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!]

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Jamie gets a wide smile. There's a reason he'd set the bet so low. It's a dumb one to take.

"Other than the one with the hole in the knee of his trousers, the 'dancers,'" he makes an air quotes gesture, "are regulars. By this time in the evening, they're always this drunk. I've no idea what they're drinking to get there. They've been bachelors here in Kirkwall since before I came here the first time, do their job, get drunk in the evening, and repeat. The one with the hole in the knee... He might just be persuaded by the bard. He's been making eyes at him half the evening."

The show is at least ridiculous and entertaining, and no one is getting hurt. Except maybe with bruises and sprains from the falls, but since the people keep getting back up, Anders is assuming they're all right. Worst case scenario, he knows where most of them live and he can make sure they're not hurt later.

If the dancers are half as drunk as Anders seems to think they are, Jamie suspects that a good chunk of the reason they're getting back up is simply because they're not feeling any pain right now...but it does make for a interesting spectacle, to say the least.

At the comment, he leans forward just enough that he can get a better look at the man with the hole in his knee. Sure enough, the man's looking over at the bard in way that he probably thinks is subtle, but is so far from it that even Jamie can see what the man's intentions are, and he chuckles a bit as he settles back again.

"Aye, so I see. Question is, think yon bard's trying to persuade just him?" He lifts his chin and nods towards the bard, who's moved over to coax on of the other "dancers" into trying to do a pirouette while balancing a tankard on his nose. "The bard's paying court to a few people in that group, if you ask me."

Anders snickers, watching the action before taking a sip of his own drink.

"That's part of what a bard does. Seduce, whether with words or actions or body. They want to gain advantage in whatever way they can. Juke seems fairly harmless. Most, even, don't mean harm by it. It's the job. But a bard is always listening, and always learning. By the end of the evening, he may have a few more listening ears in his network."

But not for ill ends, he's fairly certain. Then again, who does Juke serve? That's something to wonder about later. For now, there's a show going on as one drunk tries the pirouette and falls over, spilling watery ale on a fellow dancer who falls over as well, grabbing at Juke's arm for salvation and dooming the bard as well.

"If I hadn't been a mage, I might have made a good bard. Except for how I would have raised cows." Jamie gets a grin. There would have been no education and no training beyond that of what his father was giving him originally, numbers and letters enough to sell cows. "At least I've the flirting down, if not the acting. You could even be a bard. You're rather easy on the eyes."

"Oh, am I now?" he says with a snort - but it's an amused snort. Even without a drink to hand, he's willing enough to take that with good humour. The fact that it's being said that way rather than another way helps, though, and he lets himself grin back after only a few seconds. "Aye, well, so long as you don't call me pretty, I suppose that's alright then."

Although out of all the people here, if Anders did decide to tease him that way, he'd probably let it slide with only a little bit of grumbling. Well, and maybe some pulled faces, but that's only to be expected here. As for the rest of it... he watches Juke for a few moments longer, then shrugs.

"Suppose I'd be able to play well enough, if nothing else. I'm no so sure about the rest of it though. There's a lass...aye, well, never mind that. Let's just say that maybe it's better to stick to what I'm doing now."

Anders gives Jamie a grin. Yes, he's married, but that doesn't mean he can't flirt. It's always been a part of how he relates to people.

"I'm pretty. I hardly see where the insult is. But if you'd prefer handsome, I can remember that. And your music is something that would strike people as exotic and interesting, thus drawing them in. But what's this about a lass?"

He's felt a little bad about what happened with Kallian for a while. He'd encouraged their match and she'd left without a word or a note. The leaving still stings for him, and considering how it felt to have Adelaide depart abruptly he has a guess as to how Kalli's departure hurt Jamie. All he could hope was that she hadn't gone to assist Vivienne, that she's gotten free.

