[Closed] I've got the magic in me

[justice_is_blond]

WHO: Five billion mages.
WHAT: The mages Anders has invited mingle
WHEN: The tenth of Wintermarch
WHERE: A warehouse in the docks
NOTES: None atm.

The warehouse is set up pretty sparsely. Part of the warehouse is taken up by a table of food next to a table of drinks next to a table of plates and cups that don't match, near a lot of scattered chairs. A short space away is a deliberate oval of chairs because he, at least, is amused in making sure no circle shapes occur here. Finally, there's a table with a stack of scraps of parchment.

When everyone's gathered and is starting to mingle, Anders stands up and clears his throat.

"Thank you for coming." It takes work to look calm and confident. This feels so important to him and he doesn't want to make a mess of it. "Obviously the food and drink is self-explanatory," he says with a faint smile before gesturing at the oval, "As far as the rest, I figured we could have a small area set up for serious discussion, any heavy matters that people want to talk about, easily joined and left or ignored completely."

He jerks a thumb in the direction of the last table. "Finally, the parchment is for writing down anything you particularly want to teach or learn. Put your name on it, and people can page through them and be in contact. And I think that's enough from me."

Comments

Colin

[keenly]

Ingredients aren't all that varied with the food shortages, but Colin has managed to put together something a little more special than his daily lunch affairs. Being a port city, seafood is still easiest to come by. The chef has dressed up two whole salmon, beautifully marbled with natural fats and roasted with an intensely savory marinade. There is also a pork bone soup with barley, fresh bread, a ham quiche, and rosquillas--Antivan donuts with lemon zest (a preserved vial of which Colin felt triumphant to secure) and anise.

The chef himself looks pleased with the work he has done, perhaps even a little smug, but for whatever reason, he's lingering instead of vanishing so the mages can get on with their business.

[justice_is_blond]

"This is impressive, thank you." It had been clear from Colin's stall that he could cook, bsut this is still a lot of effort gone to for a group that Colin has been trying to keep distance from. "You should be as proud as you look."

He takes a donut and starts snacking on it, trying not to indulge his Warden appetite just yet. If there's a bunch leftover after the rest have had firsts, then he'll go for seconds.

"How long did this take?"

[keenly]

"All day." He doesn't look like he regrets it at all. "And I am, thank you. I'll probably sleep well tonight."

[justice_is_blond]

He shakes his head, smiling faintly. Colin has dedication and drive, and not for the first time Anders wishes the young mage didn't want to hide... but part of this is about giving mages freedom to live how they pleased. He wants safety as anyone does. He has a right to it.

"I'll probably be tossing and turning and contemplating everything I could have done better after the fact, so it's good to know someone will sleep well." It's delivered warmly. "If we're lucky, this meeting will help a few people with the sleeping. Where... Are you staying in the Gallows? Or do you have a place above your shop?"

[keenly]

"Both. I'm on the third floor of the mage tower. That's my roommate." Colin points to Fern. "She's very sweet, especially considering that shifty fellow she has to live with."

[justice_is_blond]

He chuckles at the self-depreciation.

"I'm of the opinion she chose well. You've a good heart, Colin. Fern needs people like that around her." Mages like that, really, but Anders is actually doing decent with the being sneaky right now and he's proud of himself for that. "And maybe you could need her around in return."

Mages need mages. That's so much of the reason behind tonight.

[keenly]

Colin's gaze falls. After a moment, he looks back at Anders and smiles.

"I'm not ready to...be known, but I was wondering if you might tutor me in creation magic. I've gotten a bit sloppy since leaving the Circle."

[justice_is_blond]

"Of course." The answer is instant. It's not just that he likes teaching, he's genuinely interested in Colin having a chance to delve more into his gift. The young man cooks better than anyone else Anders knows and that's obviously a talent too, one that shouldn't be overlooked or ignored, but when one is going to pay for being a mage they should have enough training to make something of it.

"I'm certain no one would notice if I went to your stall more, as word has spread about how good the food is. Do you take a lunch break? I can come over just before then, buy lunch, and then after we've eaten I could give you a lesson." It is one of the most subtle plans Anders has ever come up with.

[keenly]

"No," Colin says, looking slightly bemused. "No, you have that completely wrong. You would come over on my lunch break, I would give you a free meal, and after we've eaten you could give me a lesson."

Nobody has to know why Anders eats free. Or whether Anders eats free. Creation magic lessons are only one of numerous possibilities. He can say it's for his aching old joints and try to charm people into laughing instead of pressing the issue.

"The other day, I was, um, upset with someone. And it's been so long since I used any magic at all that it...leaked. And they talk like you never do anything by accident after your Harrowing, but that's not how it is. I don't want to break anything else in my shop."

[justice_is_blond]

After the initial surprise of the no, Anders relaxes.

"I didn't want to presume or impose," he says, gratitude in his voice. "And yes. Sometimes it... happens. If you're greatly distracted or emotional especially. I'd be glad to work with you. Do you have an idea of frequency, or should we meet in a couple of days for an initial class and see what you're thinking then?"

