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[justice_is_blond]

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[nadasharillen]

Weary of being always on the move. Running for so much of your life. Risk in people knowing where you are.

Hearing that complaint--valid as it is--from a human, even a mage, even a fugitive mage, makes Nari thin her lips and look down into her tea, the lines of her vallaslin wrinkling as her brow pinches. But Anders is a friend, a good one, and she's sure it was simple carelessness. It's not as if they'd talked about it before, not really. So instead of being sharp, she just looks up with a wry half-smile to tap the tip of her ear, the darker line of her tattoo where it curves across her cheek.

"Fully sympathized with."

For generations.

"The hunting is always better in the next glen over, I suppose. I imagine the mages cooped up in towers would love to sail the grass seas," she says, pulling a knee up to set on one of the rungs of her chair and resting an arm on top of it, reaching for her mug with the other. "I reckon it's all about whether or not it's a choice you've made, or one that's been made for you."

[justice_is_blond]

Anders colors slightly before ducking his head in quiet apology. He's had to run from abuse since he was around fourteen. She's had to do it all of her life.

"And about what you like. There was one mage in Kinloch Hold, Finn, who absolutely hated the outdoors. He was the only one who was pleased when they cancelled our outside time."

There's a short beat as he takes a sip, before he realizes he should probably explain that.

"We used to have an hour a day in the sun outside. But Kinloch Hold was on an island. And we were guarded by men in heavy armor. So one day a young mage decided that men in heavy armor couldn't possibly keep up with him and jumped into the lake." The pride in his voice and smile no doubt gives away who that young mage was. "Four miles he swam, the whole way across, and he was free for five days, which is quite the accomplishment when they've got your phylactery and they're pissed because one of their brothers jumped in after you and they had to then spend time saving him instead of chasing you."

A shrug. "Unfortunately, Finn was the only one who was all right with the punishment so that mage was not very popular for some time. Basically... yes. A majority of the people would prefer a life of their choosing. But there are always a few who want the cage, which makes things difficult for the rest."

[nadasharillen]

"Not a cage to those who want it, I guess. I don't begrudge it so much as wish it didn't make it so easy to point at them and say 'see, they're fine with it, what's wrong with the rest of you'."

None of the Dalish are fine with it. Nari imagines that's why they're painted as a cautionary tale about savage isolationism instead. Can't cherry-pick them for examples, better just throw away the whole lot. She rests her chin on her hand and grins.

"Young mage seems like a troublemaker. He get up to anything else?"