Chapter Seven

It was a few days after my little horse riding disaster and Iron Bull, Solas, Sera, Varic, and of course my ever present shadow Cole sat at a table in the middle of a very packed little tavern with me. Since Solas gave me the go-ahead to start getting up and moving around a few days ago saying my injuries were healed nicely, Iron Bull thought it would be a good idea to go and celebrate my non death with a round or two at the tavern. I was starting to think Iron Bull might have a slight alcohol addiction and would use just about any excuse to pick up a tankard before ten in the morning. Turns out that they don't have any underage drinking restrictions in this universe. Imagine that.

We had already downed a few rounds of ale and had been getting louder and louder with each mug of alcohol consumed. Our topics of conversation had been becoming more and more ridiculous. Our current topic of conversation was all the things that I had in my world that was different than the Dragon Age world. I know, I know. Not a smart idea at all given my present company.

"Umm," I said trying to think of something else to add to the list, "We've been to the moon?"

"Get off it," Sera exclaimed in disbelief before she looked around at our friends for an ally, "That's just not possible, right?"

I looked at all my shocked comrades. Everyone at the table was silent to Sera's question and stared at me with their mouths slightly open like I had proclaimed I was going to run away and marry a dragon. Well, except Cole of course. That guy is never phased by anything. He cocked his head to the side and said, "How does one go to something that you can't walk to?"

I laughed a little at his question before answering him. "Well we have these huge ships," I said while spreading my hands out in the air to demonstrate, "They're kind of like the ships that sail on water only these ships...sail on air I guess? They weigh so many thousands of pounds and use fuel to blast off from the ground and exit the atmosphere and..." I slowly trailed off mid sentence when I looked around the table and I saw the completely lost look on everyone's face that told me they had no clue as to what I was talking about. I laughed awkwardly scratching the back of my head. I picked up my cup and drained the rest of my ale, feeling my cheeks flushed with warmth.

"So do these air sailing ships sail on magic?" Solas questioned with a fascinated look. "Perhaps using some sort of fade spirit?"

"Uh, well," I scratched my chin as I thought of how best to explain the unexplainable to these people, "In my world we don't have magic. And we certainly don't have the fade or spirits. Everything is made with science not magic. Chemistry, physics, math. Stuff like that."

"No fade?" Solas looked offended at the mere thought. "Surely there is a fade even if your people can't find it. It's absurd to believe there is no be a fade even in a distant land. Perhaps your 'science' is wrong. There are spirits in every corner of the world, Alice."

"Yeah kid," Varic said in his scratchy voice leaning across the table to poke the side of my head with his finger, "You sure your brains didn't scramble when that horse made you into a wall pancake? Because that's a pretty hard story to believe even for my standards."

I sighed in frustration at Solas' haughty attitude and Varic's...well Varicness. So far on the list of things that I have told them about my world this topic comes second only to indoor plumbing in frustration. It was a nightmare trying to explain them all the ends and outs of the plumbing buisness. Maybe I should have just stuck with the simple inventions such as the sticky note or soda. God I missed soda.

"Gah," Iron Bull exclaimed loudly while hitting both of his massive hands on the table top, "I've heard enough of this other world crap. Whose to say Tiny isn't out of her mind anyway? I mean have you seen her behave?"

Bull laughed heartily at my mumbled, "Geez thanks a lot."

"My point is," he said while raising his mug in the air, "That you are a strange creature with strange stories and I'm choosing not to believe all that crap-"

"Here, here," Sera interrupted loudly while also raising her mug in the air, "To hell with all that other worldy shite. I for one think you're off your friggin rocker, Alice, if you expect me to believe all that rubbish about chem-whatever and math-thingys. I mean I would love to believe that there is a place where no one has all that freaky magic stuff. But the fade is real yeah? Everybody knows that."

"To Alice," Varic toasted his glass in the air with a smirk my direction, "The biggest shit talker I have ever met. And that's quite an accomplishment might I add, kid."

I threw my hands in the air, exasperated at the chorus of 'To Alice!' that was going around the table. After their toast everyone broke apart into individual conversation and the volume of the tavern seemed to increase by ten.

Sighing, I put my elbows on the table and rested my chin in my hands. Lazily looking around at all the people that I had come to call my friends I felt thankful for the first time since arriving here that I was able to meet these characters even if they thought I was insane and making everything up. Even if it turned out that I woke up from some coma or something tomorrow I would still feel like this experience was the most real in my entire life. I smiled slightly as I watched Sera and Varic make a joke at Solas' expense and Iron Bull laughed loudly.

"You are...happy?"

I looked to my left to where Cole was sitting close beside me on the bench. He was studying my small satisfied grin that had refused to leave my face while watching my friends banter. His eyebrows were knitted in confusion.

"You know," I said a little loudly so I could be heard over the laughing and music all around us, "You always ask me what emotions I'm feeling. I thought you could just tell, Spirit Boy?" I playfully bumped his arm with my shoulder and laughed at his confused expression.

"I know that you are happy," he replied seriously, "But other than that? I feel nothing. With others I can feel but with you...it's like I'm reading a word on a page. Just one word. Happy. Sad. Angry. There is no reason. No feeling, like with the others. Your emotions do not scream at me."

I grinned up at him as he explained himself and I asked him jokingly, "Is that why you like keeping me around so much? Because I don't scream at you?"

