weep little lion man

[lionheartedman]

WHO: Cullen and you
WHAT: jumping in head first! (by which I mean generic open log so that I can get all up in your inboxes)
WHEN: WHOLE MONTH OF JUNE - the afternoon of the 11th to the late morning of the 14th, he will be away from Skyhold.
WHERE: predominantly his office and the battlements around it, with a healthy helping of training his soldiers on the grounds, and the potential for a few other places if someone wants a custom starter
NOTE: When you tag, please tell me what day so I can figure out in what order it all happens. If you don't pick a day, I will pick it for you.

IMPORTANT!!! If you have not already left me links here and had me respond, but you plan to keep any past CR with Cullen, please do not tag this. I will be assuming that anyone who tags here and has not already had their past CR hashed out with me wishes to begin with a fresh slate. Don't worry, he will have another open post soon. I just don't want to wait too long to start playing, and since there are plenty of new characters and plenty of characters who've already been to my OOC post, I figure it's a safe bet that I can get some play now.

OFFICE
One thing that remains constant, that has not and probably will not ever change, is the endless stream of paperwork that crosses his desk. Cullen stands, hands braced and shoulders slumped, reading over a stack of intersecting and conflicting messenger's reports and trying desperately to figure out how to spread their forces when they simply do not have the resources to meet all needs as things currently stand. He sighs deeply, and raises one hand to rub at the knot of tension at the base of his skull. It's not going anywhere. The same can be said for the impressive model of the Frostbacks that messengers have created with scrolls and sheaves of paper and leather pouches along the short edge of his desk.

BATTLEMENTS
Some people say that Cullen has no aptitude when it comes to taking care of himself. Those people are, on the balance, entirely correct. He will argue that he pushes himself too far out of necessity, but that doesn't mean he's half as responsible as he should be when it comes to sleeping or feeding himself. It takes its toll. Usually, he can chase the fatigue away with a brisk walk and a little fresh air. A trip along the battlements to clear his head and gather his scattered thoughts is his go to solution. One he employs quite often.

TRAINING
Cullen does not always survey his troops with a mind toward picking apart their performances and needling them to do a better job. Often, but not always. Sometimes, he just watches. He takes note of particular skill, of someone ill at ease with the weight and balance of their weapon, of someone distracted. Their numbers are not so great that they can afford anything less than 100% from each person under him. Of course, the unfortunate extension of that is that their numbers are not so great that he can afford to turn away willing help. Particularly in light of the disturbingly large contingent of people within Skyhold who push back against the structure of authority whose protection they enjoy. It makes his job, this part of it as well as the less hands on ones, infinitely more difficult. At least the training remains direct and straightforward. Here in the courtyard, it is his job to foster the skills and determination of his volunteers to make them all that they are capable of becoming. It is their job to then give all they have in the service of the Inquisition. He knows he asks for more than is fair. He also knows that he has no choice. He is grateful for every person with the compassion and foresight to give it, anyway.

NEW OPTIONS - PUPPY!
PUPPY OFFICE
As of Thursday the 16th, there is a new addition to Cullen's life, in the form of a blue and white mabari puppy, and his daily routine just got a whole lot more interesting. The dog doesn't have a proper name, and is mostly being referred to as Puppy. Whatever Cullen thought dog ownership would be, it wasn't this. He seems to spend half his day in constant frantic motion, and the other half sleeping and eating. During the quiet times, Puppy can be found sleeping underneath the desk, or occasionally in the crook of Cullen's arm. He can also be found chewing on scrap leather or lengths of knotted rope as he tumbles about the office, though he won't wander too far from the desk and/or Cullen.

PUPPY COURTYARD
He also needs to be walked, and socialized, so a few times a day, Cullen finds himself in quieter areas of the courtyard. He brings treats and teaches Puppy simple tricks, sending him running along the wall to tire himself out, assuring anyone who wanders into the area that the dog is loud, but friendly.

PUPPY WALKWAYS/STAIRCASES/WHEREVER
Puppy might be smart and well behaved, but he is still a puppy, and occasionally one might be treated to the sight of the Commander of the Inquisition running along a battlement, trying to catch a tiny blur of fur with a roll of parchment clamped in his mouth. This is his life now. This is what his life has become.

[[OOC note about Puppy! While he will definitely be energetic and boisterous and do things that people might not like, he will not be outright bad. Please don't write about him breaking things, hurting people or other animals, or antagonizing someone who seems afraid of him. He is a Mabari, well trained for his young age, and very smart. He wants to play, and will absolutely steal things from people, tug on their clothing, and bark for attention, but Puppy will not be destructive or violent. Thanks.]]

11th (full)
visiting puppies
meeting Henry
talking with Bethany
leaving for recon/rescue mission

12th (away from Skyhold)
traveling
rescuing Meoni

13th (away from Skyhold)
traveling

14th
Mia brings him tea
Sera brings him dinner

15th
properly meeting Christine
Cassandra comes to clear the air
Gwen brings her latest publication

16th
Adelaide brings Cullen a puppy

20th
Josephine helps catch Puppy

Comments

[el_tybs]

Yes, it was rather strange wasn't it, which is why the pause and the look he's being given isn't all that strange to him. "To be honest I didn't know it was a thing until about a couple weeks ago. Apparently where my roommate is from they have such things for cats and he replicated it here."

