therookery | A warning

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Anders, Oghren
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: People are being warned
WHEN: Current!
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Oghren. Blue is Oghren, bold is Anders.

[There's a heavy sigh before he speaks; the first speaker, Anders, might be having some serious regrets.]

We've a new Warden, or rather an old Warden returned to the group, and I've a warning to issue: if you're challenged to a drinking contest with a particularly smelly dwarf, do not take it. The Wardens are not responsible for what happens if you decide to ignore this advice. Honestly, your best bet is to steer clear altoge--what are you drinking now?

[There's some bottles clinking together followed by a loud belch before Oghren speaks up.]

You need some better alcohol. This tastes worst than actual piss. Funny color to it too.

That's not... Maker's breath, Oghren, that's not for gulping down! Put the remnants of the potions down and stop messing with them! If you puke or you die, you better do it outside this tent. I'm not responsible for that either.

[There's more clinking as Anders gathers up what remnants he can.]

What are you going on about? That wasn't ale? [There's a pause.] My ancestors fat tits, what was that, sparkle fingers?

Who would keep ale in the healing tents? That was twenty doses of emetic. Now step outside, because you are not going to get sick in here.

[There's now a grumble and some rustling.] Never heard of keeping something good around for pain. Got to have those potions instead. Can't just have a good ale or something stronger. Got to be... [The sound trails off as he heads outside.]

[There's another heavy sigh. Anders sounds like he's already exhausted when he continues.]

Don't challenge him. Just don't. And if anyone listening cares to bring additional ghoul's beard to the healing tents, I'm in need of it.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

...I didn't realize that was the part you were forgetting.

[He sounds a bit surprised, and it's not just the hero thing.]

I... Thank you, Kas.

I don't need company like tha- oh, you mean in general. Not like Nate.

I don't need things, but thank you.

[The conversation appears to be over as far as Cole is concerned.]

Are you okay?

Aye, it's odd, isn't it? Think with the onions, though, it's that no-one'd thought to do anything exactly like that yet in my day. I am from a few hundred years earlier than Cosima is, you know. Church, too, although I'm not as sure how long it is there.

I didn't know.

[There's even a little surprise in his voice.]

So you could be from the same sort of Earth, but simply earlier? Does going home from here, if we find a way to return you, risk messing with the history of their world?

I am. I'm simply not used to anyone thinking of me as a hero anymore.

[Other than Nate, really.]

Well... you are. To a lot of people.

I don't know that I am a hero anymore, but I appreciate hearing it. It's nice to hear faith in me.

Do the Tal-vashoth talk about mages being free among the humans, much?

[He sounds thoughtful.]

...I didn't really meet any other qunari until I joined the Inquisition, so I'm not sure outside of the people I know here.

I know Korrin talks about it a lot and feels very strongly about it in a good way, but she's Vashoth. Not sure about the other ones, I think just the huge warrior guy and some of the kitchen staff are Tal-Vashoth.

[He realizes, now, that he knows nothing of Kas' past. He'd just assumed Kas had left the qun and come here, but it doesn't sound like that.]

I see. You weren't raised with qunari? Forgive me if the question is too personal. I'd assumed you were Tal-Vashoth, or Vashoth, and never asked, which I apologize for.

That's the sort of attitude you usually see with those that are street kids. Survival first and enjoy what you got because who knows when the next thing is coming.

[He pauses a moment then laughs a little.]

Seems bad but it's not a terrible mindset actually. Makes a person appreciate what they've got. It's more than most bother with.

I had some romance problems myself in the past. I know how that goes.

[His may or may not have been more complicated. What with the whole having been married to a Paragon thing. Of course he's not going to judge that without knowing the full story of this kid.

So anyway...]

What's so important that I can't help a fellow Warden? Sounds like you need to go about settling down to help you out so why not. Brotherhood and all that squishy fluffy stuff they like to tell us about.

No, I was. I was born in a Tal-Vashoth kith, but I was around eight when the Chantry happened and things took off - then I left the kith at twelve so I never really discussed anything with them about the mage thing. I was too little to understand, probably.

After that, I lived on the streets. There I heard loads of people talk about it, I heard every story of freed mages, and I knew the entire adventure of the Champion and more. The uprising and the hope for freedom. Some of the kids running on the streets even dared to go home again.

...but no, I never talked about it with my own people. They're dead or in Rivain.

Yeah... I've never been luckier than when I tried to rob a guy and he took me here instead. I have the chance to be someone, you know?

[The boy pauses for a moment.]

...but I'll never forget where I came from or how it affected me. Took me a long time to not just stuff food in my mouth and run.

You know you don't get to start off saying things like that then not telling the story, right?

[There's a little laugh at that.]

It wasn't that interesting. I was starving and I tried to rob a guy. It was an Inquisition scout and they told me a little about the Inquisition as he handed me food. He said it had changed his life, fighting for the Herald.

I ended up checking it out, you know? I had nothing to lose.

I suppose I need all the help I can get.

[Maker help him, he's really lost it if this is how desperate he's become. He can respect the deeds of Oghren in some weird abstract way, but... the actual dwarf himself... and getting advice about romance from him... He hopes he's not made some fatal error here.]

I'm sorry.

For what it's worth, I'm glad you're here with us. You're a welcome presence and an asset. And a friend.

Um... I... thank you, Anders.

[He sounds so proud.]

Sounds something like an idiot but a good one.

[He really is complimenting the guy okay. Seriously.]

Well you're an interesting one. So guess I have to say that I'm glad you got fed and turned this way. Means I got to meet you.

[Then he grumbles.]

But don't go spreading around I say soft stuff like that all the time. Got a sodding reputation to keep.

[He snorts at that, trying to hold back a laugh.]

Well, you sound like a great guy. I promise I'll keep your secret.

[This time, it's Jamie's turn to sound a bit surprised - he's not really thought about that before, and it comes through in his voice.]

Ah...don't know, actually. I always thought if there was a way to go back, it'd be to the point where we left, and I wasn't exactly on Earth at the time.

You... weren't on Earth? Were you in space like Kirk? Does everyone on Earth get to leave their planet?

That's more like it. You're a keeper, kid.

Ah, no, I was on the Doctor's planet. I'd not say everyone gets to leave, though. Just...say, how many people have you met that've gotten to do that out of the rifters, anyway?

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