Anders (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
justice_is_blond) wrote2016-01-15 11:45 am
justice_is_blond) wrote2016-01-15 11:45 am
Inbox for Fade Rift
[Please leave a message after the beep that doesn't actually exist.]
[He nodded his head more seriously before he stated something simply.]
Then we should be able to get you everything you need. As long as you do not care where it comes from.
Then we should be able to get you everything you need. As long as you do not care where it comes from.
Funding is funding.
[He has no reason to ask about the sources. It's not coming from murdering mages or elves, so he's fine.]
It will accomplish good, and I'm going to assume gathering it isn't accomplishing something bad. I'm currently on an errand in the Hinterlands, but when I've returned we can speak further, and in person, if you'd like.
[He has no reason to ask about the sources. It's not coming from murdering mages or elves, so he's fine.]
It will accomplish good, and I'm going to assume gathering it isn't accomplishing something bad. I'm currently on an errand in the Hinterlands, but when I've returned we can speak further, and in person, if you'd like.
Well that is true.
[Although now he was going to be a little concerned about whether or not they had Carta money thrown in ... ]
Very well. I will see you when you return.
[Although now he was going to be a little concerned about whether or not they had Carta money thrown in ... ]
Very well. I will see you when you return.
It has been a long few days, trying to drown himself in work and get to sleep alone at night, but Nathaniel has managed. A ways through he became almost convinced that one person could not possibly labor for this long, but he hasn't been short with Anders on the crystal. But this is his second night in a row without his husband, so it has taken him frightfully long to get to sleep.
And yet, when the door opens, Nathaniel sits bolt upright before he's even fully awake.
"Anders?"
And yet, when the door opens, Nathaniel sits bolt upright before he's even fully awake.
"Anders?"
"Anders," he confirms with a tired smile. He closes the door behind him, walks over to the bed and stares longingly at the bed. It's been such a long delivery and he'd love to just faceplant down but he has various fluids on his robes and he really, really shouldn't do that to Nate.
With a sigh, Anders starts fumbling the robe ties open. "I need a spell to make my clothing fall off."
With a sigh, Anders starts fumbling the robe ties open. "I need a spell to make my clothing fall off."
"Let me." Nathaniel is groggy, but he will go through the effort if he can fall back asleep with Anders in his arms. And then wake him up with breakfast in bed. Yes, that will be the plan now. His hands make quicker work of the ties and fastenings of his robes, and a moment later, he has one of his own undertunics out and ready to pull over Anders' head.
"You can be my spell," he murmurs sleepily as he shrugs out of the dirty robes and for once doesn't care about leaving everything in a messy heap on the floor. "I'm the spell to get you out of your clothes, after all."
Anders bends a little to help Nate get the tunic on him and then smiles and leans forward so he can slip his arms around Nate and stand there for a few seconds. This is warm and comfortable. It's a shame he can't just sleep like this, really. "You are my favorite person and I've been daydreaming about cuddling with you the whole walk back. Let's, please." He shuffles his feet forward a little as if he's going to knock Nate into bed and fall in too.
Anders bends a little to help Nate get the tunic on him and then smiles and leans forward so he can slip his arms around Nate and stand there for a few seconds. This is warm and comfortable. It's a shame he can't just sleep like this, really. "You are my favorite person and I've been daydreaming about cuddling with you the whole walk back. Let's, please." He shuffles his feet forward a little as if he's going to knock Nate into bed and fall in too.
Nathaniel clings and carries him down to the bed with him, wrapping around him like he has missed doing the last two nights. Or the last one night, if you still count this moment as night. Frantically he tries to remember, before falling back into sleep, that he is going to wake Anders with breakfast in bed. He can't have eaten sufficiently all this time.
Soft, warm, hazy, the heartbeat he loves against him, Nathaniel makes sure he keeps awake long enough for Anders to settle against him and fall asleep before he drifts off himself.
When he wakes, Anders is dead asleep. Nathaniel has to very delicately extract himself to avoid waking him. He tiptoes out to the cookfire, spoons groats into a bowl, takes a few thick slices of ham, fries a few eggs, makes toast, and snitches a pot of jam. There is hot coffee as well, and he pours a share of it for them both before sneaking back and setting the tray by the bed, leaning down to kiss Anders awake. He can go back to sleep after eating something, of course, but at the moment, the food is hot.
Soft, warm, hazy, the heartbeat he loves against him, Nathaniel makes sure he keeps awake long enough for Anders to settle against him and fall asleep before he drifts off himself.
When he wakes, Anders is dead asleep. Nathaniel has to very delicately extract himself to avoid waking him. He tiptoes out to the cookfire, spoons groats into a bowl, takes a few thick slices of ham, fries a few eggs, makes toast, and snitches a pot of jam. There is hot coffee as well, and he pours a share of it for them both before sneaking back and setting the tray by the bed, leaning down to kiss Anders awake. He can go back to sleep after eating something, of course, but at the moment, the food is hot.
