therookery | (no subject)

FORM: Sending crystal.
SENDER: Twisted Fate.
RECIPIENT: Everyone!
WHAT: The party returns, and Fate has a request.
WHEN: Backdated to Cloudreach 29.
WHERE: Skyhold.
NOTES: N/A

Ah, Skyhold. Terribly good to be back home. I'm certain you all missed me, didn't you?

In any case.

Clan Frandruil has notified me that they wish to send halla our way. Terribly considerate of Keeper Shoshanna to show such gratitude. I don't particularly care what the Inquisition wishes to do with them, so I defer to those part of Clan Ashara. They are yours, as far as I am concerned.

In any case, something of more immediate concern and interest to me: I've received a mark from the rift we dealt with. As terribly excited as I am to be blessed with this, I'd like to do a little more research on this. [And maybe remove it, but he has a feeling that's impossible.] Those of you already familiar with your own magical glowing green marks, please, enlighten me with whatever you know.

And before I forget: Sera, I've placed your things back in the room in the tavern. If you happen to find anything of mine left in there, it's yours to do with.

I think that ought to do it. I'll be in the tavern, drinking myself silly.

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What, no halla for me? I'm so offended.

[No, she isn't.]

So, giving up the room at last? That ought to cheer her up.

You sound horribly offended. Goodness.

[He chuckles before moving on.]

I took it before because I thought it was amusing. Now? Well, I owe her for the help. Might as well give back what I stole, hm?

...Was she terribly upset?

I think you already know the answer to that. [Not about the room, but she's sure he can figure it out.]

And I promised you a drink, didn't I? I'll be right down.

I suppose so. [On one hand, her help and viewpoint was incredibly refreshing from another elf who didn't kiss the ground that the Dalish walked their bare feet upon. On the other, he knows he put her through enough with the ordeal.

Perhaps more than the room will need to be done.]

Then I will gladly wait for you.

[It doesn't take her long to find him, of course, and she settles in beside him, signalling to the bartender for a round. Then she leans over and nudges him gently.]

Don't blame yourself too much, Fate. She knew what she was getting into; we all did. It's not like you hid from us how badly it could go.

For awhile there, I sort of accepted that it was possible that Clan Frandruil was going to pay the price at last for what they did.

Sera and I talked about that. Then she told me to do something about it. [Since he had been just letting everyone else figure things out instead of having a personal hand in it, for awhile.]

[She smirks at that; it certainly sounds like Sera.]

That's what friends are for, to give you a kick in the ass when you need it. That and I'm sure she got tired of all the slurs by then. I should feel lucky that they mostly didn't know what to make of me.

[Either the elves or the humans. That's the way it usually is, though.]

Funny, you'd think she'd have ended up disliking me more for taking her room while she was gone. [But he's ended up being quite fond of her in return. Sera is rather refreshing when it comes to elven matters.]

And how lucky I was to have brought you, truly. I don't think either party had ever seen a Vashoth before.

They kept staring at me as though they expected me to try and convert them to the Qun. I've seen that look before, so many times. At least the outsider status was useful, this time.

[Knowing that she didn't have a stake in either side is probably what got her answers in the first place.]

And maybe Sera figured she'd get her room back eventually? She wasn't wrong.

Unfortunate that it should come down to people making an assumption about you, but I know we're both quite used to it. It'll be all too soon before I'm called river rat or knife-ear, and you referred to the Qun.

Perhaps. It's not as if I needed it in the first place. But I rather like her. Makes me nostalgic, actually.

[Korrin smiles warmly.]

I like her, too, she's fun. I'm not sure I helped out her mood that much, since she was pouting about me having a girlfriend. But maybe she'll cheer up when two of my Valo-Kas sisters make it here. They're on their way as we speak.

Well, Sera has excellent taste. Who can fault her for it?

Oh? We'll have the opportunity to meet more of the Valo-Kas soon?

[That compliment is met with a grin, and she perks up, nodding.]

You ought to, soon enough. Lena's a rogue, working with daggers. She can be a snarky asshole, but I love her like the older sister I never had. Taaranda's the little sister, if anything; a total sweetheart off the battlefield, but absolutely merciless on it. One of the Valo-Kas' best warriors, no doubt. They both lost someone at the Conclave; being here was as much for them as anything else. But now we can deal with it together.

They sound positively delightful. I should love to meet the both of them.

As they say, any friend of yours is a friend of mine.

[Slipping an arm around his shoulders, she gives a light squeeze.]

I knew I could count on you, Fate. As soon as they're here, well...I'm sure Lena won't be quiet about it.

[She smirks at that, and the smirk lingers for another reason.]

So, is it just my imagination, or was there a lot of smiling from certain people on the way back?

I think she and I will get along so nicely.

[Ah, the inevitable subject.]

I suppose we've been less than subtle. But yes; we had dinner together on the way back, and I'd been pushing it aside long enough. Sort of a dangerous game, but I would tell anyone else to hold onto the moment. As long as possible.

[Well, of course it's inevitable. There's a soft snort at 'subtle' and she shakes her head, smirking.]

Hardly subtle, but I've seen worse. Hell, I've been worse.

...and I can see the logic in that, I suppose. That's not a pairing I would've seen coming, but stranger things have happened. [Like a big, gaping hole in the sky.]

Was I not? Cassandra was awfully frustrated that I wasn't saying anything, I suppose. That should have been a sign of lack of subtlety.

What can I say, I'm not a man who likes to be overly predictable.

As long as she's treating you as you ought to be treated. I can't say I'm impressed with her track record regarding mages, but if she's shedding that like she shed off the Templar Order....

[Wait, what.]

Cassandra? What does she have to do with any of this?

Not to worry. If I feel I'm treated unwell, I won't put up with it. But I know she's learning to be comfortable with mages, for many reasons. I hope to see that progress.

Ah, well, after Nerva swore herself to the Inquisition directly, she answers to Cassandra. I suppose that Madame Seeker wanted to ensure that I had every intention of confessing? Though I could not say why she was so invested.

Really. Maybe she's a closet romantic, then. Or...I don't know, I can't say I know woman well other than to say she's an excellent dragonslaying partner.

[You know, the important things. She takes a sip.]

And you already know how I feel about mage issues. I'm not backing down on those, but if she's not an ass to me, I can respond in kind. [And she can try to behave herself a little more, for Fate's sake. As long as those hot-button issues aren't pressed.]