[Open] Time for some enjoyment

[conqueredhearts]

WHO: Iskandar and OPEN
WHAT: Iskandar is here to have a good time. Join him?
WHEN: Throughout Drakonis
WHERE: Skyhold and other fun places
NOTES: Probably lots of cute times. Maybe some sad times depending on the threads. But mostly a lot of cute and loud affection. Because Iskandar.

A. It's a new dog!

He'd been wanting one since first seeing the mabari. Now he had one of his own. A fine pup who tended to spend much of his time tripping over his own feet but was ever eager to be with and please the large man. Really he'd been told that an older dog would be recommended but they'd laid eyes on each other and that had been that. After all, once that bond was formed there simply was no going back.

And so one could find him with a puppy in one of the more open areas. They were training and it seemed that the puppy was at least rather intelligent at picking up on things! So long as Iskandar used his native tongue for the commands, something he'd decided to do just to solidify their bond further.

"Heh. What a clever boy you are, my Achilles Alexander!" The pup gave a bark and then happily ate up the piece of meat that he was given. And yes, Iskandar sure had named this dog after himself.

B. Training is important

The best way to perfect how one used their adjusted powers was to, well, use them. So he was around the training grounds to work with the couple of them that he felt could safely be done here. Name the teleportation and invisibility ones. So it was easy enough to spot him standing in one location only to reappear in another. At times he frowned and rubbed his beard as he considered what he'd been doing before trying again.

One could feel free to interrupt him though. He wasn't needing the concentration to do this really.

C. Memories rise to the surface

There were times when even Iskandar needed a moment to reflect, to think on the sadder days. Though he never regretted any of them that hardly meant they didn't weight on his heart. Many had been lost under his command or had given up much to follow him. Then there were times when he remembered Hephaestion and how perhaps he would never see him again. Or that his son would be someone he'd never lay eyes on.

So he was in the gardens with a kitten and a mabari pup curled up together on his lap. Both were sound asleep as if they'd been playing hard until that moment. He smiled down at them fondly, stroked their soft ears as he admired their pure innocence.

"It has been long since I had your purity, little ones."

Wildcard

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Comments

[not_the_question]

The Doctor relaxes a bit. And murmurs. "Not my universe, then."

And it would explain why he recognises most of the names. "Though, it's a travesty that you don't know Janis Joplin. She's an icon."

A bit anticlimactic, really. Which is good for his hearts.

[conqueredhearts]

"You say not your universe but you have no way of knowing when the battle I was summoned into was held in secret. I think without further knowledge of the world it is not so fair to assume the worlds are different."

Wasn't this supposed to be a vastly intelligent man? How as he missing that part? It seemed to lack a great deal of how research was done.

[not_the_question]

"Because you have provided enough other information. For one, in my universe, the Holy Grail is considered lost. I just needed to confirm a few other details."

And stop panicking. But it's hard not to where Timelines are concerned.

[conqueredhearts]

"It is considered lost by many in my world as well. There are only a choice few aware that it is not."

Again, he felt this man hadn't bothered to uncover all the details. Just sort of grazed over them. Like someone speed reading rather than savoring a book. He felt himself returning to wondering why this man bothered with saving anyone at all when he didn't seem to care for the depths.

[not_the_question]

He sighed, so much judgement from the other. Well, Kings always have to be the best at everything. When the truth is so much simpler.

"In my universe, I know where it is. And it is quite inaccessible to anyone but me."

Technically, inaccessible to him too. Happened to be somewhere in his TARDIS, he meant to return it, but... got distracted. Actually he had completely forgotten he had it until now. Which meant, when he gets back he should probably find it... And maybe return it... but given this? Maybe it's best where it was.

[conqueredhearts]

"You see? This is the sort of information that you provide. Otherwise it just makes you seem an idiot jumping to conclusions. Had you said as much it would have been easy to explain that the Grails are different indeed which would put us in different universes after all."

He stroked his chin and looked at the sky. "Jamie's talk of you suggested you to be a scholar of sorts. I'm having my doubts of this with how you do not seem to learn of the cultures you seem to be saving nor do you share you knowledge with others. You seem content toward irritation instead."

[not_the_question]

"If I spent all my time proving all the knowledge I have, then countless numbers of people, planets, and galaxies would be dead or destroyed."

