Should he be offended? Maybe he should be offended, if anyone thinks he'd just lie back and let something like Weisshaupt happen again, here, after all the shouting he did at Clarel. The shouting, then the running from guards, then the begging the Inquisition for help. They weren't all there for the begging for help part. The more-than-half-a-year of waiting to be the Inquisition's priority part, followed by the part where, when they finally got around to it, there was nothing for him to do at Adamant but burn the bodies of half the people he knew.
It'd have been nice not to need the Inquisition so much then.
—but Nathaniel's right. They're young. And if they haven't gone through more than everyone else, they have gone through more than anyone should have to. So Alistair decides not to be offended, shakes it off, and gives Oghren a sharp sort of smile that would go well with a cuff on the back of the head, if Alistair were the kind of person to hit people outside a real fight. He's not.
"More resources for doing your job," he says. His job that is not spitting and scratching. "No one accusing all of us of meddling in politics or the Divine election more than I'm sure they already will." He looks back at Nathaniel. "At least we know Humphrey is a good judge of character—and if any of you ever tell anyone that I said that," he adds, looking around at all three men, "I will pull rank, for as long as I still can."
He flashes a grin at the last comment. "I don't have to tell anyone. You just said it in front of the only person I'd tell. You just said Nate's got good character." The smugness is nice, even if it's temporary.
"Unlike some of us, who might be hoping to meddle in politics or the Divine election, because we're not all right with what may happen otherwise." The mages have to speak up, because no one will speak up for them and they could so easily lose everything they've gained. "We'll still be.... Do we know if there's anyone expected to move? Does reporting to Humphries mean in person, or by bird or crystal?"
As much as he hates Kirkwall, that's where things are happening. That's where he can build. He won't leave Nate's side, but he rather hopes that Nate's not required to stay here to get the promotion.
He looked at each of them in turn. The Howe who was excited about this. He could see him practically pissing himself wanting to get that promotion. Not stopping to think about the fact that his husband was uneasy with maybe having to relocate here. It echoed too strongly to him of when he made a similar selfish decision for his own family.
Then there was the Virgin who was looking at the benefits long term. Things that Oghren didn't give a nug's ass about. He was used to people not liking him and the resources weren't anything he cared about when it wasn't like he was being given jobs to lead anyway. Not that he'd want them.
Then there was Sparkles who was going to go where his husband went even if it ended up making him suffer. Too in love for his own good in this case. It irritated him to no end that he'd bring about his own discomfort just to be with the man. Like one of them needed to be more selfless and the other more selfish.
"You think I care about any of that? I'm watching Sparkles here being willing to throw away everything to follow you, give up being able to do something over in Kirkwall for it. And you, Howe, not thinking about him or if it's okay that the rest of us aren't getting much out of this and have to report to people we don't know. As for you, Virgin, get better negotiating skills because I'm not buying what you're selling." He reached for an abandoned ale on the table to drink from it, not caring if someone had planned to come back for it or not.
"You want to sell me on this then show me no one gets hurt and show me that we're all going to get something out of this besides being forced to into something. I've not been around as long as you, Virgin, but Sparkles and I have worked hard enough that we deserve something out of this too. The others as well. They want us then they better work this so it doesn't feel like some of us aren't being sent home wearing only our sodding drawers."
Sure he sounded grumpy (probably because he was) but he fully intended to make sure that this was fair. So far it seemed like it wasn't.
He feels Nate flinch next to him, something that drives his own worries out of his mind. This is something Nate's worked so hard for, something that means so much to the archer, and Anders doesn't want the promotion to be associated with pain or guilt. Anders takes his hand and squeezes it gently.
"I'm certain he's thought about me, and that his excitement isn't simply about the promotion." He knows Nate better than that. When it comes down to it, he trusts Nate even though he's not sure what the end result of this will look like. "I would throw away a great deal to stay with you, love. But I trust you."
Nate's hand gets another squeeze. His worries have been voiced and then made louder. He doesn't have need to fear them being ignored or overlooked. And now it's time to move on from anything regarding him. It's time to think about the group.
"Alistair said resources out of this. That's a strong reason to do it; we don't have much sources for funding independently from what I understand. We'll all benefit from it if everything's as it seems. And if it's not, Teren gets to tell us she told us so and she'll enjoy that. Ciri likely will too."
He looks between the three men. It's not a natural thing for him to try mediating. Most of the time his emotions are the ones ruling him, not his head. But he cares about the people involved here and wants to do right by them. That means speaking up.
"We can find a way that this works where all benefit. And maybe even get new drawers out of it, if our salaries become stable. More importantly, we may not have to worry about depending on the Inquisition in the future. Religious groups don't always do right by their people. This could be a very good thing."
