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

[foxsays]

"I think it would be best for all parties involved if I rescue Councillor Ataash before her patience with Lady Odette runs out entirely, I'm sure you would both agree, especially given this test." It's teasing, or it sounds as teasing as she can manage. With them she doesn't bother to hide the strain in her voice; tonight simply served as another reminder that the Mage-Templar tensions can so easily return, that any small incident could serve to reignite them, that perhaps the key instigator hid within the walls of Skyhold for so many months as if he were another seeking refuge with one hand and offering aid with the other.

First she would gain a measure of him herself, after seeing Korrin's rage.

"Poisoners come from other lands, to get hold of them in our country? The cost is extortionate, and though many creatures of the sea can kill you with one brush of their barbs, we don't use them." Her voice is soft, not from the strain of speaking over others and entertaining, reverent instead; the sea is her blood, but even the Dalish have named figures rather than primal forces to love and to cherish, and she's so very far from home. "If I need to know them or use them, I can, we aren't prohibited in making use of them if we can get hold of them but again, it is cost and as you know, I was not born to a life of extravagance."

And her queen has a gentle hand, she would prefer not to have lives taken to reach her goals, she would prefer imprisonment in the hopes that minds can even be changed unless they truly prove too dangerous, unless it is an honest fight.

A laugh escapes, not even a laugh, a soft huff that would turn into a cough if she didn't know how to control herself. "You remind me so much of someone so very dear to me, she tested me without me ever knowing." There was blood on my hands that day, she thinks, I am glad that tonight it never came to that, though the Nightingale is not Leandra. They are both steel but Leandra can wield her softness so well to all the world and show her face, can wear her many gowns and masks, her guards all so close to her; Araceli knows how warm the skin is behind her ear and that it always smells of the sea, that she will always be allowed to lead her away from her work when the candles burn low and hollow out her cheeks. Perhaps there will be time to speak properly to her teacher of Leandra in more than just a note at some point later but she's so busy she never wishes to take up more of her time for anything outside of lessons.

Looking to Maria, it startles her once again to remember just how long she's been in Thedas, how long it's been since they shared a tent in the Fallow Mire when they passed a flask between them. "Forgive me, Knight-Captain. I had no idea of your station when we first met. If you have need of me, it's best to leave a message or shout up, I'll come down if you ask." By now it's not a secret that Cassandra's soldiers physically dragged her down off the wall when she managed to evade them the first time, and though she doubts it'll be repeated, with those Leliana trusts, she's willing to make distinctions clear.

[nofury]

Maria gives a wry smile before sipping her wine. It had been a good number of months, the duties of the Inquisition, the Order, and the Left Hand calling more attention than staying social- never a strong suit of hers to begin with. But for now she's content to watch the interaction, more making mental notes as Leliana speaks than offering to agree with or challenge her.

[[ooc: go nuts and just assume Maria is observing unless directly addressed!]]