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

[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.