Anders (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
apurrstate) wrote2016-05-03 09:35 pm
apurrstate) wrote2016-05-03 09:35 pm
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[Nothing, yet. He doesn't know what The Big Sleep might mean. He answers airily, clearly simply chilling out on his bed on the planet, Pounce curled up on his chest.]
Ah, my daring Warden-Commander! Awake from your beauty sleep? You scared a few of us, comas aren't healthy last I checked.
What do you remember? How charming I am? How handsome?
Ah, my daring Warden-Commander! Awake from your beauty sleep? You scared a few of us, comas aren't healthy last I checked.
What do you remember? How charming I am? How handsome?
[If she were more awake, he'd have a clever response. But nope, she's reeling and sleep-muddled so he's getting the straight up truth.]
Amaranthine. Vigil's Keep.
[She motions with her hands.]
You. Oghren. Sigrun. Velanna. Justice. Nathaniel. [The good...] Kal'Hirol, the Black Marsh, the mine. The Mother. [...the bad...] The Architect and talking darkspawn. [...and the yet to be decided.]
Amaranthine. Vigil's Keep.
[She motions with her hands.]
You. Oghren. Sigrun. Velanna. Justice. Nathaniel. [The good...] Kal'Hirol, the Black Marsh, the mine. The Mother. [...the bad...] The Architect and talking darkspawn. [...and the yet to be decided.]
[He moves slow at first, as though half expecting not to be true. Pounce is carefully removed from him as he sits up, still staring at Riona. Caution was in his face, as though trying desperately not to hope. It felt similar to that moment in the rain, the Templar and death or the Wardens and hope, all held in the palm of her hand.]
..Just like that? You're not...[No, she wouldn't mess with him, not about this.]
Where are you?
..Just like that? You're not...[No, she wouldn't mess with him, not about this.]
Where are you?
I went home while I was asleep.
[She offers him a smile.]
I'm on the Blue Fish. Still trying to wake up.
[She offers him a smile.]
I'm on the Blue Fish. Still trying to wake up.
If we weren't travelling through space on a bunch of star-ships, I'd think that was impossible. Keep working on that, I'll be right there.
[His tone is an exercise in staying light, like this isn't some big deal, like his heart isn't pounding out of his chest. He hangs up and, Maker help him, sprints to get to her ship.
His hair is uncharacteristically disheveled and his clothes are in a similar state from his haste, but the smile breaking across his face is blinding.]
Well, now. I think this is the best news I've heard since arriving on this Maker-forsaken fleet.
[And then his arms are around her in a tight hug, betraying exactly how much he'd missed her.]
[His tone is an exercise in staying light, like this isn't some big deal, like his heart isn't pounding out of his chest. He hangs up and, Maker help him, sprints to get to her ship.
His hair is uncharacteristically disheveled and his clothes are in a similar state from his haste, but the smile breaking across his face is blinding.]
Well, now. I think this is the best news I've heard since arriving on this Maker-forsaken fleet.
[And then his arms are around her in a tight hug, betraying exactly how much he'd missed her.]
Edited 2016-07-20 16:07 (UTC)
[While he's en route, Riona is examining some of the new scars she's gotten. Strange that they came with her, when apparently her body was here the whole time. Or something. It makes her head spin trying to work out the logistics of that.
She hears him coming, lowering her arm from where she was looking over a long cut The Mother gave to her. She stands to greet him, but she's taken momentarily by surprise by the hug he gives her. Barely a moment passes before she returns it, glad to receiving the man as a friend and not a stranger.]
I'm so sorry, Anders.
She hears him coming, lowering her arm from where she was looking over a long cut The Mother gave to her. She stands to greet him, but she's taken momentarily by surprise by the hug he gives her. Barely a moment passes before she returns it, glad to receiving the man as a friend and not a stranger.]
I'm so sorry, Anders.
[He gives her a tight squeeze after a moment and pulls away again.]
You have nothing to apologize for, my friend. It's this place. I'm just glad you remember now.
[He smirks.]
Was it everything I described? Daring adventures, dashing companions, hideous Darkspawn?
You have nothing to apologize for, my friend. It's this place. I'm just glad you remember now.
[He smirks.]
Was it everything I described? Daring adventures, dashing companions, hideous Darkspawn?
[It's almost hard to believe that she didn't remember him.]
And then some. The Mother still haunts some of my nightmares. Sometimes, I can still hear her laughter.
