If you insist. [ Cassandra's voice drips with suspicion and she keeps her jaw tight, even as Lavellan makes herself at home on her couch. ] What do you wish to speak of?
[ What little tone she had of authority vanishes. She looks up at Cassandra the way she did when the Seeker dragged her through Haven, with wide eyes and an imploring look. ]
I want to know how you are, how you're settling in. How you like this place. [ A beat. ] Anything, Cassandra. Whatever you're comfortable with talking about.
[ Cassandra only gives Lavellan a stressed scoff, a roll of her eyes as she shifts her weight again. At least Cassandra finally moves away from her weapons. ] Fine.
[ Adaar would never ask her those questions, and if she did, Cassandra's answers would only be met with scorn and distaste. Cassandra finds she adopts Adaar's distaste and mirrors it back at the one asking the questions. ] Eudio has proven to be endlessly frustrating. If it was not for the city's offer, I would not stay.
[ Lavellan wills herself to be stubborn, like Cassandra, because if she backs down now, she'll only continue this cycle of misunderstanding. If she keeps asking questions-- Well, it could just infuriate her further. But it might lead to some answers.
When Cassandra says she would go back, she forces herself not to react as she might. Fear clenches in her gut, not simply for Cassandra's safety and her world - Adaar sounds like a cruel Inquisitor to return to - but because she does not want to see a friend disappear as Solas already has, with so many unanswered questions and open wounds.
If anything, her eyes hint at the sadness she feels, but she keeps her expression as neutral as possible, if not surprised. ] Why? What's happened?
You know exactly what happened, Inquisitor Lavellan. [ Cassandra scoffs, disgusted with how the Inquisitor plays stupid with her, as if Cassandra some bumbling child. She shifts her stance again, moving back towards the door and her weapons. There is a great many things that Cassandra dislikes about Eudio but what stands out so intensely is the feeling that she's wrong, different, incorrect. Anders stands, protected and wanted by his peers, and wherever Anders' touch has reached, lies follow. ]
[ But perhaps Cassandra is wrong. No one seems to see what she sees. Everyone trusts this woman sitting in front of her and yet she only smells a snake. That makes her the odd woman out. ] Do not try and play coy, I can see through whatever falsities you are trying to feed me.
I'm not attempting to play coy, Cassandra. I want to know from you what's the problem.
[ She's not getting anywhere with this, is she? Lavellan frowns and says nothing for a time, simply watching Cassandra, seeing her go towards the door and her weapons. If she meant to strike her down right there, would she have the time and the capability to stop her before a blade ends up in her chest? Perhaps that's what's most upsetting, that Cassandra might even be contemplating physical action at this point and talking is just making her feel worse.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be), she knows of at least one core issue Cassandra must have, considering what Nathaniel has told her. ]
I didn't know Anders was here when we arrived. Like any apostate, he's good at hiding and running off. [ She does not say that with any mirth. ] I went to speak to Nathaniel Howe, to assure him of what the Wardens had done and that we were giving them a second chance by keeping the Warden Order together. That's...when I found out he was there and that they lived together.
[ In hindsight, perhaps she should have left and gone to get the others before making decisions on her own. ]
Anders' life was put into Hawke's hands by the leaders of Kirkwall - Knight-Commander Meredith and First Enchanter Orsino - and Hawke was to make a decision regarding his fate. I think that effectively keeps us from making any real decisions against him. I have asked that he be left alone here, as we have no authority to punish or judge him. [ Her gaze lifts to Cassandra. ] That was before you arrived. And you didn't know who I was, didn't trust me, and still do not.
[ It's as Lavellan speaks that Cassandra suddenly realizes why she is truly here. It is as Cassandra expected-- it is not simply to speak. What Lavellan is saying it's... reprisal, like she has the authority to do so. Cassandra has already made promises to Varric and Nathaniel that Anders will remain safe and unharmed from her hand and here is a woman Cassandra does not respect trying to shame her. The anger that flairs in her chest is like wildfire. ] Unbelievable.
Lies sound like honey on your tongue, I should have known. You are not here to speak to me about my time in this city, you are here to chastise me-- as if you have right to do so. I have made my promises that Anders will see no harm fall to him from my hand already, and I will not restate myself to you.
