allthesame2me | 12th [Video]

Are you all right?

[A degree of tension slips from his shoulders as the response pops up onto his journal page. When things like this happened, he always concerned himself about Anders and not simply because that was his self-proclaimed other half; the Mage had a tendency to attract as much trouble as Alex himself.]

I am as well as anyone finding a jarred beating heart can be... hale and well for the time being. You?

Well, nothing's tried to eat or stab me lately, so I suppose I'm as well as one can be.

[Alex actually chuckles at this.]

Well, that sounds to me like a step in the right direction. A far cry from how things normally go, at any rate.

... Can we speak? Privately?

[Alex's brows furrow slightly at this. That Anders is maintaining his text based conversation rather than even switching to audio is ... disconcerting, to say the least.

But he nods.]

Of course... where would you like to meet?

[While he's wary, he does well in not showing it.]

[He wishes he could trust himself to speak. But right now, he's not sure what would come out.]

[Not after... that business with the hearts. He's made a mess of this. Just like he thought he would.]

Your room? If... you don't mind?

[So Alex was doing pretty well about not stressing or worrying, but the longer this goes on the worse he's feeling about this. He nods in response to the request...]

Yeah, my room is fine. I'm there now, so c'mon over...

[And he'll be waiting.]

[He doesn't say anything else, or waste further time. He just closes the book, and makes his way over to the other's room.]

[... and then hesitates outside for a long minute, staring blankly at the door.]

[Knock knock.]

[Alex is doing the slightly nerve ridden foot tap thing, sitting at the edge of his bed while he waits. He hears someone approaching before they comes to a stop outside his door and his brows knit slightly when a knot doesn't sound immediately.

He doesn't quite leap up when the knock sounds, but it's damn close.

He swings the door open and smiles at Anders, trying to ignore the nervous tension settling into his gut.]

Hey, you... c'mon in.

[He steps to one side to give Anders enough room to enter.]

[He... tries to smile. And he fails. Miserably. It's a fleeting, strained expression at best.]

[When the door opens, he waits only as long as it takes to step inside before blurting:]

I'm sorry.

[... for trying to make out with Hawke. For falling madly in love with him. For everything.]

[Alex's eyes widen at the outburst. He closes the door behind his other half and eyes him with no small amount of concern.]

Hey, hey, hey... Anders, calm down. What happened? What are you apologizing for?

[His tone is as soothing as he can make it, but also laden with concern and confusion.]

Everything. I've... made a mess of everything.

[Because he has no idea how the entire problem came about. Not yet. Only that he was suddenly, completely in love with Hawke, and the man in front of him hadn't factored in even slightly.]

I don't know what came over me. I thought -- I thought I was entirely in love with... Hawke.

[Alex's brows knit, and he reaches a hand over to gently clasp Anders' shoulder as the Mage seems to fumble with his words.

It was likely a good thing that the Were hadn't ventured out of his room over Valentine's, having not much enjoyed Halloween. God knows where it might have taken them if they'd BOTH undergone a similar change.

He tries to search Anders' face, to make some guess at what is bothering the other man, but when it comes out there is no avoiding the widening of eyes.]

You thought... you were... with Hawke??

[His tone is not so much angry or hurt as it is incredulous. Because... Hawke????]

[He nods. And while he doesn't flinch under the other man's hand, he looks as if he'd like to. To pull away and walk out. Because that's what's coming. He's made a mistake. A terrible mistake, and now he's going to pay for it.]

[In a way... it's worse than what's waiting for him back home in Kirkwall.]

I did... I tried to kiss him. I wanted to harm the woman he loves... because I thought...

[He scrubs a hand over his face.]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[Alex is... well, he's just a touch unprepared for all of this. The last thing he'd considered that Anders would tell him upon arriving at his door was 'I tried to make out with my bff.'

But instead of lashing out at the Mage and screaming about the injustice of it all, he settles both hands on his shoulders and squeezes again.]

Anders.... Anders, stop.

[He lowers his hands from the Mage's shoulders, moving to cover his hands as he gently pulls them from his face.]

Sweetheart... it's okay. Stop killing yourself over this. From what I saw, it seemed like you were far from the only one effected by whatever the hell was going on during Valentine's...

[The Were cants a brow slightly, a half smile touching his lips as he does his best to look 'okay' with this. His tone is teasing when he speaks next.]

You don't still want to harm Vie and kiss Hawke, do you?

[Hahah. Justice. There's no justice here. Not for anyone. He feels he deserves to be screamed at. To be tossed out. He lost control of himself -- that should never have happened.]

[He lifts his gaze when the hands settle on his shoulders, hands sliding down from his eyes, before he looks away again.]

I'm a mage. I should have been able to sense a spell... an enchantment. But there was nothing. Perhaps it wasn't just me... but it still affected me.

[He shakes his head.]

Of course not. I wouldn't harm her. I wouldn't... do that to Hawke.

[Kiss him, or hurt his fiance.]

[No. No, there is not, is there? But this is often the case, really... particularly when things are Keep associated. The Keep can give a shit if its quirks bring couples to their knees and shake their relationships to the very foundation.

Alex meets Anders' gaze without flinching and if the Mage looks, he might even see that he genuinely looks calm and collected. The Were hadn't seen this coming, but the steps were to work through it, not blow up.]

Anders, love... I think many of us have come to realize that there is something about this place that otherwise circumvents our abilities as they might have been prior to our arrival within its walls.

[Big words to the Kitty-man! At the last response his expression softens and his hands lift to cup Anders' face.]

