One of my favorite moments in the game, reimagined. Cheers

Fall from Grace

The dining hall was only a few corners ahead, but a light coming from under a nearby door stopped Melusine. She knocked on the wood and waited for an answer. Nothing. Melusine lifted the latch and pushed the door open. She found Solas perched at the top of some scaffolding, adding more to his mural. The elf was talented in many areas, and not just at being a hypocritical egghead. Melusine didn't always appreciate his feedback or see eye-to-eye with him, but the elven mage was a valuable member of the team, and Melusine considered him to be a friend.

"Solas?" Melusine called up to from her position in the doorway.

Solas looked at her strangely, as if he'd been so deep in thought he'd lost himself somewhere along the way. It took a whole two seconds before his eyes refocused, and Melusine could tell he was aware of who she was and where they were. He was such a strange one.

"Inquisitor," Melusine mentally sighed. Solas had never gotten into the habit of calling her by her name or nickname. "What brings you here? Are you wanting more training in becoming a Dreamer?" Solas put down his brush but didn't move from his place.

Melusine gestured down the hall, "We will play a game of Wicked Grace in a few minutes. I was curious if you wanted to join." She moved a little further into the room. "Blackwall says you're wicked at Diamondback already. This is another opportunity to trounce the Warden since it appears you take pleasure in it."

"I appreciate the offer, Inquisitor," Solas smiled and shook his head, gesturing to the wall, "I find this meditative. We will go to the Storm Coast to face the Red Templars in a matter of days. I wanted to prepare myself accordingly."

"Very well. Happy painting, Solas, and I'll see you tomorrow." Melusine waved at the elf before retreating from the room and closing the door. She turned and found Vivienne in the hall, "Do YOU want to play Wicked Grace with us?"

Vivienne raised a perfectly coiffed eyebrow, "I have other things I'd rather take care of tonight."

"You don't like the game, do you?"

"Oh darling," Vivienne started past, speaking with a light tone, "it is simply exhausting playing a game you always win against inferiors. I've yet to find a real challenger, and I know, without having to waste my mental energy or precious time, that no one in that room is capable of such a feat."

Melusine laughed and called after her friend, "Whether or not you accept it, Vivienne, I adore you."

"Of course you do." Vivienne disappeared from view and left Melusine laughing the rest of the way to the dining hall.

She found most her friends already there with a few additions. At a smaller table, in the corner furthest away from the large table they used for such games, sat Lace with Blackwall. She'd been recalled to Skyhold earlier that day for a direct report with Leliana and wasn't expected back out into the field until tomorrow. At her entrance, Blackwall noticed her and gave the nod. Melusine barely hid her grin, especially when Lace looked over and gave a cheery wave. Those two were just so freaking adorable!

Rylen had accompanied Dorian. Dorian was in his usual place at the table, with Rylen in a chair just to the side of him. Apparently, the knight-captain would not play with them. Melusine smiled at Rylen and gave him a welcoming nod. The two men were more comfortable and confident with acting as a couple in public now. Though Rylen was still not as keen on physical displays of affection as Dorian, and he was much more subtle with his flirting than the Tevinter mage.

"There you are!" Varric saw her as well and gestured for her to join them. "I've been looking all over for you!"

Melusine eyed the drink in sitting on the table in front of him and chuckled, "Obviously, you haven't gotten very far."

Cassandra entered, saw the table set, and nearly walked out again. Melusine grabbed the Seeker's arm and held her close, giving Varric a questioning look. He smiled, giving a responding nod. Melusine patted Cassandra's arm and pushed her toward the table.

"We're both just in time." Melusine took her seat across from Varric.

Varric nodded, mischief already written on his face as he eyed Cassandra, "We almost had to start without you two." He slapped his hands together, "Alright, Ruffles. Deal!"

"I do so hope I remember all the rules." Josephine feigned indecisions about successfully as Melusine could toss Bull. "It's been ages since I played Wicked Grace."

"Ow!" Melusine pushed back from the table and glanced under it. Sera groggily grinned back at her, already intoxicated beyond the point of reason. Melusine looked to the others, "How long has she been there?"

"Long enough to become acquainted with the Bull's balls," Blackwall called from the corner, both he and Lace having a good laugh.

"Whozat?" Sera rolled back onto her rear and looked around at all the chair legs, and companions legs, "Did I win?"

