Both Vashoth made their way up the steps in silence, Bandit paced over to her desk, leaning forward, feeling the wood. She let out a long sigh as her eyelids fluttered shut, Asaara stopped where the stairs ended. The mercenary captain watched her childhood friend walk away, and keep her back to her. Her gold eyes wandered the large room. She let out a low whistle.
"Impressive place, Kadan." Asaara's hand touched the cool, stone railing as she began to walk in.
"Asaara, what are you doing here?" Bandit asked, regaining her posture as she stood up straight, turning to face the other woman finally.
"Well, once I heard someone survived The Conclave, is now the Holiest Herald of Andraste, happens to be Vashoth," Asaara began to count each point on her fingers. "Closes those green tears in the skies, made a huge scene at some Orlesian politics party, and oh yeah... facing some fucking demon lord or something that wants to take over the world..." She paused with a smug look on her face. "I figured it had to be you, and I had to confirm it." She sauntered over to Bandit with a smile. "I'm so glad you're alive." She placed her hands on her shoulders firmly, looking at her in the face, a fond sparkle in her eyes. The red-head looked at her back, her eyes softened, but her face unmoved yet.
"Asaara-"
"Except why didn't you write to me?!" She punched her shoulder hard, looking angry. "Here I was, thinking you were dead! Me and the men mourned for you! And here we are, hearing these tales at a bar! Bandit, come on!" The white-haired Qunari groaned.
Finally, Bandit cracked a smile, rubbing her shoulder.
"I've missed you, Asaara." She laughed a bit before the two women embraced each other in a hug.
"Me too." They pulled away slowly.
Bandit moved over to her desk and leaned against it. Her darker companion leaning next to her as the women began to chat and catch up. They spoke of the Itwa-adim and those who have been lost. Asaara informed Bandit of her parents, and that they were still alive and well. And before long, they reminisced of their childhoods and growing up together.
Eventually, they both ended up on the bed, laying back and chatting away. Giggling and sipping at some mead.
"Kadan! Oh, do you remember... what was his name? Elyon?" Asaara sat up with a laugh. Bandit paused before her face lit up and she shook her head, beginning to laugh as well.
"That wiry little elf back at home? Oh, how could I forget!" She rolled her eyes.
"He was so in LOVE with you! Trying to show off whenever you were around all the time."
"He could hardly handle a blade." Bandit snorted haughtily. "Don't know why they had him working labour. I always had to pick up his slack."
"I think he liked it. Wanted you to pick him up, and carry him away!" Asaara dramatically placed the back of her hand upon her forehead and imitated fainting backwards.
"Yeah, yeah." She brushed her off, filling up both of their mugs with the remaining mead.
"Anyway- tell me about your men here. Do they size up to ours?" She referred to their mercenaries.
"Where to start? There's so many!" Bandit sounded exhausted having to give a run down. Racking her brain, she tapped her fingers along the metal of the mug.
"Those fancy ones we passed on the way up?"
"So there was Commander Cullen. He's in charge of the soldiers. He's told me he was stuck in that one Circle." She tapped the mug once more. "The one in Lake Calenhad." She snapped her fingers upon recalling it. "Y'know, during The Fifth Blight. He was found by The Hero of Fereldan."
"He was there? Oh! I can only imagine the horrors..!"
"He doesn't often like to talk about it much. He has regrets about it." They both pondered it all in silence. Bandit remembering the things said, and Asaara merely imagining it. The two Vashoth could never fully understand the horrors seen by his eyes.
"But... onward." The Inquisitor began to move on from that Advisor. "There's Leliana. She's our Spymaster. She was a companion of The Hero of Fereldan. It sounds like she admired her greatly." Asaara nodded. "Don't mess with her though. I've seen things." Bandit chuckled. She jested, but she meant it.
"And my last Advisor is Josephine. She's our diplomat. All my speeches go through her. And I try to put all my speeches on her. She knew Leliana at some point, I think. She hasn't told me everything yet. So, there's something interesting there."
"Alright. So they're an impressive bunch. And maybe... the others who are more-or-less on our level?" Asaara took a gulp of alcohol.
"Let's see... For mages we have Vivienne; she was the personal enchanter to Empress Celene. We have Dorian; some fashionable Tervinter mage with a massive ego. Very smart though, almost too smart." Sitting up, she continued. "And lastly we have Solas. I don't know... a lot about him. Honestly. But, he's also very smart. Knows a lot about magic and The Fade. It's a bit unsettling... We don't always see eye to eye."
"But, you are a fighter for mages?"
"Yeah, but he just even pushes my boundaries. Regardless of that, he's wise. And I respect that. Even if it's taken too far." She waved that off, not wanting to get into pointless gossip about her men.
