i.

[serves]

Who: Cullen Rutherford
Broadcast: Fleetwide video
Action: The Marsiva
When: Now.

[It's with some hesitance that Cullen even touches the console. He knows how it works (somehow), but he's not exactly comfortable with the concept of broadcasting. His lips are set in a thin, grim line for a few moments as he thinks of what to say.]

--Maker's breath, this is absurd.

[That just about sums up his thoughts right now.]

Comments

[dawnwillcome]

Not at the moment, we were assigned to different ships. You'll get one in just a few days and we'll be able to meet in person then.

[Despite the fact that there's a lot going on here with regards to people from Thedas, Jove doesn't want to overwhelm him right off the bat. Better to drop the bombs over time rather than all at once.]

But what about you, are you alright?

[serves]

I'm fine. [If not terribly disgruntled about this whole situation and partially unsure whether this is all real or not. What sort of demon would trick him into something like this, he has no idea. But the thought is there.]

I'm... relieved to see you're well. [He makes sure to say as much, but it won't feel right until she's really in front of him.]

Care to catch me up?

[dawnwillcome]

[She should have expected that, probably. He is the leader of the Inquisition's forces, of course he would want all of the information available as soon as possible. There's something grounding about that, really.]

Well, you've been brought to space as entertainment, for one thing. There seems to be some time travel in play, because Dorian remembers me but not some of the things we've done. Varric is here as well, but he doesn't know us at all, and the strangest part so far is there's a an elf here named Arhen Lavellan. I think he's supposed to be me, but... well, from another reality, I suppose. Morrigan told me there were thousands of worlds but I never expected to see her proven right quite like this.

[She's talking a little quickly by the time she gets to the end of that and she's not even covered anything yet, but she takes a breath to let all that sink in. The rest... well, the rest involves people like Anders and is far more complicated.]

[serves]

[Cullen pays apt attention, the lines in his face deepening more and more as she goes on. He's seen some shit in his life, so he's willing to be open-minded about all of this... to an extent. This could be real, this could be a trick, but what else can he do but wait and see?]

A... busy place, I take it. [He doesn't like being entertainment. Or missing memories. Or Varric not knowing Jove or Dorian, because he'll likely still know him, from a time he's not proud of, knowing his luck. And an alternate Jove--

Maker, he needs to... pace. Or something.]

[dawnwillcome]

[Poor Cullen, he's going to have the worst headache by the end of the day. Jove takes pity on him, switching to something more lighthearted to tell him about.]

You're lucky, though. You missed a big gala, complete with fancy dresses. It was almost as bad as the Winter Palace.

[serves]

[As much as he's curious about Jove in a dress, there's no denying the relief in his voice.]

Good. Less assassination attempts, I'd hope.

[dawnwillcome]

[Maybe if he asks nicely, Dorian can arrange a fashion show. They did, after all, attending in matching outfits.]

Not a single one, it was a surprisingly welcome change of pace. [And she had been trying to hold this back, but really, what's the point?] I am glad you here, though. I was worried about what might be happening in Thedas while I was gone, but you aren't on fire or telling me we have to return right away, so... I suppose time just stops, while we're away. If anyone deserves a vacation it would be you.

[serves]

I'd ask how any of this is possible, but I have a feeling that the answer won't leave me feeling any more at ease.

[Nothing good comes out of time stopping, but if it means Thedas isn't missing its Inquisitor, then--fine. He can deal with this, as he always does.]

[dawnwillcome]

It really will start to make more sense the longer you're here, I promise. It's been... around a month, I believe, for me.

[She pauses there, reconsiders a little.]

Well, maybe it would be more accurate to say you learn to go with it.

[serves]

You weren't missing at home. Believe me, if you had, someone would have noticed.

[He'd be the first.]

[dawnwillcome]

I would imagine so, someone has to volunteer to lose horribly to you at chess.

Is there anything you need, by the way? I couldn't say if we'll still be able to visit the nearby planets by Saturday and the ships we live on leave quite a lot to be desired. I can pick up a few things, just to be on the safe side.

[serves]

There's also Dorian for that.

[Templar life means making due with very little.] I think I'm fine. Saturday, then?

[All he really needs is to feel that she's real.]

[dawnwillcome]

Is that a dismissal, Commander?

[She looks incredibly amused by the idea. When has Cullen ever cut short their conversations?]

[serves]

What? No. No, of course not. [Talk to him, Jove. He needs it.] I'm just... unused to this sort of communication.

[He'd much rather have her in front of him.]

[dawnwillcome]

[It's just way too easy to tease you, Cullen. It's like there's a giant sign on you making you the perfect target.]

Think of it as communicating through messages passed by Leliana's birds, only you can see me. And the smell isn't nearly as bad.

[serves]

Somehow, I don't think she'd be pleased about that comparison.

[dawnwillcome]

[That's not stopping anyone though.]

And it's much quieter. Less of a mess.

[serves]

That I'll appreciate. [A rookery near the library...]