His smile gets softer and bigger at the same time. "I'd like to share tea and company, if you don't mind. It's been... The last few days have been strange."
A little scary, really, and he wishes that Nate hadn't had to go. But he's not alone. He has friends.
Cyril nods and gestures for Anders to follow him to the kitchen. He smiles when he sees that one of Sam and Kirk's cats has curled up on one of the chairs. He likes the idea that one of them is around for Anders to pet. That should help him calm down for a bit too.
Cyril focuses on making the tea. "Relax and make yourself at home."
She stretches out and moves to let Anders pet her, and Cyril can't help but feel a little relieved at that. It's nice to give Anders something to good and safe.
After he sets up the water he moves to sit with Anders while they wait for it to brew. "You said things have been bad? Did you need to talk about it? Or should I come up with a different topic to distract you?"
"It's..." Anders trails off, taking a breath and considering. "I suppose I'm starting to feel age catch up with me. My magic... My magic failed me the other day. That's never happened before."
Cyril's face creases with a frown. "Is that... common for human mages?" The elder mages with the Dalish were all Keepers. He's never heard of age causing magic to fail in that way, but he imagines that everyone ages differently.
"No," he says, looking down and wrapping his arms around himself. "It was a healer joke. I see a lot of men who find their parts not coming to attention as expected as they get older, and they say that it's never happened to them before. This isn't something I've even heard of before. I went to cast and... nothing. Like I'd been Silenced but with no Templars around."
Cyril reaches out and touches Anders' arm lightly. "That sounds terrible," he sympathizes. He may not be able to fully empathize with what it feels like to cast magic, but he could imagine if he had one of his senses suddenly stripped from him. Even that wasn't a perfect analogy. He knew how much of a mage's identity was tied into their magic. It'd probably be more like if he suddenly couldn't use his hands.
"Could it be exhaustion? You said you had been working a lot."
Anders unfolds a little so he can place his hand over Cyril's. Physical contact is grounding and warming in a way that words can't quite measure up to.
"That's the theory I'm going with, because I've checked myself multiple times and found nothing out of the usual wrong." His greatest worry is that it's damage from possession, only now showing itself.
Cyril squeezes him lightly, providing reassuring pressure to the touch. "Then that's what you are here to counter. The best thing for exhaustion is to rest."
He leans into Cyril for a moment before straightening with a faint smile.
"It is. Thank you. And to rest somewhere where I don't feel exposed, no less." He knows why people feel the need to know where his room is, but when run down and without his husband it's not comfortable. "Plus tea. You're an excellent friend and host."
"Well I do try," Cyril replies and then fake preens a bit. "Speaking of tea, I should finish that." He squeezes Anders once more to reassure him and then pulls away to put together the rest of the tea.
When he comes back to the table it's with a couple cups with warm tea.
"What else would you tell a patient to do if they came to you with exhaustion?"
His expression gets a little cagey as he takes a cup of tea with murmured thanks.
"I'd tell them to cut down their schedule. To do less. But I've already cut back and now I'm at things I can't possibly not do. Healing at the infirmary and Clinic, working on strengthening the bonds between mages who want freedom, researching a cure for the Blight, trying to work out a format and statement for a shape for a free mage future, all of it is crucial. I used to do so much more than I do now. This shouldn't be too much."
He feels guilty about how much he's cut back already. There's so much to do and while he's not the only one working, it still feels like he might be the only one not just talking about the future for his people but trying to do things.
Anders considers the question as he sips his tea. "What do you know of founding papers? Things that set out the shape of a group, establish the rules and expectation, that sort of thing? Because that's what I need to copy."
"I... I don't. But that is something one could research. I could look into charters of other organizations and draft something for you?" Cyril suggests. Anything that might take some of the burden off of Anders's shoulders.
It's very difficult for him to hand over a project. Not because he distrusts Cyril - the fact that he's here to rest and be vulnerable says exactly the opposite - but because he spent so much time fighting alone. But he's worrying Nate and there's a clear dip in his health. Anders takes a breath and pushes down some of the scars of the past.
"Would you? I might... I might try to micromanage, which is no reflection on you, just one on my own failings when it comes to being able to delegate."
He nods. "I'll look into it as soon as I can. Then bring you the first draft." He rubs Anders' arm gently. "You are not alone, Anders. I'll do what I can, and I know there are others who will do the same."
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no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 05:10 am (UTC)A little scary, really, and he wishes that Nate hadn't had to go. But he's not alone. He has friends.
no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 05:15 am (UTC)Cyril focuses on making the tea. "Relax and make yourself at home."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 05:54 am (UTC)"Hello, precious," he says, holding his hand out to be sniffed. "How have you been?"
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Date: 2018-01-22 05:57 am (UTC)After he sets up the water he moves to sit with Anders while they wait for it to brew. "You said things have been bad? Did you need to talk about it? Or should I come up with a different topic to distract you?"
no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 06:13 am (UTC)There's a slight trace of humor in the comment.
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Date: 2018-01-22 06:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 06:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 05:03 pm (UTC)"Could it be exhaustion? You said you had been working a lot."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 11:41 pm (UTC)"That's the theory I'm going with, because I've checked myself multiple times and found nothing out of the usual wrong." His greatest worry is that it's damage from possession, only now showing itself.
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Date: 2018-01-23 12:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-23 03:57 am (UTC)"It is. Thank you. And to rest somewhere where I don't feel exposed, no less." He knows why people feel the need to know where his room is, but when run down and without his husband it's not comfortable. "Plus tea. You're an excellent friend and host."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-23 04:19 am (UTC)When he comes back to the table it's with a couple cups with warm tea.
"What else would you tell a patient to do if they came to you with exhaustion?"
no subject
Date: 2018-01-23 05:07 am (UTC)"I'd tell them to cut down their schedule. To do less. But I've already cut back and now I'm at things I can't possibly not do. Healing at the infirmary and Clinic, working on strengthening the bonds between mages who want freedom, researching a cure for the Blight, trying to work out a format and statement for a shape for a free mage future, all of it is crucial. I used to do so much more than I do now. This shouldn't be too much."
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Date: 2018-01-23 05:12 am (UTC)"Hmm," Cyril hums thoughtfully. "Is there perhaps someone who can help? I'm no mage, but maybe I could help with some of the writing you need done?"
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Date: 2018-01-23 05:24 am (UTC)Anders considers the question as he sips his tea. "What do you know of founding papers? Things that set out the shape of a group, establish the rules and expectation, that sort of thing? Because that's what I need to copy."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-25 03:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2018-01-25 04:00 am (UTC)"Would you? I might... I might try to micromanage, which is no reflection on you, just one on my own failings when it comes to being able to delegate."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-25 04:07 am (UTC)"But if I can help out, I will."
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Date: 2018-01-25 09:18 am (UTC)"Please, Cyril. Thank you."
no subject
Date: 2018-02-07 04:53 am (UTC)