Let No Soul Hunger For Justice: Nothing But The Truth

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Adelaide, Alistair, Anders, Bethany, Nathaniel, Varric, Vasran, Velanna
WHAT: The Second Ritual
WHEN: 10th of Bloomingtide (May 10th)
WHERE: half an hour outside of Skyhold
NOTES: Plotting post.

They've kept to the same clearing as the last, because the location's good. Far enough away that no one could stumble upon them by accident, near enough in case something went seriously wrong, it works.

He has scarcely more hope this time than he did the last, but at least there's no singing involved. This can't go as strangely. In theory.

Comments

[hugeinorlais]

I know you are, Blondie.

[He just sighs.]

Don't get worked up about it. I'd basically keep forgiving you for anything until we're both dead anyway, just like the others. It's what Hawke would have wanted.

[Shit. Shit, fuck, shit. Varric actually claps a hand over his mouth and stares in horror at a spot just behind Anders. He hadn't actually used the past tense about Hawke before--he hadn't yet, right?

Right?]

Conditional perfect tense doesn't count, right? I need you to tell me it doesn't count, Blondie.

[justice_is_blond]

[His expression is both touched and a little sad until Varric uses past tense, and then his expression is horrified.]

It doesn't count. It doesn't. Unless... Oh maker. I want to ask if you've heard something from Kirkwall but I don't want to ask because if she's dead I want to ignore it and be in denial.

[He's used past tense about Jonas on accident. Hawke? Not before.]

[hugeinorlais]

[Varric markedly doesn't say anything for a long moment.]

I'm really glad you didn't ask.

[Varric stares for a moment and then just, sits down. There's not a chair nearby, but the ground is good enough.]

This truth curse is going to be hard to deal with. [He looks back up at Anders and whatever train of thought took him, he says:] Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're alive, even if it's with that spirit still in you and all of us cursed or whatever this is.

I really can't handle losing any more friends.

[justice_is_blond]

[There are tears in his eyes as he looks away. There's an implication there, and he won't ask but it hurts anyway because the implication is so strong. How? Who? Why do the people he cares the most about die before they should?

Anders swallows hard and looks back when the Dwarf resumes talking.]

I can't either. I've lost so many. I know I'm not that easy to get along with, and sometimes that's on purpose, but I can't stand to deal with what results.

I need everyone alive. Somehow. Even though I know some of them are dead and this war is only going to end in more deaths. I don't know what I can do to prevent it. I'm worn as it is just trying to make sure I'm not a cause of it.