(no subject)

[lionheartedman]

WHO: Cullen, Puppy, a four three year old prince, and you
WHAT: commandering
WHEN: whole month
NOTES: So, yeah, Cullen is just basically collecting small cute things. Newest one is a prince from the Anderfels.

It's a little unsettling how much overlap there is between caring for a small child and caring for a dog. Unsettling, but it works for Cullen. He has vague memories of being this age. he knows what he wanted, and while the circumstances were very different from Baldewin's upbringing, he figures at the heart of things, all children are probably the same.

He lets the boy play with Puppy. They two are contented to spend massive amounts of time together. While the boy is less thrilled to be stuck in Cullen's office all day, he understands that this is where he needs to be. Of course, big sad eyes and repeated pictures drawn for the man of the three of them playing in grass and surrounded by trees and rocks and other people does tend to wear him down. Some work is portable. Cullen can be seen in courtyards quite often, a small box of work at his feet, and Baldewin and Puppy playing within his line of vision. You don't have to come spend time with all of them, but if you're around for long enough in any capacity, chances are the tiny prince will draw you a picture.

Young boys also get dirty. Very dirty. Very often. Even exiled princes, it seems. Perhaps especially exiled princes, free from the shackles of the title and able to enjoy their childhood for the first time. There's freedom that comes in shedding the mantle of royalty. If you see Cullen at the hot springs during the day, he will most likely be sitting near the a shallow area in some cloth trousers bathing the day's dirt off of the little boy. Puppy will try to help. Puppy will not actually be much help.

He still goes to the hot springs late at night for himself, though now these trips no longer involve Puppy. Whenever Cullen is not with them, Puppy has been tasked with watching after the prince, and is taking his new role as royal guard dog very seriously. ANyone attempting to approach the sleeping child is going to get a chunk taken out of them by a mabari. Not figuratively.

Comments

courtyards

[ichaer]

Returning from her long morning ride with Kelpie, Ciri is thoroughly exhausted. There hasn't been much time to train with her horse given the nature of missions so far but she will not let her mounted combat skills wane despite the lack of charging into battle recently. Her arm, mangled by the Wolf in the rescue mission a month prior, is still wrapped up but finally beginning to feel better after the horrid events from that mission.

Still, she cannot help itching at the bandages like a child and frowning. It'll be good when she can finally take this thing off and get the stitches removed before sailed into 'taking things into her own hands' territory. The familiar sounds of a certain child's laughter catches her attention, slowing her walk with Kelpie to glance around and grin upon spying a familiar little prince.

He's safer here. That had been her thoughts since taking him from that fortress in the Anderfels and it was good to see, for once, there was truth to that. She never wanted to see the sad boy she had briefly glimpsed on that long ride back to Skyhold as he talked about his parents and the aftermath of the Warden takeover. Mostly though, she is just happy to see him. He's one of the few reasons she can smile after such a harsh month.

It's why she cannot help waving happily with her good hand in Baldewin's direction.

[lionheartedman]

"Ciri!" The young prince recognizes the woman as someone who came to save him, who was kind to him, who brought him to this place where he gets to play with dogs all day and draw pictures and where everyone is nice to him and the big quiet man is always close by to make sure he's safe. He jumps up from his pile of blocks and his careful building of a tower and rushes to greet her, Puppy close on his heels.

Cullen just glances up from his work, sees who is it, and gives her a brief nod of his head. "Baldewin. Stay close to Puppy."

[ichaer]

"Hello again, Commander!" The grin Ciri offers Cullen is pleasant, far more pleasant than she appears most of the time outside of what time she spends with Avery and Inessa.

She'd have said more but she noticeably distracted by a toddler coming her way who she bends down to meet, scooping him up into a hug and spinning around with a laugh. It was honestly amazing how someone so small could have such a big effect on her with everything else piling on top of them. Carefully, she sets him back down and gives him a happy grin.

"I see you have a handsome companion that looks just like Garahel, he's clearly a good protector." She says, glancing to Puppy before her focus returns to Baldewin. "Have you been doing well and listening to the Commander?"

Office

[theproperglove]

It's on a quiet morning in the middle of Harvestmere that Josephine decides to make her way up to Cullen's office to see how he is coping with his new responsibilities. She hasn't spent much time up on the battlements of late, and it feels strange to be approaching the Commander is his own domain, so to speak, when they most frequently meet in the War Room.

