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I don't talk 'bout it much.
[ Ever. He doesn't talk about it ever, not with the Crew on Serenity, not with much of anyone that could look at him and the spear and go 'what the fuck did you do to survive that shit' because he still doesn't quite know.
Putting it together is too damn big for him so he just. Doesn't. Focuses instead on Merrill, on catching her hand in his to squeeze. It feels so damn small and fragile against his calloused palm but he's seen her throw lightening and roots and fire. She don't break easy. ]
And over a dozen little shits.
[ Ever. He doesn't talk about it ever, not with the Crew on Serenity, not with much of anyone that could look at him and the spear and go 'what the fuck did you do to survive that shit' because he still doesn't quite know.
Putting it together is too damn big for him so he just. Doesn't. Focuses instead on Merrill, on catching her hand in his to squeeze. It feels so damn small and fragile against his calloused palm but he's seen her throw lightening and roots and fire. She don't break easy. ]
And over a dozen little shits.
[ Sometimes you just survive, somehow. Merrill doesn't really know how she's survived everything, either. She does, however, know that Mal's hand is warm and steady around hers, and she squeezes back. ]
Named things like "Potato" and "Burp".
[ It makes "Barkley" look like a good name, in comparison. ]
I always wanted to see a baby griffon. I don't know if I ever thought it would actually happen, but I definitely didn't think I'd see that many and end up rescuing them.
Named things like "Potato" and "Burp".
[ It makes "Barkley" look like a good name, in comparison. ]
I always wanted to see a baby griffon. I don't know if I ever thought it would actually happen, but I definitely didn't think I'd see that many and end up rescuing them.
And Butterball.
[ He rubs his thumb over her knuckles, glad to have wrung out a small smile. Sadness don't rightly suit her. Not at all. ]
See? You're a big damn hero's what you are. They're gonna sing songs and tell tales of you. Merrill, the Savior of Griffons. Slayer of Foes, Righter of Wrongs.
[ He rubs his thumb over her knuckles, glad to have wrung out a small smile. Sadness don't rightly suit her. Not at all. ]
See? You're a big damn hero's what you are. They're gonna sing songs and tell tales of you. Merrill, the Savior of Griffons. Slayer of Foes, Righter of Wrongs.
[ This time it's a little laugh, her head ducking. ]
They'll have to sing about us fighting that dragon, too. And Jayne trying to herd the hatchlings.
They'll have to sing about us fighting that dragon, too. And Jayne trying to herd the hatchlings.
[ Mal hooks a foot around a nearbye stool to have a seat, setting aside both Chili and dignity while he taps out a little rhythm on his knee. Soon enough he's singing, soft and smirking. ]
Stand back everyone, nothing here to see
Just imminent danger, in the middle of it, she
Yes, Savior Merril's here, hair blowing in the breeze
And the day needs her saving expertise
An elf's gotta do what an elf’s gotta do
Seems destiny ends with her saving you
The only doom that’s looming is you loving her to death
So she’ll give you a sec to catch your breath
Stand back everyone, nothing here to see
Just imminent danger, in the middle of it, she
Yes, Savior Merril's here, hair blowing in the breeze
And the day needs her saving expertise
An elf's gotta do what an elf’s gotta do
Seems destiny ends with her saving you
The only doom that’s looming is you loving her to death
So she’ll give you a sec to catch your breath
[ She's never going to stop blushing again. She's absolutely sure of it, delighted as she is by the song and his hand holding hers. ]
You know- I'm sure there have been songs about Hawke before, but not me.
You know- I'm sure there have been songs about Hawke before, but not me.
That's cuz no one saw how awesome you were till me. Don't worry, I'll come up with a coupla more verses. Start sing'n it in the tavern.
[ He won't, but it's worth it for the blushing. ]
[ He won't, but it's worth it for the blushing. ]
[ The blushing, for the record, is even harder now. ]
As long as you include the part about the dragon and Jayne's griffon chicks. And maybe about the fact that you clearly have amazing eyesight.
As long as you include the part about the dragon and Jayne's griffon chicks. And maybe about the fact that you clearly have amazing eyesight.
Don't gotta have good eyesight t'see what an amaz'n woman you are, Miss Merrill.
