Chapter 2: A Round of Wicked Grace –Part 1-
[Dedicated to dasulahnlavellan & thenerdbin]
Solas looked himself in the mirror, adjusting his scarf around his neck. He had heard it was going to get especially cold tonight and he didn't expect to be back early enough to miss the cold winds that would hit Haven. He wore a long-sleeved black shirt as his first layer with jeans, a simple gray scarf and was planning to wear his long coat on his way out.
Solas shrugged and decided that this was suitable for the situation he would soon face. He grabbed his coat from where it hung on his door hook and proceeded to leave his apartment. Once outside and feeling the biting cold winds, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and quickened his pace to the pub down the road. The streets of Haven were quieter in the evening, Solas observed the town noticing lights in the windows of houses and apartments, the citizens of the town had retreated into their warm burrows. How very…provincial…
Solas smiled, the simplicity of daily life here charmed him. He pressed on forward, heading into the lively noisy pub down the street. Solas could hear the sounds of cheering and chanting coming from the inside, perhaps it was due to the football game on tonight, if he remembered correctly there was talk of a derby on tonight. He also could hear the chattering of the people inside the pub's walls, all seeking a place of rest amongst friends with a strong drink in their hands.
Solas pushed the door and stepped into a warm comforting environment. The warmth from the radiators flooded over him, after his 5-minute walk in the cold, the feeling was very much welcomed. Solas then began to look around, searching for Varric and his company. He saw groups of people at different tables carrying conversations, the bar counter was situated in the middle of the room with television screens hung on all sides and the individuals who sat at the bar had their eyes glued to the screens. Solas looked to his left to where the booths were when he heard a sharp whistle, catching his attention.
"Hey Chuckles!" a familiar voice called out. Solas looked up to see Varric and a few others gathered in the booth at the far corner. "Over here!"
Solas gave a polite wave and walked over to where they were. "Good evening, Varric, forgive my tardiness"
"Ah don't worry about it! Just glad you showed up Chuckles!" Varric laughed. He stood up and shook Solas' hand firmly and then gestured to the other members sitting at the booth. "We're still expecting a few others but let's begin introductions"
Varric then addressed the group of people before him. "Everyone, this is the new guy I told you about"
"My name is Solas, it is a pleasure"
A woman, who Solas guessed was Antivan from her features introduced herself first. She had long black hair that she tied neatly in a bun and exuded an aura of confidence and seemed genuine in her friendliness. "Welcome to Haven, Solas" She said to him politely accompanied with a sweet smile. "My name is Josephine Montiliyet" She extended her hand out toward Solas. He took it firmly in his grip and shook.
After Josephine's introduction, Varric took on the task of introducing everyone in the party.
"Josie here is the owner and manager of the Montiliyet Trading Company."
Solas looked to Josephine, smiling knowingly. "I have heard of the company they had an office based in the city I lived in previously."
Josephine's face lit up, "We are slowly growing, little by little." Her smile now more triumphant and proud. "I am glad that you are familiar with us"
Solas nodded politely turning to where Varric gestured next. "This is Leliana, she works at the local council"
"Well someone has to make sure the town keeps running" Leliana murmured. Her grey eyes then focused on Solas, fixating on him. Analysing him, layer to layer, Solas could feel himself being dissected before her gaze. The both of them shook hands and Leliana finally smiled. "Welcome to Haven, Solas"
"Thank you" The only answer Solas could manage. What had she found? What had she concluded from her analysis? Only time could tell.
"Over here Chuckles, we got our crime-fighting duo; Cassandra and Curly" Varric teased. When Solas laid eyes on them, he saw two much disciplined individuals both dressed in simple shirts, a jacket and jeans. The woman who Varric referred to as Cassandra stood up and leaned across the table holding her hand out.
"Ignore the dwarf's banter." She growled. "I am Detective Cassandra Pentaghast, of the Haven Police Department, it is a pleasure to welcome you to Haven"
"The pleasure is all mine, Miss Cassandra."
The man next to her, who, Solas assumed was yet another victim of Varric's pet names stood up and offered his hand.
"My real name, is Cullen Rutherford" he said while shaking Solas' hand. "I am Cassandra's partner"
"Nice to meet you" Solas replied. Those were a lot of names he had to remember. Solas then turned his attention to the bearded fellow who sat at the corner.
"And this here is Blackwall, though we call him, Hero" Varric introduce, smirking as he said so.
