Closed | Cast your eyes on the ocean

[pinprick]

WHO: Nathaniel and Anders
WHAT: Anders has been stressed about being back in Kirkwall, so Nate surprises him with a date night.
WHEN: Late Cloudreach
WHERE: Kirkwall/the docks
NOTES: Will update with any warnings but this is likely to just be some fluff.

It's coming close to sunset, where the sun is low and the light is gold. Nathaniel walks Anders out onto one pier, with what looks suspiciously like a picnic basket on his other arm. But they're walking away from land, and Nathaniel has said nothing of what this is about. They stop when they arrive at a small dinghy; her sails are still furled, and her owner is waiting for Nathaniel. Nathaniel pays him coin and then holds his hand out to help Anders into the boat.

"Would you fancy a little sunset voyage, my dear?"

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

He reaches up to rest his fingers against the sail.

"Sometimes I wonder if you know what you're offering me." The look on Anders' face is thoughtful, though warm. "I was supposed to stay inside a tower on an island in the middle of a lake, and you're showing me the options I, I literally would have killed for. Have killed for."

He's yelled about no Templar taking him alive and he means it. When they've attacked, he's felt satisfaction at ending them.

"You're giving me them, Nathaniel. You're giving me the world."

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"I'm not giving you anything," Nathaniel says, his voice light as the air around them. "This...it doesn't come from my hands. I'm just showing you how to use something that's already yours, love."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders takes those hands now, holding them for a moment as he shakes his head. Putting some things into words is difficult, and there's a few moments of quiet as he tries to sort this bit out.

"I am... I'm part of what holds me back. I didn't think to take this as mine because before it hasn't been mine. Even now, if I was to go sailing on my own, I'd likely be met with several people at the docks, a great deal of questions, and a request to search any pouches I took along."

It's a pressure he both tries and doesn't try to forget - he's earned the suspicion, but he doesn't like it.

"By you taking me here, love, it's a date. You're trusted, and you are giving me this. When we return, at most we'll get a gagging noise from Alistair. You're the factor that changes it."

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That is a very good point. Nathaniel considers how surprised the man who rented them the boat looked. After a moment, he nods.

"We'll try to keep it quiet, then. And who knows? Maybe it will come in useful for you one day, if I'm not there for you."

Like if he dies of the Blight and leaves Anders behind. He breathes heavily for a moment, and then kisses his husband's brow.

"You will love it, I promise."

[justice_is_blond]

Nate's hands get a squeeze before he's closing his eyes for the kiss.

"I already do." There's so much space around them, open and clear, no walls, no stares, just the fading sunlight sparking off the night-black sea and torches coming to life here and there in the distant city. He can hold his head up and breathe and it's actually peaceful.

"Not even the Anderfels felt this good. Though they were certainly warmer," he adds with a grin. It isn't a complaint. He's comfortable, and Nate is warm against him.

Anders picks up his plate and starts eating in earnest, leaning against his husband.

"I rowed Lake Calenhad in Templar armor once. This is far more relaxing."

[pinprick]

A surprised outburst of laughter. "I thought you swam Lake Calenhad. Wait--is this a separate story I haven't heard?"

They'll have to do something about that.

[justice_is_blond]

He laughs too.

"Seven escapes, Nate. Swimming only worked the once. The boat was rather crucial in most of my escapes, after all." After another bite, he launches into the story with a few exaggerations for the story's sake.

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The sky turns from gold to red to pale purple to dark indigo, the moon rising and the stars appearing one by one. Eventually it really is time to return, as wonderful as the evening has been. The sea-gates are closed past a certain hour.

They arrive back at the docks, where the owner of the boat awaits, sitting on a crate with his hands clasped over his knees. He raises his head when Nathaniel approaches, the boat moored securely. He stands, but it is Anders he approaches.

"Serrah. I...don't think you'd remember me. You delivered my daughter Sara. And you saved her when she got ill with the croup and couldn't breathe. You wouldn't take our coin then, so...I'll not take yours now."

He offers the coins back to a stunned Nathaniel, who looks to his husband questioningly.

[justice_is_blond]

He'd frozen, bracing himself when the man comes near, and after the words he's still frozen for a few seconds. For all he's snapped at people that he's saved lives too, it's not something he believes every day. And yet here is proof, and with the name the man's face is placeable.

"Your second. The redhead, took after your sister, you said." They'd needed their coin badly then, he could see it, but now the man's clothes aren't so ragged and he doesn't look hungry. "I... Thank you." It's not for the coins. Yes, funds are a little tight, but being remembered for those things too makes Kirkwall feel a little less like a weight around his ankle.

"Go ahead, love." They'll pay it forward, and with that thought another comes to mind. He hesitates, and then goes for it. "I'll be reopening the Clinic. Do you happen to know if any of the supply stashes survived?"

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Nathaniel gives his husband a surprised look, but does not argue. Does not even look like he's going to argue. It's just. News, to him, that's all.

The man shakes his head. "'Fraid not, serrah. With you gone, your...Lirene, was it? Lady with the shop? Whoever it was, they showed people the caches. They was needed, trust me, serrah."

[justice_is_blond]

He nods right away. Not for a moment does he want to look upset with the news.

"Her name's Lirene, yes, and I'm glad to hear she made it. I wasn't... A lot of my associates died, and I hadn't heard her fate." Likely the man, and most of Darktown, knows what went on there. Anders doesn't need to rehash the slaughter. "I'm just glad they helped. You can, if you'd like, you can let what's left of the regulars know I can be found with the Inquisition, too. If they need me."

None of that group would inform authorities or the guard or pull together a mob. They'd protected him before, and he'd been their healer.

Anders gives Nate a smile that's a little sad but mostly happy. So many had been lost, but not everything, and even after what he'd done he'd been able to help with the supplies.

"Give your wife and children my regards, please." He reaches out to take Nate's hand. While he's a very social creature, today has been a lot of emotions and he's ready to walk to the warehouse and process them. And cuddle his husband and cat.

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Nathaniel takes Anders' hand. The man gives them both a nod.

"You can use my boat any time you like. Well. Except during the day, while I'm fishing. Which...that's early mornings, before the sun is up, till the afternoon. I'm usually abed before sundown, but I wanted to give you back your money. And tell you there's people here who remember what you did for this city. The Grand Cleric was a good woman, but she only gave us her prayers. You gave us our lives."

[justice_is_blond]

His grasp on Nate's hand tightens for a moment. A good woman, who he killed. It's one thing to think about it in the abstract - templars coming at him and him striking them down - but the identity of a victim has a real weight.

"Thank you." His voice is heavier now, but his expression is at least calm. "I appreciate the offer, and I think we'll likely be taking you up on it." Definitely, really.

"I..." Anders trails off before swallowing. "I hope to help better, this time." He glances at Nate, hoping they can leave and it's not rude. This is escalating to a point where he feels a little anxious because he simply doesn't know what to do with the man's gratitude in context. He killed someone this man thought was a good woman and he's still being thanked. "Do better. In general. I'll be trying."