high_seas | (no subject)

Not particularly.

[It's just one piddly little fireball spell, barely strong enough to leave a proper burn, much less do any real damage to anything. He can sustain it for quite a long time before needing to take a break, and if it's all the casting he's doing, he can keep it burning for most of a night.

Hawke's version of 'restraint' in action.]

You're using spirit magic to do that, right?

[Anders nods.]

I can use a fire spell as well, but I've had people near frozen brought to my clinic in winter. It's too easy to burn them before they warm up.

[So he keeps things gentle - he can go even gentler, if necessary, although the persistent warmth will still make quite a bit of difference in the long run.]

You could tell just from feeling the effects?

I don't think I've ever been quite that cold. That never occurred to me.

[He'll keep it in mind, though...it's definitely a good point. Also, he'll just be quietly dropping his own spell and his hand, now, since Anders is still doing the warming thing.]

Well, yes? It feels almost like when you use a healing spell.

[Which is a sensation Hawke really quite likes, so of course he'd pay attention to that sort of thing.]

Even if it doesn't hurt them, it can easily feel like it's burning.

[Once a healer, always a healer. He's always keeping these things in mind.

He's a little bit disappointed when Hawke drops his spell, too. It felt good - and besides, his own spell is focused entirely on warming Hawke. With that heat source gone, it's only a few moments before Anders starts shivering, the sudden lack of the spell making it feel colder than it had before. Although he doesn't say anything, because Hawke is the one who'll need to stay out here for several hours more, and he'll need the strength.]

I've had to heal you that often, even though you're a mage?

[mages are supposed to stay back, Hawke, away from the main fighting. Tanks, like Aveline and Fenris, are for taking damage.]

Aveline's good, but she can't block all the hits when the odds are twenty-to-five and the other side's got a handful of crafty rogues.

[Silly Anders, of course Hawke mostly hangs back and flings spells from afar, he's not that stupid, come on.

And he's definitely close enough to note that shiver. So he lifts his recently dropped hand and almost tentatively rests it on Anders' hip.]

Like this, right?

[And he does his best to mimic what Anders is doing. His father had attempted to train him in spirit magic, so he did know the basics; the gentle spells didn't come nearly as easily to him as the more destructive elemental and force spells did, and he hadn't ever been very interested in that particular school of magic, which hadn't helped.

He'd acquired some interest after meeting Anders, though; and while his first attempt at copying Anders' spell is kind of pitiful, there's definitely some warmth starting there. For once, Hawke is actually restraining himself. He's had one too many complaints from his friends about how his healing spells always hit like a ton of bricks, and really, they'll be perfectly fine until Anders can see to it, whatever it is, honest.]

Edited 2014-03-17 04:43 (UTC)

You don't seem like you would be too careful.

[Just saying. He might not be stupid, but he still seems like he would just rush in sometimes.

He's just teasing, though, and he stops immediately as Hawke touches his hip and he feels the beginnings of that spell. His breath catches a little. It's not much, but the fact that Hawke is taking the effort to learn, and is picking up on it so quickly...

Or maybe by now, Hawke really doesn't need to do much to have that effect on him.]

It doesn't seem like you really need me to teach you.

How could you say such a thing? I am the most careful.

Accuracy is everything when you're flinging fire and lightning into a fight that involves your friends, you know.

[Well then, okay, he seems to be doing pretty alright with the one hand, so he removes his other from on top of Anders' fingers and places it on his other hip, starting the warming spell there, too.]

Father taught me a little. I wasn't a very good student. My interests tended in other directions.

Edited 2014-03-17 05:09 (UTC)

So you're careful with your friends, at least.

[He's starting to figure Hawke out, just a little. There hasn't been much cause for them to fight, though, aside from the occasional bar brawl but Anders has already healed a few bruises at least.

He smiles, though. And then he shivers again as the spell doubles in strength, although not entirely from the warmth it's causing.]

Let me guess, your interests were more towards the primal?

[...wow, Anders, that's a terrible joke.]

Someone's got to be. They're not very careful with each other.

[...And he's totally going to use that horrible yet wonderful attempt at flirting to step just a little closer. There's still some space between them, but if he were to try his torch spell again they'd both get burned.]

It's only natural to gravitate toward what you're good at, don't you think?

[Ufufufufufu]

I'm not sure what you mean by that.

[They are too careful with each other. They're all besties, really. How dare you sugest otherwise, Hawke.

...Well.

He slides his hands further up Hawke's arms, out of necessity more than anything now that he's so close.]

