freedom_is_grey: (Cloak from behind)
Ysalwen Surana, Warden-Commander of Ferelden ([personal profile] freedom_is_grey) wrote2016-02-20 10:01 pm

walking down the trousers of time

Ysalwen is standing by the fireplace, cloak in hand, half-turning to go out the back door and then turning back, scanning the crowd as if looking for something.

Or someone.

Liranan, too, is practically vibrating in place.

Taking cues from your person can be a difficult thing to bear, for a mabari.

He cannot make this better!
howtoactfereldan: (hymns of praise unending)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
Sometimes taking cues from your person is a pleasant task, as it is for Ci; Cullen is tired, but in good spirits as he and the smaller dog enter. Ci appears to be fighting the urge to dance around in circles, tripping him up. Good dogs trot alongside until told to do something else! And Ci tries very hard to be good.

(Except when chewing on boots. Chewing on boots is worth the guilt trip.)

"We're not here long," he warns her as they head for the bar. "Long enough to get something edible for both of us, and then we must go back."

...after he lets her race out back. Kirkwall is not the best place for a growing mabari.
howtoactfereldan: (judge me whole)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
Ci barks, high-pitched, before flopping down on both front paws in front of Liranan.

"Hush," Cullen says absently, "inside voice. -- Ysalwen? Are you -- is everything...?"
howtoactfereldan: (blessed are the peacekeepers)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
Cullen opens his mouth -- and closes it.

It's Cassandra. Has to be. Unless -- did someone else find the door in the Viscount's Keep -- ?

Regardless, there's little point in getting into it until she's feeling

(safer, his hindbrain whispers)

comfortable. He nods, straightening, and gestures out to the lake. "We can walk around outside, if you'd like. I think between us and two mabari we'll be well aware of anyone who might approach."
howtoactfereldan: (though the darkness comes upon me)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
"I know," he says, just a touch wry as he opens the door for her.

(Of course, Ci bolts out first.)

"That's... what they do."

It is difficult to resist the urge to tell her to put on her cloak. He suspects fussing wouldn't be welcome.
howtoactfereldan: (though the darkness comes upon me)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
"In general," he says, hastily. "I've encountered them before. But this one -- is her name Cassandra Pentaghast?"
howtoactfereldan: (the least of his children)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
Cullen lets out a breath. "I -- well. There's... news. A great deal of it."

He looks out at the lake for a moment, and starts walking. It'll be easier if he's moving. "She's -- the Right Hand of the Divine. And she and the Left Hand have come to Kirkwall. I thought this would be -- " He shakes his head. "Too much information. It's not an Exalted March, Hightown doesn't have any new heads on pikes -- and that includes mine, and the mages with us -- but yes. She... came here from the Kirkwall I know. And is trying to terrify her way through yet another interrogation, I have no doubt. But I don't know how worried you need to be. Not at all? I hope?"
howtoactfereldan: (the least of his children)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
Cullen shakes his head. "No. She did her research. She -- knows. About Kinloch. -- why would she accuse you of being a liar?"
howtoactfereldan: (blessed are the peacekeepers)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
"No!" Startled. "No, she -- rather the opposite, in fact." But he's distracted by something else she said. "She's not -- she doesn't have ideas about -- Circles? You'd tell me if she did? I don't -- "

There is no way saying this isn't going to be mortifying. Cullen stops, rubs his hands over his face, lets them drop.

And says, low, furious (because really, fuck it): "I will do everything I can to make sure she does nothing to you. Your freedom over everything else, every time. You have my word. And my sword, should it come to it."
howtoactfereldan: (the least of his children)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
Which means that Cullen is left standing by himself. Which is... awkward.

He clears his throat, folds his arms, looks at the ground. Not at her, though.

Low:

"I -- of course you have reason not to be sure. That's, that's why I said it. It needs to be said."

Because if Ysalwen thinks he makes bad choices now, wait until she hears the rest of it!
howtoactfereldan: (fire at the heart of the world)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
He's shaking his head a little. "You should be suspicious of me. It's -- it's healthy. I'm... what I am, by my own choice."

Which is the crucial part, isn't it. His choice.

"What binds me is my word. Which I've given you. So -- that much, at least, you don't have to worry about."
howtoactfereldan: (the least of his children)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
Cullen's arms stay folded, even as he walks.

(Ci stays close by his side. She might be young, but she's not stupid. She can tell when he's --

Well.)

"She troubled you," he says. "Was that -- the only thing?"
howtoactfereldan: (they shall be named Maleficar)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 04:44 am (UTC)(link)









Cullen's silence might be answer enough.
howtoactfereldan: (they shall be named Maleficar)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan 2016-02-21 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Are you asking me."

Cullen's voice is soft, tired.

"It's -- it's not senseless. There's logic. If you want to know, truly -- I'll tell you."

Maker damn Cassandra.

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 04:54 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 05:01 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 05:23 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 05:37 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 05:58 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 06:06 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 06:20 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 06:25 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 06:31 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 06:40 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 06:47 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 06:53 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 07:01 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 07:17 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-21 07:24 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-23 01:19 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-23 01:37 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-23 01:54 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-23 02:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-23 02:12 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-23 02:27 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-24 03:49 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-24 04:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-24 04:16 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-24 17:43 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-24 18:12 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-24 18:30 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-24 23:16 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 00:59 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 01:16 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 01:28 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 01:34 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 01:42 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 01:56 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 02:09 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 02:25 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 02:38 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 02:53 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 03:11 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 03:18 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 03:23 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 03:32 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-25 03:40 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 01:21 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 01:44 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 01:51 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 02:39 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 03:00 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 03:14 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 03:30 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 03:35 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 03:40 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 03:48 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 03:52 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 03:57 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 04:07 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 04:22 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 04:29 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-26 04:35 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-27 02:37 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-27 02:51 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-27 03:00 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] howtoactfereldan - 2016-02-27 03:04 (UTC) - Expand