[ everyone says that until they really need that dispel magic on the screeching Revenant or chain lightning on the 400 giant spiders. anders isnt really offended for once. yes? he looks like a beautiful delicate princess?
following automatically like he’s used to it. ]
I hear this is all powered by electricity - so try not to drive your sword through it and electrocute yourself. ]
STARTIN' TO SPIN THE WHEEL look he might be a pathetic mage but he does whip a staff around all day. he's got to have some arm strength. I got an 18 finally dice maiden loves me ]
[ he's had a Long Day and is now just. hiding out in the library. old habits. but he hasn't got a good book or anything, it seems like it's just ... trashy romance. in fact it's this and he seems pretty invested. ]
[HELP mizu's bones are fine... it's just the everything else that's a problem. like, most notably the sudden lack of a left eye? it's been very visibly covered up by bandages.]
[sorry about your lameass boyfriend, babygirl... this is the plight of the mages...
anyway, i guess we're at? the beach or something? mizu takes a moment to try and gauge just how rancid his mood is, on a scale of 1 to a billion probably.]
[ it's bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but mostly in a sad, empty way instead of an angry way. which for mizu may be worse and more annoying actually. his face is bruised and bloody still, since he hasn't bothered to clear it up. ]
Congratulations. You have all met Justice. [ grade: :) ] ... I am possessed.
[ but he knows mizu is not particularly familliar with magic, so. ]
He is a part of me. I would not say we are two separate entities - we are one being, though parts of us are stronger than the other at times. He is not a person like you or I, but a Spirit, an embodiment of the virtue he strives for. We have been together for many years at this point.
He's not as strong here as he normally is. Perhaps it is being distant from the Fade, or less certain of his goals, but for the most part I can control it.
[ right. well. he gets that. he has his share of dramatic promises to kill or be killed under certain contingencies - he can't judge that. ]
... Hawke is already doomed. You know as well as I do if he hadn't been voted for, he would have been a target. If this happens again, an easy vote. I imagine he thought the same thing about me when he chose my execution.
[ this doesn't answer the "would you have been alright" question, but maybe "alright" is beyond the point. he was not alright to begin with, so what's the point in aiming for that? ]
["he chose my execution" raising an eyebrow, like. OKAY??? damn. tragic doomed yaoi before they even got here.]
I don't disagree. But the majority was already set on sparing Firefly. Had you doomed her to being executed, you would've likely become a target yourself.
[ he's just in his room - the door is open so mizu can just come in if they want, he'll look up and just gesture like they should if they need encouragement. he's got a bunch of random junk spread out, sorting it into piles.
burns run across his arms and hands - both ice and fire, and a few specks on his face, but they're bandaged up by now. and there's the various bruises from being bashed around, raccoon eyes deep and dark. not to mention the deep, red strangulation marks. there are those. ]
I don't know that it's that complicated. I don't have need of any of it. It's just things. I've never met anyone who collected so many things in so little time like that.
[ he doesn't seem like he's wallowing in wetness at the moment, his tone is even and light if anything. maybe just numb. he's moving things back and forth between piles without really any meaning - having a little bit of trouble because of the bandaged hands. ]
Back in the early years in Kirkwall it was pretty much all we would do. Dig through broken barrels for pieces of clothing, finding broken jewelry on the street, rifle through dead bandits pockets for rusted knives and tarnished amulets. Trying to get together any possible bit of coin to fund an expedition into the Deep Roads, so it would pay out a fortune.
Terrible place. Ancient dwarven tunnels, underground, obviously. They run across the entire continent - but they've been abandoned for generations. Overrun by Darkspawn. Horrible, tainted monsters, lots of shrieking and screaming and running at you full tilt and such. Carry a disease that kills you in a terrible way if you aren't a Grey Warden. They call it the Taint. And that's not even getting into the Broodmothers. Don't ask me to describe a Broodmother, you don't actually want to know. Picture your worst nightmare, and then give it tentacles.
Most of the time the Darkspawn stay down there. But a Blight had just ended - where all the Darkspawn surge out of the Deep Roads and swarm above ground. It's never safe to go down there, but it was the least dangerous time. Emptied out, you see.
Hawke sought me out because I used to be a Warden. The Wardens are the only ones stupid or foolish enough to go into that place, because we have a resistance to the Blight. And maps of the Roads. So they needed those, to find this place they were headed.
