Tourist October Mingle

[candothat]

Who: Tourists and anyone who can think of a reason to be there
Broadcast: Possibly? Eventually?
Action: On the S.S. Tourist
When: October! All of it!

[How's it going now that we're getting over the disasters and dying? Y'good?]

Comments

[apurrstate]

I know. I'm sorry, I know it's not fair. You deserve to be given a chance to meet people and let them get to know you without all of that extra prejudice in the background. For the most part, I think you'll find that here, while there are a lot of Thedosians in the fleet, there's even more who know nothing about spirits or Thedas or any of it, I don't think you'll have nearly as hard a time with them.

[He sighed and put his hands up in surrender. With the gaping hole in Justice's context, there was just no good way to explain any of this in a way that was easy. And Anders trying to insist either party work with each other any more than necessary wasn't fair to them. That selfish desire to have everyone he cared about be at ease with each other was a childish wish. It stood to reason that Justice and Hawke might never see eye-to-eye simply because they didn't mix well.]

He said he would try, but I can't ask either of you to work at something neither of you wants, if it's easier to simply not talk to each other, then I'd rather the two of you do that instead of rub each other the wrong way simply because I ask it.

[And, frankly, he was tired of this dispute, this game of tug-of-war on both sides.

[whatisright]

[Justice crosses his arms, frowning at Anders. He's tempted to just take this concession and leave it at that. Anders' boyfriend clearly doesn't like him, and Justice can't say he's developed many fond feelings for the man either, so it only makes logical sense that they just not talk. Justice has already long since accepted that he won't make many friends among mortals, and he's happy with the few he does have.

But this is clearly important to Anders, and Anders is important to Justice. He doesn't understand it, but he doesn't understand many things about mortals. Anders makes the effort to accommodate Justice, even if he doesn't always understand spirits--isn't it only fair that Justice put in the same effort?

Justice sighs through his nose, an entirely superfluous gesture that he must have picked up in Vigil's Keep. Probably from Nathaniel.]

If he tries, then I will as well. I will forgive past slights and attempt to not unsettle him so going forward. [Justice knows that he'll put Anders' boyfriend on edge anyway, since that seems to just be mortals' natural reactions to him, but Justice will try to not do things he knows mortals don't like. Maybe it will be enough to salvage a working relationship.

There, look, he's going to try. Can Anders not look so unhappy now?]

[apurrstate]

[Anders can feel the relief flood him more than it should. He would understand if they simply couldn't mesh very well together and had to take some space from each other for the most part, but he couldn't deny that he was grateful for at least the attempt. If they were still at each other's throats even after, then Anders could accept it simply wasn't going to be an easy time and go from there.]

Thank you, Justice. I know it isn't easy for you, I appreciate you're willing to try. [He's got a small but relieved smile on his face, that's less unhappy, right?]

[whatisright]

[Justice really, really hopes that Anders' boyfriend meant it when he said he would try, because he will not be able to just take any more insinuations that he's dangerous. No matter how much he wants to make Anders happy, Justice has limits.

But Anders is smiling, so it's worth the effort. Justice will give it a shot. Maybe Anders is right and the man just needs time to get used to the idea of having a spirit around. Justice is ready to try if that's what it takes to make Anders happy.]

If we both try, I do not see why it cannot work. [It's not like they have to be best friends. If Justice puts effort into not unsettling Anders' boyfriend, and Anders' boyfriend puts effort into not treating Justice like a bomb waiting to go off in Anders and Riona's laps, then their main sources of conflict would disappear. Justice won't hold the man's earlier slights against him as long as he tries going forward.]

It is not as though my first impressions have not been wrong in the past.

[After all, Justice judged Anders hard when they first met in the Fade during the conflict with the Baronness. It would have been hard to imagine being so close to him when they first met, but Justice wouldn't give up their friendship for the world now. Who's to say that he can't be surprised again?]

[apurrstate]

Thank you. [He knows he's said it twice, but he meant it. He really didn't have any right to ask this of either of them, but it was important to him. There weren't very many people he cared about quite so much. To have those few people fighting each other was less than ideal.

He smiled, his tone teasing even as the smile was genuine.]

You are rather quick to judge people, sometimes.

Now, come on, help me finish and store these potions real quick.

End?

[whatisright]

Perhaps sometimes.

[Justice allows, warmth and a little bit of amusement in his eyes. Anders is smiling, and Justice can't be offended by him telling the truth.

He settles in to help Anders with the potions, pleased to just share his friend's company. If this is what it takes to make Anders happy, he will try to be good with his boyfriend going forward. What's the worst that can happen?]