driftfleet | 004 || video;

Entry tags:

004 || video;

Who: Leliana
Broadcast: yes
Action: aboard the blue fish
When: now

[Leliana's address to the network came somewhat late - someone had gotten revenge for her prank, after all. Her cowl is pulled back resting about her shoulders and her skin and the ends of her hair are still drying after she'd scrubbed the ink off. Schmooples could be heard snuffling from her lap, his long ears making a cameo as he was cradled against her.]

I apologize. It seems I mayhap have fallen victim to a long slumber. I don't recall the ships leaving the planet we were last on, but I am to understand some time has passed.

[Guaranteed, Riona waited a good few days before daring to draw on her face.]

I will be resuming my duties in the Interfaith Center – Stefan, I apologize sincerely for my absence. I hope it has not caused an inconvenience.

[She smiles warmly, blue eyes lit up as she continues speaking.]

For those who do not know me: I am Sister Nightingale and I assist the Interfaith Center for those of Andrastian faith, hailing from Thedas. I can also be found aboard the Blue Fish, should anyone ever seek counsel from me outside of the Center. You do not have to be Andrastian to do so, of course.

Private: Riona Cousland Theirin.

[There's a bit of an evil smile on Leliana's face as she switches the feed to private.]

You got your revenge, no?

[She laughs warmly, her eyes alight with mischief]

Care to join me for lunch? I'm feeling a bit peckish after being out of sorts. You can catch me up on all the latest gossip.

[She runs her fingers through the wet ends of her red hair and Schmooples crawls up her chest into view to snuffle at the camera over her shoulder.]

I hope I didn't worry you too much.

Action

[Leliana can be found either aboard the Blue Fish or in the Interfaith Center praying silently before her own hand made totem statue of Andraste. The nap seemed to have done her at least a little good. Still she felt the lingering grief of home and the troubles it faced but she was slowly becoming more at peace in her new life. Perhaps she could finally lay down her burdens? She wasn't so sure yet. For now she moved on to the next stage of things – normalcy.

Aboard the Blue Fish Leliana makes her security rounds, stopping to take a break to make some tea and enjoy some quiet in the kitchens. Something seemed amiss, though she couldn't put her finger on it nor guess that perhaps that it was because a crew member had gone missing. Still the stillness put her at ease.]

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[She's good to him, giving him wine, he approves greatly of such things. He takes a drink and hates to admit she's right. He's learned to absolutely despise Anders, and with good reason. The man always compared the slavery he and so many others go through to the mage plight, ignorant of the fact that mages were the slavers in this scenario. That what mages went through in the circles can't ever ever compare to that of a Tevinter slave.

But...the younger Anders. He's shown that Anders isn't a completely lost cause. That there was good in him, and the possession by the Justice was the likely cause of his turn. ]

Hm. It is clear he and the demon fed off one another, to create what we have now. While he was his younger self, he was almost a different person. It is disconcerting.

[Fenris is never a fan of his worldview being shifted. At her offer, he tilts his head, frowning softly.]

You would do that? I doubt Riona would be grateful for such an act. And Hawke...

[Hawke would be devastated, both of them. No one but him wouldn't see it for what it was. They'd make her a pariah at the best, try to kill her at the worst. ]

I agree it would need to be done, but you would be risking your life. I do not trust Adalwolfe not to seek retribution.

Without the demon to feed off of his anger or to supplement it, Anders would be rendered mostly ineffective. He is not in chains here. There would be no reason for him to take up arms.

[As for the others... she's already thought it through. Riona she could reason this out with. She would have her friend still, albeit not without some stern discussion. Hawke... both Hawkes... she was not afraid to die if it came to that.]

He can try. I'm not so easily killed and Riona can be reasoned with. She would be unhappy but she wouldn't attack me. She also would not allow Hawke to come to blows with me. If it did come to that? Then I would return regardless, no?

[She wasn't afraid of death, not by a long shot.]

He would still likely be a dour annoyance, but that is better than the alternative.

[A decade of listening to the man bitch and wine leaves it's mark, it seems. Still, he'd rather drown Anders out than deal with him blowing people up.]

