It seemed that Isabela was right, Hawke thought, and flirting meant very little to Tallis. That made her feel a little better about using the elf to make Anders jealous. In the time since the party had started, Tallis had made overt moves on a guard, a servant, and now Lord Cyril. Although, from the sound of things, it wasn't going very well with Cyril.
The doors opened, and Tallis emerged, looking miffed. "This is officially my worst night ever."
Hawke raised an eyebrow. "Not Lord Cyril's type?"
"Maybe he just doesn't like elves...or women." Tallis bit her lip. "Well, you've got one of those factors covered. He has the key. Go get it."
It took a moment for Hawke to realize what Tallis meant. When she did, she was angry.
"What?" Tallis said. "It's your turn, Hawke. Go on."
Hawke was fuming. Just because Tallis was willing to use her sexuality in that way didn't mean Hawke was. Autumn was in a committed relationship–
–which, of course, Tallis would have no reason to know.
"Seems like I could save time and just assume a plan will fall apart from the start," Hawke muttered.
Tallis gestured vaguely. "It hasn't fallen apart! It's just...not entirely cooperating with reality. Just...go try something."
Reluctantly, Hawke pushed open the door to Lord Cyril's room.
He rose when she entered. "Tell that elf her pleas are for nothing," he said immediately. "She's pretty enough, I suppose. No doubt there are some men who would like that sort of thing."
Cyril's eyes slid over Hawke's body.
In that instant, Hawke knew she couldn't do it. It was one thing to flirt in front of Anders to make him jealous. But here, like this, with no one else around, it meant something more. Cyril was serious about his interest in her. If she flirted back, he would pursue her.
She couldn't explain why it was so much more wrong now than it was with Tallis, with Anders right there. But with Tallis, Anders knew exactly what she was doing. If she flirted with Cyril, it would be behind his back. And that was a line she wouldn't cross.
It was funny, she mused later as she bent over Cyril's inert form and slipped the key from his pocket, that she found it more ethical to drug a man than to pretend to be interested in him. But that was how it was.