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[fatherlesskind]

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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[circlejerked]

As your friend, I feel it's my duty to say "serious" isn't a good look for you, not at all. _{[And just to make sure the maudlin moment is good and dead, Anders lets his own features slip into something more comfortable, relaxed and casual with just a hint of vanity in his smile.]} You have a point. I don't know what I'd do without him.

<sub>[The thank you is implied, but never quite rises past his throat. He has a difficult enough time addressing what draws him to Justice or even contemplating the crimes he and Justice are allegedly responsible for--talking about them more than once in a single afternoon is an utterly exhausting prospect.

He doubts Alistair is complaining. It's a lot to lay on a man when that man has only Anders' word to go by in all of this.]</sub>

You mean you weren't offering it to me earlier? _{[A pointed look down at the seat he's occupying.]} But I'm already comfortable.

[fatherlesskind]

[Serious doesn't work for either of them. He can get behind them avoiding it because of that. It's an entirely unnecessary thing. As is further discussion of a lot of subjects better put out of mind for now.

Anders moving isn't though, no matter how comfortable he might be.]

Too bad. I'm not sleeping on the floor. It's my bed. [The rag gets retrieved for another doomed attempt to hit Anders in the head with it in reproach.] Don't make me move you.

[Or try. That might get embarrassing for one of them. And not necessarily the one whose name rhymes with slanders.]

[circlejerked]

_{[Again with the rag! Anders shields his face so that the rag hits his arm and falls ineffectually to the floor. Can't he see Anders recently gave his robes a good clean? He's going to get them dirty all over again at this rate. Better than staining his shirt with tears, but still.]}

You have a strange attraction to throwing things. Too bad you weren't a mage--you could get away with throwing all sorts of things in the name of scholarly enterprise.

_{[He sighs as if the very thought of having to move tires him down to his very soul. All right, all right, if he insists.]}

Fine, have your bed. You need more beauty sleep than I do. _{[He stands.]} I should be off, besides.

[fatherlesskind]

[At least it hit him this time. An ineffectual hit but still a hit. It gets the point across.]

You should be glad I'm not throwing anything worse at you.

[Like some of the grenades he's seen his companions toss about. Mostly not at him.]

Also, ow! [That's just hurtful. It's definitely time for Anders to go if he's going to say things like that. Getting to his feet as well, Alistair walks him to the door.] I'll remember that the next time you ask me for anything. After I cry myself to sleep tonight.

[He hopes Anders feels bad about that.]

[circlejerked]

_{[So sensitive! The outrage earns a fleeting, carefree smile. He doesn't feel bad in the slightest bit--not about that. About other things, maybe, weightier things that hit a little too close to home, but not that.]}

I said you need more than I do, I didn't say how much. You're still pretty.

_{[But he should really go--daylight's burning and he's taken up enough time with this. But he remains grateful in the ways Anders knows how to express such things. That much is clear when he reaches the door and turns with another smile that puts his appreciation on display.]}

Thanks again--really, I mean that. I'm used to things being a mess but this is one that exceeds my wildest dreams. You didn't have to listen me do a rendition of all of my problems, but you did.