undwarfy | Open post

Andraste's fucking boots, he wasn't expecting bees. What in the Void?

There was no time to wonder if it had been Varric, or to decide how to retaliate. He threw up an arcane shield, which would deflect any further crossbow bolts for a minute (fortunately for him), but which also locked some of the bees in with him. So Varric had the dubious pleasure of seeing Anders briefly untouchable but also flailing away from panicked, infuriated bees attacking his face, and hands, and everywhere, and while he eventually managed to stop them all it took a few minutes, during which he did what could only be described as an "escaping from pissed off bees" dance of jumping around and dodging inside the magical barrier he'd erected.

That done he looked out incredulous through the haze of magic shimmering between them. Definitely Varric. Right. Well. That was unexpected. Varric attacking him on sight, that was less surprising. All things considered.

Shit.

There was nothing he could do. The last thing Anders wanted to do was hurt Varric, no matter how angry the dwarf was. Panting for breath, he waited. The shield wouldn't hold forever, and he wouldn't be able to make another one for a few minutes. Varric had companions with him--of course he did--but no one Anders could recognize at a quick glance, and he kept his attention on his former friend.

As much as Varric wanted to keep raining hell down on the mage until he was as bloody and broken as the world he made, the barrier made it temporarily impossible. He readied another jar and loaded Bianca, but behind him his companions were starting to get uneasy. He wished Anders would just fucking attack already and make this easier.

The Seeker’s voice, unsure. “Varric, who is this man? He has not attacked us.”

“Did he attack you first, and we didn’t see?” Lavellan, willing as always to believe him.

“No,” came the elf’s mild answer. “Not directly, anyway.”

Varric sighed. Of course Chuckles figured it out. Fucking flames.

Cassandra again, looking from mage to dwarf and back again, studying Anders’s face far too closely. “Varric...?”

Varric sighed and lowered his weapon. No point in trying now, not when it was one crossbow against a mage and a party rapidly cottoning on. “I guess the jig’s up, Blondie.”

Beside him, Cassandra gasped.

Anders, with more time to look at the others, has been silently swearing up a storm in his head. One of Varric's companions, going by the sigil on her armor, is a Seeker. The only thing possibly worse than a Templar, the person who's supposed police the Templars.

And another is wearing the uniform of the Inquisition itself. Which wouldn't be enough to identify her, but the glowing green hand that reeks of the Fade? Bit of a giveaway. It's fascinating, and in other circumstances he'd have loved to study it, to learn what in the Void it is, how it happened, how it's possible, which rumors are true.

Unfortunately it's these circumstances, and he's probably fucked.

Anders waves a hand and lowers the barrier. It's pointless; if that really is the Inquisitor and her party, they could take him out in seconds if they want, Justice or no Justice. And none of them are actively trying to kill him for now. Emphasis on the 'for now', since at least one of them recognizes Varric's old nickname for him.

Well. No more running, then.

Fine. He'll accept whatever he's got coming to him. Anders stands in front of them and doesn't flinch from the scrutiny. "It's good to see you too, Varric." His voice is dry enough that the Western Approach is a seaside resort in comparison. "I was expecting a warm greeting if we ever met again, but you've definitely outdone yourself."

Before Varric has the chance to answer, Lavellan finally speaks up. "Does anybody want to tell me what's going on here?"

He can feel Solas's eyes on him. The Herald's. Chuckles and the Seeker both know the truth, he can feel it. Only Lavellan is out of the loop.

"Lavellan," Cassandra begins. "I believe this person is-"

"-An old friend," Varric cuts in. As angry as he is at Anders, he has no desire to see the man forced to the hospitality of the furious ex-templars back in Haven. The mages wouldn't be any kinder, he suspects. Varric turns to face his companions, eyes pleading. "Seeker, Herald- please. Can you give me a few minutes?"

Cassandra meets his eyes, sees the plea there, and falls silent, though her eyes narrow. Lavellan looks from Seeker to dwarf then steps around them both, introducing herself to Anders.

"My name is Lavellan. We're with the Inquisition. May I ask your name?"

Judging by the gleam in her eyes, Varric suspects she already has an idea.

Anders waves a hand impatiently. They've all already guessed, he's sure, there's no point in dragging this out. "It's Anders. Yes, that one, obviously. And if all of you have the same idea as Varric here, let's just get this over with." He's not quite in an attack stance, but he's not far from it. He doesn't want to hurt Varric, but he'll defend himself. Letting Hawke kill him way back then would have been one thing, but this? This is something else.

He just wishes he knew what, and hopes they'll get on with it, whatever 'it' turns out to be.

