entranceway | she's trying. video;

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she's trying. video;

[Claire has absolutely no idea what she's doing and while she is trying to broadcast at large, she doesn't mean to quite yet as she fumbles with what each button does.]

Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ.

[It's then that she sees the 'recording' indicator on, and she takes a deep breath to steady herself.]

If you'll forgive me. I'm afraid we don't have technology like this when I'm from, but I did want to offer my services. If you have a malady and conventional medicine hasn't worked for you, or you simply aren't sure what to get from our captor's closets, I might be able to offer you comfort via different herbs and concoctions. Some of you might even be as displaced as I am and find yourselves more comfortable with my methods as your way of healing. I understand there's modern medicine but this is a specialty, I suppose. A naturalist's way. I'm also not positive of the medical personnel here. If you are medically inclined, would you care to introduce yourself?

My name is Claire Fraser, I'm a healer at home. More injuries of war, but I'm able to adapt.

[Injuries on battlefields, injuries because of stubborn Scots. They're really eerily similar.]

In any case, if you're in need of someone to help quickly, now you'll know how to reach me.

[She presses the button she thinks is the one for turning the recording off. When it doesn't stop, she presses it again, then again, and as she's mid-curse, she finally gets it.]

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Finding your way around the network, I see.

_{[Offered up after that first vehement (and colorful) swear. He can't help a smile. Hello, Claire. Fight on, you'll get used to it eventually.]}

Should I still raise my hand when you already have an idea of my skill set?

_{[As someone who'd grown up with the traditional "herbs and concoctions" method of curing ills, she sounds like any healer or apothecary he'd find in a village preparing feverwort for a child's stubborn fever or rubbing greenbriar salves on arthritic joints.

Wonderland could always use more healers, whether modern or magical or not. It's reassuring to have another on hand.]}

[ A familiar, friendly face, thank God. Not that others haven't been friendly, but they certainly weren't familiar. ]

Barely, I feel. There's so much about this device that seems unnecessary. In any case, I'm learning. Slowly.

[ She's a bit more relaxed talking to Anders because she does know him a little. ]

No need for a show of hands from you, but I am learning nearly everyone has magic which makes the entire thing less mystical than I ever thought it was.

_{[Her self-assessment earns some amusement, but not the unkind variety. He always worries about newcomers to some degree, but knowing what he does about Claire's sudden separation from her husband, his soft spot for her is extra soft. Those who have families waiting for them shouldn't have to be here under these circumstances.]}

Remind me to give you some tips the next time I stop in. I had to learn it from scratch, too. I find I miss the ink stains on my fingers less and less.

_{[And if she's anything like him and needs to put some distance between herself and the rest of the world when things seem too overwhelming to face head-on, being able to communicate in real time without having to show her face is truly a godsend sometimes.

Bless you, text messages.]}

Yes, the census seems to skew in favor of oddballs and big personalities with even bigger abilities. I had wondered if you were the latter. I suppose you fit in as the former.

_{[He means that in a good way. Welcome to the oddball club.]}

Someone mentioned something about text. I see the keyboard, but I'm afraid I'm not proficient at it.

[ Claire does smirk a bit at his comment, amused by his assessment. ]

An oddball with a big personality? Whatever makes you think that?

[ Not that she thinks anyone who knows her would disagree, honestly. ]

Yes, you can write out messages on the screen and send them to a person in the blink of an eye. I'll have to introduce you to a fellow by the name of Barry Allen. He's came up around this sort of technology and is a whiz with the stuff.

_{[Also a bit of a troll abusing text lingo and emojis everywhere he goes, which probably has something to do with why Anders likes him.]}

I have a theory. _{[A very serious theory. Can't you tell by this serious face?]} Only the most interesting people time travel.

I think I would appreciate the assistance, yes. Thank you.

[ She smiles just a little, head tilting to the side. ]

Oh, so now you've decided I'm interesting? Trust me, I was quite ordinary before traveling through the stones.

[ With an ordinary husband she may or may not have suspected of cheating on her, tea, and a womb that just wouldn't cooperate. ]

_{[Nonsense. Claire's beauty would have her standing out in a room full of people, but he's already sure she'll blend right in in Wonderland where most everyone comes complete with their own unique quirks and interesting lives.]}

That's modesty if I've ever heard it. You just said you travelled through time by way of stones. That's a first for me, and I can shoot lightning from my fingers.

