faderift | [Open] But when we are apart I feel it too

Entry tags:

[Open] But when we are apart I feel it too

WHO: Anders and open
WHAT: General stuff around Kirkwall
WHEN: Through Bloomingtide
WHERE: Kirkwall
NOTES: Nothing as of yet!.

1. Making the Band

The crowd is the new mix of normals, people Anders is starting to learn by face though he's avoiding names. Most here do, which he's thankful for. What's not normal is that Juke Bachs has dropped by, and has been singing a new song about two or three times an hour. On top of that, he's been getting some of the more drunk patrons involved in some... Anders can only call it a dance because they're trying to move in time to the music. It involved weird patterns and flailing limbs, and he's deliberately sticking around to keep watching this.

He leans over when someone sits next to him, not quite looking at the person. "A copper on the blond one falling over in the next minute." It seems a safe bet. That guy's more coordinated than the really beardy guy, but he's already tripped over his feet enough that his palms are scraped and nose is bleeding.

Juke starts in on another round of what's apparently called Tearin' Up My Heart, and Anders takes a sip of his drink, very well pleased.

2. CSI: Thedas

He's taken a larger, unclaimed room for this, coating it in ice, using runes to make sure the ice doesn't melt, and he's also gathered as many tables as he can, lining them up together and creating a rather large, cold surface. On that surface is most of a corpse of a high dragon, many parts already cut open so he can get at the heart of the matter. So to speak.

There's a sign on the door warning about what he's working on, doing more research into the taint and the Blight, but that's all - the last thing he's going to do is barricade a door. He doesn't need to invite suspicion or fear any more than his breathing already does.

Those who might be scientifically inclined and he trusts to not take too many risks of exposure have been invited to join him in trying to see what they can learn from how High Dragons deal with the Blight.

3. Call the Anders

Most days, his hours in the medical rooms in the Gallows are regular. There's always more work that needs doing, after all, herbs to be chopped, processed, and mixed into potions, bandages to prepare, healing to do, and even housecalls to make from time to time. Purrelden knows not to be on the table while he works, which is exactly why she's on the table the moment he's turning to greet whatever patient or person has walked in the door.

[ooc: if you take this option and your character is injured/ill, please drop me an ooc note about what he'll find when going to heal them.]

4. Dr. Anders, Medicine Man

There are whispers in Darktown, spreading slowly, that their healer is back. Follow the lit lanterns, they say. Not every day are they lit, and there's no particular order to the days that they are, which is as deliberate as the moving of the clinic down there every time. ...Until today. Today, he's found a small building that two of the Darktown gangs have been fighting over for months. For equal healing for both of them, they're letting him use it. It's win-win for both. Neither is losing territory, and both gain a healer. It's a double win for him too, because it means that he has protection.

Today a new whisper joins the others - there are some tables and chairs, and between healing, he's offering reading and writing lessons. For free, no questions asked. He's also looking for assistants, if there's anyone out there willing to instruct down here or help heal or do prep work around the Clinic. There's a lot to do when setting up something that's going to stand for a while.

5. Anders Howe, Pet Detective.

Dogs and leashes are natural combinations. They take to it well and quickly. Cats and leashes... not so much. Purrelden's legs have apparently stopped working in the middle of the market and she's limp, giving him the saddest expression.

"You're fine," he tells her. "You can walk. This is to keep you safer, and to protect Merrill's twine. Please get up."

Pleading with a cat doesn't seem to ever work, and more than a few are staring at him, but at least they're staring at him for this and not other reasons. He looks up, meeting gazes and giving a slightly sheepish smile and shrug to anyone familiar.

"Cats," Anders says as explanation.

6. Wildcard me!

[ooc: Got something you want with Anders but it's not here? Toss up a header. If you're not sure about it, go ahead and poke me on Plurk at Nadat or on Discord at Nadat#4647 and we can chat!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Especially considering how I spoil her." He shakes his head, amused despite himself. "I think she thinks that if she stays there, she'll get her way and I'll take the leash off. But being stubborn hasn't worked for her before. I've no idea why she thinks it will now."

