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.]
It's not fair.
[He might still be listening to Anders, or he might have stopped after he didn't hear what he wanted. He doesn't even know what he wants to hear, except that Kit is fine.]
It's not fair.
[He might still be listening to Anders, or he might have stopped after he didn't hear what he wanted. He doesn't even know what he wants to hear, except that Kit is fine.]
It's not fair.
...Right.
[There are so many possible ways to take that 'fine' and Anders decides not to take it in any way at all except "I'll show up but I won't be wearing cute slippers from Gareth and you better not put cats on me." He's absolutely going to put cats on Kostos.
Eventually he's back in his rooms, healing done for the day, and he digs the ritual scroll out from the drawer he'd very carefully not-quite-hidden-but-still-hidden it in. Then he opens the door enough to invite Kostos in without making it an easy getaway for Purrelden who seems about ready to go visit Teren again.]
[There are so many possible ways to take that 'fine' and Anders decides not to take it in any way at all except "I'll show up but I won't be wearing cute slippers from Gareth and you better not put cats on me." He's absolutely going to put cats on Kostos.
Eventually he's back in his rooms, healing done for the day, and he digs the ritual scroll out from the drawer he'd very carefully not-quite-hidden-but-still-hidden it in. Then he opens the door enough to invite Kostos in without making it an easy getaway for Purrelden who seems about ready to go visit Teren again.]
Oi Healer,
If you are going to have all these nice folks in Darktown to help out, might want to get together a group to clear out the really rough patches. Well, at least the ones who aren't already part of the Inquisition like myself. I'm a thief with standards and rules -- but not everyone down there is me. You give those folks blankets and food, best make sure they can keep them.
- A
If you are going to have all these nice folks in Darktown to help out, might want to get together a group to clear out the really rough patches. Well, at least the ones who aren't already part of the Inquisition like myself. I'm a thief with standards and rules -- but not everyone down there is me. You give those folks blankets and food, best make sure they can keep them.
- A
A,
With what time? Send a note to one of the Inquisition leaders, maybe the Templar, leave the personal details out, and something might get done. But I run the Clinic, heal for the Inquisition, oversee mage matters for the Wardens, am working on trying to cure the Blight, and fighting to promote and maintain mage freedom. I have literally no time to give to putting together a group and clearing out rough patches. And the rough patches that are removed will rebuild, or be replaced by another group, and so on.
I cannot take this on as well. I'm sorry.
~A
With what time? Send a note to one of the Inquisition leaders, maybe the Templar, leave the personal details out, and something might get done. But I run the Clinic, heal for the Inquisition, oversee mage matters for the Wardens, am working on trying to cure the Blight, and fighting to promote and maintain mage freedom. I have literally no time to give to putting together a group and clearing out rough patches. And the rough patches that are removed will rebuild, or be replaced by another group, and so on.
I cannot take this on as well. I'm sorry.
~A
A -
Well of all those suggestions, the only one I can do is bring it to Beleth. I don't like Templars, I don't like Colin, and no one's going to follow me anywhere.
Thanks for letting me know though. Cheers.
- A
Well of all those suggestions, the only one I can do is bring it to Beleth. I don't like Templars, I don't like Colin, and no one's going to follow me anywhere.
Thanks for letting me know though. Cheers.
- A
A
I've no love for Templars either. But she runs Forces and they've the manpower and resources for this sort of an operation, as well as access to people who may have done similar projects before. Sometimes getting things done requires being practical, even with people we dislike.
It's a large matter, turning around Darktown. My Clinic helps, Colin helps, and we will what people who are thinking about helping follow through.
-A
I've no love for Templars either. But she runs Forces and they've the manpower and resources for this sort of an operation, as well as access to people who may have done similar projects before. Sometimes getting things done requires being practical, even with people we dislike.
It's a large matter, turning around Darktown. My Clinic helps, Colin helps, and we will what people who are thinking about helping follow through.
-A
[Hope springs eternal. One day there will be slippers.
Today, though, Anders opens the door the rest of the way and gestures for Kostos to come in the rest of the way as he keeps Purrelden in place with a foot. No Nate is in evidence, and no nudity either.]
