Hawke - Open to All

[fadehawke]

Waking up in unfamiliar territory was a new experience for Hawke, and the first thing he noticed about it was the fact that he wasn't brought back to consciousness by the tongue of an over-enthused dog. As if that should be a priority, he thought ruefully, even as he rolled to the side and ducked behind a pile of stacked stone bricks so he could get a look at the area without being seen. It was jarring to be suddenly relocated, almost like a dream; he'd only just seated himself down in that delightfully cushy chair by the fire in his mansion for a nap, waiting for Isabella to stop by with details for a job she'd mentioned at the Hanged Man the night before. Fully equipped, thank the Maker, which meant he had everything he might need for an escape on hand.

Actually, that was the strangest part about all of this. Why would anyone abduct him only to leave him armed and unguarded in some decrepit old castle? These are either the worst captors in history, or I've been dumped here to kill a dragon for someone.

To be fair, with his reputation (and luck), that was entirely possible.

A series of footsteps at his back makes him twist, dagger half-drawn, but he halts when he comes face to face with a tired and bewildered traveler climbing the hill towards the castle. Footprints in the snow, Hawke noticed, indicate that he'd gone wandering and had come right back. And when he gazed beyond the stranger, he realized why: outside was a vast, dark, nightmarish abyss. Eerily familiar and yet completely alien at the same time.

Frowning, he slid his dagger back into its scabbard and cautiously stood, stepping out into the courtyard. It seemed that this was no simple abduction.

Time to explore- and ask as many questions as he can come up with.

Comments

[fadehawke]

Oh, thank the Maker. He couldn't have handled it if Carver had pushed him off. It was yet another sign that this wasn't the Carver he once knew, though; they hadn't been getting along very well before the expedition, and of course there'd been no chance to make things right in the aftermath. He'd always known the depth of Carver's care for their family, but it was rare for it to be shown so openly.

Hawke knew better than to let the embrace linger too long, but it did last much longer than any hug he'd ever given his brother. It was hard to let go, when their last hug had been just before the thrust of a knife that ended it all.

This... this was much better.

[carverfadewalk]

Carver narrowed his eyes on Hawke as they separated, pretending to be put off. (He wasn't.) "You're not going to cry, are you, Brother?"

[fadehawke]

Hawke smirked, unable to help himself, pretending to wipe at his eyes. "I already shed a single tear into your very fancy uniform. Don't tell anyone, will you?"

It was so easy to fall back on old quips. He wouldn't be forgetting the truth any time soon, but it was okay to pretend for a little while, surely.

[carverfadewalk]

Carver just rolled his eyes as if incredibly put out. "I forgot how you are the worst," he muttered.

[fadehawke]

"Yes, yes, I'm a terrible person." He shrugged. In light of everything else, Carver's insults were a natural progression. "Now can you tell me what in the world is going on?"

[carverfadewalk]

He shrugged, in exactly the same way. There was no denying they were brothers, even if their universes took different paths. "No. Not for lack of trying, though. It's all a crazy house in there."

[fadehawke]

"I take it the difference between our known history isn't... uncommon." He glanced off in the direction of the main castle area, genuinely curious about this place. It definitely merited a full exploration later.

[carverfadewalk]

"There are people from completely new worlds who have never heard of Thedas before," Carver said. "They are...intense. Very very intense."

[fadehawke]

"Intense." The word made Hawke quirk a brow; that just made him more curious. He'd faced down demons, monsters, and even a damnable High Dragon, how intense could they truly be? "I suppose I'll see for myself, soon enough. I'm more concerned about the fact that we seem to have gotten ourselves trapped in the Fade, of all places."

[carverfadewalk]

"Well," Carver said. His lips quirked a little. "It is you. How much of a surprise can that be?"

[fadehawke]

Carver had him there. "No more surprising than the knowledge that I'm as much a troublemaker in any other world as I am in my own."

That is to say, not surprising at all.

[carverfadewalk]

Carver snorted, then looked away. He was silent for a long minute. "Do you think Bethany might be here?" he finally asked, voice quiet.

[fadehawke]

...Ah.

He honestly hadn't considered that - but then, he hadn't had time to consider much of anything just yet. Now the question had been posed, he hoped rather desperately that it was possible.

"We're both here," he finally murmured. "Surely she can't be far behind. We Hawkes always fly together."

[carverfadewalk]

"Oh, you did not just make that pun," Carver groaned.

[fadehawke]

"Nonsense, this is a very serious situation," Hawke said, not seriously at all.

[carverfadewalk]

"I don't understand how you have any friends," he muttered, mostly joking. "You're barely tolerable."

[fadehawke]

"The key word is tolerable, Carver." Although truth be told, sometimes he didn't understand, either. With all the trouble he attracted, most people would steer clear, but he'd only accumulated more companions. Just as crazy as he was.

[carverfadewalk]

"I'm tolerable!" Carver yelped, instantly offended. Of course.

[fadehawke]

Of course. "And you think I'm self-centered. I didn't even mention you, you know."

Although the speed at which Carver implicated himself was rather entertaining.

[carverfadewalk]

"Well, you were about to," he muttered sulkily.

[fadehawke]

"I suppose only a brother would know." He gave Carver a light, companionable cuff on the shoulder, smiling helplessly. Carver could call him every insult he knew - and invent a few more for good measure - and he'd still be pleased beyond belief. What harm can words do with his brother alive and well again?

[carverfadewalk]

Carver ducked his head, lips curving at the corners. It was good to have an almost-decent moment with his brother again. It seemed as if they hadn't managed to get along since he hit puberty and realized he was always left holding the short straw--the only non-mage Hawke, the only non-special child, the anxious mother hen both worrying over and resenting his siblings for needing him to chuck his own childhood and hover over them.

"There's someone I think you should meet," Carver said suddenly, changing the subject. There was only so long sappy could last. "I saw her pass that way earlier. Want me to track her down?"


(OOC: Wrap up thread/send Carver away?)

[fadehawke]

A woman he ought to meet? An unusual thing for Carver to arrange. Hawke quirked a brow, but shrugged it off easily enough. It wasn't as if he had pressing matters to attend anymore, aside from the obvious 'get answers and get out'. "By all means. I might have a look around, while you're at it. Get my bearings. Possibly look for trouble."


((ooc: sounds like a plan!))

[carverfadewalk]

"Possibly?" he scoffed, but he was mostly smiling. "Watch yourself, Brother," Carver added. "At least until I'm with you to watch your back."

Then, jerking his chin, he jogged off to find Shepard--who really did need ot meet his obnoxious brother.