Ambiguous Timing is Helpful

[avisionofhawke]

Aisling walked toward one of the entrances to Darktown with Fenris in tow. The elf, as usual, carried a greatsword that was bigger than he was. As a result, he leaned forward to maintain his balance. Aisling had to admit, it was impressive that he could carry that thing, much less do damage with it. And Fenris knew how to do damage.

"Are you certain we need the abomination with us on this?" the broody warrior griped, frowning.

"If you can name me a better healer, I'll give you a sovereign," Hawke joked, shooting him a smile. "Really, though, give him a chance. You two are more alike than you think."

"Oh? In what way?" The elf looked somewhere between curious and offended.

"Well, you both glow, for starters. You both give Varric plenty of material for stories. And then there's the whole 'tormented runaway' thing you've got going on."

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not running anymore."

Aisling shook her head as Fenris nearly tripped. He was clearly more focused on what he was saying than where he was going. Maybe she should change the subject before one of them took a header down a flight of stairs. "That's true. So, speaking of that, when are you going to let me help you get those mouldering bodies out of your mansion? I imagine they're stinking up the place something awful."

"I've seen worse," he replied, waving it off. "Besides, why miss a chance to defile something that once belonged to a magister?"

"Okay, fair point, but can't you do that with graffiti instead of rotting corpses? That can't be pleasant to live around."

Aaaaaand now he wasn't responding. Good job, Hawke. Well, on to Darktown, then! Maybe when they got to the clinic, she would have someone to talk to that had moods besides brooding and angry. Fenris wasn't a bad person - far from it, and she could understand his distaste for anything that reminded him of what he'd left behind - but he was a bit humorless sometimes. Sooner or later, though, she would make him crack a smile. That was her new mission in life, so she'd have to be careful not to snuff it before it was achieved.

Which meant she might live two or three hundred years, at this rate.

Comments

[gaslightmanifesto]

"--it's settled, then. An hour past sunset, no Kyou in sight, and a Pan in my clinic that needs to get to a warm bed. I could use the fresh air, anyway. I'll walk you up."

And that was how it started. Anders had doused the lantern, and made the trip through Darktown to the lifts with his very favorite tiny Maleficar in tow - it'd been empty of everyone but the two of them plus one Boss, so they chattered a little the way up, winding down through the day's events and tidying up things they'd talked about earlier with affirmative statements. You know. That kind of thing. Talking. Handwave.

When the lift came up and to a steady stop, Anders looked up to see --

Hawke!

And, he noted lamentably, her spooky murder elf.

i hope you can just /feel/ pan going >_> bc fen tats/pretty

[cubone_i_guess]

There had been small amounts of protesting, because things like "I can take care of myself a little y'know" and "That's why he's not here. Probably." But not too much, because things like talking to Shivertoes more and him actually seeing the sky today.

"Isn't that Aisling?" And then a mumbled, "Whoa, are those tattoos?" Hopefully he wasn't as 'much' as Hawke, because they were going to chat now weren't they?

*puts on the dragon age 2 beaglepuss* nothing strange happening with my accounts rn, nope

[cattymage]

"That's her."

And that's an underlying note of ughhhhhh whyyy in Anders' voice, but there was nothing for it but to give Pan an open-armed 'c'mon, let's go forward' gesture and step off the lift to meet them. The crash course between the four of them was going to meet either way.

I see nothing, nothing at all~

[avisionofhawke]

"Oh, Anders! I was just looking for you," Aisling chimed. She looked over to Pan long enough to give him a smile and make a small joke about an Anders Delivery Service before going back to what she was saying. "I've got a job out on the Wounded Coast, and I could really use your help. Are you up for it?" The rogue gave him a hopeful look, her brilliant blue-green eyes sparkling at him.

Chance? What chance? Anders never stood a chance.