Bull slapped the table, "Are we playing cards, or what?"

Josephine dealt the cards with a knowing smile. Melusine knew without having to play that the ambassador would be an excellent cheat. Cassandra picked up her hand and glanced through them, nibbling her lower lip in thought. She looked at the players around the table, "Are three drakes better than a pair of swords? I can never remember."

"Seeker, remember how I said, 'don't show anyone your hand'?" Varric was chuckling as he spoke, "That rule includes announcing it to the table."

Cassandra rolled her eyes and went back to studying her cards, still looking far out of her element. Cole was turning his cards in multiple directions. "There's a crown on his head, but a sword too." He looked over to Melusine and sighed, "His head didn't want either."

"Don't talk to the face cards, kid." Varric shook his head at the youth, then looked over Melusine's shoulder and smiled, "Cullen!" Melusine looked over her shoulder and saw Cullen looking surprised and already uncomfortable. They still hadn't talked one-on-one after her somewhat proposition, and though he'd been polite to her since then, the distance remained, and it irked her to no end. "Glad you finally joined us. Grab a seat. We're ready to start."

Cullen looked around the room, his eyes pausing just slightly when he spied Melusine, "You seem to have enough people." He started to back out of the room, "I have a thousand things to do."

"Losing money can be both relaxing and habit forming. Give it a try." Dorian reached down and squeezed Rylen's knee and gave Cullen a wide grin. His words did not affect Cullen.

"Curly," Varric called across the table to his friend, "if any man in history ever needed a hobby, it's you."

That seemed to have some effect, and Cassandra added her weight with, "If I am forced to lose here, you shall join us too. I do not want to be the only reasonable person at this table."

Cullen laughed, "Very well." He approached the table and, after a moment's deliberation, took the empty seat next to Varric, "One round," he cautioned as he got comfortable and accepted cards from Josephine.

It didn't take long before people began to distract from the game with stories. This was Melusine's favorite part. She'd played the game only once before, and though she'd lost, Melusine had gained so much more in hearing her companions share stories. Dorian went first, sharing some story about misapplied magic resulting in a whole district of a city turning into a massive orgy. Dorian had been partially responsible and still didn't feel the slightest bit of remorse.

"They needed to let off steam anyway." His hand disappeared from view and Rylen jumped, lightly swatting Dorian's shoulder.

Bull laughed and, after taking a deep swig of his drink, spoke, "I've got one too! So my Chargers were hired for a simple caravan escort in southern Nevarra. Twelve days of walking alongside donkeys and men who smelled like donkeys across flat nothingness," Melusine tried to pay attention to Bull, but her eyes kept straying to Cullen. The man had no idea how alluring he was. Similar to Cassandra, he had a thing with his lips when in thought. He'd take his finger and tap it against his lower lip, or hold his lower lip between two fingers before stroking those fingers down his chin as he frowned. It was really quite distracting for her, and if he was doing it on purpose, he was a master at distraction. Melusine startled when Bull clapped his hands together, and everyone around the table began a round of laughing, "Krem turned to the donkey and said, 'We'll let this go if you will.' And walked away." The laughter intensified, and Melusine joined in with her fake one.

Josephine ducked her head and looked up through her eyelashes, "I may have one."

"You?" Cassandra looked at the ambassador in amusement. "What sort of tale can you offer us? A treaty gone wrong?"

Josephine shook her head, "First off, my aunt is known across Antiva for her love of opera. So, of course, when a performance of 'The Murder of Queen Madrigal' opened, she made us all attend. At the time, well, I was quite young, and the thought of sitting alone with so many adults in an opera box for hours seemed like torture to me, so I decided to bring a friend." Cassandra leaned forward, as did Cole and Bull. "A distant cousin of mine was known for breeding prize racing rabbits and-"

"Did you say," Varric chuckled, "racing rabbits?"

