<span style="color: green"><i>So much for secrecy,</i></span>Luna thought, rolling her eyes. It was just as well, really; it would prevent a lot of confusion later on. On top of that, the sailors would likely keep their hands to themselves if they thought she could set them on fire. Well, it wasn’t that she<i>couldn’t</i>, more that she didn’t like to hurt anyone unless she really had to.<br/><br/>Luna smiled to herself. She had a job now, even if it was with a bunch of disorderly ruffians, although she had no idea what it entailed. If it got her away from Dairsmuid, that was all the better.<br/><br/>She shook her head in disbelief at the sailor who claimed he didn’t want to “rutt” with a mage. He was obviously a bit disappointed, which meant it was all the better that he knew. She didn’t want to have to fend off the men she was supposed to be working with. The notion actually terrified her. She didn’t really know how to deal with their advances, anyway. Normally, she’d just run off, but she really couldn’t do that on a ship. She shuddered. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.<br/><br/>Out of nowhere, she heard footsteps coming up the gangplank.<i>Someone</i>was running up at full speed, and she barely had time to move before they came barreling past, knocking her off-balance. She mewled in surprise at the captain’s sudden grasp on her breasts and bottom, a slight flush coming to her cheeks. Still, he had managed to steady her, so she straightened and brushed herself off, trying to salvage her dignity.<br/><br/>At first, she was ready to slap whoever had pushed her out of the way so thoughtlessly. When she saw the dark-haired elf hiding behind the ship’s railing, she decided against it, even more so when the angry gang roared by. She probably would have done the same thing if she had been being chased by templars.<span style="color: green"><i>Still, she could have apologised...</i></span>Luna grumbled in her head.<br/><br/>Once the girl had declared her intention to join the expedition – and she clearly knew more about it than Luna did – she approached her, smiling softly.<span style="color: green">“I’m Luna,”</span>she said, her teal eyes wide and interested.<span style="color: green">“I’m also on the expedition.”</span>She glanced at Captain Jal, who had suggested that they head to a tavern to talk things out. She didn’t particularly like taverns, but wasn’t of a mind to disagree.<span style="color: green">“That gang probably wouldn’t think to look for you in plain sight,”</span>she thought aloud.<span style="color: green">“If anything, they’d probably come back here. Plus, if they try anything...”</span>She slammed her fist into her palm in a way that was more adorable than threatening.<br/><br/>Luna smiled politely as the captain made excuses for the raucousness of his crew. She didn’t really mind all that much now that they had a reason to respect her.<span style="color: green">“It’s a long story,”</span>she said, when asked about how she had come to Dairsmuid.<span style="color: green">“I’m from Ferelden, originally. There was some nasty business with maleficar – um, blood mages – in the Circle there, and one of their rituals trapped me in the Fade. I managed to escape, but I ended up here, with nothing to my name.”</span>It sounded ridiculous. It<i>was</i>ridiculous. She didn’t expect either of them to understand.<br/><br/>She wasn’t prepared for the sudden silence that met them when they entered the tavern. All eyes were on them, and she had to do her best not to look at her feet. She got the feeling that Jal had been trying to put this expedition together for a long time.<span style="color: red">“Well hell, Jal, I didn’t know you were taking little girls on your expedition. I woulda sent my daughter.”</span>Luna raised her eyebrows, letting out an almost inaudible sigh. The man was an idiot. Those two ‘little girls’ were more capable than any of the silly drunks crowding the rest of the tavern.<br/><br/>Luna took in the captain’s map with interest. It seemed legitimate, if that meant anything, although its age meant there was no guarantee that the treasure was still there. Still, the thought of searching for ancient treasure sent a spark of excitement through her. It all sounded too good to be true.<span style="color: green">“In less than a week?”</span>she asked incredulously.<span style="color: green">“That’s...”</span><br/><br/><span style="color: darkred">“From what I can guess... you are trying to find help, and it’s not been forthcoming?”</span>came a voice from a tall, hooded figure who had wandered up to the table. After a moment, the figure pulled its hood back, revealing what appeared to be a violet-eyed, female Qunari. Luna couldn’t help being a bit taken aback, although she did her best to hide it.<span style="color: darkred">“How good is the information on that, and what’s the pay?”</span>They were good questions. Based on the state of the crew, Luna didn’t really expect to be paid unless they found the treasure, and that was fine by her. She didn’t need much, anyway.<div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>