& oh, poor Atlas

"the world's a beast of a burden, you've been holding on a long time." An AU Marian Hawke roleplay blog affiliated with City of Chains.

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Can I interest you in fresh-squeezed orange juice?

"You can, but that depends."

"Will you allow me to help?"

[absolutioninflame]

"Would I like to keep other people from knowing you as well as I do?” He pondered the question, not entirely certain how to answer it. By nature he was not a jealous soul, and if Marian chose to give her time to another who made her happy, he would never stand in her way. But he had to admit there was a part of him in that moment who was content enough with keeping whatever it was that they had exactly where it was. Shifting from serious immediately back to silly he responded, “I suppose that depends on whether or not you’ll be offering to squeeze their oranges.” 

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Her response in return was a loud burst of laughter--something she didn't do enough of. She clamped her hand over her mouth however, head bowed as she continued to giggle through her fingers. Obviously the response was favourable, and she got the answer she wanted or at the very least expected from him.

"As it stands there's no oranges I'd prefer squeezing." Marian paused and pursed her lips, then tilted her head in the slightest and gazed back up at him. "You did promise me some juice though."

[fereldan-commander]

democraticrevolution replied to your post: I’m still a bit skeptical, but I guess you could say I had a change in heart. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

"I have too many questions," Marian intoned as she stepped beside him as he limped away, offering an arm if it was required. "I’ll start with the pamphlet to save you time, I think."

"There is no such thing as ‘too many questions,’ particularly when looking to enlist.  But if you haven’t organized them yet then I understand.  I am not looking to put you on the spot," he chuckled, digging through the drawer and withdrawing a couple of different pamphlets (The Warden Lifestyle, Defenders of Thedas, Facts About the Taint and the Tainted).  ”Feel free to come to me with questions any time.  My door will always be open to you,” he added with a polite but real smile as he handed the pamphlets over before making his way back to his desk.  

"And if you like, I can give you a sticker," he said with a serious expression, holding up a blue shield sticker with a griffin on it.

[democraticrevolution-blog]

"You're certain?" She asked, sounding a bit skeptical. She knew there were certain boundaries in regards to enlisting; certain information that could be considered classified. Were these pamphlets really for her eyes to see? She glanced down at bundles of glossy paper in her grasp and followed behind him.

"I just--" Marian paused, looking up as he held up a sticky-backed leaflet, lips pulling into a bashful, smile as she cast her eyes away. She felt like a child admitting it. "Yes I'd... Like a sticker."

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Can I interest you in fresh-squeezed orange juice?

"You can, but that depends."

"Will you allow me to help?"

[absolutioninflame]

With a smirk a bit of the confusion ebbed away, and he leaned forward into her touch much the way that a cat presses at a palm in search of a good scratch behind the ears, “You are a minx Marian Hawke, and anyone who says otherwise obviously didn’t take the time to know you as well as they should have.” 

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Marian grinned and brushed her fingers over the expanse of his cheek in order to settle her palm against the side of his face. Leaning forward and pressing up onto her toes, she set a fleeting peck against the corner of his mouth just beneath his bottom lip before falling back onto her heels.

"I’d like to keep it that way, wouldn’t you?"

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Can I interest you in fresh-squeezed orange juice?

"You can, but that depends."

"Will you allow me to help?"

[absolutioninflame]

"I’m sorry… you lost me there somewhere at the corner of Innuendo Lane and the Vaguely-Threatening Turnpike Entrance. What were we talking about?"

[democraticrevolution-blog]

"Oh? I thought you knew."

"I would hazard a guess that it's your job to figure it out though. As kind and as giving as you are, Anders, not everything is for free." She tapped his jaw with her index finger. "Your move."

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Can I interest you in fresh-squeezed orange juice?

"You can, but that depends."

"Will you allow me to help?"

[absolutioninflame]

"Are you suggesting that you’d like to squeeze my oranges, Lady Marian?”

[democraticrevolution-blog]

"Are you putting words in my mouth?"