[Then there was the Architect. Had she made the right choice there? Only time would tell.
However, what's interesting is where her usual instinct to kick herself about it and agonize over her choice typically made itself known, now it was nowhere to be found. Granted, she worried if she made the right choice. Anyone would. Yet something seems to have changed. She would have to think on it.]
You were right about Nathaniel. Maker, I'm glad to have been able to let go of that anger.
And then some. The Mother still haunts some of my nightmares. Sometimes, I can still hear her laughter.
[Then there was the Architect. Had she made the right choice there? Only time would tell.
However, what's interesting is where her usual instinct to kick herself about it and agonize over her choice typically made itself known, now it was nowhere to be found. Granted, she worried if she made the right choice. Anyone would. Yet something seems to have changed. She would have to think on it.]
You were right about Nathaniel. Maker, I'm glad to have been able to let go of that anger.
Anders places the bag on the table and the blanket on the bed and pauses. "Ser Drools? Is that something's name?" He plucked Pounce off his shoulder and placed him on the blanket as Anders turned back to Hawke with one brow raised. "This Ser drools wouldn't happen to be another Mabari, would he?"
Of course he was. Hawke had expressed his love for dogs and, as was Anders' point, what drooled more than a dog? Maker, he was going to help this ridiculous man add to their ridiculously dog-infested fleet, wasn't he? Of course he was.
"Alright, Hawke. It's roughly half an hour's walk, so we might as well get going." Before he thinks to change his mind.
Of course he was. Hawke had expressed his love for dogs and, as was Anders' point, what drooled more than a dog? Maker, he was going to help this ridiculous man add to their ridiculously dog-infested fleet, wasn't he? Of course he was.
"Alright, Hawke. It's roughly half an hour's walk, so we might as well get going." Before he thinks to change his mind.
I know what you mean.
[The Mother would haunt his dreams until his dying day, he was certain. The Architect, on the other hand, he was choosing not to think about. He'd follow his Commander anywhere and trusted her with his life...but he still doubted the Architect and likely always would.]
I'm glad. You seem...well, out of it a little, but I imagine sleeping that long and waking up with new memories will do that to you, but also better. Do you feel better?
[The Mother would haunt his dreams until his dying day, he was certain. The Architect, on the other hand, he was choosing not to think about. He'd follow his Commander anywhere and trusted her with his life...but he still doubted the Architect and likely always would.]
I'm glad. You seem...well, out of it a little, but I imagine sleeping that long and waking up with new memories will do that to you, but also better. Do you feel better?
"Yes, he's my dog," he replies, almost in a whine. He can tell Anders is judging him. "It's not any different than naming your cat Ser Pounce, is it? And besides, Drools likes you."
As much as Anders admonished the dog that he should behave 'like a real pet' or rather, like a cat. Hawke's fairly certain that he has a secret soft spot for most animals, not just cats, but he's not going to needle at it lest Anders feels the need to bury it further for inexplicable reasons.
Though if Hawke had his own tail, he'd be wagging it at Anders saying they should get going. "Really? Excellent! I'll have Ser Drools by dinner!"
He all but clamors back for the door.
As much as Anders admonished the dog that he should behave 'like a real pet' or rather, like a cat. Hawke's fairly certain that he has a secret soft spot for most animals, not just cats, but he's not going to needle at it lest Anders feels the need to bury it further for inexplicable reasons.
Though if Hawke had his own tail, he'd be wagging it at Anders saying they should get going. "Really? Excellent! I'll have Ser Drools by dinner!"
He all but clamors back for the door.
Anders scoffed, thoroughly disbelieving he could have any sort of good relationship with a dog. But the way Hawke reacted made it worth it all the same. How hopeless this man was. Hopeless and endearing.
Hawke's out the door first and Anders is close behind, a good bye offered to Pounce as he closes the door. He leads them down to solid ground again and off in the direction of the tree. He's amicably quiet until they're past the treeline and heading deeper into the forest.
"I feel I should warn you on what to expect. When you wish for your gift, it draws up memories and that memory is shared through touch. You...do know we have to hold hands, right?" How awkward if Hawke had missed that little fact...but more awkward later if Anders had simply reached for his hand expecting his companion to understand.
Hawke's out the door first and Anders is close behind, a good bye offered to Pounce as he closes the door. He leads them down to solid ground again and off in the direction of the tree. He's amicably quiet until they're past the treeline and heading deeper into the forest.
