estoria | ( open ) once you step down

Who:

bheidh & OPEN
When: IC 6/16
Where: Shopping District + Pleasure District
What: A field trip of exploration ( getting lost ) and an evening of entertainment ( working )
Rating/Warning: None

( shopping district )

( She feels so lost - out of place, does Leliana. The bright lights, stores and tall buildings are quite a way away from Thedas, and they're as unfamiliar as they could be. Leliana's no stranger to shopping - from markets to the higher end shops of Orlais, but this is quite different. This doesn't feel the same as the shops that Leliana knows, especially not when she's had little opportunity to shop in more recent years.

Though Leliana can keep it from her expression there's something in the way she moves - her slower steps, her gaze around the streets - that shows how out of place Leliana feels. She's curious - occassionally stopping at a store window to see their wares, but for the most part she's walking along down the streets - just trying to figure it all out.

Modern technology had been mentioned to her in that last 'game' - in what Leliana had thought was the Fade. What the man had called virtual reality Leliana had thought was something else, but in the days since - and with nothing so familiar (or demon-y) happening Leliana's wondering just how right he may have been. As ridiculous as it all is. She doesn't want to let her guard down - to just accept it - but this is far from Leliana's dreams, and with so many here that she knows of, and with less fight to escape than she'd have thought-

It's partly why Leliana's exploring the area. Gathering her bearings is one thing, to know that if she needs to she knows where to go - to get supplies, to find somewhere secure, but also to gather information. She may be removed from Skyhold but tricks and training don't just leave you, and finding out everything that Leliana can would aid her greatly now. And those she knows )

( pleasure district )

( It's late evening when Leliana's at work, and surprisingly it's the most familiar thing about this whole experience. Though her 'uniform' isn't quite what Leliana knows from the Chantry it's closer than the outfit she'd arrived in (jeans, Cassandra had called them).

The work isn't quite the same - Leliana knows how to woo and to tease, to get close to people and enchant them, but she's never been a whore. It's what she has to do - no worse that killing a man, though Leliana is using it for her own means too. For those that pay extra - to take the Sister for a private show - she tries to ask what she can, to trade as many peeks for secrets as possible.

Her 'part' - or act, as her boss tells her, involves singing, and it is something of a relief - a comfort. It feels just as the game did at times - enchanting, singing, getting what you need. She pulls on the tales from Thedas, songs passed among the bards as Leliana moves around the room from patron to patron. For now she's still clothed, not that the uniform gives her much for clothing, trying to see who she can extract secrets from that night )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There are always people with desires.

( There were plenty of places like this in Thedas, though perhaps not quite as favourably reputable )

It would be more unusual to find no one curious.

( The odd person that wasn't curious - or that wasn't comfortable in a place like Leliana's work - wasn't unusual, but everyone? )

[ His hand moves up to rub his head slowly. ]

I wouldn't exactly know about something like that.

[ It's not like there are strip clubs in Camelot????? There's like ... one tavern. ]

Then perhaps you're the lucky one.

( Or just unobservant. Or innocent. Could he truly come from a place where such a business didn't exist? It didn't seem plausible to Leliana - that it didn't exist, though to know nothing on it? )

Or unfortunate, tonight. But something can be done there.

Probably. Did you actually choose to work here though? In... [ t h a t.

That what he's still not looking at, by the way. ]

Well we're in here, that's helping a little. [ At least there's only her here. ]

It makes what I wish to do easier.

( Though the outfit had certainly not been of Leliana's choosing the job was something she could work with. It was familiar )

There's more than singing to it.

( And taking off her clothes )

What exactly do you wish to do?

[ He shifts a little awkwardly, leaning forward to clasp his hands together. Finally, he looks towards her face. ]

Could you just work as a singer at some bar?

[ And not be half naked right now........... ]

Singing doesn't bring me to my goal.

( Not on its own - there would always be more. Leliana only used song because it was familiar - and an allure )

Information comes in words. Privacy, trade. People have to know there is something for them, or to not even realise it.

( And seedy worked better in that respect )

Your goal is information? [ He's so confused. ] What kind of information? I mean there's some that people put together... elsewhere but. I guess that depends on the information you want.

[ He shifts then, looking up. ]

Can't you... put something on?

( There was a moment before Leliana answered – a small thought, and an almost denial of his request – where she steps further into the room, disappearing through another door before returning with a robe on )

It’s not just information – not what they tell us. I want to know what isn’t freely given.

( Whispers, secrets – something incriminating to use at a later date )

[ He freezes up when she moves and even if he tries not to look, Leliana might have felt eyes on her before he abruptly looks away. There's a definite sigh of relief when she comes back with a robe on. ]

Like secrets? But what would these perverts know?

[ A good question ]

Enough that may surprise you.

( They know more than just sex, though not all know enough to keep quiet )

They also work. Some may be closer to CERES. We're not only our outward appearance.

( Would he be as surprised with her other activities as he was with this job? )

[ Probably... though he hasn't really assumed too much about her either. ]

What do you mean? Who is "we"?

[ ???? ]

Everyone. There's more than just what we look like.

( She sings, dances, indulges in pleasures. She's also a spy, and a killer )

We know so little without talking to each other.

You mean... the aliens? [ Why doesn't she ever say anything straight (or rather he's just used to that a lot more than riddles... Arthur's too dumb for riddles lbr. ) ]

Those also.

( But mostly each other )

How much do you know about your friends? Or them about you?

[ That seems to strike a nerve as he goes quiet now, eyes glancing away even if her clothing is no longer a problem.

Instead, he says: ] Well, my favourite colour is red.

[ ???? This is not what she meant tbh. ]

( That.... is not quite what Leliana meant but she does now know something about him )

What about where you're from? Or what I saw when I arrived.

( He'd given her the impression then that he'd known more than he was telling )

[ Or does she. It's probably red or blue anyway. ]

Ealdor. I think a lot of people seem to know that. They know Camelot more though. ...What did you see?

[ Ehhhhh. He just knows magic. ]

I've heard of neither.

( Though there are so many other worlds, she has learned. It must just be one of them )

The magic you possess. ( Which isn't new to her, lbr. So many mages around ) You have no fear of strangers.

Because apparently neither really exist... but are in stories? I'm not really sure.

[ Reading up on his own future when he already knows it's going to be Hell seems pretty stupid, honestly. ]

I wouldn't say that though either. I just don't think I need to here.

( open ) once you step down

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