[Semi-Closed] Things to do and people to see

[conqueredhearts]

WHO: Iskandar and characters he has threads with
WHAT: Iskandar spends some time hanging out with people he knows
WHEN: Throughout the month
WHERE: Various Kirkwall locations
NOTES: Will update as needed.

*Below will be the top levels for people! If you would like one and don't have one please get in touch with me and we can work something out!

Comments

[mactears]

This is possibly the friendliest reception Loghain has received from anyone in nearly a decade. It's such a foreign experience for him that he physically jumps when Iskander claps an enormous hand on his shoulder, guiding him into the office. (Loghain is not a small man, but he suddenly feels like one next to Iskander's bulk.)

"Come and sit with me. I'll pour us some wine."

"Wine--?" Confusion creates a wrinkle in his brow line, but the mabari's enthusiastic greeting is more than enough to chase it away for the moment. Loghain chuckles and gives the enormous pup an affectionate scratch below his chin, then eases his aching bones down onto the ground as instructed.

(This is all very unusual.) "Congratulations on your new appointments," he says to Iskander at last, recalling his manners. It's easier to stick with the pleasantries, rather than speculate over what he's doing here in the first place.

[conqueredhearts]

He would need to invest in some new chairs. He'd disliked the ones he had in here so he'd tossed them out. People should be comfortable in his presence so until he found ones he liked it was equal grounds on the floor instead. Why, Iskandar even lowered himself down again to be amidst the papers again. Reaching for a nearby bottle, he poured wine into a pair of cups then handed his new friend one of them.

"Thank you! That is actually why I have called for you actually!" He grinned at him then had a deep drink of his wine before reaching for a stack of papers.

"I was reading records of your times in battle again. You are truly an impressive man! So I hoped that I could ask you on to be one of my advisers. Being a Rifter a feel that I will be most successful in this position if I have advisers to help me on this path. I cannot guarantee I will always follow your advice but you will always have me listening to it, discussing it with you, and so on."

The smile he gave him was warm. "Will you accept?"

[mactears]

"I--forgive me, ser, but I think I should not."

Loghain's initial reaction will likely stymie Iskander's efforts at friendliness. Nevertheless, he's been made this offer, and he can't accept it without giving voice to his reservations first. He gives Iskander a searching look. "You said you familiarized yourself with my military history. Does this mean you're aware of my--" He falters, searching for the right word, and grudgingly settles on, "--reputation, as well?"

[conqueredhearts]

"Of course. So I want to hear from your own lips...why did you give the order?" There was no judgement from Iskandar, no ill will. He was just curious plain and simple. Rather than jump to hatred he wanted to listen first.

[mactears]

"...why did you give the order?"

Why indeed? A question others have asked him in the past, with varying degrees of vitriol. It was not one he'd ever turned on himself, for the answers to it were always fluid. For a time Loghain says nothing and instead considers his reflection in the surface of the wine in his cup.

"I made a call that I thought had to be made." He sets the cup down without drinking from him. "It saved the lives of some men, and consigned others to death, among them my king." Very slightly, he shakes his head again. "I'll say it again, ser, that I'm a poor fit for this role. Your every decision will be judged harshly if it's known that you've taken counsel from me."

[conqueredhearts]

The King nodded as he stroked his beard. Sometimes the right calls were not always going to be the ones everyone liked. The fact that this man was willing to make those calls, aware of the shadows that would cast on him, made him like him more. Iskandar finally smiled at him.

"My friend, you are just what I want for this role. I was not asking for the opinions of others. I accepted his position aware I would be judged already for I am a Rifter. As people will come to know, I am also a King and a Spirit. I have many things that will make my position questioned. However, I believe that we can do good together and I can sense you are willing to do that or you would not be with this Inquisition at all."

With that, he stood and waved his hand.

"Come! I will show you your office!" Loghain had told him twice that this was a bad idea but apparently the man was still going to hire him.

[mactears]

It seems that the decision has been made, and Loghain is not so risk averse as to reject responsibility when it is offered to him. He exhales some and stands when Iskander does. "Very well," he replies, and makes to follow the new division head where he leads.

[conqueredhearts]

The large man laughed and clapped his hand against Loghain's shoulder. "This way, my friend."

With that, he took him next door to an office that was a very good size. On one side of the room was one desk and on the other side another. He waved to the one on the right. "This one here is yours to do with as you please. Let me know what books and maps and such that you require and you shall have them the moment I have them on hand. James will work across the room with you and I would like for all three of us to work together in this. Though I will make the final decisions I still feel that I should hear the opinions of two who were born to this world. Neither of you are popular in your own ways but I feel that is what will make your words more honest than any other."

He smiled down at him. "I feel you are a man not trying to gain my favor nor the favor of any other. So I feel that you will simply tell you exactly what you think of my thoughts in the end and it is that reason I have chosen you."

Then a wink. "Though your impressive battle history was a strong motivation as well."

[mactears]

Loghain surveys the office and does an admirable job of hiding his astonishment at this development. He steps into the room and approaches his new desk, considering the space it affords him to do the work that he came to the Inquisition to do. Yes, he finds himself thinking, this will do nicely. Assuming, that is--

"I will accept this role," he says and turns to look back to Iskander again, "but my first obligation and loyalty must remain stopping the Blight, and to the Grey Wardens." He considers Iskander as he says this, gauging how his words affect him.

[conqueredhearts]

"Hm? Did I not mention that was another reason I picked you? I feel that your readiness to work with the Grey Wardens and desire to stop the Blight is exactly what we need here. And I would never have you change loyalties. After all, I am the Division head but I am not your King."

Yes, he didn't shy away from letting others know he was a King. However, he never once claimed anyone (aside from Waver) belonged to his kingdom. Instead...

"I only extend the hand of friendship towards you as we work together."

[mactears]

It's good that Iskander has made no attempts to buy Loghain's loyalty. Undoubtedly, that would have set a very different tone for the rest of their conversations.

(Truthfully, though his daughter remained Queen of Ferelden, and though he would never admit it, Loghain had only ever served one King.)

"I only extend the hand of friendship towards you as we work together."

He nods once, and while he doesn't smile, there's an acceptance in his gaze that hadn't been there previously. He does, in fact, extend his hand out to Iskander. "I'll do my best work for you."

[conqueredhearts]

The large man's face split into a grin, a look that Loghain would learn was rather normal for him. It was almost always what was present there and he wore it well as he took that hand. Giving it a firm grip (not painful though), he gave the man a nod.

"I look forward to it. Now, let us figure out what you would like to have in here so I can see it brought here. I assume maps since one of the reasons why I picked you was your impressive military tactics."