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WHO: Anders and You*! (*unless you are someone who will turn him in. ONE DAY THERE WILL BE CR. /reaches sadly)
WHAT: Detlef going about his days, helping out, being argumentative, everything
WHEN: Mid-Wintermarch
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Probably nothing? I'll edit if that changes

Healing tents

Anders is found in these most often during the day. Everything's easier when he works, really, when he and Justice can both be on the same page. They're doing good. They're furthering the cause of mage freedom. And more importantly, no one is being hurt. Are you a patient? He's probably checking you over before getting to work. Co-worker? Hand him the elfroot salve, please? Or just drop by and find him where he's most willing to be chatty as he works.

Garden

There's nothing like seeing a mage seemingly talking to a tree. Considering previous events, it's probably a little worrying. But upon closer approach one can see that there's a terrified cat clinging to a very small branch that's just barely supporting its weight, and they can hear the mage trying to talk the cat down as if the cat can understand anything that's being said.

"You can do it. Just step... Come on. A little lower. Please?"

Just outside Skyhold

There's a garden inside the walls. It has plenty of things growing in it, including basically everything Anders is looking for. It's hard for him to stay inside the walls for too long, though. He needs to be outside, to wander some, to remind himself that the walls aren't keeping him in. While it isn't the healthiest method of coping, there are certainly worse ways to go about it.

Anyone running into him out here gets a look that's a mix of surprised and bashful - the latter due to him not really having any way to explain why he's out here with a handful of easy-to-get herbs in hand.

Library

He's seated in the Library, head buried in a book the way it never was when he was at the Circle, with a pair of large tomes next to him. They're probably not that surprising for a spirit healer, treatises on spirits and their nature, but he doesn't look pleased. And he isn't. He's not finding anything that will help with his situation, and Anders is aware that he might not have a lot of time left for the looking.

Approaches from strangers get a glance up and a nod, before he'll ask if they need to get to something past him. Known people get asked a little absently how their day is going before he turns another page.

[Or] Alternately, he's curled up off to the side, on the ground, paging through a book on obscure magic that talks about various rumored spells that the author doubts really exist. His attention is primarily on the shapeshifting portion, and he looks a little wistful. Anyone approaching who glances at the book get a half-smile and asked if it wouldn't be fun, being able to transform into animals.

Wildcard

[Hit him up wherever? He grabs food in the kitchens on the go, sometimes is at the tavern in a corner near the back, sits on the walls and looks out sometimes, surreptitiously feeds the stray cats around skyhold (and scolds any dogs that try to take the food,) and may, every now and then, see if he can zap armor in just the right way so straw and fabric and all sorts of things stick to it.]

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Let's hope there continues to not be one.

[Maybe its an empty promise, but hopefully the possibility still hangs. It had been mostly quiet since the Council had responded to the issue and with the hope that this didn't happen again, perhaps things could go for the better.

(Then again, maybe this was all really a pointless dream.)

He takes the washbasin from Detlef with a soft murmur of thanks and cleans his hands as well, making sure to scrub out whatever dirt and grime that's collected on it from his round. Its never going to be perfect, but he does whatever he can.]

It's nothing. [He responds to the gratitude as he finishes washing his hands, wringing off the excess water.] I'm just glad that the patients are more receptive to you now. [It hadn't been the easiest of processes, but they are more accepting now, which is something.]

[He won't make any comment on how long they will or won't have a mob again. Part of that depends on how long he can stay out of sight, really.]

Fear makes fools of everyone who gives in to it. But it's powerful. Overwhelming. People aren't equipped to handle it.

[Anders sighs.]

You'd think they'd prefer a little fear to a lot of pain, however. I can fix so much if they'd...

[Another sigh, this time accompanied by a shake of his head. It's nothing he or Justice can change, even if there's so much more the both of them can do.]

Apparently all it takes is your gentle touch. Maybe you should apply it all the more, see where it can get you.

There's a reason why fear is such a strong emotion.

[One that can make or break a person, turn them for better or for worse. Bruce has seen that in people many times by now, has experienced it for himself - its certainly not the best feeling, but there could be worse. There could always be worse.

He empties out the washbasin, pouring it out onto the grass and watching as the water soaks into the soil. That is until Detlef speaks again, and Bruce glances over towards him.]