_{[Which, by the way, is a demonstration he's always happy to show Claire if she finds herself struggling to take the mansion's residents at their word. Sometimes it takes seeing to believe.]}

You can do what?

[ Christ, what can't people do here? Not much, she's figuring out. ]

How is that even possible? How do you keep from giving yourself a shock that kills you? And I know you're going to say 'magic' so I'm not sure why I'm even bothering to ask.

[ How did the man she met with the over-excited hell beasts use fire from his hands to dry her clothes without burning either of them? Same answer: magic. No explanation further than that. ]

As an aside, if someone was hurt and needed immediate aid, would you be willing to be a name I could give as a person to contact in an emergency?

Honestly, I would've told you before but given you had a target on your back for suspected witchcraft, I didn't want to rub it in.

_{[Sorry. Sorry to bring this headache on you, Claire.]}

For the record, it's really no different than holding a knife. Just don't aim at yourself and you'll be fine.

_{[It's a little more complicated than that in reality, but he doesn't want to give her the impression he can snap his fingers and make frogs fall from the sky on a whim, though Claire might not appreciate the difference between Thedas' magic and Wonderland's.

As for the question, he doesn't even have to think about that. He nods.]}

Certainly. I'll do what I can.

Well, I appreciate your thoughtfulness in that regard. I'm not sure I could have coped with the concept at the time. As it is, I'm still having a difficult go of it trusting the closets.

[ She obviously has to if she'd like a furnished room and, well. Clothes. Food. She's getting there. ]

I appreciate your help. I'm going to explore the greenhouse a bit later and see what's already growing, then go forage the grounds for the same reason. Plus, I hear the clinic only has one person regularly on staff.

That's wise. Whatever power fuels this place, it's not natural. Making use of it with caution is smart.

_{[There are times when Anders almost seems compulsively driven by blithe recklessness, but not with magic. Never with that. Claire would do well to keep that little pea of distrust under her mattresses lest she get too comfortable with a power no one seems to quite understand.]}

Oh, the greenhouse. You'll run into some of my little friends there. _{[A smile.]} A knack for herbalism back home followed me here--I carved out a corner of it for my own purposes. We should swap notes.

_{[Busy hands, busy minds, after all. One other thing they may soon find they have in common is that idleness is a curse to people who have somewhere else to be.]}

That's too bad about the clinic. As I recall, there used to be more, but people come and go so often we're bound to run into slumps every now and then. Luckily for us, Wonderland seems to attract skilled individuals when they are here.

[ Claire will likely have to be in Wonderland a long, long time to ever give it anything that could slightly begin to resemble trust if you squinted. She trusts a small handful of people she's met, but not the place itself. ]

Well, if you frequent the greenhouse, perhaps you could tell me what's already growing there if you know off hand? Or at least what you've taken care of yourself.

[ She knows what she wants to grow, but if it's already available, then there won't be any waiting period. ]

It makes sense, then, that the clinic would be under-used. I'd like to do something with that, help somehow.

[ Busy hands and minds indeed. ]

_{[Her eagerness to put her skills to use for the greater good of the community does her credit.

If pressed to peel away the layer of blitheness that does double duty protecting and concealing those better angels of his, Anders would admit wanting to use his magic to serve others had been just as much of a reason to study healing as natural talent. But he's been a lone wolf longer than a team player. Without the Warden brass here to rouse him into action as a civil servant, he hasn't advertised his skills as a Warden mage for the public like Claire has, helping on a case-by-case basis.

Perhaps he could stand to learn a thing or two from her in that department as well.]}

I can introduce you to what I work with. They're herbs native to my homeland I use in recipes for poultices and balms and the like. Otherwise, it's mostly common varieties in there--chamomile, sage, thyme, that sort of thing. Some I'm not familiar with. You might have better luck identifying them.

_{[Having visited different countries and different times, her wealth of knowledge on the type of plant species found on Earth likely outmatches his own.]}

Thinking of offering your services out of there? I admit, the clinic's not my ideal workplace--a little too different of an environment for me.