He hasn't slept this soundly in a long time - it's a combination of being exhausted and feeling completely safe and with someone he loves. He sleeps so deeply that he's not even sure where he is for a couple of moments other than 'with Nate being kissed.' Then the smell starts sinking in and he blinks his eyes open. There's food. Hot food, no less, a whole tray of it.
"Oh, Maker." Anders scoots up and kisses Nate back. "How are you this amazing? Climb in, eat with me? How was your, were your days?" It hasn't really been that long, but it *feels* long. Especially now that he can cozy up with his husband and eat breakfast.
"Oh, Maker." Anders scoots up and kisses Nate back. "How are you this amazing? Climb in, eat with me? How was your, were your days?" It hasn't really been that long, but it *feels* long. Especially now that he can cozy up with his husband and eat breakfast.
Nathaniel climbs into bed, his spirits high at last, after so long without his Anders. "I got a lot done. Nothing very interesting. Mainly I pined, constantly, for someone delivering a baby I will probably never meet. It isn't the longest we've been apart, but the longer we're together, the longer it feels."
He picks up a knife and starts spreading jam over toast. He hasn't bothered with a hot breakfast the last couple of days either, but he has eaten proper meals. He doesn't supposed Anders has done so.
"What about you? I want every detail." He misses when he can't share details with Anders in person.
He picks up a knife and starts spreading jam over toast. He hasn't bothered with a hot breakfast the last couple of days either, but he has eaten proper meals. He doesn't supposed Anders has done so.
"What about you? I want every detail." He misses when he can't share details with Anders in person.
Edited 2017-05-22 00:55 (UTC)
"I missed you terribly when I'd time to think." Which had been a lot in the beginning, and not that much after.
The ham is what he starts in first, grabbing it with his fingers and skipping the fork entirely. Food is amazing.
"It was one of the longer deliveries I've done. Not the longest, but up there." He's talking with food in his mouth and he's not actually embarrassed about it. Dinner might have been forgotten last night when he stumbled back, and lunch might have been skipped, and... he can't actually remember when he ate last.
"Baby girl, healthy, looks about like every newborn - squished face and wrinkles everywhere. She'll look like her own person in a few weeks, and don't breathe a word to any new mother that babies all look alike... but they do." He gives Nate a quick grin before spreading jam over his own piece of toast. "They're adorable, don't get me wrong. They're just all smushed when they come out."
And with that profound bit of information, Anders proceeds to devour his toast.
The ham is what he starts in first, grabbing it with his fingers and skipping the fork entirely. Food is amazing.
"It was one of the longer deliveries I've done. Not the longest, but up there." He's talking with food in his mouth and he's not actually embarrassed about it. Dinner might have been forgotten last night when he stumbled back, and lunch might have been skipped, and... he can't actually remember when he ate last.
"Baby girl, healthy, looks about like every newborn - squished face and wrinkles everywhere. She'll look like her own person in a few weeks, and don't breathe a word to any new mother that babies all look alike... but they do." He gives Nate a quick grin before spreading jam over his own piece of toast. "They're adorable, don't get me wrong. They're just all smushed when they come out."
And with that profound bit of information, Anders proceeds to devour his toast.
"The last baby I really got a look at was my nephew." Nathaniel nuzzles Anders' hair briefly before crunching into his toast. "I thought he was beautiful," he says with his mouth full, "but he was ours, so I can't say I was unbiased. He did look like a lump of red dough, in retrospect, but he was ours."
Now a poke at one of the eggs, causing the yolk to run everywhere so he can dip his toast-with-jam in it. It's delicious. He grabs a bit of ham and inhales it.
"Things are nearly in order for Ansburg. Not a long journey, but there will be a lot to do. A lot to consider. But frankly I've spent two days with my head in that and I'd like to think about anything else."
Now a poke at one of the eggs, causing the yolk to run everywhere so he can dip his toast-with-jam in it. It's delicious. He grabs a bit of ham and inhales it.
"Things are nearly in order for Ansburg. Not a long journey, but there will be a lot to do. A lot to consider. But frankly I've spent two days with my head in that and I'd like to think about anything else."
He reaches over and grabs another piece of toast to dip it in Nate's egg. Nate gets a grin and a kiss on the cheek before Anders eats his 'stolen' bite.
"Family makes all the difference. I've no doubt the baby is the most beautiful one Pel's ever seen, and Cyril and Merrick too. And let's not talk Ansburg if you'd like a break. We can talk about how I can't remember the last time I slept as well as I did last night. Or how I've not had breakfast brought to me ever before that I can remember. Basically, we can talk about how wonderful you are and you are everything I could have wanted to come home to last night. Especially after the end there; Pel hemorrhaged. She's fine now, there's nothing to worry about. But that was exhausting on top of everything else."