Varric sighs and pointedly doesn't look at Lavellan. Or Cassandra. Who he told, not too long ago, that Anders was dead. The Seeker starts to say something angrily, but the Inquisitor's raised hand silences her.

"Well met, Anders. I am Salinan Lavellan," she says politely, lowering her staff. It's a clear gesture of peace.

Anders stays where he is for a moment, still suspicious, before gradually lowering his staff as well and relaxing his stance. He's still tense, and if anyone makes a sudden movement he'll go back on the defensive. Not without reason; he's just had a jar of bees thrown at him, and who does that?

Varric, obviously. Thank the Maker he didn't do that in the old days, or he'd have been treating all of them for stings on a regular basis.

"Are you really sure it's well met, Inquisitor?" He glances at Varric, then the obviously still angry Seeker, before meeting Lavellan's eyes again. She seems courteous, seems to actually mean it, though he can't figure out why the Herald of Andraste would be glad to meet a man who single-handedly destroyed a Chantry. "I don't think there are many who'd agree with that."

"Most shemlen don't share my... enthusiasm for reform." Her eyes gleam a little, light catching on her staff and vallaslin. Lavellan has many reasons to forgive the destruction of one extremely corrupt chantry. "Besides, anyone who can make Varric angry enough to throw bees must be truly extraordinary. I haven't known him long, but I know a break in pattern when I see one."

Her eyes are dancing. This is meant more as a tease at Varric for losing his cool so spectacularly, than any actual jab at Anders. Varric kicks the dirt restlessly, not appreciating the mockery but recognizing that he deserves it.

Anders can't help it; he chuckles, caught off guard by her candor and teasing, even more than by the sight of Varric kicking at the dirt like a petulant child. That's impressive. The dwarf must really respect her. "Yes, well, I have a certain knack for disruption," he says dryly, relaxing further. "It's not one most people appreciate, though it probably shouldn't surprise me the Herald of Andraste is different."

There's the slightest stress on the title, mostly an acknowledgement that whatever he expected the Herald of Andraste to be, she isn't it, a fact she'll probably appreciate.

Varric lets the two talk it out. Meanwhile, the Seeker stares daggers at him, probably for telling her that Anders was dead, and Solas edges a bit closer to the mage out of curiosity.

Lavellan gives a tinkling laugh at the title. "Herald of Andraste? Why am I not surprised that even reclusive fugitives from the law in the wilderness know about that?" Her staff returns to her back and she moves a bit closer. "Disruption might be a mild word for it. I'm told I ruined a lot of plans by falling out of the sky and being an elf. Personally, I think the human Chantry's plans need more ruining."

The Herald extends a hand in greeting, to shake, but doesn't move closer- no, she leaves it to Anders to close the gap. "Can I shake your hand, Anders?"

Behind her, Cassandra's disapproval practically radiates off of her. Solas seems amused and bemused both, and Varric just sort of... staring. Leave it to her to fangirl over the possessed terrorist.

Anders stares at the outstretched hand in amazement. He's shaken hands. He hasn't been living as a complete recluse, just an anonymous one. But it's years since anyone asked to shake his hand or treated him in such a friendly way who actually knew who he was and what he'd done.

But he still doesn't move forward, looks warily over her shoulder. Mostly at Cassandra. "Nothing personal, Inquisitor, but I don't think your companions share your opinion on that."

He hasn't forgotten that this meeting began with bees being thrown at him, after all. And he has no desire to be caught in a headlock and hauled off to prison or execution.

She frowns, looking more than a little confused. "Opinion on what?"

The Inquisitor glances over her shoulder at her companions, then back at the mage. There's something she's missing here, but blast if she can figure out what exactly it is.

"This..." For lack of any clue, she looks at her own hand. "It's a human greeting, isn't it?"

Anders' eyebrow is about to rise clear off his head. She's serious, he's sure, and he's on the verge of breaking out laughing, though maybe that's nerves as much as amusement...there's no question that the Herald of Andraste is absolutely nothing like what he--or anyone--expected. "I meant, that I think your companions are a lot more of the throw him in prison and let him rot or kill him with bees frame of mind--" He glances briefly at Varric. "--than the shake his hand and bid him welcome frame of mind, Herald. And I think they and I would all be happier if we knew what you intend to do about me sooner rather than later."

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Shall we have Hawke survived, dating Varric, but off to Weisshaupt for this one?

early DAI, m!hawke survived

Re: early DAI, m!hawke survived

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HI don't mind me I'm answering seriously old threads UP UP AND AWAY