[New faces around the tents always draw his attention, and if not for being very busy recently, Anders likely would have spoken to the most recent Spirit Healer arrival some time ago. But now he's found time, and he figures the other man understands; the tents are rarely quiet and unbusy.]
North, is it?
[His approach is a little reserved. Sure, he hasn't caught sight of glares directed his way, but he knows he's not exactly the most popular mage around.]
[North looks up from what he's doing (charting. he's basically charting, he's keeping a record of any changes in condition that he's seen since he got there that morning), and then wipes off the nib of his quill and stands to greet the other mage.]
[North doesn't know what he expected. Some kind of mustache-twirling feathered villain, maybe. Not somebody who looks kind of familiar. Who looks like just holding out his hand takes mental effort to do.
It must be exhausting to be hated.
He reaches out and takes the offered hand with a firm shake.]
I'm nothing special; I've been working with my spirit partner for about fifteen years, now. Anything in particular you wanted to know?
[Feathered is right, at least. Anders is fond of wearing feathers. And he's more than fond of not being greeted with a glare or angry words, so the shake of his hand brings a lot of relief. That's tucked away with the number of years - it's very nice to have another senior spirit healer along with himself and Adelaide.]
To be honest, you've already answered one of the biggest things for me. But I'd enjoy knowing more of what you do with magic outside of healing. Your favorite school, if you've got some interesting non-combat, non-healing spells that make life easier, the works.
[Feathered appears to be the only description that was true. And, well, North wants to be approachable to everyone. Probably something to do with being partnered with Trust for so long, for working to be worthy of that bond.
North comes around the desk so he can lean casually against it, crossing his arms over his chest and settling into the conversation.]
Other than healing... Honestly, my favorite school is probably Arcane. In particular, shields and barriers and other defensive spells. I've experimented with wards and magical alarms some too, just for fun. Things like tying the duration of a barrier spell to the life of a fire or to some other object to create a safe, protected space. Those kinds of applications I picked up more recently.
I've, ah. I spent 22 years in a Circle, so I'm afraid if you're curious about hunting, camping, and farming spells then you'll have to tell me when you find some, because so am I.
[He doesn't sound judgmental or blaming, it's a statement of fact. One thing he's definitely learned is how woefully unprepared most Circle mages are for life outside of a tower.]
Other than that... With help from Trust, I can put on a pretty awesome fireworks show.
[Trust. The joke gets a small smile, but Anders is realizing how North can so easily talk with him. Especially when he's a Circle mage. There's a little amusement entering his voice now as he speaks.]
As a long-time apostate, I've a decent array of survival spells, but that's part of why I'm asking.
[If North works with Trust, then Anders can risk this. His tone returns to serious as he takes a seat on a stool.]
I'm looking for mages interested in teaching things that the Circles didn't, things that can let a mage make a life for themselves outside, after the Inquisition has run its course. The barrier alterations seem like they'd fit that well, if you were interested in teaching at a gathering. Open gathering, I should note.
[Trust only goes so far without assistance.]
It'll be openly announced, open to anyone, even those who aren't mages. They'll simply not get anything from it as it's about teaching magic. And you could learn some of the other spells too, if you'd like.
[North chuckles, a rough rumble, at the light response, but he watches Anders as the other mage sits down on a stool. He shifts his weight as he listens, crossing his ankles beneath his robes. Being partnered with Trust doesn't make him any less suspicious, it just makes him more likely to give everyone a chance.]
How many other teachers will there be? And when would this gathering be?
[He's curious. There's a bolder, show-offy side that wants to say yes right away, a sense of pride for being acknowledged for more than his healing (the Circles provide only one opportunity for mages who bond with a spirit of the Fade, North had less chosen the noble calling than been pushed into it when his bond with Trust became apparent).
Any trepidation he had is assuaged by the reassurance; as much as he doesn't want to hold a four-year-old crime against the man, it's good to know that Anders has made plans to comfort the distrust of others who are less forgivingly inclined. He just needs a little more information before he says yes for sure.]
As of now, I've got about a half-dozen teachers, and I'm thinking about holding it on the 24th or 25th. I'll make an open call for more teachers along with the announcement itself, as well.
[There will probably be others. He could get more teachers right now if he announced it, he's fairly certain. There's just one problem with that - he doesn't want to give the people who hate him time to undermine this. Vivienne especially. She may still be a problem, but if she only finds out on the day of, it will be so much less of a problem.]