It depends on how much effort you're willing to put into something.

[Yeah, that's right.

They're not all besties.

Dropping that line of conversation for the much more interesting one now, though.]

I'm willing to apply all of my effort, if it's important enough.

[Why do you think there's been so much heavy-handed flirting these past few months, Anders?]

[He hesitates a little.]

Are you--

[No. No, he shouldn't do this. It's far too tempting, but that doesn't make it right. Reluctantly, he starts to pull back a little.]

I'm sorry, Hawke.

[Wait, what?

He'd thought this was going well!

Shit shit shit shit--]

Am I what?

[He can't help when his fingers dig in just a bit, tightening against the wet fabric covering Anders' hips, holding on. He'll let go if Anders explicitly tells him to, but he hasn't said anything like that yet, so for now he'll just be hanging on.]

[He stops when Hawke holds onto him, not willing to force himself away just yet. He looks down, though, his expression clearly unsure.]

You should probably find Isabela instead.

[All that romping with Isabela's was bound to come round and bite him in the ass. He should have known. If he could go back in time and punch his past self in the dick right now, he'd do it.]

That's not...

[What even is he wanting to say. Everything is so obvious to him in his own mind, but putting it to words is something else entirely.]

I'm not just looking for a quick fuck, Anders.

[...that was not as eloquent as he would have liked. Uh.]

Isabela is a good friend, but that's all she is, and that's how we both want it.

[Better...maybe.]

[Anders just shakes his head, because that isn't it.

Okay, maybe that's partially it. He's been jealous, sure. Before Surana and Leliana joined them, he'd been alone in the crew quarters at night, whenever Hawke and Isabela had spent the night together, and the sounds travelled easily on the small ship. But it really didn't matter, either.

...Okay, it did. Eloquent or not, Hawke's words were making his heart beat faster, and he was trying his best to ignore it.]

That's not why.

[He really would have thought it'd be obvious.]

Maybe it's easier to forget now we're not in Kirkwall, but I've chosen a different path. With Justice.

Edited 2014-03-17 06:09 (UTC)

I haven't forgotten.

[Okay, so, Anders isn't actively pulling away, and he's trying to explain himself, which Hawke takes to mean that he's not simply outright opposed to Hawke's flirtation and all that implies. There's just a stumbling block in the way.

A giant, glowy-blue no-fun spirit-shaped stumbling block, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's insurmountable.]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see why Justice and companionship have to be mutually exclusive.

So I should drag you into all of this?

[Anders frowns. Hawke is stubborn, but even he has to see that the life Anders has chosen isn't one where you can just settle down somewhere and be happy. In fact, everything Anders is means that has always been an impossibility.]

Hawke... I can't give you what you're looking for. Not anymore.

I'm not exactly sure how you're "dragging" me into anything if I'm here of my own free will.

[Ugh ugh ugh...this is so...stupid. This isn't how this is supposed to go. He refuses to believe it. If Anders wanted Hawke to leave him alone, Hawke is sure he would just tell him so, outright.

So, he shuffles a bit closer, returning the distance between them to the narrow gap it had been before Anders had tried to pull away. He flexes his fingers briefly against Anders' hips, picking up the warming spell from where it had trailed off in his distraction.]

...I don't think you truly believe that.

[You wouldn't be making that face otherwise, Anders. 8(]

[Oh, Hawke. You really are too good to him. Far more so than he deserves.

Maybe he should just be honest.]

I nearly killed an innocent girl.

[A while ago for him now, but from what he can tell Hawke doesn't remember.]

[...Uh. What? He was not expecting this conversation to go...there.]

When was this?

A while ago. Or at least it feels like it. Did I tell you about Ser Alrik yet?

You haven't.

[Oh, good. More future stuff he ought to know about but doesn't because it hasn't happened for him yet.]

He... had a solution. To magic. He wanted to turn all mages tranquil, and he'd been taking them from the Circle and putting them through the rite.

[It's difficult to keep the anger from his voice even as he says it. There are too many Templars like him, and too many willing to turn a blind eye. But he clenches his fists briefly and then continues.]

I came to you for help. We found him with another mage he'd just brought. Justice came out and I-- I nearly killed her.

[The horror Hawke feels upon hearing the first part of Anders' explanation is pretty clear on his expression. His fingers tighten briefly on Anders's hips, both in reaction to the story and in an effort to provide some sort of support.]

Nearly.

[That's important. Let's focus on that.]

What stopped you? Was it me?