driftfleet_ooc | Fall Test Drive!

[Leliana wasn't far behind, actually tailing this one to see if she could lure him to get information about the slave trades. Instead she finds an even greater surprise hearing a word that she was familiar with from home, coming from an unfamiliar face. The elven woman seemed more than capable of handling her attacker but Leliana still had a her wits about her just in case. Watching the fluid way she moved, her hands immediately finding purchase into her enemy, made adrenaline pump in her veins. It was like watching a lioness grab her dinner with her teeth. She enjoyed the thrill of a fight like that, even if very few were aware of that part of her. She kept that side of her buried beneath the cool and collected Chantry Sister.]

Careful you don't break his arm. [She was standing there watching the two of them with an amused smile. It wasn't often she allowed her own prey to get away from her so easily.]

He seems to have lost his way but you don't seem all that lost yourself.

[She gestures to the obvious position the man's found himself in, being pinned by one woman and tailed by another.]

[That voice. It was different, changed perhaps by time or experience, but it was unmistakable all the same. She'd know that voice anywhere, whispering to her, laughing, telling her tale after tale as they lay together.]

Leli? [It's a hopeful sigh, a softness to her features that hadn't been there a second before. The man made to move, seeming to sense the change in his captor, but that harsh look returned to Lark's face and she slammed him to the wall again, elbow digging into his spine.]

Try that again and I'll be sure it's your spine I break.

[Lark looked back to Leliana, that sharp edge still in her voice and face, but it wasn't for the woman in front of her.]

You have need of him?

[Almost instinctively she freezes. That nickname was usually between her and Riona and yet this woman used it so easily, her voice soft like a caress. It made her stomach drop. Had this been how Alistair had felt not knowing Riona? This caged feeling of dread. She couldn't imagine hurting Riona by not knowing her but this person - she didn't know her. What was she to do with that?

It had been amusing to imagine her with a Warden mage, an Amell, as Alistair had told her, but this woman wasn't an Amell. She was an elf and a fierce and prideful woman by the look of her. She knew her own strength and in that Leliana saw bits of herself reflected back at her. We must have been close...]

He could be connected to some slave traders I've been investigating.

[She keeps her expression neutral, her words as cool as a pond that rippled outward around her. She didn't want to hurt this person, whoever she was. She could still remember the relief on Riona's face when she realized that she knew her. She didn't want to cause someone else pain for that relief.

Wheels still turning in her head, Leliana approaches, resting a hand against the back of the man's neck with a soft yet sinister curve of her lips.]

Talk, or I would be worried for the state of your spine. She could mean what she says.

[Something was wrong. There was something in her lover's eyes that bothered her, but it needed to wait until they were done here.

Leliana speaks softly to the man, but Lark can hear the daggers in her voice. Another thing different. Leli had always been dangerous, no doubt, but she wore it like a cloak now rather than a hidden current under her usual demeanor.

It was different...but Lark had to admit it was also kinda hot.]

No! Please! I've got names. I can give 'em to ya, just call off your damn dog.

[The dig at her made Lark press the sharp metal edge further into the kin of the man's neck, causing him to yelp when a thin trickle of blood pooled over the rough edge.

Still, Lark looked to Leliana for her verdict all the same. If it were her call, this man would already be dead or damaged, but that satisfaction would have to wait.]

Let's hear it, then. Information first and then your attempted victim can decide from there what is best to do with you.

[She was more than happy to let this elven woman do whatever she thought was necessary punishment.]

Are there still more slaves waiting to be bought and sold?

[She releases his head, drawing her hand to rest over Lark's wrist as a silent word of caution. The last thing they needed was a dead man on their hands.]

[The man promised to talk and talk he did, blathering on and on about every small thing he could come up with. It was pathetic, but predictable. As soon as he'd sworn he'd told them all he knew, Lark spun the man around and punched him square in the face with the hand that held the metal piece, knocking him out cold.

She dropped the scrap to the ground, a bit of her blood now on it too from where it had dug into her hand. Creators, she missed her daggers. She shook her hand out, the knuckles sore from punching the man but she turned a cheeky smile to Leliana. For just a moment, she forgot there was anything wrong.]

Hope you were done with him because I sure was!

I admit, I was a little afraid you weren't here with me.

[Cheeky smile flashing briefly into something brighter and more earnest, Lark stepped into Leliana's space, intending to lean up for a kiss.]

[The man collapsing to the ground is immediately forgotten when the Warden stepped into her space, their breaths mingling for only seconds before she feels the brush of her lips against hers. It was like having a bucket of ice come crashing over her head.

The last anyone she had been so intimate with had been Marjolaine and that had gone crashing down in a glorious bout of flames. She'd been young and foolish and awed by her tales of intrigue only for it to bite her in the end like the viper she was.]

