8th [Video/Commentlog] *SEALED to Chloe, Derek, Anders and Kevas* Backdated to the 10th, mid-day

[allthesame2me]

[Alex has been restless all morning, but he knows well enough why this is. However, unlike the first shift that had proven such a complete and total fuck up, Alex has been very attentive and careful about getting out with ample time

Comments

[Text]

[3wayforjustice]

Define... "holding up".

[Video]

[allthesame2me]

[Alex smiles a bit wryly at that particular question.]

Well, I suppose the question should be 'are you feeling any better' .. although I know it's hardly as simple a matter as that.

[What with the plague causing Kloe and other random shenanigans upsetting Justice of late.]

[Video]

[3wayforjustice]

[He should be. He had that talk with Hawke. But... There's some lingering embarrassment for how his passenger treated certain people.]

I'm... Fine. I'm fine.

Is everything all right?

[Video] Still sealed and such, even though I forgot to say so

[allthesame2me]

[Alex doesn't have to be a trained linguist to read into that, but he is amongst those that doesn't hold any anger or resentment over Justice's words. Anders had warned him well enough of Justice's opinion and Alex had grown up in a world where bigotry was rather the norm in one way or another.

Sure, he might have the urge to punch the entity in the jaw, but he didn't feel that way about Anders himself; nor did he feel inclined to carry any amount of butt hurt over it.]

Alright .. Try not to let him bring you down, alright? As to the latter .. yeah. It's the full moon tonight .. Derek offered to keep me company in the woods during my shifting. He's .. similarly afflicted .. save his fuzzy form is a wolf and he retains his own thoughts when he changes.

[Video] Sealed~

[3wayforjustice]

[He always assumes the worst when the spirit comes out to play. And why shouldn't he? People have died, in the past, when Justice took control.]

[And one of them was a fellow Warden.]

It... may be too late, for that. Hawke thinks there are options. But I'm... I'm not sure.

[Not to say he won't try though.]

You're going out there? Alone? With this other... shapeshifter?

[This is not jealousy. This is concern. The forest is dangerous, you guys :(]

[Video] Sealed

[allthesame2me]

[Alex wasn't one to carry a grudge anyway, but Anders would be a whole different category of allowances even if he did. It wasn't every day that ones boyfriend hosted a spirit of justice in their own body, and certainly not everyday that said spirit wasn't particularly fond of the man his host was trying to be in a relationship with.

It tended to makes things just a tiiiiiiny bit more difficult.

But Alex was stalwart and determined and Justice wasn't the boss of him, damnit.

He frowns slightly at Anders' words, but his expression eases a bit as he mentions Hawke.]

I think you should listen to Hawke .. I don't think something like this is as simple to answer as 'it's too late' or similar .. Justice keeps things from being that simple. At the very least, you can try what he's suggesting and see what happens, right? At the worst, nothing happens, but at the best you might find him easier to balance.

[And after all, Justice was supposed to be there to act as a balance, wasn't it?]

I'll help in anyway I can.

[Justice can stick his

[Video] Sealed

[3wayforjustice]

If you could no longer tell your mind from another's... wouldn't you consider that 'too late'?

I trust Hawke. I know he means... very well. I just -- I just don't know. I'll try, certainly. [He pauses, and looks down.] It isn't... that I don't appreciate your help, l-- [The word cuts off abruptly] But, I'm afraid of what may happen.

[He frowns.]

You were... in the freezer? [First of all, what. Second of all, what's a freezer?]

[allthesame2me]

[Alex's smile softens, his expression calm considering the subject matter.]

I don't think losing hope is the answer to anything, no matter how bleak or hard thinks appear at the time. If you start looking at things so grimly, then it begins to get harder and harder to see the positive side of things. In a place like this, I don't think we need to make that particular mindframe any easier to fall into.

[And then Anders is looking down and away from him and Alex could just punt Justice right in the nit. His grin is back again though and he even manages a chuckle that sounds pretty genuine.]

Yeah... he's not terribly fond of me, is he? I pick up the sliiiightest of hints whenever he and I have a chat..

[He actually doesn't sound terribly butt hurt over that, although it sucks that the man he considers his boyfriend has a spirit inside of him that kinda sorta reaaaally dislikes the lycan.