While Anders is being reasonable and supportive and so on, Alistair is looking at Oghren like he’s—well. Not like he’s stupid. More like he’s an asshole, talking about getting something out of this and what he deserves, like being a Warden has ever been about what anyone deserves. Like any of them have the right to expect anything except maybe, hopefully, a sense of higher purpose in the years before their early, ugly deaths.
Maybe Alistair shouldn’t be surprised. Cousland took him, after all, and if Cousland is the example they’re following, he certainly got his. The First Warden now sitting on the throne in Hossberg got his, too. And sometimes half of this lot seems to think that they can say hmm, let me check my calendar, maybe I can slot Wardening in on Tuesday after my other pursuits, if I haven’t quit altogether and run away before then, who knows—
So that’s great. When Anders stops talking, Alistair still looks well and truly on the verge of losing his temper, but he keeps his mouth shut with visible effort and turns his attention to everyone who isn’t Oghren. He isn’t going to start yelling where their hosts might hear. That’s rude.
“We don’t have to decide anything now,” he says quietly. He isn’t a good enough actor to avoid sounding and looking furious, but he can be quiet about it, at least, and maybe they can save the final debate and decision for when they’re out of here, away from potential eavesdroppers. “I’ll go find Teren before she picks a fight. None of this will matter if she starts stabbing people.”
He doesn’t think she would, really. But if he stays he’s going to shout. So he doesn’t stay.
On the way through the door he nearly runs into the Warden-Commander, though, who steps aside and returns his salute with a amiably bemused look at his scowl, then heads over to those of the group still in the room.
Now the one small problem here was that one of the people still in the room was Oghren. Oghren who was already showing he wasn't the best of people. Not that he'd ever kept that a secret. It wasn't like he hid the fact that he wasn't all that great and that he could be greedy and selfish. Sod it all, he made that point clear a lot. But he also wasn't that good at keeping his trap shut either. Partially from the alcohol and partially because he didn't care much.
He was a fine friend to have so long as his faults were known and understood.
"Commander." He gave a nod because he could sort of be respectful once in a blue moon. "Just talking about how some of us aren't too comfortable with this deal that's apparently happening yet. Don't have enough information yet. And I'm a greedy dwarf who likes to get things as well."
Oghren shrugged because it was the truth. Take it or leave it this was who was in the Wardens now.
"The one over there deserves that promotion for sure. But some of the rest of us deserve things too. Like Sparkles and myself. Wouldn't say no to something shiny for the others too. Just things to show that we're not getting the short end of the stick since we don't know you that well yet." He let out a little burp. "Plus I'm bad at reports anyway. Can't remember the last time I made one. Pretty sure it had stick figures written in dwarven ale though."
Bethany had remained silent while the rest of the Senior Wardens had been speaking. She had let Ciri and Inessa walk out of here because if anything else, she wanted them out and she wanted them safe. The rest of the people at this table were used to making risky chances with their own lives.
Her fingers rested together, brown eyes narrowing on Anders and Nathaniel first. She doesn't like the idea of them here, and it looks like she is about to speak, but she's drowned out for at least ten minutes while the others bicker back and forth. She knows why Alistair is angry - that they aren't here for the cause - but she wants to remind him that out of the Senior Wardens here, he and Oghren were the only ones who really had a choice. They chose this life. The rest of them did not. Nate was a Warden for life, and Anders was sticking with Nate. Herself - she'd give her life for the men at this table. But she wouldn't give it to the Blight.
And she certainly wasn't prepared to give her life to Ansburg.
She looked like she was about to speak when Alstair headed off, but as the Warden Commander was who he bumped into, her mouth shut automatically. Her eyes met Anders, then Nate's, before that smile returned. Sunshine and cheer. She could turn it on in a moment's notice. But the two of them had seen the cloud.
"Unlike Oghren, I need for nothing, Warden Commander. Nathaniel's deserved a formal promotion for years -- as has Anders and Alistair. Oghren..." And here she gives the dwarf a wry look, "Could use a good swat in the arse -- but a promotion would mean a raise in pay, and that would help with his drinking habit."
She smiles again, taking up her tea to sip it. "The only thing I would think would be a good idea, simply to build ties, is to have us have our own Chapter House in Kirkwall. With Nate as the Warden Constable."
Then she sat back, sipping her tea, and waiting. Watching. Brown eyes crinkling and her dimples flashing ever so slightly.
So much for Don't you give a piss what the others think, Oghren's got your back.
