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

[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?]

[justice_is_blond]

Nate.

[Anders wraps his arms around the archer and presses his cheek to Nate's stomach.]

You're not boring. You're amazing. And not only that? I don't need someone that's excitement at all hours of the day. That's been my life. I want you, calm, fantastic, compassionate, steady, you. I haven't... I've cared for people before, Nate, [and hurt every single one of them,] but none have made me as happy as you.

[Please ignore the fact that he killed one, betrayed the another when blowing up the chantry, and lied the entire time to the last.]

[pinprick]

[Nathaniel's arms curl possessively around Anders, but something gives in his chest. Relief, love, calm.]

Then...if we do bring in Zevran every so often, it wouldn't be because I'm...not right. It would be because we like him very much. As we do.

[justice_is_blond]

If we bring in Zevran, it's not because you're not right. It would be because it would be fun and he's a fantastic friend.

[He could have simply said yes, but he wants this spelled out.]

If we do not ever bring in Zevran I will not be disappointed and I will not feel... lacking, or deprived, or any of that. A threesome is no statement about you, and he is no threat. There is no threat.

[That, at least, he can say. Adelaide he needs to sort out, but he loves Nate and he wouldn't want to get away from that even if he could.]

[pinprick]

[Nathaniel touches their foreheads together with a sigh.]

Forgive me. I don't mean to burden you with my...insecurities. This is all so very new to me.

[justice_is_blond]

Forgiven. It's not like I'm without them.

[For a moment he just looks up at Nate, smiling faintly, before he shakes his head.]

Whenever you need to hear that, I'll tell you again. I don't mind. And I know it's... It's hard to have faith in me. I run, I came here and lied, I've killed so many. I understand.

[pinprick]

It's less a lack of faith in you, and more...you know what it is, when you were raised to think a certain way. About yourself, about the world. Trained to think you're a bad person. It takes a long time to think differently.

[justice_is_blond]

It does.

[And there are still so many mages trying to recover from that same thing, too. Or perhaps not even trying, wanting to go back because recovering from that takes work.]

You have the best heart of anyone I've met. You are genuinely good. And I find I really do not like your mother whatsoever.