Who: Isabela & Leliana, with Dog and all three nugs What: Rogue-types catching up, and discussing the Hawke family problems When: This evening Where: Bela's beachfront abode Rating/Warnings: Language, some references to shady things but tame otherwise Status: Complete!
Though stung with a hundred arrows, Though suffering from ailments both great and small, His heart was strong and he moved on. The deep dark before dawn’s first light seems eternal, But know that the sun always rises.
The Chant of Light. Much of it was engraved into her mind, and Leliana had taken time to write down all the canticles she could remember - pages and pages were filled in elegant scrawl, even if she didn’t consider herself exactly much of a devout Andrastian on this side. She often struggled with religion, with the way people contorted teachings meant for love and respect to back their own selfish gains, spin a game of manipulation and oppress those deemed ‘inferior.’
But there was something about this Thedosian text that was soothing. And it fit the recent happenings, with Gale’s nightmare turned flesh, and it had reminded her of him. In the end the sun did rise, and he would move on - stronger because of this, not beaten down by the constant emotional turmoil this location seemed to put everyone through. The Hunger Games of Orange County seemed to have come to an end, and after several days of what seemed like peace, they all felt like they could breathe again.
And count down the days until the next disaster, perhaps. Leliana would enjoy the time between. Sand between her toes, all three nugs fascinated by ocean waves washing ashore, little hands digging into the sand, rolling around, their rolls pink fat jiggling in what seemed like a slow motion montage. It was beautiful, really.
And then there was Dog, slobbering on them, ruining that picture-perfect moment between the three pig-bunnies.
“I would have called him Mr. Muggles if he were mine,” chuckled the formidable Nightingale, murderous Spymaster of the Inquisition, later than to be known as Divine Victoria from her round of dreams. “Though I assume he’s used to his name after so long?”
Isabela didn’t have many nicknames herself. Queen of the Eastern Seas, the Sharpest Blade in Llomerryn, that was really her staple - it was somewhat of an honour, when you thought of it. Being known as the deadliest person in one of the deadliest parts of Thedas meant that messing with Isabela could send you to an early grave - and she worked hard for that little bit of respect, that title. She’d earned it all; the men on her pirate crew treated her better than her ‘husband’ ever did, but she in turn treated them better too - given her success at sea, they were paid better under her command as well. It was an interesting arrangement, though she hadn’t been proud of all she’d done as a pirate Captain - even if more and more she just missed the lifestyle.
But living on the beach helped, being on the beach helped. How could she not feel happy when an ox of a warhound was ambling toward her with a stick in his mouth, wanting to play?
“Mr. Muggles...you like that don’t you, you slobbery beast?” she cooed to the overgrown puppy, taking the slobbery stick and giving it a good toss as she and Leliana sauntered down the beach, letting their animals enjoy themselves.
Ruff, ruff, ruff! Rrrrrrrruffff! That was Dog’s response, and a butt wiggle, before he went to go fetch. “But I suppose he’s used to his rather uncreative moniker,” Bela chuckled. “It gives me something to tease Hawke about too.” And being that the family (minus Gamlen) were all in a larger home now, with actual space, the lady pirate didn’t need to take Dog for a run-around anymore at her place - but she sort of appreciated having him over anyway, don’t tell anyone.
Dog was a very nostalgic sight, you see. Brought her back to the earlier travel with the Warden, they had one in their ragtag group of misfits as well. Him and Schmooples had gotten along well together. “Mabari choose their masters for life, if I correctly recall,” Leliana mused, pulling the wrap cardigan around herself a bit tighter. Californian climate was usually dry and mild during this time of year, but such closeness to the sea brought a chilly breeze. “Good to have around should something happen. I assume he helps guard the Hawke family when things go awry?”
Last she checked none of them had the luxury of recalling their Thedosian lives, even if they all played a role in it some way or form. But mabari were combat hounds with powerful bodies, companions in battle themselves, so she was sure they were in good hands (or paws) with such a noble beast around.
