#⁰⁰³ ✴ ◞ 𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 ◦ thread

[muutos]

"WE ARE NOT SAFE HERE." there's a frantic nature to him in this particular moment that seems to fight its very need to present itself. yet, his passion is oft poorly leashed as of late. AS SHE'S NO DOUBT WELL AWARE. the breath of the templars down the back of his neck was a burden, yet it only made him worry for her. and despite the fact that HE FEARS FOR THOSE IN HIS CARE AS WELL, and who might take care of them if he were to leave, he knows he does not have long until they close in.

"i know you have work here, as do i. these people need me. but . . . while i cannot stand the idea of anything happening to you." his brows are drawn inward. "i cannot protect you. you've . . . seen what i'm capable of. shamefully. and i fear i cannot be the kind of example i had once hoped." whether or not she is interested in him, she plagues his dreams and his waking hours. HE WILL THINK OF HER FIRST. his typical sarcastic demeanor traded for something more solemn. "the templars might leave you be for now, but they won't forever. when it is most convenient, they will not hesitate to enact their little orders so they can keep you in line." lips lift slightly in disbelief, perhaps.. "i mean, look at what you've done! do you really think they will continue to trust a mage of your power?"

@omniterror. asked for anders.

[muutos]

IT'S INCREDIBLE, THE KIND OF PASSION THAT STILL LINGERS UNDER ALL OF THAT PAIN. like a burning ember still glowing at the bottom of the hearth, occasionally flaring up and sparking excited flame. it's like he could sense it. kindred tales. and even now, looking at her . . . he can see himself, there. his own stress, which he'd taken on his back (or tried to) in the service of TURNING THE PAGE TOWARDS A NEW CHAPTER FOR MAGES. people whom mostly now saw him as only he who forced them to live as fugitives. he will never be free. and he sees the way the same plight is killing her. the way it weighs upon her soul, and it causes his to ache for her.

it's never a bad thing to let yourself dream. TO LET YOURSELF HOPE FOR SOMETHING BETTER FOR HUMANITY. something bigger than yourself. sometimes it might lead you astray, like with justice. TANTALIZING TASTE OF FREEDOM, AND CHANGE. he'd wished he could have been stronger. conviction enough to take advantage of. BELIEVING HE HAD CORRUPTED JUSTICE WITH HIS OWN SICKNESS. but he wants to indulge her. wants to inspire her hope for the future. because if you hold onto that, you may overcome. something he was never allowed while under the constant watch of the order, despite his views being painted more clearly with each attempt at escape.

HE WAS WEARING A CHIPPER SMILE, rocking on his heel -- but, when he notices her shift, his gaze becomes weighed with more gravity. HE EVEN TAKES A STEP TOWARDS HER WITH A MEASURE OF WORRY. and that's when he really realizes it. their similarity. truly . . . his amber eyes searching beneath furrowed brows. HE REACHES FOR HER HAND, AS THE HEALER IN HIM BECKONED WHEN SHE GRASPED HER CHEST. "no, please forgive me, my lady. i didn't mean to upset you." he admits. "quite the opposite, actually. although, i do seem to have that affect on people."

he doesn't smirk despite shining wit, and asks instead. "are you alright?"

@muutos sent: ❝  so,  what would you be?  if you had to power to change all the things making you unhappy,  what would your life look like?  ❞ from anders?!

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑳𝑬𝑭𝑻 𝑳𝑨𝑹𝑲 𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑬𝑪𝑯𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑺 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑨 𝑴𝑶𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑻. He asked something so freely that Lark kept it behind a great lock. She never breathed a word of what she truly wanted for fear of what the Crows would do with that information, and for that moment, she felt incredibly seen. It was a feeling she wasn't acquainted with. She had dreamt of this for so long, but to say it out loud…what would happen? 

Lark shifted her weight from one leg to the other. She kept her gaze down on the floor as a sprawling of red painted her freckled cheeks. She sucked in a soft breath as she held back the hot tears forming in her eyes. 

❝ 𝐍𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. ❞ she began quietly. ❝ 𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫. 𝐈'𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨��𝐤 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐡𝐚��𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲--𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐦𝐞. ❞ 

A flash of a fractured image appeared in her mind. A flow of long wavy coppery hair like hers, a pleasant smile. Her father lifted her skyward to pluck an apple from a tree; His laughter echoed in her ears only to become distant and billowing. 

Lark sucked in a shaken breath as she grasped at her chest. The tears fell freely as she let out a soft sniffle. She felt like she was suffocating. She worked on keeping her breath even. 

❝ 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞. ❞ She spoke between sniffles. ❝ 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠. ❞ 

[muutos]

ANDERS CRINGES WHEN HE HEARS THE SOFT VOICE BEHIND HIM. he's not sure if it's because he's a mage, or because of what is impending . . . or perhaps neither. but it feels like the voice is existing both within his own mind, and beyond it. "oh. cole." he cringes, even when his back is turned he feels he needs to watch what he does with his face. his brows drawn in, with a pit trapped between his rib cage. eyes wavering with something distant he'd rather just forget, but doesn't let himself. (but isn't that much of his life? his past?) he can't. not if he ever wishes to atone in the eyes of . . . well, anyone really. never to reconcile with the part of himself who believes to this day that it was the right thing to do. "i wish you would stop doing that."

