On to something -Anders-

[Sebastian Vael]

Ostwick was safer than Kirkwall in more ways than one. Sebastian was tired of Kirkwall and didn't quite feel at home in Starkhaven. Despite all the guards and high-born taverns in the area, Sebastian kept well away from the high-end area of the port town.

Instead he stuck with the sailors and wore a ragged traveler's cloak over his armour so none would suspect him. As far as everyone around the pub was concerned, he was just some normal Starkhaven Citizen. His accent was too strong to cover it up though when he tried to, he could do a rather interesting impression of the Kirkwall Seneschal. His royal seal was hidden deep in his pocket. Should he be in need of aid, all guards and soldiers in this port new his seal.

"I'll raise you seven silver." Sebastian smiled as he took a large swallow of cheap ale and checked over his cards that so far showed the second highest hand in this card game.

Gambling and drinking, what in The Maker's name was coming to him? He was damned, clearly. He was letting down blessed Andraste and...oh fuck it all. The Maker nor his bride care not for their followers. They would not have allowed all this hurt, all this damned war if they did.

Now he could add blasphemy to the pile. He was damned. Just perfect.

[Anders]

Taverns. Inns. Brothels. It's all he ever saw lately. For the past 3 damn years. When it wasn't those, it was the deep forests in the heart of the land. In the cities, he was running from Templars. In the wild, it was either predators or Dalish. Maker knew that they could be even more threatening than the Chantry itself. He knew a couple Dalish in his time, and both of those women were as a crazy as bats.

He was only thankful that not everyone knew what the famous Anders looked like. With is staff for a cane, and normal citizen clothing, he drew the least amount of attention to himself. Plus, he hadn't made friend with anyone here like he had at the others he frequented lately. He knew the bartender, and considering his paid him off to keep his identity a secret, he wasn't afraid of any danger.

Anders spun around in his stool, facing the crowd sitting at the several tables hogging the tavern floors. There was a man on his own a ways away spouting senseless nothings into the air, as his ale swashed around in his mug with every thrust of his arm. There was a barmaid being flirted with another drunkard at a table, though, less drunk than the other. And it seemed as if she welcomed the attention as well, the smiles on her face and the waves of her hands. The same barmaid that previously had her back-end smacked while passing by tables.


As his eyes drifted to the next table, his heart skipped a beat when they landed on one of the men at the table. Anders quickly spun back around in his stool, facing his drink on the counter-top with a shocked expression. No. It couldn't be him! He racked his brain, trying to picture the man in his head while comparing it to the image of the man behind him. He wasn't wearing the same getup that he wore back then, but neither did he.

He slowly and cautiously turned his head over his shoulder, trying to get another look at the man. When his caught on his face once more, he quickly turned back with confirmation. What were the odds? He'd be here at the same as him? This wasn't good. It was just as a Templar standing behind him. He knew this man was probably looking for him. It was okay though, he still hadn't seen him... Right? Maybe he wouldn't recognize him...

[Sebastian Vael]

Luckily for Anders, Sebastian hadn't noticed him. That didn't mean he was completely safe though. Even in his drunken state he would never forget Anders' face - or he was at least banking on that anyway.

He had grown tired of the card game and had thankfully just won his hand. This gave him the perfect opportunity to gather up his winnings, chuck it into a good-sized belt pouch and leave the table. The rest of the players still had money to play with so he could leave safe in the knowledge that none of them would try and rob him on the way out.

Not that he feared that. While he wasn't as skilled with his daggers as he was with his bow he had those daggers on him concealed and he was not afraid to use them. If the guards came -and they would- he could show his royal seal and all would be well.

Sebastian made his way up to the bar and just by mere chance, took his place in a gap that was two men away from where Anders sat. He didn't appear to notice though. Instead he hailed over the barman and said "I might as well share the cheer, pour a drink for everyone my good man." and as he dropped the coin pouch on the bar the room was filled with cheers.

[Anders]

Thankfully for Anders, he had good ears. He was able to closely listen in to the conversation between the men behind him, listening to them gamble their money away. At least the man was too preoccupied to notice anyone else around the bar. Had it been a year or two ago, the man probably would have spotted the mage right away, but it seemed time was on his side.

But then it seemed time insisted to run by fast. The next thing he knew, the man left the comfort of his buds and took an empty seat at the bar just a stool away. There was a smaller fella in between them, failing to act as a good shield. He could leave. Unnoticed by the threat. Make a quick escape to the door and head for the safety of another Inn nearby. If he stayed, he just needed to make sure he didn't draw any sort of attention to himself.

Anders placed his left elbow on the counter-top, putting his hand up against his face every so casually as to block his face while resting his cheek in his palm. Would the hair give it away? Or the single golden loop earring? Damn him for keeping his hair the same over the course of time. It's not like he was the only one with a gold earring? Varric did too! Disguising himself as Varric wasn't ideal either though.

And then it only seemed the Maker frowned down upon him. Some drunkard came waltzing up behind the mage, swatting a hand down on his shoulder as he went on spouting about women and ale. Half of the man's words were slurred, but a single word remained as clear as day: "Anders".

He quickly turned around, trying to shoo the man away as quickly as possible before Sebastain could take notice, but the more he refused, the more the drunken man became louder and louder. He was going on and on about a "War of Wars" and "the death of all Templars" and even--this one got him-- "all mages damming the world". Anders quickly shoved him away even more forceful than the last, sending him backwards into another man, who then shoved him away and into the wall.

Without another glance, he turned back to his stool, took one last swig of his Ale, and then turned back to begin to leave.

[Sebastian Vael]

((Sorry for the delay, lots of stuff to do at work. Won't leave you hanging this long again, I promise.))

Well perhaps it was true what they said then. Those little things you're looking for always turn up the minute you actually stop searching. Just as Sebastian was receiving the small amount of change he got from the round of drinks for the whole tavern, the drunkard's words reached his ears and he paled.

It cannot be. He thought in disbelief and waited to hear the rest of the conversation. While he waited, he knocked back his drink in one and didn't move until Anders was out of the door.

Before the door had even stopped swinging, Sebastian was on his feet and on the mage's tail. He would not let his former friend, now sworn enemy go. Not this time.

"Going so soon, Anders?" He called after him, unable to hide the bitter tone in his voice. He tried to keep an air of grace about himself but the amount of alcohol in his system made it hard. "Shame. There was a little matter the two of us need to settle. I would quite like to get that over and done with."

[Anders]

The Virgin Prince from Starkhaven. Who knew? Anders swore that man had nothing to do with his life. You'd think with him being a man of the Chantry and a Prince of his city, he'd have a little bit more time doing something other than getting drunk in a tavern.

Anders tilted in his head back in an exasperated sigh. He knew this day would come eventually. It was only wishful thinking that the man wasn't looking for him, or waiting for this day, himself. The blonde turned around, forcing a sarcastic smile on his face, "Well, well, if it isn't the drunken Prince with a bow and arrow!" He added a chuckle to his voice, mainly to not attract attention from around them. If the others found out he was a mage, he'd most likely have a lot more to deal with than just a archer with a title.

His eyes drifted quickly to a table with wondering eyes. A couple clearly eavesdropping on the conversation. Anders stepped closer to Sebastian so he could lower his voice and deter the perked ears around them. "I'd suggest whatever happens next, happens outside. We don't, uh... want to cause a scene now do we?"

And with that, he turned away to face the door and began to walk out into the dark alley. The sun was slowly falling over the horizon and the streets were nearly abandoned. That was good. If this altercation ended in a fight, nobody wouldn't be around to notice. Those who did would most likely be drunk.