There can't be too many secrets between allies;

[strategic_guile]

Date & Time: [Forward dated] January 9th; Some time during the day...
Location: Room 207
Characters: Closed to Elissa Cousland;
Summary: Blaine has a ton of questions, and interrogations are always better with food
Warnings: Blaine being himself.

Once her foray into the outlands was done, Blaine gave Elissa approximately one day to sleep, patch herself up or whatever else she needed to do before he invited her over. There were things to discuss. He shouldn't have delayed it for so long after she nominated him, but he was distracted by... someone, as he tended to be sometimes. Then she announced her trip and playing twenty questions with someone going out into the wilderness wasn't productive and he didn't want even the slightest chance of being a distraction by giving her too many things to think about. He was sure she was used to being out in the wild, and maybe he was just using that as an excuse to procrastinate himself. He was well aware that he wasn't going to be the only one asking questions, and he wasn't sure how much he was going to tell her. The blonde wasn't worried, but he was... cognizant of potential issues.

Blaine had just finished stir frying rice and vegetables when there was a knock at the door. He poured it into a bowl as he called out, "Come in!" because the odds were it was his guest. If not, his gun was tucked into the small of his back and ready.

Comments

[ladyspitfire]

In hindsight, she should have had someone go with her. Whatever she'd found on her journey had not shaken her, though she was silent about what had happened. A lack of a supplies and a limp was enough, in retrospect, to give anyone who noticed that she had probably run into some form of trouble...or that she'd been clumsy and had fallen. Both were acceptable and she didn't elaborate to her companions.

But she was surprised when Blaine invited her over, no doubt to speak with her about the defense meeting and probably to clear up her expectations over the nominations. She was grateful for the half-day of rest she got, still stinging over her expedition, but she pulled herself together and made her way to his apartment and entering when he bade her.

At long last, she was finally making use of the clothes they sold in the market, wearing dark pants and a long-sleeved shirt, a far cry from her tunic and breeches. The fabric felt strange but it covered up what it was supposed to, specifically the scars she had from Thedas, and that was the important thing. She offered him a slight smile. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

[ladyspitfire]

"There's no landmine to speak of. That's something I can assure you. But I can't promise that we won't eventually get other visitors from Thedas that I'm less than friendly with." Like Loghain. If Cailan and Duncan had appeared, it was only a matter of time before she was face-to-face with the Teyrn. Others could follow, people like Howe, and the thought that she could one day see her parents' killer even after she'd driven a blade through his cold, black heart was enough to set her on edge. The look in her eyes was as hard as stone for a moment and then it passed as she closed her eyes and sat back to think.

"Perhaps the Initiative has a sense of humor." It was said without opening her eyes, though there was a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. Morrigan would have a laugh about that. "If someone eventually arrives that I don't like, believe me, you'll know immediately." She was grateful he hadn't been around for Anders' debacle. He might have the impression that all of her friends were thieves and killers...many of which were, actually.

[ladyspitfire]

"Lock her out of voting?" No, that was...straying too far into territor she wasn't comfortable with. Elissa would not deny that she'd been cruel to Anora back home. She'd willingly admit to it. But to continue the tradition here, regardless of politics, was not in her nature. Not the first time since this all began, she thought of how her father would handle such a situation and she wondered, again, how he worked so well to keep his head out of such distasteful measures.

How was a Teyrn supposed to assert their will and authority? He had shown his loyalty by fighting at the side of the lost king. But how did he retain such respect? Surely it wasn't through deceitful means.

"We should speak with the Initiative and make sure they want us instead. Or...even just one of us. Keeping her out of the running for their favor is something we can do. But I think we need to keep our noses clean of whatever tricks she would use." Like trying to get Elissa on her side.