"I'm simply suggesting that I will help squeeze whatever oranges need juicing."

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Can I interest you in fresh-squeezed orange juice?

"You can, but that depends."

"Will you allow me to help?"

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Let's get down to business to defeat writer's block.

[karlurbanana]

Olivia Thirlby for Prabal Gurung’s Target Ad

[karlurbanana]

Vanity Fair (2012) - Olivia Thirlby

[antivanstormcrow]

Song drabble meme: Send me a song title, and I'll write a drabble inspired by it!

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Depuis le Début ❧ Varric

There had been some form of confirmation in her own personal plans with her siblings, now came the hard part. Enlisting as a hired hand for the Deep Roads expedition was not going to be easy, but now that she had the closest thing she could call a blessing from her family, she would proceed with steely determination. What details she heard of weren't very particular--in fact they were rather vague, though she did know that two dwarves invested some pretty hefty sovereigns to get the ball rolling. Bartrand was the name of one, if she called correctly, and the other Varric, and according to the natives of Kirkwall, they were both particularly well-known. That made things a little bit easier.

Bartrand had been less than friendly, so before proceeding to harass him any further about the matter, Hawke decided to seek out the younger dwarven brother who, according to virtually everyone she spoke to, had quite the silver tongue. And so Marian found herself navigating her way through Lowtown to its primary landmark: the Hanged Man. While she wasn't one to drink to heavily let alone in the company of total strangers, she found herself within the walls of the dank bar more than once in search of information and job postings. Lips were loose and information flew freely there, and while she wasn't in the business of petty thievery or anything illegal, it just so happened that many looked for temporary employees within the walls of one of Kirkwall's busiest public venues.

With the palm of her hand flat against the door, Marian emerged through the door into the smoky atmosphere. The heady scent of tobacco, damp wood and alcohol barraged her every sense as she surged through the threshold, nose wrinkling as she nimbly sidestepped a teetering drunkard wailing with laughter while his arms wildly whipped around him. She ducked her head and kept to herself however, and with swift footsteps she meandered through the throngs of intoxicated patrons harassing the waitresses for more to drink and a bit of company to the head bartender nearest to the stacked alcohol behind the bar.

With careful steps did she find herself at the counter where the busy bartender hardly gave a glance her way. He nodded as if to say that he'd be with her in a minute before proceeding to pour another frothy beer from the tap into a large mug to which was pushed down the counter to a thirsty patron, and only then did he turn her way.

"Something I can get for you, miss?"

Marian simply nodded in reply as her fingers came to grasp the edge of the bar. "May I speak to Varric?" The tender sighed and gave little more than an affirmative nod as he turned away to fill another request for more booze before calling to a waitress to fetch the owner of the busy bar. It was there that the rogue simply watched the exchange of words between both employees and waited for the owner to appear.

[hammered-time]

☣ smoke and mirrors ! [ for Marian ]

[hammered-time]

Denim eyes flicked nervously between shoebox and the author of the majority of the letters within.

She looked on with hesitant fascination at the papers of various sizes, shapes, colors and stages of wear folded as neatly as possible inside the box. Reaching forward, Gamlen plucked up one of his own reply letters and began to read it aloud:

"Dear Marian.  Can you count to twenty-six?" he paused to swallow the lump that had thickened all too quickly in the back of his throat.  "That’s how old I am.  Twenty years older than you.  To count to your mom’s age, you’ll have to learn a hundred and fifty numbers and that might take a while.  You should try though, and surprise her.  

"I heard you like to play outside.  When I was little, I would hunt for worms.  Do you like bugs, or do they scare you?  If you like them, you should catch a few.  If you put them in the jar I sent with this package with the little packet of bug food you can keep them as pets for a couple of days, but after that you should let them out or they’ll get depressed like your dad when he’s cooped up too long.  They’re all wild creatures and you should respect that."

Gamlen had to stop reading.  He was caught in the emotional lock between drunk and sober that made him want to weep at the thought of Marian even being there, let alone vocally diving down the rabbit hole of memories contained in front of them. 