Then he snorts, catching both the tone and expression.]A freezer is a cold box that we Earth types store food in to keep it fresh; they make them

[3wayforjustice]

Hope. Hope is something... too fragile, I think.

[He lives in Darktown. He's on a suicidal crusade against the templars. Everything is pretty bleak, on his end.]

[He still keeps his eyes down. Really, he should look up. But none of this is as easy as he'd like it to be.]

Slightest? I see he's been working on his subtlety. Usually... his issues tend to come with a lot more shouting and magic than just hinting.

[And then his gaze snaps back up. Something turns hard in his eyes.]

Someone locked you in a magical... cold box? All night?

[allthesame2me]

[Oh, Anders... Alex has enough for the both of you, have no fear. It was an annoying habit of his.]

I gets hard sometimes, but you can't give up on it; not completely.

[And he'd maintain that hope, too. Something would swing in the right direction and things would be okay for his Mage. He couldn't believe otherwise.

Then a laugh, his grin widening as he gives a casual shrug.]

Oh, subtle as a punch in the face, I assure you. You'd think he actually likes me with the way he tosses those caustic barbs out without ever once raising his voice.

[And then a sigh, but he nods.]

Yeah... I think the last person I attacked got me cornered in there and shut me in. There was a note on the door warning people to not open the door when I got out the next morning. It might have been two days, really... that whole shift is hazy like any other full moon. I know it successfully kept me from attacking anyone else, though, as unpleasant as it was.

[3wayforjustice]

[He could argue that. When they get home, he's most likely going to be killed by templars -- by the Knight-Commander herself. By now, he isn't worried that Hawke will be the one to do it, not after his friend's reaction to finding things out while they've been here.]

[But he doesn't. He just nods.]

He supposedly likes Hawke, as well. And that didn't go much better. I don't think there's anyone Justice truly 'likes'.

[Including himself, but that's a completely different... thing.]

[He doesn't answer right away. He's mulling that information in silence. Finally, he figures out something to say.]

Can I... Can I see you? Before this happens?

[Because the last time they met, one of them was covered in blood and dying.]

[allthesame2me]

[No, 'cause you see, when you go back you'll have a guard leopard that SO will not let that happen. Seriously, heads will role all kinds of ways.

Alex watches that nod, his smile slipping ever so slightly. With Anders, a simple nod spoke miles and it was generally something you'd find yourself wanting to either argue about, or convince him away from.

Then a snort of amusement and he smirks, lips quirking as he shakes his head.]

You can't please everyone, no matter how hard you might try.

[Then he trails off and he tilts his head curiously before his entire demeanor lightens and softens, nodding slightly.]

Of course... I would like that, actually. Where would you like to meet?

[Understandably the whole leaving someone covered in blood and dead left a lasting impression on you. *pat*]

[3wayforjustice]

So I've begun to notice. Repeatedly. No one's ever happy with a mage.

[In this case, he's more resigned to dying at home than anything. Because, in some ways, he feels it's better. That his death would, in itself, be justice.]

[Maybe he's been as warped as his spirit friend.]

It doesn't matter. Not really. Anywhere.

[There's an unspoken "please" in there.]

[allthesame2me]

[Alex actually stares at Anders at this.]

I dunno... I tend to consider myself pretty happy with mine. He just needs so help realizing it from time to time.

[Then he's nodding, picking up on the unspoken plea and acting on it without pause or hesitation. He's nearest to the barracks right now, so ..]

I'm at the barracks... meet me outside? Or I can come to you...?

[And he will, in an instant.]

[3wayforjustice]

I -- no. That wasn't what I meant.

[Except even if he tries to explain, it's going to come out jumbled and a little flustered.]

[So he'll just scrub a hand over his face instead, and leave it there.]

I'm in my room. You... it's [Insert room number here.] Now that I can actually remember it.

[Vidya --> commentlog]

[allthesame2me]

[He knows what you mean, Anders, but the opportunity to remind you that you mean something to someone is something he takes advantage of when he can; particularly when it sounds like you need it.

When Anders agrees to meeting in his own room, Alex is already off and moving from his own. He's got an idea where the Mage resides, but the clarification helps quite a bit.

It's just a short time before *knock knock*.]

Anders?