A Clearing in the Preserve, Wednesday Afternoon

[not_every_mage]

The different calendars made it hard to track exact dates, but Anders reckoned it was right about a year since the last time he got dragged back to the Circle -- and almost a year since what he hoped was his final escape had taken him to Fandom.

It was a victory. As far as he knew, no runaway his age had ever lasted anything like that long.

The thought of all that kept him cheerful as he set up for a picnic in the preserve with Nathan. He spread out a blanket, laid out the pasta salad, cheese, and fruit -- and then, out of restless energy, started picking violets. He wasn't sure what he'd do with them, but they were pretty.

[OOC: For the boy, please.]

Comments

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"I'd probably get carsick," he joked, making a face. "Wouldn't make car rides very much fun."

[not_every_mage]

"Especially not if you were driving," Anders agreed with a little laugh. He broke off part of the orange and offered Nathan a segment. "I don't think I'd get carsick, but I'd need someone with a lot of patience to teach me to drive."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

Nathan took the offered orange and nodded. But, he had a question. "This might be a stupid question so sorry if it is but do you guys have magic that can make you fly? Levitate?"

[not_every_mage]

"No, but I wish we did," Anders said. "It'd make things much more interesting. Why, is that a Gift you've heard of?"

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

Nathan scratched his chin. "I think maybe? But, I'm not sure if it's true or not since I've never witnessed it myself. Be pretty handy wouldn't it?"

[not_every_mage]

"I'd say so," Anders agreed, and leaned back again to stare at the sky. "Where would you go, if you could do that?"

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Wales."

That was automatic. "Near the mountains. But after that?" He shrugged. "Maybe Australia?"

[not_every_mage]

"I don't know which one that is," Anders said, matter-of-fact. It was another thing among many that he should really look up some day."I want to see Wales, though. It sounds like it's not too far off from home."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Australia is...kind of like this place," Nathan said, trying to describe it. "It's an island. Lots of beaches. Might be a little too hot to stay there permanently but a visit would be fun."

[not_every_mage]

"I think I could get used to the heat," Anders said, angling to feel more sun on his skin. "It'd be fun to try, anyhow."

He added idly, "If we were in Thedas I'd go to Rivain. It's warm there, too. And there are pirates."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't you get sunburned?" Nathan teased. "Your skin would turn all red and painful."

[not_every_mage]

"I'd make you rub lotion on me," Anders grinned. "Besides, it'd be worth it."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Make me rub lotion on you?" Nathan repeated, snickering. "You'd have to ask nicely, of course."

[not_every_mage]

"Of course," Anders agreed, resting his less sticky hand right above Nathan's knee. "But I'm prepared to be persuasive."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"All for a little lotion?" he asked, amused. He glanced down at Anders' hand and smiled. "You must really want to avoid a sunburn."

[not_every_mage]

"Have you ever seen sun poisoning? You can get blisters as big as your hand," Anders offered, and then gave a slyer smile as his fingers began to trace spirals on Nathan's thigh. "Besides, coming up with excuses for you to touch me is one of my favorite hobbies right now."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Whiplash," he laughed, shaking his head. "Going from gross blisters to making me touch you all in one breath. That's impressive."

[not_every_mage]

"I'm a complicated man," Anders told him. "I can hit on you and talk about disgusting skin conditions at the same time. It's a gift, really."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"You're lucky I have a strong stomach," Nathan said, laughing again. "Lesser people might have gagged and made gross faces."

[not_every_mage]

"So what we're saying is, people don't want to hear about things that might make them throw up when I'm trying to be cute?" Anders asked, also laughing. "Thanks for the tip."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Hey, I'm fine with it," Nathan said, tapping a few fingers on Anders' hand and shrugging. "But, I might be a special case too. Weird and different."

[not_every_mage]

"I don't mind weird and different," Anders told him, smiling at the touch of Nathan's hand. " I even like it when it's cute."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"When it's cute?" he asked, snickering. "I don't know if I'd describe myself like that but thanks. You're cute too even if you like to talk about blisters and touching."

[not_every_mage]

"Excuse me while I swoon," Anders laughed, and pretended to do exactly that to lay on the blanket.

"... the clouds are nice."

[halfbad.livejournal.com]

"Did you hit your head on the way down?" Nathan asked, peering at him from above and laughing. "What's up in the clouds today? A dog?"