"Well Antivan rabbits are famous for their dexterity and speed." Josephine looked around the table. "This is well known in all of Thedas." Everyone was quick to cough and agree, though it was only Josephine knew this fact. "In any case, he had gifted me with one of these rabbits only a few days before this outing, and I had no intention of leaving it behind for so long. So I hid it in my clutch, and off we went to the opera. I kept rabbit snacks in my pockets, and everything was fine until I ran out of snacks. Then I got distracted by a particularly climactic aria, and when I looked down, the rabbit was gone." Cole was delighted with the story, and Melusine smiled at his youthful fascination. "I couldn't very well tell my aunt or anyone else what I had lost, I knew I'd be punished for it, so I excused myself to find the washroom and searched for the rabbit. My search took me backstage, and I found my rabbit. No one else had seen it so far, but there it sat, on the diva's magnificently coiffed hair, eating the flowers tucked into it."

Cullen laughed, "Are you serious?"

"Oh yes," Josephine smiled, "when I tried to retrieve the rabbit I tripped, fell into the diva, knocked her off her feet and she stumbled into the curtain tearing it down, and the rabbit disappeared down the gap of her dress that gaped over her ample, bosoms. It was quite scandalous…my aunt refused to speak to me for three months."

The room echoed with laughter, and it was Cole who remained the soberest to ask, "I like the part with the rabbit. There should be more rabbits in stories."

Varric looked to Cassandra, "What about you, Seeker?" Cassandra wiped the tears from her eyes, "Do you have a story to share? You sounded like it would be unbelievable for our Lady Ambassador to have a sordid tale to tell. Now, what about you?"

"Well," Cassandra tipped her head up, "yes, I've got one. It was the night of my last ritual. I was standing in the middle of a room full of senior Seekers. As the knight-commander read me the ritual, I got the nagging feeling something was missing…"

Melusine lost track of the story, just as she had with Bull, as she watched Cullen respond to Cassandra's tale. His face was the most relaxed she'd seen it in weeks, his eyes bright with mirth, and his lips pulled back in an affable smile. His laughter mingled with the others, but Melusine heard it clearly. It was a sound that never ceased to make her heart melt. Why did it have to be him she'd taken a liking to? If she'd fancied Bull, Blackwall, or even Varric, she was certain she'd have "sealed the deal" by now and moved on into "this discussion" of what happens next. Melusine figured it was because she liked a challenge, and it wasn't the first time she'd wanted the unattainable hottie.

The companions at the table laughed, letting Melusine know Cassandra's tale had ended. Cullen leaned forward and called attention to himself, "I too have a tale to tell." Melusine ended up losing track of some of the story. She was so enraptured with the way Cullen was telling it. Still, she was startled back into the moment when Cullen made direct eye contact, and for the first time in weeks, he smiled at her, "The poor recruit ran out in the dining hall in nothing but his knickers. And there was this…profound silence all over the hall as seventy mages and thirty templars all turned to stare at once. Then a slow round of applause began. And spread until every soul was on their feet. A standing ovation."

Melusine joined in on the laughter.

"What did he do?" Dorian's eyes were alight as if he was enjoying the mental image. Lecher that he was.

"He saluted. Turned on his heel. And marched out like he was in full armor." Cullen laughed and leaned back in his chair.

"He did not!" Cassandra shook her head in both disbelief and horrified amusement.

"You're shitting us!" Bull slapped his hands on the table and roared with laughter, also enjoying the mental image, no doubt.

"That's how you know it's true. I'd never put that in a book." Varric laughed but then eyed Cullen more closely, "Now, was this recruit a friend, or was it you?"

Cullen shook his head, "I'll never tell." He looked across the table at Melusine and gave her another very welcomed smile, "What about you?"

"Me?" Melusine looked at her friends in a panic. So many of her memories and funny stories were directly connected to times and technology that would not be understood here. "Well, um, I once disguised myself as a man, infiltrated the barracks of a cousin for the sake of a friend who was in love with him and delivered her love note. Neither my cousin nor his comrades recognized me or knew I was a woman, so they all assumed I was delivering the love letter for myself. I've never seen my cousin turn so many shades of red from anger and embarrassment, and I very nearly got a thrashing from them all. Only, in the first few moments of the scuffle, someone pulled off my cap and ripped my shirt, and they saw my chest binding and long hair. Needless to say, my cousin had much to say against my efforts, and I don't think he ever spoke to my friend again either."

"So I see it's been a lifelong habit of yours," Blackwall stopped by with another round of drinks for himself and Lace, "this whole meddling in the romantic lives of your friends business."

Melusine laughed, "I suppose it has." She glared at Varric then, "Deal us another round, Josie. My pride begs me to try again."