[North deliberates for a moment. Despite living in Orlais for fifteen years, he's Ferelden at heart, and the finer points of the Game have always eluded him. So rather than worry about the politics, he decides to err on the side of common sense.]
This sounds like a great idea. You can count me in.
[He smiles fully now, feeling breathing get easier.]
Thank you. I appreciate it.
[Even though he's attached to this, the cause is good enough, important enough, to bring people to it. Anders nods at the notes the man's been taking, feeling like easier talk would be welcome here.]
[He pages through them briefly before nodding and offering them back.]
I leave them if a patient will be in past my shift, but they're not quite this organized. Habits of working on my own for so long die hard. We could use being more of a team.
[They have more spirit healers any any group or Circle he's heard of. They have a world of possibilities spread out before them.]
I was taught to make them for accountability's sake, while I was training. Even after I passed, I kept doing it. Honestly with this many patients, it helps me keep my head on straight, as well.
[The Circle didn't really treat more than hapless apprentices and the occasional noble who could pay for the service of having Templars escort a Healer to their estate.]
We could, but perhaps that should stay in reserve in case we run out of other things to teach. I'm not certain it'll have a lot of draw. ...Or bored students may focus entirely on the draw.
[He'd doodled in how many books in the Circle? Drawing while bored used to be something he enjoyed a great deal.]
It wouldn't be bad to have some organized notes going, though. For patterns and such, without using names.
That is true. Maybe just the next time that we spirit healers have a chance to talk, then.
[North sacrificed his doodling habit when he was transferred out of Kinloch all those years ago; perhaps there would still be a few dusty tomes that had idle compasses drawn in the margins.]
I've had the thought that we could assign numbers to the cots, and refer to patients that way. So far I've been identifying by condition instead of name. Anything we can do to be more transparent will make us seem all the more trustworthy.
[For a brief minute North looks like he's about to start backpedaling, but then realization dawns when Anders' expression becomes obviously pleased, and North can't help but smirk a little himself.]
If you're looking for someone Trust-worthy, I hope I can prove that I'm spirited enough for the task.
[Then, a pun so bad that he can barely even get it out without snickering.]
I'm happy to be a stellar example for others to follow.
The cardinal rule of the tents is helping, and that does sound like it will help.
[...This is the best addition to the Healer's tents in ever. Except for the kittens that are now frequently there due to Anders giving them to Adelaide and Sam. He's smiling, now, openly, and it feels nice.]
I Trust I can leave this in your hands to bring up to the rest of the spirit healers? I don't see any objections, especially if we identify with bed and not something that can be used to identify the patient after they're healthy again.
[For some reason the puns on his name get him worse than the ones about his partner - maybe because he's heard all the Trust puns before - but he snickers a little, and then he sees the smile on Anders' face, and it's so far from the dour, violent, merciless terrorist that the (more than likely exaggerated) accounts had led him to expect. North's own smile softens, slightly, at the sight of it. See, this? This is why you treat people like people, no matter how infamous they are.]
I'll figure out the best way to number the beds, then, to start with. And then I'll bring it up with the others.
[A pause, and a sly grin.]
...I don't foresee many polarizing opinions, either. [He had to get in at least one pun.] It seems like common sense, with as many hands as we're blessed enough to have.
[That's... quite the grin, and if Anders had been single he'd be getting flirty right now. But he's not, and he doesn't regret not being so, which means he's contenting himself with puns and joking around.]
You'll be the star of this operation, then.
[And then, a little more seriously:]
When you're all mages, a sort of tracking thing could be stressful and worrying for some rather than common sense. Pitch it carefully. Most will be fine, and if bed is emphasized over tracking the person it should pass with no objections at all.
That was why I was going to number the beds first, to have concrete proof that it's about providing consistency of care, not tracking individuals.
[He uncrosses his arms and braces his hands against the edge of the desk.]
In most cases, there likely wouldn't even be a need to keep the records after the patient is dismissed. Perhaps for a week or two, in case of an unforeseen complication, but I've never planned to keep records forever.
Perhaps two sets, the ones for regular injuries that can be discarded, but then ones for illnesses could be kept so we can track the disease itself. It's one thing to believe that we had a wave of something similar during the same season the year prior, it's another to have notes that solidly state yes, this is the same thing we're dealing with.
[It had helped in Kirkwall.]
And also, of course, notes on what helped alleviate the issues.
I expect they'll want us to come up with some way to keep the records safe, if we plan to keep them. Or make the notes that we keep as obscure as possible. Number of patients, which symptoms they had in common, and which treatments worked.
