[Closed] Everything is a privilege

[happiertimes]

who: Cullen Rutherford, Dorian Pavus, Relm Hawke and etc
what: Checking on the electrical fences (Re: this post)
when: 9/3 - 9/12
where: Southern Fence of the Quarantine
warnings: language, violence, Thedosians?

A few days after asking if anyone else wanted to go with him to the Southern Quandrant to check on the electric fencing that keeps the Quarantine safe from the wildlife, he has assembled the group that has agreed to come with him. It's not about running away from the Dragosta festivities so much as it is getting away from the crowds of the Quarantine during these particular holidays.

At least for him it is.

Comments

[Closed to Iona Lavellan] 9/3

[happiertimes]

[It's been getting harder and harder to ignore the very deep ache he's been experiencing lately. It's nothing new. It's just been intense since Carnivale. It's only his very tightly held control that's kept things as calm as they have been in regards to him.

However, yet another holiday with festivals is too much for him and he's had it. Too little sleep plus pain and a lack of appetite are taking their toll and he's ready to leave the city, even for a little bit. There's no Cassandra here to watch him if he slips and while he doesn't have quite as many duties as he did in Skyhold, he'd rather not have to deal with so many people around if he can help it.

After making a request to the populace in general and his fellow Thedosians in particular, his restlessness hits new heights. Their day of departure cannot come too soon and he knows it. Yet another sleepless night has proven that the quicker he is out of the city proper, the better off he'll be. If only for a while. As the temperature drops off to cooler levels, he finds himself able to sleep a bit more.

Except visions of horrors past are never far behind.

On the day that the group is set to leave, Cullen sits straight up in bed after a shout, heart racing, fear-laced sweat pouring all over his bare skin, head pounding.]

Sweet Andraste, help me.

[stumbledfromtheashes]

[They share a bed as often as they don’t, anymore, but even if they didn’t, Iona would have to be blind to miss that something is very much bothering Cullen. She suspects she knows what it is, but she doesn’t press him, doesn’t push him to talk or anything like that. She just... keeps him company when he allows it, is there should he want to talk. Should he need to.

The day they’re supposed to leave, she’s startled awake by sudden movement to her right, as Cullen lets out a shout and sits upright, and she’s barely awake herself before she’s moving closer to him, reaching out to gently touch his arm.]

Cullen.

[happiertimes]

[Normally, sharing a bed with Iona has been a pleasure. However, there are moments, like now, where being touched and seen to be struggling as he does that are more stressful than he could even formulate with words.

Except, he's seen her injured and low and thinks no less of her for that than she does of him. Logically, he knows this. It's just his pride. He knows it. And yet it's still difficult for him.

There's no position of Commander to put aside in case he screws up here because of what he's going through. No, there is only the chance to royally screw up things with a woman he adores if he's not careful. So, when she touches his arm, instead of pulling away as he would normally, he runs his other hand down his face to try and get himself together before speaking.]

Nightmare. [Kirkwall this time, but same difference in the end.] Sorry to wake you.

[stumbledfromtheashes]

[She sighs, softly. He tries so hard to make what he goes through less than what it is, tries to make it smaller, unimportant. Hates that she sees him struggling. There’s nothing that could drive her away, could make her think less of him. And while she suspects (she hopes) he’s aware of that, logically... sometimes it just doesn’t matter.]

There’s nothing to apologise for. I would rather be awake, with you, than asleep and unaware you’re dealing with nightmares.

I’m not going anywhere, Cullen. I swear it.

[happiertimes]

[He is aware that she is as stubborn as he is and they've bumped heads on more than one occasion, though never for very long. Also, he knows, somewhere, that she wouldn't leave him or demean him for the constant nightmares that he has. In fact, if anything, they've been less intense with her around and he's absolutely fine with that.

But he's so tired of the constant nature of things. For a while, it had been easy to forget about Thedas and the troubles there, but the longer he goes without taking lyrium, the harder persevering can be. Except, the Inquisitor he knew and the one he knows here have both expressed a desire to support his initial decision to go without the damn stuff, to make a break from the Chantry as best he can going forward.

He also knows that now that they're both awake, it's going to take a miracle for them to return to sleep. It's why he leans over to kiss her on the forehead before he leans against the headboard in the hopes that she'll curl up beside him as she's normally wont.]

I know, but that doesn't mean I like the fact that I'm disturbing your sleep. [Especially since she has her own nightmares to contend with.] It means I miss out on the faces you make.

[stumbledfromtheashes]

[He kisses her on the forehead and she smiles, before shifting to curl up beside him against the headboard.]

My sleep is disturbable. I would rather be awake with you. [He is far more important than sleep.] So that’s what you do when you can’t sleep and I’m not yet awake? Watch me sleep? [She laughs softly and kisses his cheek.] I’m glad the faces I make are entertaining, at least.

Travelling

[happiertimes]

[Even though it's not as far to go by as some of the other areas, it does still take some time to reach the fence.

Especially since the southern part isn't as populated as the Quarantine's center.]

OTA

[indigobird]

[Sigh. It's just not a fun trek without someone around complaining about nature or jabs being exchanged between friends (or "friends" at least). It's too quiet, even with the bouts of idle chatter that pick up now and again. Sure, they could be focused and watching the area around them and all that crap, but where's the fun in that?]

So. Who's up for a game of "I, Spy?"

[tevinteraltus]

[Dorian rarely complained about travel, unless it was particularly cold. The Quarantine, though, was rather pleasant most of the time and, considering he was so often trapped in a day-to-day tedium, this was a welcome reprieve.

Oh, and research. Always such a lovely addendum.

