The night was young, and the bar was full already. The Hanged Man was a dive, but it was my dive, filled with the kind of people you wanted to stay friends with. Loud music drowned out most of the conversations, which was probably a blessing. Girls in short, shimmering dresses flung themselves around the dance floor, moving around their partners with frenetic energy. Colourful cocktails sloshed about, smoke wafted its way towards the ceiling from countless cigarettes. Another normal night at the Hanged Man, until she walked in.

I took a moment to appreciate her. With women like the Seeker, you took risks getting an eyeful, but it was always worth it. She hadn't spotted me yet, so I took my time looking. The Seeker's legs went on for miles, her body long and pliant, but sturdy. Her dark hair was cropped too short for fashion, but it only emphasized the harshness of her cheekbones, and her dark eyes, hot as coals. She looked good, in her crisp charcoal suit, but in a joint like the Hanged Man, the Seeker was out of place.

Mine weren't the only eyes tracking the Seeker's progress through the bar. Several shifty looking pairs of eyes followed her through the bar's hazy atmosphere. Most of the smart ones took a quick survey and saw the same thing I saw- messing with the Seeker would get you burned. The others were probably about to learn a harsh lesson, if they tried anything.

The Seeker's questing gaze finally found me, and there was no more denying that it was me she was after. In retrospect, I thought, going back to Kirkwall had probably been a bad choice. Not if I wanted to stay off the radar.

"Varric." Short, but definitely not sweet. The Seeker loomed over me, arms hanging loose at her side.

"Cassandra." I tipped my glass in her direction. "Care for a drink or are we skipping straight to the interrogation?"

The Seeker wrinkled her nose. On anyone else, it would've been adorable. On the Seeker's stern face, it was more the look of someone who's wondering what that smell is.

"Always charming, Seeker." I took a drink, slung one arm over the back of my chair, and waited. Either the Seeker would relent, or I'd wind up with a fist in the face.

With an expression of extreme distaste, the Seeker pulled out the chair opposite mine, and sat down.

Silence reigned over our table, interrupted by the waitress, and by several intoxicated dancing ladies shimmying by to say hello.

I'm a patron of the arts, what can I say?

The Seeker watched all the carrying on with a wary, suspicious gaze. Once the girls left, leaving only the scent of cigarettes and perfume behind them, I couldn't resist giving the Seeker a wink, smiling as I settled back into my chair.

"What brings you to Kirkwall, Seeker? Up for a little R&R? Wondering how the rebuilding was going?" I laughed. Unimpressed, the Seeker gave me a flat look, and I couldn't resist adding "R&R, Seeker? Means rest and relaxation. I was wondering if you were familiar with the concept."

Lightning fast, her face darkened like a thundercloud.

"I am familiar with both, dwarf", she growled. "I am here on business. On behalf of the Inquisition."

"That so? What's so important it merits the Seeker coming all the way out here to chat? Or am I just lucky?" I asked.

I never could get over how every emotion showed on the Seeker's face. Made you wonder how she'd risen to be Right Hand of the Divine with such a shitty poker face.

"It is a sensitive matter", the Seeker spat out. "The Inquisitor would appreciate your… help."

"You know if you missed me that much, you could've just said so."

Being a smartass is going to be the death of me, one day. The Seeker's desire to shake me like a terrier shakes a rat was written across her face so strongly, you'd have to be blind to miss it.

Subtly, a few bar patrons shifted, prepared for whatever was going to happen next. For a moment, the bar was on edge, waiting to see what the Seeker would do.

"On behalf of the Inquisition, I am to… partner with you and solve our current problem. Quietly." the Seeker gritted out. "It is a delicate matter. One we do not wish to spread, and one which you have a personal stake in."

Well. Shit.