[ Her second chance. She opens her mouth to argue and then opts to be silent, looking away. Neria lets out a heavy and defeated sigh, letting the conversation drop. They will spin in circles all afternoon and evening, she thinks, and...he is right. She is tired and it would be nice to attempt to rest. She wishes to see Leliana and to update her, make sure her friend's cover isn't blown as well. It was a convincing little dance she put on, pretending not to know Neria would be coming or that she still lived. She only hopes no one has begun to suspect.
Neria finds she misses the warmth of his hands already as he pulls away, but they have work to do and very little time with which to do it. She closes her hands in on themselves and lets them drop to her sides, and she gives Cullen a nod of acknowledgement and appreciation. ]
Whatever can be spared. I'm used to more dire and solitary living accommodations.
[ And she lifts a hand before he can ask, shaking her head. ]
Which I'll speak of another time. For now, let's-- Let's just do what we need to. I suspect the Inquisitor will want her answers soon enough.
[ There's no need to rush the disappointment that will follow her interrogation, whether it's by Kaia herself, the ambassador, or even Leliana. She has to prepare herself for the resulting fallout she expects even now.
Neria lifts her head to examine the room, only now spotting the ladder leading upwards. She mouths silently, this is your room? because it's such a ridiculous thing to ask, but she slowly, reluctantly, nods once more. There will be time enough for questions. For now, she lets it rest.
The next few hours she spends relatively alone in her room, eating dinner, preparing herself, and unpacking some of her belongings. Leliana comes to see her only in the dead of night and with no one the wiser to greet her and give her what updates she can, as well as quietly chiding her for making such a scene without informing her first. They are much alike and always have been, always looking for ways to control the situation. It can't be helped, and even if she is glad to see Leliana and cannot contain much of her relief and delight, it is a bittersweet reunion, not unlike the one she had earlier with Cullen. Her presence hasn't made things easier for the moment...but it will get better, Leliana promises. No more lies, no more games.
She wishes she could believe that.
But the evening passes as any other would, and she finds no sleep in her new quarters. Nightmares continue to haunt her and she can no longer tell if they are the ministrations of Corypheus or the Taint itself, and in truth, she has stopped trying to discern anything from them. For some time, she lays in bed, frustrated and fatigued, unable to sleep. And she begins to debate dangerous thoughts from time to time, whether she should explore or go to speak to the other Wardens, or if she should take Cullen up on his offer.
Hours pass before she makes a decision. Eventually, she does find her way to Cullen's office, knocking softly on the door. She's made her peace with it and reasons that if he doesn't answer, then he is sleeping, and she can go back to her room with no harm done. ]
no subject
Neria finds she misses the warmth of his hands already as he pulls away, but they have work to do and very little time with which to do it. She closes her hands in on themselves and lets them drop to her sides, and she gives Cullen a nod of acknowledgement and appreciation. ]
Whatever can be spared. I'm used to more dire and solitary living accommodations.
[ And she lifts a hand before he can ask, shaking her head. ]
Which I'll speak of another time. For now, let's-- Let's just do what we need to. I suspect the Inquisitor will want her answers soon enough.
[ There's no need to rush the disappointment that will follow her interrogation, whether it's by Kaia herself, the ambassador, or even Leliana. She has to prepare herself for the resulting fallout she expects even now.
Neria lifts her head to examine the room, only now spotting the ladder leading upwards. She mouths silently, this is your room? because it's such a ridiculous thing to ask, but she slowly, reluctantly, nods once more. There will be time enough for questions. For now, she lets it rest.
The next few hours she spends relatively alone in her room, eating dinner, preparing herself, and unpacking some of her belongings. Leliana comes to see her only in the dead of night and with no one the wiser to greet her and give her what updates she can, as well as quietly chiding her for making such a scene without informing her first. They are much alike and always have been, always looking for ways to control the situation. It can't be helped, and even if she is glad to see Leliana and cannot contain much of her relief and delight, it is a bittersweet reunion, not unlike the one she had earlier with Cullen. Her presence hasn't made things easier for the moment...but it will get better, Leliana promises. No more lies, no more games.
She wishes she could believe that.
But the evening passes as any other would, and she finds no sleep in her new quarters. Nightmares continue to haunt her and she can no longer tell if they are the ministrations of Corypheus or the Taint itself, and in truth, she has stopped trying to discern anything from them. For some time, she lays in bed, frustrated and fatigued, unable to sleep. And she begins to debate dangerous thoughts from time to time, whether she should explore or go to speak to the other Wardens, or if she should take Cullen up on his offer.
Hours pass before she makes a decision. Eventually, she does find her way to Cullen's office, knocking softly on the door. She's made her peace with it and reasons that if he doesn't answer, then he is sleeping, and she can go back to her room with no harm done. ]