I- [She would definitely be seen as amiss for her complete rejection, but it was best to get it out of the way.]

I'm n- Maker how did Alistair explain this...? Probably stumbled all over himself, damned it all... [There was no way she made sense, but it was clear she was not in a mood for kissing. She puts a gentle hand between the two of them, resting against the woman's chest as she steps back.]

I'm not- I'm not her - the Leliana you remember. This place - it has a way of bringing people from different times, different versions of the same world. In your world you remember me as a lover but I-

[She takes a deep breath, removing her hand from the woman only to bring it over her face.]

I'm so sorry. This is a mistake of some kind. I can't- how is that even fair to say...?

[She laughs bitterly, looking off to the side as if she could find all the answers in the dilapidated stalls around them or perhaps Riona would magically appear beside her with comfort and guidance.]

[There it was. The moment Leliana wasn't rushing to meet her, that was the confirmation she needed. It was her words that finally spelled out the details. That was what was missing from her eyes: recognition.

The pit of her stomach fell out and her heart clenched painfully. 'I feel safe in your arms. Accepted.' Her beautiful bard...she'd opened up her heart to her and now...

She couldn't stop the pain, it hit full force and winded her. It was too many questions and uncertainty and confusion and her mind spun- but she would not let this place get the better of her. She was not weak and, no matter what Wynne thought, heartbreak would not make her falter.

A smile slipped onto her face, it was weaker, the pain still fresh in it, but it was not forced. Her hand came up as though to stroke Leliana's cheek, but she hesitated and set it on her arm instead.]

I will take comfort in the fact they did not take you from me fully. We are both still here, even if you do not know me as I know you.

[A bit more bold, her fingers came up to stroke a bit at the ends of that soft red hair as her eyes darted around Leliana's face to take in every detail.]

You're older...but you are still just as beautiful. Just as strong. [Her hand fell, hopeful her open affection did not scare her bard off.]

[She felt as if there was something stuck in her throat. For months she had felt so vulnerable, unable to fully articulate her feelings of anger and grief, and lashed out at others like Anders and Justice, at Adawolfe. She hadn't trusted the latter for the things he had told Riona and yet here she was not sure if this woman should even trust her, given their introduction. Instead she was showing complete faith in her. It hurt that she couldn't allow herself to ask the same of those who did know her here, even if she knew she had such faith and devotion from Riona as well.

Letting out a huff of air, she doesn't pull away even if instincts tell her that this is someone unknown touching her so casually. Instinct told her to step away.]

A lot has changed... ten years since the Blight, in fact.

[Part of her wants to know if this woman lives through the Blight too, if they are happy together despite their duties inevitably pulling them apart. She was a chantry sister and her duties lay with Justinia for so long and before now she had never regretted or questioned that. Now? She wondered if perhaps that she had a different fate. Had they gone together and had adventures? Had they been so madly in love that they never left one another's side? She had so many questions that had no answers. Yet her romantic heart wanted to know. Just the thought made her pulse speed up a bit when she touched the ends of her hair.]

[Ten yeas was a long time. Half Lark's own lifetime. People changed in ten years, no exceptions. Her expression turned soft. Something only for the woman in front of her to see. The only person she'd ever trusted enough to be soft around.

She held out her hand.]

Hello, Leliana. My name is Lark Mahariel, Hero of Ferelden. I'd love to get to know this you as well, if you'll have me.

[Leliana takes her hand, trying her best to bite down how frustrated all of this makes her feel.]

Of course. It would be an honor, naturally. The Hero of Ferelden isn't someone I could turn away so easily.

[She smiles a bit hesitantly, clasping her hand in both of hers.]

It's a pleasure to meet you.

[The smile, even hesitant, is something Lark cherishes and she lets her eyes linger, studying the way Leliana's face now moved when she talked or smiled. She meant what she said, she'd learn the differences and similarities and keep careful track of every single thing. Their time together...she wanted to win Leliana back, but even if it was never the same, she'd accept having her close by.

The softness fell back under layers of sharp edges and blunt attitudes as she pulled her hand back and crossed her arms. Time for business.]

So, slavers out here too, huh? Need any more faces punched in? I've got some aggression I feel I might need to work out.

I think that could be arranged - though I'm still searching for solid leads as to the heart of the operation.

[The very existence of it here was immoral. It was deplorable and just plain disgusting to have something like that exist right under her nose. She wouldn't let it continue if she could help it.]

Walk with me? We could talk some more.

[About the slavers and... other things. She still felt conflicted about the latter but it didn't stop her from being intrigued.]

[Lark nodded and gestured for Leliana to lead on, leaving Lark to fall in step with her.]

How long have you been here? Not in this place, but on these ships. And do you know me at all or are the events that you remember completely different?