"I feel I should warn you on what to expect. When you wish for your gift, it draws up memories and that memory is shared through touch. You...do know we have to hold hands, right?" How awkward if Hawke had missed that little fact...but more awkward later if Anders had simply reached for his hand expecting his companion to understand.
[It's good that he does. She needed the supporters as well as the doubters. While she let the Architect live, it had come with terms. And she knew she gambled with much. But over a thousand years of battling the Blight, and they'd made no progress with it. Everything the Wardens did was reactionary. Something had to change; risks had to be taken.
She pushed those thoughts aside. What's done is done. And Maker, it felt freeing to be able to really do that. Obsessing over her decisions was something of an old habit.]
Still clearing the fog from my mind. But I feel... yes, I suppose better. Being back home and having a break from this place really helps.
She pushed those thoughts aside. What's done is done. And Maker, it felt freeing to be able to really do that. Obsessing over her decisions was something of an old habit.]
Still clearing the fog from my mind. But I feel... yes, I suppose better. Being back home and having a break from this place really helps.
[His expression shifts slightly and his eyes run over her face, studying like he was expecting to see something sprout there that would tell him she needed healing. Unfortunately, as far as he could tell, she didn't.
Although...it wouldn't hurt, would it? What else was he doing with his mana these days? Even his work on the surface was more Herbalisim-focused than Spirit Healing.
A gentle blue-white glow grew in his palm and it jumped from his skin to hers, the magic spreading through her and leaving a tang in the room like the air before a storm.
He smirked.]
Just in case. I can't imagine sleeping as long as you did is all that healthy.
Although...it wouldn't hurt, would it? What else was he doing with his mana these days? Even his work on the surface was more Herbalisim-focused than Spirit Healing.
A gentle blue-white glow grew in his palm and it jumped from his skin to hers, the magic spreading through her and leaving a tang in the room like the air before a storm.
He smirked.]
Just in case. I can't imagine sleeping as long as you did is all that healthy.
"I know, that's why I came to ask you." He follows along after Anders, a little sobered by the turn of the conversation. Though Anders does know this already and he said yes anyway, so that's encouraging. "I trust you."
Such a simple thing to say but it means the world. The parts left unsaid express more than a general trust. This isn't a trust that Anders will keep a secret or not take the last cookie. This is Adalwolfe trusting Anders with anything he's shown, trusting the man not to run off scared if it happens to be about him or get angry. Despite the overexcited vigor with which Adalwolfe had come to Anders with this little plan, he has in fact thought it through. Anders is the only person he can ask, the only person here he trusts with himself. Not even Marian, who ostensibly is him, can he say that about.
"Besides, if I can choose, the memory will be about Ser Drools anyway." A scoff, a cover up for the brief window of emotional vulnerability that he fears if he didn't close Anders would turn heel just as one or the other of them have done when any of their conversations got too deep in the last month. Flirting is all well and good - or well and bad for different reasons - but with them it seems to always lead to some kind of earnest feeling that they both know they shouldn't have in the state they're in. Not like this.
Maker, what is he doing...
Such a simple thing to say but it means the world. The parts left unsaid express more than a general trust. This isn't a trust that Anders will keep a secret or not take the last cookie. This is Adalwolfe trusting Anders with anything he's shown, trusting the man not to run off scared if it happens to be about him or get angry. Despite the overexcited vigor with which Adalwolfe had come to Anders with this little plan, he has in fact thought it through. Anders is the only person he can ask, the only person here he trusts with himself. Not even Marian, who ostensibly is him, can he say that about.
"Besides, if I can choose, the memory will be about Ser Drools anyway." A scoff, a cover up for the brief window of emotional vulnerability that he fears if he didn't close Anders would turn heel just as one or the other of them have done when any of their conversations got too deep in the last month. Flirting is all well and good - or well and bad for different reasons - but with them it seems to always lead to some kind of earnest feeling that they both know they shouldn't have in the state they're in. Not like this.
Maker, what is he doing...
[It's strange to be healed in this place. Everything here is so... opposite of what she knows. It's like a bit of home coursing through her, even if for just a moment.]
Ah, thank you. I do feel a bit... more awake. [Slightly more energized, if nothing else.] So, did I miss anything exciting while I was asleep?
Ah, thank you. I do feel a bit... more awake. [Slightly more energized, if nothing else.] So, did I miss anything exciting while I was asleep?
[He smirks.]
