faderift | and I'm haunted

WHO: Hercules & Leliana & Ruby & whoever would like a thread with them 8Db
WHAT: a catch all for February-March;
WHEN: the next monthish :|b
WHERE: Skyhold, Emprise, maybe somewhere else.
NOTES:
1. individual starters in el commentos
2. specific themes and warnings will be dropped into subject lines as necessary.
3. if you are threading with Leliana it would be amazing if you could reply to this post re: information she could know about your character.
4. if we have discussed doing a thread but there isn't a starter here, feel free to just barge in and set one up! otherwise prod me and I can add it asap, I have a to-do list but I am also scatterbrained ;u;
5. I'm not doing open prompts this time for Leliana, but if you would like a thread with Leliana, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me! I am just trying to do custom things because she is in a particular state of mind, at present.
6. I am sorry there are so many notes

apparently I am being pretentious this month

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There's a little smile on his lips at 'dorian pawvus.' He's wanted to approach the Tevinter mage for quite some time, but that may well be even more dangerous than this. All the same, Tevinter was so close to getting it right. One day he'll get his chance. ...Provided he survives this.

"That would have to be for a cat that's extremely well-kept. I've seen the way he dresses." And how precise the man's mustache is kept. "There are a few around who might fit that, but I really only have time for the one. Perhaps you should name it and give it to the man yourself? It may have more meaning if it comes from someone who has had a conversation with him."

If she's fishing there, she's on the wrong track. Beyond his voice being friendly, Anders doesn't have a full opinion on Dorian besides being glad it's clear there's a mage people can like and relate to who has been free all his life. It sets a good precedent.

"But distinguished? Nugs? I may need to hear how you can justify that categorization. They seem... well. Floppy. Flighty."

Even a lack of dramatics can be a clue. There are those mages who revile Tevinter, those who admire it, those who are suspicious of blood magic and necromancy... so many possible responses to consider, but Detlef does not seem troubled at all. That is nice, she thinks, for Dorian's sake if nothing else.

"I suspect you might be right."

She cracks a very slight smile. "Their noses. It takes a lot of personality to have such a spectacular nose and such perky little ears." Perhaps he has seen the odd nug scuttling around Skyhold, though it seems unlikely. For the most part Schmooples, Morrinug and Nugistair are around the Rookery and her quarters, and she had never even heard of nugs before she ventured to the Deep Roads.

Curious, again.

"I have a rather spectacular nose." It is, possibly, one of the dumbest things he can say. The last thing he needs is to draw attention to his physical appearance. The second last thing is to flirt with someone who has the connections to figure out the truth of his identity. And here he is anyway.

"I can't claim my ears are that perky, but yours could do. Do you feel distinguished, Madam Leliana? Forgive me if you've a title you'd prefer." At least he can try to redirect attention back on her with this. "Advisor? Hounder of Scouts? Mistress of Crows?"

How easily is she flustered, on a scale of Aveline to Isabela? If it's closer to Aveline... If it's closer to Aveline he'll get stabbed. He needs a better scale, and he's certainly not putting Velanna on it. Maybe Bethany to Isabela. Much better. Closer to Bethany would be preferable.

A moment of quiet consideration, gently surprised and partly incredulous. Rare were the days that anyone turned a flirtatious tone towards the Spymaster. Perhaps understandably, people had a good many suspicions regards bards, and that was before they served the Chantry and gathered networks of loyal scouts to be their eyes and ears across Thedas. For a moment she wonders if he is bold, absurd, or simply trying to distract her - because how often did she turn to seduction when a bard? How many did not wake for the error they had made in lover?

It is barely two seconds of thought, in truth, and she lets her brows raise a little, mouth quirking in a smile that is more calculating than sincere, though she is extremely good at projecting the latter. All part and parcel with spy work. Leliana allows herself to lean forward ever so slightly, as if seriously scrutinising his nose, if this is the game they are to play. "It is a fine nose," she admits, sharing her professional nose assessing opinion, "and you appear to wear it well."

There is a note to her seriousness that could be taken for playful, or for a woman with a great deal of responsibility allowing herself a moment of playfulness, even if it is wrapped up in subtlety. There are notes of truth in Leliana's lies, and perhaps that is what makes her so very good at being a bard. She can use the earnestness of Leliana to make the Nightingale all the more dangerous, when it suits.

"Though I am not sure my ears will ever compare to a nugs, all the sadder for me." If he is making this a deliberate means to redirect, she would credit him at least with doing an entertaining job of it. Not all men could turn a conversation about nugs to flirtation. "Leliana is more than adequate. Sister Nightingale, if you've a flair for the dramatic."

And, that said, she crosses her arms and cants her head, and it might just seem playful. "Do you have a title you'd prefer? King of Cats, perhaps?"

Whether it's working as an actual diversion or not, Anders feels like they're on safer ground. Flirtation isn't always honest as it is, and they're mostly off the topic of him.

"I'll go with Leliana, then. It's melodic." And Chantry sisters rarely deserve the title. Leliana seems pleasant enough, Hawke hadn't had anything to say against her, but she'd still gone to Kirkwall to protect one of the two people making everything worse.

Anders looks down at Purrelden as if considering her question before shaking his head and looking back up, his little smile finally reaching his eyes.

"No. Dogs can have rulers, people can too, but cats? They're far too independent for that. King of Cats is entirely unsuitable. Cat attendant would be more appropriate, but there's nothing glamorous about that. Friend of Cats. I could go for friend of cats." Purrelden gets another glance and a rub of her chin. "They've been friendly to me."

Especially when he'd been all alone in the dark. Mr. Wiggums hadn't just saved his mind and his life, the cat won over someone who would remember him for the rest of their life.

"As you like." Melodic, was it? It's been a while since she'd heard that one. There are worse compliments she has received, and the quietly amused laugh has an element of very convincing surprise layered on. "I will remember you said that."

And she will remember that his smile seemed a little different after looking at his cat. A shift in sincerity, or perhaps a fondness... it is hard to know so quickly without context, without knowing a person longer, but the change is committed to memory.

"Detlef, Friend of Cats. A very fine title, and rather melodious in its own right." Her tone is almost teasing. The time has come, she thinks, to make her departure. There are matters she feels she must look into, things tugging at her memory, and she nods to the healer respectfully, and then the cat. "My thanks for your aid with my scout. I had better get back to my sad, catless tower."

He doesn't know if he's distracted her at all, or made himself forgettable. He needs to be better at both of those, but how do you practice that? ...Maybe with the few rogues he knows, actually, but it's too late for this encounter. Anders nods to her and tries to seem like he's just busy.

"And I need to prepare a few things for the group in Emprise. Have a good day, and let me know if you ever need a cat in your tower. There are two close to having litters, and cats appreciate a home when it's cold."

There. That's casual enough, and it gives him the freedom to turn away from her and get back to actual work, letting Purrelden get back down on the table and bat at his hands in the meantime.

and I'm haunted

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