[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

[obi_wanmanshow]

If Obi-Wan senses her caution, he only sees her confusion, and her curiosity. An opportunity for education? Fantastic.

"Well, typically there is a certain amount of discussion, or arguing, as the case may be, and then the issue is put to an appropriate vote or, if necessary, relegated to a relevant committee," Democracy is a complicated creature, and never moreso when you are dealing with dozens of species' interest spread over hundreds of planets, most of which are engaged in open war, "It's a government, made of people: they will argue, inevitably. They wouldn't wish to be leaders, if they weren't passionate about what they do."

[stabsbooks]

"Indeed," Cassandra says dryly. Arguing, yes, she is intimately familiar with. It is difficult to see, however, where anyone wishing to be a leader has anything to do with it. In her experience, leadership is not something pursued so much as thrust upon people whether they want it or not.

Herself included.

He had not answered her question, though, at least not to any sort of satisfaction. Does he truly believe that the galaxy responds to him? Perhaps this Jedi Order, this Republic, is a part of some...some cult, like the one in the Winterwatch Tower in the Hinterlands. Such things are not unheard of.

Still, he could do worse than shouting at the sky. Certainly she sees no harm in it, though she does feel a spot of pity for the man.

"If...it makes you happy," she says doubtfully. "But what will you do here, in the absence of your Republic?"

[obi_wanmanshow]

"If what makes me happy, Seeker? Arguing on the senate floor with obstinate representatives? Certainly not," Very little about even the crudest act of governance is about making the people that are participating in it happy. This particular interview included, "Didn't you say you were the... self-appointed leader of this Inquisition, to some degree? Does it make you happy?"

Of course it doesn't. Looking at Cassandra, it doesn't take a Jedi to tell that happiness, whatever the cause, has been elusive for her. Obi-Wan folds his arms again, puzzled and, somewhat annoyed.

"In the absence of the Republic, I will do what Jedi have always done when isolated-- I will observe without interfering, when I can. When, and if, I feel I should act, I will do so as a representative of the Jedi as a whole," He gestured with one hand, palm-up, and expansive gesture as if encircling a large population, "On many worlds, a Jedi will work alone, meeting people who may never have met our like before-- how I conduct myself will forever color their perception of the Order, and all Jedi who come after me will have to deal with the consequences of my actions. Thedas is no different than others in that regard."

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra's brow dips down, and she frowns. Self-appointed leader sits poorly with her, though she cannot quite find the words to rebuke him, and the pointed question about her own happiness...

It is irrelevant, entirely. And none of his concern, in any case. She does not have the time or the luxury to worry about being happy, not when there is so much to do - and what does he know of her, anyway?

Unsettled, and uable to find a suitable response, she chooses to ignore the question entirely, and move on. This Obi-wan is still a mystery. Perhaps he is mad. And he asks too many questions. But, she thinks, for all that, he does not seem dangerous.

"An ambassador, then?" she guesses. "Or a spy?" There are open spies, after all; simply because he acknowledges it he is does not change what he may be. "What sort of impression do you hope to make, on behalf of your Order?"

[obi_wanmanshow]

"An accurate one," His reply is succinct, tossed out without missing a beat, the ends of the consonants bitten off with clear intent; this is an answer he has given before, "Everyone is an ambassador for their cause, in some way, Seeker. As you yourself are, of the Inquisition's leadership."

He left the question deliberately unasked, but it hung between them like a beam of sunlight, scattering dust motes into brilliant points of light. What impression did she hope to make, on behalf of her people?

"I am neither, by choice. Even if I were, I didn't choose to come here either. Why must you assume hostility?"

[stabsbooks]

Cassandra doesn't take the bait. She's never bothered to worry very much about her reputation, preferring to let her work speak for itself. She is not good at diplomacy, at people, and she knows it. So why try, when people like Josephine are so much better equipped?

"I assume nothing," she snaps back. "That is the point. I did not know where you came from or what you might do. Why do you think I called you here?"