001 || video;

[nugqueen]

Who: Leliana
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: now!

[It took some fiddling, but Leliana managed to make the video broadcast work. For a moment, she doesn't speak, not realizing it was on. When it dawns on her, the surprise is there before her expression relaxes.]

My apologies, the technologies of this place are lost on me. I suppose this is the best course of action if I want information, no? I am looking for comrades of mine - Cullen, Josephine, and Inquisitor Trevelyn. I do not know if they are here but it is my understanding from what I have managed to glean from this... device - that they could very well be newly arrived, the same as I.

[Which is something that troubles her. They were all very much needed back home in Thedas not here - wherever here was.]

Those wishing to aid me in finding my people may address me as Sister Nightingale. I thank you very much in advance.

[With that, she ends the video feed. A polite and succinct post, yes, but internally she was already assessing her situation, analyzing the threat she might very well be under.]

Comments

[bryces_pup]

Yes, you mentioned him. [And she heard that name, once. The chances of it being the same one are slim, but she has to ask.] He isn't by chance the one we found in the Circle, is it?

[She always wondered what had happened to that poor templar. He'd been such a mess when they'd left, angry and haunted.]

It wouldn't be Thedas if things remained quiet. [She smiles wryly.] A conversation about that is inevitable, I think. I'll admit to curiosity, but I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't hesitant. What little I've heard about Thedas in the future... worries me.

Still, you have a point. Perhaps now isn't the time. I'd like time to prepare myself for it, and you should focus on getting settled here. But, I guess I should ask... what year was it when you left?

[nugqueen]

He is, yes. He's gotten a little better off since then. He and Inquisitor Trevelyn are the talk of Skyhold. They're quite taken with one another.

[Of course that's the thing Leliana notes. She did like a bit of gossip. It made for entertaining moments she coudl use to tease Cullen with at the War Table.

Ah. The big question. What year it was would be a boon but also a blessing to Riona because on the one hand, she and Alistair have been together and happy for that long, on the other - this Alistair knew none of that happiness with her.]

Dragon 9:41 was the year, last I recall it. The Blight, the fighting with the darkspawn and the Archdemon occurred in 9:31.

[By the maker, has it really been that long?]

[bryces_pup]

Good. I am glad he's doing a little better.

[For now, she won't touch the bit about this... Inquisitor. Because that sounds like a barrel full of crazy she's not ready for.

Besides, she's way more focused on the number Leliana gives her. The former bard will be met with a long, drawn out stretch of silence, with wide eyes and a mouth slightly hung open as Riona tries to process that.

9:41 Dragon. That's ten years ahead. She figured it would be a few years at least, but ten?]

Maker's breath. A decade? That...

[nugqueen]

It really has been that long.

[She's definitely amused by the surprise. It surprises her too, at times. So much had changed since then - namely, the tensions between mages and templars becoming that much more unbearable.]

It still amazes me Schmooples lived as long as he did. It was hard trying to find a proper replacement nug.

[bryces_pup]

[Riona is still reeling from it, trying to wrap her head around the idea... and what must have transpired in all that time. Now she's really afraid to ask.]

Oh, Schmooples. It pains me to hear that, though I suppose even he couldn't live forever.

[nugqueen]

I've thought about trying my hand at nug breeding. They're so cute I imagine they'd turn quite the profit! But that will be something to try for another time.

[Because you know... world ending and stuff.]

[bryces_pup]

Just don't let Orzammar hear about it. The last thing you need is a bunch of angry Carta spies coming after you and your nugs.

[nugqueen]

[Oh, that's too good. Spies coming after a spy master. She just smiles over her steepled fingers.]

I can't imagine they'd be able to do anything about it, what with my close ties as one of the advisors for the Inquisition. I suppose if they complain loud enough about it?

[And.... maybe becoming Divine?? There had been talks between her and Inquisitor Trevelyn on that front but nothing more. That was still up in the air as of yet.

Okay, so she'll let one thing spill about the future. It wasn't anything major, though surely Riona could gather the gist of what having an Inquisition might mean.]

[bryces_pup]

[A tempting bit of fruit dangling there. But Riona doesn't quite take the bait, not entirely.]

Most dwarves are stubborn enough to try. You do remember Oghren?

[It's not that she won't ask about it more... eventually. Right now, though, she's not quite ready. Leliana's arrival has caught her off guard enough as is. Between that, and things with Alistair recently, she's been a bit emotionally run dry. For now, she wants time to prepare.

So she'll stick to things she's comfortable with, that she knows.

Which, speaking of, now that the shock's wearing off-]

And oh! I didn't say anything before, but, none of that 'Your Grace' or 'Your Majesty' business from you. [She jabs a finger at her.]

[nugqueen]

Of course.

[Is she talking about Oghren or...?]

As you wish... Your Grace.

[Stifling a laugh. Definitely trying not to laugh. Sorry Riona not sorry.]

[bryces_pup]

[She's gonna go with both. You don't simply forget Oghren.

Meanwhile, a huff is let out at the former bard's teasing. Real funny, Lels.]

Har har.

[Though she knows her friend is only teasing, her expression does take a turn for the serious a moment later.]

Joking aside... [She scrunches her nose at her.] Well, if you want to teasingly refer to me as such in private, then I can't stop you. But, around others... please don't mention it, or my being queen in general. Aside from Alistair, and now you, no one else in the fleet knows. Including my crew. And it should come from me, when the time comes.

