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

[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.]

[apurrstate]

[They hadn't gotten a lot of time to talk about Thedas or the Inquisition after Anders woke back up, but now Anders felt some curiosity floating up.]

Oh? 'A' Herald? Is there more than one? I thought you liked him, were you not as sold as Varric?

[A little humor, a little divergence. Anything to pull his lover from that uncharacteristically sour mood he was falling into.]

[wolfehawke]

[Adalwolfe gives Anders a sidelong look for his cheek but there's humor in it. It seemed so urgent at home, but here there's room for levity even when it's the future of their cause that's being discussed.]

No, I like him plenty. Lavellan has a good head on his shoulders and support to boot. It's more that I don't think he has Andraste's blessing or anything else so lofty. People believe it and that's fine, that's useful for getting things done. Better than them thinking he's just some random Dalish.

[He shifts his arms, uncrossing them and putting one hand on his hip.]

There was a spirit leading us, in the Fade. She was the spirit of Justinia. Or maybe she wasn't and was just some spirit that took on her guise, spirits are confounding like that. But that's what people saw when Lavellan was tossed out of the Breach, not Andraste.

[He sighs.]

I know you wanted to believe, Love. I'm sorry.

[apurrstate]

[There's definitely a touch of dissapointment in Anders' expression, but it fades into something slightly more cynical.]

It's alright, I'm not surprised, not really.

[That would have meant something truly good and hope-inspiring was happening and since when had that happened in Thedas? Not that the Inquisitor wasn't good or hope-inspiring, he was both and exactly what their world needed right now. But it was different too. He gave a weak smile.]

Lavellan is still the Herald to a lot of people and the Inquisitor to most of the world. The fact he's done what he has with those titles is still going to do more good than we could have hoped for. Between him and whoever he supports for Divine, there may actually be hope for mages. For our cause.

[And, in the end, that was what really mattered.]

[wolfehawke]

We've just only had hope for so long it's strange to think we might have something more tangible. Which I know was always the goal, but hopefully you know what I mean.

[It's difficult to want one thing but know that the most likely outcome based on history and experience is the opposite.]

We've done what we can, at this point. All we can do is wait and see. If Leliana becomes Divine then, well... I hope she's what she seems to be.

[He smiles encouragingly at his love, putting a hand on his shoulder in support and solidarity.]

Are you hungry? There's some delicious food in the kitchen. Stir fry I think they called it? I think it might use Navarran spices.

[apurrstate]

[Anders returned the smile and reached up to squeeze the hand on his shoulder. Wolfe was right, there wasn't much else they could do now. Even back home, they'd done what could be done and everything else was up to someone else.]

Stir fry? Sounds interesting, I'd love to try it.