faderift | Well it's time to celebrate your birthday, it happens every year

WHO: Anders, Nathaniel, and invitees!
WHAT: Fancy birthday party in Camp Shady
WHEN: Harvestmere 27, evening
WHERE: Camp Shady
NOTES: Will update.

Since many Wardens moved into the Kestrel House, there is plenty of space in the camp for a big top tent. Finding enough candlesticks, tables, and chairs required a lot of time and a number of bribes to pull off. The tables are nicely draped with fabric lent by one of Anders' patients, and each is decorated with flowers. The tent is alight and smells like good food--more donations from grateful patients.

One of the Wardens is known for her fiddling, and she plays lively dances and crooning ballads. In the center table is an ice sculpture of a cat chasing a butterfly (you guessed it--donated by a mage patient). It glitters spectacularly in the candlelight.

On the menu is a slow-roasted pig, spiced hot cider, spectacular salads, jams, cakes, delectably seasoned vegetables, a lamb-flank, and your choice of wine. There is even a hard-won bottle of Antivan brandy Nathaniel had to win several card games to achieve.

Relax, enjoy, greet the birthday boy, and mingle. The nights will be cold soon, but under this tent, life glows.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It does." And it's something that's come more into his life recently than ever before. The evening is energetic and joy-filled... and a little scary when he paused to think about it, which is why he flings himself fully into the dance.

"Another after this?" They're nearing the end, he can hear it in the tune, and right now Anders would prefer to be thinking about footwork rather than how many people are here for him and how his life has changed. Thinking too much on the good feels like it could bring everything down around him.

"Another!" the man agreed with a laugh even as he messed up one step. Oops. He'd counted that part wrong. Ah well he knew that he would be able to get it right next time. It helped that it seemed half the purpose of dancing to this song was simply to have fun rather than to be perfect. Which was really what most dance was all about anyway.

"We can have as many as you like!"

He nearly stumbled when Iskandar missed the step, but recovered quickly enough. That was what dancing was; moving with changes. He wasn't always adept at that in other venues, but here he could.

"Then another." There's a nice pause at the end of the tune and Anders takes a breath. "Ready?" The opening notes strike again, and this one isn't going to be as wild."

This song he actually happened to know since it was one of his tavern favorites. As a result it was even easier for him to follow along and he actually started to sing along with it. His voice was deep and rich but it was clear that he knew every word that went along with the tune that the fiddler was performing. He should honestly since he'd worked so hard to memorize the song.

In his eyes it made the dance come to life more which just made that every present smile on his face grow wider than ever.

The man was unique. That was not up for debate. Anders found himself really wondering about the sort of world Iskandar came from that he was like this - so free with emotion, faith, expression.

"Is everyone where you're from like this? So open and free?"

"Hm?" He blinked at the question, tilting his head to the side. It was rather odd to be asked that so suddenly. He'd been quite sure there were plenty of people here who had a variety of personalities themselves. Had he been mistaken about that?

Lifting a hand, he scratched his beard as he considered his answer before speaking again. "I'd say that where I am from that everyone is varied just as much as anyone here is. Perhaps people are treated differently or different kinds of people are hated or loved but I'd say that the wonder of people comes from the fact that not everyone is the same."

With that he lowered his hand and smiled. "I am as I am because I chose to be this way and refused to allow anyone to permit otherwise."

The statement gets a rueful chuckle and shake of Anders' head.

"That takes a power and position that not everyone has. Some cannot help but be changed by what goes on around them, or is done to them. Survival has costs."

But maybe, then, survival in Iskandar's world is not as difficult as it is here. Or perhaps Iskandar's people are simply good at it. The man's huge.

As the dance comes to a close, Anders tilts his head to indicate stepping off to the side. Iskandar wants to be a friend, so it's time to get a grasp of who the man is.

Survival did have its costs but he had a feeling that he would be like this no matter what. It was simply a part of his nature that he refused to give up on. For better or worse really.

Following after the mage, he wrapped an arm around his shoulders, an easy display of affection for his friend. Iskandar felt it necessary to make his friends feel special that. Lovers too, of course, but in this case just a friend. One he felt needed to understand he was going to continue to give him this sort of thing no matter what.

"I like the dances and music of these lands. I will have to learn even more of them."

The arm around his shoulders gets a momentary stiffness that fades away. He likes contact. He's still getting used to it with each person that gives it, though, aside from a few he's known for some time. The comment, though, gets a blink of surprise. That's entirely different from the previous conversation, and it takes Anders a moment to switch gears.

"You may have a great deal of time to learn. I don't know if any Rifters have managed to go home as of yet. And with Solas missing again..." That ends a lot of speculation on the rifts. They needed to get more experts on them.

"Whether or not I have a lot of time matters little to me. All time is precious and I will enjoy it to the fullest." Iskandar smiled at him then gave a sigh as he watched the merriment before him. Was there really anything better than joy expressed by those gathered to celebrate one they cared about? Not in his opinion anyway.

"Perhaps I will even write some of my own songs to add to those that can be found in this world."

Once he'd been all about living life to the fullest. He'd had quite a few exciting moments when on the run from Templars. Now he was starting to regain that, from time to time, like here at this party. But there was always so much work to do, too, and it often swept him back under.

"It seems a worthy goal." He was no songwriter, but perhaps Iskandar is. The man was full of ideas and drive, clearly. Anders took a breath and smiled at Iskandar.

"I wish you luck in trying that out. And I'm also going to ask to take leave of you; there are a few more people I should seek out."

"I'm not sure why you must be so polite to leave me. You are the man of the hour! Off with you and enjoy yourself!"

He laughed, obviously not bothered by Anders needing to leave. Or wanting to. Whichever it was. He fully intended to see this man again now that they were friends. If Anders wanted to go off to spend time with others or to possibly sneak off with his loved one then more power to him!

Well it's time to celebrate your birthday, it happens every year

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