You would, but I doubt it is a pleasant experience. I imagine Atroma will expect some sort of price for their resurrection, I just have not figured out what that is yet. It's best avoided, if possible.

...Still. I understand that sometimes, needs must.

Yes, of course. Annoying is better than possessed.

[His information about Atroma intrigues her, not that Leliana is eager to test it.]

I am not afraid to die for something I believe to be right. While I believe all Mages deserve freedoms and to be treated as equals, possession is a risk that comes with dangerous outcomes. We do not know the circumstances behind Vengeance, but we can stop it from surfacing or moving to another host. If that is not reason enough for Hawke or Anders to risk the outcome that is their problem not mine.

[Leliana takes a sip of her wine, glad for the liquid to steady her.]

[It's refreshing to talk to someone who understands that sometimes the unpleasant path needs to be taken for the best outcome. He's usually met with a wall of refusal, that the only good outcome would be everyone remaining alive. Sometimes, it is not feasible.]

Marian may see sense...it's unlikely, but she might. Adalwolfe certainly would not, in his timeline he is willing to kill any of us to protect Anders. He killed his version of me. Though as much as he thinks otherwise, I will not attack him here.

[Because he could never imagine attacking a Hawke or because he has a point to prove about that. They are both equal reasons factoring into that. ]

The risk to the Fleet at large is too great, though. We cannot sit idle. It would be best if we could remove the demon and eradicate it. There are likely people here with such abilities, I believe it is called an exorcism.

[Once upon a time, she would have been one of the voices refusing him. She had feared turning into Marjolaine, giving in to to thrill and the adrenaline she got from killing and fighting with every breath. Now she had no such convictions. She was her own person, after all.]

Marian - the one I remember... she killed Anders for what he did at the Chantry, with deep regret. If I recall, the two of you ran off together and the rest disappeared for a time. Don't quote me on that though.

[She gives an impish smile, suggestive and obvious as if she'd outright said it. The question is there too: 'Is there something between you two?' But then, she wasn't going to tease him about it just yet.]

I think you could convince her. You two are friends, no?

[Oh she definitely wants to ask. She loves gossip and she would probably tease Marian mercilessly. All thoughts of teasing fly completely out of the window at his words. 'He killed his version of me'.... It made her blood run cold. What if there had been a version of her, earnest and young and full of songs, that had met the blade of a Warden? It was a terrifying thought.]

Why...? Why would he do that?

[She already felt as if she could not trust Adawolfe's judgement but this...? Killing a comrade at arms. If the Marian Hawke she knew were here, seeing Anders... would she tell him what had been done to him by her hand? Why? She didn't have answers to that question.]

Why would he tell you something like that?

[It's the only logical conclusion she can draw, given his history of blurting out awful truths. He'd told Riona the Inquisitor - that she - had sanctioned Alistair, the King of Ferelden, to go into the Fade and that he had been left there. She had no idea of what the political ramifications would be. The thought made her feel ill.]

[He exhales softly at that. Interesting to know there are other Hawkes that chose him. All the others he has known have picked Anders. It's a little strange, how that turns out. ]

I believe the Marian from here also ran off with me. Though she did not kill Anders, from what I understand.

[He doubts she ever would. She lives the stupid idiot too much. ]

I will talk with her, all the same.

[Trying to get gossip from Fenris is like trying to get blood from a stone. His expression remains stoic throughout. He's so dull, sorry Leliana. At her questions about Adalwolfe, however, his brow furrows. He's used up his anger on it. These days, it just makes him feel tired. ]

I do not know. Apparently I turned on him when Meredith snapped. He said he did not get to know me, it seems he earned neither my trust nor my respect.

[His hands twitch a little, his eyes narrow. ]

He seems to be under the impression that he can mend it by spending time with me now.

[Leliana sips her wine, the wheels in her head turning yet again over the information he gives her.]

Then he is a fool. However, I won't deny that the Hawke I know isn't a sentimental fool herself. Knowing her like, she probably beat herself up over Anders and the Chantry. I only know about her what Varric has told us.

[And Varric had never revealed her location, much to Cassandra's frustration. Perhaps she had been able to forgive herself? Perhaps she had found peace with Fenris. Leliana had not asked her.]

