[Open] Drinks with a King

[conqueredhearts]

WHO: Iskandar and whoever joins him
WHAT: Iskandar has been matching Thedas months to Earth months and is guessing this is around a certain time of year. So he's hear to hold a memorial of sorts.
WHEN: Beginning of Justinian
WHERE: The docks
NOTES: Talk of death and dying. Note this is not a suicide content warning.

This wasn't the Okeanos of his dreams but he felt it would satisfy the time. That was to say he'd been figuring out how the months of this world might line up with those of his own world and had come up with the fact that his might be around Earth's June. The very same month historians had figured out he'd died at the age of thirty-two. Much had happened since that time but he felt that this was a day to honor something. Not him, of course, he had plenty of that already. No today was for those who had died living under his rule.

So he sat at the edge of the docks with a number of wine bottles around him. A couple were empty already to mark how much time had passed since he'd come out here. Around his neck was a small cat who had decided this was his favorite location to sleep even when Iskandar wasn't wearing his cloak. It was just nice to have a solid place to snooze apparently. Also there was a mabari pup next to him, sitting there as if trying to mimic the man in being calm. Not well though considering he kept wiggling about.

Iskandar chuckled and looked over his shoulder, having become aware that he wasn't alone. "Hello there. Would you care to join me? I am honoring the dead with a little memorial of sorts. You are welcome to think of your own lost ones if you like."

Comments

[judgemewhole]

James took another draw off the bottle, his gaze distant as he considered that question with all the due consideration it deserved. He gestured, his voice slow from thought and not from drink.

"We would need a Divine very much like Justinia. One who was looking to move things forward, to change how the system works. I did not know how different things were between Circles, until I was forced to leave Ostwick. That has to change, and while it can change down here ... it will only stick if we have leadership willing to back that up."

[conqueredhearts]

"Perhaps it will only stick at that time but what is to stop you from working towards a change now?"

He rested a hand on the man's shoulder as he continued. "If you do not feel that you have the power to influence the change then find someone who does. Share your ideals. Aid them. Just because there is no leader does not mean we cannot do something to help this world be better."

[judgemewhole]

He looks over at the larger man, how his hand covers his entire shoulder, and a wry smile appears. He puts one hand on his mabari's head for a moment as well, before he looks back out to the water.

"That is the thing of it, isn't it? I don't actually know how much power I have anymore. But you're right - I ... do know someone trying to affect change. I am sworn to help him."

[conqueredhearts]

"Really? Who is that?"

He would love to know who this was. Perhaps he could talk to this man to get his thoughts on things that were happening here. If he liked what he had to say he might even work with this person a little himself.

[judgemewhole]

"Well, you are going to find this hard to believe ..." And now he was going to lower his voice because they were sitting on a dock in Kirkwall, after all, and he leaned over to murmur,


"Anders."

He raised his voice after he said it. "He wants to start a school - for - well - everyone."

[conqueredhearts]

Anders, hm? He lifted a brow at that because he knew about the history the mage had with this city. It was rather impossible not to if one just bothered to pay a little attention to the world around them.

"He's a good man. I like him a great deal."

Though he doubted he would be good leadership overall, a school for him to run was a fine place for Anders.

[judgemewhole]

James looked over at him, and sighed as he looked out to the water. "Yes, of course you do. Yet despite all of my personal ... issues with the man, he is a great teacher and healer. He is also doing it for the benefit of all the masses - how can I deny the goodness in that?"

Answer, he cannot. So he will bring whatever support he can to this endeavor.

[conqueredhearts]

"Just keep your personal feelings about him out of it. That is what will lead you on the right path. Not only that but it may show you a new light to him. One you never saw before when you were blinded."

The man was on a good path so far but personal feelings could be terribly overwhelming if one wasn't careful. "It is when we focus on the negative that we lose sight of all we can do."

[judgemewhole]

"Too true, my large friend. Too true." He looked out to the water again, before taking a slug of wine from the bottle. "I think I have spent most of my life, trying to live beyond my prejudices. I am not entirely certain just how far I have gotten."

He took another drink, looking over at Iksander with a wry look. "But I do know I have far to go. Perhaps that is what can give my life meaning -- trying to find the meaning behind my life, now that all my preconceptions have been ... stripped away."

