War Room One

[tevintage]

Who | The Dragon Age cast and Friends
What | Dorian plans a covert meeting in the middle of the night so they can actually, you know, plan and shit
Where | In the Training Room
When | Right about now, but at 3 am in the morning
Warnings | uh, nothing I can think of so far

Jason had him on a leash tight enough to suffocate. It was simultaneously as binding as it was embarrassing, so he was loathe to bring attention to it. But they needed to meet. Iron Bull had just arrived - how many more of them would come before the next arena?

It had everything to do with planning and nothing to do with a growing anxiety about making sure they were all okay. Nothing.

The notes came first. Carefully drawn notes with the Inquisition eye at the top, and a sketch of the training room at the bottom, requesting the attendance of the Inquisition and any of her allies that they'd happened to make. He didn't send notes to anyone outside the Inquisition - he trusted them to bring anyone that they thought was worthy. They could use all the help they could get.

The time was set for three in the morning - late enough that Jason would not be awake to keep Dorian from slipping out of the District Suites in the middle of the night and taking the elevator right down to the training hall. (He was getting used to that box.)

He wrung his hands before he stepped into the room. He wasn't nervous. How utterly ridiculous.

Comments

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[tevintage]

Dorian just wants to check on everyone, even if he completely hides it with sarcasm. So when each person enters the room, he approaches them.

"Still alive, I see."

[revocation]

Cullen gives Dorian an appraising sort of look, eyebrows raised. "Why wouldn't I be? This city seems relatively secure, all things considered."

Aside from being followed about by a small cluster of women (and a few men) whenever he leaves the tower, anyway.

[dreadinquisitor]

Maxwell had planned to give them all their space, but especially Dorian - for both their sakes. However it was more difficult that he'd imagined it would be. The man had become such a ready part of his life - one of the best parts....

It ate at him slowly. The want of just a few words more, just few moments, even if it wasn't the same, building in him... until he couldn't stand it.

Weak, he moved over, his head bobbed at the greeting.

"The day's still young," he replied, the humor light. Smile small. Trying. "Plenty of time yet to place your bets."

[alwaysshielded]

"My thoughts exactly."

Considering Dorian had managed to attract more attention than she- not overly difficult, she supposed, considering a world without mages had witnessed his magic- it was only his maintained notes that had kept her appeased. She hadn't bothered to send any in reply, however.

"No progress, I take it."

[somewhatfallenfortune]

"For now, at least." She shrugs--there's a touch of wry humor to her answer as much as his question, unfortunately. "How have you been managing, Lord Dorian?"

[meravas]

"For now."

Bull had heard some of the tales of the arena and he had seen what everyone was calling as 'footage' on the screens where certain scenarios were being replayed with loud and overexcited commentary.

He could never watch for too long, trying to focus with the one eye on everything always twisted his stomach.

"You shouldn't sound so disappointed."

[earthborn]

"So, you're calling a secret meeting, and you choose for your location what is probably the most well-surveilled room in the entire Capitol, short of an actual arena."

Continuing in the common vein: an unimpressed Alliance Officer. But she's keeping her distance, just the same, sitting up on the barrier-ropes of the sparring ring rather than down where she might seem a threat, her hands folded, legs crossed. It's deliberately unthreatening, despite the sarcastic drawl in her voice.

"Nice."

[dreadinquisitor]

After arriving, Maxwell set himself off to a side. A position where he could see the others entering, but a step out of the way so they might have some space if they didn't wish to speak with him yet.

He knew how strange it was, even as it was inherently familiar, and he wanted them to be able to have some time to come to terms with it. Or at least, as much as time they could afford here.

He didn't want to be their Inquisitor because of duty; he wanted to be their friend, because they wanted him to be.

[revocation]

As far as Cullen is concerned, there is nothing to acclimate to. This man is an Inquisitor, if not the one he remembers. He has the Anchor, he's from Thedas, that's that.

They need to stick together, regardless.

"What's your assessment of the place so far?" he asks curiously.

[somewhatfallenfortune]

One way or another, Josephine and the Inquisitor simply haven't crossed paths. She's meant to, of course--while she knows most of their party, reasonably well, they need to make introductions all over again--but until tonight, things have been surprisingly busy. Now, however, she spots him (or thinks she has, based on description) and crosses the room.

"Good evening," she says, giving him a little smile. Evening is, perhaps, pushing it at this hour at the night. "You are Inquisitor Trevelyan, are you not? It is a pleasure to finally speak with you."