Fenris did his level best to ignore the abomination before him and NOT think about what Aisling had said about them being alike. He didn't enjoy the thought of sharing anything with a mage, especially a possessed one. And so, in the course of things, his eyes fell on Pan. "Tattoos? Ah. Yes, though I doubt you'd want any of this sort." Might as well answer the kid's question, though he couldn't say he particularly liked the boy - he had, after all, shown up with the apostate.

Fenris: Rivalry +5

[gaslightmanifesto]

Another night, another string of sorties for Hawke in her quest to prepare for the Deep Roads. Anders has a look of but with Fenris though?, but he gets it - Hawke's no warrior. _{And it wasn't like he got on with Aveline THAT well, either.}

"Inviting me out for a nice, moonlit stroll on the beach? How could I refuse?"

He crossed his arms, and inclined his head to Tiny Maleficar Fav. "...Is what I would say, but I have to get Pan here home, first. Can this wait long enough?"

[cubone_i_guess]

Pan mostly stays quiet, because well okay no tats then, and also wow that's a pretty but intimidatingly scowly...Elf? Oh. Pan's met an elf, now. And the elf is taller than him. Surprise.

He did give a soft "I know the way, y'know," to Anders, but knew it was pointless.

[avisionofhawke]

"I don't see why not. We'll come with you," Hawke offered, to Fenris's chagrin.

"Must we really? I'm sure the abomination can handle things on his own." The elf scowled at Anders, giving up on ignoring him. The giant (to him, at least) mage was relatively hard to dismiss, anyway, and who knew what sort of threat he could pose? Fenris would have killed him already... if not for Aisling. For some reason beyond his ken, the rogue actually liked the horrid creature. Though Fenris had to grudgingly admit that having a healer around was useful.

Hey Anders remember how protective this kid was of you before? Yeah.

[cubone_i_guess]

"Don't call him that!"

So much for being quiet. Pan shot a glare that could give the elf a run for his money. Or at least almost.

Boss peaked out of Pan's jacket to see what the fuss was about. He looked up at Pan, then Tattoo, then Andy, and back at Tattoo. Wow, what did Lines say? Was an accumulation really that bad a thing? Well, Pan was upset, so best glare too, right?

bae

[gaslightmanifesto]

"Alright."

Listen to how terribly excited he sounds, Aisling.

And then, of course, the spooky death elf speaks. Anders shifts minutely inbetween him and Pan, because oh boy argument time how about let's not shout about the word abomination?

"Why don't you say that word a little louder, Fenris? I don't think they heard you up in Hightown."

And then he turns his back on him, despite that feeling like the fantastically worst idea, and starts leading the way on.

I'm lazy but this is legit what is happening

[avisionofhawke]

Hawke: *"Oh Maker" look*

Fenris: -_-

Fenris: Rivalry +10

myrrh why does your spellcheck say maleviolence isn't a word. yes i know men are violent but

[cubone_i_guess]

And Pan follows, practically (though thankfully not quite) oozing maleviolence for a moment or two before remembering oh yeah Boss in jacket and focusing on that.

[gaslightmanifesto]

lmao if you expect anders to be interesting rn i got bad news for you son, he's got 99 problems but conversation is one (that he is avoiding)

There! The right account this time

[avisionofhawke]

Trudging along in silence wasn't exactly Aisling's idea of a good time, but she preferred it to having her best friend and her crush two of her best friends fight. Which is why she wasn't particularly relieved when Fenris spoke up.

"Why was your friend made Tranquil? Do you know?" The broody elf was staring directly at Anders, clearly expecting a response. It was bound to have been for a good reason. What mage atrocity had been perpetrated this time? Sacrificing children to fuel blood magic? Experimenting on captives? Mostly, Fenris was looking for a revelation to justify his searing hatred of Anders and his friend - a way to explain it satisfactorily to himself and others.

[gaslightmanifesto]

Karl's last letter, obviously ghost-written in retrospect. And another letter, that Aisling had fished from a dead Templar's satchel--

"No. And it doesn't matter. Nobody deserves that."