And if Jamie forgot to mention to others that the Doctor wasn't human, well that's hardly the Doctor's fault.

[conqueredhearts]

"I never said to share all your knowledge. Simply that you are sharing next to none currently which is leading to wild assumptions being made that could be avoided. It makes you seem an idiot when it seems that is not your intention. Such a thing can be avoided with communication."

Easy as that really. Iskandar thought that rather clear.

[not_the_question]

"So, in all his stories, Jamie never told you that I never explain anything?"

Seems like a pretty drastic oversight on Jamie's part, but the Doctor has never explained anything well, ever. And whenever he had to, it hurt. So, he just went with with what was quickest in order to save the most lives.

[conqueredhearts]

"You obviously explain some things since it is clear you are meant to be intelligent. Were you just a man who saved people you would not be known for your mind. Since there was a pointed reference to such then it is clear you use it and you must have proven it."

Iskandar looked over at him and lifted a brow. Really at this point he'd settled for just thinking this man an idiot. Even if he happened to have a vastly intelligent mind he was still an idiot for thinking that communication could be such a waste. Especially when it was such a key to sharing knowledge. "It seems more like you wish to paint a terrible image of your self because it would be easier. Which again makes me wonder why you bother to save anyone at all. It matters not if you want the recognition but to show such a side is not a sign of compassion in my eyes. It would work even less in this world where they so obviously would find such jumps and such to be insulting. After all, you are no better than any of us here so we should all have equal opportunity to understand."

[not_the_question]

He sighed heavily. Iskandar was right, to an extent. He'd argue against the compassion bit, if only because that has to do with what's in one's heart, not with how others interpret such things.

He looked down at the puppy and the kitten. And sighed again.

"Jamie thinks more highly of me than he should. Most people do. And I save others because it's what my life has become. After billions of years, I know no other way."

He leaves it at that. Because if he were to start recounting all the losses, they'd be here for years.

"And because every time I think, 'Why do I bother', someone says something or does something that makes me think, 'I can't imagine this universe without them in it.'"

[inagutterson]

"Maybe how you do marriage makes heirs. Or airs. Does it make those too? Some folk go to the winds when they go and they're still around when you hear a wayward curse carried on them. 'sides only got your word for it don't I? I could sort that but it ain't like me and my titles.". Yngvi finally stops for a breath and to favour this alleged king with one of his knife-edge smiles. What comes of learning manners from strays and Orlesians ladies who by rights ought not to have survived the Game.

Some of that sounds like a reaver. Some of that sounds like a berserker. All of it conjures old stories and memories of times around campfires with drink and meat aplenty. The pain of it is so fierce, so sudden it steals his breath. The mask slides sideways and Yngvi can't quite look at Iskandar for a moment.

Good old Kirkwall senses to the rescue.

"Fully human. Explain. In detail. I'm interested in that because how even.". Is he a demon? Is he dead? Should he poke him like he did that weird tree in Orlais? Fuck it, he's leaning over to poke with a short grubby finger.

[gatheringstorm]

"Watch out, people'll think you're a mage!" Korrin laughs, glad that he can keep up as she'd feel obliged to stop for a more even fight otherwise. However, now they can be obnoxious together. Spotting movement out of the corner of her eye, she doesn't let it distract her as she backs up enough before using Fade Step in a more aggressive manner, to close in and hopefully get in a good shot before he can parry. "I think we're gaining an audience!"

[circleprodigy]

"Much later, but yes. Mabari have long memories." Garahel doesn't seem to be worried about this outcome, though, only stopping the 'bath' when he feels like it or Achilles Alexander becomes too wiggly. Then he looks at them both and barks hopefully, wagging his tail. "I think someone wants fetch-time."

[kartereo]

Waver stared. Shit, he hadn't prepared for this, not yet.

He took to a defensive stance at first, then shifted to an offensive one once he realized that the start of the attack was on him. It was only after that that he began his first lunge, towards Iskandar's stomach.

It was intended to be a feint.

[bookish_lioness]

Hermione could tell that she wasn't exactly being subtle about something bothering her, and part of her felt badly for it. There was no reason to burden Iskandar with the things she knew or the things she feared, especially not when it was clear that he was largely looking forward to having a good time.

At his philosophizing, Hermione sighed and rested her hands on his shoulders. While she appreciated his sentiment, there was no way he could know just what sort of twist his words would take in her mind, given everything she'd so recently experienced. So she said nothing, not until she knew more or less what she could possibly say, silent as he set her down on the ground and began spreading out the food he'd set out.

