. I do. But ... we don't want to make people lose hope. Hope is the best thing we've got going."

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[Open] You can take the Captain out of the Gaurd....

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