"I suppose so, do you want a game?" Eve offers smiling.
"I don't see why not," I shrug taking a seat.
"You know how to play?" Eve asks.
"A bit," I respond recalling Denarius often wishing to play chess with someone challenging and many of the magisters would win against but when he asked me to play, he was baffled that I had won, not realizing that over the years of me watching his strategy he often used against the magisters and won, he hadn't notice me analysing and picking holes into his method of victory. Calmly, I watch Eve set the stage that is the board.
"So…what's your favourite colour?" Eve questions as I raise a brow.
"What are you doing?" I question puzzled by the strange question.
"I want to get to know you better, you've done a lot for me so I just want to know more about my team mate, I'll answer mine, it's green," Eve smiles making her move.
"Silver," I answer.
"Okay then so what's going on with you and Solas?" She asks.
"Maker everything keeps asking about that I thought it was a secret," I grumble.
"Well it can't really be, considering there are those above who can hear you and the looks you give one another," Eve points out.
"Look, we don't know, I'm not taking things seriously but what of you and blondie? Maker honestly Dorian and I were watching, just get a room already," I advise.
"Wha…what!? I can't first off for that to even happen Cullen would you know how to propose then we would…" Eve panics.
"Oh you're one of them," I realize.
"One of them?" She frowns.
"Oh I'm not being mad but yeah you seem like the type…" I mutter.
"Wait...have you?" She blinks
"No, not at all," I remark sarcastically bitterness evident in my tone.
"Oh my god. How many?" She whispers catching on.
"Lost count after twenty," I grumble.
"And you haven't had any…" She glances downwards at my stomach making me turn away pained, recalling times in a certain cell, heaving out...thanks to that bastard.
"Nah also had Anders or someone to take care of the idea…always had some sort of protection from the guy…" I shrug.
"You sound almost proud." Eve notes.
"Is that so wrong? You live your life I live mine," I shrug.
"But Andraste…the maker, I mean does Solas know?" She questions.
"Probably…" I confess.
"Does...does it hurt?" Uneasily, Eve asks as I note the fear in her tone.
"Okay, I don't wanna talk about this but depends on the guy that's all," I mutter scowling at the sensitive topic.
"Sorry," She whispers as I sigh at the literal teen.
"Whatever, so you going to make your move on Cullen or not?" I huff.
"I…I…maybe in time…" Nervously, she turns away.
"He's going to be nicked if you don't hurry up is all im saying…" I warn her recalling a keen Dorian and a few suitors.
"Whatever…"She grumbles.
"Now look whose being the broody teen…" I smirk at her pout.
"So you and Dorian seem okay?" She changes topic as I furrow my brow.
"Oh you saw us," I respond.
"Sort of, I saw you guys drinking together…" Eve smiles hopeful.
"Yeah drinking can make you do some weird shit," I mutter.
"And i believe I just won," Eve smirks.
"Heh, good for you buddy, now all you got to do, is sleep with blondie," I smirk coyly at the blushing mess.
"Fennic!" She groans as I snicker and stand leaving the blushing mess alone to think her next move…
Rowdy, the tavern cheers as I smirk watching the chargers, Sera and Blackwall have a blast with one another, me joining in on the tavern brawl between some lout who stole some assess girl…
"Fennic! Fennic!" Curious, I turn to the eager voice of Varric eyebrow raised as I drink my liqueur.
"How have you not vomited yet from the amount of alcohol you drink?" He questions.
"Years of experience and vomiting can help you out somehow…you should know that Varric," I tease lightly.
"Yeah, yeah listen to this remember swords and shields?" Varric leans in greening eager as I raise a brow at the familiar title that Cassandra, oh so cherishes.
"Yeah?" I continue feigning ignorance to the topic.
"So turns out mean old grumpy Cassandra is a fan of my book, sword and shields in particular." Varric reveals snickering.
"No!" I gasp with hint of mockery as I snicker.
"Yeah, bookworm wants me to write a sequel to it," Varric smirks.
"But didn't you plan to quit that series due to the poor writing and barley making ends meet from it," I frown recalling his ramblings about it.
"Yeah, wanna join me in giving this to Cassandra rub her face with it a little…" Varric invites me. Quickly, I stand up, downing my beer as I smirk wildly at the thought.
"Count me in," Ecstatic I nod, standing up leaving the roaring crowd of eager drunks and people alive, enjoying their time together as we leave the tavern, approaching Cassandra with Eve, a small smirk on my lips excited at the reaction this will cause.
"What are you two up to now?" Cassandra frowns at our smug expressions.
"Nothing Cassandra im hurt you would excuse us innocent souls," I gasp, placing my hand on my heart, earning a eye roll.
"I get it seeker you're still sore from our spat," Varric points out.
"I'm not a child Varric do not suggest I did not have reason," Cassandra hisses.
"Said the girl who manhandled Varric and was about to punch him," I bring up frowning.
"Don't," She growls as I smugly smirk and shrug.
"A peace offering, the next chapter of swords and shields I hear you're a fan," Varric smirks passing the book to her.
"This is your doing!" Cass turns to glower at the smiling Eve nervous.
"I was hoping you'd be happy about it, to cool the tension between you and them," Eve shrugs.
"Well if you're not interested still needs editing anyhow," Varric reaches out to take it back.
"Yes especially the steamy scenes between the knight and the guard," I smirk coyly smirking at Cassandras brief expression of panic as she leans forward, stopping Varric in his tracks.
"Wait!" Cassandra calls out desperately, her tone itched with shock and concern only making Varric and I exchange a coy smirk, a glint in both of our eyes at the smug victory.
"You're probably wondering what happens to the knight captain after the last chapter," Varric teases Cassandra.
"Nothing should happen to her she was falsely accused!" Cassandra blurts out panicked.
"Well it turns out the guardsman…" Varric begins teasingly.
"Don't tell me!" Angered, she strides over to us, yanking the book out of Varric loose smug grip as we both chuckle at the flustered girl.
"This is the part where you thank the inquisitor," I remind her.
"I don't normally give sneak peeks after all," Varric smirks.
"For free anyway," I jokingly add.
"I…thank you," Cassandra sighs after a moment of silence, staring down at the sequel of the book she had been dying to read even if it had been a terrible one.
"Don't thank me thank Varric," Eve smiles at us.
"I am but a humble servant to my loyal readers," Varric bows jokingly.
"I wonder if I have time to read the first part," Brightly, Cassandra smiles looking down at the book in glee and excitement evident in her tone and the gleam in her eyes.
"Don't forget to tell your friends about…if you have any," Varric remarks dryly turning to me as I nod, the pair of us turning our backs to the eager Cassandra.
"Those poor poor victims," I shake my head jokingly.
"So…in the end how do you feel…?" I question the author curious.
"It was completely worth it…how about we celebrate with some drinks, on me," Varric offers giddily.
"Agreed," Smirking, the pair of us leave and head back to the tavern, enjoying another fresh drink…
"You're going to need to tomorrow," Varric smirks and I frown.
"Why?" I question.
"The ball of course!" He snickers as I feel al the colour drain from my face at the recollection of today's date…
Shit.