#int; darlingsofthedas (ash).

[thanflowers]

❀ | @darlings-of-thedas (ash) — alt!main verse starter call / accepting!

        “oh! ash. you're just in time!” if nora's surprised to find them in her room, she does not let it show. instead, she carries the plate of freshly baked friendship bread—a sweet, cinnamon flavored cake—to the table and cuts them a slice, offering it on a small, clean cloth. “try this, and let me know what you think.” it doesn't occur to her yet that ash must have a reason for being there that has nothing to do with sweets. “i think i finally got the recipe just right.” and for the low price of a taste when she's finished, the hanged man's cook is willing to let her bake in his kitchen.

[thanflowers]

        “mm...depends on my mood, really. sometimes it's this. sometimes it's cake, or pie, or cookies.” nora shrugs. “i like baking, and marky's okay with me doing it in his kitchen as long as i make some for him, as well. here.”

        she cuts a thicker slice of the bread and wraps it up in another cloth, this time tying it with string before she hands it over. “for later.” she'll bring some for varric to try in a bit.

        nora tilts her head at the unexpected request. “a job? how mysterious.” she moves to sit on her bed, opposite the chair by the fire ash is occupying. the room is small but she's made it cozy, flowers on the table and maps on the walls.

        “i might be around.” there aren't any plans for wicked grace tonight, so she most definitely will be around, and free. still, she likes to know what she's signing up for before she signs up for it. “can you tell me more?”

Ashkaari is still becoming ... accustomed to Kirkwall. They have been in large cities before, but never for very long. And certainly not one as, well, colourful as Kirkwall. It is also too damned cold here.

Another thing that they are not used to? Working alongside others. And, really, they've only fallen in with Hawke and their little group in the hopes that the Magister Ashkaari is chasing might return. It's strange, having people to call on when they need something. They aren't ... entirely against it, as of yet.

And so, here they are, in Nora's room. Intending to ask for help. It's a foreign concept for Ashkaari, but one they are trying to embrace more openly. At least for the time being. They're fiddling with their waist belt when she finally arrives, carrying the smell of fresh bread with her. That certainly gains the elf's attention.

This is not why they are here, but Ashkaari isn't about to turn down something that smells like that. And Nora is so easy with her amiability. They take the slice with a hum and a small nod.

❝ Do you make this often? ❞ they ask, curious mostly about how often they might drop by Nora's room to get more of this in the future. Usually they don't join the others for cards or drinks in the evening, but they might do so more often if it means fresh bread.

And so they try the bread. Mostly just because, well, if it's awful then they'll certainly be less inclined to increase their appearances in the Hanged Man. But it's very much not, is the problem.

They nod again, the extent of their expression a slight raise of their eyebrows and a quirk to one corner of their lips. ❝ It's good. ❞

This is not what they are here for, Ashkaari has to remind themselves. They tilt their head slightly to one side as they lower the bread.

❝ I have a job I need some backup on, tonight. If you're available. ❞