[Open] Save tonight, fight the break of dawn

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Anders and OPEN
WHAT: The last open log with J!Anders before Justice is gone
WHEN: Mid-Justinian, from around the 8th to the 15th
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Anders, as usual. Prose or brackets work, I've just started everything in prose because that's less html I can screw up.

Healing Tents

Anders (and kitten) are constant sights in the healing tents in Skyhold from morning until evening. One of them works. One of them prefers to play, and is currently most fascinated by a slowly-unraveling string from a scrap of cloth that the larger of the two made sure was dangling down to draw attention.

"Watch the cat," is the warning someone coming in gets first, before being nodded toward the nearest table right away whether they've got a visible injury or not. That they're here for medical reasons is the safest assumption.

Library

He can be found here an early evening, paging through older books with a few pieces of parchment next to him where he's taking notes. Or hoping to. The top page is mostly blank, though, and Anders is frowning as he closes one book and pulls another off one of the few stacks he's made around himself.

People walking past don't even get glances, he's busy and he doesn't care if there are glares shot in his direction right now. People who stop get a glance up with a raised eyebrow and neutral-as-he-can-make-it expression.

Training Circle

It's early. Ridiculously early, early enough to be considered late the next day and that's why he's here now, working with his staff against a dummy. An opponent would be better, but few are here at this hour, and no one who was there when he arrived is someone he'd trust to work instead of actually attack. That being said, for once he's not seemingly radiating irritation and aggravation and he's even looking over as other people start to show up. He could use a hand and he knows it.

Hot Springs

He enters a little hastily, freezing after sweating in the cold and needing to get ready to head into the healing tents. There's not a lot of time to linger. ...but that thought fades away once he's fully in the water. It's so warm that he's sinking in to his chin almost right away, and really only leaving his face above water so he can keep an eye on Purrelden as the kitten chases a beetle.

Courtyard

Not since his Detlef days has he actually sat out here for a time. Dinner tonight is a simple affair, a few strips of meat washed down with a weak excuse for ale along with some a handful of fruit and nuts, but it seems better out here in the open air. People passing by get a nod whether they look at him with a smile or a scowl; he's actually not in a mood to fight right now. In a week's time he might be dead, he might be entirely without hope of having his head to himself again, or he might be alone in his head. It's an odd feeling, and the chill breeze and stars seem perfectly suited for it. There's room on the bench to join him, a cat on his shoulder, and he's... at peace.

[For Cole]

Since River and Simon's disappearance, Anders has been looking out for glances of Cole more often, just... checking on the boy. He's worried about River, and while she and Cole aren't exactly the same, thinking of one brings the other to mind often. Popping up to the third floor of the tavern one evening bears fruit and Anders smiles as he heads over to join Cole.

"Hello. I... I realize I've not actually thought of what to say when I do run into you. You're doing well?"

[For Zevran]

This speech, however, he's practiced repeatedly, and as Anders knocks on Zevran's door with a package in hand, there's a whole lot of amusement in his voice.

"Zevran? I know you said not to bring back a cow, but..."

[For Nate]

It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous, and potentially useless, and there's not a chance that Nate will hate the wriggling animal in Anders' arms because Nate is Fereldan. In fact, he'll probably love it. Anders is counting on that. He hadn't exactly been counting on Purrelden being confused, though, so the cat on his head digging small claws in as she struggles to stay perched and far away from the tiny confusing barking thing is not something he'd been prepared for. Anders ducks into their tent awkwardly, hoping Nate's in there and talking without even looking.

"A little help, please?"


Wildcard me!

[Want something with Anders? Come on in! Start a header, or poke me on Plurk at Nadat for one. He's easily found around the healing tents in Skyhold and around Camp Shady Fucker/the Warden camp.]

Comments

training circle.

[shieldwalls]

The early hour isn't a deterrent for Aveline, but a positive. Less people around to interrupt, and she has never balked at waking up early -- what better way to do so than go for a little practice?

And since returning from the trip into the Fade, sleep is a dearly missed friend. Coming and going as it pleased, but barely allowing for a full night of it.

Might as well be productive, with this restlessness. At home, it might have been with working until Donnic pulled her back into bed, but as neither are here, that is no option. Her footsteps are not as loud without the heavy armor, and she passes few others in the dim light before sunrise. But upon arriving at the grounds, she hears the sound of another out here first before seeing him, and she drops her shield by a dummy -- being none too silent herself.

By this point, Aveline knows who it is, and he likely will have seen her -- they've only spoken the once since she arrived, but the hot bite of anger isn't with her this time. With a terse nod, she goes about... stretching, gathering her gear but still watching him. After a moment, she breaks her silence with some advice. "Widen your stance."

[justice_is_blond]

The clank has him jerking around and looking at her, a little tense, before he sees who it is. For a moment he holds her gaze before turning back to what he's working on. She hasn't been hostile, hasn't harmed mages, and she's not the backstabbing sort. Even annoyance is a little hard to muster right now.

Her words get another glance before he nods and does so, looking to her to confirm that it's better. She'd tried to help him learn how to fight without magic before. He'd been stupid. Though in his defense, swords are heavy and when is he going to be running around wielding one?

"I don't suppose you know anything about staff combat? Or is it all just the 'drive pointy bits into fleshy bits' style?"

[shieldwalls]

She nods. "Better." What seemed like an age ago, she had tried to help him fight without magic. Aveline had aimed to train them all, all of her friends -- never knew when they'd need to work out of their comfort zone. That'd been a simpler time.

And while she may not still see him the same way as she did back then, she had no desire to see Anders fall; in battle, or otherwise. There was too much bloodshed already, these days.