"Varric took the last hand, is everyone ready to ante up?" Josephine smiled at Varric, and the look between them cued Melusine into the fact that the Antivan and dwarf were in cahoots together. Dirty business altogether.

Dorian held out his empty cup, "I think we'll need another round of drinks."

"I'll get them." Cullen stood. "Don't start without me."

Melusine felt something nudge her under the table. She looked down and saw Sera winking at her. Whether or not the elf rogue knew what was happening, Melusine took that as a sign to try.

"I'll help you." Before he could protest, Melusine stood followed him to the casks in the corner of the room.

He handed her one of the three pitchers he'd grabbed and Melusine held it carefully below the spout.

"That was quite the story, Cullen." Melusine broke the silence between them. "You really aren't going to say if you were the recruit or not, are you?"

Cullen chuckled, taking the full pitcher and setting it aside, before handing her the second empty one, "I'll take that secret to my grave. And what about you?" At her look, he added, "Something tells me that wasn't the first or the last time you disguised yourself as a man to achieve some foolhardy mission."

"Assuredly not." Melusine took the third pitcher from him and held it under the spout, "some were more successful than others. But all of them were awkward, to say the least."

"I'd expect nothing less from you." Cullen shared another smile with her before taking two of the three pitchers and heading back to the table. "Your refills."

The next round went faster than the first, though with no less banter. Josephine, unsurprisingly, was the one to win this round. Cullen and Cassandra looked the most surprised and unhappy. It seemed everyone else had caught on to the alliance between Varric and Josephine except them.

"Deal again." Cullen leaned over the table toward Josephine. "I've figured out your tells, Lady Ambassador."

Josephine smirked, "Commander, everyone knows a Lady has no tells."

"Then let's see if your good fortune lasts one more hand." Bull declared, eager for any excuse to bet.

Cassandra sighed, "I want another chance to win my dignity back. Deal me in."

Josephine looked to Varric and Melusine. They both nodded while Dorian declined, "I'm content to watch this round."

"I will, as well." Cole reminded them of his presence with his comment, having neither offered a story nor demanding one.

"Now, keep in mind," Josephine's smile grew, "you still have to place bets even if you are without coin."

"What can we bet with, if we have no coin?" Cassandra questioned.

Varric's smile was near lecherous as he stared across the table at her, "Anything and everything you're wearing."

Cassandra's face drained of color, and for a moment, Melusine expected the Seeker to bow out in premature shame. But it took only another goading smirk from Varric to seal the deal, with Cassandra picking up her cards and studying them with stronger determination. Melusine looked down. She still had some money and wouldn't have to shed clothes for a while, with Bull being in a similar situation. Varric and Josephine wouldn't have to at all, but both Cullen and Cassandra had no money and, from the start, would need to divest themselves of clothing.

A few plays in, and both Cassandra and Cullen had removed all armor pieces and sat in their regular clothes. Varric's eyes strayed to Cassandra more often than they might have otherwise before Melusine had planted certain ideas in his head. And Melusine was just as guilty of staring at Cullen. The game continued, and soon enough, Cullen was shirtless and bootless, and Cassandra was stripped to her undershirt and pants, sans boots.

Cole blinked at them both, "It comes off. I didn't know it came off…"

As Cassandra groaned and Cullen sighed, Melusine cleared her throat, catching Varric's attention. She looked between him and Cassandra a few times before the dwarf got the message.

Melusine cleared her throat again, "This game is intense. I think it's a professional storyteller's turn to share a tale."

"I think I can manage that." Varric laid down his cards and pulled the book out from under the table. He flashed the title for all to see, "I brought something for just that possibility."

Cassandra cried out, "That's not fair!" Everyone stared at her, and she blushed, "I mean, he should keep his mind on the cards."

"You don't want me to share a story from Swords and Shields?" Varric leered at Cassandra. "From what I hear, it is one of my preferred pieces amongst this group."

Melusine shrugged at Cassandra's accusatory glare, "Personally, I'm a sucker for a wee bit of smut with a glass of wine. No shame."

"Here, here." Dorian knocked his knuckles against the table and gave a firm nod, Rylen rolling his eyes from beside him.