I swore I would never go back down there when I left the Wardens, but as soon as Hawke asked-- I did.
[making a face at this whole ass description, like. why. you could not make mizu go back down even if the most beautiful dick in the world was on the line.]
So back you went to a place you swore you'd never return to. Was it worth it?
[ dick really do be making you do crazy shit. literally in heaven right now crying over a man that executed him. ]
Hawke made enough of a fortune to return his family to their status as nobility and moved to Hightown, so I imagine it was for him. [ anders of course still lived in a sewer. but to be fair, i doubt he could be convinced to move out of the sewer even if he did have money. ] As for me, I don't know. I had to work with some of the worst people I've ever met in my life doing some of the silliest jobs on the face of Thedas, but it wasn't all bad. There were happy enough times. Being around the Champion, under his protection, it let me help people who needed help, and hurt people who needed to be hurt. But I can never make things like that last.
Hm. Then perhaps the answer is to care less. [this sounds more empty than anything else, though.] ... Is that what happened to you? The anger overtook everything?
If you don't care, then what's the purpose of the anger to begin with? Then it's purposeless. Destroying yourself for nothing.
[ nodding, quietly. ]
I had watched every other avenue fail, every other escape route burn. I started losing ... time. Days. The clinic had fallen apart, everyone was planning to leave Kirkwall - to give up on it. On us. Every mage in the Gallows Circle another sacrifice on the pyre of Andraste. It was the only thing that mattered anymore. Vengeance. Making them pay. Once I'd destroyed the Chantry, no one even argued to keep me alive. I wasn't anything but a deranged monster by then.
[wowie! imagine being powerful enough to write an actual starter during memshare week. anyway, they are both stuck in the funhouse for the long haul while one of mizu's memories plays over the mirrors. loud and chaotic, and above all, horribly violent.
the only reason mizu hasn't shattered the fuck out of the mirrors or ander's collarbones is because his presence hasn't been noticed yet. mizu stands as still as a statue, hands clenched tightly enough to be painful, and eyes dark while watching the memory come to its inevitable conclusion.]
[ this is quite the gender reveal party. honestly mizu get his ass.
anders is, uh, pretty aware of that kind of posture. he's hung out around fenris long enough to know a violently wound string is about to snap. he'll do his best to stay out of swinging range.
`Biggest city in the world is burning to the ground, as a blood sacrifice to your revenge.` Well. it's not like mizu had tried to hide it, the desire for revenge. but that ... is pretty familiar. ]
[he may not be within swinging range, but he is still close enough to have a sword pointed his way when mizu whirls around to face him, sword drawn as a kneejerk reaction.
the memory loops again in the background, painting the maze in bright red and orange hues.]
Anders.
[congratulations, it's a girl! she has complicated feelings about gender and just burned down an entire city in order to get to you. oops. in the background, the maybe daddy of the year says little miss again — and mizu's grip on the sword tightens.]
... If you tell anyone else about what you just heard, I will kill you. And not even the angels will find your body.
[ as always, he mostly just looks kind of offended a sword is being pointed at him instead of scared.
but look, he gets it. no one likes to be outed against their will especially when by your horrible maybe dad who seems exceptionally gross and then another white man dares to stomp his way in and have Opinions about it. ]
I'm not going to tell anyone. Who would I even tell? [ people dont GOSSIP with him. ] That's your business.
though, the near non-reaction does help. mizu huffs, some of that defensiveness seeping away from her posture with how flippant he's being over the whole thing. white men really do just keep happening to mizu, huh.]
[is she going to have to learn how to text for god. help me.]
It's nothing like that. White men, like him, are banned from entering my country. It's been the law for decades now. His presence, and that of his partners, was tolerated only as long as they weren't seen. My very existence as one of their bastards is a threat to their business dealings.
A while now. It has not garnered a response as of yet. But I feel I'm close.
[ in this timeline! anyway. he does not necessarily get this exact type of racism but there's plenty of race allegories to make the context clear enough. mizu is a threat to someone making a profit, and therefore is a large problem. easy to unerstand - there's plenty of bastards in the world. ]
[ well we have a whole beautiful candy kingdom but anders today can actually be found in the hospital clinic, undoing the bandages from his hands to check on their progress. ]
You'd think it would be further along.
