| abstract
| - (If Cassandra is romanced)
* Inquisitor: I'd like to see that. At least once.
* Cassandra: Of course *you* would say that.
* Vivienne: He's a man, darling. All men appreciate a touch of skilled artifice.
* Cassandra: They can keep their appreciation. I like my armor. (or)
* Inquisitor: You don't need to prove anything, Cassandra.
* Cassandra: Exactly. I do not trust any event where hitting someone isn't an option.
* Vivienne: You're not a battering ram, darling.
* Cassandra: I am when it suits me. Nobody expects a battering ram to wear a dress.
* Vivienne: It's disappointing. But perhaps some battles should be left to those more suited.
* Cassandra: My thoughts exactly. ───────
* Cassandra: Vivienne, about you and Duke Bastien...
* Vivienne: There's no need to tiptoe, darling.
* Cassandra: You were together for a long time?
* Vivienne: We were, yes--and I will cherish the years we had.
* Cassandra: Are you--?
* Vivienne: More questions! My, aren't we curious today? Seeking guidance in the matters of the heart?
* Cassandra: I only wished to express my sympathy, Vivienne.
* Vivienne: It will be fine, dear. ───────
* Vivienne: So Leliana is a candidate for Divine. It's hardly surprising. She plays a pretty Game.
* Cassandra: She is also an intelligent woman with strong convictions.
* Vivienne: Important qualities for whomever takes the Sunburst throne.
* Vivienne: The Divine stands apart. She must command respect and attention or she will accomplish nothing.
* Vivienne: Which means we have two fine candidates. Wouldn't you agree?
* Cassandra: The decision rest in the hands of the grand clerics.
* Vivienne: Such modesty!
* Cassandra: The Chantry needs to change and I would see it done, but...
* Cassandra: If I am chosen, then I pray it is the Maker's will and not ambition that guides me there. ───────
* Vivienne: You made quite the impression at the Winter Palace.
* Cassandra: When I punched the wall, perhaps.
* Vivienne: Not the most distinguished impression, certainly, but given your discomfort, I expected worse.
* Cassandra: I did not realize it took so little to exceed your expectations.
* Vivienne: Come, my dear, there's no need to be touchy. You'll do far better next time. ───────
* Vivienne: Did you think you could dance with one of the most powerful man in southern Thedas and go unnoticed?
* Cassandra: They were all talking, weren't they?
* Vivienne: It was on the lips of half the court before the song was done. It... could have take a day or two for news to reach the capital given the disruptions of the civil war.
* Cassandra: (Frustrated sigh). Sweet maker.
* Vivienne: You weren't aiming for discretion, were you? ───────
* Vivienne: I do hope you intend to rebuild your Seekers, Cassandra.
* Cassandra: Rebuilding is not enough. I would see the Seekers forged into something greater than what they were.
* Cassandra: I fear the Seeker's time has passed, if there was ever worth saving, it is gone now.
* Vivienne: With the templars all but lost as well?
* Vivienne: The threat posed by dangerous magic still exists, my dear. Someone will have to deal with it.
* Cassandra: Then let it be someone worthy.
* Vivienne: I'm pleased to hear it, my dear. With the Templars all but lost, we need someone to deal with dangerous magic.
* Vivienne: I'm pleased to hear it, my dear. The Templars must deal with dangerous magic eventually - and they'll need your help.
* Vivienne: (Sigh). At least the Inquisition has the sense to ally with the templars. When this is all over there will be someone capable with dealing with magical threats. ───────
* Vivienne: You know, Cassandra, you really ought to have armor with gilding. Or dragon scales. Preferably both.
* Cassandra: Would that not be impractical?
* Vivienne: It would be dramatic, my dear. Half the value of armor is intimidation.
* Cassandra: I prefer the half that keeps blades out of my innards, personally. ───────
* Vivienne: My dear Cassandra, whatever persuaded you to bring Varric to the Conclave?
* Cassandra: I wanted him to testify about the events of Kirkwall to the Divine.
* Vivienne: He wrote all of that down, did he not? He didn't need to come in person.
* Cassandra: The Divine... also wanted him to autograph her copy of "Hard in Hightown."
* Varric: What? You never told me that!
* Cassandra: It was a minor consideration. You should feel flattered.
* Varric: That our former Divine kidnapped and brutalized her favorite authors? Oh, yes. (laughs) Thrilled! ───────
* Vivienne: So you are seventy-eighth in line to the Nevarran throne, Cassandra? That is rather far off. Even so, many enjoy the idle life afforded by the most distant of titles. You could have been provided with every luxury. If you'd remained in that life.
* Cassandra: I am ill-suited to finery, Vivienne. Besides, I can accomplish more as I am now.
* Vivienne: You pursued duty and responsibility, a path that took you next to the Sunburst Throne. Well played.
* Cassandra: I try to do the Maker's work. Where I stand while doing so is unimportant.
* Vivienne: You must admit it does help. ───────
* Cassandra: You've adjusted to the Inquisition quickly, Vivienne. We must lack many of the luxuries to which you are accustomed.
* Vivienne: One does not survive the Orlesian court without learning to adapt, my dear.
* Cassandra: Skyhold is hardly the Orlesian court.
* Vivienne: You needn't tell me that. We all have our little sacrifices. ───────
* Vivienne: I've heard your uncle is a Mortalitasi, Cassandra.
* Cassandra: You've heard correctly. Necromancy is not uncommon in Nevarra.
* Vivienne: You must understand, the rumours in the South surrounding Mortalitasi...
* Cassandra: I have always found the practice morbid. But the stories ones hear outside Nevarra... such fascination reveals far more about the teller than the truth. ───────
* Cassandra: You would prefer to have the templars return to guarding the circles, Vivienne?
* Vivienne: Of course, my dear. They need better oversight, clearly, but one does not throw away a tool because it was misused.
* Cassandra: Few mages would ask for templars in the circle.
* Vivienne: Speak to Ferelden's first enchanter. You might be surprised. When abominations ravaged your tower, suddenly the world holds far too few templars. ───────
* Vivienne: You must see the value in restoring the circles, Cassandra.
* Cassandra: Provided they fulfill their purpose. Too many have suffered since the mage rebellion began, but we cannot ignore the abuses that prompted it. Without change, we risk repeating the events at Kirkwall.
* Vivienne: Or recreating its opposite. An overly lenient circle is a comparable threat. Kirkwall is lamentable, but it was the blithe misuse of power, not restrictions, that led to the first Blight. ───────
* Vivienne: Cassandra, you do know they still tales of the dragon attack at Val Royeaux?
* Cassandra: I'm aware. I'm also aware they grow larger with each retelling.
* Vivienne: Many yet live who saw it with their own eyes.
* Cassandra: From what I've heard from so-called "witnesses," I have to wonder.
* Vivienne: You are too modest, dear. You could have parlayed that victory into more than a position at the Divine's right hand.
* Cassandra: If I was someone else, perhaps. I simply did what I needed to do.
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