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So this is Alistair speaking, you know, in case you somehow don't recognise the sound of my voice even though you're trying to talk to me. I'm not here or you'd be talking to me and not hearing this. You can leave me a message or share any juicy gossip or embarrassing secrets on this thing and I'll answer you or tell everyone I know when I find it. Maybe. Or maybe I won't because I don't want to talk to you and I'm really sitting here listening to you and laughing and just pretending not to be here, you'll never know! You should definitely share those embarrassing secrets though. I wouldn't tell everyone - just a few people and- *BEEP*

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[ She isn't very good with the communicators, but this is important enough to warrant an attempt. Important enough to bypass the ever-uncomfortable interactions that the pair of them still seem to have. ]

Alistair, this is Rob- Warden Cousland. [ Maker, that's annoying to have to say. ] I've felt another Grey Warden in Wonderland, but I've yet to see them. Do you know who it is?

[It takes him far too long to realise he has a message at all and even longer to work out how to listen to it. But, eventually, he manages both. By this point he's run into the other Warden in question and has an answer beyond a simple 'no' to give her. Unfortunately - if that was all he had it would at least mean he could keep this short.

He holds off on replying as long as he can, still uncertain how he feels about the new Warden Cousland until his sense of duty finally prompts Alistair to call back.]

Warden, it's me. Which you must already know. [Great start there, just brilliant.] You were asking about the new Grey Warden who arrived. [There's a certain stiffness to his tone as he if he's a soldier reporting in to his commander. Which isn't far off the truth but it's rare to get such formality from him. His Templar commanders would be amazed at the feat.] I met him earlier. He's a mage from Ferelden. I don't know him personally but... He seems alright to me.

[That's about all he's got so far, for what it's worth.]

[ A mage from Ferelden? That has her frowning, but it's more in curiosity than anything. ]

But, he wasn't at Ostagar, then? Or... does he remember the battle?

[ He could have been summoned to Wonderland just before the fight, in which case things could get even more awkward than they already are. ]

Were you introduced?

[ It'd be nice to have a name if she herself meets the other Warden. It's reassuring to hear the all-clear from Alistair, however superficial the report may be. It's still Alistair, after all, and she trusts his judgment. ]

No, he wasn't at Ostagar. He said he joined after the Blight.... When I'm king and there's a new Warden-Commander.

[Which was still something he was trying not to think about, the sense of inevitability about it now. Easier to think about how here's another person who's certain the Blight will be stopped. That at least is a cheerful thought.]

His name is Anders. Do you recognise it?

[He's not expecting her to unless one of the others from Thedas have mentioned this Warden to her. Neither of them have seen the end of the Blight and beyond the Warden's own identity it seems they know all the same people.]

[ Though he can't see it, she frowns at what he says at first, and pushes past it for the moment to reply to the latter bit. ]

Anders... no, I've never met an Anders. I've also come just before the Landsmeet, remember, so I don't know anything past the Blight, either.

[ The others from Thedas may have said differently, though. Speaking of: ]

... If the Landsmeet hasn't happened yet, then nothing's been decided. [ Her voice is careful, even, not wanting to cross any lines but with the tone of someone doing what they feel is right. ] No matter what the others say has happened, the only person who can decide whether you'll be king or not is you. All right? To think it's some inevitable thing is... wrong.

[ There's a pause, and she remembers herself a little, adding, meekly: ]

I hope that wasn't too forward, but I do think it's important.

I...

[Honestly he doesn't know what to say. It's more than a little unexpected for her to say such a thing and it catches him completely off-guard.

He's spent such a long time having his decisions made for him that he's just come to accept it. Being expressly told that he has a choice then is... odd. But as uncertain as Alistair is about the Warden he still appreciates that she feels the need to say it. She doesn't have to and doesn't have much reason to show him such concern. It's strange but not in a bad way, even if part of him wonders if it's not just that he looks like somebody she actually cares about but isn't him.

