interfaith dinner mingle!!

[stefanged]

Who: Interfaith Center regulars & the not-so-regulars (party crashers are welcome too!!)
Broadcast: Nope
Action: Interfaith Center on the Iskaulit
When: Forward-dated to November 4th

[The Interfaith Center sounds far more bustling and busy than usual - and anyone peering inside would quickly figure out that a communal dinner is underway! Take off your shoes and walk in: the lounge has extra tablecloths on the floor as well as buffet tables with non-alcoholic beverages and all sorts of food, including Jordanian cuisine (or the outer space equivalent of Jordanian food).

The board games are out of their hiding nooks; the furniture's arranged for the maximum seating possible; and even the teddy bears donated by Kitty & Winn are out for cuddling, should anyone want them.

The kitchen's bustling with helpers - Stefan's running around at vamp-speed to make sure everything's a) done on time and b) cooked to perfection - but he sure wouldn't mind an extra hand. And if you're still not up for some food? Well, the prayer rooms are open as usual. There's always a quiet moment to be found, even if the laughter's louder and the scent of freshly-baked mansaf's wafting through the long corridors.

Anyone and everyone who's ever been inside the Interfaith Center has been invited (via text message - and Stefan even used the fancy emoji). If you're not particularly faithful or devout? Well, drop by anyways. There's more than enough food to spare.]

Comments

Adalwolfe Hawke | OTA

[wolfehawke]

[Truth be told, Adalwolfe doesn't actually want to be here. He has trouble saying no to most people even on a bad day though, and when Misty had asked she'd asked so earnestly he was done in. So he's here anyway. He'd thought his saving grace would be that Anders had decided to tag along as well, but its not long before Anders has disappeared into a prayer room, leaving Adalwolfe standing in the hall outside with a little plate of food to nod awkwardly at passers-by and commenting superficially and trying to stomach the whole thing with no alcohol whatsoever.]

Lovely party.

[apurrstate]

[Anders felt a little bad about abandoning his love to the party, but considering what he'd gotten out of going into the prayer room, he decided he'd just make it up to Wolfe somehow.

He finally reappeared after some time and immediately moved to Hawke's side, his fingers lacing with Adalwolfe's.]

Having fun?

[wolfehawke]

[He'd abandoned his post for a little while to go take a look at the food and to engage with the few people he knew, but by the time Anders returned he made sure to be right where the other mage left him. Wolfe curls his fingers around Anders' longer ones, giving him a tight smile.]

I think I prefer the Halloween festivities a bit more, but I haven't seen any Templars magically appear and there's food so I'll call it a yes.

[apurrstate]

[He leaned in to try and kiss away that tight smile.]

Those are good points, yes.

I'm sorry I abandoned you. But...also, thank you. That was helpful.

[He leaned slightly against Adalwolfe's side with a small sigh and looked out over the rest of the people there. His eyes grazed past Leliana and his mind went back to their conversation. Back to his conversations just now.]

You know I hold no love for the Chantry, but this, the Chant itself...I'm glad I can come back to it here. It feels like I actually can here, a little. Back home, it just felt like I was lying to myself, as though the Chant and the Chantry were inseparable.

But...there is one thing that gives me hope about things back home. Something I don't think Justice would have seen for himself. [He nodded towards the Bard turned Sister.] It's her. Leliana.

[wolfehawke]

[It's always so easy for Anders to turn a stiff or worried smile into something more gentle and genuine. This time is no different.]

I'm not going to judge you, Love. If talking to Andraste helps you, then by all means. I'm just sorry I can't understand it. You and Misty and so many others, wronged by your own beliefs. It's hard for me to see where it still deserves belief after that. I don't think I could trust the Maker with my problems when He's already turned His back twice, and the Chantry's worse.

[Wolfe follows Anders' nod, glancing at Leliana.]

Does she? I suppose I can see it, with her being one of the hands of the Divine. Or is she still that, with the Divine gone?

[apurrstate]

I...suppose we don't see it that way and that's why. But I've never sought to change what you believe, nor have I ever expected you to share my faith when you have a perfectly good reason not to, I won't start now.