Edited 2016-08-25 20:59 (UTC)

It seems to be a common occurrence, no matter what the Hawke. Perhaps that is what makes them stand out so much, which makes them so different, along with the Inquisitor and the Hero. Or perhaps it is because they make such great waves in Thedas.

[He looks down at his wine glass thoughtfully. He's often wondered why the big changes in their world always centre around those three people. What does it mean? ]

Regardless. Though she may not be my Hawke, I have come to know her well. I know she will not like it, but may understand, if we have absolutely no other alternative.

I had heard there were different Wardens and Inquisitors but I have not seen it for myself, only in the two Hawkes we have on board. Alistair told me that the Warden he knew was quite different from Riona - a mage.

[She left out the part that really intrigued her still: that she had been involved with Leliana. It made her wish she'd asked him more what this woman was like. Now it was too late to do more than wonder what could have been, in another life. It was an interesting thought, to be sure.]

It seems, universally, we agree that they are resourceful and somewhat flexible if they have the mind to be so.

I have met four different versions of Hawke now, including my own, and two Inquisitors. It gets...complicated after a while.

[The universe needs to stop with that, honestly. ]

That much is most certainly true.

Four? And yet you and I remain the same, I suppose?

[Seriously, what is up with that?]

Edited 2016-08-28 01:53 (UTC)

Aside from the one time I apparently decided I needed to attack my own friends? Yes.

[Also apparently he sleeps with Marian a lot??? That's also a thing that keeps happening. ]

There was that.

[Hey this one time Alistair told her that she was totally banging the Mage Warden he knew, okay. She's pretty open minded about all this.]

Hn. Aside from that, and the times I seem to have been in a relationship with a version of Marian, I appear to be much the same.

Something I suppose I should be glad for.

I suppose it's a good thing Hawke would rather try to 'mend fences' rather than try to kill you a second time. He still seems reckless otherwise.

[Still getting her head around all these different Wardens/Hawkes/Inquisitors... it was kind of messy.]

A mage acquaintance of the Inquisition spoke of Time Magic... I wonder if this is similar to that. He would likely be beside himself to uncover Atroma's secrets.

Precisely. Though at present I am not comfortable with him around. However much he wishes to mend fences, it will take time.

[It's hard to put his guard down around someone he knows has actually killed another version of him. ]

Time magic. As if it is not dangerous enough already. Playing in time never does any good. I have learned that much firsthand.

I couldn't agree more. Though, I can't say for sure that Dorian's magic is terribly dangerous in his hands. In others perhaps, yes, but I investigate all members of the Inquisition thoroughly. I had every aspect of his background inspected, down to the color of his under garments.

[Going to just sip her wine with an amused grin.]

[A horrible expression crosses Fenris' face at the mention of the mage, but he quickly covers it back with his usual dour expression. ]

The one I experienced was different. I suppose it was more technological than magical. It was in Exsilium, the world I was trapped in before here.

I see.

[She falls quiet, contemplating the meaning behind it as she sips her wine. Were the worlds linked somehow? It wasn't a stretch given their travels up til now.]

If I could acquire a legitimate network of information, perhaps we could find out more... or a solution to our largest problem. You wouldn't happen to know where I could find myself some spies would you? I'm finding myself rather fresh out.

[She smiles tersely, feeling a bit disappointed by that. If she had the resources she'd have little birds throughout the fleet in no time.]

[Fenris gives a soft chuckle at that. ]

I am afraid spies aren't my forte. I am sure Varric created himself a network while he was here, but Maker know who they are. I didn't even know who his connections were after ten years in Kirkwall, let alone now.

[He considers, sitting back. ]

The woman who currently owns the Space Bar, Nami. She may be of use to you. She knows a lot of people, I think she was a pirate, back home.

[She waves it off, smiling all the same.]

No matter. He was right not to share. A good spy never reveals their sources.

[At the mention of a pirate, her interest is piqued.]

A pirate? Is she as amicable as Isabela?

['Amicable' was one word for it.]

That's what he always says.

[Fenris makes a soft 'heh' sound. That's certainly a word for Isabela. ]

Mostly, though she does tend to wear more clothing.

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