In the end though, whatever happens to him won't affect her one bit. She didn't have to say anything at all and that she did matters, whatever the motivation.]

No, it wasn't too forward. I don't think so. Ah... Thanks. I- I'll remember that.

[He clears his throat awkwardly and quickly asks-] So. Another Warden. Did you want me to introduce you?

[ Though it isn't entirely true that what happens to him doesn't affect her, her speaking out for him is done just for his benefit. He needs to know, or at least to be reminded, as so often in their journey thus far he'd been told that he had to do one thing or the other. She's happy to tell him otherwise and smiles politely at his response. ]

Good. [ Back to business. ] Oh, you don't have to do that. It isn't a very big space, here; I'm sure that I'll come across him sooner or later. But, thank you.

[ Really, she'd just wanted to know if it was someone that either of them had heard of, but since it isn't... well, she doesn't think it'll be long before this Anders crosses her path. ]

Is there anything else about him that I should know? Did he say anything about the new Warden-Commander?

No, I don't think he said anything about that. He mentioned there was...is. Will be. [This is just getting ridiculous.] A new Warden-Commander, but not who it... is as far as he's concerned.

[And Alistair had been too distracted by the king bit to ask about it.]

Why? Has anyone told you about who the next Warden-Commander will be? Is it Riordan?

[He seems the obvious choice for the position as the senior Warden and it's not like there are a lot of other candidates. Particularly if Alistair himself does take the throne.]

I don't know, to be honest.

[ Of course there would have to be one after Duncan's death, and if they hadn't said that Alistair was to be king, she would have expected him to be in line for the position after Riordan. ]

I think that they must not have known... [ But, even as she says it, she isn't sure if the Inquisitor or the others had mentioned it or not. ] I can ask Brennan and see if he remembers.

Right, it's probably not important for him. Unless the Inquisition suddenly needed the Wardens support.

[Even with demons apparently on the loose he's not sure that would happen. The Wardens would fight to protect people but beyond providing extra soldiers there was little they'd be able to do that a force of Templars couldn't.]

Let me know what he says? If you get to ask him first.

[It would be good to know who might become the new Warden-Commander in advance. Even if it's just so he has some time to stop thinking of them as 'Duncan's replacement'.]

They... did mention the Wardens, I think. But I never did hear all of the details.

[ Something about the fortress, Adamant, and... she sensed there was a lot more to tell, and most of it not very good. It makes her uneasy, thinking of the possibilities, but "she" hadn't been said to be there, anyway, searching for a cure to the taint in the Deep Roads. ]

I- Oh, yes, I will. And I'll find out what the order has done to get involved with the future-Inquisition. I think we ought to know, even if it's only a possibility in our own futures.

Some warning for once would be nice.... even if it might not affect me. [Or affect him in different ways if he's no longer a Warden at the time.] Or you. Or our new Warden even.

[As she said, the things Brennan will know about might not happen to either of them. But knowing wouldn't hurt just in case they did. Where demons are concerned it's always better to be prepared.]

I'll tell you too if I hear anything. You both now.

[She's better acquainted with the Inquisitor than he is so it's unlikely he'll get anything she won't and once she's met Anders she'll presumably pass information directly to them both. But just in case.]

Edited 2016-01-17 09:57 (UTC)

It is still our future, even if they don't know exactly how we fit into it. [ Or, even if they do know that piece, as it were. ] You really should speak with Brennan, too; he has a very good story about a dragon, at the very least. Though, I'm not sure how it compares with our experience looking for the Urn.

[ Her lip twitches up at a smile, though he can't see it. Do you remember the High Dragon, Alistair? Wasn't that fun?? ]

Of course. Be well, Alistair.

Nothing can compare to that mess.

[He'd really rather not remember that, thanks. The whole business with finding the Urn had been not fun even before someone decided it was a good idea to slay a dragon.]

...You too, Warden.

[And with that he'll end the call and go find something else to do while he stews over the conversation.]

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