[They'd so rarely talked about faith. The Chantry, definitely, but not faith. He turned his gaze from Leliana back to Adalwolfe.]

I'm not sure. But, apparently, there's discussion back home for her to become the next Divine. She's not the only option, I'm led to believe, but she's a strong one. She says she wants to help mages and templars, she believes they've both been wronged by the Chantry for too long and wants them both to be free from the restraints forced on them. She wants freedom for mages, Hawke, and I believe her.

[wolfehawke]

[Anders thought is right, they had barely ever spoken of faith and Adalwolfe is mildly curious still to understand how Anders can believe so strongly, but it always feels so uncomfortable to question it. His father had always been uncomfortable talking about it as well, which is part of why Bethany had taken solace in the Chantry itself, or so Adalwolfe thinks. They all attended services when expected, of course, but like Malcolm, Adalwolfe had always approached it as something that was required to live in society, akin to cleaning the house or doing the laundry. A chore that was necessary in order to keep their cover as apostates. He'd never found any comfort in the Chant, just a droning that had put him to sleep in the pews as a child.

He leaves it be for what feels like the hundredth time.]

No, I heard mutterings about Cassandra Pentaghast as well.

[As well as they could, Hawke and Anders had kept tabs on the goings on within the Chantry. They knew the names, at least, but it was nice to know they knew the faces too now.]

She seemed a decent sort when I did finally meet her. Very blunt, straightforward, but still compassionate. She hadn't killed Varric for keeping us safe, at any rate, but I don't know her stance on mages and magic. Seekers are supposed to keep Templars in line as well as us but it's not as if they've done a very good job on that score. Not that the blame should be laid at her feet, she wasn't the leader of that outfit, but you'd think being a hand of the Divine would carry weight.

[He lets out an irritated breath, seeing all the ways people could have helped if they'd just seen what was going on, but also knowing that non-mages are so far removed that it shouldn't be expected that they would just see and care suddenly without being shown. Leliana is in a minority, in that case. He folds his arms.]

She won't be a popular option if she's supporting mages. The Chantry condemned us twice over after the Divine's death. There were rumors it was you, even. Do you remember?

[He looks at his love with an affectionate smirk on his face.]

[apurrstate]

[Anders rolls his eyes and sighs.]

Yes, I remember. ['You blow up one building and suddenly it's always your fault' the joke plays at the back of his mind in a voice brighter and more lighthearted than his own and the back of his mind is where it stays.]

But change is never the popular option, it involves risk and the unknown and most people would rather stick with what's familiar, even if that causes problems.

It's been a long time since anyone gave me faith in the Chantry, but if anyone were to do it, it would likely be her.

[wolfehawke]

I worry that all that means is she doesn't really have a chance.

[A dour sentiment coming from Adalwolfe, who's usually so optimistic. But this has literal Ages of track record leading up to it and he can't see all the remaining Chantry elite choosing someone who would overturn everything. The entirety of Orlais may riot.

But...

There isn't much even remaining of the College of Clerics. Many of the Grand Clerics that he's aware of were at the Conclave along with the Divine. It's an unprecedented situation and the Divine will be chosen this time by a new set of voices. If change is to come, now is the time.]

It may come down to what those in power have to say this time, instead of just a bunch of clerics. My guess is the Inquisitor's opinion will hold some weight considering he's a Herald of Andraste and all that.

[Which Wolfe says with some irreverence. He's never really believed in all that Herald business. It's just politics to him, like his own title as Champion.]

[mistyday]

[Misty's been dancing between groups of people, trying to make sure everyone feels welcome, but she pays special attention to Hawke, knowing this probably isn't his ideal place to be right now.]

Isn't it? Stefan worked real hard on it so I'm glad it's going well.

[She's watching Stefan as they speak. He looks so happy and that makes her happy in turn.]