And I know you wouldn't. The fact that you came here tells me that you wouldn't.

[He'd tried so hard not to make a mistake. Not to blow this to the Void as he'd done everything in Thedas. Justice hated it. The spirit would like nothing better than to see this end.]

[No matter what the man would want.]

It's not...

[But the rest of the protest sort of dies before he can get it out. He meets the other man's eyes, finally.]

... I wouldn't do anything to harm you, either. Maker, I couldn't even dream of it.

[Oh, Anders. Sometimes things just weren't in our own control and you find yourself along for the ride whether you wish to be or not.

And Justice is kinda a dick. Just sayin'.

He smiles softly as Anders finally looks up and meets his gaze, his hands never fully straying from the mage's skin.]

I'd hate to think you would, dearheart.

[His voice is soft as he meets and holds Anders' gaze.]

It's okay, love. Really.

[Jetfire didn't not at all like the last bit of... happenings. Exceeindgly, unpleasantly embarrassing. This isn't visible in his expression, however as he speaks.]

I'm not sure I would define what could at most - loosely - be called moments of stillness here as "normalcy". But given that, and giving that any moment when something particular isn't happening... What would you consider "normal"?

[Because now he's rather curious. ~~Large robots are totally normal, whatever do you mean~~]

[Alex himself had not enjoyed the last run of events much at all, but he had appreciated that he'd kept his head this time. Granted, he'd protected the jarred heart like it was a child and made absolutely sure nothing had happened to it.]

Well, I'll have to admit to you that this place has certainly skewed my definition of 'normal'. I was glad to keep my head firmly attached to my neck this time, however.

But then, I turn into a half leopard man, so again, my opinion might be a bit skewed.

Ah, yes. The incident of people losing their heads were... unpleasant, to say the least.

[Jetfire manages to not react physically, but that... had been disquieting to watch, and this despite all the things he'd seen in the war.]

You... er. If you would forgive me the curiosity, how does that work?

[That... shouldn't even be possible. Should it? But then, Isabella shouldn't be able to fly with the wings she had, even if they were healed correctly. In the wrong place, and not attached correctly, or large enough, to actually be able to carry her.]

[Alex doesn't seem bothered at all by Jetfire's reaction, his expression relaxing into an easy smile.]

There are creatures on my world called 'Weres'... they are shifters that can take the form of the animal they've been infected with. In my case, a leopard... in others it's wolves, bears, and other assorted animals. We can take the form of the animal itself, or a half form between human and the animal. In my case, when the full moon hits, I have to shift whether I wish to or not, and I'm feral. I retain no control over the animal I turn into and generally try to kill and maim.

I try to isolate myself in to woods or elsewhere on the full moon, as my first moon here resulted in the death of one resident and the injury of several others.

[Have a deep, contemplative frown as Jetfire tries - and fails - to use conventional science to explain any of that and then skips on to the next best thing. Reluctantly.]

I see... Hm. I suppose if your brain could contain the complete information of one of these species and completely override not just pain-response but what ways the body ought to be capable of bending, you could... perhaps... initiate such a change despite the differences.

Especially if the belief, concious or not, is there...

[Then he pauses and shakes his helm. He doesn't understand how this is possible at all, despite what he just put forth as a... vague... possibility.]

That's unfortunate, about lacking control. It's not something you can gain?

[Looking up from staring somewhere else - probably at the floor - as he thought, Jetfire recofuses on Alex with honest concern; people getting hurt is never good, but also intense curiosity.]

[It's hard to use conventional science to explain shifting, Jetfire, but Alex would give you major kudos for attempting it. He listens with interest as Jetfire muses about how it all works and brain over brawn/etc, head tilted slightly to one side.]

It's not the most pleasant of experiences, but the more you shift, the less painful it becomes. I've been shifting for a few years, so it's not too terrible until the moon.

[He sits back and shakes his head at the last.]

I wish there was something I could do about it. I can actually shift at any time, but at the moon I'm forced to. I retain control and human sentience every time I shift except then. When Tsia was...

[His expression is drawn at the mention of Tsia's name. It sucked when people were here for a time and left.]

... she could converse with large cats... some ability she had that I couldn't quite explain. She kept me calm on the moon and stayed with me, but she's gone now... There are a few other shifters that run with me that remain more human minded, but they can't always be there.

[It really, really was, but Jetfire would certainly try, even if he knew he was lacking information or facts that might help explain or make the situation clear... And he would certainly try to explain it conventionally before accepting "magic".]

That does make a limited amount of sense; the more you change, the more familiar with the situation... and the alternate form, your brain and your sense of self becomes, connecting them together.

[It still wasn't a perfect explanation of anything, but well... Alex confirmation that there was nothing to do during that particular moment in time has Jetfire slowly shaking his helm, frowning.]

Not the most pleasant of situations to have to deal with, especially if you remain cognisant during all other times. But you, and others, are obviously doing what they can to minimize the risks.

[And there, really, wasn't much else to do or demand.]

Would that include mending a shirt?

[A soft laugh at this unexpected return and he nods.]

I would be more than happy to do so, Sandrath.

Thank you. Where shall I meet you?

Wherever works best for you, really... I'm in the barracks now, but I can go or stay at your leisure.

I'll come to you then. Which floor are you on?

12th [Video]

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text - is this during the heart shenanigans or after?

text - oop, should have clarified! After shenanigans

text - gotcha!

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http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk7oshphq01qj9hy4o1_500.png /had to share

This... made me both b'awww and d'awwwww ILU ANDERS

|D

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