[ the emotion is. a big horrible wall of grief. sorry. ]
[WHERE IS HE... mizu is coming up to check up on his ass. i am going to kill you for the brand on his face now that i'm caught up on cyoa returns, actually. shakes violently.]
[ HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL. because he can't move fast enough to leave it.
it takes him a while to fully wake up - he won't be completely unconscious for very long, but he's extremely dazed and out of it for a while - there's a lot going on here, but most obviously are the gaping wound on his chest - more like an animal tried to take a bite out of him - and some scattered gunshot wounds. his arm is also deeply fucked, though it's hard to tell if it's broken or not. he's covered in bruising once the blood has been cleaned off.
and then finally, yes, the sunburst brand on his forehead, though that looks nice and healed over. :)
oh and the emotions? deeply bad. just awful.
eventually he'll start moving around enough that it's clear he's awake, if groggy. ]
[cannot believe y'all babyfied them AND put them through the pear vore wriggler while also making anders tranquil. terrible.
mizu very politely does not loom over his bed, all things considered. instead opting to stay near the door. clears her throat when he begins to stir get his attention.]
[welcome to the void. i'm not thinking about locations at nearly 10pm.
emotion share is betraying just how wrung out mizu feels after that whole ass trial, but anders will get a nod whenever they happen to cross paths. hello.]
[the local teen population is going to give her a fucking ulcer. it's like a nightmare echo chamber.
that said, she's completely caught off guard by hearing him thank her like that. there's a flicker of some very complicated emotions in response, with mizu staying quiet for a moment before responding.]
... Careful, Anders. Say any more, and I might think you're afflicted yourself.
[ oh. right. patting down his coat for his letters. ]
I can show you-- Most of it is censored, but maybe there's some meaning to pick out.
[ Dear Anders,
I hope you're well and taking care of youself! We are all here and safe, so don't worry about us. We can see you, so try to speak publicly when you can.
I miss you a lot! I'm sorry to have left you the way I did. I gave Hawke a hug for you. Watching you feels a little invasive, but up until now we haven't been able to talk to you. The —————— ——— — —— ——— ———————— —————— ———————————— ———— —————— ————— ————— ————————————————————————— Ask Gammaliel or Ramiel about Friday's emoji message if you haven't already.
I'll write more as soon as I can. Stay safe! Hugs!
... Hm. I wonder if the information she thought so important was in the part that got omitted. Or if she just wanted all of us to know that she and Hawke have hugged.
[well. the part about the dead being able to see them is important but also, charlie what the heck did you try to send that a third of the letter got censored. help.]
mizu is more composed, but hell if this isn't a mood. quietly, without saying a word, she moves to sit down next to him. holds her phone in a death grip and lets him dissociate for a bit, before eventually—]
If he wants his revenge, I won't stop him. If he yearns to end himself, that is not my business. But I did not wish for him to fight one of us who is only trying to see this through.
In that arena, you are made to feel as if you must fight. There would have been no simple execution - it will be a violent brawl to the death. At least let it be against someone he wishes to fight.
I know that. But taking his pound of flesh too early would've forced the rest of us to vote for him. He may have his revenge when we're not down to 10 minutes on the clock.
... And I worry the man won't recover from this. With the way he was lashing out from the start, I almost thought him to be afflicted.
[but no... it was just gay drama without the excuse of being possessed by a vengeance spirit.]
So did I. [It's loud. Yet this doesn't seem like a bad thing based on the vibes.] But they will have made the long trip back for nothing, if they go back to vandalizing the few livable spaces we have left.
For what it is worth, I wish you luck. Though I expect you will not need it.
[ she's strong and capable and maybe with a second chance can pull off what she couldn't before. he would not try and talk her down from throwing herself after blood revenge. that'd be hypocritical to say the least. ]
There is always something satisfying about finally getting to fight the thing that has been tormenting you for some time.
[ sobbing into my hands ... finally im on the "beating it is good" side. ]
there is a blip of surprise and confusion, her arms hovering awkwardly at his side and clearly not expecting the hug at all. then the feeling fades, and it's soon replaced by something a touch more sad. bittersweet, too. before she sighs and, still just as awkward, returns to gesture.