Getting herself comfortable, she settled into the sand and whistled - the sound summoned Boulette over successfully, the tiniest of the nugs. “And how is that entire thing going, my friend? You’ve got quite the look on your face when you say his name.”
“Mmhmm, he’s quite the guard dog. I remember him lying by the fireplace at the estate, so regal,” Isabela grinned fondly, dusting off her jeans (they’d just get dirty again anyway) before dropping in the sand next to Leliana, looking around for shells or potential sea glass - the smooth, polished pieces were so blue. And pretty. Just one of the reasons why Bela loved being on the beach, in addition to how crisp, clean, and salty the air was.
She spared a glance back toward the rest of the nugs and Dog, then looked back as Boulette wandered over. Snuffsnuff. The hairless wonder must be loving the chance to dig around for treasure (like little critters and things) in the sand. A pet, pet was given to the small nug, and she tried not to blush or do something girlish at Leliana’s inquiry.
“It’s going well,” she responded, tucking back some flyaway hair. “And it’s impossible not to fall in love with him, really. Which I did, so at least I told him. Now he doesn’t have to worry about that, just about his sister’s potential demise and the mysterious suitor his mum’s seeing.” You know, the usuals.
Digging is a thing they loved to do, those bald little creatures. Typically it was mud and dirt, but they’d happily take sand. Luckily she and Gale’s home together had a large yard. It was something of a necessity when the amount of animals in the house outnumbered the amount of humans, and there were many holes and muddy prints on the porch (granted, Tella also contributed to the mess too) from their habits.
Boulette forced herself onto her ginger-haired person’s lap and settled comfortably. “You told him?” Leliana smiled wryly. It was a pleasant surprise, though she figured she should expect as much - in her version of things the two were a pair, and she was pleased to know they’d found one another in this world too. “And I don’t see a single allergic hive on you. That is impressive, Bela.”
As for the rest of what she had said, not so much. Something about her words tugged the line to a distant memory - something obscure but triggered by her words, yet she couldn’t figure out what it led to.
“Why are you under the impression his sister faces possible death? She’s not ill, is she?” French nails gently scratched the back of Boulette’s ears; it was mindless gesture to keep her hand busy throughout their discussion.
“No, not at all. Bethany’s fine.” Isabela’s brow furrowed - she too had a happy pet in her lap, but that was when Dog returned, licking her face and putting his furry rump all in her business, trying to get hugs or something. He was just like his owner in that regard, so cuddly - and her lack of hives at expressing things like love and feelings was impressive in her warm honey eyes. Certainly a first for this pirate Captain, but it was like Garrett was exactly right for her - crafted, designed, perfect for her. Probably ‘the one’ and all that nonsense, but she’d wait a little longer before dipping her toes into those waters.
Alright, Dog. Go fetch. The stick was tossed again, and she gave the mabari’s bum a scratch before he ran off again instead of goofily trying to snuggle. Besides, since he could understand human language, something about talking of Bethany’s potential demise made Bela uneasy.
“He had his tarot cards read,” she went on. “And apparently there was some death omen in the spread, so naturally he assumes it’s Bethany because he saw her die in the dreams. So he’s been a bit overprotective but nothing’s happened. I don’t quite know what to do to ease his mind, though.”
He’d have the other two nugs out there to distract him too, Schmooples and Schmooples II. Boulette was a spoiled princess, however, she was sometimes a little too snobby to play with the rest, and preferred to be rightfully fawned over in someone’s lap. Leliana could never turn down animal cuddles anyway. “I see,” she frowned, squinting her eyes ahead - the sun was setting before them, sky swirled in soft hues of pink, purple and orange. “I’d come to a similar conclusion in his shoes.”
Free will, destiny. Could those two concepts coexist? On one hand someone may argue the future is constantly changing due to choice, and another could say some things will just be, regardless of choice. Both seemed true here. Considering the unexplainable nature of this place where all things could happen, it was fitting. “I suppose the best you can do is keep an eye on Bethany, but you also run the chance of putting all this attention on someone who might not even be the one at risk, Bela.”