"You mean, what you call me" Blackwall replied. He then shook Solas' hand. "The name's Blackwall, welcome to Haven"
"Thank you, Blackwall"
Varric then slapped his hands together. "Right now that most of us have been introduced…let's get started!" Varric looked at the 3 empty chairs and pouted. "Anyone know where the others are?"
"Krem seems to be here, I saw him when I came in" Leliana answered, leaning back into the chair. "He should be near the bar, why don't you ask him where Bull is"
There's a man named Bull here?
Varric looked over. "There he is". He then stood up and yelled, "Yo Krem! Where your Boss at?"
The man who Solas assumed was Krem looked at Varric, his eyebrow raised. "The Boss is out on a job! Did the big idiot not tell you?"
"Yeah he didn't say a thing!"
Solas was not sure if his personal confusion regarding the situation broke through his façade but whether or not it did, Josephine leant closer to him explained:
"Bull owns a close protection security service." Josephine then smiled a little more. "His company is called 'The Chargers' and they handle all sorts of high security jobs"
"I see, thank you. That makes more sense now" Solas replied.
"No problem"
Varric then turned and sighed. "Well I don't suppose any of you know where Sparkler is"
"I've messaged him in our Whatsapp group, he says and I quote, 'I'm on my way with our little star"
"Oh well, guess we'll just start without em' then" Varric sat back in his chair. "Are any of you hungry or shall we just settle for snacks?"
The group, including Solas shook their heads.
"Well, just me then!" Varric laughed. He then signaled one of the waiters over to the booth and they begun ordering. "I'll have a pint, the usual"
"Ultimate Margarita for me" Josephine ordered,
"I'll have a glass of wine," Leliana added.
It was then Solas' turn to order a drink. He didn't really feel like drinking all that much after much thought and consideration, he decided that he too would like to unwind for a while. Here in the company of these individuals, perhaps he deserved to allow himself to have some fun.
"I'll have a cognac, please" Solas told the waiter. The others at the table looked at Solas firstly with disbelief but soon began to show great approval.
"Nice choice, my man!" Cullen exclaimed. "I'll have the same. Real classy"
"Well if we are to unwind, a serving of cognac will definitely do the trick" Solas said, allowing a half smile on his face.
"Agreed"
"I'll have the beer thanks" Cassandra told the waiter briefly. Blackwall nodded and told the waiter:
"I'll have a beer too. The party is just getting started" He smiled, leaning back into his chair.
The waiter nodded and then left with the orders, after a few minutes of chatting and joking, the drinks finally reached those at the table.
"Then he said, forgive me madame I was pretty sure I left it there!" Blackwall joked. Solas chuckled deeply while some of the individuals at the table roared with laughter.
"No way!" Cassandra said with disbelief.
"I'm not even kidding" Blackwall lifted up his pint. "True story"
"Ah, I see what you did there!" Varric laughed.
"So, Solas, why'd you move here from the city?" Leliana asked, her curiousity genuine and not cryptic.
Solas did not actually have a proper answer to her question. He was just wandering from place to place. The job he had here was just an added benefit. Why did he choose Haven? Because it was convenient? Set apart from the other cities and towns? He did not know.
"I had received a job offer her to head research into the excavations of Ancient Arlathan"
"Ah you're a historian" Josephine said, her interest piqued.
Solas nodded. The group then lit up intrigued at Solas' knowledge of ancient history. The group continued to joke around and ask various questions until the door to the pub opened and hit the wall with a thud.
"In the name of Mythal its freezing out there!" a lighthearted voice cried.
"Darling, wearing that…I am not too surprised." A more deeper voice replied.
Solas craned his neck to see who this pair was but Varric had already announced their identity almost immediately.
"Sparkler! Starry! How nice of you to join us"
"Is that nickname still a thing, Varric?" the man shook his head. He pushed his hair back up and Solas, noticed that the man was a Tevinter. He sighed. He hoped that he was not like the Tevinters he had met before. However, something else caught Solas' attention. The shorter figure behind the Tevinter stood a young, Dalish woman.
It can't be.
The two made their way over to the group booth. Taraa as she gazed around the pub found her eyes settling on Solas. To his surprise, she recognized him almost immediately, giving him a charming smile and a little wave. Then, as he did before, Varric introduced Solas.
"This here is my new neighbor, he's new to town so I thought I'd introduce him to the gang" Varric smirked. The Tervinter shook his head and sighed.