Anders' quick words stay the panic Nathaniel might have had about his marriage, about turning into his parents, about finally having something he has badly wanted, and earned, and being told he is selfish for taking it. Ciri and Inessa have run off, Oghren is demanding shiny things, Teren is looking for reasons for this to go wrong, and Nathaniel knows that arguing with any of them will make them even louder and create a scene in front of people he needs to respect him.
Thank the Maker for Bethany, calm and charming and clever Bethany. The building anger diffuses somewhat, and Nathaniel is able to find his footing on what she said.
The storm seems weathered, at least, and they might even have a solution that would allow him to continue helping the mages. Anders is relieved and it shows in his expression. For a brief moment his expression is wry - the Wardens, demonstrate enough faith in him to promote him? - but there have been enough worries packed into these last many minutes. Enough has overshadowed Nate's news.
"It would be especially handy, as Kirkwall has any number of tunnels that Darkspawn could emerge from." And he could keep working. He could help his people still. The Wardens would never be his people, that was what betrayal did, but the mages always would be. Even the greedy, maliciously self-absorbed ones like Vivienne. "What do you think, Warden-Commander?"
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no subject
It'd have been nice not to need the Inquisition so much then.
—but Nathaniel's right. They're young. And if they haven't gone through more than everyone else, they have gone through more than anyone should have to. So Alistair decides not to be offended, shakes it off, and gives Oghren a sharp sort of smile that would go well with a cuff on the back of the head, if Alistair were the kind of person to hit people outside a real fight. He's not.
"More resources for doing your job," he says. His job that is not spitting and scratching. "No one accusing all of us of meddling in politics or the Divine election more than I'm sure they already will." He looks back at Nathaniel. "At least we know Humphrey is a good judge of character—and if any of you ever tell anyone that I said that," he adds, looking around at all three men, "I will pull rank, for as long as I still can."
no subject
"Unlike some of us, who might be hoping to meddle in politics or the Divine election, because we're not all right with what may happen otherwise." The mages have to speak up, because no one will speak up for them and they could so easily lose everything they've gained. "We'll still be.... Do we know if there's anyone expected to move? Does reporting to Humphries mean in person, or by bird or crystal?"
As much as he hates Kirkwall, that's where things are happening. That's where he can build. He won't leave Nate's side, but he rather hopes that Nate's not required to stay here to get the promotion.
no subject
"You would," he says to Oghren, "get a Warden-Constable who is in your back pocket. But we're a ways from that. It's best for us to be safe."
A beat.
"Someone will want to go stop Teren from doing whatever it is she's doing."
no subject
Then there was the Virgin who was looking at the benefits long term. Things that Oghren didn't give a nug's ass about. He was used to people not liking him and the resources weren't anything he cared about when it wasn't like he was being given jobs to lead anyway. Not that he'd want them.
Then there was Sparkles who was going to go where his husband went even if it ended up making him suffer. Too in love for his own good in this case. It irritated him to no end that he'd bring about his own discomfort just to be with the man. Like one of them needed to be more selfless and the other more selfish.
"You think I care about any of that? I'm watching Sparkles here being willing to throw away everything to follow you, give up being able to do something over in Kirkwall for it. And you, Howe, not thinking about him or if it's okay that the rest of us aren't getting much out of this and have to report to people we don't know. As for you, Virgin, get better negotiating skills because I'm not buying what you're selling." He reached for an abandoned ale on the table to drink from it, not caring if someone had planned to come back for it or not.
"You want to sell me on this then show me no one gets hurt and show me that we're all going to get something out of this besides being forced to into something. I've not been around as long as you, Virgin, but Sparkles and I have worked hard enough that we deserve something out of this too. The others as well. They want us then they better work this so it doesn't feel like some of us aren't being sent home wearing only our sodding drawers."
Sure he sounded grumpy (probably because he was) but he fully intended to make sure that this was fair. So far it seemed like it wasn't.
no subject
"I'm certain he's thought about me, and that his excitement isn't simply about the promotion." He knows Nate better than that. When it comes down to it, he trusts Nate even though he's not sure what the end result of this will look like. "I would throw away a great deal to stay with you, love. But I trust you."
Nate's hand gets another squeeze. His worries have been voiced and then made louder. He doesn't have need to fear them being ignored or overlooked. And now it's time to move on from anything regarding him. It's time to think about the group.
"Alistair said resources out of this. That's a strong reason to do it; we don't have much sources for funding independently from what I understand. We'll all benefit from it if everything's as it seems. And if it's not, Teren gets to tell us she told us so and she'll enjoy that. Ciri likely will too."
He looks between the three men. It's not a natural thing for him to try mediating. Most of the time his emotions are the ones ruling him, not his head. But he cares about the people involved here and wants to do right by them. That means speaking up.
