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faderift2016-07-08 04:01 pm
lionheartedman) wrote in faderift2016-07-08 04:01 pm
Cullen's July catch-all
WHO: Cullen, Puppy, and you
WHAT: working, bathing, walking, playing, traveling, politicing (ugh), wandering around Orlais feeling out of place
WHEN: spanning the month 1-15 in Skyhold, 16-20 traveling, 21-31 in Orlais
WHERE: various locations - the hot springs, Cullen's office, and walking the battlements and courtyards in Skyhold - the Inquisition foothold and anywhere someone convinces him to show his face in Orlais
NOTES: Since this log covers two very different locations, and because there are travel times associated with getting to and from these places, please make sure you tell me what day you want your thread on as well as where.
If none of the options provided work for you, you are free to come up with something on your own. I'm also willing to make custom starters, if asked. Just let me know.
Threadjacking is fine, negative CR is fine. Basically everything is fine.
HOT SPRINGS (Skyhold)
evening
Cullen tends to go bathing at odd hours. It's half practicality and half availability. In the middle of the night, scouts and messengers have stopped arriving, and he doesn't feel as guilty about taking time for himself. He's also less likely to run into anyone else, which is good for him for two reasons now. First, because it is nice to have a little slice of time with no expectations to rise to. Second, now that puppy is in his life, everywhere he goes he has (as Adelaide predicted) a little blue shadow. It seems a kindness to not expose bathers to the insistent demands of a young mabari wanting stimulation. It's also easier to bathe the dog with no one else around, and if Cullen is in the water, Puppy wants in the water.
Setting all that logical and responsible reasoning aside, he finds it easier to sleep after a hot bath. He's not sure why, but the days he doesn't have time to get down to the hot springs, the days his hygiene routine consists of a basin of hot water and a rag (though Puppy still goes splashing when Cullen is finished), there is no relaxation to accompany the fatigue when it settles in.
So it's the twilight hours that find him soaking his old bones, flicking water at Puppy as he runs eagerly around the edge of the pool, venturing into the shallows to bite at little bubbles and let Cullen rub soap into his short fur. The mabari has learned to be quiet, to keep from drawing attention, or disturbing the peace of anyone trying to sleep. That doesn't in any way lessen his desire for play. He paddles around in the warm water, chasing bars of soap and scrubbing stones and leaping from rock to rock playing a game of tag with the reflections cast and anyone who might break the stillness to join them.
daylight hours
Just because Cullen only bathes at night, that doesn't mean Puppy feels so confined. If his master will not pay attention to him, if he is too busy and Puppy feels unneeded, he's not above visiting the hot springs on his own. During the day, it's far noisier, and he doesn't feel the need to keep quiet. He'll find people, during the day, and people mean a chance to make a friend. He'll still chase the soap, and might eat it if it's natural and unscented.
OFFICE (Skyhold and Orlais both)
There are preparations to be seen to. He doesn't leave Skyhold often, and never for any extended length of time. Of course, just because he doesn't do it, doesn't mean he won't have to. Leliana is still ill, can't travel. He feels that Josephine if more than enough on her own in that city. She knows how to play their games, and Cullen does not. Even if he could learn, he would not want to.
Wherever he goes, there he is, and the paperwork follows. It always follows. He doesn't even get the rare pleasure of a bare desktop on his first day in Orlais. It's waiting for him, already piled high. He expects to be hunched over his work long into the night, and he also expects to be interrupted regularly. Life as usual.
TRAINING (Skyhold and Orlais both)
Just because it's a different sort of fight they're heading into, that doesn't mean his troops can shirk their training. Just because he will be away from a portion of them for a time, doesn't mean they get to slack. He will appoint someone he feels comfortable with to act in his stead while he is gone, keeping his troops in top shape, improving them as quickly and fully as possible. Those who travel to Orlais will not have an easier time of it. They are a representation of the Inquisition in a land that would rather not have them turn up and spoil the party. They will have to be themselves, but better. Through it all, daily training is a part of life now. When numbers are so small, they must be clever and skilled.