Come in, take a seat at the table.
[As soon as Kostos is in, the door gets closed and the cats are thwarted. For now.]
What did you bring?
Today, though, Anders opens the door the rest of the way and gestures for Kostos to come in the rest of the way as he keeps Purrelden in place with a foot. No Nate is in evidence, and no nudity either.]
Come in, take a seat at the table.
[As soon as Kostos is in, the door gets closed and the cats are thwarted. For now.]
What did you bring?
[Now he's more curious. Maybe after they've gone through the ritual he can ask.
Anders unfurls the parchment roll the ritual is written on, using a pin cushion to hold down one edge on the table and a book to hold the bottom.]
The focus was on binding him and then pushing him out, with the goal being to push him into the Fade. But since he... resisted, he was instead pulled out and was able to manifest for a time.
[There's a little regret in his voice, though generally Anders keeps a neutral tone. He's distant enough from the matter that it doesn't hurt anymore.]
As he was far more Vengeance than Justice after being ripped out, it became a fight.
Anders unfurls the parchment roll the ritual is written on, using a pin cushion to hold down one edge on the table and a book to hold the bottom.]
The focus was on binding him and then pushing him out, with the goal being to push him into the Fade. But since he... resisted, he was instead pulled out and was able to manifest for a time.
[There's a little regret in his voice, though generally Anders keeps a neutral tone. He's distant enough from the matter that it doesn't hurt anymore.]
As he was far more Vengeance than Justice after being ripped out, it became a fight.
[ Kostos leans over the scroll to read it—twice—while he listens, noting the regret, because he’s observant that way, but ignoring it, because what else is he supposed to do? He doesn’t know. And if he did know he might not do it. ]
Killing him in the Fade was not an option?
Killing him in the Fade was not an option?
He was my friend.
[His gaze is a little harder.]
He saved our lives multiple times. Go in and murder him was not a tactic I was about to choose, no. And I sincerely hope that if we're trying to find a way to work with spirits to save our Tranquil mages we're not going to be reckless with the lives of the spirits as well.
[His gaze is a little harder.]
He saved our lives multiple times. Go in and murder him was not a tactic I was about to choose, no. And I sincerely hope that if we're trying to find a way to work with spirits to save our Tranquil mages we're not going to be reckless with the lives of the spirits as well.
[ Kostos doesn’t look up from the scroll, and he doesn’t bristle at the assumption, because whatever. ]
We are not allowing spirits to possess anyone, for anything. [ Not for Casimir, not for justice or knowledge or whatever other abstract principle. Not happening. ] It is an academic question.
We are not allowing spirits to possess anyone, for anything. [ Not for Casimir, not for justice or knowledge or whatever other abstract principle. Not happening. ] It is an academic question.
Good, because the lives of either group are not expendable.
[Wynne had apparently made it work, somehow. But as there's no way to ask her how, he's going to operate on the assumption that she's the exception rather than the norm and his struggles with Justice would be the regular.
Not being able to read things off Kostos means he's jumping around and failing to figure out what book the other mage is in, forget being on the same page. Maybe it's time to stop guessing.]
What are you thinking?
[Wynne had apparently made it work, somehow. But as there's no way to ask her how, he's going to operate on the assumption that she's the exception rather than the norm and his struggles with Justice would be the regular.
Not being able to read things off Kostos means he's jumping around and failing to figure out what book the other mage is in, forget being on the same page. Maybe it's time to stop guessing.]
What are you thinking?
No lives are expendable.
[ —is what he's thinking. It takes him a moment to realize the question may be more general, and then he does finally look up. ]
I need to know if anything was different. About him. About what you did. Is a powerful spirit with one hand reaching into the physical world enough, or was there something else to explain why there are no reports of this happening before. You cannot have been the first abomination to speak to someone Tranquil.
[ —is what he's thinking. It takes him a moment to realize the question may be more general, and then he does finally look up. ]
I need to know if anything was different. About him. About what you did. Is a powerful spirit with one hand reaching into the physical world enough, or was there something else to explain why there are no reports of this happening before. You cannot have been the first abomination to speak to someone Tranquil.