[meravas]

The Inquisitor he knew, the young Trevelyan - another Trevelyan - Bull figured this one in particular had to be of the same age as her. It was strange, they both bore the same last night but their looks were entirely different. Both were human, both were in their late twenties by appearance. They had to be related in one way or another, distant cousins; it seemed too crazy of a notion to him, to follow Dorian's explanation of time magic and lines crossing.

It were as though this Trevelyan could be Bull's Trevelyan's brother. If that made any sense.

Bull had arrived and he wasn't a hard thing to miss, seven feet tall with a wide set of horns and somewhat of a heavy step with the foot brace. The first person he should have looked for was Dorian, whom he had spotted already, and then there was this... Inquisitor.

"Good to know that some things never change," he commented as he approached him in his little corner of solitude.

[earthborn]

He had a good position, not immediately obvious from the door, good sight-lines, decent angles. It was where she'd have stood, had she arrived any earlier. It's also the first place she looks; check the corners, check the exits and if someone thought that was a little paranoid, too bad. It was paranoia that had kept her alive this far.

Plus, he seemed unoccupied. Shepard took three long strides and stuck out her hand in the traditional greeting, "Hi, I'm Commander Shepard. Nice to meet you."

[revocation]

Cullen waits until everyone has arrived, polite greetings and nods and handshakes when necessary. As far as he's concerned, this is all business. Whatever his personal feelings about anyone here - he considers most to be allies, at least, if not friends, or something like. They're all in this situation together, and they stand very little chance of making it back home unless they acknowledge that and pool their resources.

Which is exactly what he intends to do.

"I suggest we begin by discussing our plan of attack for this - upcoming arena. From what I understand, there are a number of variables involved, but that doesn't mean we can't prepare for a few possible eventualities. Finding each other and finding relatively defensible shelter should be the top priorities."

[tevintage]

"I've been told that under no uncertain terms am I to expect that I will have access to my magic again," Dorian said to the group, frowning. "Last arena was supposedly an anomaly, and after the way it ended..." He trailed off.

[gunshiptotheface]

Garrus had been watching and listening since he'd arrived with Shepard, looking around at the various members in the room. They reminded him of Shepard's crew, all a little odd but obviously matching and balancing each other's weaknesses. After his sparring match with Cassandra he was sure that the rest of them could likely survive for a decent amount of time in the Arena.

Most of these people were first timers to go into an arena, and despite the good idea from Cullen, Garrus tossed him a few more variables for him to consider.

"Those are good ideas, but you'll also want something to keep you alive. Food and water run out fast, weapons faster, survival gear is almost impossible to get, and the gamemakers have a nasty habit of unleashing mutated creatures when you get in there."

[dreadinquisitor]

From his place, Maxwell spoke up, brow furrowed curiously as he chewed over what had been brought up already.

"From what I've seen of them, the start of the arenas are chaotic. There's a lot of people in a confined space, and we might be placed some distance apart to start with. How should we go about finding one another?"

He had a possible thought on it, but wanted to differ to Cullen and the others who had seen one of the things up-close first.

[meravas]

"And weapons," Bull chimes in from the side, leaning into the wall. "I don't know what else there is to these things seeing as it's my first run, but I got enough to go by with the moving pictures on the walls."

[alwaysshielded]

Naturally, Cassandra was one of the first in the room, quietly waiting by the door to observe each person as they entered. She kept two mental lists going as she waited, 1) checking off each known member of the Inquisition present and cataloging their state (which involved a rather intense once over for each of them she is not at all subtle about giving) and 2) of the individuals that any member of the Inquisition had chosen to bring. Should any appear. As at home, they were in need of allies and Cassandra in need of judging each proposed one, whether her opinion was asked for or no.

[revocation]

Cullen finds his way to her quickly, standing nearby and crossing his arms over his chest with a sigh.

"Any prospects so far?" he asks. For allies, of course - they're both clearly thinking along the same lines, though he didn't bring anyone to this first meeting. He doesn't trust anyone here yet enough to bring them along. Still, the discussion is worthwhile to have.

[meravas]

Bull happened to be in decent shape and condition. Nothing appeared out of place with him; he was still wearing his eye patch, he still carried the heavy set of horns atop his head, his fingers hadn't grown back nor had his left foot corrected itself, the brace clinking very faintly with his step. He had almost walked past her and got in three steps before turning to look over his shoulder, sensing someone there.

Thankfully she wasn't some demon ready to jump his bones for possession.

"I knew it wouldn't take long before I bumped into you again. How you been, Cassandra?"

He was happy to see her, genuinely. She was one of the few who could knock him flat on his ass and he knew she would always have his back in a fight, as it had been back home in... well - his time. Timeline. Whatever Dorian had called it. Cassandra was not someone you wanted to mess around with, better to have as an ally than an enemy. He liked that about her.