TRAVELING TO ORLAIS
The traveling is honestly not that bad. He's used to it. It's far nicer with Puppy, he must say. On horseback, the mabari marches along beside him. At times the little dog is puffed up with importance and the recognition that his person is the head person, and so he must be a hound worthy of such an important position. At other times, small distractions catch his attention and he is every inch the young puppy enamored with the entire world and eager to learn about it. When he gets tired, Cullen brings him up onto his horse, letting him curl in the crook of his arm and the tucked and secured cloth of his cape and chase nugs in his sleep.
When they stop to make camp, Puppy makes that time more tolerable, too. He is friendly with everyone in their group, doling out affection and encouragement around the fire, playing fetch and begging belly rubs, but always coming back to Cullen. It's not easy to sleep under the best of circumstances, and even worse on the road.
GENERAL ORLAIS
This is Cullen. He is in Orlais. He hates Orlais. Come make it better/worse for him. Or just watch him wander around hating his life. Your call.
PUPPY (this one works pretty much anywhere, and does not include Cullen)
A young mabari puppy appears! He has decided that the next slice of his life is going to include you. Deal with it.
Solace timeline
WHAT: working, bathing, walking, playing, traveling, politicing (ugh), wandering around Orlais feeling out of place
WHEN: spanning the month 1-15 in Skyhold, 16-20 traveling, 21-31 in Orlais
WHERE: various locations - the hot springs, Cullen's office, and walking the battlements and courtyards in Skyhold - the Inquisition foothold and anywhere someone convinces him to show his face in Orlais
NOTES: Since this log covers two very different locations, and because there are travel times associated with getting to and from these places, please make sure you tell me what day you want your thread on as well as where.
If none of the options provided work for you, you are free to come up with something on your own. I'm also willing to make custom starters, if asked. Just let me know.
Threadjacking is fine, negative CR is fine. Basically everything is fine.
HOT SPRINGS (Skyhold)
evening
Cullen tends to go bathing at odd hours. It's half practicality and half availability. In the middle of the night, scouts and messengers have stopped arriving, and he doesn't feel as guilty about taking time for himself. He's also less likely to run into anyone else, which is good for him for two reasons now. First, because it is nice to have a little slice of time with no expectations to rise to. Second, now that puppy is in his life, everywhere he goes he has (as Adelaide predicted) a little blue shadow. It seems a kindness to not expose bathers to the insistent demands of a young mabari wanting stimulation. It's also easier to bathe the dog with no one else around, and if Cullen is in the water, Puppy wants in the water.
Setting all that logical and responsible reasoning aside, he finds it easier to sleep after a hot bath. He's not sure why, but the days he doesn't have time to get down to the hot springs, the days his hygiene routine consists of a basin of hot water and a rag (though Puppy still goes splashing when Cullen is finished), there is no relaxation to accompany the fatigue when it settles in.
So it's the twilight hours that find him soaking his old bones, flicking water at Puppy as he runs eagerly around the edge of the pool, venturing into the shallows to bite at little bubbles and let Cullen rub soap into his short fur. The mabari has learned to be quiet, to keep from drawing attention, or disturbing the peace of anyone trying to sleep. That doesn't in any way lessen his desire for play. He paddles around in the warm water, chasing bars of soap and scrubbing stones and leaping from rock to rock playing a game of tag with the reflections cast and anyone who might break the stillness to join them.
daylight hours
Just because Cullen only bathes at night, that doesn't mean Puppy feels so confined. If his master will not pay attention to him, if he is too busy and Puppy feels unneeded, he's not above visiting the hot springs on his own. During the day, it's far noisier, and he doesn't feel the need to keep quiet. He'll find people, during the day, and people mean a chance to make a friend. He'll still chase the soap, and might eat it if it's natural and unscented.
