{ CLOSED }

[aceso]

WHO: Christine, Cullen, (Baldewin?) and their dogs
WHAT: Puppy play date because the dark future is terrible and the present should be filled with cute stuff.
WHEN: late Guardian
WHERE: Skyhold

Though Christine would deny it (if only to keep up appearances), her mother's dog has grown on her over these last few months, and she doesn't see him as quite the burden she once had. Training him out of bad habits hasn't been easy, but with Fereldans coming out of the stonework here, she has been given plenty of tips on how to make little Ponce behave. And now the papillion fancies himself to be as big as a mabari, standing guard of his mistress and growling at any who his mistress hasn't given her approval of yet. Mostly it amuses passersby, and he's often called a yapper or ankle biter.

Today he runs ahead of Christine without a leash, but he listens if she tells him to heel. She watches carefully as Ponce catches Puppy's scent and rushes ahead to barrel into the giant, play growling and nipping at him. Christine follows, nodding hello to the Commander.

"I do believe Ponce is ready to burn off all this excess energy."

Comments

[lionheartedman]

He has some pull, and he intends to use it, writing her list on the back of a message that he won't need past tomorrow. This is a priority. "This is all you need? And you have enough help? Enough space?" He's excited. Maker help him, he's excited, and he'll take any bit of that feeling that he can get. It's rare these days.

When the dogs go tumbling past again, Cullen clicks his tongue. "Puppy. Come." Because of course they're going right now. He sweeps a hand for Christine to walk ahead of him, or at least by his side, if she'd like to join them.

[aceso]

His enthusiasm is infectious and she gives a soft laugh before her face settles into a pleased expression.

"Yes, that should do it. And I have a good amount of help. If you would like to rotate in new people, however, I will not turn them away." They both know how the lyrium sings, and how it's contributed to how long her research has taken her. Having only a short time a week to study it or run tests and then the remainder of the week off leaves plenty of wasted time, but it's necessary so no one latches on to that singing and grows obsessed with it.

She moves beside him, patting her thigh to get Ponce to follow. However, it's quite clear that the little papillion is following Puppy, and not her. C'est le vie.

"You are putting in the order now? I am very grateful to you."

[lionheartedman]

"I'm sure that can be arranged. The quicker we get this done, the better." He absolutely understands the seductive pull of the lyrium, and how difficult it is to resist. Damn near impossible, really. "Seems that counts for the order, as well. The sooner we get it in, the sooner you'll get your supplies, the sooner you can take the next step."

As far as Cullen is concerned, he's the one who should be grateful. She's found a way to take the worst thing they deal with on a daily basis, and put it to good use. It's more than he's been able to do, and he knows what an uphill battle it's been for her.

[aceso]

It does pay to have someone incredibly interested in seeing her work bear fruit. Even more so when it's someone at the top who can get things done faster than one can blink. And when one adds on the fact that Cullen has helped Christine settle into being a dog owner, it can't be denied that this is a friendship she's glad to have.

"Sooner is good. Very good. And once I have everything I need, I can work on modifying the runes for placement on stonework. We can make sure that places like Emprise du Lion never sees the red lyrium grow back again."