Just that wonderful artwork your dear friend, Leliana bestowed on you. I might have saved the picture...
Just that wonderful artwork your dear friend, Leliana bestowed on you. I might have saved the picture...
[ANDERS YOU LITTLE SHITHEAD.]
You took a picture? You fiend!
You took a picture? You fiend!
[Enjoy that grin, Riona. It's definitely at your expense.]
Of course! You were bound to ruin it when you woke up, I had to preserve the genius of it.
Now I can see the loveliness of the art and the beauty of your face without the two competing.
[Isn't he charming?? You love him, right????]
Of course! You were bound to ruin it when you woke up, I had to preserve the genius of it.
Now I can see the loveliness of the art and the beauty of your face without the two competing.
[Isn't he charming?? You love him, right????]
As easy as all that? He feels like he shouldn't trust that sentiment himself, like it was all too simple and Adalwolfe was opening himself up to pain even if Anders had no intention of trying to hurt him. But he did trust it, as silly as that was.
And as Hawke trusted him to share some part of himself, he supposed...he trusted Hawke as well. What could his memories offer that Hawke wouldn't already know? And if he got to see that handsome smile because this foolish man got his dumb mabari back, then Anders wasn't going to turn them around for unsound logic and unreasonable emotions.
"All right, then." He offered a charming smile and winked. "I'm always happy to take a walk with a handsome mage." And before they could get too far into that flirting hole they kept tripping in, "I suspect your beast will be a smaller version of himself, if any of the other dogs in this fleet are any measure."
And as Hawke trusted him to share some part of himself, he supposed...he trusted Hawke as well. What could his memories offer that Hawke wouldn't already know? And if he got to see that handsome smile because this foolish man got his dumb mabari back, then Anders wasn't going to turn them around for unsound logic and unreasonable emotions.
"All right, then." He offered a charming smile and winked. "I'm always happy to take a walk with a handsome mage." And before they could get too far into that flirting hole they kept tripping in, "I suspect your beast will be a smaller version of himself, if any of the other dogs in this fleet are any measure."
Anders' flirtation only gets an appreciative eyebrow waggle in response, as reticent as Adalwolfe is to fall into the aforementioned hole himself. He needed to focus on Drools, otherwise he might end up sharing some other memory and Maker knows Anders doesn't need to see that sort of thing when they're awkwardly not certain where they stand with each other.
"I'm betting on it, actually. I don't think keeping a full grown mabari on a space ship would be the best idea, at least until I know I can feed him. Do you know how much mabari eat? It's comical."
"I'm betting on it, actually. I don't think keeping a full grown mabari on a space ship would be the best idea, at least until I know I can feed him. Do you know how much mabari eat? It's comical."
[Watch it, Anders. She's not above wiping it off his face.]
Anders. [OH SNAP THERE'S THE WARDEN-COMMANDER TONE.] If that gets out to anyone, it'll be your hide I'm coming after.
Anders. [OH SNAP THERE'S THE WARDEN-COMMANDER TONE.] If that gets out to anyone, it'll be your hide I'm coming after.
[He quailed ever so slightly at the tone, but he was still smiling.]
Of course, my darling Commander. I wouldn't dream of doing anything like that.
It's not in my nature to besmirch royalty with something so slanderous.
[He had no intention of sharing it with anyone...but that didn't mean he was above teasing her. It was his self-imposed job, after all.]
Of course, my darling Commander. I wouldn't dream of doing anything like that.
It's not in my nature to besmirch royalty with something so slanderous.
[He had no intention of sharing it with anyone...but that didn't mean he was above teasing her. It was his self-imposed job, after all.]
[She's not sure whether to laugh at the possible pun or just keep giving him The Look.]
Wise man. I'd hate to have to reveal anything particularly embarrassing regarding you if such a thing were to occur.
[Queen of Ferelden threatening people with blackmail. Given her position, perhaps it was only a matter of time...]
Wise man. I'd hate to have to reveal anything particularly embarrassing regarding you if such a thing were to occur.
[Queen of Ferelden threatening people with blackmail. Given her position, perhaps it was only a matter of time...]
[His smile morphed into a smirk, brow raising.]
Oh? I didn't realize you had anything embarrassing to share. Surely you're still a little confused from your sleep for I am never embarrassed about anything.
Oh? I didn't realize you had anything embarrassing to share. Surely you're still a little confused from your sleep for I am never embarrassed about anything.
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