Room 211, Sunday Evening

[seeks_truth]

It had taken more time to move all of her things than Cassandra had entirely anticipated: her armor and equipment were happy, and she had gathered more books over the past year or so than she had thought. And of course, there were the bookshelves they had bought at the Isle of IKEA, which now took up most of the room. Still, as Cassandra put down the last of her book on their joint 'already read' shelf, it had been a good day's work.

"This is perfect," she said, stepping back from the shelves.

She appreciated her and Lucille's handiwork for a moment longer.

[[ open post, open door! ]]

Comments

[seeks_truth]

"If you wish," Cassandra said, smiling. "Though you could also tell me how you envision the opening chapter of our book."

[crimson_sister]

Lucille didn't mind staying with the story they had just started. "Perhaps she should meet the blood mage? Is there a place where they are likely to be found?"

[seeks_truth]

"Caves, sewers, the bottom rungs of the cities, wherever they can hide and plot," Cassandra muttered.

[crimson_sister]

"I can't see the heroine trudging through the sewers," Lucille said. "Perhaps she seeks refuge in a cave, and the mage helps her? He must seem lovable to her."

[seeks_truth]

"He would claim he was a Circle mage who simply got lost," Cassandra said, snorting softly.

[crimson_sister]

"A circle mage?" Lucille asked. "They are kinder?"

[seeks_truth]

"They are mages who are kept in the Chantry's Circles and obey its laws," Cassandra said mildly. "As they are supposed to."

Anders might disagree with that.

[crimson_sister]

Lucille wouldn't care if Anders disagreed.

"Then she would believe him," Lucille said. "But would she expect him to return to the circle? Would she be suspicious if he didn't?"

[seeks_truth]

"He would make up excuses, no doubt. They can't, because... some trouble in the way."

[crimson_sister]

"So perhaps they travel together far away from the cities?" Lucille suggested. "These Circles, they are usually found in the cities, are they not?"

[seeks_truth]

"They are," Cassandra agreed. "Except for Ferelden's, which is near a lake."

[crimson_sister]

"Would there be wilderness where they could face dangers?" Lucille asked. "While the mage claims he wants to reach a certain Circle?"

[seeks_truth]

"The Frostback Mountains?" Cassandra suggested. "They are a mountain range not far from the Circle tower."

[crimson_sister]

"Are there dangerous creatures? Villains hiding from justice?" Preferably both. "And the heroine could have sought out that place in search of her friend."

[seeks_truth]

"There are bears," Cassandra mused. "Perhaps dragons as well, the times being what they are."

And she would one day punch all of them.

[crimson_sister]

"Maybe she could escape to that cave, wounded from a dragon attack?" Lucille suggested. She knew how Cassandra felt about dragons, and they sounded far more interesting than bears.

[seeks_truth]

"That would work," Cassandra mused. "She would have burns, perhaps a few other injuries. And here is this mage, willing to heal her."

[crimson_sister]

"That would be a good way to learn her trust and her gratitude." Lucille thought for a moment. "What do you think would make her love him? He should be quite dashing."

[seeks_truth]

"A dashing healer, filling her head with whispers of improving the world?" Cassandra suggested.

Not at all thinking of Anders, pfft.

[crimson_sister]

"Of course! How could she not be tempted?"

Lucille didn't notice resemblances to any students here.

[seeks_truth]

Well, she didn't know Anders. (And it wasn't like Cassandra liked him like that. If anything, she was irritated by her own inability to see past Anders' surface to the budding blood mage below.)

"Indeed," Cassandra said. "So that should be our set-up. When does she meet her friend?"

[crimson_sister]

"If they knew each other before and our heroine goes looking for her, they should be reunited after she has met the mage and fallen in love." That seemed best, didn't it? "Of course she would be suspicious of her friend's new love, while the heroine can suspect she is being jealous."