[ the thing about mizu is she always reminded him of kirkwall, in a few ways. the edge of her personality, the hardness of her life, but that was never a bad thing. she always understood the uglier parts of him, the parts that seek blood and crave destruction. despite everything, he trusted those people, and he trusts her. ]
... Don't die. And don't leave us entirely behind. Not forever.
... Seeing as how we've all been invited back by God himself, I don't think I could leave the lot of you behind. Not even if I wanted to.
[it will unfortunately not stop her from disappearing from chipper and ignoring all attempts to reach out to her, but... well. this will likely not come as a surprise to anyone.]
But if you're asking this of me, I hope you will promise me the same.
[though she doesn't know what he plans to do next, knowing what she does about his life.]
[he may karen out. whether or not she'll reply to any of it while her maybe daddies still breathe is another thing entirely.]
... So you're leaving with her? [Good.] She claims the dangers of her world are similar to yours. Though with less people suddenly exploding into demons.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
week zero, saturday...1!
Like any of them would take her up on it...
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Be wary of that one. She's a bit desperate.
[ i also keep forgetting: fit check. ]
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A bit. [a huff, like may mizu thinks it's more than just a bit.] Yes, I could tell.
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[ he is so rude to charlie, who is not trying to possess anyone, but that's fine. ]
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[mizu dragging charlie for unrelated reasons]
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Yes, unless you're looking forward to abominations roaming around.
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Abominations? Of what sort?
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The sort that happens when a demon possesses someone and starts killing people.
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[ he very much has included that in his arguments. ]
That's still true. Feels a bit like a missing limb.
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She gives the impression that she wants to be liked by everyone. It won't happen.
[be less happy, girl.]
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[ what a pot calling the kettle black situation. ]
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[i am god's most bitterest little angel --mizu, probably]
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[ maybe they should both learn a lesson from charlie. ]
How long do you believe we'll be trapped here?
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[ well. anyway. ]
... How are your injuries?
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[so many different names for the afterlife... but mizu pauses, and then makes a face.]
Fine. If you're wondering if I've made them worse, I haven't.
week zero, monday.
solemnly:]
The future looks bleak.
[why is it so loud!!!]
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And you said you don't believe magic is real. Clearly all very enchanted.
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[ gesturing for … mizu to enter first. wow? ]
Should still take a look, just in case. I’m more used to sticking behind the terrifying person with a sword.
[ squishy mages in the back. ]
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Yes. You look like the type.
[magical dps :/
nobody in this thread is a tank, actually. but sure. okay. saunters in, not waiting for him to follow.]
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following automatically like he’s used to it. ]
I hear this is all powered by electricity - so try not to drive your sword through it and electrocute yourself. ]
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I'm not some idiot who simply stabs things. [the cafe screen would beg to differ.] ... But electricity, huh? Interesting.
[but also, they are both now coming across... this.]
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[ oh. hehe. this thing is terrifying but anders seems amused. ]
... You want to play it?
[ the instructions seem simple enough. he's already going to one of the wheels, fiddling with it. ]
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...
[sure. why the hell not. goes grab the other wheel, taking a second to look over the instructions.]
When you see red, push the lever for surge of rage... Sounds simple enough.
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[ let's get messy.
STARTIN' TO SPIN THE WHEEL look he might be a pathetic mage but he does whip a staff around all day. he's got to have some arm strength. I got an 18 finally dice maiden loves me ]
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so i guess ander's creepy divorce doll yanks the house to its side and flashes red. pull the lever. go on, get messier.]
W1 - MONDAY
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mizu squints the cover, just clocking the vibes like... i see...]
All these books, and that's what you pick?
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[ putting it down, like he's slightly embarrassed though. ]
Besides, we're here for a while, aren't we? If I need to read up on how to more efficiently cast Ice Storm or whatnot, I'll have time.
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sighs.]
That book. What is it even about?
W1 - THURSDAY
well he'll come track them down after thursday return some time, he's got a few supplies, but he figures they might already be Mummified. ]
Did someone cover your injuries? Did you let them?
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Yes. [SIGHS.] Jiaoqiu was insistent.
week one, saturday.
anyway, i guess we're at? the beach or something? mizu takes a moment to try and gauge just how rancid his mood is, on a scale of 1 to a billion probably.]
... You're awake.
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I am. I'm not sure I want to be.
