Keep the change, ya filthy animal!

[wolfehawke]

Who: Whoever's on planet and happens by; also one prompt closed to Anders
Broadcast: No
Action: Yes
When: Before, during, and after the attack on the cannibals
Warning: Use of dead bodies as "decor"


A. On the eve of battle

[The Tourist has had some repair work done to her in the weeks she's been stranded on the planet's surface. Whether she's space worthy is debatable, but she's certainly livable at least. Just lacking in defenses what with most of her crew off to fight for the freedom and survival of the Fleet. Hawke and Anders though, they're still not recovered quite enough to go fighting in the knock-down drag-out battle that's going to ensue which means they're left to stand guard over the silent hulk of the ship.

Even if they're injured though, they still need to defend their home, and with some discussion and careful planning, they're able to do just that.

If anyone passes by on their way to confront the Vizeri or otherwise, the Tourist is less inviting than usual. Fenris' handiwork in killing any cannibal that came within 100 yards of her has proven very helpful in Hawke and Anders' redecorating efforts. Bodies with fatal and nasty wounds are displayed all along the hull at irregular intervals, some with red smears underneath to show where they were dragged along the plating. The main hatch is shut, but before it are rows of sharpened wooden spikes, carved crudely but effectively and lashed together to form barriers. They're not difficult to navigate for a single person, but any group would be forced into single file to get at the entrance.

The hatch on the side of the ship is less formidable to look at. True, a corpse is pegged on either side like eerie sentinels, but at least there's no spikes? It's through this hatch that Wolfe can be seen moving in and out of the ship, lugging more sharp stakes out or wood in or walking around the ship using his magic to position fortifications and even summon walls of magical ice around other areas of the ship. Wolfe's face is set in a determined frown but there's a bit of a manic glint in his eyes, something that belays a mischief about this whole display.

Just be careful if you approach; there's more magic set up here than just what's used to build walls.]



B. Wet Bandits - Closed to Anders

[Twas a night on Hell Planet, and all through the ship
the consoles were quiet, without even a blip.
The corpses were hung on the hull plating with care
in the hopes that the cannibals would know to beware;
the mages were nestled and hidden in corners
biting their tongues lest their witty rejoinders
allow the trespassers in their humble abode
to find where the mages were secretly stowed.

The Vizeri were here and their boots made a clomp
giving away just right where they'd stomp
and so the two mages with spells at the ready
jumped from their places to cast spells like confetti!
Anders fried a handful with a huge burst of lightning
that the deafening sound was no short of frightening.
And Wolfe's spells hit the eyes of their cannibal foes
and a good number of warriors were were easily froze.

The two looked at each other and admired their work
but this job wasn't over so they couldn't shirk.
Further into the ship the two mages did skiff
the cannibals following, unaware of the glyph
that the healer and champion had arranged in the hall
so one by one their enemies would tumble and fall.
Paralysis, weakness, and runes to slow gait
the traps they had laid were really first rate.

The night is not over and the day is not won
there's a long way to go before work is done.
But Anders and Adalwolfe have experience in spades
of making their enemies regret running raids.]



C. "Because my staff is buried in his nervous system!"

[With so much effort put into their traps and fortifications and the battle that followed, Adalwolfe is exhausted, but happy. It all went rather well if you ask him. Neither he nor Anders ended up with any new injuries, neither passed out from using too much mana. All in all, a successful defense of their home.

There's a lot of cleanup to do, but after clearing the bodies from the halls of the ship, Wolfe is taking a snack break before starting a pyre. The bodies of dead cannibals may not be the most comfortable perch but Wolfe takes a great deal of satisfaction in getting back at the bastards who not only took several bites out of him some time ago but nearly killed his lover. He thinks he's earned his moment of vindication.

If anyone passes by on their way back from the Vizeri stronghold, he can be spotted sitting on a rock with his boot firmly planted on two bodies at his feet and another pile of at least six behind him. He waves with his free hand, the other casually stuffing a sandwich in his face like he's not sitting in the middle of the corpses of his enemies.]

Hey, how'd it go?

[Chill as you please.]

Comments

[wolfehawke]

[Adalwolfe smirks back, his makeshift staff resting across his knees as he crouches in his place a few feet up from Anders and behind a console. He has a good vantage towards the door and while Anders has laid the magical traps that will keep them covered from the rear, Adalwolfe has his evocations at the ready. Ice and lightning, the latter made so much stronger just by watching Anders for years, learning through observation and feel and honed to a finesse that may not rival his boyfriend's but can certainly toast the enemy just as well.

A heavy slam on the hatch turns Wolfe's attention back to the door and a jolt of excitement runs down his spine. He prefers this sort of thing to all the interpersonal problems and existential crises that he has to deal with. This is simple. Bad guys at the door, magic crackling on his finger tips, and his love at his back.

Another slam, and Hawke grins wolfishly, sparks and frozen crystals flickering around his fingers.]