[wolfehawke]

[He's glad she misses the undercurrent of sarcasm in his tone. Or maybe it isn't actually there when he speaks, but he certainly feels it. The party itself really is alright though so he'll just go with small talk rather than the discomfort over it being a religious thing. Frankly, other than the prayer rooms being accessible (and his boyfriend having vanished into one more than twenty minutes ago), it doesn't have much to do with people's Gods or faith on the surface.]

Is this type of food found where he's from, then? It's delightful.

[Easiest just to talk about the catering.]

[mistyday]

Yeah! Well, he and I are from the same country, but his family originally comes from all the way across the world so we've been learning a lot from each other.

[She beams.]

He's a real good cook.

[wolfehawke]

That's some journey. Tell me, is your world entirely charted?

[That's been a curiosity of his about Earth. So many people here from so many places on that planet means they must have more of it explored than people do of Thedas.]

[mistyday]

Oh yeah, we got GPS and all that. I mean I guess there's probably some places like jungles and tall mountains that haven't been explored but we can still take pictures of them from space so we know they're there.

[wolfehawke]

Pictures from space.

[He has to laugh.]

We don't even have cameras, let alone the ability to head into space. No one knows what half of the world even looks like, or rather no one's ever returned from a journey to find out.

[mistyday]

That's how it used to be for us too. And I mean, I ain't ever been anywhere but my own state so I can't really talk.

[wolfehawke]

Well there's a difference between one person's experience and the breadth of experience of a race of people. I don't think we'd have traveled so much either if it wasn't for three of my family being mages. Most people don't leave their home towns. But sometimes you get people wanting something better or being kicked out of their homes or even just plain wanderlust, and that's when things get explored.

[He thinks on this for a moment.]

'S probably how you Earth humans got to taking pictures from space, right? Someone has an idea for an expedition, some king or other leader bankrolls it because he thinks it means gold for him.

[stefanged]

[In one of his spare moments, Stefan's heading to the prayer room to pick up something - a candle? a prayer book? Even he's not sure - and he can't quite help noting an unfamiliar face.

Cautiously, he gives Adalwolfe a smile as he approaches,] Thanks. I don't think I've seen you around before - are you a friend of Misty's?

[wolfehawke]

Yes, she invited me. I hope that's alright.

[He smiles in return, decidedly friendly.]

The food is excellent so I'm not complaining.

[stefanged]

More than alright. If you'd prefer less, uh, devout surroundings, the lounge has plenty of board games.

[He holds out a hand, more out of instinct (and habit) than anything else.] I'm Stefan, by the way. I help out with the place from time to time.

[wolfehawke]

[Instead of a shake, Adalwolfe clasps Stefan's wrist firmly in such a way that the other man's fingers fit around his in return.]

Adalwolfe Hawke. I'm from the same world as Leliana, who I'm sure you know. She's rather involved with the interfaith center too, I imagine. Honestly, I'm surprised to see so many different belief systems coexisting here peacefully. Has there ever been any trouble?

[stefanged]

Oh! Yes, of course, Leliana's been a huge help around here.

[He's less familiar with Leliana, but there's no denying how much he smiles just saying her name. The people here mean the entire multiverse to Stefan, and he'd do anything to help them keep their faith.]

Nothing major. There are always growing pains, since it can be hard to understand where other people come from and how they worship their deities. But thankfully, it's been smooth sailing from day one.

[wolfehawke]

Lucky, then. There've been whole wars where I'm from on trying to convert the non-believers. I don't get that sense from here, though, which is nice.

[He shifts his posture, feeling a bit awkward even so.]

[stefanged]

It is. [He grows quiet, glancing over at Hawke with sudden understanding.] But it's not very common, you're right.

Where I'm from, people wouldn't hesitate to hurt others of a different faith, and... [He swallows.] As long as I'm here? No one's getting hurt for believing or not believing. That's entirely your choice and yours alone.

[wolfehawke]

It makes sense, it's still just very surprising. Though I guess when you get this many individuals with different outlooks and beliefs, there isn't really one majority to rise up over the others, is there.

[He muses, then realizes that continuing on like this is probably kind of rude to Stefan.]

You're a kind person to spearhead a place like this, that's all I mean.