[Closed-ish] Empty but for their words

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Anders, Kas (possibly others?)
WHAT: Figuring out what's going on with Kas
WHEN: Around now
WHERE: Kirkwall Docks
NOTES: Talk of brainwashing likely.

He goes looking after his talk with Cole, worried as worried can be. Anders has more friends right now than he ever has before in his entire life, but they're each still important and precious to him. Hearing that Kas is struggling has him searching.

Finally, after what feels like ages, Anders spots the small qunari and makes his way over. There's concern in his eyes and voice when he speaks.

"Kas? May I borrow you for a few moments? There's a matter I'd like to discuss with you."

Comments

[issala]

Kas looks a little apprehensive before he sighs and rubs the back of his neck. "This place is... well, it's like a sour taste all the time. I thought it was going to be cool to see where the Champion lived, but it's all unhappy people and dirty looks."

This city should be burned, cleaned from the filth it still carried. Nobody knew their place, and the feeling of people huddling in the shadow of its history was only more proof that the bas needed the Qun to gain some form of control over this mess.

Still, he shrugs. "I'll deal."

[justice_is_blond]

He takes a slow breath in and out. It's not the opening he was looking for, but it's not like he has any idea how to make that opening. Everyone else who has been essentially brainwashed into something has had it done by the Chantry and Anders knows plenty of the arguments there.

"It's less a question of if you'll deal and more a question of how, Kas. There's... There's been a change in you." Talking around Cole's absence is another challenge. "I'm not the only one that has noticed, nor am I the only one that's concerned. I don't want anything to eat away at who you are. This city... or anything else."

[issala]

He frowns, the blue eyes hardening a bit. It was true that he'd have trouble with his cover, but not enough for anyone to suspect anything. Right?

"I know, I'm just... stressed, I guess. It feels like we're not getting any progress done with the darkspawn magister guy, and this place is a fucking mess that can't be fixed It just feels hopeless." Issala says, letting his voice quiver slightly at the end.

"And I saw... some kids. It reminded me of who I used to be, living of garbage and nearly starving to death. I've changed so much, but sometimes I feel like I still belong there. Especially with the dirty looks some people give anything with horns." He pauses and throws up his hands in annoyance. "It's... not easy, okay? I'm dealing with a lot of shit, bit it's nothing I can't handle. I just need time.

[justice_is_blond]

Anders presses his lips together. There had been absolutely no reason to think this would be easy. The opposite, really. But he'd hoped it would be. Instead he's in a bit over his head and failing at treading water rather spectacularly. Maybe a different approach would work better, though now he's likely already got the boy worried. If someone needed to use Kas, and to brainwash him the way Anders has seen other qunari be, then this isn't going to be a straightforward conversation.

"Tell me of who you used to be and who you are now, Kas. Talk to me about how far you've come. I don't think I've heard that story."

[issala]

"You're being really weird, Anders," Kas says, the frown deepening. "What is this about?"

Whatever it was, Issala had to deal with it. He didn't have any delusions that he could fight a bas-saarebas on his own, especially not someone like Anders - so he had to focus on his cover.

Kas had grown to trust people. He had gone from a standoffish, aggressive teen to a friend. People had worn down all his walls of bitterness and made him a family member... and that was compromising things, now.

If anything, the bas were utterly stubborn at making friends.

[justice_is_blond]

He would rub his temples if it wouldn't be a giveaway to how much stress he's feeling right now. Maybe he can still do something that isn't blatant blurting out about what's wrong.

"You're my friend, and you've been odd. Acting oddly, I mean. I thought that perhaps, if I knew more of your journey, I could find a better way to help you. You mean a great deal to me, Kas."

If that failed, well. He could try just blurting it out and throwing up a barrier and hoping Kas' first move isn't some attempt at slashing his throat.

[issala]

Ugh. This was getting problematic, but he had to work through it. He could not afford to let this get any worse.

"I'm not acting odd, okay? I'm just fucking stressed, Anders." Issala almost pouts, visibly put off by this 'questioning'. "Besides, it's a long story." He sighs and sinks down on a broken piece of wall. Looks like he was going to tell, anyway.

"I'm from Rivain. I was born there in a Tal-Vashoth kith and I was raised by my mom until I was around twelve. Then Ben-Hassrath attacked and killed a lot of the kith. I-including my mom." His voice wavers a bit at that, quite believably.

"I managed to run away and hide in a ship that was going to Ferelden. I lived a long time on the streets, running with other street kids. Stealing sometimes to survive. Nobody wanted to hire an ox, after all." The teen crosses his arms defensively.

"...I got into some bad trouble and left Denerim, and later I tried to rob one of the Inquisition scouts because I was on the verge of starving to death. He told me about the Inquisition and that it welcomed everyone, so here I am."

[justice_is_blond]

He can believe plenty of that. Without Cole, he'd even believe all of it. Kas is convincing, and Anders isn't great at telling a lie or spotting one. Due to Cole, though, he wonders if the gap is where Kas says he ran away.

"And when did they catch you?" His voice is quiet. "When did they teach you to be someone else? Please don't try denying it, Kas. They've gotten to you, sometime recently, and you've lost some of yourself. Or all. I'm not exactly certain how they work."