"We can find a way that this works where all benefit. And maybe even get new drawers out of it, if our salaries become stable. More importantly, we may not have to worry about depending on the Inquisition in the future. Religious groups don't always do right by their people. This could be a very good thing."
no subject
Maybe Alistair shouldn’t be surprised. Cousland took him, after all, and if Cousland is the example they’re following, he certainly got his. The First Warden now sitting on the throne in Hossberg got his, too. And sometimes half of this lot seems to think that they can say hmm, let me check my calendar, maybe I can slot Wardening in on Tuesday after my other pursuits, if I haven’t quit altogether and run away before then, who knows—
So that’s great. When Anders stops talking, Alistair still looks well and truly on the verge of losing his temper, but he keeps his mouth shut with visible effort and turns his attention to everyone who isn’t Oghren. He isn’t going to start yelling where their hosts might hear. That’s rude.
“We don’t have to decide anything now,” he says quietly. He isn’t a good enough actor to avoid sounding and looking furious, but he can be quiet about it, at least, and maybe they can save the final debate and decision for when they’re out of here, away from potential eavesdroppers. “I’ll go find Teren before she picks a fight. None of this will matter if she starts stabbing people.”
He doesn’t think she would, really. But if he stays he’s going to shout. So he doesn’t stay.
On the way through the door he nearly runs into the Warden-Commander, though, who steps aside and returns his salute with a amiably bemused look at his scowl, then heads over to those of the group still in the room.
“Is everything all right?” Humphreys asks.
no subject
He was a fine friend to have so long as his faults were known and understood.
"Commander." He gave a nod because he could sort of be respectful once in a blue moon. "Just talking about how some of us aren't too comfortable with this deal that's apparently happening yet. Don't have enough information yet. And I'm a greedy dwarf who likes to get things as well."
Oghren shrugged because it was the truth. Take it or leave it this was who was in the Wardens now.
"The one over there deserves that promotion for sure. But some of the rest of us deserve things too. Like Sparkles and myself. Wouldn't say no to something shiny for the others too. Just things to show that we're not getting the short end of the stick since we don't know you that well yet." He let out a little burp. "Plus I'm bad at reports anyway. Can't remember the last time I made one. Pretty sure it had stick figures written in dwarven ale though."
no subject
Her fingers rested together, brown eyes narrowing on Anders and Nathaniel first. She doesn't like the idea of them here, and it looks like she is about to speak, but she's drowned out for at least ten minutes while the others bicker back and forth. She knows why Alistair is angry - that they aren't here for the cause - but she wants to remind him that out of the Senior Wardens here, he and Oghren were the only ones who really had a choice. They chose this life. The rest of them did not. Nate was a Warden for life, and Anders was sticking with Nate. Herself - she'd give her life for the men at this table. But she wouldn't give it to the Blight.
And she certainly wasn't prepared to give her life to Ansburg.
She looked like she was about to speak when Alstair headed off, but as the Warden Commander was who he bumped into, her mouth shut automatically. Her eyes met Anders, then Nate's, before that smile returned. Sunshine and cheer. She could turn it on in a moment's notice. But the two of them had seen the cloud.
"Unlike Oghren, I need for nothing, Warden Commander. Nathaniel's deserved a formal promotion for years -- as has Anders and Alistair. Oghren..." And here she gives the dwarf a wry look, "Could use a good swat in the arse -- but a promotion would mean a raise in pay, and that would help with his drinking habit."
She smiles again, taking up her tea to sip it. "The only thing I would think would be a good idea, simply to build ties, is to have us have our own Chapter House in Kirkwall. With Nate as the Warden Constable."
Then she sat back, sipping her tea, and waiting. Watching. Brown eyes crinkling and her dimples flashing ever so slightly.
no subject
Anders' quick words stay the panic Nathaniel might have had about his marriage, about turning into his parents, about finally having something he has badly wanted, and earned, and being told he is selfish for taking it. Ciri and Inessa have run off, Oghren is demanding shiny things, Teren is looking for reasons for this to go wrong, and Nathaniel knows that arguing with any of them will make them even louder and create a scene in front of people he needs to respect him.
Thank the Maker for Bethany, calm and charming and clever Bethany. The building anger diffuses somewhat, and Nathaniel is able to find his footing on what she said.
"That...might be a workable idea."
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"It would be especially handy, as Kirkwall has any number of tunnels that Darkspawn could emerge from." And he could keep working. He could help his people still. The Wardens would never be his people, that was what betrayal did, but the mages always would be. Even the greedy, maliciously self-absorbed ones like Vivienne. "What do you think, Warden-Commander?"