driftfleet | Video; always something that needs doing

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Video; always something that needs doing

Who: Anders and Open
Broadcast: Yes
Action: On the Bishop, if desired
When: Thirty seconds after being shuffled onto the ship

[The feed turns on and it's clear Anders has barely just arrived on his new ship as there's still some confetti in his hair he has yet to brush off or pick out. He's clearly on the move, however, as the hallways of the Bishop move behind him on his way to the Med Lab.]

Right, I need to take some inventory: there was a greenhouse on the Iskaulit that held some medicinal herbs, if anyone knows, has it been maintained? [Maker knew if Hermione were still around, he'd really had yet to even check who was still around.] And, similarly, there was a smaller herb garden in the cargo bay of the Twin Roses, is that still there?

[He pauses as something occurs to him and he gives a wry smirk.] And, in my haste, I shouldn't be so rude, my apologies. I am Anders, a healer from Thedas. I imagine my store of potions from before is long gone, I intend to get started on more. If anyone has need of any potion in particular, please feel free to speak up, I'm more than willing to make whatever it might be.

[Assuming he knew how to make it or something like it, but his skill with herbalism wasn't something he took lightly.]

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[Buddy just you wait until she sees you and you're in arm's reach. Then we'll talk about maintaining composure. (Hint: there will be absolutely none).]

How grand, I've been in need of one.

[So, so much.]

I'm on the Blue Fish, same as always. What ship did you get assigned?

Bishop. I doubt I'll be staying long, though.

[He didn't know anyone on this ship, last he knew, and Hawke certainly wasn't on it which was the biggest issue with it.]

I'll be there shortly.

[A promise he keeps as he's soon walking the Blue Fish's halls instead, making his way to where he last knew her room to be so he could knock on her door.]

[It's not a ship she's familiar with either, so she has no opinion on it, one way or the other. She nods and hangs up. While she waits, she manages to get herself up from bed and get dressed. Why, she even decides to brush out her hair, making herself at least semi-presentable by the time Anders comes knocking.

Kiter's head pops up from his bed where he was sleeping, tail wagging at the knock on the door. Riona's out of her bed in a shot, pushing open the door quickly.

And there he stands, still a bit too skinny for her liking, but there all the same with that little smile and stumpy half ponytail sticking out the back.

Normally she'd say something witty or at least an attempt at humorous, given their relationship, but words just... fail her, honestly. Everything has just been so much, so painful for weeks now and finally, finally, she gets a bit of a break. Maybe it won't be for long, he could be gone in a matter of days, but right now, what matters is that he's here in front of her at this moment.

She all but throws herself at him, arms tight around him, hands clamping and digging into his shirt. Again, words don't seem to come, no matter how hard she tries. Her breath hitches, and she squeezes her eyes shut. Maker's breath, she doesn't want to break down crying at the first moment she sees him!]

[His thoughts spin to try and come up with something witty or sarcastic for her, but she's in his arms before he can really even think of anything that could be considered half good.

She clings to him and he easily responds by holding her close, tucking her head under his chin as though to both block out everything else and also hold her together.

She hadn't been in the best mental state when he'd last remembered being on the fleet, Maker knew what else might have happened in the months since and he knew her well enough to know something had happened.]

Hey...I've got you. I'm here.

[It's awful to feel like she's unraveling. But it just really hasn't been good lately. Friends gone, Fenris doing that Awful Thing, and her usual haunts combined beat her down until she was on her knees. She's not sure if Atroma is playing with her by bringing back Anders or if this is some honest moment of contrition. Maybe it's neither. Who can say? All she knows is that he's back and she wants to grin and tease him, but also just kind of cry.

The crying's starting to win out.]

I missed you. So many people left. They took almost all of my crew in just a couple of months. Even Leliana.

I'm so sorry, Riona.

[For leaving, for the fact everyone seemed to have left. Even Leliana...that one had to have hurt the most, he knew how close the two of them were.]

Atroma certainly seems to be rather fickle, I'm sorry you had to suffer that. What can I do for you?

[He could mend any wound or illness, bring others from the brink of death, but heartbreak wasn't something even magic could help with. Only time seemed to have any domain over that and it had hardly done any favors when it kept lashing out at his commander.]

You're already doing what you can.

[Just being there right now, a pillar of support and understanding what she's been through. That's all she can ask for. He's here now, and that eases the sting of the past few months a bit. And this time, she'll be more prepared. Or so she hopes. She can't put herself through all of this again.]

At least they brought you again with Wolfe. I'd have felt awful if either of you came here alone.

[He gave a small smile but didn't pull away, he was content to hold her as long as she needed the support.]

It's horribly selfish, but I am too.

[He couldn't help but think of Riona and Alistair, separated exactly like that with no sign of change on the horizon. Of course, clearly, change could come at the drop of a hat one way or the other.

But then...if Anders were here and Wolfe back home, couldn't he go back to the life he'd made and loved? The one Anders had ripped apart. That begged a different question, one he suspected his friend had thought over plenty.]

Do you think time still passes in Thedas? I mean, I suppose it does, right? It only makes sense. Unless they mean to return us at the exact moment we were taken.

[There's always a bit of jealousy in Riona towards those like Anders and Wolfe who have their beloved here. Because of course it makes her miss Alistair all the more, and how unfair it is that she has to be without. But it's also unfair of her to feel that way towards them, and she'd never say it.]

I was told no. When I went into my coma and those ten years passed, no one had noticed I was gone. When I first came to the fleet, there was a woman here who told me she'd be sent home and had come back, and no one was the wiser of her absence. So, yes, I think they return us to the moment we were taken. Safer for them that way.

I suppose that makes sense.

[It would also make sense if that were what happened to Hawke and himself, not that they'd ever be able to know. Of course Hawke still held to his theory that they'd simply been made catatonic and 'stored' somewhere on the Marsiva until being re-awoken, a good theory if you didn't think Atroma could actually do what they said they did.

Both held their own merits, but he'd have no hope in figuring out any of it with what little they had now. It would have to be set aside for now.

He pulled away and swiped her hair away from her face.]

Do you want to do something? Anything at all, I am at your disposal, my dear commander.

[Riona doesn't want to consider the other possibility, that they've been trapped here the whole time and have never gotten to go home. It's utterly terrifying. Sokka believes something similar, or at least isn't so sure they get to go back at all. It's not an idea she discredits. It's just one she really doesn't want to be true at all.]

Entirely at my disposal? Oh dear, such power you've given me. I might go mad from it. [There, some teasing, like everything's just fine and normal.] Might be nice to get out and about. Maybe find something to eat and drink. Do some catching up.

[He can definitely appreciate the teasing, at least, it puts a touch back into place.]

Oh dear, I've made quite the mistake, you're right. Now I'm to be subjected to the company of a beautiful woman over food and drink, I'll surely regret this.

You poor, foolish creature.

[She laughs as she lightly pokes him in the side.]

Let me get changed and looking somewhat presentable for the public eye, then we can mosey on down.

Oh, of course. [He smirked, as though already laughing at what he was about to say before he'd said it.]

Shall I wait out here, then, or might you need some company?

[That was one thing he'd be forever grateful for: teasing Riona was still as easy as breathing.]

[A chuckle escapes her before she shoots him A Look.]

Nice try, mister. As much as I loved our lurid affair, you're a committed man now.

[He gives an over-dramatic sigh and steps out of the doorway to wait in the hall.]

Damn that commitment thing, I suppose the fond memories will have to do.

[He broke into a grin and winked at her.]

Take your time, I'll be out here.

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Video; always something that needs doing

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