He's fine. Just...a bit cold. His backside, that is. And, well, I suppose his tail is trapped as well.
[He pauses and tries to gather enough courage to bypass the sheer embarrassment he feels from this entire situation, especially since he pointedly ignored Anders' post querying anyone of newfound magic abilities. A few audible starts are heard. The fourth time is when he finally speaks.]
I may have acquired the abomination's abilities in the process of losing my markings to...whatever strange curse this is. [Another pause.] I- I...accidentally froze your dog's back while petting him.
[Talk about the worst surprise ever for the poor warhound. He hopes his inability to control the magic is clear enough to Hawke. He really doesn't want to admit it aloud.]
[For a very long time, Hawke is silent, listening, assessing what he's just said. And when he finally finishes and grows quiet, there's nothing said for a good moment. Her dog whines plaintively in the background.
And then, she chuckles softly.]
Oh. Oh, that's-- [Hilarious. But she can't say that. She coughs, composes herself.] I'm so sorry. That's probably a handful.
[That part she's serious about.]
Let me come over and we'll see what we can do. Maybe get some hot water for his back. As far as your predicament goes...we'll need to figure something out. But I'm guessing you haven't told Anders, have you?
[The laughing does not escape him. But he just sighs in response. It would be amusing, he supposes, if he were not the one afflicted with the condition. Except he is.]
Yes. Quite. You should be glad that I did not set fire to his back instead. [Flatly. He doesn't want to tell her about his pillow.]
Right. I appreciate your help. [... And then after a rather long, unnecessary pause:] No. I haven't.
[If that sounds like the guilty tone Carver had used years ago when he got caught stealing the sweet roll Bethany had been saving, that's because it is.]
One can only hope. [As much as he knows Hawke's dog is pretty forgiving, it's one thing to scratch too roughly but another to immobilize his backside with ice.] It wasn't— I really hadn't meant... [He awkwardly pauses before he sighs and gives up on the excuses. This is his fault.] I'm sorry.
He is impossible to speak with. All he ever does is mock my intelligence and provoke me. Whatever help he can offer isn't enough to compensate the suffering I would endure otherwise. [The sound muffles a bit here as he pinches the bridge of his nose.] I thought it best to avoid unintentionally setting the entire dormitory alight.
[She shrugs, and realizing he obviously can't see it, she makes a soft noise of relent.]
It's fine. Don't apologize.
[Hawke, of all people, won't hold grudges against him. But his and Anders' inability to cooperate for just one minute is something that absolutely drives her up a wall. She starts walking, heading for his room.]
But none of us have magical expertise besides him and he's the only mage from Thedas here. Besides, he'll want to know where his powers have gone. You can't expect him to never find out.
[Her dismissal of his apology makes Fenris frown.] But it isn't. I've done something that isn't— [He groans.] ...it's not proper. I have failed you as a friend and potentially endangered your dear mabari in the process. Having him return when he arrived would have been the better decision.
[He pauses to take in a breath and sigh tiredly.] Of course not. Silly of me to have presumed otherwise. How could I have possibly thought I was beyond the Maker's poor sense of humor in a place like this? [He says this all mockingly, not sure if the frustration is directed at Hawke or himself. He switches to a flat, worn tone afterward.] I suppose there is no point avoiding it any longer as I have already done...this. [He motions at the dog, not that Hawke can see, and Hawke's dog whines faintly as if to say "who, me?".]
[She's somewhat taken aback by his insistence and she sighs briefly.]
You didn't fail me, Fenris. It was an accident and it's COMPASS' fault. Were we in Kirkwall, this wouldn't have happened. Besides, I trust you with him. I know he trusts you too.
[And the resounding bark she hears in the back answers her.]
Let's take care of one thing at a time. Let me come help get him...unfrozen and then we'll talk to Anders.
[The implication is clear: she won't leave him floundering.]
[He really wants to argue back because it does still feel like it's his fault, accident or not, but Hawke raises a good point. This would never happen in Kirkwall. And Hawke's dog isn't exactly attempting to tear his face off at present.
He sighs after a moment and nods, not that Hawke can see.]