OFFICE (Skyhold and Orlais both)
There are preparations to be seen to. He doesn't leave Skyhold often, and never for any extended length of time. Of course, just because he doesn't do it, doesn't mean he won't have to. Leliana is still ill, can't travel. He feels that Josephine if more than enough on her own in that city. She knows how to play their games, and Cullen does not. Even if he could learn, he would not want to.
Wherever he goes, there he is, and the paperwork follows. It always follows. He doesn't even get the rare pleasure of a bare desktop on his first day in Orlais. It's waiting for him, already piled high. He expects to be hunched over his work long into the night, and he also expects to be interrupted regularly. Life as usual.
TRAINING (Skyhold and Orlais both)
Just because it's a different sort of fight they're heading into, that doesn't mean his troops can shirk their training. Just because he will be away from a portion of them for a time, doesn't mean they get to slack. He will appoint someone he feels comfortable with to act in his stead while he is gone, keeping his troops in top shape, improving them as quickly and fully as possible. Those who travel to Orlais will not have an easier time of it. They are a representation of the Inquisition in a land that would rather not have them turn up and spoil the party. They will have to be themselves, but better. Through it all, daily training is a part of life now. When numbers are so small, they must be clever and skilled.
TRAVELING TO ORLAIS
The traveling is honestly not that bad. He's used to it. It's far nicer with Puppy, he must say. On horseback, the mabari marches along beside him. At times the little dog is puffed up with importance and the recognition that his person is the head person, and so he must be a hound worthy of such an important position. At other times, small distractions catch his attention and he is every inch the young puppy enamored with the entire world and eager to learn about it. When he gets tired, Cullen brings him up onto his horse, letting him curl in the crook of his arm and the tucked and secured cloth of his cape and chase nugs in his sleep.
When they stop to make camp, Puppy makes that time more tolerable, too. He is friendly with everyone in their group, doling out affection and encouragement around the fire, playing fetch and begging belly rubs, but always coming back to Cullen. It's not easy to sleep under the best of circumstances, and even worse on the road.
GENERAL ORLAIS
This is Cullen. He is in Orlais. He hates Orlais. Come make it better/worse for him. Or just watch him wander around hating his life. Your call.
PUPPY (this one works pretty much anywhere, and does not include Cullen)
A young mabari puppy appears! He has decided that the next slice of his life is going to include you. Deal with it.
Solace timeline
no subject
The Wolf Pup, for his part, was dancing around the Puppy. What he lacked in tactical mindset, he tended to make up for in speed. He darted this way and that way at the Puppy, nipping at his nose.
She glanced over her shoulder at the two animals, before one corner of her mouth lifted. "Yes, I can understand that, all too well." She moved closer herself, and dropped down to the floor by the spring itself.
"Bears. Why is it always bears?" Is her wry response, and she eyes the water with a touch of envy. "Is it nice and warm?"
no subject
"It's always bears, because bears are the only thing the Frostbacks seem to produce. We have a bear surplus. More annoying than nugs, less annoying than dragons." Contrary to popular opinion, the Commander did not live in his armour. It was currently stacked in a neat pile in his room. Impractical for bathing. If he knew that Katniss was currently hung up on it, he might tease her. As it was, he just let himself drift back again to find one of those conveniently situated underwater rocks to sit on. "Water's great. Even if it wasn't... you're pretty filthy." He chuckled when he said it, not trying to be mean. It wasn't a criticism, it was just... true.
Beyond the pair of them, Puppy managed to anticipate one of the wolf's quick leaps and knock him down mid jump, pinning him to the floor with his jaws clamped loosely around his neck. No force, no broken skin. Puppy was pretty clear that force was only acceptable with permission or as self defense. It didn't curb his instincts to protect and dominate, though.
no subject
Her expression became more sardonic, "Well, that surplus decided to make off with some of the refugees supplies, and gave a few of the men new scars. Not any more, though." Hung up, probably, but she wasn't going to complain about it, at all. "Yes, going face first into the mud does that to a girl."
One eyebrow raised at him, and then at the water, before she started to pull off her boots. "So should I take that as an invitation to share the water and turn around from being pretty filthy to pretty clean?"