"And our non-mages... Let's start with... Sera. A little blonde "not-elf"... elf." She gave a grin. "I think you and Sera would get along well." She snickered. "She seems to have a thing for Qunari. And she reminds me of you- just more unhinged."
Asaara shook her head and grinned. "A thing for Qunari? Me? Unhinged?" She asked in disbelief. "She's an elf- but... also doesn't want to be?" Bandit shook her head.
"I'm not all too sure, honestly." She laughed. "But definitely like you, if you were to speak your mind and act on every impulse. And maybe were a bit more childish."
"Don't try and set me up with anyone, Kadan."
"I'm not. I'm just... saying." She shrugged with a smile. "Then we have Cole. He's a spirit, a really... kind-hearted one. A bit odd- but his oddness has intention behind it."
"A spirit...? Like, he's from The Fade itself and could be like... a demon?" The dark de-horned Vashoth sounded wary.
"Oh, but he's not." Bandit quickly reassured her. "He's a kind boy. Very innocent to the core. He doesn't like how aggressive I am, but..." She trailed off. Asaara raised an eyebrow.
"Sounds like you're fond of him."
"Maybe. Kind of like a younger brother."
"Bandit, you softy!" Asaara teased, pushing her friend playfully.
"Oh, don't give me that!" She huffed. "Anyway!" Changing the subject quickly, she moved onto the next person. "Varric." Bandit grinned. "Oh what to say about that dwarf. He's a writer. And a smart-ass. Loves to gamble, and drive everyone crazy. One hell of a shot with his crossbow."
"I think I've heard of his books before. They any good?"
"Wouldn't know. Don't have much time for reading anything that isn't a report or some sort of information." The Inquisitor let out a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"You know what solves a Thinking Headache?" The hornless Qunari quipped. "A drink." She used her hand to force the mug up to Bandit's lips, tipping it and letting her drink. Bandit pulled away with a grin, wiping her lips.
"Varric kind of sounds like you, you know?" Asaara teased.
"He does not!" Bandit countered, sounding stupefied.
"You have a gambling problem. And I know you drive me crazy. I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to smack you upside your thick head."
"Oh, like you were perfect. I can't count the times I've come close to strangling you before!" They both had grins tugging upwards at the corners of their mouths before they burst into giggles. They were aware of their childish arguing; it was missed.
"Those all your men you have? You manage all this with that few on your side daily?"
"Not at all. We have Cassandra. She's a very strong warrior. I respect her skill. A hard-ass sometimes though. A bit preachy too." Bandit made a face. "But, I'd trust her to have my back. That's what matters. She's of the Pentaghasts and like a princess, or something. Hates the whole necromancer thing that her family dabbled in. Kicks some serious ass, and she speaks her mind."
"Respectable."
"Then... Blackwall." Her expression twisted a bit to uncertainty.
"What about 'im?"
"I'm not sure what... to say about him. He's stern, not one for many words. He's part of The Order; Gray Wardens."
"Even after-"
"Yes, even after that. He's very passionate about it. But, really, that's all I know about him." Bandit shrugged.
"Do you trust him?"
Adaar narrowed her eyes in thought, folding her lips as she tapped her fingers along her cup. A few long moments of silence passed as she contemplated. "I suppose I do for now. I'm just keeping an eye on him."
"You'll have to point him out to me sometime. I want to assess this Blackwall myself." And Bandit nodded in response.
"Lastly, we have a Tal-Vashoth. He goes by The Iron Bull. He..." Bandit broke her gaze to look up in thought. "He is the Chief of The Chargers. You'll see them, they're typically in the Tavern."
Asaara seemed interested. Hearing he was Tal-Vashoth left her with questions. "Was he always Tal-Vashoth?"
"No, he wasn't." Bandit sighed. "We nearly had an alliance with the Qun. But, I told him to save the Chargers instead. He was from the Ben-Hassrath." Asaara looked very intrigued.
"Wow, to give it up like our parents did. Maybe the Qun isn't something like we thought it would be growing up. I mean... out of all the Qunari we know... they left!"
"My thoughts exactly." The redhead nodded. "Bull is a great warrior though. It's taking a while for him to get used to no longer living under the Qun, but he was Tal-Vashoth for a long time. I feel like he has too much personality." Bandit grinned.
Asaara arched an eyebrow. "Like?"
"He tells the silliest of jokes while we're out. And how boisterous he is... And his passion for dragon slaying."
"So it is true! You have slain a dragon!"
"Mn!" The Inquisitor nodded. "And the Bull was a huge help. The way he can carry a great axe. And when we got back, he had me try this Qunari alcohol. Didn't like it much, but... he was informative. And very funny..." Bandit's lips curled upward fondly as she reminisced their bar-time celebration. The hornless Qunari began to smile a sly little grin as Bandit continued,
"But as a former spy, he's good at reading people. And skilled on the battlefield."
