[Open] I don't think you're ready for this jelly

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Alistair and Anders and YOU
WHAT: Alistair tightropes. In a dress. While singing.
WHEN: Kingsway 21st
WHERE: Camp Shady Fucker
NOTES: There will probably be some awful sap because this is Nate's birthday, you've been warned. Otherwise, no warnings anticipated.

It's not publicized, but word has a habit of getting out.

Zevran has publicized matters, and now it's time for some morale boosting. There's a low tightrope stretched between two trees with a great many chairs, stumps, and logs set up as seating options. Today is the day for someone to earn himself new boots, shirts, and a shield, and it promises to be a show.

Come on up, pull up a seat, and enjoy the entertainment.

Comments

[kallian_endris]

"I do trust him. I've asked him to stay the night with me before and he has and it was fine. I felt safe with him. I don't think he would ever want or try to hurt me. But... some things are just... going to be painful. If I have enough warning, I can try and mitigate it some ahead of time, but... I was trying to give him a chance, I just asked him if we could go slow and give me time to get my head around things because this is new and it's weird and I don't know anything about what to do and he just... walked away..."

She absently tugs on a lock of her hair, a wordless expression of her frustration.

"I... I don't know. It's... probably better this way... for both of us..."

[justice_is_blond]

"No. Kalli, no. They don't have to be painful. There's..." Maker. He's had to talk to one person about sex before. He hadn't wanted to have it again, but for her sake and Jamie's he will. Anders takes a slow breath.

"With patience, the proper amount of lubrication, and him taking his time with his fingers, it doesn't have to hurt at all. And communication. You have to talk with him, but above all you have to listen and hear what he's saying. There's no 'probably it's better this way' unless you truly are not interested in him. If you like him, if you want him, let him know. Tell him. He's still interested, but confused."

The world stands before her, open with possibilities and life, and Anders is so worried about her fear blocking her from the best life has to offer.

[kallian_endris]

The look she gives him is deeply skeptical, and then it hardens into something else, something quietly tenacious.

"I think I'm going to need some time and space. Just for myself. Away from everyone else, including Jamie, including you. So I can just deal with some things. After that, if I'm still the one he wants for... whatever reason... we can talk."

She brightens suddenly.
"But today is Nate's day. We should be focusing on him."

[justice_is_blond]

Time away from him. It was coming, really. No one's stayed long, and his face goes neutral as he tries to hide the sting.

"Of course." His voice is quiet. Who would want him for a father when they have a mother? The ones who claim him for family are ones who have lost everyone else.

"I hope he enjoys this. I think he will." Anders nods toward the next log, taking his end of it. Soon enough Nate will find someone better too, and others will continue to move on from him.

[kallian_endris]

She helps lift, her smaller form struggling a little to get a good grip on it.

"I hope so. I know you worked really hard to do this for him, to make it special. I just want to help it go well for him. I mean... I don't know. It's coming from you, not me, but I don't know how else to thank him. He doesn't even look at me. I... tried baking for him when I was helping Bethany make apple tarts, but... Well, he's your family and you're my family, but... I don't think he wants me as his family."

[justice_is_blond]

Once the piece is set down, Anders steps over and hugs Kalli.

"You have to understand. Nate... He had a very rough time with his family, whereas you and I had no family to speak of for most of our lives. For us, we want family still. For him, it's a reminder of how difficult life has been and can be."

A beat and a shrug. "He takes time to warm up, and I don't think that he wants to view someone as his child. That doesn't make you any less."