[ And that's Cassandra turning and pulling open the door, glaring at Lavellan. ] Leave. Go back to your companions that do not see you for what you are.
[ The anger she feels rushes within her, boiling hot and festering, and she nearly lashes out at Cassandra for it. Nathaniel has encouraged her to speak to Cassandra and for what? To push her through on a promise she had already made? She feels like a fool, like she's been led astray, and now what little progress she might have made towards anything resembling comfort around Cassandra has fallen away.
The heavy resentment pushes her to her feet and when she might have said something else, might have stood up for the people she calls friends...it's useless at this point. And what do you see me as? A liar, a murderer? A knife-eared heathen?
But that is not fair to her. That isn't what she means. Lavellan shakes her head and simply walks past Cassandra, out the door, and away. ]
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[ What little tone she had of authority vanishes. She looks up at Cassandra the way she did when the Seeker dragged her through Haven, with wide eyes and an imploring look. ]
I want to know how you are, how you're settling in. How you like this place. [ A beat. ] Anything, Cassandra. Whatever you're comfortable with talking about.
no subject
[ Adaar would never ask her those questions, and if she did, Cassandra's answers would only be met with scorn and distaste. Cassandra finds she adopts Adaar's distaste and mirrors it back at the one asking the questions. ] Eudio has proven to be endlessly frustrating. If it was not for the city's offer, I would not stay.
no subject
When Cassandra says she would go back, she forces herself not to react as she might. Fear clenches in her gut, not simply for Cassandra's safety and her world - Adaar sounds like a cruel Inquisitor to return to - but because she does not want to see a friend disappear as Solas already has, with so many unanswered questions and open wounds.
If anything, her eyes hint at the sadness she feels, but she keeps her expression as neutral as possible, if not surprised. ] Why? What's happened?
no subject
[ But perhaps Cassandra is wrong. No one seems to see what she sees. Everyone trusts this woman sitting in front of her and yet she only smells a snake. That makes her the odd woman out. ] Do not try and play coy, I can see through whatever falsities you are trying to feed me.
no subject
[ She's not getting anywhere with this, is she? Lavellan frowns and says nothing for a time, simply watching Cassandra, seeing her go towards the door and her weapons. If she meant to strike her down right there, would she have the time and the capability to stop her before a blade ends up in her chest? Perhaps that's what's most upsetting, that Cassandra might even be contemplating physical action at this point and talking is just making her feel worse.
Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be), she knows of at least one core issue Cassandra must have, considering what Nathaniel has told her. ]
I didn't know Anders was here when we arrived. Like any apostate, he's good at hiding and running off. [ She does not say that with any mirth. ] I went to speak to Nathaniel Howe, to assure him of what the Wardens had done and that we were giving them a second chance by keeping the Warden Order together. That's...when I found out he was there and that they lived together.
[ In hindsight, perhaps she should have left and gone to get the others before making decisions on her own. ]
Anders' life was put into Hawke's hands by the leaders of Kirkwall - Knight-Commander Meredith and First Enchanter Orsino - and Hawke was to make a decision regarding his fate. I think that effectively keeps us from making any real decisions against him. I have asked that he be left alone here, as we have no authority to punish or judge him. [ Her gaze lifts to Cassandra. ] That was before you arrived. And you didn't know who I was, didn't trust me, and still do not.
no subject
Lies sound like honey on your tongue, I should have known. You are not here to speak to me about my time in this city, you are here to chastise me-- as if you have right to do so. I have made my promises that Anders will see no harm fall to him from my hand already, and I will not restate myself to you.
[ And that's Cassandra turning and pulling open the door, glaring at Lavellan. ] Leave. Go back to your companions that do not see you for what you are.
no subject
[ The anger she feels rushes within her, boiling hot and festering, and she nearly lashes out at Cassandra for it. Nathaniel has encouraged her to speak to Cassandra and for what? To push her through on a promise she had already made? She feels like a fool, like she's been led astray, and now what little progress she might have made towards anything resembling comfort around Cassandra has fallen away.
The heavy resentment pushes her to her feet and when she might have said something else, might have stood up for the people she calls friends...it's useless at this point. And what do you see me as? A liar, a murderer? A knife-eared heathen?
But that is not fair to her. That isn't what she means. Lavellan shakes her head and simply walks past Cassandra, out the door, and away. ]