Really the only benefit of having the leashes was if the cats decided to run and hide someplace he couldn't get to. Other than that they were pretty good about sticking to him. Literally.

[lionheartedman]

"You share quarters with a Rifter?" Either that or an Orlesian. Cullen couldn't believe any other culture would consider putting cats on leads. The absurdity shot right through the humour that would make him laugh and settles in the bizarre.

[el_tybs]

"Hm? Yes, I do. He was having trouble finding a place to stay, or least to sleep, so he's been staying with me. Course now there are these two," he comments reaching up to pat each of the kittens on the head. "It's been interesting to say the least."

[lionheartedman]

"It's good of you to be so understanding about it." Not everyone has been. Quite a few have complained about the need to share quarters. Giving up privacy is never an easy thing, but there is only so much that can be done with the number of people needing shelter and the amount of space available for it. "We know it isn't easy. For anyone. Any of this."

[el_tybs]

He's heard his share of people complaining about it - people just loved to open up at the healing tents. "The Inquisition isn't quite the place for 'easy'," he comments with a small smile. Course there were times that they all wished that it was, but this was a war after all.

"It should get a bit better with the housing being worked on. People will still have to share I'm sure, but more space for everyone right?"

[lionheartedman]

"You are right about that. I'm not sure that anyone here would know what to do with easy."

Puppy does not care much for the calm conversation being had. He's been watching the cats on Sam's shoulders, and has now decided that they've been avoiding playing for far too long. He stands up on his back legs, front paws pressing into Sam's leg, and whines at them.

[el_tybs]

"I'm sure plenty of them would enjoy 'easier' though. Walls, roof and a door is always comforting to a lot of people."

All at once it seems that a bit of chaos is going on, feeling a weight on his leg and growling next to one ear where Leonard is - he clearly does not care for the dog trying to get closer. Nikita on the other hand is rather curious, claws digging into his clothes and skin as she shimmies down his side, close enough to sniff at the puppy.

"Seriously am I a climbing post?" The answer was 'yes' clearly.

[lionheartedman]

"Seems that way. Just glad it's not me for a while."

Puppy very eagerly whuffs and strains for the kitten coming down to play with him. "Gentle," Cullen warns in a firm voice. Puppy's tail keeps wagging, though, and he strains upward and tries to nudge his nose underneath the kitten to urge her down further.

Cullen just smiles at them. "If those two can get along, I'd imagine just about anyone could share a room and make it work."

[el_tybs]

Sam gives a good-natured snort at the Commander's comment, shaking his head some as he tries not to wince at claws digging into his skin. Eventually Sam just reaches down and removes Nikita from the top of his leg, holding her firmly as she wiggled about. Leaning down a bit he allows the puppy and kitten to sniff at each other face to face, ready to pull back if necessary.

When it seems like nothing was going to happen he eventually just sets her down on the ground while Leonard continues to make unhappy noises. "Oh hush." Even so he reaches up and scratches the black and white kitten to calm him down.

Being a mabari, Puppy is much bigger than Nikita, but that doesn't seem to deter her in the least, tail straight up as she pounces in and out. "Good promotional flyer. If cats and dogs can get along, so can you."

[lionheartedman]

"Someone would find a way to be offended about being compared to an household pet."

Though watching his mabari snuffle nose to nose with a little kitten and then let the tiny beast climb on top of his head for a ride. If they can do it...

He's about to say as much, when the unlikely pair of mabari and kitten is no longer working things out between them, but is trotting across the courtyard. After what, Cullen can't say. A bird, a falling leaf. All he knows is that he's pretty sure this is going to turn into an awful afternoon if his dog loses this man's cat. "Bad puppy!" And he's off. "Come back!"

[el_tybs]

"Ain't that the truth."

Really, anyone could find anything to be offended about - it was probably a gift for some, a job for some others.

Thoughts on who argues with who is lost though when Sam watches as the unlikely duo start walking off. For a moment it doesn't seem all that bad up until they keep going, and going, and- they're just taking off. It's Cullen starting to yell that has Sam actually reacting though. "Shit-" Kirk is going to kill him

[lionheartedman]

Turns out it's not a bird or a leaf, but a little nug snuffling in a pile of leaves that have already fallen. Puppy has no interest in hunting it. Cullen curbed that instinct quickly. Within Skyhold's walls, anything still living is not food. Puppy is still fascinated by the little creatures, though, and wants to share the experience with the kitten on his head. Cullen slows a little when he realizes this isn't going to turn into disaster. "Sorry," he says to Sam comes up even with him. "He gets excited. He wouldn't hurt it." Either the cat or the nug.

[el_tybs]

Sam gives a sigh as he catches up, having to move a bit slower with Leonard latched onto his shoulder. "Well that's good to know." He's not sure what 'it' is until he looks, brow raising when he sees a nug - was it wearing boots? "Just making friends is he?" Nikita doesn't look worse for wear, actually seeming just as excited as she jumps down to bat at the nug. "Nikita- play nice," he chastises from where he's at, though not mad, just warning.

[lionheartedman]

"It's his first mission in life. Second is eating. Third is napping." Oh, to be a hound. Life would be so gloriously simple. Cullen envies Puppy, though admitting to that is a slippery slope. "So, Nikita. And the grumpy one is?"