It's true that Kallian leaving like that does sting - but at the same time, things had already had grown distant between them, so her leaving without saying anything to him directly makes sense. What doesn't make sense is the fact she's left without saying anything to Anders, and he can't fathom what would've driven her to do something like that, unless there's something he's missing. Wherever she is, though, he hopes she's okay...and that she's not gotten tangled up in the Game. She deserves better than to be a pawn for the people that live and breathe that life.

All in all, though, Anders doesn't need to worry. Time's moved on - and if the small smile that winds up inadvertently crossing his face as he glances off to one side is anything to go by, so has Jamie.

"I'll no say as it's serious yet, mind, but aye, there is. Another rifter. She...och, to tell you the truth, I've no idea what she sees in me, but she sees something. Think that's maybe worth not running off and becoming a bard."

"You don't have to run off to become a bard. You can train right here." He's smiling as he says it, teasing just a little still. "You've your... instrument. All you have to learn is how to gather information in every situation. Like by prying, like I'm doing."

He doesn't exactly know what he thinks of the bagpipes. They're interesting. Eerie. Loud.

"And there are a great many things someone could see in you, Jamie. You're forthright, smart, dependable, what's not to like?" The possibility of him leaving here as suddenly as he came if they reverse the rifts somehow is always there, but why should that stop anyone? Natives could drop over dead just as quickly.

A bit of needling he can stand, even if he does pull a small face at the pause and the word 'instrument'. However, it's quickly forgotten once Anders goes on, the look on his face turning into one of surprise instead.

"Smart? Me?"

That's not something he normally hears. If anything, he's more used to being teased for his lack of intelligence. That's fondly meant, granted - but it's still quite obvious that he's not the smart one in most groups, and he finds it hard to believe Anders is being serious even if the rest of what he's saying seems to fit.

"Och, you're joshing, surely. If there's anyone who's the smart one around here, it's you. Or Hermione." Of course, Hermione is a lot of things - smart, kind, pretty...but that's not the point, even if it does bring a hint of that smile he had on his face back for a split-second. That's gone quickly enough, as he winds up shaking his head in denial. "Not me."

He shakes his head, though his smile widens as Hermione gets named. Jamie's expression is definitely all the hint he needs combined with the mention, but he's not going to tease about it or offer to help at the moment. Later. Right now he should stay back and let them sort out the first few tentative steps on their own.

"You've struck me as rather intelligent. It doesn't lessen my own smartness to recognize yours." Anders doesn't make friends with idiots. They induce headaches. No, Jamie's smart. "Plus I'll point out that you didn't take my wager. That requires some wisdom."

Especially as the blond has now fallen over again and pulled the guy closest to him down as well. It's a beautiful mess of chaos, and exactly what Anders needed to get his mind off the far more serious thoughts and feelings plaguing him.

Edited 2017-06-06 05:54 (UTC)

The smile comes back at that - slightly lopsided, as it always is, but still quite pleased at the compliment. Or compliments, possibly, but as he notices the pair of men go tumbling down he thinks possibly that maybe the second one's more of an observation. It doesn't make him any less pleased, though, just somewhat amused, and that's easy enough to hear in the snort he lets out as he pushes himself to his feet.

"Aye, well, you'd have to be daft not to see where that was going to go. Now, I still say I may not be a genius...but I'm not daft. Listen, you planning on sticking around for a bit? I'd an idea, and I'm willing to throw in a tankard if you'd be willing to tell me what you think."

"Of course." Nate's taking care of something, Purrelden is snoring in his belt pouch rather than wiggling and antsy, Anders has plenty of time. Anders lifts a hand and signals for refills for them from the server who has to keep dodging the ridiculous dancers before turning to look back at Jamie.

"Idea away. I like ideas."

Refills are appreciated, especially given the obstacle course the server needs to wend her way through in order to get through to them. When she does finally manage to make her way past the ridiculous dancers in one piece, Jamie gives her not only a grateful smile, but a little extra on top of the price of the drinks for her troubles. One of the tankards he offers over to Anders, as promised, and the other he takes a brief swig from before setting it by his side.

