Isaac Hawke - Tumblr Posts
I always wondered why a lot of people depict Anders so young and idk, too pretty? He is something like ~36 years old in the end of da2. Give the dude some wrincles and grey hair, damn it. I really dont like the mods that change da2 Anders into awakening Anders. His appearance is a part of the story too. It has meaning! Da2 Anders is no longer concerned with his looks, there are more important tasks at hand. He thinks there is no time for vanity while the mages suffer. He also lives in a sewer. Probably didn't even wash his hair that often as there is no running water in the said sewer. Justice probably doesn't understand the concept of sleeping. And even if he does, it's not fun to be a grey warden. Also no person is going to look perfect when they overwork themselves providing free medical care for refugees, writing manifestos and saving mages from the Gallows. I think he is supposed to look at least kinda bad? With messy hair, dark circles under his eyes and several days stubble he didn`t have time nor energy to take care of. I am sure his socks have at least one hole.
Anders' story and the mages plight theme in general will always be very personal for me, bc how well it works as a transgender allegory. If you're born different, no matter what you do, you're fucked. Society will make sure to make your life as hard as possible. Neither circle mages nor apostates are happy. Neither closeted trans people nor openly trans people are happy. You have to choose between "safety" and "freedom" but in the end you receive none. Damn, even the word "abomination" is being used against both groups. There are people among both communities who think compliance to conservative society demands is a better choice than fighting it. And people who understand that compliance will lead to only one outcome - extermination. The government taking your children away may be fictional for mages, but it is very real for trans people. Both transgenders and mages are considered a disgrace to their families, a curse, a dirty secret. Both get disowned. Or sometimes something much worse happens. Parents try to "cure" their children from both magic and transness. And for all the reasons listed above and more than that, da2 will always be my favorite game. Because in the end of the game, there is hope. Mages are united more than ever, and at least for a time, they are free. The perspective of a better future for both mages existing and those who aren't even born yet is finally real. Almost no one believed Anders will succeed. And Anders himself didn't believe he would live long enough to see the results of his actions. And yet, he is alive in the end. And what is even more important, not alone.
Yes I am writing all of that under a NSFW picture and what of it??? Last month has been rough. My country is worse than fucking dystopian Kirkwall.