Just apped at exitvoid

[hawkejunior]

All right, you turned the application in. Bloody good for you. About time I show up to sort this mess out (and I'm going to do a better job at it than my brother or that crazy mage, thank you very much.)

Now sit down while I list, point by point, all the parts that are wrong.

- I do not have an inferiority complex!
- I am not jealous of Garrett!
- I am not whiny!
- I do not complain all the time!
- I am not "a bit of a tit" and it's not a justifiable thing to say!
- I do too have charisma!
- I am not IMMATURE.

And last, but certainly not least, this is the worst journal name ever!

FIX IT.

Comments

[circler]

[Old enough! Next time she's freezing your toothbrush.]

You can't get rid of me that easily. Someone needs to keep you and Garrett from ripping each other apart.

[hawkejunior]

Good.

Though really, as if Garrett could rip me apart? He couldn't figure out how to get my armor out of the way if I asked him to.

[circler]

[She giggles at that delightful mental image.]

He may try to joke his way into it- or get the dog to do it for him.

[hawkejunior]

The dog would do a better job at it, wouldn't he?

[circler]

Yes, but don't tell either of them that. We don't need Garrett trying to prove us wrong - that might get awkward.

[hawkejunior]

If he tries, I'll give him another black eye like I did when I was 13.

[circler]

You have the oddest way of showing you care.

[hawkejunior]

Well, I don't want him trying to take my armor off, now, do I? You know he'd try. In public. For a laugh.

[circler]

He only does it because you make it so easy for him to pick on you.

[hawkejunior]

He doesn't pick on you!

[circler]

I'm charming, so I hear.

[hawkejunior]

Well, you are a girl. Any man who torments his younger sister is a wretch in my book.

[Pause.]

And we're twins, so when I used to pick on you doesn't count.

[circler]

A girl who can still freeze your smalls, by the way.

[hawkejunior]

See? We're always even in the end.

[circler]

I miss this. Did I mention that? I really do.

[hawkejunior]

I do too, Beth. The Wardens joke, but you like my jokes better than they do.

[circler]

And no one in the Circle tells them like you.

Are you- do you like it there? With the Wardens.

[hawkejunior]

I won't lie, it's pretty nasty sometimes. Not at all like they always tell the stories, with honor and glory and griffons blotting out the sun. I'm glad it was me and not you, because you'd hate it.

But... I'm useful, here. It's nice to be somewhere where nobody knows where I came from and all they care about is what I can do.

And it's a lot better than the alternative.

[circler]

I'd rather you didn't have to live with the Taint at all-- but I'm happy you've found a purpose. [That you're alive.]

I don't imagine the darkspawn offer much company in those dark tunnels.

[hawkejunior]

Me too. But I think... it might be where I'm supposed to be, finally.

They don't, but the other Wardens are good enough chaps. Stroud is like a better uncle to me than Gamlen will ever be. And there are a few colorful characters too. Like this one dwarf...

Don't worry about me, though. The Circle's got to be much worse than this.

[circler]

I think I understand, in a way. I'm sure Brother misses you, though. Or missed you- back in Kirkwall.

A dwarf? Don't just leave it there, tell me about him.

...It- It's not so bad as you'd think. I'd rather face a scolding from the senior enchanters than an ogre. Maybe.

[hawkejunior]

Yes, well... I'm sure he'd be happy if I stayed indoors all day long doing laundry with Mother. I wasn't going to live my whole life the way he thought I should.

You know how drunk dwarfs normally are? This one-- six times that. I couldn't even believe it.

And I'd rather you face a scolding than an ogre, too. But I swear on the Maker if any of those templars try to hurt you...

[circler]

It doesn't suit you-- laundry, that is. Though now that I think about it, you'd look quite fetching in a chambermaid getup.

Oh- ohh, well. He sounds... charming? I'm sure he's very charming, yes.

I try to stay away from them when I can, but nothing's happened so far. And I can take care of myself, Carver, really. [But his concern makes her smiiiile.]

[hawkejunior]

Maker, Bethany, don't picture me like that...

And he's... a character, that's what I said before. Let's say that.

[Good damn thing she's okay in there. Bro was gonna... uh. Well, be very angry from the beyond.] Well. Good.

Do you like it there?

[circler]

[Some more laughing. Oh, Carver.]

It sounds like you've made quite a few friends already.

I- I do like it. I passed my Harrowing, and I've learned so much- I'm already teaching some of the younger apprentices. One of them's taken quite a shine to me.

I said I understand what you meant about belonging. I really meant it.