[oom] denerim

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's used to bolting awake from nightmares. There's never much to do about it besides wait for his heartbeat to slow, count his breaths, and maybe go to the kitchens for some tea once he's certain his legs will carry him. The important part, each time: knowing the moment will pass just as the dream did.

It's different tonight. When he wakes, he can't remember anything that transpired in the Fade. All that it's left behind is a crushing dread, like an ogre pushing its fist into his chest. It doesn't pass.

Something's happened. The thought resolves itself, shaped so irrevocably it must be fact: something bad has happened to Cullen.

He doesn't bother lighting a candle; he stumbles out of bed and navigates to the chest by touch, working at the lock for what feels like an eternity before he gets it open. Alistair snatches out the Trollian device and signs on, scanning the chumproll for Cullen's name. Please be all right, please be all right --

There.

quondamGryphon began trolling jackbootJudex

QG: Cullen?
QG: Are you there?

He rests a hand on his head, trying to count his breaths. Please be all right.

Comments

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's white-knuckling it through his day. Ci's been stuck to his side like a burr as he makes himself go through the motions of daily routine, trying to ignore the cold sweats and the headache. There's a bench in the viscount's gardens that allows him to see anyone coming; it's enough that he's willing to distract himself with his Karkat-enhanced book (though not with any of the movies).

Until the notification pops up.

JJ: No, I'm here.

This is, sad to say, Cullen's idea of a joke.

[bringspeopletogether]

It's a terrible one. If Alistair weren't half-panicked for no reason, he'd boo heartily and vow to throw something at Cullen next he sees him.

As it stands:

QG: Damn it
QG: Cullen

That no lodged fast in Alistair's mind before the rest of the message processed; he's counting his breaths through another sudden bolt of adrenaline. Cullen answered, though. That's...that's a start.

QG: Are you all right?

[howtoactfereldan]

There's an infinitesimal delay in the response. Perhaps it is just a glitch in the system and not Cullen figuring out whether he wants to say 'no, it's a very bad day, provide me with an array of small pies, both sweet and savory, which I will eat when I am assured they will not make an untimely reappearance.'

JJ: Yes?
JJ: Why?
JJ: Do you know something I don't?
JJ: -- never mind, don't answer that, you'll create a wholly incorrect and irrelevant list.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair breathes out. All right. That's -- good. (And it even sounds like something Cullen would say, which...he's not sure why that would ever be in doubt, but. Good.)

As the panic starts to quiet, embarrassment floods in to replace it. Several moments pass before he types a response.

QG: No
QG: Nothing like that

There's really nothing he can say that doesn't sound like a child knocking on their parents' door after a bad dream, is there. Well. In for a sovereign.

QG: I thought something had happened
QG: I don't know why
QG: Never mind

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen blinks at the screen.

At his feet, Ci curls up, closing her eyes.

He turns his face up to the sun for just a moment.



JJ: Nothing's happened.
JJ: I'm a little ill today, but that's all. Please don't worry.
JJ: As you can see, I've been granted permission to leave my quarters, and I'm being very closely supervised.

jackbootJudex [JJ] sent file "taskmaster on patrol on my foot.jpg"

There are a few flowers visible just in the left corner of the image, where the stone of the path has given way to earth.

[bringspeopletogether]

Oh. Alistair finds himself smiling down at the photo. The last of his nerves continues their slow fade; he leans against the chest, keeping count of his breaths for another moment.

QG: Glad to see your guard in impeccable form, as always
QG: Those boots look awfully suspicious to me
QG: Best she watch them closely

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: They're suspicious in their splendor.
JJ: She is guarding against people who might take advantage of it.
JJ: You just put yourself on the list of suspects.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: Damn
QG: All my plans ruined
QG: Such a shame too
QG: She probably would've enjoyed being bribed with the best meats I could find in the royal kitchens
QG: What a difficult life she leads

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: The King of Ferelden, attempting to BUY a mabari's loyalty?
JJ: For shame.

"Ci," Cullen says, quick. "Look up here."

The gray mabari raises her head.

"Bare your teeth." Cullen demonstrates.

Ci does likewise.

Click.

jackbootJudex [JJ] sent file "nice try theirin.jpg"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair covers his mouth, holding in laughter.

(King of Ferelden undoes another little knot of nerves. First time that's ever happened. He doesn't particularly want to question it, though; it's late and he's tired and he will take whatever helps him finish calming down, no matter what it may be.)

QG: Consider me properly chastened
QG: I would never cross such a fearsome beast
QG: I'll be sure to do my penance tomorrow morning

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: I've a feeling I'll regret asking.
JJ: What's the penance going to be?

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: I honestly have no idea

He can't quite get a joke to form. Nothing good, anyway.

QG: I think my penance may be "think up a good joke about what my penance ought to be"
QG: Can't think of anything now

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: Sounds like a matter for you and your favorite Chantry functionary.

Cullen closes his eyes for a moment. Maker's breath, he'd like to be able to rest.

JJ: What brought this on, anyway?

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair lets out a breath. He looks away from the screen -- spots hover in his eyes for a moment, his vision unable to adjust from the glow to the surrounding darkness -- and draws his knees up, shifting more of his weight against the chest.

