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[Cyril had needed to stop by the apothecary for a week now and was finally getting around to it. Some of the potions that had been concocted to help him with the pain in his arm were running low and he had needed to resupply.
It was becoming a routine now. So many things in this city were a routine after over a year living here.
The sight of a familiar mage, however, snapped him out of his autopilot.]
Anders?
It was becoming a routine now. So many things in this city were a routine after over a year living here.
The sight of a familiar mage, however, snapped him out of his autopilot.]
Anders?
[It had been a fairly quiet day, so far, allowing him to focus on brewing and restocking what Margo had been running low on in the time she'd been without help.
The sound of the door opening drew Anders' attention up and forced him to do a double-take upon seeing the familiar face.]
Cyril!
[With all the discrepancies between the Thedas' out there, Anders had never once thought he might see Cyril again, just as he doubted he'd see Marian or even Wolfe, until he could get home.]
I didn't know you were in the city as well!
The sound of the door opening drew Anders' attention up and forced him to do a double-take upon seeing the familiar face.]
Cyril!
[With all the discrepancies between the Thedas' out there, Anders had never once thought he might see Cyril again, just as he doubted he'd see Marian or even Wolfe, until he could get home.]
I didn't know you were in the city as well!
[The fact that Anders knows him makes him at first assume it's the Anders from before, but then the comment after that adds to the confusion.]
I have been for over a year. [He says cautiously. There is some optimism in his voice, though, that this Anders might know him from outside of this world. Maybe they're from the same Thedas but different points in the timeline.] You're the one who disappeared.
I have been for over a year. [He says cautiously. There is some optimism in his voice, though, that this Anders might know him from outside of this world. Maybe they're from the same Thedas but different points in the timeline.] You're the one who disappeared.
[All at once, his excitement tempers and his heart drops a bit at that.
Ah, of course.
Just because Cyril is here and knows him, doesn't mean it's the Cyril who'd been in the Fleet with him. This Cyril likely knew the 'other Anders.']
Right...then you knew the Anders who was here before me. Sorry, but I don't have his memories.
Ah, of course.
Just because Cyril is here and knows him, doesn't mean it's the Cyril who'd been in the Fleet with him. This Cyril likely knew the 'other Anders.']
Right...then you knew the Anders who was here before me. Sorry, but I don't have his memories.
And yet you know me well enough to know me by my first name? [He doesn't seem offended. In fact, he smiles over the idea and moves closer to Anders.]
Does that mean you're from my future where I'm working with you close enough for such a thing? If so, that's wonderful news. I thought our friendship might only last while we were in this place.
Does that mean you're from my future where I'm working with you close enough for such a thing? If so, that's wonderful news. I thought our friendship might only last while we were in this place.
[Anders smiles, gentle and sympathetic. He wishes that were true, more than he could say. He doesn't know the Inquisitor Wolfe met with, he sounded like a fine man, but he did know Cyril and his kind nature, Anders would have chosen to share a timeline with him as their future any day.]
I wish I could say that was the case, I would love for nothing more. I'm afraid the answer is far more complicated and I'm sorry for that.
I was in a different place before this one, a place that took people from their homeworlds as well. I met you there, or a different version of you, perhaps. We were friends, at least, I like to think we were.
I wish I could say that was the case, I would love for nothing more. I'm afraid the answer is far more complicated and I'm sorry for that.
I was in a different place before this one, a place that took people from their homeworlds as well. I met you there, or a different version of you, perhaps. We were friends, at least, I like to think we were.
[That is so far away from what Cyril was expecting Anders to say that for a moment he simply stares as his brain processes it.]
I'm sorry? [He asks, and then he thinks better of it.] No, wait. Nevermind.
Everything about this world is confusing, and I've come to accept things like that without trying to think too hard on it. You said we were friends.
We were friends here too. To me, that feels like the most important part.
I'm sorry? [He asks, and then he thinks better of it.] No, wait. Nevermind.
Everything about this world is confusing, and I've come to accept things like that without trying to think too hard on it. You said we were friends.
We were friends here too. To me, that feels like the most important part.
[He winces a bit to himself, but feels grateful when Cyril seems to just accept it. He really wasn't sure how else to explain something that most definitely sounded crazy.
He had most certainly reached a certain level of acceptance for things he otherwise would have questioned, so he could sympathize with that.
He offered a small smile with hope tinged at it's edges.]
Feels like that to me as well. I...don't want to presume to know anything about you, though. The last time I did that with a friend here, I'm afraid it didn't go very well for either of us. So, instead, I'll start with what feels sort of obvious:
[He gestured to Cyril's arm.] Does your arm still bother you here as well?