Ah, but it not to be helped, and it's not like Josephine is intimidated by the man. It's just -- they have so little in common.

Once she's arrived at her destination, she knocks politely on the door. "Commander?"

[lionheartedman]

The hardest part of taking care of the little boy has been the drain on his time. He's sleeping even less now. Not that he necessarily views that as a bad thing. Sleep is still not kind to him. He naps briefly and lightly when he has to. It works - kind of.

He looks up at the knock, as does the prince, sprawled on a rug on the floor and surrounded by paper and brightly coloured soft chalks. "Why don't you go open the door?" Cullen suggests.

The boy grins, standing up and clapping his hands. "Come on, Puppy!" One little hand on his neck, wrapped around the collar he's made for the mabari (it's red and gold and black and has a pretty rock hanging from it) as he leads Puppy to the door. There is a length of rope tied to the handle there, and the boy places it in the dog's waiting mouth. "Pull!" He laughs and claps his hands when the dog obeys, large paws scrabbling on the stone as he yanks the unlatched door open. When Baldewin sees who's on the other side, his whole face lights up. "Lady Monteeyet. Hello." He places a balled up fist to his midsection and bows shallowly to her.

[theproperglove]

Josephine offers the young prince a curtsy in return; it is simply good practice, she feels. "Good day, Prince Baldewin," she says, before looking over the young boy's head to instead catch Cullen's eye. "I have, ah, decided to come by to see if you need help with anything." Her gaze drops back to the prince, whom she offers a smile.

courtyards

[fightorfright]

Amélie is crossing through the courtyard, staff strapped to her back, making her way from the healing tents to the tavern. It's been a tiring day for all that the day is still young, and she really feels like she could use a drink right now.

That is, until she claps an eye on the Commander's Mabari and she feels her dour mood evaporate. "Puppy!" she exclaims, before making her way over so she may perhaps give him a quick pat or two before she goes on her way. When her gaze falls onto Cullen himself, she ducks her head bashfully, shoulders drawing together. And then, she notices the boy.

Before she can quite stop herself and think, she blurts out, "Is that your son?"

Smooth, Amélie, smooth.

[lionheartedman]

"I-- no." She surely didn't intend it, but she's responsible for giving Cullen his first real laugh in weeks. not just a chuckle, but a hand on his chest, rolling up from his stomach, crinkling at the corners of his eyes laugh. "He's not my son. He's my-- friend. Aren't you?"

Cullen directs the last bit to the young boy, who nods his head enthusiastically, and then runs over to introduce himself at a nod from the man. "My name is Baldewin," he says, bowing stiffly and shallowly from the waist, looking for about half a second like a properly polished young man. "It's a pleasure to make your 'quaintance." The words come out mechanical, as though he's memorized the sounds but does not fully grasp the meaning. Then Puppy turns and licks his face, nearly knocking him off his feet, and he shrieks with delighted laughter and the spell is broken.

[fightorfright]

Oddly polite for a boy so young, but it's not like Amélie's had much interaction with children his age. She offers him a tight smile, halfway towards saying something about how it is good to meet him too, when her thoughts are interrupted by Puppy's actions.

At least they're both happy. Amélie's cheeks, meanwhile, are still burning. She ducks her head before mumbling, "I didn't know why I made that assumption. Guess you kind of look alike if you squint." She makes an exaggerated show of scrunching her eyes, and... Maker, she's just embarrassing herself further, isn't she. Scrambling to recover the conversation, she asks, "You're just on child-minding duty, then?"

It's rather odd, simply because she wouldn't have pegged him as the type.

Courtyard

[circleprodigy]

Inessa often brings Garahel to the courtyard for a game of fetch, hoping to wear him out enough so she can enjoy the library in peace. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement; Garahel gets playtime and attention, and she gets a snoozing mabari who won't disrupt the peace of the library. She's in no rush, though; quality time with her beloved mabari companion is always savored.

Upon spotting Baldewin and Puppy, Garahel rushes forward to greet them. He barks happily, then sets about to licking them both, young mabari and young prince alike. Ever since Inessa's trip to the Anderfels, Garahel has been protective of the young one they brought back. Inessa can't blame him there, as she's felt the same way, just without the slobbering. Approaching, she smiles warmly at Baldewin and waves. She'll check on him as his pictures after Garahel calms down a bit.

Turning to Cullen, she smiles. "I was just going to wear out Garahel with some fetch time, but this will do nicely. Perhaps the two of them will manage it for me instead."

