Year 4

Hightown

On a Thursday

When Hawke walked, she did so with such a swagger that Isabela had to wonder where she got it from. It was a saunter that made her hips shift up and down with each step and her head held high. This was not the walk of a simple peasant girl in Ferelden, this was reminiscent of Isabela's own walk, the walk of a pirate captain used to enticing people with her every move. Isabela spent an awful lot of time behind the mage on missions staring at her arse, not in any sort of lecherous way, but just wondering how and why she moved the way she did. There were a million questions she could ask, but she was respectful enough not to get into those sorts of conversations. She saw the way Hawke treated the men at the Hanged Man who dared to lay a hand on her.

The Hightown market was a place where Isabela had previously not even been able to dream of shopping in, but ever since the venture into the Deep Roads, Hawke could afford to toss coin around on such things. While following her on her adventures, Isabela could do the same with some of the money she had pilfered off of the bodies that lay strewn about in their wake. Today, Hawke had promised her that she would accompany her to the market and pick out a nice new blade from Korval's. This, and she was feeling nice enough to buy Hawke a nice trinket as a thank you.

As they walked through the marketplace, the pirate could tell Hawke was on edge. Her walk was more rigid, her steps still landing criss-crossed to give her hips that delicious sway, but she was tense. She wondered exactly what was wrong with her, but never brought it up, and once they were standing in from of Korval's blades, the thought slipped her mind entirely.

The pair stood in front of the stand, and Korval himself, looking between the two of the awkwardly. He had asked them a few questions but they mostly ignored him, enamoured with the blades on display behind him. Isabela obviously had a better eye for what she wanted, but Hawke, too, was admiring the bejewelled hilts and intricate engravings. Isabela could see the wall of daggers and assess each one, knowing immediately which ones she knew she could realistically use. A good blade, to her, was one that had a lighter blade, and sturdier at the hilt. And here it meant the more jewels on them, the better. Isabella mused to herself when she glanced sideways to see Hawke's eyes fixed on the same blade she had been looking at.

"That one's sexy," Isabela practically purred and pointed to it. Although she had been talking to Hawke, Korval took this as a queue to fetch it from its display.

"It's a nice one," he said, relieved to have gotten their attention finally. He presented the blade to Isabela who took it with her right hand, feeling its weight in her palm and then gripped it tighter. The blade was a decent weight, heavier than she was used to, but the craftsmanship on it was wonderful. Having lighter steel meant she was just accustomed to less expensive blades, but as she stepped back to take a few practice swings with it, she was just about in love. She gave it a try with her other hand, finding it cut through the air just as well.

"Oooh, Hawke, I don't even need to see anything else. I think I'm in love."

"Quite a statement from you," Hawke commented with a smile. "Are you sure about it?"

"How much is this one?" Isabela asked Korval, locking her gaze to his, sticking one hip out and giving her best smirk.

"Three sovereigns," Korval said with confidence. Isabela wasn't going to swindle him down with flirtation, but it wasn't necessary. It was perfectly reasonable for the work of art. She opened her coin purse and pulled out three gold pieces, handing them over to the shopkeeper without a flinch at the cost. She had truly earned this. Korval dug behind some of the crates behind his stand and offered her a fine leather holster.

"Hawke, let me take you somewhere," Isabela said as she took the holster, putting her new blade inside of it. They walked away from the weaponry stands, and as they did, Isabela was reminded at how Hawke seemed to have something on her mind. She didn't have to say anything until Hawke did, however.

"Can we maybe just talk instead?"

She was surprised. That wasn't what she was expecting at all.

"Somewhere private?"

A sly smile crossed her face. She definitely wasn't expecting that at all. "Alright. Where did you have in mind?"

"My house isn't far from here." Hawke wasn't returning her flirting, but seemed rather serious instead. Still, Isabela continued.

"Oh, sounds serious."

"It's not that," Hawke laughed, as she expected and began to lead the way to her estate.

Hawke wasn't trying to lead Isabela on, but she had to admit she was curious. It still wasn't what she was after when she lead her back to her home, finding it empty inside save for Sandal offering her a sweet smile when she walked in. A fire was burning in the front room and she offered a seat to Isabela in front of it.

"There's something I need to ask you," Hawke began, her brow creased with worry. She stared back at her, golden eyes complimented by the glowing flames. There was a long paused between them as she tried to think of what to say. "I need some advice."

"Advice from me? This should be good." Isabela leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees.

"Yes, some advice," Hawke said, emphasizing the last word. She searched for words for only a moment, and just decided to spit it out. Isabela had no reason to be offended by directness. "Well, there's someone I'd like to get the attention of. I just need to know how to get there."

The pirate laughed. "You're gorgeous, Hawke, I'm sure whoever it is will give you their attention if you so much as bat your eyelashes at them."

She shook her head, bringing one hand up to her chin and pinched it with her thumb and forefinger. "That's the thing, I'm pretty sure that's not the case."