[apurrstate]

[At the first slam, Anders' smirk flashes wider for just a moment, but then his attention shifts to the door. Well, if they wanted to try and board the ship anyway, it'd be their funeral.

On the third bang, there was a crashing noise as they finally busted in, the first handful froze in their tracks as a bright green light illuminated under their feet. The glyphs froze as many as they could, but a tentative push from the group allowed the rest through.

The air crackled, tense with electricity as Anders summoned the mana needed for a little chain lightning. The bolt arched from person to person, shocking just enough to make muscles tense and freeze, paralyzed in place.]

[wolfehawke]

[Lightning arcs from surface to victim to victim and Adalwolfe can't help but admire the control Anders exhibits with his magic. Not only does the electricity only do enough to disable, but it doesn't touch any of the myriad of metal surfaces in the ship's interior either. Anders can direct lightning like a conductor directs an orchestra and Wolfe tries not to get too far down that mental rabbit hole and into a place with very specific appreciations of Anders' talent with electricity. He can't afford to be that distracted right now.

With their enemies temporarily frozen in place, Wolfe steps out and swings his broomstick in a wide arc, ice forming and cascading in front of him along its path in large spikes. The closest cannibals freeze solid, too close to the sub-zero heart of the spell to resist. Those closer to the door are not so lucky, if turning into a human icicle is lucky. Several are impaled on spikes of ice, sharper than any spear, while others get a painful spray of shards, freezing and cutting at any exposed flesh. The ground too becomes slippery and difficult to maneuver, sending one severely unfortunate target sliding into a spike and joining his fellow in a grisly impression of a meat skewer.

Exhaling a cloud of frost and forcing himself not to stumble on his bad leg after that great expenditure of magic, Wolfe steps back with his makeshift weapon at the ready, summoning up the will to cast another spell and end this quickly.]

[apurrstate]

[Anders watches in pure appreciation as Wolfe works his magic. Ice was deadly, cold, destructive and beautiful in a way that could steal your breath. Hawke made it dance like the element was made to bend to his will. Anders knew Hawke was a little sore on the subject of how impercise his magic could be, he was trained for attack and defense for survival alone, there wasn't the delicate and careful finesse of Circle-teachings. But there was a grace that came from Hawke alone, grace and skill born from sheer power.

Anders loved it.

The energy of the dying siphoned from their bodies and into Anders to replenish his mana, enough that it practically restored as he cast. He took the destructive energy and turned it into Creation, burning it through into Panacea and Heroic Aura to boost Hawke's offense and defense for the final push.]

[wolfehawke]

[Anders' outpourings of magical stamina keep Hawke on the offensive and between the two of them they make very short work of the rest of the invasion team. It was a relatively small force, which was to be expected given that the bulk of them must be defending their own keep, but Wolfe is glad for it. Much longer and he's not sure his reserves wouldn't have run dry. He's exhausted much more quickly than he normally would be, still not entirely recovered from the spirit healing ordeal. He doesn't actually know if he ever will be it's taking so damn long, but he's not going to voice that impatience to Anders who has enough to worry about.

The last cannibal lets out an almost comical scream and tumbles from the hatch back to the ground outside in a bloody heap and Wolfe looks to Anders to make sure his love is alright.]

That should be the last of them, I think.

[apurrstate]

At least for a little while.

[An unnatural breeze whipped around the hall as Anders shed his sustained abilities and the healer released a long sigh as he rested against the nearest wall.

But his eyes darted up and found Wolfe and he pushed away from the wall to move to Hawke's side instead.]

Are you all right?

[wolfehawke]

They didn't even touch me.

[He shoos Anders back to his wall, or better yet to something to sit on. That looks like it took quite a bit out of his love.]

Take a breather. I'll make sure there's no more on the way. Just a check out the hatch, I'll stay within view.

[apurrstate]

Good, then I did my job.

[Anders follows Wolfe's fussing even if he doesn't feel it entirely necessary, he just did too much all at once when he hadn't been doing much of anything with his magic for the last couple weeks.]

You better. I do rather enjoy the view.

[It was a silly flirtation, but he did mean it. He trusted Hawke to more than be able to handle himself, but he was still a man and one capable of being overwhelmed or surrounded if too many enemies came up at once.]

[wolfehawke]

[Hawke makes a point of swaggering his way to the hatch, rocking his hips far more than is strictly necessary just for show towards his boyfriend. This is a nice change. Ever since Justice arrived in the Fleet it feels like he and Anders had done nothing but argue. Its put a strain on them both but getting back into their element like this, fighting the good fight, this puts a vitality in them both that Adalwolfe is loathe to waste.

He takes a peek out the door and is gratified to see that the coast is clear. Any remaining enemies had fled back into the woods. There would be a great deal to clean up later, but for now they're safe.

He does a funny little dance and slide on his way back to Anders, ending in a flourish and a bow.]

It seems we're alone now, my love.

[Eyebrow waggle.]

[apurrstate]

[Anders watches his love's saunter without reservation and he does appreciate it. When Wolfe bows, Anders can't help but laugh at his boyfriend's antics and even claps for him.]

