jacksonian | contact post

[ She has apologies to make, ok, so he's another person getting an awkward voicemail. ]

So, Mark. Hi. Hawke here. [ She's bad at these. Give her a second. ] I just wanted to let you know I'm not... that... anymore. I'm sorry. I'm fairly certain I was rude to you and you didn't deserve it. Just thought you might want to know.

[ He calls her back. When she picks up, though, he just asks: ]

Is there anything else you need around the farm?

[ That's... unexpected. ]

Around the farm? In what way? Ah, if you mean... helping with the dogs again, you know you're welcome to. I'll do the heavy lifting next time, though.

[ His shrug is just about audible. ]

The lifting I can do. It's just reaching high shelves that's a problem for me. [ Dryly: ] Obviously.

You don't have to apologize, though.

You shouldn't shrug so much. [ Because, yeah, that was an audible shrug. She can picture it clearly. ] And too late. I already did. There are no take-backs for sorry.

[ Uhhhh... ]

Do I shrug a lot? [ Anyway - ] I don't want it, anyway. You weren't all that rude to me. You were actually fairly nice.

A... bit. Only a little.

[ He does like shrugging. ]

I don't know. I could have at least helped.

[ He fights the urge to shrug again. ]

Yeah, I could have used the help. But now I know I can do the whole process on my own. That's useful.

That's... sensible of you?

[ Sounding kind of unsure. ]

Well, I suppose if-- I guess I should just be relieved at least someone isn't mad.

[ Mark thinks, privately, that after everything he's done, he really doesn't have the right to get angry at just about anyone. But, hey, if Hawke isn't thinking that, he's not going to encourage her to do so. ]

Are the others? Mad?

A... little. Obviously charm wins out in the end, but. I was a bit nasty.

[ A bit. Yeah. ]

What was it that changed? That made you that way.

Oh, well, I guess that's how I am when I decide that I really, really want to rule a city-state.

Oh. So you got hit on the head or something, then.

[ Okay, that earns a snort of laughter. ]

Yes, you really would need to hit your head to ever agree with the templar side of things. Just about ever.

[ That's a word that's unknown to him. ]

Templar?

Soldiers for the Chantry. [ But even that must be a new word. ] Church. Religious soldiers. Mage-killing religious soldiers, at that.

[ Stating the obvious: ]

You're a mage.

Now you begin to see the problem.

So...Were you not a mage in this version of events?

No, I was. It's only... well, I can't honestly say they were never a threat, but their hands were pretty tied when it came to dealing with me in particular.

[ Oh. ]

Because you were even more terrifying than usual, I'm guessing.

...I really need to stop joking about how scary I am.

[ She's not! Not really! Usually? ]

No. If I'd been the usual variety of rogue mage, I'd have been arrested and dragged off to the Gallows, assuming they didn't find an excuse to kill me on the spot. You know, like looking at them funny or something. [ Someone's not a fan of templars, clearly. ] But I managed to stumble into the oh so lovable role of Champion, so arresting me would have caused more trouble than it was worth.

[ She is totally scary. She blew up a house. With her mind. ]

You found some position of power, and that protected you?

[ ...fine. Maybe a little scary. ]

Something like that. I'm sure it helped that I wasn't just some nobody who strolled in to save the day, but becoming the Champion definitely protected me from a lot.

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