"So cut your tops low and giggle at all his jokes, that should make it pretty clear. Or is this someone more complicated than that?" Isabela's cold stare was enough to make Hawke realize she knew exactly who she was talking about. Slumping in her seat when the woman began to laugh, she couldn't help but crack a smile herself.

"Oh, so you're interested in old Broody, huh?" She crossed one leg over the other. "Well, I can say perhaps you're right coming to me for advice? So what is it, do you just want to hop on him for a night to alleviate some of that intensity – because the rest of us could really appreciate that – or what, exactly?"

Hawke denied it by raising an eyebrow. "Not so much. I was thinking, hoping, for something a little more long term."

She glared at her, which was unexpected. "Really now, Hawke, that is not my area of expertise."

"Well," Hawke began, but then rolled her eyes. "Fine, plans of mine aside, I just want to know how to…" She made a noncommittal gesture, hoping it would become clear.

"Just how to get him into bed, then?"

"Sure." It was about time she gave up, and any advice Isabela could give her was valuable anyway.

"Alright. Am I safe to assume you haven't even begun to flirt with him?"

Hawke shook her head, remembering a couple of times they had spoken. "No! Actually, I have."

"And how did that go?"

She smilled, recalling one single time she had experienced her sly remarks reciprocated. "You're a beautiful woman, Hawke," she said, dropping her voice as deep as it would go, laying on the huskiness in her best impression of the elf.

Isablea cracked up. "Well, a good start, I suppose he's not entirely uninterested. Not like when I flirt with him, anyway. I suppose he respects you or whatever." She waved a hand, finding the very idea distasteful. "Anyway, the only advice I can give you now is if he's into you so far, just keep going. Probably best to bed him first before moving on with whatever feelings you might have. Gets him hooked on you."

"Really?"

With a heavy sigh, Isabela stood up and began to pace around the room. "You've had relations with men before, haven't you, Hawke?"

Her eyes followed her as she walked back and forth. "Yes, but that was in Lothering where anybody who I even looked at was into it. Not much to do in a farm town, you took what you could get."

Another sharp laugh. "Now that I can get behind." She stopped facing her friend and her irritated look grew softer, warmer. "I've seen you Hawke. You swagger your hips around town when you walk, you've got a great ass to show off and you favour the more form-fitting cut of robes. I'm just guessing you know your way around the bedroom. Or a haystack. You know how to make it good for you, unlike most men out there. Best of all, you've never really had to work to get someone you wanted."

"Yes, exactly." The statement would be self-deprecating if she said it, but she couldn't deny it. "He's just so…"

"Brooding?" Isabela flopped back down into the chair, looking dreamily up to the ceiling. "Why is that so hot? I am far from the only one who thinks this way."

"I don't know," Hawke mused, adding a devilish chuckle afterwards. "Ugh, even a casual night that to a normal person would mean nothing would be letting someone too close to him."

Isabela scrunched her mouth up to one side, considering the point. "No. I don't think so. He'll fuck you, as long as he feels safe around you. Not going to pull demons out your ass like he seems to think all mages do."

Fenris didn't think that, at least not about her. "So what do I do, then?"

"Keep flirting with him," she started off with a sigh. "Can't go wrong there. Wouldn't hurt for you to wear your tighter robes, make sure he'd right behind you when you bend over."

Hawke relaxed in her seat, looking to the fire, considering the advice. Isabela continued.

"At some point you should take him back here, for an evening, and don't be too drunk. A little drunk is good, but not very. Gives 'em whiskey dick." Isabela said that like Hawke should know what it meant, but she could only guess. "Just make it clear you want his dick, men can be so oblivious."

A blush rose to Hawke's face, but luckily Isabela didn't notice it. Still, she understood, and gave a slow nod in understanding.

"I don't think you could just go out to his place right now and have the evening end up in carnal bliss, but work on it." Isabela had her new blade sitting her her lap, one hand on the leather holster as if she were holding it for comfort. She was playing with the loop on it meant to hook on to a belt, but Hawke knew she preferred to keep them on her back. "Until then, I can tell you, or even show you, some moves that might be good for that time."

Hawke smiled, narrowing her eyes in a wicked glance. "No thanks, I've got some of my own."

"Oh? Maybe you should show me, then."

"More suited for a haystack, I'm afraid."

The pair both erupted in unintentionally loud laughter filling the entire front room. Isabela wiped at her eye after a moment, but she stood up from her chair once again. "Right. Well, I need to go do some things. Tonight, Hanged Man?"

"Hanged Man," Hawke answered watching Isabela turn for the door, giving the dog a farewell pat on the head as she walked away. She walked to front door, giving a quick glance to the doorframe which she had once considered defacing similar to the way she had done so to the banister. She decided against it and opened the door outside, knowing just what small gift she was going to get for her friend.