therookery | (no subject)

FORM: Sending crystal.
SENDER: Twisted Fate.
RECIPIENT: Everyone!
WHAT: The party returns, and Fate has a request.
WHEN: Backdated to Cloudreach 29.
WHERE: Skyhold.
NOTES: N/A

Ah, Skyhold. Terribly good to be back home. I'm certain you all missed me, didn't you?

In any case.

Clan Frandruil has notified me that they wish to send halla our way. Terribly considerate of Keeper Shoshanna to show such gratitude. I don't particularly care what the Inquisition wishes to do with them, so I defer to those part of Clan Ashara. They are yours, as far as I am concerned.

In any case, something of more immediate concern and interest to me: I've received a mark from the rift we dealt with. As terribly excited as I am to be blessed with this, I'd like to do a little more research on this. [And maybe remove it, but he has a feeling that's impossible.] Those of you already familiar with your own magical glowing green marks, please, enlighten me with whatever you know.

And before I forget: Sera, I've placed your things back in the room in the tavern. If you happen to find anything of mine left in there, it's yours to do with.

I think that ought to do it. I'll be in the tavern, drinking myself silly.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He nods his head, agreeing with the hope as they continue to walk and Fate talks onward.]

I'm... Mm. You seem to hold little love for them, but I'm still sorry nonetheless. Losing one's family is no easy thing. And you'd think they'd expect someone they've declared an adult to show individuality.

Are the halla a sign that they've lifted the banishment, or they were trying to buy your retreat?

One would think, but the Dalish have a framed expectation. To dream of what they think was the past, and expect to continue on in our lives forever marching in the woods. Doesn't sound particularly wonderful to me.

I think it's my grandmother's way of trying to make it up to me. She wanted me to return, though that sort of thing is impossible. I wouldn't return to a clan for any reason in my life.

Not to judge, but it doesn't sound wonderful to me either. I'd appreciate the traveling, but little else of Dalish life.

[He offers a little smile.]

They don't seem to have cats. How is that any way to live, or anything to return to?

Well, you and I have that in agreement. I enjoy seeing the world, but less confined by someone else. [He cracks a smile and shakes his head.] Ah, if I could go back to it.

Too true. Pets are not exactly the norm for the Dalish, though I suppose the closest to come to it would be the halla.

And just what would you do if you ever suddenly became allergic to felines? That would ruin you.

If I must choose between daily suffering and my heart being forever broken, I'll take the suffering and still be a friend to cats. It is a worthy sacrifice.

[The smile is growing, slowly, bit by bit.]

I'd be absolutely beside myself if I could never hold a purring kitten again. And I'm a little sad my free traveling is at an end, but being on the run alone is, well, lonely.

[And he's always disliked being alone.]

That's almost adorable.

[How much Anders adores cats. He'd accumulate a hoard if he could, Fate bets.]

Mm. That it is. I can relate to that.

Careful, there. You've come dangerously close to thinking of a mass-murdering abomination as adorable.

[His voice is a little wry, but light enough. He is what he is. Fate knows it.]

You're trusted by a Templar. Maybe one day we can request you as my guard and we can go for a ride. Horseback, of course. You and I both have people who would object to other sorts of riding now.

[That earns a soft laugh.] Well, I've done hell of a lot worse, if it's any consolation.

So long as you're steering. I'm awful at horseback. Used to walk everywhere, personally.

[That earns a pause, and he glances at Anders.] Oh? Both of us now? Might I ask who it is?

In a way, it is.

[There are so many people here who have done far worse, and so few who recognize it. The ones who do have his respect. The ones who think he's the worst person here do not.

The horseback comment gets a flash of a grin before he sobers up and takes a breath.]

I trust you, which is why I'll name them on a condition: you not spread it. I'm certain it will be common knowledge all too soon, but... [He swallows and forges on.] The Templars took the last person I was in a relationship with. Because of the relationship. They cannot now, but the chance of people seeing hurting him as a way to hurt me...

[He is afraid. As much as he wishes he could lift fear from his life and the life of all mages, he is still afraid.]

[It's still a startling thing, how much people trust him, how many of them do. He thinks briefly to Malsaam, and smiles faintly to himself before he shakes his head.

Well. That's far away for now.]

You have my word, Anders. Whoever they are, they will remain a secret with me. I'm terribly good at keeping those.

[He knows too well what it's like to lose people you're close to for one reason or another.]

[The people who make an effort to be his friend are few and far in between, and there's no gains for them in it when it comes with the requirement of being near him. It is enough for Anders for this.]

Nate. Nathaniel Howe. I knew him when we served alongside Jonas Cousland, before... Before everything went downhill and changed. Apparently he'd had feelings for me all along but thought my flirting was simply mockery, rather than actual interest.

I remember hearing about him. [And seeing him, from time to time.]

Funny how that works, doesn't it. [Fate's tone is flat, a brief frown flitting over his features before it returns to his usual easygoing expression.] Well, I think a congratulations are in order. I hope, in due time, you can be with someone openly without concern for their well-being.

Congratulations for me. Consolations for him. He could use better taste but it's too late for him now.

[It's delivered lightly, but he does believe it. Nate's sleeping with an abomination. He could do far better.]

I doubt it will ever be safe to be in a relationship with me. It will come out, and there will be anger that I'm with someone as there's anger that I'm alive. But Nate's a Grey Warden. He can hold his own.

His taste is his taste, and he has what he wants. I congratulate anyone that finds something so precious and can hold onto it.

[He himself tries not to wonder how long his time with Nerva will last. For now, he holds on, as tight as he can.]

I suppose that is so. Regardless, I wish you two well with it. Truly, Anders.

And I treasure his holding, and don't want him to let go.

[Despite how he's warned Nate. The other is... a little harder.]

I wish you happiness.

[And he hopes that her Templar nature never causes harm to Fate.]

I believe you deserve it.

Then I think you two are in good hands. With each other, obviously.

[That... gives him pause. Words he did not expect to hear. How often people are saying things to him -- I trust you, you deserve to be happy, and I love you. Sometimes it almost troubles him, and he waits for the other boot to drop and everything to be torn down.

He almost doesn't know how to respond.

Instead, he smiles, looking arrogant as he usually does.] I do, don't I? I work hard, cheating at cards and pranking Inquisition agents. It's about time I got a little slice of joy myself.

[He smirks to the first, and it grows as Fate talks on.]

You've been banished, and you're not fickle. Those seem to make it worth it. But don't think I won't remember you cheat at cards. I can't even win when everyone plays fairly; I won't play against you.

[A beat, and for a moment he looks speculative before shaking his head.]

I almost asked if you'd teach me, but I can't bluff or hide what I'm thinking a great majority of the time.