[She had decided, the moment she had seen the young man arguing with his father in the outer foyer of the Magisterium, that she simply had to meet him.

Magister Maevaris Tilani is not without her connections - she had forged many in the wake of her father's death, in a time when it had not taken long for most to realise that she would not be as malleable as he had been - but it never hurts to connect with other disillusioned members of the Imperium.

She sweeps up behind Magister Pavus, passes him and gently closes one hand around the elbow of his son.] Halward, darling, you won't mind if I borrow Dorian, will you? Of course you won't.

[She smiles, an icy layer hidden just under the thawed warmth of the expression as she dares him to challenge her. Her eyes twinkle with quiet mirth as she turns them to the young man.]

Come, take a walk with me?

( Of course she had. Why wouldn't she? He was simply marvelous, after all. The pinnacle of all that is right with being an outcast in Tevinter society, etc etc etc.

The argument's winding down as the Magister - Tilani, he's not without his own knowledge of his father's colleagues, even if he's never personally met the woman - swoops in to steal him away. It very nearly gets a bristle of a response, caught at the tail end of anger, when part of him is still snapping like a moody cat. But he stamps down on the urge, pushes it under with a deep inhale and a courteous smile. )

Of course, Magister.

( He doesn't speak until they're somewhat out of his father's earshot, and then only to ask: ) What's this about?

I do love thwarting that man, he always turns the most entertaining shade of purple.

[Maevaris comments lightly as they walk away from Dorian's father, leaving him to briefly battle with the thought of chasing her down before ultimately deciding it would not be in his best interests. Smart man.

But it was never Halward that she was interested in. Dorian is clever too, and he knows to hold his tongue until they are away from the main body of the crowds milling about the foyer. Maevaris casts her eyes down to him and smiles - a coy look around the corners of her lips.]

I have a proposition for you, darling. One that I think you will be very interested in.

Indeed? ( His brows raise. He is, without doubt, clever. And observant enough of the politics within this society that his outbursts have only earned raised brows and shifty comments, rather than anything serious. (Of course, his mother would say it was worse than real punishments. But they disagree on the reputation he should cultivate here.) And observant enough of the world around him that the Magister gets a laugh because it's meant genuinely, rather than to placate a potential enemy.

There's a fine line between outcast and cast out. )

And what might that be?

[Maevaris gets away with a great deal because her family is old and her money is good, and though her father may have regarded as a pushover as far as Magisterium politics are concerned, she most certainly is not.

She is always on the lookout for people like her - people who think that the Imperium is long since due a serious reform.]

Revolution, sweet thing. I know you're as dissatisfied with the machinations of this place as I am.

[She links her arm in his and pats the back of his wrist.] I have a mind to form a splinter group of like-minded individuals, and I would like you to help me.