--Karl had been alive and himself for the bloody long host of years it had been since Anders had been in his life. And then he wasn't, once Anders was back.

It was his fault. It wasn't his fault. He was of two minds, and one of them wanted to recoil as if he'd been the one to press the brand himself.

At least he didn't give Fenris the satisfaction of seeing him falter his steps. At least he could keep his voice even and angry.

/covers eyes and presses post

[cubone_i_guess]

Pan frowned, his eyebrows pulling together. Who had been made tranquil? And then, y'know, he could ask about that later.

Or not be a fucking asshole and ask. Who the hell is this guy?

"I literally don't even know your name, but I'm genuinely impressed with how much I don't like you. What the fuck is your problem?"


lmao scare you ask for introspection but how much do you think pan thought that out

Hoshit this is gonna get ugly unless by some miracle Hawke is the mature one

[avisionofhawke]

"I know some mages that deserve that. And for the record, boy, I can say that I'm impressed by what terrible decisions you've already made. If you began spending time with the Coterie, you'd have chosen better company to keep." The elf shifted his glare from Anders to Pan, finding the little brat irritating. It would be a relief to be rid of at least one of the pests he was tolerating.

who wants to take bets?

[cubone_i_guess]

"Bite me, Ba'al spawn." Pan glared right back. He's surprisingly good at that. A bit short to be a real pro, but damn.

Boss gave a silent hiss.

ANDERS DOES NOT

[gaslightmanifesto]

hey woah no heY WOAH NO he is fine in an 'my emotions are fucked up but hey, Anger is more cathartic than wanting to curl up into a ball and Not whenever it gets quiet' way with arguing with the spooky death elf but pAN ??? ? and he's stopped on a dime and turning about to say something because the rest of them are slowing down and he can hear the conversation even if he doesn't see it and he does not like where this is going one bit---

[avisionofhawke]

"An appropriate comeback from a child," Fenris shot back. He could feel a headache coming on - an annoying pressure forming behind his eyes - but given his level of frustration with a mere boy, he didn't give it any thought. It was likely the pestering, anyway. "If there were-"

"Fenris, enough," Aisling said, stepping forward. "He's only a boy. Let it go."

"If it were anyone else..." he muttered, leaving it to her to finish the sentence in her head. But he disengaged and began walking again (when had he stopped? He didn't recall). "Let's get this over with."

Aisling gave a sigh of relief and looked at Pan, mouthing an apology on Fenris's behalf.

pans still a bitty

[cubone_i_guess]

Pan spat, then took Anders' hand and kept walking. He tried very hard not to look like he was squeezing it, but it was pointless to try not to at all.

Fenris: Rivalry +30

[avisionofhawke]

Aisling shook her head, mumbling something that sounded like "The world must be ending if I'm the reasonable one in the group." She looked over at Anders as if to say please help me keep these two away from each other's throats.

[gaslightmanifesto]

"Yes, let's please get this over with, and save the violence for the Coast."

Oh wait well -- alright, this was definitely one way to make sure nothing happened to the Pan, because Anders at least still has a dab hand for protective barriers.

Sorry, Aisling, he missed your glance, because he was getting dragged into motion by a smol that he's focusing on not outpacing now.

Kill me now

[avisionofhawke]

Aisling is not offended. Actually, now that she thinks about it, that's sort of cute. Anders, look out. She doesn't stand any more of a chance than you do.

Fenris, still steadfastly ignoring the smol, strode ahead of everyone. Best guess? From the route they were taking, they were headed to the general vicinity of the Hanged Man. The glowy murder elf was marching about as fast as he could, making the at-least-six-feet-of-steel on his back look like it weighed about as much as Hawke's daggers.

Which, on its own, was impressive, but then again that was what Danarius had groomed him for throughout his entire memory. Well... Among other things. Things that he resented even more, if that was at all possible.

[cubone_i_guess]

No one's fucking impressed you're shorter than your sword, asshole.

