amellsinferno | In Another World | locked to apostate

"This lovely woman right here is selling some marvelous garments that we must buy to give to the needy who might come our way!" Solona's surprisingly holding it together quite well.

The merchant eyes the two sisters with interest. It's been a while since travelers took interest in her goods, wanting to find fancier looking clothing for them to wear.

"Just a few coppers for each set, sisters," she says sheepishly. All the more she was interested to sell knowing that the clothing would go to those in need.

Meanwhile, Cullen and Anders manage to find a tavern that a few of the villagers say doubled as their inn. They both make their way inside to speak to the bartender in charge.

"May I help you, Ser?" he stands at attention. It had been a slow day for him and to have a templar and a brother enter into the tavern certainly came as a surprise to him.

Nellie smiles quietly at the merchant, thanking her and paying her a little extra. She can't help it, she's got a good heart and this merchant is really helping them out.

Anders, meanwhile, is trying to think of exactly what to say. He can't muck this up.

"My companion and I would like to rent two rooms for the night, sir."

Maker, why can't Cullen do this...

"Thank you!" Solona says, taking the sets of tunics and breeches, vests and belts and coats that she bought. They weren't that eye-catching-- exactly what they needed. She places them all inside a shopping bag she purchased as well and nods at the merchant. "Have a good day, good lady, and may the Maker watch over you." Pretending to be a Sister was awesome.

She directs Nellie towards the food section of the market. "So, what would you like to be eating while we're on the road?" Solona smiles at her sister.

Cullen however is unimpressed with Anders. "I thought you knew how to charm the pants of women," he mutters under his breath so that only Anders could hear.

Nellie can tell how much Solona loves pretending to be a Sister, and then...and then Nellie knows exactly what she wants, eyeing a fruit stand closely.

"Apples. I haven't had apples in forever, sis..."

Anders sighs, irritated.

"I do. Just not as a pious Chantry brother, metalpants."

"Apples it is then," Solona smiles, making her way over to the fruit stand. "Fine day it is, ser, to be selling such succulent looking fruit," she greets the merchant. He looks up at her curiously then turns towards Nellie.

"I haven't seen you folk around here. I didn't know that the Chantry would be sending some priests to our village."

"Oh, we were just passing through, ser. We're on our way to Lothering, actually."

"Ah, Lothering. Maker knows how much that town needs its holy men," the merchant chuckles. Solona's brow furrows, wondering what the man meant. "Now, what is it that you need, sisters? I have some fine fruit here that I am very sure you would enjoy!"

"A-apples would be fine," Solona replies, coming out of her trance. "Right Ne-- Sister Helen?"

At the tavern, Cullen decides that it's up to him to do the talking. He manages to get the owner to prepare two rooms for them and manages to get through the small talk and the questions with ease. He had to keep his story in check though-- in small villages, news spreads fast and he didn't want anyone suspicious of their actions.

He then turns to Anders, who was of minimal use to him and a wicked thought crosses his mind. And it just so happened that the tavern owner was more than happy to finally have some paying customers, he offers the fine, young templar and the silent brother a drink. Cullen raises his hand.

"Thank you very much for your offer, ser," he says, turning to Anders with a smirk. "But the brother here is not allowed to drink. I can have his share."

"Apples, please. What else do you recommend, good ser?"

Nellie gives her most pious smile, and while the merchant is showing off his wares, Nellie raises an eyebrow at her sister. What in Thedas did he mean 'Lothering needs its holy men?' She'll ask Cullen if he heard anything later...

Anders is mentally furious. How dare that man rob him of the chance to get drunk! He kicks Cullen's shin from under the table.

"I'd say that the pears would taste wonderful as well. But not as good as the apples. Apples are in season this time around," the merchant smiles brightly, putting a few apples into a bag for the two sisters. "Would you be interested in any other kinds of food, sisters? I have many friends in the market and I could recommend stalls to you both."

Solona nods. "We'd be most grateful for that, ser. Your village is full of good people." His statement about Lothering bothered her too. Maybe she'd be able to get a bit more information about the matter later.

Cullen sputters mid drink when Anders kicks him in the shin. He glares at Anders. Then downs his drink and asks for one more, just to spite him.

Nellie smiles at the merchant, before taking some of the pears as well. She loves apples, it's true, but the pears also look good.

"That is very kind of you, good ser. Your recommendations are most welcome, and may the Maker smile upon you."

Nellie is almost too good at this act of theirs.

Anders glares at Cullen again, wondering when the girls would get there. The templar is going to drive him mad...

After an hour of shopping, the girls have almost enough food and supplies to last the group more than a week. Solona remembered Cullen mentioning a tavern earlier so she decides to head there with Nellie, carrying bags of food and supplies and clothes with them.