"You know how there's been that talk that maybe we might be able to move away from the Gallows or the compound at some point? Well, I've been thinking. Since it'll not really be possible to have something like back home in Scotland, what do you think about setting up a wee bit of a garden on a roof somewhere? Ah, if I could find a place that has one that I could afford, that is. Don't think I'm living in Hightown anytime soon."

"I think that's an excellent idea," he says before taking a drink. Ah. Hanged Man's... finest. At least there's something to be said for the nostalgia value of it.

"Would you like help with the garden? If you find a place, that is. It could be wise to have a garden that's separate from the official one." And a source for important herbs that's not the Inquisition. Corypheus will be defeated. Anders believes that. What comes next is the messy part.

"I'd not mind that," he admits, adding in a nod or two for good measure at the same time.

While he's confident that if he was back home in Scotland he'd be able to manage something small on his own, having someone to help here wouldn't be a bad idea - or maybe even a couple of someones, depending on what he can find. In the short term, if he gets sent off on a mission then the place'd still be able to be looked after. In the long term...well, if they don't find a way to send the rifters back home, he'll have to do something after the war's done.

And if he can find the right sort of place, could be he could manage more than one something - an idea he's reminded of as he goes to retrieve his ale and a scent that's both grainy and somewhat skunky winds up wafting past his nose, causing it to wrinkle briefly.

"Maybe I'll see if anyone wants to help with putting together a wee bit of decent whisky, too, although that'll take a bit of time. Don't suppose you'd want to lend a hand with either, would you?"

He chuckles at the offer, looking into his cup.

"I'd try to help if you need it, certainly, but I'd have no idea of what I'm doing. I've never made alcohol, and I'm not even very knowledgeable about drinking it. Nate's the one of us who knows whiskeys. You should talk to him, or I could talk to him for you, and we can see if he can help. Though I don't know if he knows anything about brewing. Do you?"

"A wee bit. I know how whisky's made back home."

Whether or not he could recreate that here in Kirkwall's another matter, simply because of the lack of space - but maybe if he can find a place where he can put in a garden maybe he could eventually make room for that too. Talking to Nate couldn't hurt, though, and he makes a note to do just that at some point. For now, though, he brings his tankard back towards his mouth, although he holds off on drinking from it a moment or two longer.

"And there was a group of us who'd been kicking around the idea of making some things for the tavern back in Skyhold. Flavored vodkas, mostly, since whisky'd take some time. Don't know if that'll happen now that we're here, but..." He breaks off for a second and shrugs. "I'll take the help with a garden, though, if I can find a place. Any idea where might be good to look?"

Flavored vodkas. He doesn't exactly know what that means, but it sounds promising. The other gets him thinking, gaze going past Jamie as he mulls it over.

"Kirkwall is hard for that sort of thing, outside the gallows and not in Hightown." And a Rifter has basically no chance of moving into Hightown. "But there are some buildings that take in lodgers and have empty roofs. You could always speak with the person running the hall and offer to trade some of what you grow for use of the space? I could get you a list of a few places, if you give me a day or two."

Even Jamie knows there's no chance whatsoever of him moving into Hightown. Unless something truly extraordinary happens, that is, and he's not about to hold his breath there. If he can find someplace by the Docks or a part of Lowtown that'll work, that'll be just fine with him.

Anders knows the city much better than he does, though - and Jamie trusts if there's anyone who can come up with a few places to check out, it's him. As he takes a drink of his ale, he also gives Anders a rather enthusiastic nod, following it up a few moments later with a more vocal sort of agreement, just in case the nod wasn't enough.

"Aye, that'd be grand! Whenever you get the chance, mind. As much as I'd not mind getting away from the compound I think I can live with it for a wee bit longer. I've still some stuff I, erm...inherited that needs sorting, anyway."

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

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