“We have been and of course she’s noticed - Garrett even made her wear a helmet for errands, for awhile there,” Bela chuckled dryly. But Bethany wasn’t an idiot, she knew something wa up - normally, her brother wasn’t so hovering. Whether or not the rest of the family knew about the dreams and such, Isabela wasn’t sure - but she imagined Hawke must have said something, given the sudden appearance of discovered treasure.
But she supposed it was true, the baby sister might not even be the one at risk anyway. It could just as easily be Carver, or Leandra, or maybe even Isabela herself. Judging by her lifestyle and her past? Wouldn’t be shocking if, say, an old enemy from the black market book business resurfaced. People got ruthless when millions of dollars were involved.
“The whole thing with the suitor though, that does bug me a bit,” she admitted. “Perhaps we are indeed missing something there.” Especially since Leandra was secretive about him, and met him online of all places.
Bela’s comment caused a brow to arch. “Indeed, there could definitely be something there,” she murmured, the strokes on Boulette’s curves (she couldn’t bring herself to call them fat rolls, the nug was sensitive!) more absentminded as she mulled that over. Briefly, her eyes went to follow the actions of the massive war canine and the two other ground dwellers - they were staying out of trouble for now, currently running in circles. Those simple creatures.
“I saw his post about it. He’s yet to meet this figure in his mother’s life?” Well, there could always be more mundane, complex reasons for that. Leandra maybe wasn’t ready to take the next step of introducing him to her grown children. Could be that it wasn’t anything too serious, either. Though with a warning such as death looming over that family, hood and scythe, all things needed to be equally considered. “His focus on Bethany could be a bit blinding, then. I could always look into it.”
Nightingale didn’t dirty her fingers in blood and the bubbling pot of politics and assassinations. Intel, however, she still had connections when necessary. Information was a powerful tool, and potentially helpful to those around her.
Aw, look at Boulette and her precious fat rolls! The chubby nug looked so content and squinty there in Leliana’s lap. Isabela shifted a little in the sand, brushing off the bottoms of her jeans, also an absent minded gesture while she mulled things over - and honeycomb eyes tightened briefly, at the thought of anything potentially happening to Leandra because of some OKCupid boyfriend, or wherever the fuck she met him.
“Garrett hasn’t met the fellow yet, no,” she confirmed - if he had, he’d have told Bela what he thought. However, he was still in the dark about his mother’s romantic life. “He sent her white lilies or something, which was what tipped him off about the man’s existence. But there’s not been a formal dinner or anything, to get to know each other. If you wanted to look into it though....well, that’s probably a good idea, right?”
It was what most people did anyway. They ran background checks, on new people they were dating. That was smart, because the other person could have a whole secret life or something. Better to be safe rather than sorry.
Right, yes. The white lilies. An odd choice - she knew someone had said they were associated with funerals and frankly, that’s what came to Leliana’s mind as well. One could also argue that it was reading into the entire thing too much, and white lilies were also a common choice when it came to weddings.
However.
She shifted in the sand too, more to the side so she could free one side of her bum to retrieve her phone in the depth of her pocket. “I will have someone trail her for a bit, perhaps?” She’d text Rosa, then. It’d be done. “We can look into her records. Track numbers and whatever digital data exists between the two. It could take a couple days, I know the agents have their hands filled with some things, but I promise to get you something.”
Even if she was out, she was still in the know, and regarded highly - with respect and fear. Those that remained loyal would always be her people, and if they were ever in some kind of dire situation she’d help. Considering she was an orphan, they were her family for the longest time.
A couple texts typed up, and… “There, favor notified.”
“Oh, brilliant,” Isabela felt a twinge of relief, glad that someone would be looking into this shady fellow (because he hadn’t introduced himself to his lady’s family either which was suspicious, and she didn’t exactly take Leandra for the fuck buddy type) but also felt a chill wash over her too. Matched the sudden brick of ice that settled in her stomach again, something distinctive to whenever she thought of all the happenings in Kirkwall. “I owe you, love. For looking into it. Anytime you need a favour, yes?”
