See chapter 1. Cheers!
Died in the Line of Duty
"Now, there's a shit-eating grin."
Melusine ignored Bull's tease as she ordered her glass of spirits. She had weaned herself off the fear of losing control after taking on her Taninoui form and allowed herself more levity with drink now.
"I see you too have a thing for strapping, young templars." Dorian raised his glass in her direction, earning another eye roll and head shake from Melusine. "Delightful chaps, aren't they?"
Grabbing her glass, Melusine joined her friends at the table. She sipped at the liquid the commented, "Word certainly travels fast around here. And somehow, I doubt our resident spymaster had anything to do with this." She gave Dorian a pointed look, and the Tevinter merely smiled and toasted her again.
"Cullen-wullen, or should it be Cully-wully?" Sera looked serious with her question, repeating both ridiculous names. Eventually, she gave up and grinned, "With so many men under him, he desperately needs a woman over him, yeah?" She wagged her eyebrows and made a soft groaning noise in her throat.
Dorian smirked, "Speak for yourself on that sentiment."
They all startled when Cole appeared at the table, "Safe and solid. Protecting and proud. He feels quite stronger when you hold him."
Melusine blushed as both Sera and Bull proceeded to make obnoxious noises at her expense. Her eyes darted around the tavern and stopped at the miserable looking figure walking through the door. It took her a moment to recognize who it was, and when she did, Melusine felt her blood turn to ice. For there stood Vivienne, sopping wet, her silken robes and makeup ruined, looking like death herself. Melusine's friends noticed her sudden severity and also turned to look at the door.
"You did it," Sera exclaimed to Melusine as she leapt to her feet, ran across the top of the table, used one of the chandeliers to swing up to the second floor, and disappeared from view.
Vivienne watched Sera's sudden departure without expression. Only after the rogue disappeared from view did she look back to Melusine, "Do not be surprised if you are missing a certain elf rogue from among your party members by this afternoon, my dear."
She left as suddenly as she came, and Melusine looked back to Dorian and Bull. They were each of them holding their breath, and even Cole had disappeared somewhere nicer. When they knew for certain Vivienne was out of earshot, and striking distance, they let out a collective sigh. Bull looked legitimately worried.
"Do you think, uh, we should warn her, boss?"
Melusine shrugged, "Do you want to get caught in the crossfire?"
"Right," Bull polished off his drink and stood, "we know nothing. Got it. Another round?"
Both Dorian and Melusine handed him their glasses. They could at least proactively toast to their friend's demise, knowing that Sera had died in the line of doing exactly what she loved most: pranking Miss Prissypants.