[No lives are expendable. It strikes Anders that that might be the most defining thing about Kostos the other mage has said. It might be why the Loyalist had worked with Nell to rebel, to mitigate the loss of lives. And it might be even an almost healer-y sentiment.
He studies Kostos for what might be an uncomfortable few moments before nodding slowly.]
Functioning abominations are rare. I only know of two others, one with a spirit and the other with a demon. I don't know that either lost control the way I did sometimes with Justice, and it was during a loss of control that Karl came back to himself, not when we were conversing before that.
[Anders takes a breath.]
Having Justice wasn't enough. Else I would have temporarily helped other Tranquil too, just by passing through the Gallows at Hawke's side. If I was to guess, him, Justice, expressing himself, being more present, touching the physical world,
would be the key difference.
He studies Kostos for what might be an uncomfortable few moments before nodding slowly.]
Functioning abominations are rare. I only know of two others, one with a spirit and the other with a demon. I don't know that either lost control the way I did sometimes with Justice, and it was during a loss of control that Karl came back to himself, not when we were conversing before that.
[Anders takes a breath.]
Having Justice wasn't enough. Else I would have temporarily helped other Tranquil too, just by passing through the Gallows at Hawke's side. If I was to guess, him, Justice, expressing himself, being more present, touching the physical world,
would be the key difference.
[ Kostos raises his eyebrows at the studying, but they return to their natural positions when Anders explains himself. He nods himself, abandoning his attention to the scroll—a dead end, it seems—to frowns at Anders instead. It's a thoughtful smile, not a disapproving one.
Though he does disapprove. For the record. It's just not something he feels the need to constantly assert. The past is past. ]
Did you— [ That's a plural you, Anders and his passenger. ] —touch him?
Though he does disapprove. For the record. It's just not something he feels the need to constantly assert. The past is past. ]
Did you— [ That's a plural you, Anders and his passenger. ] —touch him?
I really wish you were here.
[Quiet voice.]
I could use some guidance.
[Quiet voice.]
I could use some guidance.
I don't know.
[It had been so long ago. Anders presses his lips together before shaking his head. He doesn't know half of what Justice got up to; most of the time all he'd been able to hope was that someone would tell him what happened when Justice had taken over.]
I don't remember most things that went on when Justice was in control. As he is not the sort to reach out or embrace it may be fair to say there was no contact while Justice was running matters. Bethany, Carver, or Aveline may be more able to say... but this was also a decade ago.
[It had been so long ago. Anders presses his lips together before shaking his head. He doesn't know half of what Justice got up to; most of the time all he'd been able to hope was that someone would tell him what happened when Justice had taken over.]
I don't remember most things that went on when Justice was in control. As he is not the sort to reach out or embrace it may be fair to say there was no contact while Justice was running matters. Bethany, Carver, or Aveline may be more able to say... but this was also a decade ago.
Well currently, in the Hanged Man. I am sipping a really horrible ale and thinking wistfully of the old days.
I ... lost my temper and if not for the intervention of a man-servant, would have walked into the house of Lady Vauquelin and slapped her.
I ... lost my temper and if not for the intervention of a man-servant, would have walked into the house of Lady Vauquelin and slapped her.
[Right. He's nowhere near there. Anders' voice is gentle.]
She's a spoiled, empty-headed child, Bethany, pretending to be an adult and being indulged by those who have decided she's pretty and useful enough they'll pretend along with her. Her moods are mercurial and probably a mystery even to her. Don't waste your time with stupidity, because it's just that - a waste of time.
She's a spoiled, empty-headed child, Bethany, pretending to be an adult and being indulged by those who have decided she's pretty and useful enough they'll pretend along with her. Her moods are mercurial and probably a mystery even to her. Don't waste your time with stupidity, because it's just that - a waste of time.
Oh she is all those things. ... [A sigh.] I cannot believe I lost my temper like that, Anders. I just feel so overwhelmed.
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