Thumbing the corner of one of his eyes, Gamlen shrugged, cleared his throat and slid the letter back into place.  ”They’re yours to read if you like.  Just…make sure you take good care of them, okay?  They’re…” he paused, for once grateful for the need to cough.  If he could name a single thing of his that deserved the label “prized possession” or “personal treasure,” it was this shoe box and the letters within it. 

"They’re important to me."

[democraticrevolution-blog]

The fact that he reached within and plucked a letter from its contents was enough admittance for Marian to proceed. She didn't need to however, as Gamlen took the initiative to read a response that had never been sent, or perhaps it was and had instead been returned. No less, Marian was sure to listen. She pressed her elbows against the table and folded her hands together to show that she was physically paying attention--to show that she cared.

Bright eyes blinked both with curiosity and astonishment. It was strange to see her uncle as she'd always envisioned him when she was a child. He received them crudely, and the way her mother often complained about the sty they were living in and how Gamlen could be so selfish had been the complete opposite of the man before her now. Her gut feeling about him had always been right, and it made her ridiculously proud of him and herself to see that she hadn't been wrong.

Marian's throat tightened as he choked out the script on his own responding letter. She watched his every movements--the way his face began to scrunch, or how his voice started to quake, though it was only when her uncle had physically moved to rub the pad of his finger against the corner of his eye to quell the wave of raw, liquid emotion that made its presence known. It took all Marian could to remain in place, though her own inaction lead to hasty, abrupt movements as she virtually leaped up from her seat to curl her arms around him.

Two slender albeit surprisingly strong arms bound tightly around Gamlen's shoulders even before she closed the gap between him. Careful hands found the back of his head to which her palms pressed firmly against in order to pull him into a warm embrace whether he reciprocated it or not. She felt he needed it--she needed it. Sometimes the pain was hard to deal with let alone confront, though in cases such as these it was the only way to make things better or start anew. She would be there to help him through it if he so-desired it. It was the least she could do.

"Of course, uncle," she breathed softly as her arms tightened around the the base of his neck near his spine and broad shoulders. The things that he saved within the shoebox were equally important to her, so it was only natural that she'd respect his wishes. "Thank you for sharing them with me. I mean it."

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Freedom Song ❧ Carver

[overshadowedbyothers-blog]

Carver watched his sister silently, hating that he couldn’t do more for her. It didn’t matter that she wouldn’t have let him even if he could, because the point was that he couldn’t. He watched her shoulders slump and felt guilt twist like a dagger in his gut. She shouldn’t have to shoulder so much damnit, but they’d never treated her like Bethany, she wouldn’t have allowed it even if they’d tried. That didn’t make him want to ease her burdens any less, a fact that only served to spark his anger because he couldn’t. He’d tried to pick up some small jobs and been met with more than a few ‘Aren’t you just the Little Hawke?’. It was a wonder he hadn’t ground his teeth into a fine powder at this point.

He grimaced, following her hand as it swept out over the scattered bits of paper that represented possibilities in her mind. When she selected one that looked as though it had been perused on more than a few occasions, surprise danced through him. Marian wasn’t one to put off work for any reason. She took jobs that paid coppers if she thought it was the right thing to do. The fact that she had one she’d been reticent to pursue immediately had his spine stiffening with suspicion and doubt. He didn’t even have to know what it was, he just needed to know that she was uncertain.

“The Deep Roads?” He gawked at her. “Are you crazy?” To give her credit, she didn’t really flinch from his tone. His siblings were pretty accustomed to him reacting violently he supposed. “Marian we don’t need anything that grand.” He said, jabbing his chin toward the paper. “I know what mother thought we were going to find in Kirkwall, but that ship has long since set sail. The Amells are nothing here, and setting off for the Deep Roads won’t change that.” He scowled and added, “I’m not even sure why we want it to. We’re Hawkes. What do we need with all that fanciness?” He demanded angrily. Andraste’s tits, they’d barely survived the race from Lothering and now she wanted to rush headlong into the lion’s den? He watched her expression dim and cursed softly.