No names, nothing identifying unless something acts differently in one people than another, or one gender than another. Notes on the disease, what helped, what didn't. That should help everyone, and not worry anyone.
[He doesn't know what North's time in the Circle was like, but he's fairly certain that asking on first meeting is rude. Another time he'll make inquiries.]
I bet we should bring this up to a higher authority before trying to implement it. Should I draft some kind of proposal, do you think, to make our case?
[Since, as is often the case with magic, common sense isn't too terribly common.]
If you need a higher authority, I'd speak with Adelaide. But if we're just keeping track of diseases, I can't say that I think it needs any sort of authorization.
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timeasmymeasure
Tents, action
Date: 2016-09-19 11:18 pm (UTC)North, is it?
[His approach is a little reserved. Sure, he hasn't caught sight of glares directed his way, but he knows he's not exactly the most popular mage around.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-19 11:26 pm (UTC)That's me. How can I help you?
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 12:32 am (UTC)I'm Anders. I wanted to meet our newest spirit healer and find out more about you, what you do, that sort of thing.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 12:42 am (UTC)It must be exhausting to be hated.
He reaches out and takes the offered hand with a firm shake.]
I'm nothing special; I've been working with my spirit partner for about fifteen years, now. Anything in particular you wanted to know?
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 07:02 am (UTC)To be honest, you've already answered one of the biggest things for me. But I'd enjoy knowing more of what you do with magic outside of healing. Your favorite school, if you've got some interesting non-combat, non-healing spells that make life easier, the works.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 12:27 pm (UTC)North comes around the desk so he can lean casually against it, crossing his arms over his chest and settling into the conversation.]
Other than healing... Honestly, my favorite school is probably Arcane. In particular, shields and barriers and other defensive spells. I've experimented with wards and magical alarms some too, just for fun. Things like tying the duration of a barrier spell to the life of a fire or to some other object to create a safe, protected space. Those kinds of applications I picked up more recently.
I've, ah. I spent 22 years in a Circle, so I'm afraid if you're curious about hunting, camping, and farming spells then you'll have to tell me when you find some, because so am I.
[He doesn't sound judgmental or blaming, it's a statement of fact. One thing he's definitely learned is how woefully unprepared most Circle mages are for life outside of a tower.]
Other than that... With help from Trust, I can put on a pretty awesome fireworks show.
[Okay now that one was a joke.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 06:14 pm (UTC)As a long-time apostate, I've a decent array of survival spells, but that's part of why I'm asking.
[If North works with Trust, then Anders can risk this. His tone returns to serious as he takes a seat on a stool.]
I'm looking for mages interested in teaching things that the Circles didn't, things that can let a mage make a life for themselves outside, after the Inquisition has run its course. The barrier alterations seem like they'd fit that well, if you were interested in teaching at a gathering. Open gathering, I should note.
[Trust only goes so far without assistance.]
It'll be openly announced, open to anyone, even those who aren't mages. They'll simply not get anything from it as it's about teaching magic. And you could learn some of the other spells too, if you'd like.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 07:51 pm (UTC)How many other teachers will there be? And when would this gathering be?
[He's curious. There's a bolder, show-offy side that wants to say yes right away, a sense of pride for being acknowledged for more than his healing (the Circles provide only one opportunity for mages who bond with a spirit of the Fade, North had less chosen the noble calling than been pushed into it when his bond with Trust became apparent).
Any trepidation he had is assuaged by the reassurance; as much as he doesn't want to hold a four-year-old crime against the man, it's good to know that Anders has made plans to comfort the distrust of others who are less forgivingly inclined. He just needs a little more information before he says yes for sure.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 08:00 pm (UTC)[There will probably be others. He could get more teachers right now if he announced it, he's fairly certain. There's just one problem with that - he doesn't want to give the people who hate him time to undermine this. Vivienne especially. She may still be a problem, but if she only finds out on the day of, it will be so much less of a problem.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-20 10:17 pm (UTC)This sounds like a great idea. You can count me in.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-21 12:55 am (UTC)Thank you. I appreciate it.
[Even though he's attached to this, the cause is good enough, important enough, to bring people to it. Anders nods at the notes the man's been taking, feeling like easier talk would be welcome here.]
What are you working on?
no subject
Date: 2016-09-21 01:09 am (UTC)I'm taking notes on the treatments I've provided today, and the condition of my patients. The ones who are here more long-term, anyway.
[He picks it up and passes it over so that Anders can take a look.]
I like to leave notes when I can, in case someone else treats one of my patients.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-21 07:43 am (UTC)[He pages through them briefly before nodding and offering them back.]
