she took me back and stitched me up

[fightingale]

WHO: Sister Nightingale, Scout Harding & Knight Captain Hill; possible appearances from Araceli, Lara, Hermione, Beleth, Kitty & Clarke?
WHAT: After following different sets of clues, a few intrepid detectives present the information to the Nightingale.
WHEN: After the soiree; backdated soorrryyyy
WHERE: a chamber off leliana's private quarters that i just made up and that totally exists ahem
NOTES:
Feel free to set up individual starters and I'll hop in. The post itself is a generic starter for Leliana, but I want to keep this flexible as possible for everyone and not pile too much on folks, so feel free to get in touch with me ooc if you'd like to figure out something specific or handwave :]b

There are very few places to pursue a Spymaster when she is not in her Rookery. For those willing to seek her out even in the hours after the soiree, and perhaps even a little earlier if it were possible for her to escape any earlier without undermining the very purpose of the party, Leliana can be found in a chamber that precedes her own private quarters. It is sparsely decorated. There is only a table, a few chairs, and depending when someone arrives they may find her Lead Scout and the Knight Captain present, as well. On the table sits a deck of cards, and a few glasses - water only, of course. Sharp minds over blurred wits.

Leliana has shed the beautiful dress that made up her apparel for the evening, and is back in the uniform of the Nightingale, cowled and covered, and she waits. The nature of the arrival will tell her something, as well, and one of her agents stands outside the closed door, waiting to address those who would approach and enter.

Comments

[arlathvhen]

"The Dalish share knowledge through their storytellers," Beleth murmurs, focusing on the hands laid in her lap. "People think that such a knowledge must be warped, since it has been told through so many mouths. But we take pride in making sure to tell the tales exactly how we were told. Every ten years, when we meet with the other clans, we compare our knowledge. We make sure nothing has diverged." Her eyes flick up to Leliana, scanning her face to see her judgement. "But I understand the benefits of writing down what you know. It stands to reason, as long as the book is written by a person, that the book will be through the slant of that person."

And Leliana's suggestion, Beleth nods. "I think I would like that. Knowing more history won't just be good for missions. If I want to be better at speaking to people outside the Dalish, having a firmer base of shared knowledge would help endear me to them, if I'm trying to get on their good side. Which reminds me--" She presses her lips together, hesitating. "--I didn't need it on this mission, but I know that another thing I have trouble with. Ah. Flirting." It's hard to even say, and her lips thin into a thin line. "I know it's necessary, sometimes. I can be friendly. I can be cute, adorable, I can make people like me and want to protect me, think that I am harmless. But getting beyond friendly? It's something I struggle with, unless people like someone awkwardly faffing about like an idiot."

She pauses, and glances at Leliana. She's trying to be as professional about this as possible, but it's odd to talk about it with someone like her. "I hope it's not. Weird. And please don't suggest Isabela helping. She's..." What is the word that could possibly describe Isabela. "...Intense."

[fightingale]

"I've not heard of anything quite like that, before. A wise practice, I'd think." Her expression is one of interest, consideration, curious as to how voices could still shift and influence over time, the natural progression and shift of storytelling. The Dalish and their stories and their ways of preserving history are fascinating, beyond simply being important, but she resolves herself to ask about this again at a later time, so she can focus on Beleth's training.

"It is not strange. A more subtle art, I think - learning to read people and their wants, but it will complement your skills beyond flirting in and of itself." Leliana clears her throat, and her expression settles into one of quiet concern.

"There are two points I think are important to address. First of all, I would not subject you to Isabela." She is a capable duellist, an excellent sailor, but Leliana does not trust her. It had been cautious before Anders, before Isabela concealing him and failing to bring him to the Inquisition's attention. Now it is fractured remnant, a reminder of how isolated she is, and how blind people can be to the hurts they inflict. "Second of all, while I agree it is an extremely useful tool, I will not ask you to partake in missions of seduction. And if you should initiate such a tactic of your own volition and move past simple flirtation then you should know it is always more never so simple as you will anticipate it being."

Seduction was still a necessary tool, was considered by some an essential facet of being a bard, but... Leliana does not utilise it lightly.

[arlathvhen]

Beleth visibly relaxed when Leliana assured her that both flirting and Isabela wouldn't be involved in any training. Or at least seduction. She knew, from what Zevran's told her, that flirting is not always the same as seduction--But if she doesn't have to follow it up, it'll...probably be easier.

"I don't see myself moving past that." Beleth replied quietly, tugging a piece of her hair. "I don't--Usually. Do things like that." She doesn't expand on if she means seducing people for ulterior motives, or the act all together. She doesn't really want to. The entire conversation was awkward enough as it was, and Beleth is trying really hard not to ruin her dress by trying to fidget all the pretty embroidery off of it. "And...Isabela makes me feel uncomfortable. She doesn't respect boundaries." She twisted her lips together, hands clutching into the silk of the dress.

"But thank you. I don't--I'm not good at it. I don't want to risk a mission because I failed at flirting with someone, or something like that..." She twisted her hands on her lap, eyes flicking back up to Leliana. "Is, um. Is there anything that you want me to work on? That you've seen that I should practice with?"