"Oh, who is that?"
"Who? Ah. I've never seen him before."
"Is he looking for work? He'll get popular quick."
"By the void, I hope not. I hope he's here to play and I hope he picks me."
In the lobby of the Blooming Rose, an elf rose a gauntlet to pinch the bridge of his nose. The curious gazes and conversations had begun minutes after he perched himself against the wall near the entrance of the establishment. He'd seen a few patrons walk to the front desk and gesture in his direction only to shoot him disappointed glanced afterwards. A few had even began to approach him directly until being close enough to see the immense displeasure on his face and the Greatsword handle peeking over his shoulder. One brave soul however had ignored his scowls (seeming to find them more alluring) and offered him a bag of coin "regardless of if he worked there or not". Fenris had gracefully responded with a glowing hand and a feral "Leave me." The man's eyes had widened and he had left the brothel entirely. No one had approached him then but they still watched.
The only gaze that concerned him now was the woman at the counter who frowned in his direction ever so often. He hadn't gone to the counter or left the lobby. He'd simply came in and stood for the last half hour, a looming shadow in the corner. It was only a matter of time before someone in the staff was sent to confront him about loitering. As much as he would like to simply be on his way and out of the receptionist's hair, he had someone to find.
That someone just happened to be finally walking down the stairs rolling his shoulders.
"Carver" The armored elf pushed off the wall to walk towards the startled young man. He'd obviously not expected to run into anyone he knew.
"Y-you? What are you doing here." Carver frowned, looking around to see if he recognized anyone else.
Fenris raised a brow. "That's a question I should be asking you"
Carver scoffed, seeming to decide he had nothing to be ashamed of and marched past the elf. "Minding my own damed business. Shouldn't you be off preparing to go with my sister on her blighted expedition?"
Fenris followed him out of the Rose and into the light rain that fell into the red lantern district. The dark corner of Hightown had been as busy as usual despite the inclement weather. "She isn't taking me with her."
That seemed to stop the swordsman for a moment. "What? Really? I was so sure that out of everyone she would take you...well it doesn't matter to me either way. I won't be here when she gets back."
Fenris frowned. He didn't care to know where Carver planned on going, but he knew he would only leave to spite his sister for leaving him behind. The man's melodramatic attitude towards his sibling was boarder line insufferable. There wernt many people that seemed to sympathize with his inferiority complex. Except for his older sister; this of course made it worse. He had probably turned to the brothel to soothe his fragile pride.
What pulled the elf's attention however was why Carver seemed stunned she hadn't chosen to bring him. Fenris' ability to phase through his enemies might have come in handy but Aveline was as great a warrior as any and Anders' attendance guaranteed adequate healing if necessary. Varric's presence was a given. There was no strategic reason Fenris would be needed to go into the Deep Roads.
"You should go see her now then, before she departs. She's been looking all over Lowtown for you. She's been targeted twice now for wandering alone." He responded.
Concern flashed across the younger brother's features but he quickly molded them back into a face of indifference. "What, are you her message boy now?"
"No." Fenris responded, ignoring the petty attempt to frustrate him. "When she told me she hadn't seen you since promising your mother she'd leave you behind, there was only one more place you could be. I assumed you wouldn't appreciate it if your sister showed up to pick you up from a whore house so I came on my own." He responded.
Color filled Carvers cheeks and he averted his eyes. "Since when are you so concerned with our family affairs?"
Fenris opened his lips to speak but pulled up short for an answer. Why had he been concerned that she couldn't find Carver? He blinked and looked towards his feet. She hadn't even asked him for help. Why had he taken it upon himself to make sure Hawke spoke to her brother before departing? He knew it was important to her, but had that really been enough to get his feet moving? "I-I'm not..."
Carver rolled his eyes towards the sky. "And that reaction is precisely why I thought she would take you with her."
The elf frowned in annoyance. Carver pulled up the hood on his cloak as the rain picked up. Fenris stood uncovered and unaffected.
"I'm not talking to her highness before she leaves...but I'll write to her. She'll have you to thank for that." Carver compromised and began to walk past his sister's companion but stopped and put a hand on the elf's shoulder without looking at him. He stood there for a moment before speaking. "My sister is strong, but she's not invincible. Take care of her Fenris." He spoke, before walking towards the steps that lead away from the brothel.
Fenris watched Carver's figure shrink away into the grey evening with a skeptical expression. He was indebted to the female warrior, so if a time ever arose for him to defend her, he would. The request from her brother had seemed more personal than that obligation however.
He pushed it from his thoughts and focused on putting distance between himself and the Rose's new batch of curious patrons.