Alistair (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bringspeopletogether) wrote2016-08-06 09:19 am
bringspeopletogether) wrote2016-08-06 09:19 am
[oom] denerim
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.
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.
no subject
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
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He mustn't write something he'd regret.
JJ: You always do.
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QG: Now you only have to press 3 keys to express your disapproval
QG: Instead of typing out "Alistair I disapprove of this"
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JJ: I disapprove of this.
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QG: All right
QG: No more faces
QG: I promise
QG: That was my last one
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JJ: We'll see.
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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?
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JJ: And it would be harder to explain my sudden presence in the middle of the journey.
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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.
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JJ: Yes it would.
This was sent... inordinately fast.
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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
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JJ: You could make up some outrageous story, though, if you'd like to amuse yourself.
JJ: I'd read it.
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QG: I'll write something while you're resting
QG: And I'll share it while we're on the road to South Reach
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JJ: Looking forward to it.
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QG: Until then
QG: I hope you feel better soon
quondamGryphon ceased trolling jackbootJudex.