faderift | [Open] Love Doesn't Discriminate

Entry tags:

[Open] Love Doesn't Discriminate

WHO: Bethany Darton (nee Hawke) and YOU
WHAT: Grey Warden doing Good Deeds.
WHEN: End of Justinian.
WHERE: Outside the crater magical forest
NOTES: Spoilers for Dragon Age 2, all the time, and Bethany just generally being Bethany

For two years, Bethany had made Kirkwall her home when she was a young girl, with her mother and siblings. Her sister became a Hero, her brother .. went his own way but he was a hero in his own right, and she? She was sacrificed on the altar of the Grey Wardens. Her life for a strength and time, precious time. Time she was going to hold onto with both hands until she could figure out a way to keep herself alive.

Now though, she was going to give back to the city that had given, and taken, so much from the Hawkes. She did that the only way she knew how - by giving to the people. So anyone, and everyone, who came to Sina's miraculous forest would find Bethany there, minding a small table with rolls of bread, fresh fish, and a variety of vegetables that she put in baskets and handed out to the needy, along with blankets and warmer clothes for the colder months.

If asked, she would smile, shrug, and state simply, "In a place of miracles, one should spread a little kindness, don't you think?"

There are times when she has no food yet to give, and those times she is sitting under one of the trees there, knitting away with her balls of yarn, humming a soft tune under her breath. She'll stop and chat with anyone who comes to see her, of course.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

At some point, such efforts attract the attention of one fellow Grey Warden. Inessa only tends to visit Hightown for the market area, but upon hearing of Bethany's table setup by the new forest, she urges Garahel onward. Upon spotting her, the mabari rushes forward and barks happily. He might just be eyeing the fish, too, but pettings are more important. Following in his wake, Inessa shakes her head and smiles.

"You'd think I never feed him, the way he carries on. How are you, Bethany?"

Bethany looked up from where she was knitting, a smile curving over her lips as she put aside the bundle and opened her arms so Garahel could run up and lick her face. God, she missed having a mabari, and she laughed as she stroked him with both hands.

"Well, he's a big boy. He needs all his strength, isn't that so?" She stroked both of his ears, before giving him a solemn look. "But this food is for the needy and the poor. Are you needy or poor?"

She looks up at Inessa, a distant look flashing across her face, before one corner of her mouth twists. "Better ... than I have been. This - here - has given me a measure of peace."

Garahel happily wiggles against Bethany, generous with the licking. At that question, he whines a little -when isn't a mabari needy?- but ultimately huffs and looks away from the food. He won't take it from someone who needs it more.

"Good boy." Inessa smiles down at him before turning her attention back to Bethany, brow slightly furrowed. "I don't mean to pry, but if we can assist in any manner, you have but to ask. I'm not so busy of late that I can't afford to make the time."

Fenris approaches, having heard what she was up to. Leave it to Bethany to take on such a cause. He hasn't really come out much to this particular area, despite having a home in HIghtown. He tends to just go from one place to another without lingering much anywhere.

"I don't see why not. Do you need help with anything?" She seems to have everything together, but he figures he may as well ask.

She smiles at Garahel as well, putting her hands together, folding them in her lap as she looks up at Inessa from her seated position. "I would appreciate any help you two can give -- I know there are some sick and injured who cannot come to get the food and clothes I make ... would you two be able to deliver them?"

"Well I wouldn't mind having an extra hand passing out the food and clothes, if you can take the time." She smiled softly at Fenris. "Thank you, I appreciate all of your help."

Fenris nods, coming over toward her to stand nearby so he can start helping her. Everything looks to be pretty well organized, which doesn't surprise him, given that it's Bethany.

"Where did you get the supplies? Did the Inquisition provide it...?" Or, his best guess, she's just giving this out on her own finances. Which wouldn't surprise him all that much, either, considering that. "It's a good idea, though. There are plenty who have suffered here... and still are." Sadly, Kirkwall is still not without its problems, after all.

Garahel answers before Inessa does, barking eagerly and wagging his tail. Anything to meet new people and cheer them up. His mistress nods without hesitation, just as eager to assist.

"Oh, of course. Give me what you wish to pass on and we'll distribute it accordingly. I plan to assist at the Darktown clinic later today, so if you wish I can pass on supplies there as well." Darktown as a whole she plans to avoid, but the clinic is a good gathering point for those below, so she feels confident that the supplies will reach those in need.

She laughed at Garahel's happy bark, rubbing his ears again. "You both are lifesavers - oh! Are you going to see Anders, then? Hold on, I have some herbs for him ... I went out to the Sundermount a while back."

She heaved up a heavy basket of varying herbs, humming softly. "There should be enough here to last him awhile."

She looks over at him, before giving him a mock-haughty sniff, tossing her hair, "Surely not. I decided to forgo my brown silk dress as Lady Darton." The sniff melted into a quiet, sad look as she peered out at the people moving to and fro. "We have to do what we can, Fenris. Even if it is as little as this."

Inessa reaches out to take them, nodding. "He'll appreciate your assistance, I'm certain." She then hesitates a moment before speaking up again. "You heard his recent question-and-answer session over the crystal, I assume? Or heard of it."

"I wondered if that might be the case." It's an impressive stroke of generosity, one which probably isn't seen too often in the city. It's not like most of the nobility would even think twice about the people of Lowtown and elsewhere.

He sighs, though, considering his own... uh... plans to help the downtrodden. For every slaver he kills, it seems there are always plenty of others still left in their place. Too many are enslaved out there, at this very minute, that he can't do much about.

"I think I understand what you mean. It's hard when there are so many out there in need of help... But what you're doing is far more than most ever consider. It must make some difference."