[Normally, he wouldn't reply. But right now he feels too guilty, regardless of accepting Hawke's forgiveness. She doesn't deserve the frustrated ire he constantly throws at...well, Garrett normally, but Marian did not deserve it either. Fenris sighs.]
Thank you. I really appreciate it. [Awkward pause here. And another apology for good measure.] I am truly sorry. I know you do not wish for me to apologize, but... I was still capable of keeping it from occurring. I...
[Some awkward silence as he tries to think of something further to say, but he is out of words so he simply stops there, feeling too foolish to continue. He'll see her soon enough anyway.]
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audio
[He pauses and tries to gather enough courage to bypass the sheer embarrassment he feels from this entire situation, especially since he pointedly ignored Anders' post querying anyone of newfound magic abilities. A few audible starts are heard. The fourth time is when he finally speaks.]
I may have acquired the abomination's abilities in the process of losing my markings to...whatever strange curse this is. [Another pause.] I- I...accidentally froze your dog's back while petting him.
[Talk about the worst surprise ever for the poor warhound. He hopes his inability to control the magic is clear enough to Hawke. He really doesn't want to admit it aloud.]
audio
And then, she chuckles softly.]
Oh. Oh, that's-- [Hilarious. But she can't say that. She coughs, composes herself.] I'm so sorry. That's probably a handful.
[That part she's serious about.]
Let me come over and we'll see what we can do. Maybe get some hot water for his back. As far as your predicament goes...we'll need to figure something out. But I'm guessing you haven't told Anders, have you?
audio
Yes. Quite. You should be glad that I did not set fire to his back instead. [Flatly. He doesn't want to tell her about his pillow.]
Right. I appreciate your help. [... And then after a rather long, unnecessary pause:] No. I haven't.
[If that sounds like the guilty tone Carver had used years ago when he got caught stealing the sweet roll Bethany had been saving, that's because it is.]
audio
[I, however, might not have been so kind. But it's not Fenris' fault and she recognizes that well enough. She sighs.]
And is there a reason why you haven't told him? He could at least give you tips on how to control it.
audio
He is impossible to speak with. All he ever does is mock my intelligence and provoke me. Whatever help he can offer isn't enough to compensate the suffering I would endure otherwise. [The sound muffles a bit here as he pinches the bridge of his nose.] I thought it best to avoid unintentionally setting the entire dormitory alight.
audio
It's fine. Don't apologize.
[Hawke, of all people, won't hold grudges against him. But his and Anders' inability to cooperate for just one minute is something that absolutely drives her up a wall. She starts walking, heading for his room.]
But none of us have magical expertise besides him and he's the only mage from Thedas here. Besides, he'll want to know where his powers have gone. You can't expect him to never find out.
audio
[He pauses to take in a breath and sigh tiredly.] Of course not. Silly of me to have presumed otherwise. How could I have possibly thought I was beyond the Maker's poor sense of humor in a place like this? [He says this all mockingly, not sure if the frustration is directed at Hawke or himself. He switches to a flat, worn tone afterward.] I suppose there is no point avoiding it any longer as I have already done...this. [He motions at the dog, not that Hawke can see, and Hawke's dog whines faintly as if to say "who, me?".]
audio
You didn't fail me, Fenris. It was an accident and it's COMPASS' fault. Were we in Kirkwall, this wouldn't have happened. Besides, I trust you with him. I know he trusts you too.
[And the resounding bark she hears in the back answers her.]
Let's take care of one thing at a time. Let me come help get him...unfrozen and then we'll talk to Anders.
[The implication is clear: she won't leave him floundering.]
audio
[He really wants to argue back because it does still feel like it's his fault, accident or not, but Hawke raises a good point. This would never happen in Kirkwall. And Hawke's dog isn't exactly attempting to tear his face off at present.
He sighs after a moment and nods, not that Hawke can see.]
...all right. I am in my quarters, S205.
audio
You're one floor down, then. I'll be there shortly.
audio
Thank you. I really appreciate it. [Awkward pause here. And another apology for good measure.] I am truly sorry. I know you do not wish for me to apologize, but... I was still capable of keeping it from occurring. I...
[Some awkward silence as he tries to think of something further to say, but he is out of words so he simply stops there, feeling too foolish to continue. He'll see her soon enough anyway.]