bringspeopletogether: ([misc] in another life)
Alistair ([personal profile] bringspeopletogether) wrote2016-06-24 05:18 pm
Entry tags:

[sandbox] out of the abyss

It starts as a shimmer out by the lake. Look at the water from the right angle, and the light glinting off it looks a bit...green. Sickly.

(Familiar, if you're from a certain time and place in Thedas.)

Look up some minutes later, and you can pinpoint the source: a thin, glowing ribbon uncoiling in the sky. It emerges slowly, but the more light it casts, the more momentum it gains, until it explodes outward with an enormous crack like lightning splintering the ground.

A much quieter thump follows as something hits the dirt.

Someone.

The glow vanishes; the person doesn't move for a long beat. (Get up, he's telling himself, get up -- ) He manages to drag his hands level with his shoulders, press down to bear himself upward an inch, look up at where he's landed.

Get. Up.

Another shove, and Alistair lurches to his feet, sword hauled from its scabbard and shield at the ready. His breath rattles, harsh against his throat, as he stares wild-eyed around the grounds.
howtoactfereldan: (blessed are the peacekeepers)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-06-24 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Cullen, inside, in an armchair by the window, knows what that is. And knows that any Fade rift might spawn demons. Better to have them addressed by someone who knows what they are.

This thought process happens in about a second, after which Cullen is on his way out the door, longsword in hand. Only at that point does he notice --

Demons don't wear Warden armor.




His steps slow, and slow, and stop.


"You were gone," Cullen says, from about ten feet away. "You stayed behind."
howtoactfereldan: (blessed are the peacekeepers)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-06-24 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"Alistair -- "

That's all he says, because then instinct takes over. Alistair has a shield, and Cullen doesn't; the shield is a weapon, and one more dangerous to him than Alistair's sword at the moment.

Besides that, there's no evidence that says he ought to be attacking Alistair at this point.

Cullen waits until the last possible moment, and then turns aside -- something like a bullfighter's move. "Alistair. I'm not going to fight you."
howtoactfereldan: (the one who repents)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-06-25 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
It's an easy parry, especially given how Alistair's moving. "Alistair, listen to me. I'm not fighting." He circles, moving in a broad arc away from the Warden. "Do you know where you are?"

Dangerous to let any other thing draw his focus, given how single-minded Alistair seems to be on violence, but Cullen nonetheless finds himself looking for signs of injury. How long was he in there --
howtoactfereldan: (they shall be named Maleficar)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-06-25 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Well. That's something.

Cullen stills, lowering his sword.

"Alistair," he says again, quieter. "This is Milliways. Not Adamant. Not the Fade. Do you understand?"
howtoactfereldan: (they shall be named Maleficar)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-06-25 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
So... that's a no on the understanding.

And Cullen knows -- the worst possible thing he can do is push.

It takes a lot of will, but Cullen makes himself let out a long breath, shoulders relaxing. He doesn't break his gaze.
howtoactfereldan: (to rest in the warmest places)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-06-25 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Nothing." Still quiet. Still calm. "Not a thing."

Breathe in. Out.

"You could turn and see if you can spy the Black City. Point it out to me."
howtoactfereldan: (to rest in the warmest places)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-06-25 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
"If this were the Fade, you could see the Black City." Steady. "From wherever you stand. But it's not there at all. This isn't the Fade. It's Milliways."

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freedom_is_grey: (wondering and afraid)

[personal profile] freedom_is_grey 2016-06-25 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
Ysalwen and Liranan, coming around the lake, fall into defensive postures almost immediately when the feel of the Fade -- brief though it may be -- crosses their senses.

How a rift opened here --

That is a question for another time. Except --

"Alistair?"
freedom_is_grey: (wondering and afraid)

[personal profile] freedom_is_grey 2016-06-25 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
She looks wary, given that Alistair is not smiling, or joking, or even heading in her direction in hopes of a healing poultice.

"Are you all right?"

At her side, Liranan growls, hackles raised.
freedom_is_grey: (magic)

[personal profile] freedom_is_grey 2016-06-25 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that's --

Bad.

Ysalwen's reaction is almost instantaneous. She reaches out one hand, muttering syllables under her breath and --

Around her usual shields, a second shielding spell springs to life. It pushes back against Alistair's charge and shoves him back and away.

Hard.
Edited 2016-06-29 02:54 (UTC)
freedom_is_grey: (Liranan growling)

[personal profile] freedom_is_grey 2016-06-29 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
The attack comes not from the front, but from the side.

From the now very angry mabari that possibly Alistair didn't know was there.

Stop doing that to Ysa!

(Ysa, meanwhile, swaps her staff for her sword, which is largely the point of having the blasted thing to begin with. Shit.)

"Alistair, stop it, it's me!"
freedom_is_grey: (storms)

[personal profile] freedom_is_grey 2016-06-29 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, that's fine. Liranan will just grab Alistair's wrist and worry it, keeping him busy and pinned until Ysa is better!

Hurry, Ysa!

He does not want to actually draw blood! Right?

"Alistair, what are you -- "

She raises her voice to a shout.

"For the love of Andraste and all that is holy, Alistair, WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO HURT MY DOG??"
Edited 2016-06-29 03:15 (UTC)
freedom_is_grey: (Sad)

[personal profile] freedom_is_grey 2016-06-29 11:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Stop," Ysa says, voice thick and a little scraped after that yell.

"Please, stop. Alistair, you're in Milliways, it's all right. Please."

Liranan does not let up, at least not yet.

"Did you get hit with Confusion or something on your way here?"

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