It's My Birthday And I'll Meme If I Want To -- A Quote Prompt Meme

[desertions]

The Quote Prompt Meme
similar to the picture prompt memes but intended solely for QUOTATION PROMPTS shenanigans.

i'll leave headers for various characters of mine
others will leave a quote (or two, or three...)
i'll reply to them with a starter based on the quote.
embed quote images or simply write them in the comments; warn if including NSFW content. here's some inspiration!

fancy html for quotes: <blockquote><font face="courier-new"><big><big><big><big>WHAT CHU GOTTA SAY BRA</big></big></big></big><br /><small>— who said it first</small></font></blockquote> embed an image in your reply: <img src=IMAGEURL _fcksavedurl=IMAGEURL> control height and width of your pictures: <img src="IMAGEURL" _fcksavedurl="IMAGEURL" width="500"><br />OR<br /><img src="IMAGEURL" _fcksavedurl="IMAGEURL" height="INSERT">


Tweaked from 221_b

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Isabela

[procures]

[serpentis]

There must be something strangely sacred in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea.
— Khalil Gibran

[procures]

Isabela is here because the Inquisition strikes a hard bargain -- or rather, Josephine does, and she's found the arrangement to do a few jobs with them to work out for her. Of course, when she's not working she can often be found drinking -- if she isn't trying to cheat people out of money at Wicked Grace (never Josephine though, Varric's told her what happened to the commander. She's sad she missed that sight.)

Tonight is a drinking night.

She lines up a couple of shots, sliding one over to the mage Varric said could probably drink her under the table. She wants to see for herself.

"This one we take with salt." A grin spreads across her lips. "Unless you're not up for it."

[serpentis]

"Oh, that sounds like a challenge."

He tilted his head, looking over the Captain for just a moment, and he takes the salt, sprinkling it on the back of his hand and licking it, a smile twisting on his lips before the knocked the shot back.

And then he turned back to her as it pleasantly burned down his throat.

"So, now that you've bought me a drink, I do hope you're not looking to take advantage of me. I assure you, I'm entirely innocent and I shake in my boots at the idea."

[procures]

"That's because it is one." She downs her own shot, enjoying the pleasant burn down her throat.

Isabela laughs at that. "Don't worry, kitten, I don't like to take advantage of anyone who isn't willing." It's no fun if they aren't both into the idea, at least that's always been her take on that.

i just grabbed a bunch, mix/match or just pick one!! go nuts!!!

[openhands]

She might have replied that her world, in various aspects, was falling down about her head, but she did not.

Men and women, they were beautiful and wild, all a little violent under their pleasant ways and only a little tamed.

I'm sick of staring at what I want, I thought. I'd do anything to hold it in my hands.

I wanted to explain that I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race--that rarely do I ever simply estimate it. I wanted to ask her how the same thing could be so ugly and so glorious, and its words and stories so damning and brilliant.

Everyone is happier if they have someone to look down on, as well as someone to look up to, especially if they resent both.

i mixed a couple and hope this is okay!!!

[procures]

Isabela has heard of Cassandra, of course, from Varric. He had mentioned the Seeker in his letter when he had propositioned her to come to Skyhold for a job the Inquisition needed done. It seems like it could be a worthy connection, even if the place is crawling with too many Orlesians for her taste. Give her lowtown any day.

So when she found the little tavern it was like a small piece of home where she could drink and wait to catch up with her friend. Of course, when Cassandra walks in she can't resist saying something.

"You know, if I wasn't convinced this whole thing was so important we might have a problem, you and I. I don't take kindly to those who harass my friends"

Yes, Varric may have mentioned Cassandra's interrogation style.

it's perfect!!!

[openhands]

He may have also exaggerated some parts of it. Not that she was exactly gentle with him, but you'd think she had been pulling his fingernails by the way Varric tells it at times. He's always had an annoying flair for the dramatic though, so she's not the least bit surprised by the comment. It doesn't stop her from shooting Isabela a look, however. She came in here to enjoy a drink in relative peace, not get more of the strange characters Varric knows delivering thinly veiled threats or lectures.

"How fortunate then that you have decided to be the bigger person," she says, dryly as she steps over to the bar and leans on it. She only has to wait a moment before she's given a cup full of ale. "I would say perhaps you ought to find yourself new friends, but I think it's Varric who should consider that."

Isabela's for-profit attitude has done nothing to win approval from Cassandra. The Inquisition shouldn't bother with people like her, in Cassandra's opinion, but they're in a dire and desperate situation. It's a necessary evil, so to speak.

Re: it's perfect!!!

[procures]

Isabela happens to like Varric's dramatics. What's a good story without some embellishment anyway? Perhaps Cassandra hadn't been as bad as she was made out to be -- but in all likelihood it wouldn't have changed anything. Isabela likes giving people a hard time. Seeing how they might react.

"Oh, that's me alright," She drawls with a widening grin. "I'm known for my ability to e the bigger person, except most people replace person with a term a little more colorful."

She's not insulted, she's used to people looking down on her. But she doesn't care. The way she lives means she can take care of herself. She can live on her terms. That's what's important. If people don't like that? Fuck them.

"You know Varric, too much of a bleeding heart. He always wants to see the best in people."