She was pleased to help those she considered friends anyway. Isabela was a loyal ally, once you had somehow managed to finagle her onto your side - and a somewhat selfish pirate who didn’t give a fuck about anyone besides herself, well, that was difficult to do. “But all that aside...you’re doing well, with your fellow and the playing house and everything?”
“You owe me nothing,” Leliana promised, the smile on her lips soft and sincere. “I want you to have as much peace as you can with what you have for yourself - I know a death in the family would be detrimental to him, and by association, you.” But if Bela insisted on a favor, then she would oblige with something silly. Maybe text her from Shoegasm one day to request a smoothie. There, ‘debt’ repaid.
Rosa was capable. A good successor for the wetworks empire she had molded over the years from Marjolaine’s wreck. Something would come up soon and for the sake of this mysterious suitor, she hoped it’d be harmless. If not, well. Bela was proficient in the art of stabbing and one shouldn’t enrage a blood mage.
Leaning against Bela in some gesture of affection, she opened the cardigan up pull those polished dog tags to the surface. A very personal gift from her soldier, something she’d wear always. “More than well, actually, but things have been a little...difficult. The blood rain, the odd animal attacks. All from Gale’s dreams. His nightmare a reality. Hopefully the last we will see of it.”
“Ooh, look at those, they’re kind of like an engagement ring, right?” Bela leaned against Leliana in turn, close enough to lightly grasp the silver dog tags, so shiny, and give them a brief lookover. “Well, pre-engagement ring. Or something along those lines. But he shouldn’t beat himself up too badly over shit from his dreams seeping through - it happens all the time whether we want it to or not, I mean, just look at the Deep Roads.”
And the subsequent dragon (not to mention the rock golem thing as well), but Isabela was just glad there weren’t any Darkspawn to contend with. That would have gotten messy.
“Glad things are going well though, love. Once Hawke and I get the Hanged Man all set up you’ll bring him by, I hope, and have a drink. We’re quite looking forward to it.” And still brainstorming names for the cocktails dedicated to friends - Lady Manhands was definitely Aveline’s, and for Merrill Isabela was sort of going with Kitten’s Blood due to what she tended to affectionately call the elf and also her penchant for using blood magic. Clever, yeah?
Much better than an engagement ring, Leliana thought, but the sentiment seemed to be there - she had changed her entire lifestyle for this man to keep him safe. Definitely the serious sort of relationship that meant wedding bells in the future, but she at least wanted to meet his family first (and not on Skype) before an announcement like that became official. “Something like that,” she said fondly, running her finger along the chain. “It was a Valentine’s Gift. A little light through all that darkness. He knows what happened was not his fault, but sometimes you cannot help feeling responsible when it affects everyone.”
Emotion didn’t always match up with logic, sadly. No one had asked for this, and she’d be the little bird on his shoulder mimicking it. In due time he’d believe it a little more readily, too. And distractions would certainly help - like drinking at a place that was straight out of their dreams.
“I hope you do not intend to recreate that smell it had,” Leliana continued, amused. “I look forward to seeing how you both capture the authenticity of something like the Hanged Man. It ought to be rather...interesting, no?”
Yes. Interesting. Quite the word for it.
“Oh, you mean the smell of urine, sweat, and dirty socks, with a side of rat droppings?” Isabela grinned, obviously quite fond of that place in Lowtown despite its rather unsavoury appearance. And stench. It was home for awhile, and Bela felt comfortable there with the rest of the gutter rats - she wasn’t some fancy slag who required herself to be dripping in diamonds and pearls. No, she was perfectly fine with slumming it.
But they wanted actual customers for their recreation here, so some aspects just couldn’t be mimicked entirely. “It’ll definitely be a medieval theme,” she continued, glancing at Dog and the nugs to check on them, but they were digging in the sand toward China or whatever, and seemed happy enough. “Lots of golden lamplight and casks and rich colours and all that. Good drinks and a room or two above, but definitely no piss smell. I believe we’re aiming for clean and well put together.”