He does groan audibly at her Relm's suggestion, though.]

Really, Hawke? Must we?

[indigobird]

What, do you want to meander about in absolute silence the whole time? There are only so many conversations a person can have.

[It's fun! It passes the time! It drives people crazy! What's not to love about it?]

[tevinteraltus]

Then by all means, Hawke, let us have a conversation about anything other than some banal observation game.

[He taps his chin thoughtfully for a moment.]

What went through your mind as you faced the Arishok in single combat?

[indigobird]

Oh, fine, if you want to be boring about it.

[Aaaand then he asks that question, and her smile falls. Ugh. Well, at least he didn't ask about the Chantry explosion. That would earn him a glare and a Stone Fist. She supposes her fighting the Arishok should be her most glorious moment. And in a way, it was, but after everything that's happened, and everything that led to that duel, it's hard to think of it that way. Being Champion was an honor, blah blah blah, but with all the responsibilities and blame she bore with it, the glamor wore off rather quickly and she grew to rather resent the title.

She snorts.]

"I really hope I don't die."

[stumbledfromtheashes]

[Iona arches an eyebrow, a hint of an amused smile on her face.]

... I think it would be a terribly short game, given our current surroundings.

[indigobird]

On the contrary. We're surrounded by trees and rocks and other nature-y things. If I spy a rock, well, you'll be trying to guess which one for quite awhile, wouldn't you?

[stumbledfromtheashes]

[She smirks.]

If I bother trying to guess the exact rock in the first place.

Setting up camp

[happiertimes]

[They'll be there for a while, so maybe someone was smart enough to bring camping gear or food to make?]

OTA

[tevinteraltus]

[Someone was smart enough, and it was the least likely attendee to this little mission. Dorian had spent weeks in the southern Hinterlands of Ferelden, alone, fending for himself, seeking his own shelter and feeding himself, though. Shelter was important, but that didn't mean he was going to set this enter affair up on his own.]

All who wish to sleep sheltered from the rains would do well to help me pitch this tent.

[stumbledfromtheashes]

And here I thought I'd make you do all the work.

[Iona grins at him as she comes over to help him start pitching the tent.]

[tevinteraltus]

Typical.

[But if he actually believes that, he isn't showing it. Instead, there's a playful smirk on his lips as he lays out the canvas.]

Maker forbid we task the Inquisitor with such trivialities.

[stumbledfromtheashes]

[She affects a mock arch look, aiming for as imperious as she can managed. It's spoiled a little by her struggle to hide her smirk.]

Such trivialities are beneath me, you know.

[It doesn't last long and she's laughing as she helps him with the canvas.]

Fighting the wildlife

[happiertimes]

[Just as expected, the fence not working in certain places has attracted wildlife. Who's ready to fight with some beasties?]

[indigobird]

[It started out quietly enough, and Hawke had begun to wonder if maybe they'd get through this without attracting any feral attention. Of course, that would make things far more boring than she wanted, but still, she won't poo-poo the lack of trouble.

But of course that wasn't going to happen. As she leans against a wall, watching things with the fence progress, she spots movement from the tree nearby. She doesn't make a move towards it just yet, though it now has her full attention. After a long moment of stillness, there's an unsettling growl that comes from that direction. Now Hawke's straightening up and swinging out her staff.]

We have company.

[happiertimes]

[The lack of any chance to fight has actually been irritating Cullen quite a bit. He'd gotten this particular mission for the hopes that he'd run into some sort of action. While the others might have been able to at least fake the appearance of relaxation, he's found it impossible to do so.

So, when Hawke's voice rings out that the have company, he all but sighs in relief as he slides his sword from the sheath at his hip.]

I hope you've remembered your sidearm as well.

[Maker, this is the least irritated he's sounded in weeks, outside of certain moments.]

[indigobird]

[Okay, for that, Cullen, you're getting a "are you seriously kidding me right now?? DO YOU NOT REMEMBER WHAT I AM" look from Hawke. Because really. Hello?]

Those things are awkward and cumbersome. Besides, I don't need a sidearm. I'm always armed.

[Remember? It's why people locked mages up in those Circles.

Before Hawke can make any further quips and irritate the poor commander more, the creature leaps from the tree. It's a powerful jumper, as with that leap it crosses about half the distance between it and the team. Upon landing, the creature reveals itself to be some monstrous crossover of a big cat and a... squirrel? Why yes, that's a bushy tail associated with squirrels, along with the more pointed, tufted ears and the buck teeth. It'd almost be laughable, if it weren't for the claws and menacing growl.

As a warning and deterrent, Hawke hits it with a jolt of lightning. The monster hisses and darts back, but it doesn't run. Well, it doesn't run away. Rather, the move just pisses it off, and the monster charges straight at them.]

[happiertimes]

[That's a look he's going to ignore because there's no point in acknowledging it.]

And yet it's required hardware for all members of the Guard to carry when on missions or patrol.

[Of course, Hawke has no idea what his view on the Circles or the Chantry or the Order are anymore and he has no intention of going over those views unless she makes a big deal out of it. But, Kirkwall, as everyone knows, was an unmitigated disaster and he plans to never have it repeat ever again so long as he has breath in his lungs.

Also, not the point.

And being from a country with the most aggressive wildlife, Cullen is quick to get between the mage and the creature. He's grateful that he has his shield up when Hawke zaps it and then he's nearly face-to-face with an angry cat-squirrel.]

Not as big as the bears in the Hinterlands or Emprise du Lion.

[It's true, but now that he has something to do, he's almost lighter. He moves faster than he has outside of practice, sword poised beside his ear to strike down the moment the beast bounces off of his shield with its face.]