[conqueredhearts]

Iskandar laughed softly. "The first step is always to recognize how far your path still is. For that is what will keep you on the correct one. Though honestly I would say you're doing rather well. You're having drinks with a Rifter who is drinking to those who died during a month he died in his own time. Not to mention helping to create a school with a mage."

[judgemewhole]

"From what I can tell - much further than I realized." He smirked in kind, before he arched an eyebrow, "So perhaps all that is evil in the world -- is not as evil as we thought it was, hm?"

He exhaled, with that faint smirk still on his lips, "Here is to hoping ... that it will go both ways."

[conqueredhearts]

"Likely because it is not truly evil but has been twisted by suspicious minds. That which is truly evil is the desire to bring pain. The will to destroy for no other reason than to destroy."

He took a swig from his bottle and watched the water roll with the breeze. "What is going to be taught at this school?"

[judgemewhole]

"Ah, like the foe we face. He was disillusioned by his own lack of faith, and now seeks to twist the rest of us to his own horrid view of the world. A monster, through and through." James murmured, before he tipped his head.

"Everything. Reading, writing, maths, even magic for those children who have mage abilities. Adults, as well, who have not learned how to read. A ... truly worthy cause."

[conqueredhearts]

"It is. I think I'm most impressed with you being involved with the magic portion. Still knowledge is a valuable and powerful tool. To share it with others and give them a chance to stand on their own two feet is a noble cause."

He'd have to look into this school some more. He doubted there was really much he could offer to it since he wasn't native to this world but he could still look into ways to make sure it was well supported.

[judgemewhole]

"Well ... I can trust them to teach magic responsibly." IE, no blood magic. "Beyond that - I think the greatest gift the Templar Order ever gave me was a fine education. It made me the man I am today. I would want to give others the same opportunity." James stated simply, lifting his shoulders in a shrug.

To be able to give this to every child? To give them a chance to get off the streets and better themselves? What a greater gift could he give to the Maker?

[conqueredhearts]

"It is something that is good for others to have. To give others the power of knowledge helps to level the field. Most fail to realize that but I believe what you two will be doing will benefit Thedas as a whole for many years to come. If there is any way I can assist you, let me know. I am sure I can find some time to come to help."

If nothing else, he valued education and knowledge and culture so highly that he would likely make sure to set aside time for this school if they asked it of him.

[judgemewhole]

"Well, considering all that you know yourself ... " James held his hands open, "You are one of the most well educated men here, considering what you know of here and of your homeworld. You could give an entirely new perspective on Rifters."

And that, was the absolutely truth.

[conqueredhearts]

"Should you ever need that in your school let me know! Of course I imagine you'll want to discuss that with Anders first." It only made sense really. They were in this together. To ask James to make a decision without Anders would ruin what this school was meant to represent in the first place.

[judgemewhole]

"We will and ... I will, once he returns back from whatever the Wardens are off doing now." Maker only knew what sort of trouble that lot was getting into, anyways.

[conqueredhearts]

"Ah they're still gone, are they? Well I'm sure they'll return soon enough." He wasn't at all concerned about that really. Whatever happened there, he felt they could handle themselves.

[judgemewhole]

"One would hope so -- unless they finally decided to rejoin the fold." James snorted softly, "But considering that their fold is now just as mad as our fold, probably not."

[conqueredhearts]

"Bah, I doubt they would do that. They are needed here. From what I have seen, being here helps the Warden cause more than leaving here would." Iskandar didn't know much about the organization but from what he'd been able to piece together that was what made the most sense.

[judgemewhole]

"Well I won't argue with that. This is the place to build new beginnings, whatever they might be." James mused, taking another sip off the bottle.

[conqueredhearts]

"Exactly! That is why I have joined this caused despite being a Rifter! What I see here is amazing work being done for the sake of unity. If that work could be extended beyond the time of the Inquisition imagine all that could be accomplished!" Even now he was dreaming big, ever looking towards a future as bright as the sun.

[judgemewhole]

James shook his head a little, amusement flashing over his expression. "You really, really just cannot resist going for the most positive aspects possible, can you?"