[ hi. perhaps in his wandering, he will find himself entering the bar. he's free to turn around and leave, but he is free to observe that there is a figure behind the counter. they're in the same glowing form as the guardian angels, a simple gold halo behind them as they appear to be leaning back with their back against the door to assess the wall of glasses and bottles.
[ he will, in fact, enter the bar and not even turn around and leave. after a moment of hesitation, he'll head over to the counter, giving them a long look up and down - he hadn't spoken to this one yesterday, so ... awkward introductions it is. ]
I keep expecting to see people in here I recognize. But it's not quite the Hanged Man. Too clean for one.
[ if it helps, anders, nobody saw them yesterday, this is new for everyone. but they turn around when he sits, giving him an equally appraising look. ]
I feel like I should thank you guys for not trashing my bar while I was gone, but the bar's on the floor. Uh. No pun intended. [ anyway... ] What's the Hanged Man like? Besides less clean.
I haven't destroyed anything. Not even the Chantry. [ too soon ... ] It's-- louder. More mysterious blood stains in the sawdust. Somehow there's always a barfight. Corff manages to make the whiskey taste like fish, and don't ask me how.
[ surprise, this is just some random fuck who seems to be listening to anders curiously. ]
I can't decide if that takes extreme talent or extreme bad luck. I'm not exactly a fish person though. I'd offer to make this place feel more like home but I kinda like the lack of bloodstains. Is a little quiet though, I'll give you that.
Varric liked the place. He lived there. that's why we went. He'd host the cardgames, buy the drinks, tell his stories endlessly. Always had a seat of honor, like he was hosting.
[ he half-shrugs, drumming his fingers on the bartop anxiously. ]
Nothing wrong with that. I could probably buff up on my hosting skills, but you guys seem to be handling things just fine. May as well get a couple of decks of cards though. Or a poker table. [ they seem to be considering this... ]
I'm your bartender. If you need a name, it's Gabriel. But Bartender works. No confusion what my role is in all this that way.
[ he's not lying. he has an astonishing ability to lose at card games. any card game. he owed every one of his friends an enormous about of money (that they never made him pay because he has absolutely no money). ]
Oh, I can see them, but I don't always have access to that sort of thing. That's kind of an Angel privilege. I took a read when I got back in town but they're also not that telling.
Anders, then. [ works for them. but... yikes. they contemplate over that, because it isn't exactly an idea they aren't used to. ]
A weird in between, like one foot on either side. And not fitting into one or the other makes it a little harder to be free because you're kinda, like, chained to the cons of each type of life. [ but, well. ] Or I'm just talking out of my ass and it's different for you.
[ he does not get that reference, but being referred to as monster does make him tense up. but yes, exactly. the kind of horror story the mage apprentices whisper to one another in the middle of the night to keep each other awake. ]
I ... hoped death would free him. [ apparently not specifying who "him" is. ] He could return to the Fade, maybe return to what he's supposed to be, instead of twisted by whatever is wrong inside with me. My anger. Instead we are still here, together, and selfishly-- I didn't want to be alone.
[ they did not mean to insult him, it was just a reference. maybe not even a good one. it's debatable if they have ever even read frankenstein. ]
... you got used to being together. Even if it's a toxic sort of relationship, it's better to be together than to struggle by yourself. [ they do not ask for clarification of who "he" is, but they almost seem to know without asking? ] What makes you so sure it's something that's wrong with you that's twisted everything and not a co-created problem?
[ that was a big part of it, wasn't it? no matter what, he'd never be alone again. ]
I guess I can't. Whatever we are now, neither of us is the same. But there is a great deal wrong with me. Probably all the years of being kicked in the head. He wanted Justice, I wanted to make them pay.
Constantly. [ they say that almost immediately, and it means they stop to consider what anders is trying to say. ] Oh. Sort of a two sides of the same coin situation.
And of those few things... good or bad? I think disagreeing on small things isn't bad, but a huge discrepancy of morals might be a problem. [ but. ] Did the disconnect start here?
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week 0, monday
approach, or leave? ]
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I keep expecting to see people in here I recognize. But it's not quite the Hanged Man. Too clean for one.
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I feel like I should thank you guys for not trashing my bar while I was gone, but the bar's on the floor. Uh. No pun intended. [ anyway... ] What's the Hanged Man like? Besides less clean.
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WELL OKAY THEN. ]
I haven't destroyed anything. Not even the Chantry. [ too soon ... ] It's-- louder. More mysterious blood stains in the sawdust. Somehow there's always a barfight. Corff manages to make the whiskey taste like fish, and don't ask me how.
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I can't decide if that takes extreme talent or extreme bad luck. I'm not exactly a fish person though. I'd offer to make this place feel more like home but I kinda like the lack of bloodstains. Is a little quiet though, I'll give you that.
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[ he half-shrugs, drumming his fingers on the bartop anxiously. ]
Who are you?
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I'm your bartender. If you need a name, it's Gabriel. But Bartender works. No confusion what my role is in all this that way.
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[ he's not lying. he has an astonishing ability to lose at card games. any card game. he owed every one of his friends an enormous about of money (that they never made him pay because he has absolutely no money). ]
... Right. And you're another of these Angels?
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The Angels are the Angels, and I'm just somebody who needed a job. The Big Axolotl was hiring, so I said okay.
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[ just saying. ]
So you're not, then. A spirit? Or something else?
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[ they seem to pause while thinking over what they might be. ]
I think I'm still figuring out what I am. Maybe a spirit? Probably something else.
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[ waiting while they think. ]
Mm. The same, I guess.
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[ huh. ]
Got an idea what you want to be?
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[ it'll do. ]
Free. [ but that's not really possible. ] I'm not sure I'm human any longer. But I'm not a spirit either.
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A weird in between, like one foot on either side. And not fitting into one or the other makes it a little harder to be free because you're kinda, like, chained to the cons of each type of life. [ but, well. ] Or I'm just talking out of my ass and it's different for you.
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[ they don't have any real good words for that, but they can express the sentiment. ]
Who knows? Maybe being here will help figure out which side you'll settle on.
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I ... hoped death would free him. [ apparently not specifying who "him" is. ] He could return to the Fade, maybe return to what he's supposed to be, instead of twisted by whatever is wrong inside with me. My anger. Instead we are still here, together, and selfishly-- I didn't want to be alone.
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... you got used to being together. Even if it's a toxic sort of relationship, it's better to be together than to struggle by yourself. [ they do not ask for clarification of who "he" is, but they almost seem to know without asking? ] What makes you so sure it's something that's wrong with you that's twisted everything and not a co-created problem?
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I guess I can't. Whatever we are now, neither of us is the same. But there is a great deal wrong with me. Probably all the years of being kicked in the head. He wanted Justice, I wanted to make them pay.
[ vengeance. ]
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Does it ever get confusing for you? Know what his wants are versus your own.
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We ... aren't able to speak like we used to. But our wants are aligned, most of the time. We disagree on very few things.
[ i mean theres a couple of Big Ones, but. ]
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And of those few things... good or bad? I think disagreeing on small things isn't bad, but a huge discrepancy of morals might be a problem. [ but. ] Did the disconnect start here?
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