Pan glared at the back of Line's head as they walked, which was probably not helping that headache.

[gaslightmanifesto]

This is good. This is working out. They're almost to the Hanged Man, where Anders will deposit Pan, look longingly at the alcoholic beverages that he now gets a strong, definitely Justice-inspired aversion to whenever he so much as tries to take a sip, and then lapse into a general numb shell of healing and fighting, because no matter what innocuous thing Hawke does, it's going to lead to a fight.

And then he'll go home to the clinic and drop dead asleep. A solid plan with a definite goal.

[avisionofhawke]

Hawke's plan went as follows: get Pan home - wherever home was - get Anders food, go fight whatever got in the way, get the much-needed sovereigns from her client, make sure everyone got back to their respective places safely, and then go fight Gamlen for the last slice of cheese.

[cubone_i_guess]

"Do you have to go with them?" Hey look Pan's keeping his voice down and not trying to pick another fight. "You look exhausted, and Kyou probably isn't there yet."

[gaslightmanifesto]

He'll follow the example to keep his voice low, though it's not like it'll change the chance of them being heard.

"I don't think you've said that I look anything but tired since you got here. We need to just accept that it's the look now." Figures he'd start with the joke, but -- he squeezes Pan's hand back, for a moment. "I already gave my word to Hawke."

[cubone_i_guess]

"That's because I don't think you're rested since I got here. Please, Shivertoes? She has other mages, right?" The name started with a B, he didn't quite remember, but there had been mention of other mages.

Pan stopped his glaring to look up at Anders with a pleading expression.

[cattymage]

Look at them sad eyebrows, Pan. Anders has gotten weak to your puppy eye routine.

[cubone_i_guess]

Pan just looked sad right back, with Boss providing backup from the depths of the hoodie. "I'm worried you'll get hurt. You're sleep deprived. I already worry you'll trip and break something with you just running around the clinic."

[gaslightmanifesto]

You've started to lose him now, Pan -- a Look crosses Anders face, not an annoyed or angry one, just -- disquieted, somehow.

"I know my limits, Pan. And I can promise you -- nothing will happen that I can't get back up from. It'll be alright. ..Look, we're here."

[cubone_i_guess]

Pan sighed and stopped walking, but didn't let go of the hand. One last shot.

"I know, I just...I worry. You know how I am. And I'd rather nothing happen that you have to get up from."

[gaslightmanifesto]

He gives a somewhat lopsided 'look at me, I'm genuinely a bit emotionally touched by your concern' smile, and reaches with his un-trapped hand to give Pan's hair a small ruffle.

"You should know by now I'm not into that any of that 'sit pretty and safe' business. You get in there and don't keep yourself up for too long fretting. I've got this covered. Best healer in all of Thedas, remember?"

[avisionofhawke]

Aisling once again thought about how cute that was, and how she'd like to let Anders stay nice and safe in his clinic if it wouldn't be utter hell without him.

Which it would. Bethany was the only other healer Hawke had access to at the moment, and Mother forbade her to come along. And Hawke would very much like her pirate and her spooky murder elf to remain alive, thank you - not to mention she had a slight aversion to dying herself. After all, she had a family, a workaholic feather mage, and a- well, whatever Gamlen was - to look after, and she couldn't do that from the Maker's side.

It worked out relatively well that they were here, anyway - this had been Hawke's next stop. Isabela was more than likely still at her usual place at the bar, drinking and occasionally fighting.

Fenris simply brooded, as he was wont to do. If brooding competitions were a thing back in Tevinter, he'd certainly be a prize winning contestant. Perhaps even champion. The intensity with which he hated the world was almost comical at times.

[cubone_i_guess]

Alright. He gives up. He doesn't like it, but Anders was apparently going with Hawke and nothing was stopping that.

Boss climbed out of the jacket to become a scarf, only just managing not to get caught in the middle of a hug. Because Anders was getting a hug.

"Promise you'll be safe?"