[nugqueen]

Of course. I can understand that. I can't imagine it would be terribly easy to blend in with others when they're trying to stay on your good side just because you're a Queen, no? They shouldn't have to look at you differently.

[Ah, the Game. Even here it was a possibility. Then again, Leliana always had a gift for seeing knives in the darkness.]

I don't mind calling you Riona. And I can't imagine Alistair has quite wrapped his brain around all of this either.

[Especially the whole 'you're technically his wife' thing.]

[bryces_pup]

[She makes a so-so gesture with her hand.]

Partly, yes. When I first came here, I did not know who all from Thedas also took residence here. Perhaps they were enemies of Ferelden. And it didn't seem like a wise thing to announce to a bunch of strangers. Then, it was so Alistair did not find out about my being his wife the wrong way.

And now... it's more or less because I've come to like being plain old Riona Cousland again. No titles or ceremony. Just me. But I know I cannot keep it up forever.

[At the mention of Alistair wrapping his head around it, Riona laughs dryly. It doesn't quite reach her eyes though.]

That man. He... took it well. Understood why I didn't tell him right away. He hasn't pushed me away, either.

[But she knows Alistair, and she knows he has a habit of keeping his hurts to himself and making light of them. She fears what he isn't telling her.]

[nugqueen]

I think I like you being just Riona Coulsand as well.

[It had a certain ring to it, being an Archdemon slayer, notwithstanding. If Riona wanted to be modest it wasn't to her to begrudge her that.]

Perhaps that too, is the Maker's doing. Only He knows His children best. I won't bring your hopes up but, perhaps even from another realm, Alistair cannot cut himself free of his ties to you.

[Maybe that was a philosophical way of going about it, but Riona and Alistair had shown her what love looked like. It was only a pity Alistair could not see the way he had looked at their Hero of Ferelden anymore.]

[bryces_pup]

Thank you. It's... nice to be me again. I rather missed it.

[The thought of Alistair and her... No. She banishes it from her mind. It will not happen. He is not her husband, as much as her heart tells her otherwise.]

Mm, I dare say not. He is... betrothed to Anora in his Thedas. You know how Alistair is. He wouldn't break that promise lightly.

[nugqueen]

Anora?

[Wow. Just.... wow. Well isn't that interesting?]

That is.... different.

[Yeah, she's got nothing.]

[bryces_pup]

Politically, it makes sense. A Theirin is on the throne, but Anora retains her sovereignty as well and can rule alongside of him.

[In theory. She suspects Anora will just take the reins and leave Alistair as more a ceremonial figure than anything else.]

Morally and emotionally, I object on so many levels. It's unfair to Alistair and to Anora. And it's just... ugh. There is no way I can be entirely objective about it.

[nugqueen]

Politically, it may make sense, but for him? It doesn't - not to me. Though, I suppose that's owing to the fact that I've known the both of you so long.

[Ugh. She honestly hates how twisted up everything is.]

Unfortunately, for him, I know you'll do what you have to. I am sorry that things have changed so drastically between you.

[bryces_pup]

No, it doesn't. Neither for him or Anora. They are not suited for each other.

[Anora will not appreciate the kind of man Alistair is. And he needs someone who understands him for how and who he is. She hopes she's wrong, she really does, but...]

Depends on how you look at it, I suppose. I've been told to treat him as an entirely different person. Which, it has some truth to it. Logically, I know he is a different man from a different world. He and our Alistair are not one and the same.

...though, in my heart, it's a lot harder to disentangle the two. I cannot simply stop loving him just because of that.

[nugqueen]

You might have to treat him as if he is a different person but... I am not so sure how easily that is done for me. He still feels the same, no?

[And honestly it makes her kind of angry that something so important could be easily changed for him. Not that it's his fault. Magic had a hand in this and for all she supported Mages, there were those who could do such terrible things if pushed to that point.]

I wish there was more I could do.

[Anora isn't here and Alistair may be stubborn but damned if she didn't hope his feelings might sway towards Riona again, Maker willing.]

[bryces_pup]

Towards you, I would think. From what I gather, your relationship is more or less the same in his Thedas as it is in ours.

[Leliana has little to change on her end of things.]

It's all right. He's here, and even if he's not the Alistair from our world, he's still Alistair. And I am happy enough with that.

[...mostly. There is a small little kernel in her that wishes the same as Leliana, that somehow he'll fall in love with her again. But it's not a desire she'll give voice to. She cannot expect him to do that. He is engaged to another; his life is different.]

Oh, listen to us. So much for this being a happy reunion.

[nugqueen]

Mmm. But it is still a happy one - we have our friendship still solidly intact. The Maker saw fit to grant us that, at least.

[Or whatever gods saw to this place. It was lucky, honestly. They could have punished Riona with her best friend and her husband who didn't know her.]

I can't wait to see you in person. It would make the reunion sweeter, no?

[bryces_pup]

Yes, it is. You're right. Perhaps it's the Maker, or Atroma feeling particularly kind for some reason.

[Suspicious, but she knows better than to look the gift horse in the mouth. Especially since she cannot do anything against said gift horse.]

Much. Hopefully that can occur in a few days. It's been a bit since the last shuffle.