Varric opened the book, pulled out his glasses from a pocket, and settled back in his chair, "The Knight-captain stared with longing at-"

"I'm leaving. I don't want to hear this read aloud. Here." Cassandra placed her cards on the table and stood. Varric's eyes traced her form, causing Melusine to smile.

Dorian spoke up, "Well, I do!"

Cassandra bent to retrieve her clothing, but Josephine stopped her, "I'm sorry, Cassandra. But in forfeiting all those items must remain here. To be given to the winner at the end of the game."

"Mercy," Cassandra muttered before dropping the items back to the ground around her chair. "Good night."

Varric caught up with her at the door. Only Melusine could hear their conversation as Cullen made an audacious bet, drawing everyone's attention except Melusine.

"I'm glad you joined us tonight," Varric spoke with an affectionate inflection in his voice. "It's too easy to mistake you for the Seeker."

Melusine heard Cassandra sigh, "Despite my losses, I admit I enjoyed this."

"See? That's what I mean. It's easy to forget you're not an icon or a tool, like those statues of Andraste holding bowls of fire. At least it is for me." Melusine chanced a glance over her shoulder and saw Varric hold the book out for Cassandra, "I wrote it for you, you know. A mutual friend told me you were waiting for the next installment."

Cassandra turned to look at Melusine, and she only barely avoided making eye contact. She shifted in her chair and brought her attention back to the game. It was Josephine's turn to respond to Cullen's bet, leaving Melusine with just a little more time to eavesdrop on her friends.

"I…thank you, Varric. I find the story enlivening."

Varric chuckled, "I'm sure you do, Cassandra. Well, enjoy the read tonight in your quarters. Think of me, eh?"

Melusine didn't have to see Cassandra to know the woman blushed. When Varric came back to the table, he wore a shit-eating grin of his face. Melusine rolled her eyes at him, feeling self-satisfied herself at the exchange. Maybe now he'd see merit in her earlier words. It was Varric's turn, then Melusine, and by the end of this round, Cullen lost his pants and only had his small clothes left to bet.

Bull ogled Cullen, even shifting in his seat to look down into Cullen's lap, "Watching you lose, makes me want to play cards more often."

"I do not need help embarrassing myself in front of you all." Cullen squirmed in his chair as he readied himself for the next round, which would undoubtedly be the final one.

Josephine smiled, "You're blushing! It's adorable!"

"Makers breath!" Cullen looked across the table to Melusine, and she gave him a companionable smile but also a nod of affirmation. "Can we just play cards?"

They began the last round, and it was a good thing it was the last round, for if they played much more, Melusine would've joined Cullen in the stripping. But as it was, Josephine won and demanded the last of Cullen's clothes from him. Cullen was very careful with divesting himself of the article while still keeping his privates below view with the table. He glared at Varric's cheery face.

"Don't say a word, dwarf." He lowered his eyes when Josephine gave him an arrogant grin.

Varric shook his head, "I tried to warn you, Curly."

"Never bet against an Antivan, Commander." Josephine pulled the coins towards her. "Bull, would you be a dear and collect the Commander's clothes? I find I require them."

"With pleasure, Josie." Bull laughed as he did as she bid. "You lost so bad." He clapped a hand on Cullen's shoulder. "So, so bad."

Melusine looked around the room. Blackwall and Lace had left some time before, thankfully together, and she hoped they'd be together in the morning. Dorian and Rylen were readying themselves to leave as well, though it was apparent that Dorian wanted to see Cullen's walk of shame. Cole had also disappeared without saying who knew how long ago. Once she had the items collected, Josephine and Bull left the room, the ambassador swinging her hips more than usual.

"Let's have it, Curly." Varric continued to grin at the commander. "Time for your walk of shame."

Cullen looked at Melusine pleadingly, and she sighed. She put a hand over her face, though she kept her fingers far enough apart to peek. Cullen stood and darted from the room, affording Melusine only with a brief preview of an area of Cullen she desperately wished to become better acquainted with.

"Did I win?" Sera pulled herself out from under the table, reminding both Melusine and Varric of her presence.

Melusine grinned, "I don't know about you," she nodded to Varric as she grabbed Cassandra's half-drunk ale and finished it, "but I'm feeling a bit like a winner myself."

"You're not the only one." Varric lifted his mug, "To winners." Melusine raised her cup in the toast and shared a laugh with her friend.