(no subject)

[seeking_truth]

She storms out of the interrogation chamber in a towering fury, paying little attention to anyone who might happen to be in her way.

"Blast you, Varric Tethras, you and your tale of the Champion!"

Cassandra stalks the length of the hallway and slams the door open.

"Leliana. It is no use. We must--"

She's two steps into the bar before she realizes that it's not where she expected to be.

As the door swings shut behind her, one hand goes to her sword.

Comments

[seeking_truth]

"Rats?"

Both eyebrows rise high.

[freedom_is_grey]

One of them arrives after Liranan's interrogatory yip, skittering up to the table and chittering inquiringly.

"Rats."

Ysalwen places an order, one full of significant quantities of food for herself and Liranan, and with probably enough left over for Cassandra. Just in case.

"Is there anything in particular you'd like for yourself, or is what I ordered sufficient?"

[seeking_truth]

Cassandra watches all of this with mild surprise apparent.


"... cider," she says, finally. "Pear or apple. Please."

[freedom_is_grey]

The rat chitters again, then scampers away.

Liranan settle at Ysalwen's left, head resting on his paws. For now.

"You can get anything you like here, for what it's worth. There's a tab board, and I tend to pay as I go. It's -- I don't like debts. So."

[seeking_truth]

"Wise of you."

She glances around the room, then back to Ysalwen and Liranan.

"So, then. What do I most need to know about this - this place?"

[freedom_is_grey]

There's a flicker of dryness to her voice as she says, "I do try."

But it passes.

"First is that almost no worlds that lead her are much like our own. No Fade, no Blight, no -- no a lot of things. No qunari, probably no dwarves, but dragons and humans and elves, yes."

She doesn't laugh.

"And stranger things, besides. You'll -- well. Most people feel out of their depth a lot, particularly at first. I'd recommend trying to make friends."

[seeking_truth]

"What are they like? These other worlds."

[freedom_is_grey]

"I haven't been to one yet, not -- "

Maybe someday.

"But many of the people who come here don't believe in magic. Or don't live in a world that has it, or don't live in a world that they know has it. It's -- interesting. Some of these places have science, instead. There are giant robots in the garage, if you ever want to look. Bigger than dragons."

[seeking_truth]

For an instant, she looks completely startled.

"No magic? At all?"

What would such a world be like?

(Cassandra smashes flat any hint of wistfulness before it can even begin to form.)

[freedom_is_grey]

It's not as if Ysalwen can't guess its presence, or something like it. Because Seeker.

Her smile is a little crooked.

"One of those magic-less worlds has giant monsters coming across from another world through a breach in the ocean."

Just saying.

"It's -- different. Not necessarily better."