The Annulment at Dairsmuid

[foxsays]

WHO: Araceli Bonaventura, Korrin Ataash, Malcolm Reynolds, The Outsider, Aleron Darton, Kas, Anders, Malcolm Reed, James Norrington, Ellana Ashara, James Kirk; Rivaini npcs
WHAT: The Annulment at Dairsmuid; arriving at Rivain to meet with Araceli and her mage contacts that requested aid from Templars hunting them down. When Araceli goes to bring the group to her contacts, they're informed that the Templars have abducted the mages forcing the team to return to the Circle at Dairsmuid to rescue them and kill the Templars responsible
WHEN: 15th-20th Solace
WHERE: Rivain; Dairsmuid
NOTES: OOC posts here and here, sending crystal announcement; violence, discussions of annulment, probably going to need warnings for language; I'll edit as I go, if people can bring things to my attention, I would appreciate it
Starters will all be below, subjects in headers

We of the Dairsmuid Circle wait now, behind barricades. I have sent word to our brother and sister mages of this outrage. When they break through, we will not die alone.

—Final journal entry of First Enchanter Rivella, slain in Dairsmuid, 9:40 Dragon

Contents;
Arrival at Dairsmuid
Meeting the Mage Contacts
Team Dungeon Crashers
Team Templar Crushers
Aftermath of the Rescue
Timestamp; Dairsmuid Adventures
Epilogue

Comments

[universal_charm]

He shifts closer, to make their conversation more quiet. But he understands. The ocean is vast, and especially here its depths were unexplored. Above you were the stars, an even vaster landscape of the unknown, an endless frontier. There are some nuances to what he says he doesn't quite get, but considering what Anders as been through, he thinks he grasp the edges somewhat.

Slowly he licked his lips, debating his next words for a second. "Does it help to know that in the grand scheme of things, we are so very small?" he asked him, motioning up towards the sky with a touch of solemnity. "The ocean is vast, but the stars are infinite. Between the two, it's quite possible."

[justice_is_blond]

"Infinite?" He looks up, into a blue sky that shows him nothing. It seems almost impossible for it to be infinite, but who is he to say?

"I can't figure out if it helps or not. Feeling insignificant isn't quite what I was going for either." He gives Kirk a small smile. "Small is all right. So very small, I'm not sure."

Anders takes a breath and relaxes against the railing. "What brings you over here?"

[universal_charm]

"Heh, well, I guess it's not what I'm getting at. It's a littler hard to explain, that feeling. But I think you know that," he scratched his chin with a chagrined smile before bumping the other gently with his shoulder.

"Taking in the smell of the sea," he suggested, turning to gaze out at the waves. "I wanted to check on you. See how you were holding up. Maybe offer some sage advice. Can't really help it - holdover habits from when I was a captain."

[justice_is_blond]

For a short time Anders is quiet, content to watch the waves and figure out an answer for Kirk. The last person to check up on him like that is dead, the one before Herc is missing, and the one before Hawke is also missing. The captain sorts, the good captain sorts, don't tend to last long.

Anders takes a breath. "I'm a little tense, I'll admit." Another pause. "These mages have been abused and mistreated, seen their fellows slaughtered, outlived their fellows... It's very familiar." Kirk's seen his scars. The man hadn't asked, but it should be enough to fill in some blanks.

"While I'm glad I don't have to deal with the risk of someone deciding to take control and even the score, It's going to be... I don't have him as a buffer. There's no one ranting in the background enough for the both of us."

[universal_charm]

A good thing Kirk had told no one the story of what had happened to him a year before he came here. The day he died. Actually died. He didn't think it would go over well, to say the least - with anyone. And such a story would only prove Ander's thoughts true, even if Kirk had survived by the thinnest of miracles.

He could fill in the blanks on his own, and even if he were to ask, this wasn't the place. That was a subject, if it was broached at all, for another time and place, though to be frank he didn't think that he had a right to ask such things.

"I've been known to give a good speech now and then," he offered. "I could give it a go, if you like. I have many, many thoughts on what's happening here, after all."