[keenly]

"Could we meet three times a week?" He waffles at saying the next word, but it gets out: "Enchanter?" And he continues. "Maybe it would help me blend, a bit. I'm good at spirit magic, pretty good at entropy but entropy isn't very useful outside combat and...torture?"

He leaves off on that note, waiting for a response.

[justice_is_blond]

"Three times a week sounds good, and you don't have to call me Enchanter." It's a Circle title. It means something, but most of its meaning comes from a context they're trying to leave behind.

"I can teach anything except Entropy. It has its uses, there have been plenty of times I've wished I could cast Sleep on a patient who was suffering, but I've no ability in that school." After his education from Merrill on blood mages and their usefulness and... potential to not be demon-possessed malevolent sorts, he can't really see fit to dismiss any school of magic. "We can balance out creation with spirit as you'd like, and if you'd like some elemental thrown in we can do that too. Will Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursdays work for you?"

[keenly]

"I'm no better with elemental than you are with entropy. I can heat up a cup of tea and that's roughly it." Colin finger-combs some hair out of the way. "I can do those days. I'd like to learn something that doesn't destroy things and people. Although I'm really, really good at grabbing things that are out of reach, that's pretty exciting. I can put things on the top shelf."

[justice_is_blond]

Colin's words are some of the most encouraging words he's heard today. Yes, there's likely destruction and fighting yet to come, but having a student not want to learn more about that is a nice change.

"Being able to get to the top shelf is exciting indeed." His husband sometimes has to help him there. Anders' force control isn't too shabby but it's not so precise that he can really say the same. "We'll start on Sunday, Colin. I'm looking forward to it."

And not just for the tasty food.

[gatheringstorm]

Though filled with misgivings, Korrin's decided to attend this gathering. If nothing else, she can get a feel for the general mood and decide if it's something she wants to avoid or not in the future. The scent of salmon and those Antivan donuts definitely pings her appetite, and the large horned woman who frequents Colin's shop regularly smiles upon spotting him.

"I should've guessed you'd be involved, all this smells heavenly. If this is going to be a regular thing on your part, consider me bribed." At least for now; good food can go a long away towards making most other company bearable.

[keenly]

The first phrase has Colin slightly concerned, but...hey. This scary ox-lady is on his side? And she likes his food? He finds himself smiling back at her.

"I'm hoping it will be. I like doing this. Though next time I'll be hiring help."

[gatheringstorm]

"Good, I'd hate to see you wear yourself down to the bone. What can I say, I'm selfish and need food with actual taste in it." As she speaks, she'll grab herself a ham quiche, as well. "What do you think of all this, so far? Awesome food, aside."

[keenly]

"Which 'all this' do you mean?"

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin gestures around at some of the others gathered, eating and talking. "Mages gathering, whether just to hang out or for something more. Think it has potential to stick?"

[keenly]

"Maybe." Colin shrugs. "Especially if we station you outside the door so you can glare at the Templars who pass by. Templars don't like mages convening, it makes th--"

He abruptly loses his train of thought, throat clicking as he swallows whatever that word was going to be. His brow furrows as he tries to recollect what he was saying. Mages? Mages room. Mages in this room. Something about...no, he decides it's not worth it.

"So, you're a mage," he tries, knowing it's probably a subject change.

[gatheringstorm]

Korrin smirks at the idea. Glaring at Templars is always fun, so that makes it a little tempting. "I'd miss out on the food, though. Tragic.

And yep, born apostate as you might've guessed. I've worked as a mercenary, so most of what I know is battle magic. Being a part of the Inquisition has gained me access to more specialized stuff, though. That's partly why I'm here; if anyone wants to learn how to be a Battlemage or Knight-Enchanter without all the Circle bullshit attached, here I am."

[foundmyselfagain]

Gareth is surprised to see Colin here. Pleased, but surprised. More importantly, he's pleased to see the food, and is quick to snag a plate with various bits and pieces of food. Pretty good, considering the whole freezing lock down thing.

He's nibbling still when he sidles over to Colin. "Nice to see you here, Colin. But you know this is a meeting for," He looks around conspiratorially, and then leans in to fake-whisper to him. "Mages, right? Like. It's a mage-only club. Meeting. Whatever."

[keenly]

He sees. He hears the fakeness of the whisper. And he smiles, because he's realizing how stupid he must have sounded.

"You got me," he says in a low voice. "I'm a caterer. Who knows? Maybe by the end of the night I'll be a mage."

The smile he gives now is perfectly real. He's getting there. He's starting to think that for the first time in his life, he has power.

[foundmyselfagain]

"Well," Gareth muses, shooting Colin a smile as he spears a bit of salmon (ha ha spear) on his fork. "If you ask me, I think you'd make a pretty good mage. But it's your call."

He tilts his head after a moment. "Though I did tell a bunch of people that you weren't magical, so. If anyone asks, I had no idea. Or I'm just a giant liar." Shrug. "Ignorant or devious? Which is worse, I wonder."

[keenly]

A soft laugh. "I'll tell them the truth: I asked you not to tell, and you're a good friend. They'll understand. And if they don't, then I'm the dishonest one and not you."