[lionheartedman]

The sounds made by the trio of mabari and royalty increase drastically in volume, but stay happy, and Cullen is content to let them all wear each other out.

He chuckles, and shakes his head. "Can you believe we were all once that small and thrilled with the world?" It does his heart good to see it. It's his proof. He may not be entirely certain what its proof of, but it's his proof all the same. "Maybe Garahel will give Puppy a fighting chance. I've never seen a child with so much energy. Did you know that mabari snore? I didn't. Not until him. Now Puppy sleeps like a boulder." A noisy boulder, but a boulder.

[circleprodigy]

That gets Inessa to laugh softly. "Oh, I learned that early on, when mine was just a pup. It took some adjustment, but now I find that sound comforting. It would be stranger not to hear it." Now, it's just white noise that lets her know it's alright to let down her guard and rest. If Garahel thinks there's no danger, there isn't.

Eyes on Baldewin, she smiles softly. "I was that age when taken to the Circle. The Templar assigned to bring me there realized I had nothing but the clothes on my back, so when we stopped for supplies, he bought me this large, plush mabari with a red ribbon around its neck. I was so impressed by it, that I had to show everyone when I arrived."

hot springs - day

[aceso]

Cullen isn't the only one with a very dirty charge. Christine is sitting on the edge of the spring with a towel spread across her lap and a wriggling, well, thing in her lap. Some might thing it a half-drowned rat, but it is, in fact, a dog. Just a very different dog from Puppy.

"How? How?" she laments and she scrubs a hand over his wriggling form. "I swear, if this dries and I have to cut off your fur, I will-- Commander!" Christine's gaze has obviously been captured by the entry of Cullen, his dog, and the boy. The little dog in her lap redoubles his efforts to break free and starts barking too. Private bath time, humans! Beat it!

[lionheartedman]

"Puppy!" The prince is thrilled by the sight of a brand new dog, even if it is small and dirty, and goes toddling over. He's got mud in his hair and caked along half his clothing, but he's happy. He sits down by Christine and waves at the dog. "Hi, puppy." Then he looks up at Christine. "Did you know that some dogs are brown but some dogs are other colours?" He puts a hand on Puppy's head when the mabari lays it down on his paws near the boy's hip. "This one is blue but that really just means grey and his name is Puppy and he is a puppy." He laughs like that's just the best thing in the whole world. "What's your name?"

[aceso]

The dog in Christine's lap barks even more at the intruders and she holds him tight so he doesn't try to nip at the child. She isn't sure whether or not he would, but it's best to not take chances. Her gaze moves from the boy to Cullen, then back to the child again. She has no idea who this is or why the Commander is with him, but he's sweet enough and obviously here to get cleaned up himself.

"Yes, I have seen dogs in several colors," she replies, continuing to hold down her dog. "I am Christine, and this is Ponce. He is not very friendly, I am afraid. What is your name?"

courtyards

[lettersfromhome]

She's heard that her brother's found himself caring for the young prince and this? Is something she simply must see for herself.

Breaking away from the routine, she lets herself venture to the courtyards a little early, and unsurprisingly Cullen has still found a way to bring his work with him. Mabari make wonderful nursemaids, it's true, but honestly.

Lifting an eyebrow at her brother and tutting quietly, Mia makes her way forward, making sure to stop and smile at the prince if he pauses in his games long enough to notice that they have a visitor.

[lionheartedman]

Look, the Inquisition does not stop needing its Commander just because his responsibilities expand. He has to multi-task. This is what his life is.

The prince does indeed notice the visitor, and waves enthusiastically at Mia, perhaps pouting momentarily when she does not stop to talk to him, but instead continues on to Cullen. No matter. He will come to meet her when he's finished making his present for Puppy. Right now, he is very intent on his project, paint spattering the ground around him, because outside is the only place Cullen allows him to use such strong and permanent pigments.

"Before you say anything, he's had a bath within the last day, and he's wearing two layers of long underwear." Because clearly those could be Mia's only possible concerns. "How have you been?"

[lettersfromhome]

"Quite well," she manages in an amused tone, because Cullen has apparently already racked his brain for any criticisms she might have in taking care of the young man. Which is well and good, as starting points go, but hardly an end to whatever conversation might be had. "I see he has a stalwart companion keeping a close eye on him while you cannot."

