A/N: Please bare with me, because I really AM slow at this. Most of the DA2 characters will be making an appearance. And hopefully you guys will like my rambling ways! Thanks for stopping in to check this out. Reviews...good OR bad would be really appreciated!
TheChemistJorax and fahRENheit2006...this is more or less your doing! So you guys have no one to blame but yourselves!
RIIIIIING
RIIIIIING
RIIIIIING
*GROAN*
RIIIIIING
*BANG*
RIIIIIING
*THUD*
RIIIIIING
"OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!"
RIIIIIING
A hand shot out from under a pile of covers.
"YOU BETTER BE DEAD OR DYING!"
"Well Hello to you too Isabela" said a cheery voice on the other end of the line.
"Varric? Is that you? Do you KNOW what time it is here?" Isabela growled back. "It's the middle of the night! Do you know what people do in the middle of the night Varric? People sleep!" she continued "That's what people do in the middle of the night!"
*SLAM*
RIIIIIING
RIIIIIING
RIIIIIING
"I'm going to cut off your balls and feed them to a shark, little man!"
"Well, that's certainly uncalled for Isabela." Varric replied with a chuckle.
"F YOU!"
*SLAM*
RIIIIIING
RIIIIIING
RIIIIIING
"Isabela's residence. How may I help you?" answered a male voice.
"OMG, why are you being nice to him? Hang up!" Isabela grumbled.
"Put Bela on, whoever you are."
"Here" the phone was thrust in Bela's general direction. "He says he wants to talk to you."
"Well, I don't want to talk to HIM!"
*SLAM*
RIIIIIING
"FINE! You win! What do you want?" Isabela barked.
"Well since it's 2...in the AFTERNOON! I was just wondering why in the blue blazes my boat was still docked at the marina?" Varric asked, all pretense of levity gone from his voice.
The covers moved, a bleary dark eye peeked out, followed by a second bleary dark eye. That pair of eyes took in the light streaming through the window, the read out on the bedside clock, and then a pair of lips uttered an "OH SHIT!"
"That about sums it up Bela! I want you in my office in 30 minutes! Dump the cabin boy. I don't even care if its over board!"
*SLAM*
"SHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT" Isabela made it sound like a mantra. She leapt out of bed and promptly stepped on one of the empty beer bottles scattered on the floor of her cabin.
*CLATTER*
*THUD*
"SHIIIIIIIIT!" She yelled as her feet shot out from under her and she ended up sprawled on the floor.
"OUCH!"
"Ummmm...Captain?" The so called "cabin boy" ventured timidly.
"Get Out!"
"But?!"
"OUT!"
She was back on her feet, rubbing her smarting butt cheek, as she grabbed a hold of the covers and pulled...HARD. All the blankets tumbled to the floor. Leaving a very naked and disheveled young man blinking questioningly up at her. "I'm NOT joking here Bob!"
The young man continued to blink up at her confused.
"Tom? Steve? Jim? John?" She asked narrowing her eyes.
He shook his head.
"OK, whatever your name is." She scooped up a pair of briefs from the floor, and then a pair of jeans. She thrust those articles into his hands. Then grabbed his hair and tugged him off the bed.
"OW!"
She shoved him out the cabin door. "I told you...GET OUT!" She tripped over a boot, which she scooped up and then threw it out of the cabin door after him.
33 minutes later an out of breath Isabela burst through Varric's door. "Imsorryiwasreallytryingtogethere.."
"Take a seat" her boss cut her off. He had a smug grin on his face which he was trying (unsuccessfully) to hide. He gave her a once over, bursting out laughing when he got to her head. He tried several times to contain his laughter, finally managing a "Got dressed in a hurry did ya?"
Isabela narrowed her eyes, then stood up and walked over to the full length mirror hanging on the back of Varric's office door.
Smug son of a gun. Who else would have a full length mirror in their office. Isabela mused.