Unfortunately there's only so much I can do as one person. [The corner of his lip curls into a wry smile, there.] But I only try my best to help. It's nothing special.

Really? You don't think you're special?

[He can discuss fear until he goes blue in the face. ...And blue in the eyes, through his skin, everything, actually. It's frustrating because fear is a very vital thing, but it's used against people so often and there's no defense. Anders would much rather lightly flirt with this man and decompress after a long day of healing.]

Even just as one person? There's something about you that's quite special. It might be your eyes.

[It is, he has very nice eyes. But it's also something about the Fade hanging around the guy... which leads to another thought. The fact that he'd been told once it was like the Fade was inside him. Bruce... can't. It's not really... Could a person who isn't a mage be a host to a spirit? Kristoff had been, but Kristoff had also been dead. Anders doesn't know, and he's also not going to pry. Not yet. It's not like he wants people to know he's possessed. Bruce would have just as much reason to hide it.]

[To the words Bruce... simply looks mildly confused. His eyes? What was special about them, precisely? Nobody had really said anything like that to him before. Had something changed and he didn't notice it? Maybe he should look at a mirror later, just to be sure. It might have been attempting something again without him realizing it.]

I--um. Thanks. [Pause.] I think.

[...going to move on now.]

How are you finding the Inquisition so far?

[...Thanks, he thinks? Did he entirely miss the flirtation? Or does he not like to be flirted with? Anders is betting on the former, since there'd been puzzlement in the man's expression. He'll have to try harder.]

Easy on the eyes.

[Blatant he can do.]

A little more complicated when it comes to helping keep all of them in good health. Then again, when I helped people before, they generally came to me knowing I was healing with magic. The people here... Well. You know.

[Some are still not fine with magic. They're assholes.]

I've always known there would be prejudice to overcome when moving us forward. I always knew it would be complicated. But the amount of outright hatred people feel no shame in showing is disgusting. However, I'm doing good here. I'm able to do good. So I can't be entirely angry about the idiots.

[He's just going to ignore that first part, okay? Okay. Good. Glad we're all in agreement.]

Its hard to blame them for what they think. [Between Corypheus and the Breach and the Abomination attack? Its easy to see why they would be so wary and hesitant about mages and magic. Not that it applies to everybody - and of course not everyone feels that way, but still. It would be a lie if Bruce said he didn't understand their scrutiny and fear.

But the important thing was to not return that fear with hatred, their scrutiny with anger. That would only make things worse for all parties involved.]

Returning anger with anger won't help anybody, [He says with a nod himself.] As long as you keep showing that you're here to help, I'm sure they will come around and understand you eventually.

[Perhaps it sounds far fetched for now, but perhaps one day - that idea might turn to reality.]

[...So Bruce is going to be a challenge, then. Anders doesn't know if the flirting makes him uncomfortable, if he's oblivious, or if he simply doesn't believe it. Two of those options mean more flirting is required, so therefore the odds are high Bruce could use this. Somehow. Anders will find excuses.]

Some will not. Some will remain entrenched in their harmful prejudices because there are some people who must keep others down to feel good about themselves. But some will grow. Especially if you're there to help.

[Maker help him, he will get some sort of a reaction from Bruce, even if it's just a pained 'please stop.']

With your kind voice, and skilled hands... Very skilled. I've seen them at work.

[He steps over and reaches for one of Bruce's hands, hoping to take it and trace a thumb along one of the man's fingers. It'll only work if Bruce doesn't jerk away.]

[The flirting doesn't make Bruce uncomfortable, per se, but its probably pretty clear that he is entirely unused to it. Something like this really isn't something he has had a chance to experience and with how things are now, there's more reason as to why he should never really experience it. Playful and casual as it may be its still something he's not used to and--well, yes, its hard to believe that anything positive that people say about him is true. Especially when he knows otherwise.

When Detlef first reaches for his hands Bruce looks entirely confused, and that confusion is enough for the other man to take a hand and trace it with his thumb. The touch has Bruce jerking a little, but not enough to pull away. He frowns, the confusion still clear on his face, and he directs that same confusion towards Detlef.]

I... I'm just glad to help. [He says it slowly, still trying to process what is going on. What is going on? What is Detlef doing?? Bruce is trying his best to understand but any answer his mind comes up with seems too ridiculous to take as truth.

