heaven, a gateway, a hope

[byblow]

WHO: Grey Wardens & You
WHAT: A daring and not at all ragtag group of Grey Wardens has walked all the way across Orlais to inform the Inquisition--just in case it hadn't already realized on its own--that everything is terrible.
WHEN: Harvestmere 22
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: This post has: (1) A single group "we just got here, we're freezing, who is in charge, what do you mean you haven't decided yet" starter that we'd like to keep to one chronological thread. (2) Open starters for individual Wardens set later in the day/week.

OOC Note: Regarding the first starter--threadjack away! Anyone is welcome to wander onto the scene to see what's going on and wander back out at their leisure, to fall silent for a while, etc. No tagging order. But let slower taggers get a word in edgewise!

Comments

Tavern! (Like you expected it would be anywhere else)

[easternseaqueen]

When a familiar voice asks her about her hat, Isabela has to chuckle.

"Well, this one was an unexpected bonus from raiding an Orlesian freighter that neglected to be properly guarded in port, but I do fondly recall a charming little hat shop in Kirkwall's Lowtown. I should introduce you sometime assuming it's not being beset by disaster. We could get you something with a lovely griffon motif. Wouldn't that be inspiring?" She smiles with equal parts mischief and surprising warmth and takes a drink from her half-empty mug.

"It has been entirely too long, Alistair. And you look like you've been working much too hard lately. Do you still remember how to play Wicked Grace?"

[byblow]

"Do I still--oh. I know you," Alistair says.

He should have realized sooner. Isabela is a very memorable woman, even if he only met her once, during a very trying and Blighted period of his life. He straightens up on his stool and smiles a bit more brightly.

"If I have to wait for Kirkwall to not be a disaster to have a hat, I'll never get one," he says. "I'll play you for yours."

And lose. He's neither a liar nor a cheat and he has at least a dozen tells.

[easternseaqueen]

"Oh, don't look so surprised to see me. I can't let you have all the fun without me. And as for Kirkwall, well, you sort of have to pick and choose your disasters there," she tells him with a grin.

When she handily defeats him, she laughs triumphantly.
"Ooh, better luck next time, sweetness. Care for another hand?" She picks up the cards and shuffles them lazily. "Or perhaps a drink or two?"

[byblow]

"Drink or two," Alistair says. "On me, since I don't have a hat for you to take."

Only fair. He slides away from the table and goes to get drinks from the grouchy dwarven barkeep. He doesn't have a lot of coin left, being a fugitive and all of that, but he has enough for this. When he gets back he puts both drinks in front of Isabela--winnings.

"Your Orlesian freighter—that wasn't the Broillard, was it?"

[easternseaqueen]

She grins and winks at him as she takes up one of the drinks placed in front of her. But she peers at him warily over the rim when he asks the question.

"Why do you ask? You don't seem the sort to be paying a lot of attention to Orlesian trade."

[byblow]

"Oh, I'm not," Alistair says. "I'm the sort who pays a lot of attention to stories that have llamas in them."

[easternseaqueen]

"I will have you know that none of that was my fault. That said, those llamas got exactly what they deserved," she scoffed.

She laughed.

"So, what else have you been up to aside from llama gossip?"

[byblow]

"Nothing," Alistair says.

It would be nice if this were more of an exaggeration. He hasn't been up to nothing—he's killed pockets of darkspawn here, made friends with new recruits there, led a tiny rebellion against the Warden-Commander of Orlais elsewhere. But he hasn't actually accomplished anything since the Blight, so, you know. Whatever.

"All llama gossip, all the time. There isn't much for Wardens to do between Blights. That's always been the problem."

[easternseaqueen]

"Well, that's not any fun," she scoffed, taking a drink.

She grinned.
"I suppose you could come on one of my ships sometime. That would be much more exciting."

[byblow]

"Oh-ho, one of your ships," Alistair says. "You're moving up in the world." And getting better hats. "I suppose I could. Maybe I will."

At the moment it looks more likely he'll be dead in a few months, but that's boring.

[easternseaqueen]

"Didn't anyone tell you, Alistair? I'm an admiral now. Got a fleet of my own and everything. We've always got room for people who can be useful. You like doing that sort of thing, don't you?"

Even if he is going to die, better to go out with a bang, right?