She'd been one of the first to be kind to him after his identity had come out. Pel means more to him than he thinks she knows.
"Family makes all the difference. I've no doubt the baby is the most beautiful one Pel's ever seen, and Cyril and Merrick too. And let's not talk Ansburg if you'd like a break. We can talk about how I can't remember the last time I slept as well as I did last night. Or how I've not had breakfast brought to me ever before that I can remember. Basically, we can talk about how wonderful you are and you are everything I could have wanted to come home to last night. Especially after the end there; Pel hemorrhaged. She's fine now, there's nothing to worry about. But that was exhausting on top of everything else."
She'd been one of the first to be kind to him after his identity had come out. Pel means more to him than he thinks she knows.
A muffled chuckle at the peck on the cheek. Nathaniel stirs the porridge and tastes it.
"There's butter in the porridge," he announces with satisfaction. "The fat will do you good." He listens to the story quietly, stacking his ham and the remainder of his egg on a piece of toast and crunching into it. At the end, he gives a kiss to the top of Anders' head.
"I am so proud of you," he says sincerely, with food tucked in his cheek. "It felt endless enough for me. It must have been harrowing for you and her. But you saved her. You're a wonderful healer, Anders."
"There's butter in the porridge," he announces with satisfaction. "The fat will do you good." He listens to the story quietly, stacking his ham and the remainder of his egg on a piece of toast and crunching into it. At the end, he gives a kiss to the top of Anders' head.
"I am so proud of you," he says sincerely, with food tucked in his cheek. "It felt endless enough for me. It must have been harrowing for you and her. But you saved her. You're a wonderful healer, Anders."
If he wasn't so tired, he might have tried to kiss Nate and taste the porridge that way. If he wasn't so tired and hungry he'd have pulled Nate on top of him, really. Anders wants to celebrate bringing new life into the world with what makes him feel the most alive and connected, but his body simply doesn't have the strength so instead he sticks a spoon in the porridge and starts eating it with a hum of approval for how it tastes.
He stops eating at Nate's gentle approval, pausing so he can take a few moments and simply lean against his husband. Knowing he's a phenomenal healer is one thing. Getting approval is entirely another. Praise is such a rare thing in his life and Nate means it which means all the more.
"Thank you." The rarity makes it all the harder for him to know what to say to it, though. "I... I appreciate hearing that, love. I know it. But I don't hear it often at all."
He stops eating at Nate's gentle approval, pausing so he can take a few moments and simply lean against his husband. Knowing he's a phenomenal healer is one thing. Getting approval is entirely another. Praise is such a rare thing in his life and Nate means it which means all the more.
"Thank you." The rarity makes it all the harder for him to know what to say to it, though. "I... I appreciate hearing that, love. I know it. But I don't hear it often at all."
"People often take their healers for granted. Like a server at a tavern, maybe, they don't want to praise anyone for doing their job. But you don't just patch wounds. You think on your feet, you act accordingly and stay calm. There's so much skill in what you do. My chest was crushed and you still saved my life. That took unimaginable skill."
Anders reaches up to rest a hand on Nate's chest. With Mercy's help, the act no longer causes a wave of overwhelming guilt. He still feels a little responsible, though.
"It's how I survived. If I'd not had that much skill with healing, I wouldn't have gotten seven escapes." His skill had saved his life as much as it had saved Nate's. "And I couldn't have forgiven myself if I'd lost you."
He would have gone on. He would have made sure Nate's sacrifice wasn't in vain. But every day would have been a painful struggle, instead of the delight of waking up to Nate beside him nearly every morning.
Anders snuggles close, resting his head on Nate's shoulder and resuming his meal.
"I wish every mage could heal. I think sometimes that's the only way Circles would never come back."
"It's how I survived. If I'd not had that much skill with healing, I wouldn't have gotten seven escapes." His skill had saved his life as much as it had saved Nate's. "And I couldn't have forgiven myself if I'd lost you."
He would have gone on. He would have made sure Nate's sacrifice wasn't in vain. But every day would have been a painful struggle, instead of the delight of waking up to Nate beside him nearly every morning.
Anders snuggles close, resting his head on Nate's shoulder and resuming his meal.
"I wish every mage could heal. I think sometimes that's the only way Circles would never come back."
During the day, a young girl arrives at Anders' door, carrying a package and expecting a tip. She disappears immediately after.
Inside is truly a fine thing: a knit blanket, bright green-blue, lacy and intricate. The pattern recalls the look of a peacock's feathers, as does the color. The content of the fine yarn is a blend of wool and silk--stronger than it looks but soft as a cloud. Clearly someone poured heart and care into this, sparing no expense.