"Uh-huh." Asaara smugly nodded. "And?"
"And by the Maker, is he built! He is layers of muscle upon-" Bandit ceased as she finally caught onto the look Asaara was giving her.
"Oh, no! Don't let me stop your girlish babbling!" Asaara crossed her arms as she watched Bandit's cheeks heat up to a bright red. It looked as if it would spread to her ears!
"Tch!" Bandit scoffed, giving Asaara a rough playful push away from her. "You pulled that out of me! You tricked me! Venak-hol!" She shouted angrily to mask her embarrassment.
"Uh-uh!" The white-haired Vashoth clicked at her. "Don't give me that, you were speaking at breakneck speed all on your own!" She continued to tease her. Bandit simmered in frustrated embarrassment in silence, refusing to lock eyes with her childhood friend.
Asaara gulped down the last bit of her drink before setting her mug aside and crawling up behind Bandit, resting her head on her shoulder. "Aww, does Bandit have a bit of a crush for a hunky Qunari?" She cooed.
"Stop it!" Bandit elbowed her away, her face flushing more. Her friend laughed.
"Hey now. All jokes aside, Adaar," Asaara scooted up next to her, sitting on her knees. "You can tell me anything. No need to start getting all secrety on me." She reminded her. "I've known you for so long. We've been through so much! Honestly, it's about time!"
Bandit slipped her gaze over to Asaara, who was trying not to grin once again as she looked her on.
"...What is it?" Bandit flatly asked. "Get it out of your system, you child." She sighed with a roll of her eyes.
"Is that where all these bruises came from? These don't look like battle wounds!" Asaara poked at her. "You've gotten spicy in the bedroom!" She giggled. Bandit raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? That's it?" She asked, expecting some emotional teasing. "Yeah," She plainly stated. "He knows how to have a good time." She shrugged.
"Good for you." The golden eyed Vashoth gave an approving look.
"Well... since it's out in the open... You couldn't have had any better timing." Bandit began. "I need some advice... About Bull."
"Alright! Alright! Let me drop some wisdom on you! Tell me what's on your mind." The other Qunari rubbed her hands together excitedly. "About time we had some girl talk! Do you know how tired I am of hearing the men talk about the tits on this and the ass on that? Bunch of horn dogs the lot of 'em!" The Captain sighed dramatically in annoyance. "Now, lay it on me."
Bandit shook her head with a grin. "So..." She stalled a little sipping at her drink. Her heart fluttered, and her stomach knotted. Even with Asaara, talking about mushy feelings was difficult. But, who better to talk with for this matter?
"I'm thinking of... letting Bull know about... how my feelings," Bandit was really struggling to get this out there. But, Asaara patiently waited. Plus, she wanted her to work through this and get it out in the open. "For him have advanced." She finally got that out. "We have purely just been physical. He takes my stress away through... his various methods." Bandit cleared her throat and quickly moved on from that. "And besides you... I feel he's one of the few I could trust. And I feel like he can understand me to a certain degree."
Her friend nodded, listening carefully as Bandit sipped again.
"He told me how... Qunari typically show... love for each other?" The Herald tilted her head, not quite sure. "I'm not exactly... sure on how they... feel. It's confusing." She quickly brushed that off. "But, basically he told me that you split a Dragon's tooth in half, and turn it into a necklace. We then both wear it, so... we're always... together. No matter what." Bandit tapped her fingers along the mug once more.
"That's pretty intense! But, it definitely sounds suiting for him. Considering you told me how he loves dragons and all that." Bandit nodded.
"But, I'm not... experienced with this courting thing! Is there anything else I should do? A time when I should do it? Should I wait for him to make the move? What if... he rejects me? ... Am I supposed to throw in a goat or something as an offering too?" Bandit began getting herself worked up in worry. Asaara cupped her friend's face between both hands and shook it.
"Hey now, don't lose yourself." She reminded her, looking into Bandit's eyes. "This may not be what you want to hear. But the timing... it'll be something you will know when to do. And I say... go for the necklace. He would be crazy not to accept you." Asaara tenderly spoke.
Bandit looked down at her mug as the grey-skinned Qunari released her face. "Bandit. You are a confident woman, do not let a man shake you like this. You are strong, beautiful, brilliant, and... I'm honoured to be your... friend." Asaara swallowed. Bandit looked to her, offering a small smile. "There you go." Asaara stood up.
"Where are you going?" Bandit asked.
"Well, we're going to take that dragon's tooth down off your mantle, and we're gonna go craft a necklace! Take me to your Smith!" Bandit felt some relief as she chugged down the last of her mead and then got up. The two went to The Smithy's Undercroft.