By people who aren't mages. Or at least aren't native mages.
[There's that familiar knot of tension again. Mage lives still aren't their own, no matter what lip service has been paid to the idea. Despite that, though, it's oddly comforting to hear Kostos' disgust and doubt.
Anders hesitates for several moments before speaking again.]
You know where I stand on the matter.
[Being more blatant is too risky, but Anders also can't just say nothing. He can't stay out of it.]
[His tone is mild, mind so many miles away. Skyhold is even worse, 3/4ths of it with clear allegiances to the Chantry whether they claim it's past or not.]
Though it wasn't the literal interpretation of my words I was going for there.
[ Maker he hates talking. But he takes a breath and does it. ]
I am sure if it comes to that, people who are not Loyalists will be in contact. But it is not— [ He huffs. It's a bit horselike. ] Whatever we take by force, we have to be prepared to keep by force, for the rest of our lives. Which may become very short.
[Anders enjoys talking. But he also likes living, and saying things that may put that at risk does not quite line up with anything he likes.]
And what is destroyed, [he finally, very slowly says,] is sometimes deemed as too much of an effort to rebuild. Which does include trust, something valuable that should not be discarded quickly.
[There's a short pause.]
The situation is not simple or easy from any angle, and perhaps we'll be surprised in a pleasant way. I don't expect that we will, but my life has basically never gone as I expected.
Either way. They have to make a decision. If they decide to get rid of them, they cannot say it was an accident or sabotage after the war. If they decide to keep them, we will all know what sort of alliance this really is.
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[There's that familiar knot of tension again. Mage lives still aren't their own, no matter what lip service has been paid to the idea. Despite that, though, it's oddly comforting to hear Kostos' disgust and doubt.
Anders hesitates for several moments before speaking again.]
You know where I stand on the matter.
[Being more blatant is too risky, but Anders also can't just say nothing. He can't stay out of it.]
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[ So not mages, no, but also not the non-mages here. ]
I am certain everyone knows where you stand, Anders.
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[His tone is mild, mind so many miles away. Skyhold is even worse, 3/4ths of it with clear allegiances to the Chantry whether they claim it's past or not.]
Though it wasn't the literal interpretation of my words I was going for there.
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Death by a thousand ellipsis.
Not just like, Kostos. I mean that... I... Andraste's bloody kneecaps.
[He takes a breath.]
If backup is required on this... matter, I am... amenable. Available, even.
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[ Maker he hates talking. But he takes a breath and does it. ]
I am sure if it comes to that, people who are not Loyalists will be in contact. But it is not— [ He huffs. It's a bit horselike. ] Whatever we take by force, we have to be prepared to keep by force, for the rest of our lives. Which may become very short.
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And what is destroyed, [he finally, very slowly says,] is sometimes deemed as too much of an effort to rebuild. Which does include trust, something valuable that should not be discarded quickly.
[There's a short pause.]
The situation is not simple or easy from any angle, and perhaps we'll be surprised in a pleasant way. I don't expect that we will, but my life has basically never gone as I expected.
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