Purrelden gets a sigh as she pushes into Cyril's hand for attention, forgetting that her legs were all broken and entirely useless moments ago.

"Look at her. Absolutely spoiled." But it's clear from his voice that he loves her. Which is why he's trying to leash-train her. Sooner or later people are going to be recognizing him, and having his cat be loose could invite cruelty.

"You've not got a pet at all, do you. I'm not sure if that's wise or if you're lacking."

Cyril thought about that for a moment. "Sam can turn into a dog. Does that count?" he asked. He was grinning though, knowing that it didn't really, not in the way that Anders was meaning.

He snickers as he picks up his cat, sparing her from her horrible and traumatic suffering. She starts purring right away. The faker. She'll get used to the leash eventually, at least.

"Considering he can take himself out and feed himself, no. Sam does not count. Unless you make a game of tending to him as if he was one." There are plenty of games one can get up to in private. Or two, or more, really.

One of Cyril's brows raises a bit as he considers that thought. "That might be fun to do when he's in his beautiful human shape, honestly," he shares. He might be oversharing in fact, but he's comfortable enough with Anders to not worry about it.

"He has some kittens too, but those really belong to him and Kirk. I just get to play with them every once and a while."

"Those cats may be due to me," he says with a grin. "And I'll take your opinion for what's the most fun." Sam's nice enough, but he's never sparked an interest in that way.

"That's likely not a game I'll be playing myself, no matter the partner." It edges a little close to things he has issues with, but he's not about to judge someone for enjoying it. "Though if you'd like a real pet, a cat, I could help you out there."

"I'll consider it..." Cyril said thoughtfully. "Though, honestly, and I hope it won't tarnish your opinion of me, I'm not sure I'm really a 'pet' sort of person."

He enjoyed animals and loved spending time with the pets that his friends and lovers had, but he wasn't in a place where he could be responsible for more than himself.

"Some people aren't. It doesn't lower you in my opinion," he assures. "I prefer someone who knows that they and says so over someone is awful with pets thinking that they're great and harming the animal."

Yes, he thinks that pets make peoples' lives more full and better, but at least Cyril knows himself.

"If you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. And I know where to find a cat."

Purrelden mews and Anders rubs underneath her chin with a shake of his head. "No, not you. You're not going anywhere. That's why we have a leash now."

"You know, I am planning on setting up my cart again, once everything is settled. If you need someone to cat sit, I can do that. I spend the entire day sitting around waiting for people to buy something and looking extremely pretty. I could keep an eye on her and protect her." He offered it casually, even after declaring himself not a 'pet' person. It was different when it was only for a few hours.

"I generally like to keep her with me. It's nothing to do with you at all, but when I'm not heading into direct danger it's nice to have her with me."

It's entirely that he gets scared. He's lost so much, including his first cat, that being without her can make him feel ill to his stomach and anxious. Cyril would do his best. And Anders would just picture people overwhelming Cyril and hurting both elf and cat.

"If you didn't object to watching her sometimes when I'm away on errands for the Wardens or Inquisition, however, that would be a different story."

Cyril nodded at that. "I understand, and that's what I mean. If you end up going on a Warden mission or something else and Nathaniel has to go with you, I'll make sure she's safe."

He understood wanting to be close to her when they were home. So many things seemed to be so fleeting in this world, that holding onto the things that were important made sense.

"Thank you." It's nice to have someone as a potential catsitter. "I like taking her on missions, and I'd like it if she became the fighter that Ser Pounce-a-lot was, but there's a chance she never will be. Cats aren't all identical, after all."

He has only a few things that matter to him. His cat, the pillow from his mother, and the locket and ring from Nate. Sure, what else he's been given by people like the little jingling ball from Cyril are things that have value, but there's sentiment behind the other things.

"I miss Ser Pounce, sometimes. But I do love Purrelden."

"What exactly happened to Ser Pounce?" Cyril asked. He had never really gotten the details about that. He knew whatever Varric had put in his book, but that was it. He was a little curious if they could reach out to the people who last had him. He was probably either too old to travel or, possibly, he had passed away by now, but they could at least find out if he had a good life.

Anders looks down, and not just to rub under Purrelden's chin.