[justice_is_blond]

He chuckles before shaking his head. "I don't need a speech. I'd not mind your thoughts, but something motivational isn't what I'm seeking right now. Conversation and company is. Knowing that there are people who have open minds, who aren't closed off to understanding or greater issues, definitely is."

There's so much at stake, and closed minds are one of the most dangerous things out there.

[universal_charm]

"Well, I'm glad my presence is of a help," he smiled at him, moving to lean against the railing with him, turning his gaze back out to the ocean. "It'll get better, eventually. Probably sounds trite coming from a Rifter, but I firmly believe that for this world." He laughed softly. "Or is that straying to much into motivational? Sorry, let's see, what other topic... how's your cat?"

That's totally safe subject, right?

[justice_is_blond]

He waves a hand to say that he's not bothered by what Kirk is saying, before giving the man a smile.

"The Hero of Purrelden is doing well. I left her with Nate because she's not ready for this much water, but she's getting over some of her fears. One day she may be the equal of Ser Pounce-a-lot." His cat names are ridiculous. He doesn't care. "Now he was a warrior cat. Did I ever tell you that he took down a Darkspawn once?"

Maybe not on his own, but close enough to count in Anders' books. "And how are your cats?"

[universal_charm]

"Ser Pounce-a-lot?" he repeated, giving Anders a look that said 'you're not even that old, but already you name your animals like a crazy cat lady'. He couldn't decide it was charming, cute, or potentially upsetting. Probably more of the first two, even though he was still miffed at being saddled with two kittens out of nowhere, thank you Anders.

"No, no you did not. That must be quite the story." That's your cue, Anders.

"Leonard and Nikita are doing fine. Growing, though it's been a challenge moving them out of the lower dresser drawer."

[justice_is_blond]

The question gets a very pleased look. Yes, Ser Pounce-a-lot. It's an excellent name. Leonard and Nikita sound far too... uncute. They're not really worthy cat names, in Anders' opinion.

"So we were underground, of course. The Hero of Fereldan, Nate, Velanna, myself, a pair of dwarves, Sigrun and Oghren, and..." Anders swallows. "Justice. Back when he'd a corpse for a body. We knew the Darkspawn were coming, we could sense them nearby, but it was a warren in there, tunnels all over the place, and we couldn't watch all of them at once. The first attack was a frontal assault, darkspawn spilling out, and we engaged. I stayed to the rear, of course." Smart mages always stay to the rear.

"But this meant that while I was healing Sigrun, I didn't notice a few Darkspawn behind us. Pounce-a-lot leapt from my side and got the genlock right in the eye, staggering it and making it howl. Our allies shifted around us so that Velanna and I were in a protective ring, and we took out the enemies. Ser Pounce saved that day."

[universal_charm]

He thought that speaking of the cats would get Anders mind off things. He seemed to love them so, and he was actually quite interested in the tale Anders wove. It certainly was impressive, and he had to chuckle at the thought of Anders hauling a cat into all kinds of situations and the cat actually proving to be a hero. He wondered how many people complained of the cat up until then, and then after of course.

"I bet that cat was positively insufferable after," he teased Anders with a good-natured grin. "They're always aware of their own self-important, cats are."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders' expression is very fond... and a little sad.

"He was, for as long as I got to keep him. Beautiful orange cat, long, worthy of all the attention. Warm against the back of my neck when it was chilly, which it always was. Company when it got quiet. I miss him." He drops his hand down to his pouch as if somehow he'd find Pounce there. They'd taken Pounce away, saying he made Anders too soft. Anders wonders if they regretted that later.

[universal_charm]

Kirk frowned softly, not sure if the cat had died or something else, though the phrasing made him think... something else. Either way, he obviously wasn't with Anders, which might explain the young kitten he had seen with him in the baths that day. Regardless of how it happened, it didn't change the fact that Anders was clearly upset at his loss.

"I mean, if you want, I'll keep a hand on your neck. I'm not as warm as a cat, but I can try," he said, trying to lighten the mood with his humor, nudging him gently.