"Well honestly the Wardens give me my own wardrobe." She gestures to her Warden mage armor, her lips quirking up on the edges. "What else would I possibly need?"

Let's not mention all the ridiculous fluffy dresses her new family keeps sending her. Ah me.

She nods her head slowly, and then her smile turns two-fold. "I also want to try to preserve this beautiful forest -- so. If I plant myself right here in front of it, one of Kirkwall's 'Great Heroes', perhaps the people will give it a chance."

Here, Bethany paused as well, and then let out a sigh. "I heard about it. I am rather glad I did not participate - I would have stepped in and caused some sort of fight."

She sighs, as she turns to look at the forest behind her. "He's always been braver than all of us put together - well. Outside of Marian."

"Bravery is one thing, but he needs some self-preservation. There are those who have not forgotten or forgiven, in the Inquisition as well as outside it. I worry that being in Kirkwall once again will stir up tensions and make him a target." Garahel whines softly at that; he likes Anders as well as Purrelden and doesn't want to see either come to harm.

"Yes, self-preservation has never been one of Anders strong points... at least not as long as I have known him." Bethany stated wryly, before she gives Inessa a thoughtful look, and puts a comforting hand on Gaharel's head.

"Would you like me to talk to him?"

"There's not much else anyone needs, aside from a decent weapon." Fenris has similar feelings when it comes to clothing... Just keep it simple and practical.

He glances around, as if seeing it for the first time. He'd not really seen much need to visit it before, after all, but he gives it a look over for the moment. "I can't blame you... it looks as if a great deal of work has gone into it, so far. It's obviously been well cared for."

"If you think it would help, I would appreciate it." That Bethany has known him for a long time speaks in her favor; maybe she knows what would appeal to Anders to take better care. "Your sister has passed judgment and that should be respected...but it might be easier without Anders actively directing attention to himself. I can't see that ever ending well, however good the intent."

"Yes, she has, and yes, it should be ... and considering all the good that Anders is now doing you would think that people would be at least willing to help people see him as we do. But ... but." She sighs, giving Inessa a wry smile. "You are right. People do ignorant things. I don't want one of them to be involving Anders safety."

"Some wounds are slow to heal, no matter the passage of time. Trying to force it can breed resentment." She gestures to the new forest behind them, an excellent example of that exact scenario. "At least the presence of our new landmark might help distract from him, or at least I hope so."

"Depending on who the person is, absolutely." She dimples, because he had a sword, and she had a staff -- but she knew they were both moving forces of destruction with their weapons of choice.

She nods her head, her smile appearing again. "It was made with magic, and love. Two of the most powerful forces in the world, as far as I can tell."

"Well I suppose I can't deny that." She sighed softly, as she took up her knitting again. If only to give her hands something to do. "... I hope so. I hope this place will show people what we can do, together, if we're willing to try."

"I believe that will happen, in time. It has borne no harm, after all." Given a period of adjustment, Inessa could see the area becoming a beloved landmark. "When will you finish here, do you suppose? Would you be interested in joining us for tea afterward?"

"I should be finished here soon - I am waiting for someone to come and sit at the table." She stroked Garahel's ears once more. "If you don't mind, we could drop off some care packages along the way."

"Yes... depending on the person. But everyone needs some means with which to defend themselves, be it magical or... otherwise." He's definitely in agreement about that. If you have those defenses in place... well, there's not much else you really need, he made do for a long time with little else. Though it's easier, when you can manage to get more than that.

"You can't get much more powerful than either of those..." Or more dangerous, he thinks. Especially for the magic part, but love isn't without its perils.

"Agreed. Frankly if I can't have my magic, a large sword would never go admiss. That is why I am working on the Arcane Warrior field with Pel." Well ... "As soon as I find a sword that's not too heavy for me to lift over my head."

Seriously, except for certain kinds of blades - the larger ones she could barely get off the ground.

A wry smile came across her face, as she is thinking the same thing without saying it outloud. "Just as long as it doesn't go too far to the other side."

"If you ever need assistance with choosing a proper sword... or any basic techniques, I'd be glad to show you." Really, he thinks that this is an excellent idea in general. It's not possible to rely on magic all the time, or so he believes. It just can't be trusted. A sword can be trusted. It won't go and get possessed by demons.

He nods agreement. "Exactly. Too far with either, in the wrong way, in the wrong hands... it would lead to nothing but disaster, in the end."

"... You realize I am going to take you up on all of this, yes?" Bethany dimpled up at him, brown eyes flashing amusement and gratitude. "I'll need all the help I can get with this."

"You know, for once I wish things wouldn't end in absolutely disaster."

"Don't worry, I had a feeling you might say that. I would be glad to go through with it, it's the least I can do." She's helped him considerably with reading, so he may as well repay the favor. And help her so she isn't always reliant on magic alone. It's worth it, to see that a friend is able to defend herself.

He sighs, shaking his head. "It seems that we go from one disaster to another, most of the time, doesn't it?"

"You are an absolute delight to be around, and amazing. Thank you ever so much, for helping me out." She beamed up at him. "Thank you for helping me not kill myself with sharp objects."

"A delight... well, there's a first time for everything." He gives a dry little chuckle, though, for a rare moment dropping his more serious side. His closest friends are the only ones who get to see that, or who he would trust and believe about saying such things. "And I'm glad I could provide such help."

"We do seem to find a lot of firsts together, do we not?" She laughed softly, before she got just as serious. "So. Could you help me find a sword today? We can also get your armor."

"We certainly do." Then he nods in agreement. He'll know what to look for, in terms of what'll be well balanced for her, what she can handle. He's glad he can put his warrior's expertise to use for her. "Yes, I should be able to give you some good ideas for what to look for... and it would be worth getting my armor as well."

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Open] Love Doesn't Discriminate

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject