evantuality: book (book)
[personal profile] evantuality posting in [community profile] forest_fire
His time with the Audentes had changed the course of Evan's life. He imagined he was amongst a remarkable majority of ex-recruits in that regard, and in retrospect it was unsurprising, but at first returning home had been a shocking readjustment. He had withdrawn from the semester that he had been halfway through, not because he could not recall the information his classes had been imparting -- that was a state that could be fixed, after all -- but because the very structure of school had thrown him. He had left campus, he had gone home and told his parents what had happened: they had been furious and fascinated and shocked and relieved in turn, and Evan could sympathize. In the end he'd spend six months at home.

It had been a boon. Dropping out had meant reapplying, and reapplying had made Evan shrug and send applications to other universities, pie-in-the-sky places he hadn't considered before. It'd been his time with ALASTAIR that he ultimately credited, therefore, his acceptance to one of the schools tied for the top of the pile in comp sci undergraduate programs.

From there on out, it'd been much harder to miss his time away from home, as the program was ferociously exacting, even for his standards. Ultimately the Audentes never faded from his mind entirely, but they settled squarely into past, not present, and his pangs for his friends there faded as he slowly accepted the unlikelihood of ever seeing any of them again.

By the beginning of his second year at the new university, he had settled back into the realities of life on Earth entirely. Student housing, cafeterias, lectures, labs and all extra hours spent studying were routines that became easy once more (although perhaps he got a little more involved in extracurriculars than he otherwise would have). The big brick student residence halls, with the towers on the corners, had been built a hundred years ago and renovated in the eighties. It had been cutting-edge then, with whiteboards and two fireplaces in each common area, and brown carpet all in the hallways. The radiators worked but they made noise in the winter, the beds were narrow, the desks in the bedrooms tall and solid and terribly dated. It became home to Evan with ease, even having to put up with a roommate again. Campus was expansive and riddled with enough to keep him occupied all hours of the day, even the rare few he didn't spend on schoolwork.

Life carried on.

Date: 2016-10-09 11:34 am (UTC)
strikingtwice: (bedroom eyes)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
"What do you mean, from my perspective?" Meallan questions, turning his head to give Evan a funny look but not quite willing to get up from the bed just yet. It's something he feels a bit bad, aware it's not really Evan's bed, but it's comfortable and he stretches out catlike against it, content with really sinking into the softness.

"It's been about a month or so, I think? I haven't kept an exactly count... for a few reasons." The last part is a touch evasive, though he hopes Evan won't guess why and put it down to missions and time differences on different worlds.

Truthfully, a large part was also due to how Meallan had retreated a fair amount to begin with, not wanting to dwell on how long it had been since Evan had left and preferring to throw himself into anything he could as a distraction. It had worked, more or less, but he didn't want to dwell on that time much either.

Date: 2016-10-12 07:31 am (UTC)
strikingtwice: (sympathetic elf fase)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
"Hmm?" Meallan makes an effort to sit up and pay attention as Evan speaks, a lingering smile on his lips that slowly fades as Evan explains why he's troubled by what Meallan had said.

"Two years?" he echoes, staring at Evan uncertainly. There'd been changes to Evan's face yes, but nothing that had made him think it had been that long. His throats works a moment as he thinks about how much time that was, how much could happen, and finally he manages a small, uncertain laugh.

"No wonder you were so surprised to see me. You must have put all of ALASTAIR and the rest of us behind you."

Date: 2016-10-12 08:58 am (UTC)
strikingtwice: (foreheads touching)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
Meallan hesitates as Evan admits that he'd been trying to focus on his studies, wondering how much he'd changed simply by turning up here, and then the younger man admits as well that he'd missed being part of a team, of being honest about who and what he was and that's enough for him.

He rises from the bed immediately and crosses to Evan's dropping down by his side and pulling him into a fierce hug.

"I've missed you as well," he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. "Even though it wasn't as long for me, when you left... I knew I should be happy but all I could think was how much I missed you. In a way, I'm glad that I was sent here. It means I can see you again."

Date: 2016-10-13 07:42 am (UTC)
strikingtwice: (fond smile)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
A snort of amusement escapes him and Meallan squeezes Evan tighter for a moment, a reassurance to the part of him that had been so afraid that he'd never get the chance to see the other man again. That he'd be alone again.

Then he finally lets go and sits back, his eyes a touch brighter with emotion, though his face is all smiles.

"And you're just as warm as I remember as well," he teases. "Surely you must be popular on winter nights."

Settling back down, Meallan curls companionably against Evan's side, apparently content to stay there for the time being. At least until something else catches his attention.

"So... what do we do now?" he says at last. "Are your parents coming here?"

Date: 2016-10-13 10:57 am (UTC)
strikingtwice: (well that went better than expected)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
"Aren't I allowed to?" he returns, meeting the grin with a challenging eyebrow of his own. "Maybe I'd like to meet the man who was very dedicated in wooing your mother."

He wriggles his eyebrows and grins widely, then bursts into laughter and drops back to sprawl out as much as he could on Evan's bed. "The look on your face..."

It reminds him a good deal of their first conversation and he hopes Evan still remembers it as well, even if it has been much longer for him. Maybe it's too much to think he would remember Meallan that well, but he clung to the thought anyway.

After a moment to let his amusement die down again, Meallan glances up at Evan curiously. "So... you study things here? And do you work as well?"

Date: 2016-10-16 11:42 am (UTC)
strikingtwice: (bringing sexy back)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
"That just sounds more tempting if you ask me," Meallan returns with a teasing grin. "Something they'll remember and remind you of, even after..."

He goes quiet, not liking the reminder that he'll have to leave as soon as he can manage. As much as he enjoys being with Evan, there's nothing to ensure that time isn't passing in Thedas now he's here, and the idea that he might not have a world to return to, or at least not one he knows, is a sudden, heavy weight on his chest.

He's quiet as Evan speaks, nodding but not listening as well as he might otherwise. It's not fair to Evan to tune out, but it's a sudden and sobering thought for Meallan to think that he doesn't know how time will work in Thedas compared to Evan's world as opposed to with the Audentes. There he could afford to indulge his own whims more, now he might not have that luxury.

It's not something he wants Evan to worry about considering he's back in his own world and life now, so Meallan smiles and sits back against the wall as well, putting a bit more distance between them.

"And here I come in and distract you from all of that," he says with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Evan. Hopefully I won't disrupt your life too much and I can find a way back quickly."

Date: 2016-10-19 10:49 am (UTC)
strikingtwice: (checking out party members)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
Tactility is something Meallan has always been comfortable with, craves in a way since the separation from his clan and his remaining family had meant that much of the casual contact he was used to as a daily part of life had vanished. He leans into the touch a bit, pressing against Evan's hand despite himself, but withdraws again a moment later.

"And I am glad to see you as well, Evan," he says hoping the other man doesn't think he regrets that part of all of this. "I really am. I just... I wish there was less to worry about and that I could just enjoy being here, with you. Not worrying about what people might think or how it might effect you or anything like that."

Date: 2016-10-24 10:52 am (UTC)
strikingtwice: (looking back)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
Meallan blinks, a touch surprised at how rational and collected Evan is being, and nods slowly. He can see the definite wisdom in Evan's words, but it strikes him that the other man may have matured in his two years different in ways that Meallan mightn't be fully aware of.

He finds he's both curious to find out more and uncertain if he'll get the chance or if he'll have to leave before he can.

But Evan is right, it's not something to dwell on now, and he sighs and nods acceptance. "All right, so what exactly should I tell people then? Especially if your parents aren't going to be able to come up with something to help hide me immediately. People are going to wonder about the ears sooner or later."

Date: 2016-10-30 12:20 am (UTC)
strikingtwice: (why does everyone think I can save us)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
"Anti... You mean there are people who don't use things like the jewellery-like systems you have here? Because of what they believe in?" That strikes him as particularly odd, but then again, some of the Chantry's choices, particularly in the conflict created by the destruction of the Conclave, had been frustrating and strange as well.

"I suppose at least if I talk about life with my clan, it probably would fit that..." And he can see why Evan would pick that and what he's trying to help with, but at the same time... it's going to be a lot like the questions he got about being Dalish in the past. People wanting to ask questions like it was some novelty or display for entertainment, not his life. It's not Evan's fault, and he's glad as well that if he chooses not to speak about it to avoid that reaction, there might be an explanation for it.

"It works well," he agrees. "And it's not entirely unfamiliar territory as well. Although it doesn't explain that I don't look human by any means. Do people from these backgrounds usually dress that differently?"

Date: 2016-11-05 12:11 pm (UTC)
strikingtwice: (can you all stop talking about the Maker)
From: [personal profile] strikingtwice
"LARPing?" Meallan tries the word out, his brow creased with thought at the suggestion Evan offers. Not all of it makes sense to him, but the bits that do seem like they would work well enough and Evan must know enough of his own world to come up with something that makes sense for others here. It's better than anything he can think of as well, so Meallan nods.

"I was going to try LARPing for the first time and my flight lost my baggage," he repeats, fixing the story in his mind. "That's why I need your help and a place to stay."

Speaking of... Meallan gives the other bed a look and then turns to fix another questioning look (it feels like that's all he's done since arriving, so much of everything seeming strange and confusing) on the younger man again. "Where am I going to stay? Between you and your roommate, there doesn't seem to be much room here."

Before Evan can answer, Meallan frowns in thought again and rises from the bed in a strangely graceful movement to move to the window, looking out into the grounds below. "I suppose I could camp outside. I wouldn't need much and there's plenty of space. Although I'm not certain how your school feels about that."

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