"Yes," he said simply while his calm blue eyes scanned the room and watched our comrades laughing and joking around us, "It is a relief to not feel so much. Sometimes at least. I always feel. Feeling yet never failing to fix. To mend the madness. And yet...with you I feel nothing and you ask nothing of me. I feel free. Almost human maybe. Maybe, a little."

I smiled slightly at my friends serious attitude. It didn't matter to me that he was a spirit, or a demon, or whatever he was. Cole was the first friend I made in this world and he was more human to me than anyone I've ever known. I put my flushed forehead on the cool tabletop. The ale I was drinking was starting to make me feel warm and dizzy at the same time.

"You're human to me," I said with my eyes closed trying to stop my world from spinning.

Cole didn't answer for so long that I thought maybe he didn't hear me. "And that is enough," he finally responded in such a quiet voice that I had trouble hearing him over the crowd. We settled into a comfortable silence as we studied the going ons around us. I was never one that liked to be the center of attention. I had always preferred to blend in to the background and people watch. It made me ecstatic that Cole never pressured me in to conversation and we could just sit in a comfortable silence.

"I believe you," Cole said quietly beside me.

I furrowed my brow and turned my head in his direction. Cole's ability to continue a conversation he was having in his head with me always caught me off guard. "Sorry?" I asked him, "Believe what exactly?"

Cole turned in his seat and crossed his legs on the bench giving me his full attention. "Your world. Exotic, exciting, experiences different than our own but no less real. Ships that sail softly on clouds. Magnificent metal carriages that move without force, without pulling, or pushing, prodding. I want to believe your world is real."

I felt my stomach give a small flip as Cole looked at me. He was gazing at me so intensely, his icy blue eyes never leaving mine, that I felt my already alcohol induced red face become even more heated up.

"Uhh," I responded in a hoarse voice. I cleared my throat before answering in a slightly less embarrassing tone, "Thanks Cole. I, um, I appreciate it."

Cole held eye contact for a few more moments before slowly nodding his head in affirmation and turning back around in his seat.

I sighed at my own foolishness. What was wrong with me? Why was it that all of a sudden I'm completely awkward when he stares at me with that stare that he does? He has been looking at me like that since the first time we met. That's just the look he gives everyone. It's just so Cole. It didn't mean anything. I glanced at his profile out of the corner of my eye and discreetly studied him.

His softly lidded blue gaze was watching everyone at out table and occasionally giving input in a conversation if he was directly asked a question. Mostly though he just sat there and observed what was happening with a small smile on his face. He looked as if just being around his friends and watching them laugh and have fun was what he lived for, what made him happy. My eyes were drawn to his grin. His small pink lips looked so soft and velvety. I wonder what it would be like to...

Feeling me stare so openly at him Cole turned and I felt my stomach flip when he focused his curious blue gaze to look at me. He raised his eyebrows in a silent question. I just gave him a small smile and shrugged my shoulders in answer before turning away. I had no idea why I was feeling so strange. What the heck was I supposed to say? 'Hey let's go back to my place so I can test the validity of your velvety lips that I just now noticed'? Uh. No thanks. I'm ninety nine percent sure that Cole has never even had impure thoughts unlike some people anyway. He's too pure for that.

Feeling the need to advert my attention from my obvious temporary insanity, I raised up my glass of ale to take another drink and paused mid drink. I looked suspiciously down at my mood altering concoction and grunted. Maybe it was about time I head home and sleep if this stuff is making me attracted to even Cole. I couldn't really be attracted to Cole. Could I...? He's just so Cole. Impossible. I'd go home and sleep off this...whatever this was and when I wake up I will NOT think of how soft Cole's lips looked or the way my stomach flipped when his eyes focused on me. It was the alcohol. Nothing more. I put my glass down and said my goodbyes to the table as I rose to leave.

"Aww," Iron Bull laughed in his best condescending baby tone, "Has Tiny had enough for tonight? Hey Sera. For your next training exersize maybe you should teach this mighty warrior to drink more than two pints before throwing in the towel."

Sera laughed at Bull's teasing, "Yeah maybe she'd do better at that than horse riding at any rate."

Iron Bull burst into laugher at Sera's comment and my answering middle finger. These people brought out the best in me they truly did.

Everyone said their farewells and Sera told me that I better rest up because our training was starting up again bright and early. Rain or shine. Grunting I felt my good mood go out the window with the prospect of my pint sized tormentors idea of fun. I made my way to the exit and pushed open the wooden door into the cold night air before stepping out into the icy wind.

I pulled my cloak tighter around me as I walked the darkened streets. I thought back over the night and realized that it had been too long since I had a night where I just let go and had Since before I came in to this world anyway and that felt like a lifetime ago. I smiled as I pushed open my unlocked front door and stepped into the warmth of my cabin. I walked over to my bed and pulled off all my outer layers of clothing leaving only my thin undershirt and breeches to sleep in. Pulling back the covers I slid gratefully into the soft downy goodness that was my bed. I grunted in appreciation as my exhausted body relaxed and I felt the warm tendrils of an alcohol induced sleep call to me. The last thing I thought of before unconsciousness took me was silky soft lips and icy blue eyes. I felt one corner of my mouth lift up ever so slightly at the thought and then I knew no more.

oOo

Hey guys I hope you had good holidays and a safe new year. I know I gained at least ten pounds. It was glorious.

Thanks again so much for reviews, favoriting, and following. You are the reason I continue to do this. Well. That and because I'm completely in love with Cole.

Thank you to all my constructive reviews. Especially amaze-ball's reviewer. You rock.

Until next time kiddies.

Small disclaimer: I don't own sticky notes.