Not that she disapproves of the mabari taking up babysitting duty. Not at all. The child could hardly be in safer hands. Paws, as the case may be.

[inagutterson]

Usually Yngvi does his work in the Undercroft because that's where the components are, and the anvil, and an unwilling captive audience for him to inflict himself on. But sometimes you need the fresh air and he hasn't bothered sorting his little keg out until now, so he has a hammer, four nugs as audience, and seems intent on making a racket. Business as usual anyone might tell you when it comes to this one.

Of course, nugs being nugs, they eventually smell a predator and leap into the keg, which tips over because of how Yngvi's got it balanced precariously to smooth out some of the damage sustained during his flight from the Vauquelin estate then the journey to Skyhold.

His scream is very much like a Chantry maiden suddenly spying an uncouth dwarf. (He'd know, he's been the dwarf in that scenario. Has also played the Chantry maiden to upset some others once or twice, classic times.) There's an aggrieved yelp when Stroganugg who is clearly the hardiest nug this side of his giant kin hops a little closer to squeak outrage on behalf of the dwarf who can only mutter one thing.

"Bloody doglords."

[lionheartedman]

The bloody doglord, in this case, is three years old and seated on the back of a six month old mabari puppy who's already built like a boulder and has long since tipped the scales past 100 pounds. "Puppy didn't do anything," Bladewin insists, slipping off his perch to wrap his arms protectively around the animal's thick neck.

[inagutterson]

The nugs continue to squeak their annoyance until Yngvi can get himself out from under the keg he arrived in, tipping it back the right way with himself in it. All that can be seen of the nugs are their ears, twitching and alert for any hint that the hound might move as their pink bodies wiggle closer to Yngvi inside the keg. Guess what, they have very sharp little nails on the ends of their hand-feets.

"That," he says with all the dignity he can muster which is more than you'd think, but less than you'd hope as he glances over for some adult who was the doglord he'd been addressing because you aren't a doglord proper when Yngvi could still unhinge his jaw and take a good shot at devouring you whole pipsqueak, simmer down, "is not a puppy. Read a book."

Yngvi when did you last read something that wasn't a letter from the Boneflayers, the family or a dirty limerick, really.

daytime hotsprings

[anacardiaceae]

At some point, Puppy manages to run off with a washcloth and a half dirty small child that Pamelia hasn't seen before goes tearing off after him, nearly slipping on the damp rocks; Pam isn't much taller but she does manage to scoop the boy up before he rushes headlong into literally hot water.

"Whoops!" Setting him down on his feet, she ruffles the little boy's hair. "Hello, there."

[lionheartedman]

"Hello I'm Baldewin it's a pleasure to make your 'quaintance." Even covered in mud and honey and wearing only his smallclothes, the little prince places his forearm against his abdomen and bends shallowly to Pam. Manners are always important.

The dog has not stopped running, and has just jumped into the literally hot water, expecting to be followed. This is how they get the child clean, after all. Liberal application of water and soap. He has a soapy cloth. He has the water. Now all he needs is the child. His solid body hitting the surface sends up a massive splash, getting everything within a few feet of the lip of the spring wet. Baldewin laughs and wipes hair out of his face, scurrying to the edge of the pool to make the attempt at climbing in. "Come on! We have to catch him."

late night hot springs

[provenforce]

Rey still hasn't learned her lesson that it doesn't matter what time of day she bathes someone will inevitably show up. For her own comfort at least, she's started wearing her underthings even while bathing. Not a perfect situation, but as long as she's enjoying a hot bath she'll endure.

When Cullen arrives at the hot springs he'll find he isn't the only one there, and she looks up from where she's sitting scrubbing grime from her arms, looking a little like a spooked deer.

"I'm almost done," she blurts out, still not really sure what the protocol in this situation is. She's a little perpetually awkward with other people.

[lionheartedman]

"All right," he says slowly, not sure why she's telling him, but nodding anyway. "That's... good?" It's good, right?

Cullen stops near the edge of the water, sitting on a stone to tug off his boots, and then pull his tunic off over his head. While he's gotten in the habit of keeping cloth trousers on when he comes with Baldewin during the day, just in case the little boy decides to make a run for it and he has to give chase, it's not a very comfortable way to bathe. He hasn't had a problem sharing the facilities with anyone yet, and everyone goes in in their smalls. He's no exception.

He slips into the water, sighing happily at the warmth and just leaning back against the heated rocks for a moment, letting them sap some of the tension from his muscles.