[LFG] Dino-hunting

[wolfehawke]

Who: Adalwolfe Hawke and YOU!! (Also a closed prompt for Adalwolfe and Anders in the comments)
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Yes; down in the forest. Closed to specific people tbd
When: Right now
Notes: Spillover from the previous mingle will be continued here as well.

[Broadcast | Video]

Hello everyone! Since the network seems to double as the fleet-wide Chanter's board, I thought I'd put out a request for some help. I'm looking for a few people - no more than three - to come help hunt down one of these big scaly beasts in the forest. Any companions chosen to come along are welcome to its hide, meat, or whatever else; I'm just after a few of its bones for a project.

Any and all skill sets are welcome, but I'd like if there was at least one person with better than my middling healing magic. At least one person versed with a shield might be a good idea as well, but not strictly necessary.

[Priorities.]

I'd like to go later today, so please let me know as soon as possible if you're interested in the endeavor. Thank you very much.



[Action | On the hunt | Closed to those chosen in the broadcast]

This part of the forest is quiet, too quiet, which is why Adalwolfe is guessing their quarry uses this as its stomping ground. The other forest animals would know to keep away after awhile, so this is likely the heart of its territory. The trees are taller here - though it hardly matters considering how tall they are anyway - but the ground cover is more sparse. The gentle slugs can still be seen dotting the trunks of trees and the leaves of the few ferns growing here and there, but any other wildlife is either well camouflaged or simply not present. The only noise aside what they make themselves is the breeze through the trees and echoing birdsong from high above in the canopy, where even the giant lizard's head can't reach.

It's perfect.

"Everyone be on your guard," Adalwolfe warns, his new and unfinished dragon-headed staff in hand and a note of glee behind his tone. This gets his blood pumping more than harmless sparring or running the Iskaulit's obstacle course. Facing danger, big sharp teeth, and the possibility of death? Bring it on!

Comments

[apurrstate]

"Right."

He shouldn't feel disappointed at the lack of an answer, what would he do about it either way? Well, nothing, but at least he would feel better about this whole thing if he heard a 'yes.' Maker, there was nothing easy about this. He was definitely going to change, that much he'd learned from talking to the various people who knew him, but there only seemed to be one good possibility out of all these possible futures and Anders wasn't even guaranteed that one. All he knew was that, for better or worse, everything was going to change and he couldn't change it. A cosmic promise.

His eyes traveled back to Hawke, the kitten nearby and that look in the man's face. Pain and fondness and certainty and Anders couldn't even imagine how it must feel to be the man Adalwolfe described instead of the man Fenris described. What must it be like to have someone who so intensely believed in their love for you? Whether it was foolish or not, he was truly envious.

"It's too forward...and Maker help me, I don't care, but for what it's worth, I hope you're the Hawke waiting for me in my future. Whatever else happens with Justice, I imagine it's a little easier with someone like you around."

[wolfehawke]

At Anders' words, Hawke's head snaps up, looking at him with an unnameable expression. He'd never have expected that, for all that Anders seems to rail against becoming his future self, and that had hurt Hawke in how vehement the spirit healer had been, to hear him say that. That the version Hawke held in his heart was the one he wishes he were, that he hopes he's Adalwolfe's Anders, it's enough to put a lump in the Champion's throat.

"I hope-" He stops himself, clearing his throat to beat back the emotion threatening to overwhelm him. "I hope, if I am, that you're not disappointed."

That he doesn't hate what he became, that he doesn't wish, in retrospect, that things had turned out differently. He'd been so sure of everything before the Fleet, so sure of his work with Anders, that the mages needed help, that the Circles needed to rebel, that they would have to be the ones to spread that flame. But here, seeing how other worlds function with magic, seeing how it could have been different in so many ways, he's not sure of anything anymore. Nothing but how he loves Anders even still, but not sure if Anders will still love him after.

Or if he's even the same Anders.

He runs a hand down his face, turning away to stand up. "I should get going. These bones aren't going to craft themselves."

[apurrstate]

There's a range of strong emotions in how Hawke talks and holds himself and all at once Anders wants to take it back. There'd been a flicker of happiness and it had been worth it but also a betrayal and wrong and he shouldn't have wanted to see it.

But then there was doubt and quiet and Hawke was leaving because of what Anders said and he should have just sent him away as soon as he'd healed him. He never should have asked a question with no answer or expressed an opinion that held no promise.

He was nothing but a selfish idiot.

"Of course. Good bye, Hawke." He turned, pretending to busy himself with something else, anything else, but looking at Hawke again. They were both foolish for playing whatever this game was that lay between them. It needed to stop.