(Source: thepsychoticbiotic)
Maker, this endgame conversation between Isabela and Hawke (as friends) chokes me up every damn time. ♥
Hawke: Shouldn’t you be halfway to Tevinter by now?
Isabela: Maker’s breath. Take off with a priceless relic once and you never hear the end of it!
Isabela: Your life would have been easier if you had just cut me out of it.
Isabela: But you stood by me. You defied the Qunari and fought their Arishok for me, even after I betrayed you.
Hawke: You came back to help me. Defending you from the Arishok was the least I could do.
Isabela: And don’t think I’m not grateful for that.
Isabela: I know I don’t exactly inspire confidence, but I swear I’m going to come through for you this time.
Isabela: When you look for me, I’ll be fighting at your side.
The apple of Cullen’s throat bobbed as the heel of Isabela’s boot hit the table.
He could only focus on the timeworn cards in his hands for so long before he found himself staring at hers, at the way her fingers teased the solid metal buckles before easing each strap out, one after another. As she worked her way up higher, his eyes followed, a wrinkle forming between his brows when they met skin.
And then she began to fold them down. Down from her thigh, down from her knee and down from around her calf, and finally down onto the floor with a solid thunk. She could see his throat move with yet another thick swallow.
“You’re… doing this on purpose, Isabela,” the knight-captain said, voice little more than a huff under his breath.
A thin eyebrow arched high on her forehead as she slid her leg down beneath the table and pulled another card off of the stack in front of them. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating, kitten,” she replied, peering at her hand with a thoughtful expression. “I never lose. Or I never have, until tonight. I must’ve pissed off someone up there.”
“Or perhaps I’m just better at this than you are.”
Cullen laughed at that and drew a card for himself. He was too engrossed in the card game to notice the devious little smile Isabela donned the moment he looked away. When he glanced up again, she sighed a bit fitfully, the grin gone. “Ooh, perhaps you are. I’ve never met a man who could best me at cards.”
Let him think that much. Poor thing’s playing right into my honey trap after all.
After a few minutes of betting – confidence drove him to vow to strip down to his waist, and she swore she’d lose the second boot and both floppy woolen socks – he set down his next hand with something akin to a flourish. The light of anticipation in his eyes dimmed noticeably at the sight of the cards she’d been holding.
“Blast.”
Cullen’s hands went to the scarlet sash around his waist, though the shade was muted compared to the color his cheeks became when Isabela interrupting him with a, “Well, at least we’ll both be down to our knickers before the game’s up.”
“The ship is the best teacher. She will guide you with her sighs… her shudders, her gentle swaying as she rides the crests of the waves.”
(Source: weirdoqueen)