(no subject)

[seeking_truth]

[Previously: Arriving in Kirkwall.]

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

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's head lifts, over at his table.

His table he got in order to put off having to deal with Seeker Pentaghast just a little while longer. Until he can be sure he has his wits about him.

(And his paperwork in order. He's so close to caught up -- )

[seeking_truth]

She scans the room, scowling - and once her gaze lands on him, she doesn't hesitate.

A few steps are all it takes to reach his table.

"Knight-Captain Cullen."

Cassandra's voice is as sharp and impatient as her expression.

[howtoactfereldan]

By which point he's already on his feet. Time to get this over with.

"Seeker Pentaghast."

He is... also not in his plate. Or anything that would mark him as a knight of the Order.

[seeking_truth]

Both her eyebrows rise almost to her hairline.

"You are off duty? Now? Do you think that wise?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"It's after Vespers."

Cullen's gaze is steady. In a way, Meredith was good preparation for the Seekers of Truth.

"I have not seen any reason to deny the Knights-Templar not on duty their hours of personal time after Vespers."

[freedom_is_grey]

Two heads lift and turn in her direction almost as soon as she mentions Leliana.

One belongs to an enormous brown mabari hound.

The other belongs to a small, white-haired elven mage. The elf part is obvious, and the mage part probably ought to be, because there's a staff ready-to-hand and leaning against her table, she's wearing blue and silver gryphon-decorated mage robes, and the Fade is always very near when she's around.

The black tattoo spiraling over her right eye and brow is just misdirection. (Or is it?)

A moment later Ysalwen rises, strapping her staff to her back instead of holding it in her hand. (Like hell is she leaving it behind.) Liranan trots ahead of her, holding back an anxious whine by virtue of great effort.

"Drawing that might also draw more attention than you want, if you're still catching your bearings," she offers, pausing quite a few feet away from the newcomer. Liranan goes closer, himself, making for Cassandra's right hand. He, too, pauses several feet away, but much closer than Ysalwen. Is this newcomer nice? Could she be a friend? Has she done something to Lel-friend?

[seeking_truth]

Cassandra turns to face her, taking in every nuance of her appearance.

"Is that so?"

Her glance flicks to the mabari and back.

[freedom_is_grey]

"Security."

Ysalwen's voice is wry. Her expression matches it, except for the watchfulness in her dark brown eyes.

"They're good at what they do. Or so I hear. There hasn't really been a violent altercation in all the time I've been coming here."

A pause. Liranan just watches Cassandra, head tilted in curiosity, tongue lolling.

"I'm going to guess that you don't know where here is, though. I didn't, when I first showed up. I don't think most people do, either."

[seeking_truth]

"It is certainly not where I expected to be," Cassandra allows.

[igetthatalot]

"Wait, wait, wait, my tale of the who, now?"

Somebody's working on his story of a dirty guard on the edge.

[seeking_truth]

She whirls on him.

"You! How did -- you were -- "

Frustration and fury both are clear in her features.

[igetthatalot]

"Whoa! Lady, I don't know who you are, but I'm almost positive I never did anything to you." Varric holds up both hands. "Maybe you're looking for my brother, Bartrand?"

[seeking_truth]

Cassandra scoffs at him, glaring.

"You don't know me. Right."

[dont_mention_the_tips]

"I don't think you are gonna need that here," says a pointy eared blond near the door.

[seeking_truth]

She turns quickly toward the voice.

"And why should I believe you?"

[dont_mention_the_tips]

"To be honest, you don't," said Wil, "But this place... yeah you don't need a sword here. I mean unless you are gonna go hunting out back, but I would suggest a bow or something for those evil bunnies."

[seeking_truth]

"Evil bunnies."

She sounds disbelieving, even as she looks him over. He doesn't appear Dalish, but neither does he look quite like the city elves she knows.

"All right. I am listening. Why don't I need a sword here?"

[not_his_pa]

She's very loud and William looks up from his book and spots the way she's holding her sword,

"Ma'am, drawin' weapon's ain't goin' to end well here. Security will give you a talkin' to."

[seeking_truth]

She turns toward his voice and spots the young man. He seems unthreatening, at least outwardly.

"A talking to."

[not_his_pa]

"Or the cells, depends on if you attack anyone. Most folks don't go after each other here. Its meant to be neutral ground,"

That doesn't always work, but the majority of Milliways tries to make it be. He sits up straighter, slipping his bookmark in, she seems like someone who wouldn't appreciate anyone being rude.

[seeking_truth]

"I have no intention of attacking anyone," she snaps, before noticing how he's brought himself to attention.

Cassandra consciously tries to moderate her tone, and adds,

"Neutral ground, you say?"

[yinyangwizard]

"Madam, I hope I can prevail upon you not to draw your weapon."

Seimei is probably like nothing Cassandra has ever seen before, due to the kosode and hakama he's wearing if nothing else. But his voice is placid and more conversational than anything else.

"You are a guest here, and in no danger from anyone."

Just don't drink the Atlantean or the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster.

[seeking_truth]

She eyes him warily, but does not draw - yet, at any rate.

"A guest, you say. Here."

[yinyangwizard]

Seimei has a very strong suspicion that there's an unspoken "you have ten seconds to explain yourself" somewhere in that look.

"In the interest of preventing any misunderstandings" - and possibly attempted violence against his person - "let me make clear that I too am a guest of Milliways."

In other words, Seimei is not responsible for the lady unexpectedly finding herself here. He just wants to make sure everyone's on the same page about that. Although she may not believe him.

"That is what this place is called. Milliways, the tavern at the end of the universe."

[seeking_truth]

"At the end - of the universe?"

Her eyebrows rise along with her voice.