Even so, animals did have a way of drawing her out a bit more, and even if she'd always be more of a cat person, Hermione couldn't deny that there was something special about mabari. They tend to be more intelligent than most dogs she was acquainted with, and so when the puppy moved over to his bowl and began to eat (and Iskandar proved that he could be touched while eating without getting angry), Hermione crouched down besides him, lightly stroking his back.

"And what of those who've seen the future?" she asked lowly. "I don't mean something like... like divination or some other sort of pseudo-science. I mean actually walking in the future and seeing what's to come. Do those who know the future still have cause to celebrate when they have to wonder over whether they should strive to change it?"

[meds4sale]

"Oh? More of a family name then."

His dull monotone had the slightest hint of teasing to it.

"Will they become great leaders of cats and dogs?"

[conqueredhearts]

"I have seen the future, remember? So I suppose it would mean that it would depend on what you have seen and what you feel in your heart to be the right thing to do."

The pup looked up for a second from his food to see who the smaller hand was then was back to his meal. And soon there was a mewl as the tiny cat that they'd rescued popped out of where the food was. Jumping out, he went over to Hermione, recognizing her. He was far bolder around those he knew and he immediately started meowing to demand she pet him too.

Iskandar just laughed softly and left her to the animals while he got the food out for them.

"I believe the future is a path for us to walk but that changing things can cause different futures to happen. Just like we create our own fates."

[conqueredhearts]

"Well if that their wish then I would greatly support them in the effort!"

He laughed softly but it was clear he meant it. They might be pets but they might as well be children to him. If those were the attitudes they took on then he would guide them to that.

[conqueredhearts]

"Ah may I toss for him? He could teach my little one this game." Iskandar already looked excited by the idea. To play such games with his mabari would be a wonderful bonding experience. That and he was sure that Achilles Alexander would pick up on it quickly.

[conqueredhearts]

"Let them! It would be a wonder for them to figure out what I am!" And he loved the attention. People talking about him, people watching them now. It was something he thrived on and always had. Which had worked well for him when he was King of his lands. Grinning, he found himself needing to dodge rather than parry her next attack. "Good! Let them witness the joy that can be expressed through combat!"

With that, he moved to throw his own strike her way.

[conqueredhearts]

"Then it is not what your life has become. It is what you have made your life to be. That is why people think highly of you. Whether you feel you deserve it or not is not important for it is how others view us that make us who we are in the world. It is why my people loved me and why people admire you. We can change ourselves to change that image but in the end it is the people who will decide what they see."

He waved his hand like he was presenting the very garden when he was actually presenting the world.

"We are both here now with no clue when we leave. Why not get to know the people? The cultures? They could need you but they are not so likely to listen to you if you do not gain their respect first."

[conqueredhearts]

Iskandar simply batted at his arm to knock him back, didn't even bother to bring his sword into play yet. He smiled down at him and put his hand on his hip.

"Don't pretend, boy. Strike at me. You are not good enough yet for tricks of that nature against myself."

[conqueredhearts]

Well he could have answered the part about making babies but someone was now poking at him with one of his fingers. He didn't pull back from it and instead just allowed the poking. He seemed fully human. Perfectly solid, definitely there. Of course he was very big for a human but that wasn't the point.

"Well. I'm a spirit summoned by a mage. This is my physical form but it is the soul of the man I was when I was alive. I died centuries ago and am now spirit instead. Does that make sense?"

It was the simplest explanation honestly...

[not_the_question]

"I never thought I'd say this to Alexander the Great, but you're wrong. It does matter what people think of me. People thinking highly of me can actually put them in danger. I once went across the whole of Time and Space deleting every reference to me because people were dying because they spoke highly of me."

To be fair, it was a bit more complex than that, but the results would have been the same. Drove River his wife nuts when she couldn't do research on him any more.

"Simple answer? Because in the end, they all leave. Because they should. Or they find someone else. Or they die. So many of them die. And some of them forget me. Or something happens to me and I forget them, or I have to leave... I suppose, it's because, after all the saving is done, they still manage break my hearts."

Knowing people in the manner that Iskander suggests is a double-edged sword and at this point in his life, the Doctor can't suffer any additional heartbreak.