She jerked her head when the Puppy took the Wolf down, pinning him to the ground, making the Pup yelp. She tipped her head thoughtfully, impressed by the mabari puppy's strength, before she gave a low whistle. The Pup stilled for a moment, before twisting around to kick out his paws to break free of the Puppy. Not to hurt, not to scratch, just to knock the Puppy off balance long enough for the Pup to make his retreat.
no subject
Puppy was fine being thwarted. Cullen had seen his successful pin. He'd checked to make sure. That was all he wanted, for his person to notice that he was learning and improving and taking his instruction. He loved his person. Making him happy was all that Puppy needed in his life.
"Was there another reason to come down here? Lie in wait and attack bathers as they exit? Force them back in the water before they start stinking of bear?"
no subject
The Wolf Pup yipped again, before leaning over to bump the Puppy with his nose. He did, however, stay seated as Katniss pulled her boots free and then rose to start stripping off her shirt and leather jacket, putting them to one side, along with the towel she brought. She dug into her bag to pull out her special soaps, putting them aside to pull her shirt off.
"Yes, that was my plan. Harrass people into bathing better before they smelled worse. Dead bear is a great incentive to wash behind one's ears." She stated dryly, as she pushed her pants off and stood in her undergarments. She looked over her shoulder at him, as she started to unbraid her hair.
"Are you naked in there?"
no subject
Puppy takes a swipe at the wolf's nose before barking happily and bounding back over to Cullen. He grabs the rag in his mouth and leans over the edge of the water, waiting for his person to grab the other half and pull. When Cullen doesn't respond, he gives a dismayed little whine, and then decides that he'll just have to start a new game, and leaps into the water.
So maybe Cullen has been watching Katniss undress. Surely he can't be faulted the view. She's the one stripping right in front of him. Naked in the hot springs? Cullen is pretty sure that somehow, it would turn around and bite him in the ass. He'd be forced to make a mad dash in the buff. Granted, a mad dash in wet smalls isn't much better, but it is better. "No. Sorry to disappoint."
no subject
Once, of course, he was bathed. Which wouldn't be hard at all, since the wolf pup tipped his head at the puppy jumping in, and decided it was his turn next. So off he jumped, right into the water, paddling his way to the surface to go sniff at Cullen.
She flushed slightly, before she answered tartly, "Yes, well. Just wanted to make sure coming in my smallclothes wasn't going to peg me as the prudish one." Even though the blush to her cheeks might imply otherwise. She gathered up her soaps, and put them on the side of the spring, before slowly lowering herself all the way down, and under briefly, to take out the worse of it in her hair. She came up with a gasp, and wiped the water from her face.
She reached for the soap first, giving him a thoughtful, amused look. "You know -- I don't think I've seen you this relaxed ... ever?"
no subject
Cullen tapped the surface of the water and imitated the whistle Katniss had used to get the wolf's attention. "Come on. Come here." Whatever interest the wolf might have had, Puppy was eager to comply, swimming up to Cullen's chest and poking him with his nose. "Most of the things that fill my days aren't very relaxing."
no subject
Katniss's lips curved into a soft smile as she started to soap her hair throughly, watching the wolf pup paddle up to Cullen and vie for some affection from the blonde human, and of course the puppy.
"Well ... " She left that out there for a moment, clearing her throat as she continued to wash her hair. "You ought to try a few more relaxing things, then. It looks good on you."
no subject
He wasn't overly concerned with rinsing the wolf off, and while Puppy was near, Cullen went at him with the bar of soap as well. They'd rinse themselves off by swimming around. To that end, he tossed a ratty leather ball out into the water. "Go get it!"
no subject
The wolf pup tried to bite the soap, but then became more interested in going after the rag ball, paddling towards it as quick as he could.
no subject
Puppy was torn between wanting to go after the ball and wanting to stay with Cullen. In the end, he chose his human, and let him rub soap all over his short fur, churning up the water with his paws until the bubbles almost reached Katniss.