Just what is Detlef trying to do?]

[Confused, not offended. That's the message Detlef is getting, and he gives Bruce a puzzled look. The man really is handsome, despite Justice still being unnerved by what they can feel coming from him. How could Bruce not be familiar with being flirted with?]

...Please don't tell me that people haven't hit on you before. That would be an utter shame.

[It's not like Anders is really free to do more than hit on Bruce, but still. Just because he won't sleep with people who don't know who he is doesn't mean other people should be missing out.]

[Detlef's puzzled look has Bruce even more puzzled, if anything, because now he's not entirely sure at all what's going on. Did he miss something that Detlef talked about earlier? Social things still weren't his best thing even after all this time, he knew; maybe he could ask what he missed and try to pick the conversation back up from there...

Turns out he didn't need to worry so much, though - at least on this issue. Detlef speaks before Bruce can say anything and his words... well. It's certainly clear that Bruce that he did miss something, although he's not entirely sure if he should have just left it be.]

I--no? [Why would they even hit on him?? It's not like there's anything 'attractive' about him or anything. Bruce is terribly confused with this sudden question. Why was--wait, Detlef was hitting on him??

Just what was going on???]

[Anders shakes his head.]

I fail to see how no one's flirted. Maybe you're simply oblivious to it, because I mean what I said. You've warm and kind eyes, and those are highly alluring.

[All right. It was time to fix some things. If Bruce had never been flirted with, then he'd never been taken on a date. He also may well not have been laid, but Anders isn't going to address that. Maybe he'll drop a word with Isabela. For now, though... Anders looks around, sees that no one's regathered, and jerks his head in the direction of the kitchens.]

Let's go eat. And while we do, I'm going to flirt with you, and you're going to see what flirting is. And then we'll see if we can't help you pick someone up.

--you don't have to go to that extent.

[Bruce finally manages out a response after a good moment of silence. He is very much taken aback by this sudden invitation, to put it mildly. It's not that he doesn't appreciate the thought, but this was very much out of his comfort zone. Things like this were not what he came to the Inquisition for.

Realizing that he probably might have sounded rude there, Bruce tries to elaborate further, although as he speaks he realizes again that its probably not helping his case.] I'm perfectly alright not having to do any of that, really. I'm fine.

[Fully, totally fine.]

Not having to.

[Anders echoes the words and blinks. Of course. Bruce isn't a mage who has been shut away and kept from any sort of life under watchful Templar eyes. He's had choices and chances.

Clearing his throat, Anders shrugs and gives Bruce a rueful half- smile.]

Right. You've had that choice. You're such a fixture in the tents I can forget you're not a mage.

[Which isn't helped by the sense of the fade he gets from the man.]

Let's forget this happened, shall we?

[For a moment Bruce is confused at Detlef's reaction, but after a second it clicks to him. The Circle, the Templars. He could easily see where this all comes from.]

You don't need to be a mage just to stay in the tents.

[He returns Detlef's smile with a small one of his own as he says that. It's times like this he remembers the divide that shouldn't exist - because nobody knows he's a mage (save for Cole and River), so they believe he hasn't gone through the life of being in a Circle. It's a fair assumption, of course, but it certainly doesn't make anything easier.]

I do appreciate the concern, though. Thank you for trying, nonetheless. [He doesn't want to leave things on an awkward note just because of this. Bruce just doesn't think his (non existent) love life is that all worthwhile to talk about.]

I know. I'm glad of those who aren't mages who are here. I... You're welcome.

[The wry smile is still on his lips as he shakes his head. He's so eager to help other mages have a chance to live that he forgets who he's talking to, the opposite of effective. They'll catch on. They'll grasp the opportunity. They have to.

He takes a breath.]

Anyway. As the crowd has died down, I think I'm going to go to the library for a few and get some reading in.

[And let this conversation fade from memory, hopefully.]

I'll see you later?

[He hopes he's managed to ease off whatever embarrassment that Detlef feels from that - or at least as much as he's able to. Bruce knows that its probably best for the other to take his time off, too, so he nods and gives another smile.]

I'll see you soon.

[Take all the time you need, Detlef. Bruce will still be around when you're up for company again.]

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