[openhands]

Just from this far into the conversation, Cassandra can tell she's not going to have a quiet night of drinking. So while she won't sit at Isabela's table, she does take up a seat at one nearby while she talks. Cassandra positions herself so that she only has to turn a little in her seat to face Isabela, her arm resting on the table.

"He also has a problem of being in the wrong place at the wrong time," she says. "But I must admit, I was impressed he decided to stay with the Inquisition."

His opinions of Cassandra aside, he had no real connection or ties to anyone in the Inquisition at that point. He was free to walk away, and technically still is. But even though he's content to give Cassandra a hard time at every turn over her initial treatment of him, he doesn't appear to have any intention of leaving any time soon.

[procures]

"Varric is a good person. A far better one than me. He doesn't abandon what he feels are his messes."

And Isabela knows him well enough to know Varric must feel responsible considering his history with the red lyrium. What happened to his brother.

Isabela might have just run for it, honestly, but she has a bit more of a conscious these days. She blames Hawke for that.

[openhands]

All of this is hardly Varric's fault. Cassandra would like to think Varric knows that somewhere deep down, but he probably quite honestly ignores that voice of reason within himself and that's why he stays.

"Which leads me to wonder why it is you're here."

The real reason, at any rate. Sure, the Inquisition is willing to provide Isabela with compensation. (Possibly more compensation than she's worth, if you ask Cassandra, but it wasn't her call to make.) But plenty would have looked the other way. When the Inquisition calls upon you, they ask a great deal. Someone as self-serving as Isabela claims to be would surely believe nothing to be worth this great a risk.

[procures]

"Your Josephine drives a hard bargain."

It's easier for Isabela to deflect, to act like anything she does is for money and money alone. But Varric is a good friend, one of the few in the world, and when he asked for her help personally -- well that made things much different.

Besides, how much fun can she have if this demon god guy destroys the world anyway?

[openhands]

The look Cassandra gives Isabela communicates a silent bullshit as she takes a swig from her cup. Even Josephine is not that good at persuasion.

"How fortunate for the Inquisition then that she was able to convince you to lend your...services," she says, letting the matter lie. Deflect all you like, Isabela. She sees through you.

[procures]

"Well, I also owed Varric a favor," She admits with a shrug of her shoulder. And that probably shows her hand more than anything else. Varric is a good friend. Despite what people might think of Isabela she'll do quite a bit for her friends.

[dawnwillcome]

[procures]

Isabela never stays put anywhere too long. Kirkwall was a fluke in that way, but since then she's kept moving. It's nice to have her own ship again, finally. Freedom. And of course, a really big hat.

Skyhold isn't a place she would call home, ever. It's too big. Too fancy for her taste. But Varric has called in a favor and so here she is walking through the main halls, looking for her friend.

If nothing else, she imagines she could have some fun in a place like this.

[dawnwillcome]

Occasionally when there are visitors to Skyhold, they stand out enough that the Inquisitor doesn't have to ask Josephine if there's anyone she should be on the lookout for. She can spot them herself, give them the wide berth or the attention they need, gain some influence and just basically play her part well enough to keep things moving forward.

But sometimes, big hats notwithstanding, a new face blends in well and Jove does need to be pointed in the right direction. A friend of Hawke and Varric can't exactly go ignored, but it's the woman's story more than her friends who really pique Jove's interests. A charming lady pirate, swashbuckling her way around the oceans of Thedas under her own free will and power? Of course that's going to be something anyone would like to see up close.

So she goes to seek out this intriguing woman, and is pleasantly surprised when it doesn't take too long.

"It's Isabela, isn't it?" She smiles as she asks, and while nothing about her screams "hello I'm in charge here" at the moment she doesn't expect Isabela to not place her immediately. How many white haired elves are even in Skyhold? "I've heard a lot about you from Varric. It's a pleasure, truly."

[procures]

"And you must be the inquisitor." She says with a smile. She doesn't treat Jove with any sort of decorum but rather speaks to her like she would anyone else -- which is to say in a generally friendly sort of way. The fact that she's friends with Varric earns her big points in Isabela's eyes.

"I warn you, only half what he says about me is true." A grin spreads across her lips. "I'll let you figure out which half."

[merchantprince]

[procures]

Varric writes for a favor for the Inquisition and what does she do? She arrives in Skyhold, sitting down next to him in the tavern and ordering herself a beer before finally speaking in a matter of fact sort of voice.

"You know, if you wanted to check up on me, you could have just said so. I'm not going to do something so ridiculous."

Or maybe she would, but she can't seem too eager.

[theladyorthecrossbow]

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears.
Cesare Pavese

[procures]

"The infamous Bianca. Here I thought Varric was just being mysterious."

Speaking of Varric he's the main reason Isabela is here. He said Bianca was in trouble -- and she owed him a favor. Besides, she was curious to see what this woman was like. If she's stolen Varric's heart she must be pretty impressive. Or something.

[theladyorthecrossbow]

"Who's to say he wasn't?" Bianca raises her eyebrows at the woman. But enough about her, really--or, rather, enough about her associations with Varric. "So what does he call you?"

There's always a nickname, and it's nice to be on friendly terms before they get to the help-asking part of the conversation.

[procures]

"Riviani -- not one of his more creative ones."

It's only a little critical, really. She's too fond of Varric to truly hold it against him.