I leave them if a patient will be in past my shift, but they're not quite this organized. Habits of working on my own for so long die hard. We could use being more of a team.
[They have more spirit healers any any group or Circle he's heard of. They have a world of possibilities spread out before them.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-21 12:06 pm (UTC)Shall we have a note-taking class, as well?
[He's joking, but honestly it couldn't hurt.]
I was taught to make them for accountability's sake, while I was training. Even after I passed, I kept doing it. Honestly with this many patients, it helps me keep my head on straight, as well.
[The Circle didn't really treat more than hapless apprentices and the occasional noble who could pay for the service of having Templars escort a Healer to their estate.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-22 03:03 am (UTC)We could, but perhaps that should stay in reserve in case we run out of other things to teach. I'm not certain it'll have a lot of draw. ...Or bored students may focus entirely on the draw.
[He'd doodled in how many books in the Circle? Drawing while bored used to be something he enjoyed a great deal.]
It wouldn't be bad to have some organized notes going, though. For patterns and such, without using names.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-22 03:20 am (UTC)[North sacrificed his doodling habit when he was transferred out of Kinloch all those years ago; perhaps there would still be a few dusty tomes that had idle compasses drawn in the margins.]
I've had the thought that we could assign numbers to the cots, and refer to patients that way. So far I've been identifying by condition instead of name. Anything we can do to be more transparent will make us seem all the more trustworthy.
[or in his case, Trust-worthy]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-22 05:47 am (UTC)Should we enTrust you with this project, then?
[Anders leans forward a little where he's sitting.]
Believe that you know the spirit of what would suit the clinic best? That you've some... direction?
[It's very easy to tell from his expression that Anders is pleased with himself.]
no subject
Date: 2016-09-22 03:23 pm (UTC)If you're looking for someone Trust-worthy, I hope I can prove that I'm spirited enough for the task.
[Then, a pun so bad that he can barely even get it out without snickering.]
I'm happy to be a stellar example for others to follow.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-23 04:09 am (UTC)[...This is the best addition to the Healer's tents in ever. Except for the kittens that are now frequently there due to Anders giving them to Adelaide and Sam. He's smiling, now, openly, and it feels nice.]
I Trust I can leave this in your hands to bring up to the rest of the spirit healers? I don't see any objections, especially if we identify with bed and not something that can be used to identify the patient after they're healthy again.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-25 02:06 am (UTC)I'll figure out the best way to number the beds, then, to start with. And then I'll bring it up with the others.
[A pause, and a sly grin.]
...I don't foresee many polarizing opinions, either. [He had to get in at least one pun.] It seems like common sense, with as many hands as we're blessed enough to have.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-25 02:55 am (UTC)You'll be the star of this operation, then.
[And then, a little more seriously:]
When you're all mages, a sort of tracking thing could be stressful and worrying for some rather than common sense. Pitch it carefully. Most will be fine, and if bed is emphasized over tracking the person it should pass with no objections at all.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-25 03:38 am (UTC)[He uncrosses his arms and braces his hands against the edge of the desk.]
In most cases, there likely wouldn't even be a need to keep the records after the patient is dismissed. Perhaps for a week or two, in case of an unforeseen complication, but I've never planned to keep records forever.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-25 04:07 am (UTC)Perhaps two sets, the ones for regular injuries that can be discarded, but then ones for illnesses could be kept so we can track the disease itself. It's one thing to believe that we had a wave of something similar during the same season the year prior, it's another to have notes that solidly state yes, this is the same thing we're dealing with.
[It had helped in Kirkwall.]
And also, of course, notes on what helped alleviate the issues.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-25 04:51 am (UTC)I expect they'll want us to come up with some way to keep the records safe, if we plan to keep them. Or make the notes that we keep as obscure as possible. Number of patients, which symptoms they had in common, and which treatments worked.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-25 07:23 am (UTC)No names, nothing identifying unless something acts differently in one people than another, or one gender than another. Notes on the disease, what helped, what didn't. That should help everyone, and not worry anyone.
[He doesn't know what North's time in the Circle was like, but he's fairly certain that asking on first meeting is rude. Another time he'll make inquiries.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-12 11:56 pm (UTC)[Since, as is often the case with magic, common sense isn't too terribly common.]
no subject
Date: 2016-10-13 05:41 am (UTC)If you need a higher authority, I'd speak with Adelaide. But if we're just keeping track of diseases, I can't say that I think it needs any sort of authorization.