"Not really, no. I've never had need of it, as I'm sure you can imagine." She replies, with a jerk of the head at the staff. But she knows how to defend against them. Somewhat. "I can show you how to better drive a pointy bit into the fleshy bits, if that's something you're interested in."

[justice_is_blond]

He's very quiet for a moment. They don't see eye-to-eye on a great many things, and he's still not sure about why she's sticking around here. But she's offering to help, and so Anders exhales and shakes his head.

"Defense. That's what I'm looking for. I know there will always be more enemies, bandits, red templars, demons, and beyond, but I'd like to focus on defense. How to stop the pointy bits. ...But this time, if you want, I could pick up a pointy thing to block the other pointy thing and protect my own fleshy bits."

These are highly technical terms he's using. Anders half-turns his head to wait for her reaction and answer. She's willing to help him. That's progress, and it means he needs to step up a little too. There are too many people who have put themselves on the line for his life; he needs to stop giving into impulse and Justice so easily.

[shieldwalls]

Aveline studies him for a moment, it's worth a try -- although she does not recall anyone taking too kindly to her lessons before. But if he's willing to learn, who is she to say no? She wouldn't say no to anyone who truly wanted to be taught.

"Alright, mage." Her tone shifts, one that she'd use with a new recruit to the guard. "Defense isn't as simple as swinging a blade around and hoping that it's enough to block your opponent before he makes a hole in you. For one thing, you're as likely to make one in yourself, that way."

Hope you aren't expecting her to go easy, Anders. Or that you aren't regretting it too much.

"We need to find you a sword. I know there are some around here." Like that barrel over there. "Choose one that feels right to you."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders exhales slowly. She doesn't mean mage as an insult, he reminds himself and Justice. She'd probably even use the term on Bethany if training her. Maybe. It's not personal, he mentally repeats. Let it go, let it be, learn.

"Which is why I generally don't carry a sword. I like my feet where they are." He's attempting to sound funny, but it falls a little flat. 'Mage' bothers him. He has a-- okay, maybe he doesn't technically have a name but it works as one and it's an identity rather than object. More or less.

After going to the barrel, Anders side-eyes every weapon in there. What even does feels right mean? He winds up picking one that's on the short-but-broader side of things and bringing it over.

"I don't know that any sword is ever going to feel right. This could work?" It's more a question than anything else - she knows swords. He knows fireballs and staves.

[shieldwalls]

It's not meant as an insult, just a note that she's going to treat him like any other recruit that she's helped to train. No different because they no one another.

If she notices the change in his demeanor, Aveline doesn't mention it. She waits for him to decide instead of interjecting with a comment or help. When Anders brings it over, she nods. "You're not used to it. It's not going to feel like using a staff, and nor should you treat it like one. See that I don't hold it too tightly with all of my fingers? You want your thumb and index finger only lightly placed on the hilt. The other three fingers tight around it. Too firm all the way and it will be difficult to parry or take the offensive. Your lower arm should be held firm, but shoulder to elbow should be relaxed"

She demonstrates the hold, waiting for him to make the change -- and then the real fun will begin.

[justice_is_blond]

He frowns, though not angrily, and studies her hand as he works to mirror her grip. Hold tight with those three, not so tight with the others...

"It doesn't feel as secure without the thumb hard on it." And holding it in front instead of to the side is also strange. But she's right - it's not a staff, it won't feel like one. Anders gives an experimental swing and still isn't sure on how it feels. That's all right. He's here to learn. Maybe. He might fail. He's here to focus on something other than the reality of what's around him right now, and at least he should succeed at that.

"Is now when I remind you I like my internal organs internal and my external ones attached?"

[shieldwalls]

"It might not, but you'll see." The sight of him with a sword is an odd one, shows just how unaccustomed he is to the particular weapon. But that's why Aveline had offered. "Sometimes it can be a good thing to step out of your comfort zone. People can only do so much work if they're in one piece."

She knows he's a mage, seen him in enough fights to know he's of no small talent with that magic but what can learning hurt? Unless he mistakenly throws a fireball, or she goes too hard on him. It's only practice, and she's not inexperienced in training recruits -- so it's unlikely.

"Guard up." The instruction is formal, as she takes an offensive position. It's about all of the warning he'll get -- no better way of learning than to have to do it on your feet. The first strike is direct, from straight on. If he were to miss the block, Aveline would slow down the hit before it made contact, likely only giving him a bit of a bruise to the shoulder.

[justice_is_blond]

Only do so much work if they're in one piece? His eyes widen and he's considering protesting because he likes being in one piece, and then she's telling him to get his guard up. How does he get his guard up with a sword? It's not a staff. It's not at all a staff and he fumbles to get the blade up in time. Despite getting it up, he's knocked back several steps and he gapes at her.

"What does guard up even mean? It's all blade! There's no guard bit! It's stab!"

[shieldwalls]

Is there a part of her getting a little joy out of this?

Maybe.

Despite the reaction, getting knocked back -- it wasn't a terrible block. "Not bad. Guard up. Means get your guard up. Be ready." Perhaps she'll have to teach him some of the terminology next.

But first... Aveline backs up to her original position.

"Alright. Come forward and attack me."

[justice_is_blond]

"With the sword?" He knows the moment it's out of his mouth that it's a stupid question, but he's never swung one before. Anders looks down at the sword.

Attack her. Right. With a shake of his head, Anders gives an awkward thrust forward. On the slight off-chance he hits her, he's the one that's going to have work ahead of him with healing. Why would he want to stab her?