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

[pinprick]

[That smile. This sweetness. The silk of shimmering hair. Nathaniel is beaming back at him.]

I like hearing you talk about the future. Once things have calmed down, you ought to meet Delilah again, properly. She liked you.

[justice_is_blond]

[This will all backfire, because it is too pleasant, too perfect, too much like what he would dream of if he saw any point in dreaming anymore. Anders swallows and takes the hand that isn't busy playing with his hair. Family. Nate's family, accepting him. This moment is impossible.]

I'd like that. I didn't know she'd taken much note of me. ...Let's hope she's forgotten the passes I was making at her. She can remember the ones I made at you. Maybe she can even join me in teasing you for how you missed my interest.

[pinprick]

[A soft, low chuckle, and Nathaniel leans down to kiss him softly. Warm but not heated, lingering and sweet.]

She said you asked after me, in Kirkwall. When she asked Hawke to find me. [A faint smile as he remembers that very strange encounter in the Deep Roads.] Actually, she said she'd just explained that I was missing and she was worried, and then you asked after me.

[justice_is_blond]

Did she. I don't see... It's so difficult to tease when I have to tell the truth. I can't even be sarcastic. Do you know what I am without sarcasm? Open. ...Which is not what I meant to say, and proves my point entirely.

[He exhales as if this is the biggest burden of them all, having to speak the truth while he's getting kissed and his hair stroked.]

Before that I didn't have much cause to worry, you know. You'd a place, and you're of the type that can plant themselves deep. If you'd vanished, something was very wrong.

[A beat.]

And I don't have so many people that I care about that I can be fine with one of them going missing.

[pinprick]

[A smile.]

Well. It saved my life, as well as Bethany's. And I've thought of a delightful way to repay you.

[justice_is_blond]

[He smiles back up at Nate.]

You'll wear a bell so I can find you easily if you go missing again?

[pinprick]

If you wish, my love, but I have something even better.

Adelaide just blurted out that she's wanted to feel my muscles for some time now and wanted to use healing as an excuse to do so.

[justice_is_blond]

[He blinks.]

I'm... not following. You need me to heal you and want me to feel you up at the same time?

[pinprick]

...I thought it would give you a laugh, is all.

[justice_is_blond]

Oh.

[A grin starts to spread across his face.]

You know what it really does? It inspires me to tell you I told you so. I'm not the only one that finds you gorgeous, love. ...And I'll tease her later about that, thank you.

[pinprick]

[A soft laugh.]

See, this is...you can't tell a lie, but you're saying these things. [Not only gorgeous, but love.] You're really not giving me a chance, are you?

[justice_is_blond]

If you wanted a chance, you would have started seeing someone with less issues.

[Nate's happy, and he's happy, and it feels amazing.]

Like the woman who wants to feel up your muscles. Or Alistair, except he's not into men. Mm. I need more ideas of pretty people with fewer--Bethany. There we go. If you wanted chances, you'd have come here already seeing Bethany.

[pinprick]

[A wince.]

Not Bethany. Never Bethany. Maker, she's a girl, and practically my sister.

[justice_is_blond]

Poor Bethany.

[His smile grows as he reaches up again to play with Nate's hair.]

Doomed to forever be the little sister to so many. Her loss, my gain. Well. In this case. But this is gain enough to more than make up for no longer sleeping around.

[pinprick]

She's some fifteen years younger than I am, Anders.

[He smooths over that hair.]

And I've a fondness for blonds, anyway.

[justice_is_blond]

Note to self, don't actually see if Nate's possibly one day in the future interested in a threesome with Zevran. I want to tease about the blond elf stealing you away but I know it won't happen.

[He doesn't have to be jealous or worried. Nate's fallen in love with an abomination. If he can do that, Anders has no fears about himself getting hurt.]

I miss teasing. Please let me be able to lie again soon.

[pinprick]

That could be fun.

[Dammit. Things keep popping out. There's a blush reaching to Nathaniel's ears now.]

Maker preserve me, I know I get jealous but that sounds--

[Arrrrrgh. He pauses in his caresses to cover his face with both hands.]

[justice_is_blond]

Yes?

[Anders tries to pull the hands away from Nate's face.]

You're blushing. You'd be interested. The sight of him kissing you before was breathtaking, I'll have you know, and I like seeing you enjoying yourself.

[pinprick]

But I don't want anyone but you. If it was just him and me, I wouldn't be interested, but thinking of you there...thinking of him watching...

[He clasps Anders' hands in his own.]

I'm going to stop thinking about it now. But it might be something to talk about.

[justice_is_blond]

[It's one thing to know something. It's another to hear it, and Anders half-sits up so he can kiss each of Nate's hands.]

Whenever you'd like to talk about it. If ever.

[Another kiss to each.]

You make me happy. You should know that.

[pinprick]

[Nathaniel cups Anders' face in his hands and beams down at him.]

Bethany asked me if I was happy, earlier. I told her, "Deliriously." And I meant it. I don't care if it seems premature. Actually, it seems quite post-mature.

[justice_is_blond]

I've never made anyone deliriously happy before. I'm glad it's you.

[This is a bit terrifying, talking without the teasing, having that stripped away. He'd pad it with something else, but there's nothing that's true that he can use to deflect with.]

I've never been this happy before either. And you should be glad I'm stuck telling the truth because otherwise I was going to regale you with a tale of how Purrelden made me very happy the other day.

[pinprick]

So I...make you happy? I make you happy?

[justice_is_blond]

You make me happy.

[His voice is absolutely confident.]

You do, Nate.

[pinprick]

[How strange it is, to hear what he knows must be true, but have such a difficult time believing it.]

You glow. With such a light. How can you not be bored with me already? How is it someone more interesting hasn't stolen you away?

[That was his jealousy around Zevran. Zevran is interesting and sparkling and pretty. How can he possibly compete?]