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I imagined not. [at least he napped through the results.] I can knock you out again if that's what you want.
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No, thanks.
[ reaching up to touch at his nose, wincing. ]
Quite the show, I take it. I heard all the lights went off.
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[it was so dramatic and for what.]
The change in personality. All the shouting. What was that?
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Congratulations. You have all met Justice. [ grade: :) ] ... I am possessed.
[ but he knows mizu is not particularly familliar with magic, so. ]
He is a part of me. I would not say we are two separate entities - we are one being, though parts of us are stronger than the other at times. He is not a person like you or I, but a Spirit, an embodiment of the virtue he strives for. We have been together for many years at this point.
He's not as strong here as he normally is. Perhaps it is being distant from the Fade, or less certain of his goals, but for the most part I can control it.
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Oh? A charming split personality. Funny, I might even prefer him over you.
[except no. justice is so dramatic and for what.]
For the most part, you said. But not today. Not even from the first hour.
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[ "i can control it" - guy who is famously not controlling it ]
He cares about these things. It ... is his body too.
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I would not tell you to care less.
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Would you have been alright if he succeeded in killing Hawke with your hands?
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... Hawke is already doomed. You know as well as I do if he hadn't been voted for, he would have been a target. If this happens again, an easy vote. I imagine he thought the same thing about me when he chose my execution.
[ this doesn't answer the "would you have been alright" question, but maybe "alright" is beyond the point. he was not alright to begin with, so what's the point in aiming for that? ]
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I don't disagree. But the majority was already set on sparing Firefly. Had you doomed her to being executed, you would've likely become a target yourself.
week one, sunday.
i guess mizu is looking for him after, like, a reasonable amount of time for him to have gotten some kind of medical attention. where is he?]
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burns run across his arms and hands - both ice and fire, and a few specks on his face, but they're bandaged up by now. and there's the various bruises from being bashed around, raccoon eyes deep and dark. not to mention the deep, red strangulation marks. there are those. ]
I'm organizing.
[ right now?? ]
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refrains from mentioning he likes like shit (anders absolutely already knows) and takes a moment to scan all the junk.]
... Organizing what, exactly? What's all this?
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[ oh n ]
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...
Would you like help, or no?
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I don't know that it's that complicated. I don't have need of any of it. It's just things. I've never met anyone who collected so many things in so little time like that.
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Some people can't help but to start a collection. He seemed like the type who would enjoy... things. Trinkets.
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Back in the early years in Kirkwall it was pretty much all we would do. Dig through broken barrels for pieces of clothing, finding broken jewelry on the street, rifle through dead bandits pockets for rusted knives and tarnished amulets. Trying to get together any possible bit of coin to fund an expedition into the Deep Roads, so it would pay out a fortune.
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[ he makes a FACE about the Deep Roads. ]
Terrible place. Ancient dwarven tunnels, underground, obviously. They run across the entire continent - but they've been abandoned for generations. Overrun by Darkspawn. Horrible, tainted monsters, lots of shrieking and screaming and running at you full tilt and such. Carry a disease that kills you in a terrible way if you aren't a Grey Warden. They call it the Taint. And that's not even getting into the Broodmothers. Don't ask me to describe a Broodmother, you don't actually want to know. Picture your worst nightmare, and then give it tentacles.
Most of the time the Darkspawn stay down there. But a Blight had just ended - where all the Darkspawn surge out of the Deep Roads and swarm above ground. It's never safe to go down there, but it was the least dangerous time. Emptied out, you see.
Hawke sought me out because I used to be a Warden. The Wardens are the only ones stupid or foolish enough to go into that place, because we have a resistance to the Blight. And maps of the Roads. So they needed those, to find this place they were headed.
I swore I would never go back down there when I left the Wardens, but as soon as Hawke asked-- I did.
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So back you went to a place you swore you'd never return to. Was it worth it?
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Hawke made enough of a fortune to return his family to their status as nobility and moved to Hightown, so I imagine it was for him. [ anders of course still lived in a sewer. but to be fair, i doubt he could be convinced to move out of the sewer even if he did have money. ] As for me, I don't know. I had to work with some of the worst people I've ever met in my life doing some of the silliest jobs on the face of Thedas, but it wasn't all bad. There were happy enough times. Being around the Champion, under his protection, it let me help people who needed help, and hurt people who needed to be hurt. But I can never make things like that last.
week two, saturday.
anders will get a cursory glance. an acknowledgement, but nothing more. hello. mom said it's MY turn to be dramatic at the beach.]
