riverviewlogs | Merry Month of March

who: Cullen Rutherford and You?
what: March Catch-all
when: The month of March
where: The Wall, the city, miscellaneous
warnings: Nothing so much

Cullen is a creature of habit. He works as a member of the Perimeter Guard because it is something he's used to doing. He's even gone for a more specialized team because he doesn't do well with just waiting around for things to happen. A part of him needs to be out on the front lines again, after so long of waiting back in Skyhold on Thedas.

He goes from the barracks to his patrol area to the barracks most days. (After one very embarrassing digression into the part of the town that is holding most of the strange celebration that he'd rather not discuss, he takes extra care when traveling through the city.)

He makes a few digressions from his pattern, of course. He's promised to meet a certain young lady for drinks at the Quarantine Bar and Grille.

There is the day where decides to explore the inner city as a day off and wanders into the Sampremi celebration, pulled in by all the sounds and colors of the raves. (He'd rather not talk about that, but feel free to find him there.)

After that, he stays away from that particular part of the city and spends more time searching other parts. Shopping happens, of course, but he does end up at the beachy shores of the river a few times, face drawn and pensive each time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hiding a grimace of distaste at a rather vulgar display involving three women and a man, Cullen turns to see the speaker.

"It's different. I've heard of orgies before, but I never really expected to walk into one."

It's not something that happens in Ferelden or the Free Marches. It's an Orlesian or Tevene sort of extravagance that is rather off-putting to his practical outlook.

"And never on this scale."

Steve isn't looking too closely at the more intimate displays, so he understands Cullen's discomfort even though it's probably not quite the same for him. He's more quiet simply because he doesn't feel the need to participate, not because he is put off by the revelries. Then again, he's been in Quarantine for over half a year and has seen enough from the locals that he's started to accept that these people just like to party.

The assessment does make him hum in agreement, though. It's close enough to an orgy that he can see the comparison.

"They take their celebrations seriously. Did you want to head somewhere quieter? The food stalls are more open and don't have this much activity."

For someone who lived a long time in one Circle and another, Cullen shouldn't be quite so off put by the displays. But then again, mages and templars were discouraged from fraternizing with each other. Honestly, if it wasn't so out in the open, he might not be so put off. He likes the facade of privacy, to be honest.

"I hope that not all celebrations are like that. They skipped that in the orientation conversation. Of course, they also glazed over the fact that we might not be alone in the Quarantine."

He raises an eyebrow in mild surprise. "It seems you've scouted more area than I have at this time. Lead the way."

Steve has had time to get used to the strangely open nature of the city and he still doesn't feel completely comfortable with the idea of being that close to strangers. He appreciates the friendliness of the place, but there are limits to how much he's willing to participate himself.

"They're not all like this. This one is particularly focused on, uh, romance."

He hesitates on the word, wondering if this is really romantic. It does make people happy, though. That much seems fine.

"Apparently there have been people here a long time. This is what is left of a civilization that used to be bigger. They had a war a while back and nearly lost everyone. And those of us brought in are just experiencing part of the technology they used to use for dimensional travel."

Steve leads as he talks, walking Cullen away from the louder streets to the stalls that offer tamer fare. Some festive snacks and a quiet place to rest when people have had enough revelry for a time.

"I've been here a while. You get used to it."

"Sex and romance are two different things."

He's no blushing virgin, and he knows the difference. Still, that doesn't mean he wants to be privy to what others do in their sex lives. It should be personal, not exhibited like this.

"I remember hearing something about the civilization of this reality during the briefing session when I arrived." He heard a lot about a lot of things, but he's more than willing to let the other man talk if he wishes. He's found it's easier to gleam more details if he keeps his thoughts to himself. Some people have to fill in the gaps of silence. "There's a lot that you can get used to, but I doubt that that is something I'll want to get acclimated with."

He looks at his new acquaintance but doesn't offer a hand. "Cullen Rutherford, and you are?"

The dry response makes Steve clear his throat uncomfortably. He was looking for a better way to say it; to get around the discomfort, but since they're laying the terms out that bluntly he's stuck between trying to be polite and wanting to be honest. Cullen is right, of course, and the place gets wilder than what he's used to seeing in public at home, but in an effort to get along, he's trying to be polite. Steve scratches the back of his head with one hand.

"I'm sure some of them think it's romantic." He tries that as a compromise. "Either way, the food stands are quieter. Less forward with strangers."

He's been trying new things, venturing gradually into the festival entertainment because it's friendly and new and Steve doesn't mind learning. He wonders how much the place is putting Cullen off outside of the raves, but he doesn't ask.

"Steve Rogers. Nice to meet you." He gives the man a questioning look, both because he didn't offer to shake hands and because he's not sure that feeling is reciprocated.

Cullen huffs out a short laugh. "I'm sure they do." He's seen what some of the mages and templars had let pass as 'romance' in the Circles. Some things never change. "But the food area sounds a bit better suited to my tastes."

He will eventually travel outside of his comfort zone, but not quite so soon. Now that he's away from the worst of things, the line of tension he'd been carrying smooths out and he offers his hand to Steve.

"It's nice to meet you as well. I apologize if I seem terse. I've been told that I could stand to relax more in unusual situations."

The tension carries over slightly until they are safely outside of the loud music and flashing lights, and then Cullen seems to find his comfort zone again. He might not be happy with the festival, but at least he seems to warm up to Steve. He smiles, taking the hand of the ex-Templar with a firm handshake that conveys relief as much as it does friendship.

"It's all right. I know those places are... different. I've found them to be mostly harmless, but I can't say I spend much time in them either."

Romance is still something Steve is getting used to on its own. He's not going to flaunt and flirt with a bunch of strangers. He's much more comfortable on the field. Still, what he can do is offer Cullen something to eat. The stands are quieter and give them more room to breathe.

"Where are you from? The portal brings in people from places I've never heard of."

The handshake is solid but not crushing. Something that Cullen can respect. Especially when this particular area of the city seems to be quiet and focused more on foods. Of course, the fact that some of them are talking about aphrodisiacal qualities of certain dishes is something that he is specifically choosing to ignore.

That is perhaps the last thing on Cullen's mind at this point.

"My world is called Thedas. It's vastly different from some parts of what I've seen in the Quarantine, but some areas, like by the river, seem rather reminiscent of parts of the countrysides I've seen."

Steve has picked through the different food stalls before and while he's come to accept that the festivals tend to have some more mature themes to even their food, he hasn't come across any real issues. And there are plenty of things to eat that aren't pandering to the idea of sexual escapades.

"If it looks like the river, it must be beautiful. What do you do in Thedas? Are you like one of the Guard here?"

Cullen isn't afraid to try the newer foods and he ignores the finer details. He doesn't care. He needs to try these things. Besides, having no lover means the erotic points are lost on him.

"Thedas is varied, certainly, but I'm biased that my homeland was very pretty." Before the Blight. "My position back home was actually leader of a huge military unit."

Merry Month of March

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