[ CLOSED ] THE ANTIVAN CROWS SEND THEIR REGARDS

[ombranera]

WHO: Alistair, Araceli Bonaventura, Beleth Ashara, Anders Detlef, Korrin Ataash, Taashath, The Iron Bull, Twisted Fate, an Zevran Arainai. Guest Starring: Samouel, Cyril, and Merrick, Super Special Guest Star: Leliana.
WHAT: The Crows come for the Ombra Nera.
WHEN: Begins Guardian 6
WHERE: Skyhold/Antivan Border/The Road
NOTES: CW/TW FOR: Flesh hommonculi, violent/gruesome content, torture, blood magic, non-consensual drug use, adult content, adult language, reader discretion is advised. Sign up post, original plotting post, hit me on PM or @ thesouthernbelle if you have questions.

It's a normal morning in Thedas until, abruptly, it isn't. The Crows come calling; they are swift, they are certain, they are silent and leave behind but one witness that won't be alive for much longer (or so they assume). Prize in hand they ride North for Antiva.

Subthreads for portions of the plot are yours to tag around in as you like!

Comments

[justice_is_blond]

There's wounds being aggravated by Zevran's movements, by the grief wracking his body, and Anders casts as he holds him tight, easing what's pulling and simply being there as the Elf clings to him. A couple know that he'd spent a year in solitary confinement, but Zevran is now the only living person save Anders to know so much of that story. The fact that the Elf can let go enough to weep makes laying himself bare like that worth it.

He hums quietly, an Anders lullaby he's long forgotten the words to, the only thing he remembers of his mother's voice. It's always comforted him. Maybe it will help Zevran too. At the very least he knows that being here, holding and healing, will.

Life is pain. Life is suffering and struggling and running and trying so hard to live just one more day. It's something Justice will never understand. It's something he knows Zevran gets.

"I'm here," he whispers at the end of the tune. "And I can stay here for a while if you'd like. As long as you'd like, even." He's not on guard rotation because he's using all he has to heal Zevran and the others, and he's grateful for the break. "I've nowhere I'd rather be, mein Freund."

[ombranera]

Little by little it subsides- even if it feels as though he's been crying forever, every tear he never shed in all his years. For Rinna, for Taliesin, for Wynne, for every friendly Crow he'd lost, for every life he took that left him with regret. Every hour he's lost worrying and planning, wound too tight to sleep waiting for something to give. Knowing that this was coming, what would likely be done and living it-

Surviving it-

He weeps. He curls in a tight arc around Anders as best he can, face still pressed to his throat, hands fisted in his robes. Nothing and no one would see him come loose until he was good and ready and he...is still not yet ready. This manner of weakness isn't something he knows how to recover from.

Little hitches overtake his breathing. He manages a faint, wordless whine as he drags himself closer still to Anders. As close as he can mange to asking him to stay.

[justice_is_blond]

He shifts slowly so they can both lay down. Zevran needs rest, and it will be the easiest position to stay in for a long time while holding him.

"I'll stay." His voice is quiet, pitched to be soothing. "I won't leave you alone." Zevran could do better for company. Alistair is out there, for instance. But Anders isn't leaving when it's clear he's needed.

"Whatever you need, Zevran. If I can give you it, it's yours." At least he knows that he can help with healing the physical damage done to the man. Most of it. The rest... The rest might take many more people and quite some time. Some things don't heal easily.

[ombranera]

When he can find his voice again, when his breath has steadied enough for words to form against the ragged edge of sobs swallowed down, he thanks him. Softly and endlessly in Antivan, a desperate curl to it that he cannot shake. This is real, Anders is here, and it is over.

All he needs is this. A hand in his hair and a heartbeat under his ear. Someone to remind him that he is not on the hook.

It takes some time for him to wind his way down to a half doze and even then, the grip he has on Anders' robs is tight.