There is also a note:
Lethallin,
You saved my life. You saved me for my daughter. We will always be grateful and indebted to you. I hope one day I can bless your life as you have blessed mine. You are family.
Mythal Enansal,
Pel
Inside is truly a fine thing: a knit blanket, bright green-blue, lacy and intricate. The pattern recalls the look of a peacock's feathers, as does the color. The content of the fine yarn is a blend of wool and silk--stronger than it looks but soft as a cloud. Clearly someone poured heart and care into this, sparing no expense.
There is also a note:
Lethallin,
You saved my life. You saved me for my daughter. We will always be grateful and indebted to you. I hope one day I can bless your life as you have blessed mine. You are family.
Mythal Enansal,
Pel
[The blanket is fantastic, warm and soft and while he doesn't know much about knitting, he can recognize that the pattern is intricate and had to take a lot of work.
And yet, more precious than the blanket is the note. He is family. His own flesh and blood had gotten rid of him as quickly as possible, but others claim him. The note is very, very carefully flattened out and tucked in one of the few books Anders owns before being set on the shelf that Purrelden generally ignores. Once that important task is done, Anders is on the crystal.]
Do you remember the day we met?
And yet, more precious than the blanket is the note. He is family. His own flesh and blood had gotten rid of him as quickly as possible, but others claim him. The note is very, very carefully flattened out and tucked in one of the few books Anders owns before being set on the shelf that Purrelden generally ignores. Once that important task is done, Anders is on the crystal.]
Do you remember the day we met?
[There's a second before Pel replies; she is moving away from the baby, who is clearly asleep because she is speaking very quietly.]
The day I met you or the day I met Detlef?
The day I met you or the day I met Detlef?
The day you met me. After the announcement.
[His voice is equally as soft. Babies need a lot of sleep, after all.]
[His voice is equally as soft. Babies need a lot of sleep, after all.]
I remember I showed you how to sprout an acorn. I remember how you wanted to plant it so it wouldn't die, even such a little thing.
You were the first to give me a chance, Pel.
[There's a pause.]
I'd the people who knew me from before, who stood with me; you showed me that perhaps there was a chance I could become more than my crimes in the eyes of others. You wrote that you wanted to bless me the way I have you, but you already have.
[There's a pause.]
I'd the people who knew me from before, who stood with me; you showed me that perhaps there was a chance I could become more than my crimes in the eyes of others. You wrote that you wanted to bless me the way I have you, but you already have.
[There is a long silence. Pel is good at silence, at letting time pass before she knows what to say. But it's especially hard now, when it's not something she did that stood out, but something she was. A person learning, a person thinking.
Her voice is choked when she finally replies. Her inhale is hard.]
I remembered the acorn when I decided you would deliver my baby. I thought...the way your hands treasured such a tiny bit of life, it made me realize I'd judged you at first. When I'd learned you were Anders, I judged you. I'd thought the choices you'd made must have been easier for you than they would have been for me. That was just arrogance. And it was arrogance to think I knew you just because of a thing you did. I had to think...I had to wonder whether that reverence for a sprouted acorn came before or after what you did. And I had to realize it didn't really matter because it's here now. When people judge you...when they judge you, it's them that has to grow and learn, not you.
You can visit your niece whenever you like. Hold her and take care of her and be with her, so she knows you and loves you the way I do.
Her voice is choked when she finally replies. Her inhale is hard.]
I remembered the acorn when I decided you would deliver my baby. I thought...the way your hands treasured such a tiny bit of life, it made me realize I'd judged you at first. When I'd learned you were Anders, I judged you. I'd thought the choices you'd made must have been easier for you than they would have been for me. That was just arrogance. And it was arrogance to think I knew you just because of a thing you did. I had to think...I had to wonder whether that reverence for a sprouted acorn came before or after what you did. And I had to realize it didn't really matter because it's here now. When people judge you...when they judge you, it's them that has to grow and learn, not you.
You can visit your niece whenever you like. Hold her and take care of her and be with her, so she knows you and loves you the way I do.
[His voice is equally hoarse. She'd judged, but she'd not walked away or rejected. It's as much as he can hope for, and on that day it had seemed beyond hope until she'd reached out.]
Nate's going to be jealous. He's only got a nephew, and now I've got a niece. I think I win that one.
[Sure, being married means they share nephew and niece, but that's not as fun to say and it doesn't deflect enough from the emotions he's feeling right now.]
Should I... shall I come over now? As soon as I've put the blanket where Purrelden won't fuzz it up.
Nate's going to be jealous. He's only got a nephew, and now I've got a niece. I think I win that one.
[Sure, being married means they share nephew and niece, but that's not as fun to say and it doesn't deflect enough from the emotions he's feeling right now.]
Should I... shall I come over now? As soon as I've put the blanket where Purrelden won't fuzz it up.
Page 33 of 64