[Alistair grins back almost shyly and ducks his head, returning his attention to his blade. He's still not sure why he's the better choice, given Cousland has personal experience with this kind of weirdness but he certainly doesn't mind talking it over. Another perspective will be good for him too. So long as Anders isn't looking for an expert opinion on the matter, they can speculate wildly all he likes. And keep things from getting too weighed down.]

From my experience, if you asked a Revered Mother for help with an existential problem she'd be more likely to give you chores than advice. Something about how you can't doubt when your hands are raw from scrubbing floors.

[So one way or another they're on their own with this one.]

I think if we're not all drooling lunatics then there must be other 'us's - like you said, there's the Couslands who are definitely different people. And according to at least one person there's a me who stayed a Warden after the Blight. [He's still thinking about that one and what it might mean for him personally but for now it makes for a useful example.] So there could be a you who never joined the order or... I don't know, became Warden-Commander of Ferelden. It makes as much sense as anything else does.

[Pausing in his work for a moment he turns his gaze back to Anders.] Just because someone else says we might do something, or have done something, doesn't mean it's definitely going to happen. Has happened. To every you. [The statement is followed by a snort of amusement.] That's what I've been told and I think I'm finally starting to believe it.

[It's taken a while but he's getting there.]

Maybe if we just think of it as having a whole bunch of identical twins. We still get to make our own choices, we all just look the same. Except for the ones who don't.

[Probably not the most useful way to put it, that. What can he say? He is definitely not a philosopher.]