"Back when, when I first was part of the Wardens, we had Templars joining because they were furious I'd actually escaped the Circle. I was supposed to be dead, they were supposed to have that satisfaction. Once Jonas wandered off, I didn't have any protection left. They pushed the order through that said I couldn't have my cat anymore, on the basis of him making me too soft." A shake of his head. "I was told a family took him in. It has to be true, because if his fate had been worse they would have told me while gloating."

"What assholes," Cyril responds after a moment. He moves closer and puts a hand on Anders's arm.

"I'm sorry if I brought back bad memories."

"You didn't know," he says gently. The smile he gives Cyril is a little sad, but only a little. "It's an old wound, and I'm all right. I've chosen to believe he was well-loved, as Purrelden is, and I'm working to make sure Templars can never hurt another mage again."

It's quite the task. But he's not about to stop now.

"We'll kick their butts if they even try," Cyril pointed out, and offered Anders an encouraging smile.

He gives Cyril a small smile back. The moment Corypheus is done for the Chantry will make its move to reclaim Templars and Circles both again, and the Templars will likely help it. They may be preparing even now. Kicking their butts will be a long, difficult, exhausting task if it's even popular, though Anders appreciates the sentiment.

"Do you think the Dalish would ever want to take in Elven mages? I don't expect them to help human ones."

Cyril's face falls a bit at the question. Then, he sighs deeply and chooses to share with Anders something that has been on his mind but he hasn't given voice too. "You know, once upon a time I would have said 'yes absolutely' because so many Dalish talk so much about bringing the rest of the elves into the fold, but I'm starting to believe that might actually be all it was. Talk."

He shrugs and for a moment he seems rather tired and a little hurt. "Let's say that I'm not certain I know anything about the Dalish any more."

He's quiet for several minutes, processing that. They need backups upon backups, and while he's not surprised by the answer, he can't say he's not disappointed by it. But not by Cyril. It's beyond helpful to have a good idea of what is possible and what isn't.

"I'm sorry." There's loss in Cyril's words and voice. "Those... Forgive me. I don't mean to intrude, but those of you who have lost clan haven't lost everyone who cares about you, if ever that worry crosses your mind."

It had crossed Pel's.

Cyril's brow rose a bit. "I still have everyone I met here, and Merrick and Pel. You, for example. You give me friendship."

He smiles, eyes crinkling a little at the corners.

"That's what I was saying. I know that being rejected by a group can be painful, and sometimes... When it's happened to me, I've lost sight of those who still cared, for a time. I didn't want to presume, but I did want to say I'd something of an understanding."

"I think... I think for me realizing my path wasn't with my Clan was a long time coming. Merrick was always eventually going to end up banished, and my life has always been more tied to him than to anyone else. More than that, though, I was pretty ruined the moment I met Sam and Taas. Either of them would have been enough to drive me away from the Keeper's watchful gaze, but both together?

I didn't stand a chance."

"Mm." It's a thoughtful noise as he nods.

"There was someone who sidetracked me from getting free, for a time. I didn't stand a chance against him either." Anders shakes his head. "If they hadn't taken him away from me to end the relationship... Maker, how different things would be."

The Circles may well still be standing, for one, he never would have met Nate, for another. It's almost poetic that the cruelty of the Chantry and the Circles were highly responsible for bringing about what happened, but not quite.

"You wouldn't have Sam, for one thing. I can't see him running away."

Cyril frowns at the idea. "The thought of him still being locked up, or that anyone would try to lock him up again..." Then, after a moment, something dark crosses his eyes. "I'd kill them if they even tried."

He probably shouldn't say such a thing aloud.

"It might come down to that." He probably shouldn't be saying that either. "If the schooling idea doesn't take off, if we don't get a great many people behind us, it may well come back down to fighting after Corypheus is defeated. The Chantry will want power again."

And the mages are the easiest target. The mages and the Rifters, but the Rifters they'd likely attempt to kill quietly. The mages they'd be rounding up and caging.

"I hope that most mages don't go quietly, and they force the Chantry to rethink its position."

[Open] But when we are apart I feel it too

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