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[wythersake]

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[luaithre]

[ The smallest, derisive sounding exhale. ]

So it was voluntary.

[wythersake]

Do you believe they would have pushed for it?

[luaithre]

Perhaps. I'd have waited to see if they would.

[wythersake]

Yes, [ he expects marcus would have stayed ] That would have been cleverer.

[ if you rub your temples alone in your office, does it make a sound? ]

Derrica is a softer face for it. If they press her, she makes a ready martyr. In truth, it was a conversation with Mme. Cedoux which solidified the decision.

[luaithre]

[ The usual suspicious pause when clever people call him clever goes here. But they are talking about a thing done already, so.

After a grudging second; ]

What conversation was that?

[wythersake]

While dreaming,

[ he isn't blind — it would do to tread cautiously here. maker, but there are limits of caution; of any virtue. ]

We discussed her action in the strike some years ago. My own. There was a discussion among the healers: Ought we participate? Would that not be immoral? Pointless.

[luaithre]

And so which is it?

[ It could sound impatient, Marcus' tone. More likely something else disturbed. ]

This action.

[wythersake]

Overdue.

[ a practicality, and a gesture of contrition. too: ]

There is no bargaining power in a healer's position here. It will not be tested, and it would be undermined by one's colleagues. Nor would it longer recover my personal reputation.

How did it feel to act the tool?

[luaithre]

[ Another monosyllabic sound. This one sounds more agreeable, anyway, to the rationale being explained. Just because it isn't what he would do— ]

For the Venatori? [ bluntly clarifying, and then a little wryer, because just as plausibly; ] Or the Herald of Andraste?

1/2

[wythersake]

[ wry, itself: ]

You see the trouble, then.

2/2

[wythersake]

I've no desire to see us all enslaved and Blight-ridden — do rather like my face, at that. But if this isn't to end with Corypheus, when will it? When may we ask for better?

[luaithre]

Do you think we didn't?

[ It's possibly dangerous waters. How well does he know Isaac, anyway? Just that the man has been free and frank with exposing information in this past, and so. ]

In this future, where we turned traitor? I'm sure we asked plenty, and were denied as often.

[wythersake]

You'd a wife and a fine house.

[ perhaps that isn't who marcus meant them to ask. but something in him raised the question: something in him must dwell of it, ]

You were unhappy. I was unhappy. [ an understatement ] Where were you, in that other dream?

[luaithre]

[ A silence, which could be strange over a medium in which they can't see each other, or less awkward for it. If nothing else, Isaac would have been able to tell if the silence was for that first thing, or in thinking about the question.

Eventually; ]

There was a place. An island, off Rivain. Some of the other mages here, and me, we lived there outside the influence of the Circles. I'd a house there too.

[ Not quite so fine, but. ]

Where were you?

[wythersake]

[ the door is propped. light from the hall, the occasional traffic of feet above, below; of wind through stone halls. he listens, and then he listens to marcus hedge. ]

Orlais, old friends. I was a healer there.

[ (some of the other mages, as though isaac doesn't know them all. a wife and a house,) ]

I don't know that we'll ever have an island, or houses, or a home. I don't know that we should even trust the prophetic distortions of a spirit impersonating a dead woman —

But it sounds a fine thing, to not be used. I'd like to try it.

[luaithre]

Ambitious of you, [ comes groused in the wake of his last breath of smoke.

There is a thoughtful silence that follows, however. Agreeable.

Not unrelated; ]

I spoke to the Commander about his intentions in allying with southern mages.

[wythersake]

What did he claim?

[luaithre]

His sympathies to our position. The look of things once the war with Corypheus is won.

[wythersake]

No doubt, he's acquainted with the concept of sympathy. Perhaps read it in a book —

[luaithre]

[ Another beat of quiet. Then— ]

I don't think he was lying to me. That isn't where the concern lies.

[wythersake]

Where does yours lie?

[luaithre]

Like you said, about being used. Not only us, but mages all. Sympathy, if that's what drives him truly, isn't an open sanction to do as he pleases.

But they're convincing, sympathies. Our lot are susceptible.

[wythersake]

[ a noise of agreement. he is thinking again: of islands, of a right hand. you have the ships, the friends —

islands sink. silver tarnishes. ]

Does he believe you placated?

[luaithre]

[ Another sound, sort of a probably not. ]

I made a demand, that Matthias be excluded from deeds like Flint asked of you and him. He acquiesced. I suppose that's like placation.

[wythersake]

[ forgive the brief segue — ]

What will you tell Matthias when he discovers that?

[ you know. inevitably. ]