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

[wolfehawke]

That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?

[He levels an even gaze at Anders, letting that sink in on its own. He'd sided with Fereldens against prejudiced Kirkwallers, he'd sided with Kirkwall against the Qunari, and most infamously he'd sided with the mages against what felt like the entire rest of Thedas, so it is a miracle he doesn't just roll his eyes and leave too.

But he doesn't, because for all he finds this ridiculous, he makes the effort to understand, too. He knows how Fenris just crawls under Anders' skin and that the healer isn't actually angry with Adalwolfe.]

Love, we have to live here. I'm trying to be civil.

[apurrstate]

[It was and it wasn't true, but Anders had never been good about apologizing when he was angry, only after, once the guilt set in.

His jaw clenched and his eyes bore holes into the lab's countertop where they'd settled. He bit his tongue to keep from saying the next thing to spring to mind. 'How well will that go this time?' was a blow too low and too deep to make to someone he loved so much. He couldn't even as the question still rang in his head.]

Wolfe, you're great at keeping the peace, you always have been, but some things just can't be helped.

[wolfehawke]

This isn't one of those things.

[He regards Anders for a moment, trying to judge whether he can close the physical gap between them without getting an elbow in his ribs. A second later has him stepping forward and putting a hand gingerly against Anders' arm.]

You just have to learn how to talk to each other. It's a feat, but not an insurmountable one. I have faith that you can do it.

[Faith. Something Wolfe doesn't have about much of anything save for Anders, and he choose the word carefully.]

[apurrstate]

[The touch was something Anders expected. They were both more on the tactile side and it brought both of them comfort to be near each other, even when one of them wasn't in the greatest of moods.

What he doesn't expect is that exact phrasing. Wolfe rarely used words lightly and when he was specifically trying to get a particular point across, he could use them as expertly as an artist used brushes.

Hawke had faith in him. Hawke held very little faith in general, it was a difference between them that they'd rarely touch on much. So to know he held what little he had in Anders, who so rarely held any for himself, it meant something.

Anders still didn't have faith in himself nor Fenris nor the idea that they could somehow make this living arrangement work, but Wolfe did and maybe that would be enough for now. It would have to be.

His posture lost some of the tension that had been there before and Anders sighed warily, but his hand came up to cover Hawke's.]

I hear you, love.

[wolfehawke]

[It's a heavy relief when Anders relents. The tension between them has been heavy not just now but about other things as well and it's getting to be more than Wolfe thinks he can take. But with this some of it breaks and he feels much better for it. Anders' hand covers his and he covers it with his other hand in turn, leaning in to press his forehead against his boyfriend's.]

I love you, Anders. Don't think I wouldn't defend you with everything I had, if it came to that again.

[Ashes falling around them, everyone looking at Anders in horror as the Chantry burns. Even him, at first. But the condemnation thrown at Anders just made Wolfe want to fight harder, to stand between them and the healer as a wall. What Anders had done was indeed horrific, but that didn't mean that Wolfe was going to leave his side.

Never.

Not for that, and not for this either, not if it came down to the worst.

He's going to try his damnedest to make sure it doesn't come to that, but he does think that Anders needs to hear once more where his loyalties lie. As if it were ever in doubt.]

[apurrstate]

[Whatever stubborn wall Anders had erected between them, even with the small touch he'd offered, crumbled like dry clay, unable to stand up to those words, that tone. Hawke was his weakness. A gentle touch, a soft word and Anders was completely at his love's whim.

Especially when he knew his anger was pointless and now only burning the two of them. He didn't want that, Wolfe deserved better. Wolfe had always deserved better than Anders.]

I love you too. I don't deserve you, but I thank the Maker you have the patience for me.

[wolfehawke]

Hush, you deserve the world.

[He leans in and kisses Anders gently, silencing any further protest. They would get through this, he has no doubt, and ideally without destroying the ship in the process. He earnestly believes Anders is capable of that now without Justice inside him. He can be far more reasonable.]