Rocking back in the chair he raked a hand back into his hair, setting the dark locks on end. Dropping his hand back to the table, he met her eyes and asked in a more modulated tone, “You really think they’re gonna find anything but darkspawn and death down there sister?”

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Of course it was nuts. She knew that. Diving into the Deep Roads was a suicide mission, but if she went alongside whatever caravan had been determined to dig up whatever ancient ruins they could find, then the chance of survival was higher. If there was any chance she could come back with some cash in hand then it was worth it, and right now things were looking pretty good.

"Then we'll make Hawke known." She replied firmly, eyes drifting to the paper. They narrowed in thought, as if squinting to read some unseen fine print before she was able to scrounge up the right words to say. "I don't want you or Bethany to live like this anymore. I want you to do what you want when you want, not because we're depending on it to get by everyday." Marian's hands lowered from her face and folded neatly in front of her, gaze still glued upon the bold and circled script.

"I don't know what we'll find down there, but it will pay enough to make mother happy. You and Bethany could even go to school if you wanted, or pursue whatever you'd like. The point is, we'd be comfortable, and that's what we want, isn't it?" A heavy sigh escaped her as she leaned away from the table, arms pulling back against her body to fold beneath her chest before looking up to her brother who ran his fingers through his hair. He was almost fidgety--uncomfortable with the idea, or so Marian believed. Then again, she didn't expect him to be okay with it either. "We don't need anything fancy, but we can petition to reclaim the estate for mother's sake, and the rest can be put away into savings."

"Rumour has it that there's an abandoned thiag, which is only accessible for a small window of time. Less darkspawn, apparently." She glanced again at the curly text on the sheet of paper for reference. She knew very little about darkspawn save for the fact that they drove everyone out of Lothering, and even less about Dwarven culture and history. Perhaps her argument wasn't very convincing because of that, but there was nothing illegal or off about the expedition. Nothing about it felt wrong.

"Two weeks there and back, plus an additional one or two if there's anything down there. At the most, I'd be gone for a month, but that also means it'd only be a month until we're living like human beings, not second-class citizens." Marian offered her brother a kind smile, truly believing in the opportunity at hand, but she wasn't about to go leaping into the fray unless it was agreed to. "I believe that they believe something's down there, Carver, and that something has the capability of making us very happy very soon."

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Freedom Song ❧ Carver

[overshadowedbyothers-blog]

He just didn’t get it. Carver scowled as he jammed the key into the door. Why wouldn’t they hire him? He was a soldier just like Aveline. Sure he hadn’t been an officer, but what did that have to do with anything? He missed being active…having a blasted purpose. Since they’d arrived in Kirkwall he’d felt restless, useless even.

Shutting the door, he trudged up the hallway, not really surprised to find Marian home. All of them had more time than was good for budgets or sanity lately. Not really in the mood to be chipper, and grateful she never expected him to be, he moved to the counter and pulled down a glass. Tugging open the fridge, he pulled out the water pitcher, his nose crinkling. He missed the water from home. They’d had a well in Ferelden, but here they drank city water (who could afford the bottled shit?) and it was awful. His mouth already screwing up in anticipation of the flavor, he turned back to eye his sister, who seemed even more morose than he felt which was unusual to be sure.

He grunted at her acknowledgement and moved to plop down in the adjacent chair. He glanced at the assortment of lists, noting a few of the names scratched here and there. It wasn’t his idea of work, but it was more than he’d managed to bring in on his own. He didn’t mention the Kirkwall PD. They all knew he’d been trying for months to get in to no avail. He knew he should just give up, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go. He was determined to be useful in his own way without Garrett, or even his sisters.

His dark brows swooped up in surprise at her request before he shrugged, setting the water aside. One good thing about the taste…it cured his thirst really fast. “Yeah sure.” He said, his tone clearly skeptical. After all, of all their siblings, he was the least likely to offer a sympathetic ear. It wasn’t mean, it was just reality.