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I'm sorry. I know it doesn't mean much, to just say it. But I'd rather have said it than not.
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hums.]
I never said sorry. When I found you here last week, after Hawke.
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[ this is not disapproving. ]
And I was being so much more dramatic about it.
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Yes, I am. And yes you were.
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I'm done with wallowing. I was avoiding anger. It ... feeds Vengeance. Makes Justice worse. But it isn't terrible to be angry about unjust things.
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No, it isn't. Anger can be... motivating. Much better than feeling sorry for your circumstances.
[though maybe someone whose profile says personality: wrathful shouldn't be saying this.]
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[ a half-shrug. ]
It will overtake everything, including anyone you care about.
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[ nodding, quietly. ]
I had watched every other avenue fail, every other escape route burn. I started losing ... time. Days. The clinic had fallen apart, everyone was planning to leave Kirkwall - to give up on it. On us. Every mage in the Gallows Circle another sacrifice on the pyre of Andraste. It was the only thing that mattered anymore. Vengeance. Making them pay. Once I'd destroyed the Chantry, no one even argued to keep me alive. I wasn't anything but a deranged monster by then.
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[terrible reason, really.
but also, hm. mizu listens, staying quiet for a moment. thinking.]
Wanting to make them pay. Going through with it. Do you regret it?
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[ i guess that's the eternal question. ]
No. [ he really, really doesn't. ] Do you?
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[and without missing a beat:]
No.
week three, monday.
the only reason mizu hasn't shattered the fuck out of the mirrors or ander's collarbones is because his presence hasn't been noticed yet. mizu stands as still as a statue, hands clenched tightly enough to be painful, and eyes dark while watching the memory come to its inevitable conclusion.]
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anders is, uh, pretty aware of that kind of posture. he's hung out around fenris long enough to know a violently wound string is about to snap. he'll do his best to stay out of swinging range.
`Biggest city in the world is burning to the ground, as a blood sacrifice to your revenge.` Well. it's not like mizu had tried to hide it, the desire for revenge. but that ... is pretty familiar. ]
Mizu.
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the memory loops again in the background, painting the maze in bright red and orange hues.]
Anders.
[congratulations, it's a girl! she has complicated feelings about gender and just burned down an entire city in order to get to you. oops. in the background, the maybe daddy of the year says little miss again — and mizu's grip on the sword tightens.]
... If you tell anyone else about what you just heard, I will kill you. And not even the angels will find your body.
[this does not sound like a joke.]
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[ as always, he mostly just looks kind of offended a sword is being pointed at him instead of scared.
but look, he gets it. no one likes to be outed against their will especially when by your horrible maybe dad who seems exceptionally gross and then another white man dares to stomp his way in and have Opinions about it. ]
I'm not going to tell anyone. Who would I even tell? [ people dont GOSSIP with him. ] That's your business.
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[anders... your GOSSIP... this is sad.
though, the near non-reaction does help. mizu huffs, some of that defensiveness seeping away from her posture with how flippant he's being over the whole thing. white men really do just keep happening to mizu, huh.]
Do you swear it?
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in return for her defensiveness slipping off, he'll get less flippant - more solemn. ]
I swear it. [ ... ] And he seemed like a bastard who had it coming.
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He did.
[a sigh, before she slips her sword back in its sheathe. now she's just bitter and mad.]
He should have died with me. But of course, I have no way of confirming that for myself. Not from here.
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[ this is not a joke, by the way. he says this in such a serious way. ]
You wanted revenge for your mother, then?
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[dryly, like she does not see how this could be a serious suggestion.]
... Yes. And for myself. He and his business partners have hunted me down since the day I was born. Now, I'll return the favor.
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[ ITS A SERIOUS SUGGESTION. ]
Why are they hunting you down? Are you owed some inheritance? A title?
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You've done this before?
[is she going to have to learn how to text for god. help me.]
It's nothing like that. White men, like him, are banned from entering my country. It's been the law for decades now. His presence, and that of his partners, was tolerated only as long as they weren't seen. My very existence as one of their bastards is a threat to their business dealings.