He had most certainly reached a certain level of acceptance for things he otherwise would have questioned, so he could sympathize with that.
He offered a small smile with hope tinged at it's edges.]
Feels like that to me as well. I...don't want to presume to know anything about you, though. The last time I did that with a friend here, I'm afraid it didn't go very well for either of us. So, instead, I'll start with what feels sort of obvious:
[He gestured to Cyril's arm.] Does your arm still bother you here as well?
[At first, Cyril is a little surprised that's what Anders focuses on, but then he happens to find it very comforting. Anders is still the healer he knows.]
Yes. That's why I'm here. I needed to pick up some ingredients for the balm that helps.
I take it you were helping me in that other place too?
Yes. That's why I'm here. I needed to pick up some ingredients for the balm that helps.
I take it you were helping me in that other place too?
[There's some comfort in that, as terrible as he feels for it since he knows how it pains Cyril, but the familiarity is nice and something he can help with.]
I was. I assume you had a similar arrangement with the version of me who was here before? [At least, he hoped so, he couldn't imagine a version of himself who wouldn't offer to help.] I'd be happy to make that arrangement again. And with the balm, of course.
I was. I assume you had a similar arrangement with the version of me who was here before? [At least, he hoped so, he couldn't imagine a version of himself who wouldn't offer to help.] I'd be happy to make that arrangement again. And with the balm, of course.
[He chuckles and shakes his head even as he leans on the counter with his arms as though he'd intended the vague innuendo.]
I would never ask for such services in exchange for my own. Not these particular services, anyway. Others...
[He trailed off with a shrug and a matching smirk.]
I would never ask for such services in exchange for my own. Not these particular services, anyway. Others...
[He trailed off with a shrug and a matching smirk.]
[His smirk widens into something closer to a smile.]
Well...I suppose there'd be nothing wrong with that. Especially when coming from someone enticing. And my fingers are quite magical, I'm glad their reputation proceeds them.
[A friend, kind, attractive, smart...Cyril had quite a few things in his corner.]
Well...I suppose there'd be nothing wrong with that. Especially when coming from someone enticing. And my fingers are quite magical, I'm glad their reputation proceeds them.
[A friend, kind, attractive, smart...Cyril had quite a few things in his corner.]
They are, indeed, but I feel as if I like the rest of your body just as much too.
[It's nice and comfortable to flirt with Anders again. He feels stress just melting off his shoulders as he relaxes into it. That even manages to help some of the ache in his arm.]
[It's nice and comfortable to flirt with Anders again. He feels stress just melting off his shoulders as he relaxes into it. That even manages to help some of the ache in his arm.]
I'm afraid you've an unfair advantage, I feel like you might have seen more of me than I have of you.
[He and Wolfe had both appreciated Cyril's pretty face in private, but the rest was fodder for imagination. An imagination he had no qualms about letting wander now.]
[He and Wolfe had both appreciated Cyril's pretty face in private, but the rest was fodder for imagination. An imagination he had no qualms about letting wander now.]
I look forward to it. I am, happily, at your disposal.
[Anders straightens, his smile brightening in response to Cyril's.]
I like the sound of that. My place? Perhaps I can see what sort of dinner I can scrape together without burning it.
[He wasn't the worst cook, but considering he'd learned from Bodahn and Leandra, he wasn't the best either.]
I like the sound of that. My place? Perhaps I can see what sort of dinner I can scrape together without burning it.
[He wasn't the worst cook, but considering he'd learned from Bodahn and Leandra, he wasn't the best either.]
I realize that our contract allows for help with fulfilling quota.
[ Just...getting that out of the way first, before the actual question. ]
Does anything happen to you if one of us does not?
[ Just...getting that out of the way first, before the actual question. ]
Does anything happen to you if one of us does not?
Only to your comfort, it's not a requirement.
I don't know. Not to my knowledge, but I can't abide by the idea of the SLUT center. No one should be compelled or conditioned into sex. I've seen too much of that.
I don't know. Not to my knowledge, but I can't abide by the idea of the SLUT center. No one should be compelled or conditioned into sex. I've seen too much of that.
I realize that, thank you.
I'm certain that I am missing a good deal. I am relatively new, but are we not being compelled into sex, anyway?
I'm certain that I am missing a good deal. I am relatively new, but are we not being compelled into sex, anyway?
You're not wrong. I'm not sure I can explain how I see it fully without going into the way mages are treated back home and what I grew up with. I will, if you want to know.
If not, then please accept I see it differently both because I must and because I have practice with it.
If not, then please accept I see it differently both because I must and because I have practice with it.
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