[Was Leliana still in Lothering? Was it a different Warden who survived Ostagar? Was Lark a Warden at all or was she still back with the Sabrae clan with Tamlen and Marathari? Or was she simply dead or a ghoul with the taint from the mirror left unchecked? She didn't like having all these questions.]

[It was easier for them to walk and talk, to get all of this information gathering out of the way. At the same time that question means she can distinguish what they both know and do not know.]

It's been about half a year since I arrived to the fleet. I know a Warden, but you are not that person. She is a Noble born woman from Highever. I am not sure what events differ between us, but I don't know that my part in it was the same. What about you? How did we meet? The Warden I met came to Lothering and that is how she and I met, but I have learned that sometimes events differ.

[Always between the Warden, Hawke, or the Inquisitor.]

[A noble woman? She tried not to pull a face for Leliana's sake. Lark had yet to meet a noble woman she actually liked, they usually lived perpetually with their heads up their own asses.]

We met the same way. Alistair, Morrigan and I made it to Lothering and found you and Sten.

[She becomes even more crestfallen for a moment as she realized she didn't even have her best friend here. Sten would lay down the hard truth for her...and his arm was thick and perfect for leaning against. With Leliana not even recognizing her, Lark longed for that kind of quite support.]

...What else would you have me tell you?

[A Pause and she couldn't keep the frown from her face.]

Wait...this noble woman you knew, did she fall for Alistair's rose thing?

[Don't get her wrong, it was sweet, but the guy just couldn't hold a candle to Leliana and her baby blues.]

[She listens with earnest, even laughing a bit at the mention of Alistair's "rose thing".]

I thought it was sweet! He's always been awkward, hasn't he.

[Even asking for her advice on how to talk to Riona. Honestly "You're a woman..." Alistair you big doofus.]

I'd love to hear more about you. The Dalish always have interesting stories, though I imagine I dragged them out of you when we first met.

I mean, it was, he's just like a brother to me...it wasn't so welcome on my end.

[She'd had to turn him down then and cement it further when he'd asked if she loved Leliana.

What Leliana says about the Dalish, however, brings a fond if slightly amused look.]

You implied I might be happy as a servant to an Orlesian noble. You tried to explain to me how the servants in Orlais lived good lives and I had to explain to you how comfort wasn't a priority to me.

It was an interesting conversation for the both of us.

But then you told me about Aveline and I told you about my clan. Clan Sabrae. They moved north when the blight was starting.

[And Fenris had said...she bit it back.]

I was a hunter for my clan, a damn good one, but then my...a friend and I found an ancient mirror steeped in taint and, of course, we got sick. I joined the Wardens and he died.

[She hadn't even talked to Leliana about Tamlen when the ghoul had come to their camp. She'd put him out of his misery and gone off by herself to shed tears for him. When she'd come back, all she'd wanted then was to lay in her lady's arms and forget.]

Ah, I see.

[It was strange, how events diverged, but then that was always the freedom of choice at work. Riona and Lark had both made their choices. Where and who it lead them to was also their own.]

I- oh. Well, I can't deny that it's true. The elves in Orlais are usually much happier.

[Usually. The rebellion in Halamshiral told a different story. The city elves' revolt had nearly cost Celene her seat on the throne, along with her life. The way the Empress dealt with it - murdering them, more or less, had never sat right with her.]

I am sorry for your friend. To die in such a way-

[Instead of finishing the thought, she just shakes her head.]

To lose any friend... it is never easy.

[Most days, it wasn't easy for her. Justinia had been a huge part of her life and since her passing there had only been emptiness that followed.]

I'll tell you what I told you before. [She smirked slightly.] Freedom is worth more than comfort. I'll take the freedom to live and die as I choose over a soft bed and a golden leash any day.

But it barely matters, it's past now.

[And that includes Tamlen. Her feelings there would go with her to her grave, she was sure.]

Thank you. The same to you, Vhenan. You carry loss in your eyes and I'm sorry something happened to put it there.

At any rate, I would be happy to tell you the stories again, if I might ask for it to be a trade, a story for a story.

Not so many are as sure of themselves, or as fortunate to choose.

[As for the talk of losses - the term of endearment Lark uses definitely makes her feel lighter somehow. She wasn't Riona but she still felt as if perhaps some days he could open up to her in the same way.]

I wouldn't mind it - I love stories, of course. What stories did you like to hear me tell you?

[It had been a long time since she'd ever felt up to telling fun stories, not until recently.]

[She considered a moment. She could always ask for one of them again, she did like some of the stories involving Andraste...but she'd had that whole conversation with Leliana back home, maybe that conversation was better had another day.]

I don't believe I ever asked you what your favorite story was.

My favorite? Maybe the story of Aveline. It was quite cunning of her, wouldn't you say? Tricking the other chevallier up until her death.

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