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[ in this timeline! anyway. he does not necessarily get this exact type of racism but there's plenty of race allegories to make the context clear enough. mizu is a threat to someone making a profit, and therefore is a large problem. easy to unerstand - there's plenty of bastards in the world. ]
Oh. I see. So you were a mark of shame.
[ that's fine. he was too. actually. have mem. ]
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anders should have blown up the chantry twice, actually.]
... Karl. Did you find him?
[mizu gets the impression this story is not going to have a happy ending either way, though.]
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[ mizu is correct. it does not have a happy ending. ]
Eventually. He was made Tranquil, and used as bait to lure me into a trap in an attempt to capture me.
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I'm sorry, Anders. [man...] Did you kill the ones who used him against you?
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nodding, picking at a few of the feathers on his jacket. ]
Yes. Though perhaps not enough.
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W3 - FRIDAY
I can't make heads or tails of this ...
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The pictures?
[the fuck is an emoji...]
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I don't know what half of them mean. A purple monster? An echo?
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[shakes in ye olde.]
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[ no this is definitely a reach. ]
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W4 - MONDAY
You'd think it would be further along.
[ the emotion is. a big horrible wall of grief. sorry. ]
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... They were very nasty burns. I suppose you aren't used to letting your injuries heal without magic?
week four, thursday.
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it takes him a while to fully wake up - he won't be completely unconscious for very long, but he's extremely dazed and out of it for a while - there's a lot going on here, but most obviously are the gaping wound on his chest - more like an animal tried to take a bite out of him - and some scattered gunshot wounds. his arm is also deeply fucked, though it's hard to tell if it's broken or not. he's covered in bruising once the blood has been cleaned off.
and then finally, yes, the sunburst brand on his forehead, though that looks nice and healed over. :)
oh and the emotions? deeply bad. just awful.
eventually he'll start moving around enough that it's clear he's awake, if groggy. ]
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mizu very politely does not loom over his bed, all things considered. instead opting to stay near the door. clears her throat when he begins to stir get his attention.]
... Anders. Do you know where you are?
week four, saturday.
emotion share is betraying just how wrung out mizu feels after that whole ass trial, but anders will get a nod whenever they happen to cross paths. hello.]
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[ for kaworu, he means. ]
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I'm sure that's not how the boy will see it.
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[ so. he's thanking mizu instead. ]
I know I poked fun at you, but you're a very steadying force for us. It's admirable.
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[the local teen population is going to give her a fucking ulcer. it's like a nightmare echo chamber.
that said, she's completely caught off guard by hearing him thank her like that. there's a flicker of some very complicated emotions in response, with mizu staying quiet for a moment before responding.]
... Careful, Anders. Say any more, and I might think you're afflicted yourself.
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[ YOU WILL TAKE HIS FONDNESS. ]
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that just makes her laugh.]
Is that it? [perhaps... there is some fondness in return? wow.] You're excused. For now.
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anders laughs too and then winces, but it's fine. ]
I knew getting violently attacked by a nightmare sewer clown had some advantages. Now I can say whatever I like ...
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[should mizu be making that joke? no. but she's gonna do it anyway.]
... By the way, I meant to talk to you about the letters we received from the lost souls. Charlie said I should compare notes with you.
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[ oh. right. patting down his coat for his letters. ]
I can show you-- Most of it is censored, but maybe there's some meaning to pick out.
[ Dear Anders,
I hope you're well and taking care of youself! We are all here and safe, so don't worry about us. We can see you, so try to speak publicly when you can.
I miss you a lot! I'm sorry to have left you the way I did. I gave Hawke a hug for you. Watching you feels a little invasive, but up until now we haven't been able to talk to you. The —————— ——— — —— ——— ———————— —————— ———————————— ———— —————— ————— ————— ————————————————————————— Ask Gammaliel or Ramiel about Friday's emoji message if you haven't already.
I'll write more as soon as I can. Stay safe! Hugs!
Love,
Charlie 😈 ]
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[well. the part about the dead being able to see them is important but also, charlie what the heck did you try to send that a third of the letter got censored. help.]
W5 - MONDAY
They're trumped up charges!
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she just watches this happen, like. i see. waits for him to get put in the stocks like a good friend would, and then approaches.]
What did you do now?