[earthborn]

Shepard's not nearly so early, but she's not the last one to arrive, either. Gone are the workout clothes she last spoke to Cassandra in-- now Shepard walks around in a hooded sweatshirt and denim. And yes, that is a sweatshirt made to look like a sheep, complete with fluffy tail and curly, plush ram's horns on the hood. Don't judge her, it's comfortable.

"Pentaghast," it's a testament to how much she likes Cassandra that she's already devolved into the easy military informality, "How's door duty, tonight?"

[somewhatfallenfortune]

The training room at the dead of night is an inspired choice, as far as Josephine is concerned. They could stand to find a room which could be properly locked from others, but at this point, Josie can't think of a safer place that would comfortably hold them.

She arrives a few minutes before the hour and is certain to say hello to everyone. "How have you been adjusting to the Capitol? Is there anything you need?"

[meravas]

"Kinda reminds me of Val Royeaux, in a way. Still unsure if that's a good thing or not. What about you? Fittin' right in?" As she always seems to do, Bull has observed in the past. But it comes with the job and she's damn good at the job she does.

"I could do with a few things, yeah. Like a place to sit and have a proper drink."

[asunders]

Cole hadn't expected to get an invitation, honestly. Skulking around in corners was what he did. Watching, listening but never being particularly involved. But he had gotten one, and so he arrived as he was asked to. But he's still off to the side, though. Sitting in a corner of the room with a stray cat on his lap - one of the ones he'd fed upon entering the city.

There's probably a reason no one asks him to form strategies or plan anything, but he is here if they need him.

[tevintage]

Dorian had sent the invitation, of course, and when Cole appeared was all too happy to see him. He hadn't had the chance or opportunity to check up on him. The cat, however, is an interesting addition.

"I see you've made an ally," He teased, a flickering smile on his lips.

open;

[earthborn]

Commander Shepard could never be accused, by those who had met her, of being unobtrusive. She had a way, deliberate enough, of standing in every room she entered as if she owned it. It wasn't far from the way she managed a battlefield, to look at it, and that, for a very good reason. It was like a game, stand where you can see the most people, and there they could see you.

Right now, that meant the sparring ring. It was set a little bit above the floor-level, ostensibly for the sake of padding, and was ringed-round with elastic ropes for a boundary, like a boxing ring. It gave Shepard somewhere to sit, or lean, and a good view of the door and everything between herself and the exits. It also made her very, very visible.

Well, it was a meet'n'greet, wasn't it? They'd hardly be discussing secret escape plans down here, of all places. Worst case scenario: this would be about as productive as any given Council meeting she'd attended on the Citadel. One could always use a few more friends.

[meravas]

Bull's got no idea who this woman is with her short-cropped hair and the glow under her scars or in her eyes. There is however the uncomfortable feeling underlying beneath the surface that she could be a demon. But she has red hair. Red hair. ...but possible demon. Or she's someone who's cracked out on Red Lyrium and if that's the case... Bull's almost tempted to turn the other way or else find Cullen and put himself between the two like some kind of a buffer, though he knows Cullen has been clean for some time and he's had great support from most in the Inquisition who knew.

Being seven feet tall, Bull could easily see her where she stood against the ropes in the padded sparring ring. He doesn't approach her though, he keeps his distance (FOR GOOD REASON.......) and glances between her and his comrades, arms folded over his chest as he keeps to the side.

Open

[gunshiptotheface]

When Shepard had asked him to come with him to the meeting, he'd easily agreed. gaining a few more allies in the arena was certainly not a bad plan, and the more people who had a little bit of knowledge about what to expect might be able to come in handy outside of the Arena. As it was, Garrus was happy to stand off to the side, back against the wall, with a clear view of the entire room and the door.

His presence was quiet, but he watched, noting the people in the room and where they were and what they were discussing. For now he was silent, watching people interact and getting a feel for who had come to the meeting and listening to the ideas being tossed around.

[dreadinquisitor]

Strangers equally, with no awkward feelings to step on, Maxwell's good intentions of giving his own people space did not apply to the newcomers. After meeting - and coming an agreement - with Shepard, he moves to greet her fellows, wanting to get a feel for them as well.

He paused a moment to take Garrus in, pondering how best to approach such a - being, then decided to just go for it.

It couldn't go any worse than it had with Shepard, could it?

"Good morning," he greeted, and held out a hand. (Shephard had offered hers, so clearly it was still a custom wherever she was from.) "Maxwell Trevelyan."