At long last.

[Anders took the steps needed to meet Wolfe and he swept the other man into a searing and lasting kiss. When he pulls away, it's with a sharp smirk.]

I love it when you skewer our enemies on spikes of ice. [It's teasing, but then his tone slips into sincerity.] Your magic is art.

[wolfehawke]

[Hawke returns the kiss with the same amount of fervor. He can practically feel the sparks between them and if they didn't have the threat of still imminent attack hanging over them, this might get... messy.]

And I love it when you sizzle them to a crisp with lightning.

[Such romantic talk.

He does get a bit embarrassed when Anders calls his magic "art" though. He tries and he tries hard to work at finesse and for his partner to bring attention to it fills him with pride but also humility. He knows how far he came to get to this point in skill and he knows just how much he doesn't know, very aware of the gaps in his magical education. Still, he has a smaller brain vying for dominance at the moment so the embarrassment is not long-lived.]

If it is, then its an inexpert thing next to yours. The way you can make the essence of a storm do your bidding - anything you desire...

[He can't even finish that sentence, instead going in for another hungry, devouring kiss.]

[apurrstate]

[Anders meets it enthusiastically, small sounds of hunger and enjoyment escaping him as they kiss. Maker, he would never tire of kissing his love, it was like he could taste the spark of life and joy and love he felt from his partner on the other mage's lips.

And it was the only answer he could give in the moment. He knew his own skill, fire might be his panic response as it was for so many other mages, but lightning was his passion and his own art. But he also knew there wasn't one 'better' than the other in their inate skills, the art simply came with different styles, it made neither any less beautiful.

But that was far too eloquent a response in the heat of the moment. Right now, Anders wished desperately for a miracle where they weren't still both healing and weren't still under the threat of invading cannibals so Anders could demonstrate his appreciation for Hawke's skill far more intimately.]

[wolfehawke]

[Cannibals are suddenly the furthest thing from Hawke's mind as he loses himself in his love. It's far more electric than any lightning for him, the kisses his healer bestows upon him, and with eager hands he grasps at Anders' body for more. He pulls the slighter man against him, hands roaming wildly just to get the shape of him, a shape Hawke has memorized a thousand times over but still traces with such a need as to override familiarity. He ignores the pulse in his leg as he shifts Anders against the wall at his back, the twinge in his shoulder as he twists in just the wrong way. Forget being injured, forget being exhausted, this is everything he wants right now.

Unfortunately, his body has other ideas.

Hawke's about to go for the belt buckles when he's overcome for a moment with a wave of dizziness, causing him to leave off and press his hands to the bulkhead instead to steady himself, effectively trapping Anders there but not for the reason he wishes.]

Maker...

[He pants, laughing.]

You make me forget myself.

[apurrstate]

[Once Hawke's hands are on him, it's basically impossible to think of anything else. Even as generally tame as they were being currently, there was a promise of more and it was all he could focus on. Hawke's built form pressing into him as the metal wall to his back refuses to yield, he could feel his heart leaping from the feeling and desire.

But then Hawke shifts suddenly and as though his leg's strength has buckled and Anders' awareness is a haze of lust and concern as what his body wants and what his mind defaults to warred for a moment. His arms snapped around Hawke, hands pressing to the other mage's back as a low-grade healing spell spilled from his palms on instinct.

His laugh as his mind finally processed where they actually were and what they wanted to do foolishly despite their injuries, came out curt and airy.]

Maker...are you alright, love? Perhaps we ought to...put this on hold for now?

[wolfehawke]

Maybe for the best.

[He winces and lowers himself to the floor. Just for a moment, he tells himself, but the pressure off his leg does a lot of good. Doesn't mean he can't still banter, of course.]

Hmm... once we're off this planet, I'm going to do unspeakable things to you, I hope you're prepared.

[apurrstate]

[Anders' mana has pooled enough, he slips his fingers into Hawke's hair and releases some of it into a small burst of healing magic, something to ease the pain of suddenly overexerted muscles.]

You know I'll hold you to that. If only we weren't injured, the threat of potential death has hardly ever stopped us before.

[They'd certainly been guilty of quick trysts in forests so thick they only weren't lost because they weren't headed anywhere, but a templar or bear could have rounded a tree at any moment and it hadn't deterred them then.

[wolfehawke]

Right, I'm not worried about cannibals. I'm more worried about collapsing at the wrong angle and hurting us both worse.

[He huffs unhappily, his breath shifting the hair from his face, and grins up at his love wolfishly.]

But the idea of shoving you into a wall and taking advantage of my broader shoulders and just how little your belt does to hold up your trousers is definitely appealing.

[apurrstate]

[Anders groans, head falling back to the wall still behind him as his vivid imagination takes the lead on activities their bodies couldn't. That was going to be a problem if he didn't reign that in soon.]

I demand you do that sometime soon.

Do you know how little you have to do or say to put a fire under my skin?