[semi-open] a friendly query

[stabsbooks]

WHO: Cassandra and rifters/shardbearers
WHAT: Rifter interrogations
WHEN: Following Cassandra's log with Galadriel and the advisors' conversation
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: For planned rifter/shardbearer interrogation threads with Cassandra! If we haven't discussed your character's thread, please drop me a note here or hit me up on Plurk for general (this can be very general) setup/discussion of what you hope the outcome to be. She'll be most interested in talking to rifter mages, but we can swing her interrogating anyone with a shard.

With or without your support, she had said to the Spymaster, and she had meant it. She would have preferred that Leliana understand her position, the necessity of action - but she does not, and dwelling on it will do nothing to change that now. Whether anyone else sees it or not, Cassandra at least recognizes the risk that the shardbearers pose. If nothing else, they must understand who the rifters are, what they are capable of - and what they may do.

There are still plenty who agree with her, who are not as idealistic in this matter as Leliana, and it's not difficult to find soldiers willing to find those of interest and bring them to her, one at a time. She waits until each is seated before she turns to face them, and always begins the same way, whether she recognizes them or not.

"I am Cassandra Pentaghast, and I represent the Inquisition. State your name, and where you come from."

Comments

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra makes no indication of amusement, or indeed, any indication that she had caught the joke at all. Instead, she nods slowly.

"I see," she says. "It is a difficult thing, to find oneself suddenly in such an unfamiliar place."

Going from Nevarra to Orlais is no comparison from falling through a rift into another world, but she still remembers how it had felt - how new and terrifying everything had been, especially at first. She's not entirely without sympathy.

[eviscerates]

Thankfully, years of making Regina coffee had taught her the art of bouncing back from a tough crowd.

"Yeah, exactly." A moment of pause, considering her options, before Ruby gathers herself to speak again. "So, are we cool? I'll step up to help in more missions and tasks that aren't serving drinks?"

She wonders, momentarily, if she should tell Cassandra about the Wolf, and the thought makes her stomach twist unhappily.

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra's brow furrows in brief confusion.

"I am quite warm," she assures Ruby. Not that that...has anything to do with anything. "But..." She hesitates. A barmaid. The Inquisition needs all the help they can get, that is true, but she is not in the business of supplying catapult fodder to Cullen's army. "I would not have you put yourself at unnecessary risk, or attempt things you have not been trained for."

She quirks the corner of her lips up. It's not quite a smile. "Serving drinks in the tavern may prove equally important."

[eviscerates]

"No, it's--" is it worth explaining? Too late, apparently. "Sorry, it's an expression from the world without magic. If something's cool then it means that it's fine. Or good. Or it can be used to say something's really good, if you're feeling generous."

And despite herself, Red grins a little. "I was the best archer in my village when I was sixteen, and that was before I got involved in scouting and fighting for the war. I might not be formally trained, but I can hold my own. Working in the tavern is just... comfortable, you know? Familiar."

[stabsbooks]

"I...see."

She doesn't, really. But she has learned what is worth pursing when questioning the Rifters, and what is not. The nuances of local expressions are not worth her time.

Instead, she raises an interested eyebrow at Ruby's explanation of her skills. "That is good to know," she says, and smiles, nodding. "And I understand. It is good to have some...stability. Something that is always the same."

[eviscerates]

"Exactly. I'm not adverse to adventure, but a girl likes a little stability from time to time. But, like I said, if you need a scout-on-hand, I'm happy to help."

For a moment Ruby almost drums her fingers on the table, though truthfully she's not quite that relaxed, not that at ease.

"Do you... can I help with anything else?" Or can she go frolick free down the mountainside, or something.

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra hesitates, thinking. Then she shakes her head. To all appearances, Ruby is a perfectly normal young woman, the strangeness of her world aside. Yet even Thedas must seem strange to those who have come from elsewhere. It is hardly a reason to condemn her.

In any case, she is certainly not a threat of any kind. Cassandra shakes her head.

"The Inquisition will welcome your help, in whatever capacity you choose to give it," she says. "You may go."

[eviscerates]

Oh, thank God. Ruby rises from her chair, relieved, and extends a hand to Cassandra to shake.

"It was good to meet you." Aside from the 'apprehended by guards' part. And the lying about being a normal young woman part.

Regardless of whether or not Cassandra accepts her hand to shake, Ruby offers her a respectful nod, exiting with her cloak draped over her arm and friendly smile to the guard.