She took in the black flip flops, her denim cut offs, her white tank top...all the while thinking that she looked damn fine. Until her dark eyes reached her unruly mop of dark curls. And she froze in horror.
"OMGOMGOMGOMG!"
*THUD* Varric fell off his chair and literally rolled around on the floor laughing.
On top of Isabela's head, instead of her blue bandana, was a pair of very sexy blue briefs.
She sank to the floor and buried her face in her hands. After a few minutes she found that she was laughing at herself right along with Varric.
"Oh Bela!" Her boss finally managed between his gales of laughter, "I think we really need to talk! How long have we known each other? 10? 15 years?"
"12 and a half."
"And in all that time I've considered you one of the best sea captains I've ever met. A total natural! But lately...things haven't been going so well. With all your boozing and your whoring, work has come to a standstill. Especially when you keep sleeping your way through your entire crew!" Varric's features had turned serious as he spoke. "You are like a little sister to me, but I'm still a business man here."
Isabela hid her face in her hands as she listened to Varric. She knew what was coming, she didn't want to lose her ship, but she knew it was over. She actually couldn't believe that he had waited so long to let her go. She had known it would be painful, she just didn't expect it to hurt THIS much.
"I know something's been eating you up, I've been hoping that you would find your own way and figure out how to deal with whatever has caused you this much grief. But it's been almost 3 years, and I can't sit by any longer." Varric continued in his soft voice.
"Stop being so damn nice and just fire me already!" Isabela leapt up to her feet. Fists clenched by her sides and tears streaming down her face. "You and I both know I deserve it. So just stop sugarcoating it already!"
Varric just starred at her with a mixture of sadness and amusement. He took his time before he spoke again. "I think you should just take a seat. Wether i'm being nice or an ass should be a decision saved for later."
"WHAT?" Isabela unclenched her fists and ran her hands over her face. All of a sudden she was just so damn tired, so damn tired of hurting. She found the other chair and sank into it. "What are you talking about old man?"
Varric broke into a huge smile. "Welllll" he drawled, "for starters...I'm NOT firing you."
"WHAT?" She looked up at him, absolutely stunned. "Wait...WHAT? NOT fired? How can that be?"
"Well, I've decided to do something extremely stupid, from a "business" point of view." Varric continued, still with a huge smile all over his features. "But hopefully from a "friend" point of view, it'll be the right thing to do!"
She was still looking at him with disbelief written all over her face, but now he could see a spark of something he hadn't seen in her eyes in almost 3 years...hope!
"I'm giving you a shot at a comeback, redemption if you will. With a new ship and a new crew. But...I DO expect something in return" His look had turned serious again.
"I..." she faltered.
"Yes?"
"What do you need from me?" She finally asked. Not looking at him.
"I don't "need" anything from you." He said softly.
Her eyes snapped up to his. Silently questioning him with a raised eye brow.
"I don't "need" you to do anything...but I would "like" for you to give "yourself" a chance."
Isabela looked away from him for a second, then all of a sudden she jumped up and launched herself at him. He uttered a surprised "OOMPH" when she connected with him, almost knocking both of them off his chair. He laughed awkwardly, slightly embarrassed. She kissed him on the cheek, and with a wicked gleam in her eyes, waggled her eye brows at him. This time his laugh was genuine and he pushed her off his lap. "Didn't we just talk about this?" He laughed shaking his head. "You really ARE incorrigible!"
She was laughing as well, her demeanor relaxing. Changing back to her "devil may care" attitude. The previous moments of tears, anxiety, and awkwardness all but forgotten. "Welllllll...you can't blame a girl for trying, when you are just so..."
"Suave?" He asked with a raised eye brow.
She stepped back and studied him with a finger on her lips. "Hmmmm...no, that's not it"
"Debonaire?" He questioned again.
She scrunched her eyes "No, that's not it either."
He broke into a huge smile and winked, "Handsome?"
Her face lit up as well and she laughed, "I was thinking...cute?!"