Yes, that’s exactly what she had been referring to - just not in that much detail. “I hope you don’t hire a bartender that keeps talking about the pigeon population dive, either,” Leliana chuckled. Her time in Kirkwall was spent mostly in the shadows, assessing the brewing situation to see if an Exalted March was a necessary solution. Not that it mattered in the end; the city burned, and became the beacon of revolution for mage rights. The Hanged Man had been the prime spot to collect rumors to follow through despite it’s...lacking ambiance, shall we say.
But she supported the rebuilding of such a thing here for nostalgia reasons, and she had faith they wouldn’t let their project violate health code regulations. It was roots for Isabela too. Oh, how things change - months ago she’d been against the idea of staying in one place, but now…
“I am proud of you, Isabela.” A gentle elbow nudge. “You have come along way. Are you happy, then? With everything?”
“Surprisingly so, yes.” Isabela wrapped her arms around her legs, sitting there on the sand, cheek resting on her knees - and there was truth to what she said, she actually was happy. And funnily enough, she wasn’t afraid of that concept either, wasn’t going to beat herself up over not deserving it or freeze in a panic when she thought about the future. She would just take every day one at a time, and enjoy this. It had been awhile since she’d done something like that.
Had also been awhile since she’d had someone on her side, through thick and thin. Someone who supported her and believed in her, which was something not even her own family could say they did.
“I’ve a feeling that things will get worse, then they’ll get better as they always do - the ups and downs of life, you know? But I promised Garrett I’d come through for him, and I meant it. I’m not going anywhere,” she stated. It was an iron-clad vow - she would follow him to hell and back, willingly.
“Such is the way of life, no?” Ups and downs, the good and bad. Their lives here were a bit more complicated than most but it brought them to the friends they had, the ones they loved - Leliana wouldn’t trade it for anything else. It was good to stay, in case those who shared the same dreamscape came along - Thedas wasn’t the easiest life to live, and it helped to have support.
Part of her was even tempted to reach out to Morrigan to offer an ear if she needed, but truth be told it was hard to let dream prejudices slide, and she still wouldn’t trust that ratchet swamp witch. Especially when that magic of hers came in, though perhaps it was best to start out with giving her the benefit of the doubt.
An arm draped around the pirate queen’s shoulders. “If it helps, you two end up running off together from what I’ve dreamt,” she informed, squeezing her arm. Some things for people were different, there was even a female version of the Warden (she was a bit odd?) that had shown up, but their versions seemed to match up thus far - and she hoped it would remain that was, for the better. “After enduring a lot, I may add, but what has happened there - and what will happen here - will only make you stronger.”
Isabela grinned broadly. “Oh, do we? I’m kind of glad we run off together - I was wondering what became of us, after everything.” Apparently, there was a lot that went down after the events of Kirkwall - whatever those were, but naturally no one wanted to spoil Bela. Everyone else probably knew everything, and she wasn’t about to ask. Some things were just meant to be dreamed in their own time - though having the minor, ‘sort of happy ending’ spoiler was somewhat nice. She was relieved to know that whatever she had with Hawke persevered - even if she had an inkling it would, no matter what. Those feelings were real.
“Well, I suppose we’ll see what’s in store next. Come on then, shall we head back in?” she asked, standing to dust off the back of her perfectly (this rump looked amazing, thank you) fitted jeans. “I’m sure Dog’s hungry again, and I’ve got some lettuce and things for your babies too.”
Boulette had passed out on her human’s left, stirring from one of them making a dramatic shift up. Dog and the other two chubby little dirt dwellers seemed content to lie together in some kind of trifecta as the tide washed on them a little every couple seconds, all tuckered out. Must be a hard life to live! “You’ve wine, I assume?” Leliana smirked, scooping up the animal in her arms to stand as well. She was sure Bela had something alcoholic. “I could go for a little sustenance myself, if it involves a drink.”
And hopefully they’d get a response on Leandra’s suitor soon to help ease their minds. Something familiar stirred in Leliana again, something she felt like she should remember but couldn’t, and she hoped it’d come to her soon.