faderift | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

Edited 2016-10-18 04:09 (UTC)

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?"

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.

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."

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!

"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."

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.

"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?"

"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.

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.

"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?"

Cullen inclines his head at Ciri. "Warden." His face is probably different to her, too. More open, more joyful, even if he does look even more exhausted than usual. Becoming the child's protector may not have been his intention, but he can't say he regrets it. This is the life a young boy should have. This is the joy every child should be allowed to experience.

Baldewin wraps his little arms around Ciri's neck and holds on even for a few moments after she's set him on his feet. He's missed her. "Yes and I'm helping because I can answer the door and I can stack files and I can take Puppy on walks when he needs to go and I watch him and make sure he doesn't get lost." Which is sort of true. He does watch the mabari, though Puppy is the one tasked with seeing that the young prince doesn't get lost. Still, no reason to tell the child that. He likes helping. He likes being useful. He likes being a part of something. Cullen gets the distinct impression that he wasn't much more than ornamentation for the first three years of his life.

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?"

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."

"I'm Baldewin. It's a pleasure to make your 'quaintance. Ponce is a funny name. Is he going to get bigger? Why is he not friendly? Is he mad? Is he sad?" The little boy's free hand is twitching with the desire to pet the new dog, even if it doesn't seem friendly, and his bottom lip is sticking out a little in thought.

Cullen, meanwhile, is using the distraction Christine is providing to set up the cloths and soap and strip out of his boots and shirt. Though he does look at the messy little dog in her lap, raise his eyebrows in a questioning manner, and wait to see if she'll explain him.

Ciri happy to hug him close again for those few more moments before planting a small kiss atop his head. Kneeling, she listens intently and continues smiling widely. It is good that he's doing well here despite some of her fears. It had been a risk to take him away but she knew, they all knew, they could not leave him in that place a moment longer.

Here, he could grow and without greedy hands trying to fight over him due to his position to the now empty throne in the Anderfels.

"My, my. You certainly are growing fast and I imagine the Commander is very grateful for all the help you've offered." She grins at Cullen just a bit, grateful herself. "Did you know I decorated my and Nessa's space with your drawings? They add just the splash of color we needed."

"I wonder... if I could find someone to make him a soft toy that looks like Puppy." He doesn't enjoy thinking about when the child will leave, but of course he must. He can't stay here forever. Cullen is no kind of father figure. He just happens to be the best they have at the moment.

He watches the three of them tumble around in the grass and dried leaves, the young boy running back and forth between the two large dogs, being almost herded by them. They don't play gently, exactly, but they are also quick to grab at his clothes or nudge him in ways that keep him from hitting the ground too hard. Not gentle, no, but they're watching over him.

The fact that Baldewin is eager to help is more of a relief to Cullen than the actual help. He's not beaten by what's happened to him. Sad, sometimes, and often confused, but not beaten. He's a brave boy, and resilient.

"Do you need more?" he asks, face lighting up. "Cullen gave me my own desk and it's-- I have a corner, and the desk is only little for me--" He holds his arms out about two feet apart. "But I get a shelf too for all my things and my chalks and paints and I have-- I get to use all the leftover papers and -- and some of them are long cause they come all rolled up and I drew the-- the all the Anderfels and Commander Cullen hung it up behind his desk cause he said it's so good."

Baldewin certainly gets plenty of nuzzles and licks from Garahel, happy to have someone who appreciates his slobbery affection. Inessa nods encouragingly at the idea. "It's worth attempting. He had to leave so much behind, after all. If I still had that mabari, I would let him keep it. But, I had to leave it behind."

She hadn't wanted to, at all, but there's no way the plush toy could come with her and remain unscathed, given her path. Best that it remain in the tower until she can return there sometime. "It's still difficult to believe that anything good came of that trek to the Anderfels. The entire area was a mess...but because of him, I don't regret going. Has the Inquisition decided what to do about him?"

Her fond, worried tone indicates she's more focused on the fact that he's a young boy and less that he's heir to the Anderfels. That can wait...and by necessity, must anyway

Christine is a little overwhelmed by all the questions, but she always rises to a challenge and this is no exception. She waits until he's done to answer all his questions at once.

"It is an Orlesian name. He is full grown already. Some dog breeds are very small. And he is... not used to people. He lived with my mother for several years and never went out past the back garden. The world is very big and scary for him right now. It is hard for him to be sure people are friendly." She tempers her words with a gentle smile. "I do not want him to nip at your hand, but perhaps with time he will be more friendly."

She doesn't pay the Commander much attention as she explains all this because she's so focused on keeping Ponce from lashing out. But when she's done with her explanation and does glance over at him (Shirtless? Well that's a treat), she takes note of his questioning look and sighs.

"He ran off and straight through the stonemason's fresh mortar that was laid out to repair a wall. I need to get it out before it dries." And she has no idea how to make it up to Gatsi. The dwarf did not seem very forgiving.

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.

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."

"More or less." Cullen sighs, and then spreads his arms slightly to encompass himself. "You're looking at it. We can't send him away, not with all the areas under our influence being so unstable. If something happens to him... Right now, this is the safest place for him to be, and he needs someone who can watch over him. Protect him." While Cullen thinks he's a piss poor father figure, he's one hell of a protector. Between him and Puppy, anyone looking to get to Baldewin will die trying.

Cullen laughs. It's a snorty awkward sound, because he's surprised, and the combination of that and the look of the little dog covered in gunk has Baldewin giggling, too. He leans away from the dog he can't pet, and wraps his arms around Puppy's neck. "The world can be scary," he agrees. "I'm from a long way away. I came here in a wagon. It was bumpy and it smelled funny. The people here are nice. They'll take care of you, Ponce."

Looking between Christine, Baldewin, and the tiny filthy dog, Cullen sighs, and slips into the water. He's wearing cloth trousers because he expected to be splashed, and he didn't want to be uncomfortable if he got wet. So technically, this probably falls under that umbrella. "Give him here," he says to Christine, holding out his hands for the little dog. "I don't mind if he bites me. You watch the boy, all right?"

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?"

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 3

(no subject)

courtyards

Office

courtyards

Courtyard

hot springs - day

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

courtyards

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject