[closed]

[colecomfort]

WHO: Some creepy kid, some other creepy kid, Anders, and Leliana
WHAT: A proposal
WHEN: Early Solace
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: n/a for now

There is a blank spot in Leliana's ledger. Then, there isn't.

In a steady, but simple hand, the appointment reads:

Cole ☺
also Anders and the one with dark eyes

Individually, Cole makes sure the others know where they ought to be at the appointed time. When that time arrives, Cole is simply there in the rookery, offering a small handful of crumbs to one of the birds. The one which was hurt in the Fallow Mire, the one he helped nurse back to health.

The burns he sustained during the battle with Vengeance are still visible, but barely: minute wrinkles of skin along the sides of his bare fingers, on the side of his neck.

"Ravens know how to remember," he remarks. "She always sees me."

Comments

[colecomfort]

"Thank you, Leliana."

Tension bleeds out of him in those three words, replaced by gratitude. While there had still been the slightest chance that she would refuse, that that place might go on existing...

He can get go of it now. Start to.

As for the proposal of two groups: "I don't want more people to get hurt." It may be necessary, but... maybe they can keep the group meant for distractions to a minimum number of people.

[justice_is_blond]

He joins the frowning party, considering. If his thoughts are loud already, then a distraction wouldn't do much.

"One smaller group puts the risks lower." Not to him, but to more people. He's not so sure that others should be at risk for him. It's not like he's accomplished anything substantial here yet. "Perhaps Cole can teach me how to keep my thoughts a little more... quiet." Quiet definitely isn't his strength, but he can work on it.

"One or two more for protection for the group as a whole, and probably avoid splitting up simply so no one gets caught in the explosion."

[extramural]

"If there are further Rifts within the fortress, they may remain after it is destroyed. One of those additions should be another with a shard, if it is at all possible."

Or they could leave the rifts there, spitting demons out into the desert, but he imagines that isn't going to be a popular opinion.

[fightingale]

Were the mood in the room not so serious, she might have scoffed. (If he had not saved her life, as well, but saving her life does not earn one an automatic immunity to her sharpened tongue.) Anders being quiet about anything seemed laughable at best. At least, however, Leliana still possesses a measure of tact, and this is not the time for humour that could be unkind, at best.

"None are necessary, Cole. It is a job that must be done." She absorbs Cole's thanks with a small nod, a smile that does not make it to being visible. There are memories she must speak to him of, matters with Wynne and the Spire and so much that came to pass which she still finds herself floundering when she thinks of.

"As you say." For both of the other men, Leliana reaching forward to grab a quill and start taking down notes. Her writing is slower than it was before the sickness, but the hand is steady and the writing clear and precise. "When I bring this proposal to the Advisors I will name each of you as involved participants. Are there any matters you have been involved in that might prove distasteful to the Advisors while I was unwell that I should be made aware of?"

Not solely for Anders, that, but if he happened to have an argument with ten templars or Cole distressed a dignitary or the Rifter was excessively rifty around Cassandra— "Better I can sooth any protest, if I know the source of them in advance."

[colecomfort]

Cole picks at a loose thread on the end of a glove.

"No...?" he says, unsure not because he thinks he might have done something, but because he's not always certain what will and won't be acceptable to the Advisors. "At least — I don't think so."

If he did upset any dignitaries, anyway, it's not likely they recall the event.

[justice_is_blond]

He's near-certain the question is for him, but he can't exactly be upset about her asking it. It's fair. Anders looks past her, studying the wall absently, trying to recall anything.

"Other than still drawing breath I can't think of anything. There's a new member of the mage council who I vaguely knew back in Kinloch Hold who is angry I'm alive; he may have renewed the complaints. But I've not actually done anything." His focus has been very much on helping, which doesn't leave a lot of room for causing trouble.

[extramural]

"My existence may offend," the Outsider offers, ever helpful. But it's true -- he is not human, not really, and he certainly doesn't look it to those who look closely. He and Cassandra had differing views on Tranquility as well, but nothing that, in theory, should make her object.

In theory.

"There is little to be done about that, however."

Well, unless Josephine really didn't like learning about omnivorous cows.

[fightingale]

"I appreciate your collective candour." Surprisingly that is not actually a sarcastic or dry comment. My existence may offend seemed like it would make a fine comment embroidered onto a nice throw cushion, though. Perhaps they could get them made and distributed around Skyhold.

That really might be something Josephine wouldn't appreciate.

She stops for a moment, and sets down her quill after finishing the sentence she was writing. "I believe we can make this happen without causing any great interpersonal calamity. More than likely it will set a good many minds at ease." Even if they object to the hands carrying out the task.