Asaara leaned against the balcony railing, letting a faint breeze cool her face. It had been a very long night, and she had a headache on top of a series of other aches and pains from battle. Soft footsteps made her glance over her shoulder. She quickly looked down as Josephine came to join her at the railing.

"Are you alright?" Josephine asked gently, placing her hand on Asaaranda's arm.

Asaara swallowed past the lump in her throat. "Everything went according to plan. I couldn't be better," she said, as cheerfully as she could. She winced as her voice fell flat.

"What's wrong?" Josephine asked, sliding her hand down Asaara's arm until their fingers met.

Asaara sighed and straightened, turning toward Josephine. She made a sweeping motion at her body. Her uniform was ripped, burnt, and bloody. Her fingernails were chipped, the polish already half-off. Her hair had come undone and was hanging in limp strands. She knew she had picked up at least one scratch along her recently-polished horns. All in all, she looked a mess. The only thing that hadn't changed was the paint on her face.

"I feel like I ruined your and Leliana's hard work, making me look nice," she said. "The way those Orlesians were looking at me… they looked terrified or disgusted or both. I don't know that I've won us any favors here, after all. And it was going so well!"

Josephine frowned. "Surely you're not serious?" When Asaara didn't say anything, she clucked her tongue and grabbed up both of the Qunari's hands, kissing them. "You saved the empress. You stopped a civil war. You negotiated with experienced players of the Game and you came out on top. What you have done tonight is… remarkable. And if anyone discounts that because you got a little… mussed… then they are a fool!"

Asaara stared at her for a long moment before bursting into laughter. "'A little mussed?' Josie, look at me! I'm a stiff-necked noble's worst nightmare!"

Josie's lips twitched as she looked away. "You are not a nightmare. Although some of the guests' faces were… quite amusing."

Asaara wiped at her eyes and sighed. "I do feel bad, for getting 'mussed.' It was so nice to feel fancy and pretty."

"You are always pretty," Josephine said firmly, squeezing Asaara's hands. "Even bloodstained and sweaty, you are… beautiful to me."

Asaara's eyes widened slightly and she couldn't help but smile, her cheeks getting hot. Josephine stepped closer, resting a hand on Asaara's shoulder, fingers stroking the velvet of her jacket. "Th-thank you, Josie," Asaara managed to say. Josephine smiled at her and leaned up, standing on tiptoe as her eyes fluttered shut.

Asaara gasped and took a step back. Josephine faltered and tripped as her support backed away. Asaara steadied her as the Antivan stumbled. "Oh, I'm sorry, Josie!" she said, her eyes wide. Josephine stared at her, clearly startled. "It's just… you were going to kiss me."

"Is that… Do you not want…"

"No! I mean yes! I mean…" Asaara held up her hands and shook her head rapidly. "Wait. Let me calm down a second."

Josephine's lips were trembling even as she tried to push away the hurt that had risen in her chest. Clearly this was a misunderstanding of some kind, not a slight.

Asaara reached out and brushed a strand of hair away from Josephine's face, giving her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Josie, I didn't mean to startle you. But you can't kiss me. The vitaar." She reached up and tapped her bottom lip.

Josephine's eyes widened. "Oh! You're right I… I forgot about… oh!" She pressed her hands to her cheeks, a rush of emotion making her face flush. "I thought… I thought perhaps you…"

"No," Asaara said. "Believe me, Josie, I would love to kiss you right now. You're so…" She stopped, taking a deep breath. "I… You know that I care for you? Deeply?"

Josephine nodded, her smile disappearing behind trembling fingers. "I do. Although it is nice to hear it."

Asaara smiled. "Good. Once I get this paint washed off, I promise I'll make it up to you." Josephine giggled and Asaara ducked her head, blushing at her own flirtation. Then she held her hand out, bowing slightly to Josie. "Would you… like to dance?" The music drifting in from the ballroom was familiar, slow, and terribly romantic.

Josephine took the offered hand, her smile stretching wide. "I was hoping you would ask." They stepped together, sharing dizzy smiles as they began to sway.

I am the luckiest woman there is, Asaara thought as she wrapped her arm around Josephine's waist, pulling the other woman close. Little did she know, but her love was thinking the same thing.