HE HATES TO SOUND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE PROBABLY DOES. feathered shoulders drooping along with eyes as he peers low in guilt. "if it is you doing that, and not just corypheus messing around in there." IT'S DANGEROUS TO EVEN BE HERE. the taint, and justice . . . his risk of corruption is just too strong. and yet, here he is. "i can't imagine why anyone thought this was a good idea." finally he turns around, ATTEMPTING A SMILE. voice holding a more jovial, characteristic tone. "i don't know what varric told them, but everyone around skyhold keeps looking at me funny." he's leaning against the balcony outside near where leliana resides. A RAVEN MESSENGER PERCHED ON HIS SHOULDER. "i probably should avoid your seeker, if i can. and your spymaster. something tells me she wouldn't take too kindly to what i've done." he caps his speech with a shrug. as if it were nothing new. frankly surprised he wasn't arrested on the spot.

@eirigh. asked for anders 'whoever wants cole'.

[muutos]

spotify wrap 🎁 - Anders for my DA versed Kitty plz <3

HE'S KNEELING NEAR TO HER FRONT DOOR, with fingers curled affectionately beneath the chin of a purring feline. such padding about on soft, pink pads of his paws, while pushing his face into anders' hand. "sometimes at the clinic, i can't hear myself think."

there's a sad crease between brows brought inward, accompanying a faint smile. the orange creature has undoubtedly sparked what feels akin to grief, YET THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING WISTFUL ABOUT IT. if his existence in darktown were not already so dangerous, he might consider . . . no. best not allow himself hope, where there is none. "so i come here, to get away from it all." HE ALLOWS HIMSELF TO STAND, albeit with a clear reluctance. his new friend mewling and taking to rubbing his side and head into his calf. "i just can't resist their cute little faces." his smile is more pronounced now. "but . . . usually, not while you are here. . . . sorry about that."

@wisteriagrcve. spotify wrapped has arrived

[muutos]

DESPITE THE INHERENT SERIOUSNESS HOUSED within their particular conversation, there's a twisting of his features at the unflattering comparison that despite himself, enacts a slight bit of humor in his eyes. hooded by lowered brows and elevated lips in a wry little smirk. FOR WHEN IT COMES TO HAWKE, HE'S SOMEWHAT OF A GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT. part of him doesn't mind, but only coming from her. "you think i sound like carver?" he begins. "a bit of a low blow comparing me to a templar." HIS STANCE WIDENS, ARMS CROSSING WITH A SOFT LITTLE SMUGNESS TAKING ROOT. although there's a tug of his eyes downward, bound to the internal voice. he knew something within them grew impatient, SWARMING LIKE LOCUSTS IN THE UNREST.

but of course, constants remain. he knows how capable she is, but that does little to quell the desperate need to be her protector, AND THE WORRY SEIZING HIS HEART. he's never had the luxury of feeling anything half-way. but . . . he's far from surprised about her lack of fear, especially of the night commander. NO MATTER HOW MISPLACED HE FINDS IT.

soft edge up of his chin facilitates jaw shut, teeth pressed vice-tight as his chest soars with something airy and refreshing at the nuance of her tone. ghost of a smile turning unabashed at the inclusion of himself. his eyes narrowing as mouth fills with saliva. "well, -- you do have quite a penchant for doing the direct opposite as someone tells you." BROW QUIRKS. plenty of warnings given, none heeded. (thankfully). "look, i appreciate what you're trying to imply. but how could you say i have nothing to worry about? maybe you're out of the knight commander's reach, but i'll never be so lucky." oh, he's terrible. all that about friends, and he's still caught up. HE TAKES A STEP CLOSER, shoulder swayed with a knowing look. "i'm sorry -- did you just imply that you were frightened of me in another way? should i be concerned?"

❝ YOU'RE  STARTING  TO  SOUND  JUST  LIKE  CARVER.   ❞ irritation  seeps  scarce  into  words.  she  isn't  upset  per  say  .  .  as  she  understands  her fellow mage's  twisting  discomfort.  it  was  no  thought  far  beyond  the  cracks  within  her  own  mind.  however,  it  would  not  be  the  way  her  journey  would  end  if  she  has  it  her  way-  nor  by  some  ignorant  templars  who  couldn't  even  track  a  single  blood  mage  on  their  own.

❝ i'm  not  afraid  of  the  templars.  .  .   or  the  knight  commander.    ❞ mouth  moves  soft  as  a  whisper,  yet  sharp  as  a  pin  when  stepping  closer. ❝ or  you  —  not  in  a  '  run  for  your  life'  kind  of  way,  anyway.  ❞  brows  arch,  verdant  gaze  briefly flickering  borderline  salacious. ❝ —you  have  nothing  to  worry  about,  anders.  i  can  handle  whatever  comes  our  way.  i've  been  doing  it  for  as  long  as  i've  lived  anyhow,  what's  a  few  more  years?  ❞

shoulders  rise  and  fall,  attached  with  a  guileful,  but  reassuring  grin. ❝ but  that's  what  friends  are  for,  right?  looking  out  for  each  other?  or  at  least  what  i've  been  told.   ❞