The two enter the tavern and immediately Cullen stands up to assist them. He may have had a few drinks but he had a somewhat high tolerance. All the drinks did did was keep him from worrying a bit too much and Maker, he needed that. He takes a bag each from Nellie and Solona and brings it to their table.

"Maker's breath, you two bought so much things!"

Anders moves to help Solona and Nellie with their bags, looking rather grumpily at Solona.

"Help me, Sol. He won't let me drink."

Nellie giggles a bit at this, shaking her head.

"Of course he won't. You're a devout Chantry Brother, he doesn't want you to do something irrational while drunk."

This just earns Nellie a look from Anders, which she ignores as she talks to Cullen.

"We thought it would be a smart idea to stock up. Just in case."

"Oh, Andy, Nellie has a point, you know. Can't let anything jeopardize the whole front we have, after all," Solona says apologetically.

"That's right," Cullen smirks towards Anders' direction before turning to Nellie. "What exactly did you manage to buy then? Aside from food, which I'm sure you both had a field day doing."

Anders glares at Solona.

"You realize this means you can't drink either, Sol."

Nellie's just choosing to ignore the two of them, instead talking to Cullen.

"We got food, clothes, soap, basic essentials like that."

Solona does love her drink and what Anders said was true. They couldn't drink that night... at least in public. She leans over and whispers in Anders' ear, "yes, but I managed to buy two bottles of wine from a kind merchant claiming that it's meant for a peace offering between the Chantry and a few nobles." She snorts. It was a silly story but hey, the merchant believed it.

Cullen ignores the two as well, not noticing Solona whispering. "Good work, you two. I'm proud of you, Nel," Cullen smiles at her. It was hard to keep things platonic on the outside but he's sure she could feel how he felt despite that.

Nellie wasn't with Solona when she bought the wine, instead talking to a few other merchants, picking up a few more supplies. Anders gives Solona a huge grin.

"Sol, I love you so much, you know that, right?"

Nellie smiles and fights back a blush.

"Thank you, Cullen. We should have enough to get us through till Lothering."

"You tell me time and time again, Anders," Solona winks. "You know I think about your happiness constantly."

"Lothering's just two days away. We have more than enough to get us there, actually." He turns to the owner and nods at him. "We should bring all our things to our rooms now, yes?"

Anders grins.
"Well, I have to keep telling you, or you'll forget, you know."

The owner nods at Cullen, giving him a small smile and leading the group to their rooms.

Solona grins back, leaning closer to Anders. "Rather you show me how--!"

Cullen coughs with an irritated tone infused into it. "We're taking the things upstairs. Why don't you help me, Anders?" Maker, these two, what about what Solona was saying before about keeping their charade?

Anders groans a bit, before nodding. He looks back at Solona, waggling his eyebrows at her, before following Cullen.

Nellie shakes her head and stays behind to walk upstairs with her sister.

Solona snickers again, leaning over to Nellie to whisper, "It's so nice to have boys to boss around."

Cullen's just going to pretend he didn't hear that. He opens the door to one of the rooms and sets the bags down on a table.

Nellie just smacks her sister lightly in the arm, but the smile on her face seems to agree with Solona.

The rooms aren't too big, but they're nice. 2 people will definitely be able to fit without any trouble.

The rooms were cozy enough. And warm too, thank the Maker. Solona then clears her throat, shooting a glance at Anders and thinking of the wine. "So, about the sleeping arrangements..."

Cullen sighs. "It would be better if you and Nellie slept in the same room tonight to avoid gossip with the townsfolk." Last night, sleeping beside Nellie felt so wonderful, it pained him to suggest what he just did.

Solona blinks. But the wine! "If... If that's what would keep our cover then..." She looks at Anders sadly. "Fine."

Anders sighed. Damn. There goes the chance to drink wine...he gives Solona a small smile, patting her on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Sol...we'll be able to spend time together when we're back on the road."

He hoped she understood what he was getting at...Nellie gives Cullen a small smile.

"What he said, Cullen."

Cullen gives Nellie a smile back, taking her hand in his now that they were in private-- well, somewhat private.

Solona rolls her eyes and sighs in defeat. "I just hope you both don't kill each other by morning." She manages a smirk.

"I'll... try my best not to," Cullen scowls.

Nellie smiles at Cullen, squeezing his hand.

"You two will be okay. It's only for one night, after all, and we'll be back on the road and in Lothering before you know it."

Solona sighs again. "I'm just saying, Cullen, if you start hearing noises in the middle of the night, just go back to sleep." She bursts into giggles, winking at Anders' direction. Cullen just glares. He turns to Nellie. "Please control your sister," he pleads.

In Another World | locked to apostate_amell

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