"I'm surprised he hasn't run away yet" he murmured. He then reached his hand to Solas. "The name is Dorian Pavus. Nice to meet you…uh-"
"Solas" Solas said as he reached his hand out to shake Dorian's. "The pleasure is all mine, Dorian"
"Ah, so polite" Dorian chuckled. "Well welcome to this group of misfits" he winked and then took his seat.
Taraa then sat next to Solas, much to his surprise and smiled, "Hi again, hope these guys haven't caused you trouble"
"Not at all" Solas reassured. Giving her a gentle smile. "I've enjoyed their company.
"That's a relief."
"Taraa you've met him before, darling?" Dorian asked, his tone of curiosity bordering suspicion.
"Yeah I ran into him in town earlier"
Solas was now even more impressed with Taraa, her words held onto her deeds and he was pleasantly surprised that she kept his guilty pleasure a secret from these people, despite only knowing him for a good few hours.
"Ran into him huh?" Dorian repeated, winking at Taraa to which she responded by rolling her eyes.
"Taraa, you were really late today. Did something happen?" Leliana asked, her eyes settling onto Taraa. Taraa rubbed the back of her head and chuckled nervously, her nervousness was not even subtle and being in close proximity, Solas definitely recognized it in her tone.
"I had a first draft assignment ready to be handed in but when I went to my lecturer he wanted it printed and bound so I sort of panicked a bit and had to rush over to Dorian's"
"A bit?" Dorian questioned. Smirking behind his menu. "If I remembered correctly, you came crying and begged me to use the bookshop's printer and binder even though I was closing up"
Taraa groaned. "Fine I panicked a lot!" She glared at Dorian for a moment and then continued her story. "Anyway, when I handed the thing to him he was being so difficult about my title just because its Elvhen history and he knows next to nothing about it" Taraa leaned onto her arms on the table with frustration.
In unison, the group turned to Solas, he didn't notice till moments later when he felt everyone's gaze upon him. He raised an eyebrow, confused at this sudden attention paid to him.
"I see an easy solution to your problem, Taraa" Josephine said, her voice gentle.
"You do, Josie?"
"I think our new friend Solas here can help you"
"He can?"
"I can?"
"Yes he can," Cassandra nodded. "Solas had just told us that he was leading the historical research on the excavation digs on Arlathan. I'm sure he is more than qualified."
Why are they just deciding this for him? He knew history and he knew the many truths that many Dalish would frown upon. The kind of truths that would get him called a 'knife ear' amongst his fellow elves. Solas shook his head. No he will not do this again.
"Excavations is one thing but I do not think I am qualified to help a university student-"
"Please, hahren," Taraa pleaded, her blue eyes now focused on his. "I've got no one else to help me with this, please. I really really want to research Elvhen history"
Her eyes…he would've been easy to refuse if it weren't for those eyes! But something else drew him, her natural spirit and passion for the subject bled through her words to him. He knew, she was keen on pursuing this. Solas relented.
"Alright, Da'len, I will assist you as much as I can" He said with a smile.
Her face instantly lit up. She almost leapt in her seat. "Thank you so much! It means so much to me!"
Yeah, that much was clear.
"Well now that Taraa's problem is now settled, let us get on to more fun things" Blackwall chuckled. From his pocket, he pulled out a deck of cards. "Who's up for some Wicked Grace?"
Solas sipped his cognac and raised his eyebrow quizzically. "Wicked Grace?"
"It's just a bit of friendly gambling, Chuckles. A great way to cement one's friendships" Varric explained.
'I'm certain that is not exactly the case.' Solas thought to himself.
"Yeah I'm in, I still need to beat Josie for how she humiliated me the last time" Cullen said confidently. "I'm feeling lucky."
"It would be wise to not rely on luck when going up against an Antivan, Cullen" Josephine teased.
The group began to become lively, gambling was certainly not on Solas' expectations on how this night would turn out. He didn't really feel up for it.
"Why don't you all go ahead, I am not much of a card player myself" Solas waved his hand. "I'll just watch"
"Aww c'mon Hahren, it'll be fun, I promise" Taraa said to him, placing a hand on his arm.
Solas sighed looking at the faces of his acquaintances at the booth and pressed his fingers against his temples.
"Alright, I'll play" Solas said, defeated. This was the polite and respectable thing to do in such a situation.
"That's the spirit, Solas!" Dorian cheered. He then took the deck of cards from Blackwall. "This time I am shuffling let the games begin…my friends!"