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Marian listened rather than watched as her brother plopped into the chair next to her. She said nothing in reply to his acknowledgment at first, and had instead scanned the lists before her with little interest. She had been over them many times and knew what kind of premise each sheet contained, so it had instead been sort of an idle movement to occupy herself as she let her brain do all the work.

"Can I have your opinion?" She responded finally, eyes lifting to meet with him again, chin rolling in the palm of her hand to rest the side of her face against it. Her shoulders slumped as she sucked in a deep breath through the slightest crack in her lips, then proceeded to allow her tired eyes to flutter closed. Her own communication with Garrett had been very minimal lately, and where she might have attributed that to both of their doings (which it was), Marian kept it in her best interest to avoid him more often than not. Of course, Carver preferred to forge out on his own, but Marian found it difficult to proceed without the opinions of others--especially from those she cherished most.

She tugged a paper from beneath the crumpled, scattered sheets and brought it to her brother's attention. The rogue leaned out of her chair and over the table as her eyes scanned her own chickenscratch, finger eventually tapping just below some indecipherable text where 'Deep Roads Expedition' had been circled and bolded.

"Have you heard about this?" She inquired; bright eyes searching his for some kind of answer. "I think that if any of us could get into this expedition we'd be a little better off." Marian mentioned, the slightest of smiles pulling at the corner of her mouth. "Especially if it ends up successful. The challenge is actually getting in on it though." Her finger tapped the page once again before her hand was pulled back towards the lip of the table where it rested temporarily.

"I know it's not glamorous, but despite all our efforts, we're stuck." Sigh sighed, lifting both of her hands to rub her face in frustration. "I don't know if it sounds like a good idea or not, but if I'm going to try, I'm going to commit myself to it. Just like you are." In regards with the PD, that was. She knew how hard he was trying to at least help in some regard, and that in itself inspired her more than he realized. "I don't know what use I'll be either, but if it means for you and Bethany to live more comfortably, then I'll do what I can and more."

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Freedom Song ❧ Carver

So she was without a real job trying to make ends meet. That's how she got herself mixed up in the business of others, really. She put herself out there, helping wherever she could, putting her trust in others to show that she could in turn be trusted for anything--even for the silly or as menial tasks she was currently fulfilling. The economy was down due to the very war that pushed herself and her family from Lothering, but it was because of it that employment was nearly impossible to find.

Various crumpled lists and little slips had been stuffed into her pocket with an address or a name along with them. From grocery lists and lost items to picking up on a subtle trails, Marian accepted them with open arms. More often than not she did such things on her own, as her siblings had their own busy schedules to tend to, and who in their right mind wanted to go and get themselves involved with others they didn't even know? None of her siblings had any interest, so she was sure. 

No less, Marian sat the table within the empty, cramped apartment and stared down at the missives she was given. All of them gave her very little payment despite the lengthy amount of time they took to complete, and so her frustration was evident. There had to be another way to survive; there had to be something she could do.

The familiar sound of a key turning within the lock rang in her ears, though her head did not lift in curiosity. The footsteps were familiar--so much that she was able to tell that it had been Carver rather than either of their magic-blooded siblings. Instead, she continued to gaze down at the odd jobs spread across the table, as if simply staring at them would give her answer. Maybe if she stared at them long enough they would.

"Carver," she greeted her brother with her head in her hands. It was like that she remained for a few moments, though her tired eyes lifted and she pushed her chin into the heel of her palm. "Could I talk to you for a minute?" 

[karlurbanana]

Olivia Thirlby and Chris Pine

[bearwich]

I was going to clean it up…except for on his toothbrush.  Maybe he wants to have a hairy smile.  

Please don’t feed me my hair. </3

[overshadowedbyothers-blog]

Sorry Marian…sometimes he just really gets to me. 

[democraticrevolution-blog]

Don't be such a child, and I won't.

I understand, Carver. There's no need to apologize.