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I didn't do anything but exist, like I always do. I am being persecuted for the simple reason that I am a mage.
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[ SAID LIKE THIS IS SOOOooooooooooo logical. ]
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[looking the stocks over, though... knocks on them.]
Maybe they took offense to something you said.
W5 - FRIDAY
he's doing fucking bad. sitting somewhere with his head in his hands and just. disassociating. it's fine. ]
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mizu is more composed, but hell if this isn't a mood. quietly, without saying a word, she moves to sit down next to him. holds her phone in a death grip and lets him dissociate for a bit, before eventually—]
Anders.
[come on, bud...]
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I can't feel Justice right now. So I don't know ... exactly what to do.
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[ in this case, justice very likely just try and kill whoever killed yves as soon as possible. ]
He-- Yves didn't deserve this. He took an apple to try and cure someone.
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[shakes her head, sighing. mizu would think justice is so valid for it, though. midtrial for our dead midtrialer.]
He didn't. None of them did, but especially not him. He was... kind. Selfless in a way you rarely see.
week six, monday.
Hm. You can't say they have something about mages here.
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If they want to be idiots who invite trouble, then who am I to stop them.
[ no he is. clearly going to complain. ]
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You know, it's impressive. If finding reasons to complain were an art, you'd be a master artist.
week six, saturday.
mizu's pinching the bridge of her nose and looking so fucking tired. hello. looks at him when they happen to cross paths. and after a beat:]
Good job.
[our sweet sleeping beauty marcoh...]
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I should have done it an hour sooner.
[ but, you know. ]
I didn't want him to be unconscious for it. That would be worse.
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In that arena, you are made to feel as if you must fight. There would have been no simple execution - it will be a violent brawl to the death. At least let it be against someone he wishes to fight.
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... And I worry the man won't recover from this. With the way he was lashing out from the start, I almost thought him to be afflicted.
[but no... it was just gay drama without the excuse of being possessed by a vengeance spirit.]
W7 - MONDAY
[ so many people again ]
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but yes. he entirely agrees. it's loud, but that isn't the worst. ]
... Are you thinking about the future too? It seems the topic du jour.
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[with absolute certainty... like a stubborn asshole, as usual.]
I'm more preoccupied thinking about how much longer we'll have to put up with some brat's temper tantrum.
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[ look, if someone is going to talk her out of it ... it probably won't be him. but he's curious still. ]
At least a few days, it seems. If we're vengeance seeking, I think we're rather entitled to a temper tantrum of our own.
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[mizu will die on this hill! twice. she already died for it once.
snorts.]
If it has a neck, I'd dare say we're entitled to wring it after everything it's put us through.
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[ she's strong and capable and maybe with a second chance can pull off what she couldn't before. he would not try and talk her down from throwing herself after blood revenge. that'd be hypocritical to say the least. ]
There is always something satisfying about finally getting to fight the thing that has been tormenting you for some time.
[ sobbing into my hands ... finally im on the "beating it is good" side. ]
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[thank you for your support, anders. she is going to be absolutely fucking terrifying when she gets home. yippee!]
Isn't there...? The cowardly thing likely knows whats coming for it the moment it shows its face.
[welcome to the beating it is good side. grabs anders by the ankles and keeps him here.]
ENDGAME
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well.
there is a blip of surprise and confusion, her arms hovering awkwardly at his side and clearly not expecting the hug at all. then the feeling fades, and it's soon replaced by something a touch more sad. bittersweet, too. before she sighs and, still just as awkward, returns to gesture.
get hugged back, idiot.]
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... Don't die. And don't leave us entirely behind. Not forever.
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[it will unfortunately not stop her from disappearing from chipper and ignoring all attempts to reach out to her, but... well. this will likely not come as a surprise to anyone.]
But if you're asking this of me, I hope you will promise me the same.
[though she doesn't know what he plans to do next, knowing what she does about his life.]
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[ he harrassed god himself into responding to his texts. he will NEVER stop karening out. ]
For what it is worth, I do not plan on dying again so soon. I suppose that depends on the type of dangers one can find in Shadowheart's world.
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[he may karen out. whether or not she'll reply to any of it while her maybe daddies still breathe is another thing entirely.]
... So you're leaving with her? [Good.] She claims the dangers of her world are similar to yours. Though with less people suddenly exploding into demons.