I would like that, perhaps we can compare notes and you can teach me of some things from your home. I'd like to see about garlic and aloe. Mostly things to help when there are injuries, burns, massive bleeding or severe illness and the closets can't be utilized.

[ So, on that note: ]

I am. Thinking about it, I mean. I'm quite used to working in dark quarters in what's literally the basement of a castle, but I can adjust to a new space. It's better than a battlefield with enemy fire constantly raining down on you.

[ Although should that happen in Wonderland for some godforsaken reason, she'll be ready. ]

I agree it's smart to keep a stock of supplies. No one in particular owns the greenhouse--you're welcome to set aside some space of your own and apply your green thumb. Consider it a Wonderland veteran granting you official permission. I think we could learn a lot from one another.

_{[It'd be refreshing to work with someone from another world who speaks the same language, so to speak. Having tackled natural medicine at an early point in Scotland's history, she'd find the level of medical technology in Ferelden not too far off from that.]}

They put you in the basement? That's a little rude. _{[It needs saying. (Not that Anders can talk, given that in his future he'll be working out of a sewer. Thank god he doesn't know that yet.)

Anyway.]} I tend to do house calls, but if you need help there, do let me know. Can't let the test tube-wielding modernists outnumber us.

Well, be too good of a healer and you just might be a witch, so best to keep you out of sight. Did I ever tell you that day, what officially sealed my fate as a 'witch?' I saved a child. He'd eaten something poisonous and when everyone thought he was dead, I was able to bring him back. The local priest never let go of that and gave a very passionate testimony at my trial.

[ Claire huffs a little. WHATEVER. ]

I would like your help, and I would like to learn from you as well. I agree that coming together for more ways to help must be better than not at all.

_{[He barks a laugh at that. It's a little late to hide and wait out the discrimination--his fate as a heathen witch was sealed long before he was ever born, more's the pity. However, the unexpected burst of humor at the remark is short-lived, fading into a scornful look, brow knotted.]}

You're not even magical. The zealots could at least try to get it right.

_{[That's just lazy persecution, come on.]}

Well, people tend to be a bit more broad-minded than that here. Even the version of the local priest from my world keeps to himself--a refreshing change.

_{[He has a passing thought: how would Claire and Cullen fair in a room together? Claire might need only bat those long lashes of hers to charm even the most stiff-necked templar, should she have to.]}

Two heads and sets of hands are better than one. Would you like to set aside some time this afternoon for a visit to the greenhouse?

No need to point out my shortcomings relative to the majority of the population here.

[ She's teasing, poking fun at the fact that every other person she meets is magical somehow. ]

Let me get back with you on this afternoon. I have a few things I'd like to see about finding in the library, first. Are you relatively free any time?

And presume to be your superior? _{[His expression turns playfully chary, like someone looking down from a great height and seeing the painful landing waiting for them.]} I've been called a fool, but I'm not that foolish.

_{[And besides, it's only in here (and maybe Hogwarts) that not having magic could be considered a blessing, in all truth. Out there in the real world--or at least in Anders' world, and by the sounds of it, Claire's--it would be a curse.

Even so, he wouldn't change himself. Neither would he wish more discrimination on her for rightfully being magical, however.]}

Any time's fine by me. I would say send me a message and let me know, but perhaps it would be easier to find me at my room?

[ Oh, he's smooth. VERY SMOOTH, ANDERS. Claire smiles though, she can't help it. ]

Finding you and not needing to navigate the device would be preferred, yes. I know I need to keep using it to sharpen my skills but.

[ She makes a waving hand gesture as if to say 'can't be bothered.'

_{[You get to be wise to such side-steps after many an aggravated slap or ear-yanking. See? He could totally be a married man, he has deference to his female betters down pat.]}

All in due time.

_{[You'll be texting emojis soon enough, Claire Fraser.]}

Since we're neighbors, you won't have to go far. I'll see you later, then, perhaps, if exploring the library doesn't take over your day.

Sooner, rather than later, I hope.

[ He's good company, he's nice, she likes him. And they still have a future greenhouse date to plan. ]

Have a nice rest of your day, Anders.

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