Anders is...dear to us. [Dear to me.] I'm not entirely sure how much worse it could actually get for him, from what I've seen, but I'm...frankly, I'm afraid enough of magic and spirits that every caution that can be taken will be taken.
[He hestitates.]
I can't let him keep living like this. Alone, on the run, starving. But I'm responsible enough for that. I can't be responsible for making him worse. I won't be.
Ser Howe, I would speak to Cole if you mean to do this. If nothing else, Cole could... Cole could tell you how to get through to him, if it's even possible now. Cole could speak to Justice. Perhaps that would help.
But we don't even know how to do this. Cole seems to do whatever he thinks is best at the moment, and I can't trust him to keep it a secret from Justice, not this early.
I trust Cole. He used to be a spirit; he would know better than anyone else how to separate them.
[ She takes a breath, stops. She isn't trying to push and resigns herself to leaving things as they are, though she wants to implore one last time. ]
I understand the precautions you want to take. I won't speak of it to Cole or to anyone. But I ask that you consider him as an option if - or when - you want to make a more decisive move in any one direction.
Cole doesn't even possess a body. How can he know how to end possession?
[Justice had been as clueless as anyone about possession. He'd always deemed it a thing for demons. But the question isn't simply rhetorical. Nathaniel frowns.]
But if he does...Maker. I could be denying the answer I'm looking for. Maker, what if my own caution is the end of Anders?
Not to my knowledge. I...knew him, once, but I doubt I know him now. I don't know if he'd listen to me. I concede your Cole is probably our best hope there.
Perhaps not specifically Cole but I had really wondered if anyone had been able to speak to him outside of Anders, really. A friend of mine named Solas could have helped, too. He is a Dreamer, able to traverse the Fade in his dreams. He has made friends with many spirits.
[ She doesn't quite look at Nathaniel. Can't, really, when she's still frustrated about the whole thing. ]
He's not here any longer, though, so that idea is out too.
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[He hestitates.]
I can't let him keep living like this. Alone, on the run, starving. But I'm responsible enough for that. I can't be responsible for making him worse. I won't be.
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Ser Howe, I would speak to Cole if you mean to do this. If nothing else, Cole could... Cole could tell you how to get through to him, if it's even possible now. Cole could speak to Justice. Perhaps that would help.
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[ She takes a breath, stops. She isn't trying to push and resigns herself to leaving things as they are, though she wants to implore one last time. ]
I understand the precautions you want to take. I won't speak of it to Cole or to anyone. But I ask that you consider him as an option if - or when - you want to make a more decisive move in any one direction.
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[Justice had been as clueless as anyone about possession. He'd always deemed it a thing for demons. But the question isn't simply rhetorical. Nathaniel frowns.]
But if he does...Maker. I could be denying the answer I'm looking for. Maker, what if my own caution is the end of Anders?
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[ She looks up, eyes sad, and she holds his arm gently. Lavellan reaches up to touch his arm. ]
This doesn't need to happen right away. For the moment, he's safe. He's all right.
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For the moment, [he concedes.] Until Justice decides to start denying him a normal life again.
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[ A beat. ]
Has...anyone tried speaking to Justice?
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[ She doesn't quite look at Nathaniel. Can't, really, when she's still frustrated about the whole thing. ]
He's not here any longer, though, so that idea is out too.