Later, at the Hanged Man, Vicky stood at the bar, tipping back another mug of ale. She looked around and saw Matt, the one that had bought her a drink, in his regular spot. She turned when she heard a familiar jangle of bangles and saw an elf walk up to the bar and flag down the bartender for another drink. Jade's brown eyes flashed, a grin on her face.
"Still as naive as when you got off the boat. Your pendant is showing."
"I feel like I've heard this before. Are you going to hit me over the head again or should I just hand you my belongings now?" Vicky joked.
"Don't tempt me, I just might. I do need a new set of bangles."
"I think you've got worth your weight in gold with all those bracelets." Vicky took a big swig from her mug, "So what's your plan now?"
"Well, Hawke promised to drag me around for the next eternity or so, but apart from that, I think I might just enjoy life." Jade sculled the contents of her mug. "I mean what else could I want? I've got all the ale I can drink, all the gold I can steal and a cute guy at my beck and call."
"Sounds like you're set for life." Vicky sighed.
"Well, everything except a partner in crime." Jade frowned. "Now that you're going, I'm in desperate need of a sidekick."
"You know, I came out here for adventure and excitement. I hadn't found much of it until you cracked me over the head." Vicky smirked. "I think I'll stick around for a while, if only for the treasure."
"Just the treasure? You wound me, my friend." Jade said sarcastically, placing a hand on her heart. "So you'll be my trusty sidekick still? This calls for another round."
"Sidekick? Yeah, how about no." Vicky shook her head. "Partner in crime works just fine. Best friend wouldn't hurt either."
Jade stood silent for a second, watching Victoria carefully. "Best friend? I've barely been able to call anyone a friend since, well..." Victoria raised an eyebrow. Despite them working together, they hadn't really explained themselves.
"You see, I used to live in the alienage in Antiva. Shocking I know. I was a servant to one of the richest nobles there. But the nobles there, they were not so kind to those below them, much less the elves. I was not a slave, thank the Maker, but I was powerless. A merchant prince took interest in me and so I killed him. Nobody cared except for my husband, and yes, I was married. He believes us to be still. That is, if he still lives. I poisoned him and then left for Tevinter, where I got this tattoo and about 10 magisters trying to kill me. After that it is a simple cycle of stealing, drinking and leaving when things became more than I could handle." Jade finished her drink, slamming the mug on the counter. "Well, that's my dreary tale, mind telling me yours? Friend."
"I was the firstborn of the firstborn of the noble house of Coran. When the darkspawn were defeated I decided that I wanted to make the most of my life. I don't want to just sit around looking pretty, married to a man I don't love. So, I ran away, telling only my little sister, who was next in line. I first went to Denerim, where many people knew me, as such I decided that I needed to find somewhere I would be invisible. So I came here, where you promptly stole my belongings and my money." Jade blinked, then burst into laughter. "Whats so funny?"
"I did not expect your life to be so empty of hardships! You've lived a very pampered life no?" Jade smiled, a chuckle escaping her throat. "I have to admit, I was hoping for a tale I could make coin off of. Ah, but what can you do?"
"Well, there'll be plenty more coin from the next job." Vicky handed Jade her drink. "A toast, to the many more adventures to come."
"And to the mountain of coin and trouble that awaits us." They linked arms and brought their cups to their lips, downing the mugs in one go, grinning like the maniacs they were.