[ Not even a little. ]
[ Not even a little. ]
Oh- [ a little fluster, paired with a wave from the hand that doesn't have his in it. ]
You are far too sweet, Mal.
You are far too sweet, Mal.
Don't tell nobody. I got a reputation as a curmudgeon to uphold.
I hate to say it, but I think that reputation has already fallen apart.
How can you be so sure?
[ Brows lifted, lips quirked in a smirk around another bite of the fulsome, spicy chili, he is the picture of amused innocence.
Well. Kinda innocence. ]
[ Brows lifted, lips quirked in a smirk around another bite of the fulsome, spicy chili, he is the picture of amused innocence.
Well. Kinda innocence. ]
Everyone on the trip did see you let me ride Sasha in the Anderfels, for starters.
[ Innocent =/= curmudgeon, Mal. ]
[ Innocent =/= curmudgeon, Mal. ]
That was just polite. Can't make someone walk all the damn way up a mountain.
That doesn't sound very curmugeonly to me.
Merrill. I was... You've...
[He takes a breath. He really, really should have written down what he was going to say before this.]
You're a mage.
[Yep. He really should have.]
And some of the magic you do, it's not all combat. Are any of the spells ones that you could teach non-Dalish? And would? And could, um, teach with Templars probably in close vicinity watching everything? If something was going on. Where they'd be.
[He takes a breath. He really, really should have written down what he was going to say before this.]
You're a mage.
[Yep. He really should have.]
And some of the magic you do, it's not all combat. Are any of the spells ones that you could teach non-Dalish? And would? And could, um, teach with Templars probably in close vicinity watching everything? If something was going on. Where they'd be.
[ wow anders
w o w
luckily merrill will take pity on him and not mention it ]
Yes, I can think of a few- why?
w o w
luckily merrill will take pity on him and not mention it ]
Yes, I can think of a few- why?
[He's actually going to ask Merrill for help. Anders isn't quite sure how it came to this, but he's also not even sure how he feels about her anymore. She's confusing. And the lingering confusion makes him uncomfortable because he doesn't know where his negative feelings started and where they had been Justice.]
I want to offer lessons. I know you're already teaching some classes. But I want to hold a gathering where mages can learn all sorts of practical spells. Non-combat ones, ones to make a living with, that won't get them stabbed by Templars.
[No blood magic, please.]
I thought you might be willing to teach.
I want to offer lessons. I know you're already teaching some classes. But I want to hold a gathering where mages can learn all sorts of practical spells. Non-combat ones, ones to make a living with, that won't get them stabbed by Templars.
[No blood magic, please.]
I thought you might be willing to teach.
[ g o o d ]
Oh! That's be lovely -- the refugees will be able to come, right? I think it even might be nice for non-mages to see how we can actually be helpful and not just scary mages.
[ No blood magic, she promises.
Also she's just BEAMING, you can hear it in her voice. ]
I would love to teach!
Oh! That's be lovely -- the refugees will be able to come, right? I think it even might be nice for non-mages to see how we can actually be helpful and not just scary mages.
[ No blood magic, she promises.
Also she's just BEAMING, you can hear it in her voice. ]
I would love to teach!
[He hasn't heard her this happy in... years and years, and never toward something he'd said or done, he's fairly sure. It's flattering and strange.]
Yes. Everyone will be invited. I'm running it; there's no chance it would be allowed to happen if it was closed at all. Hence the Templar mentions. I expect a presence there, unfortunately.
[There isn't any getting around them. Yet.]
And th-thank you.
[Yes. That takes effort.]
Bethany's agreed to teach too. There should be a decent number there, I'm, I'm hoping.
Yes. Everyone will be invited. I'm running it; there's no chance it would be allowed to happen if it was closed at all. Hence the Templar mentions. I expect a presence there, unfortunately.
[There isn't any getting around them. Yet.]
And th-thank you.
[Yes. That takes effort.]
Bethany's agreed to teach too. There should be a decent number there, I'm, I'm hoping.
They are going to keep anyone who might want to throw things because we're mages existing in line, right?
[ Or, maybe more accurately, because Anders is Anders and existing. ]
You're welcome! I'm excited to see what everyone else has come up with, too.
[ Or, maybe more accurately, because Anders is Anders and existing. ]
You're welcome! I'm excited to see what everyone else has come up with, too.
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