Eventually:

QG: I honestly have no idea about that either
QG: It must have been a bad one
QG: Be nice if they could've given me a hint what it was about before they shoved me back awake though
QG: It doesn't matter
QG: I'm just glad you're alive

...The problem with increasing your typing speed is that sometimes, after you've written something, you hit the 'send' key on reflex before you can go back and fix it. Like, say, writing alive instead of all right.

[howtoactfereldan]

Well.

Not like Cullen's wholly unfamiliar.

JJ: Middle of the night, then?

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: Yes
QG: It works out quite well actually
QG: Nobody else awake to see my embarrassing indignities
QG: Very thoughtful of those nightmares
QG: Or...whatever this was

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: Whatever it was, it was wrong.
JJ: That's the important bit.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: Yes

Alistair drags a hand down his face.

QG: I'm sorry for barging in waving my arms in a panic
QG: Especially when you're ill
QG: Usually they don't...linger quite so much

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: It's not barging in, Alistair.
JJ: I'm always glad to hear from you.
JJ: Besides, you think it's great fun being ill AND bored?
JJ: It's good to have something else to think about.

[bringspeopletogether]

He quirks a halfhearted smile at the screen.

QG: You say that now
QG: Wait until I start a game where I take pictures of whatever's in the room and make you guess what they are
QG: I don't have any candles lit
QG: It'd just be picture after picture of total darkness
QG: ...you know
QG: Actually
QG: I wonder if there's a way to play cards on these devices
QG: Or something like that

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: Seems like it would be worth asking Karkat.
JJ: If I can have movies on this device, it seems as though a card game shouldn't be difficult.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: Maybe I'll ask next I see him
QG: You know I still haven't met him face to face yet?
QG: Good a reason as any to rectify that
QG: Though for now I probably shouldn't mess with the device too much
QG: Seeing as

Wait. That's actually an important thing he needs to tell Cullen.

QG: That reminds me!
QG: I was going to tell you in person but so long as I've got you here
QG: We're commencing final preparations for the Ferelden tour
QG: Ought to be leaving in about a week
QG: First stop South Reach
QG: Still want to come?

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: Yes.

He sends that before he realizes it.

JJ: If it's not any trouble.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: Of course it's not :)
QG: I'd be happy to have you along
QG: And one more person in the entourage will scarcely be noticed

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: What's :) ?

[bringspeopletogether]

Oh, Cullen. You are about to be so glad you asked.

QG: It's a smile
QG: Tilt your head to the left
QG: You can make other ones too
QG: :D
QG: ;)
QG: :(
QG: >:(
QG: :O
QG: :P

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen tilts his head to the left.

This is the... what is the POINT.

JJ: >:(
JJ: >:(
JJ: >:(

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: :D
QG: :D
QG: :D

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: Juvenile.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: Oh dear
QG: You seem to have misspelled "thank you Alistair for broadening my cultural horizons"
QG: It's all right
QG: I'll take it as read

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen recognizes that given how he feels, he's not at his best and most tolerant.

He mustn't write something he'd regret.

JJ: You always do.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: Think of it this way
QG: Now you only have to press 3 keys to express your disapproval
QG: Instead of typing out "Alistair I disapprove of this"

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: Alistair.
JJ: I disapprove of this.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: :(
QG: All right
QG: No more faces
QG: I promise
QG: That was my last one

[howtoactfereldan]

He lets out a quiet sigh.

JJ: We'll see.

[bringspeopletogether]

A few moments pass before Alistair goes on.

QG: Anyway
QG: I'll write again before we depart
QG: So we can meet at the tavern and go together
QG: Unless you'd rather I bring you through when we're closer to South Reach?

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: No, I'd rather like to see Denerim.
JJ: And it would be harder to explain my sudden presence in the middle of the journey.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: True
QG: And it would allow you to experience the best parts of the palace
QG: Such as

quondamGryphon [QG] sent file "litter.jpg"

The picture's not current -- it's too brightly-lit for that. (Alistair was planning to post it on the DOGS I MET TODAY board, but duty called and necessitated a delay.) It depicts a very patient black mabari in the process of being swarmed by six or seven puppies, none of them more than three or four weeks old.

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: Yes.
JJ: Yes it would.

This was sent... inordinately fast.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair beams.

QG: Then it's settled
QG: In the meantime
QG: If you'd like some extra "company" via messages
QG: I'll likely be awake a while longer
QG: Though if Ci is sufficient and you'd prefer the quiet I'm happy to amuse myself instead
QG: Or (Maker forbid) try to get some sleep

[howtoactfereldan]

JJ: I should probably go in and rest.
JJ: You could make up some outrageous story, though, if you'd like to amuse yourself.
JJ: I'd read it.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: Tell you what
QG: I'll write something while you're resting
QG: And I'll share it while we're on the road to South Reach

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen grins down at the book.

JJ: Looking forward to it.

[bringspeopletogether]

QG: Wonderful
QG: Until then
QG: I hope you feel better soon

quondamGryphon ceased trolling jackbootJudex.