004 // the house of sin

[serpentis]

Who: Dorian and assorted guests
Broadcast: Fleet-wide, 3/10
Action: In a villa practically in the forest (THE HOUSE OF SIN)
When: Broadcast- 3/10 // Action- 3/9-3/31? Until we leave.

Broadcast:

[The broadcast goes out on 3/10, and Dorian smirks a bit into the feed.]

I believe I've secured lodging for myself, with room enough for several others. If you need a place to stay, do let me know. It's a quaint little villa a bit outside of town. ...please don't mind the suspicious glances, I assure you, I've done nothing entirely against the guidelines that were set.

---------

Action:

[Dorian has secured a villa, but the residents of Mor don't seem too keen on having an evil mage for a neighbor. As the month goes on, more and more villagers will show up to stand at the gates of the villa and threaten to come in after the "evil wizard".

Maybe he shouldn't have gone so overboard with the whole "contacting the spirits of the dead" thing.]

((OOC: Mingle post for the House of Sin. We'll pretend there are enough rooms in here for everyone! Even if you character only drops by to rest their feet a bit, everyone is welcome to visit and stay the night if they want.))

Comments

[dawnwillcome]

I want you to sleep. If you're not going to sleep then I at least don't want you be alone.

[serves]

[He's past the point of insisting he's fine. To her, he's not. It stings, a bit, but Cullen straightens.

And moves to walk around to the other side of the bed.]

[dawnwillcome]

[When he wordlessly pulls away like that, Jove is certain something has gone terribly wrong. Did she say something wrong? Is she being too thoughtless when it comes to his feelings for her?

She's sitting up, ready to call his name and stop him from leaving, but then he's rounding the cover of the bed and she understands. It still leaves her feeling a little hollow though, even as she pulls the blankets back for him.]

[serves]

[Sharing a bed with the woman he's come to care for so deeply like this--a part of him is ashamed, but he's mostly just worn. He knows he should be happy, glad for her compassion and worry for him, but he's unsure how to act.

He slips into the bed, keeping a respectable distance as he fixes the pillows.]

[dawnwillcome]

[It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to wake up in his arms, but when she sees how stiff he is as he moves, she frowns even more.]

I could put a pillow between us if you're uncomfortable. [But she doesn't want to. There's a beat then but it's just too much, she reaches out a hand to rest on his arm.] If you don't want to be here you don't have to stay, Cullen.

[serves]

[It's never been about his comfort. He's sitting upright when she touches him, and he shakes his head before looking at her.]

I want to be here.

[Her places his larger hand over hers.]

[dawnwillcome]

And I want you to be here. Not... just to keep an eye on you. I enjoyed spending time with you like this tonight.

[serves]

[As Cullen carefully slips down into the bed, he keeps her hand in his.]

So did I. Though I can't imagine not enjoying any time spent with you.

[dawnwillcome]

[Alright, good. They seem to have made it past that miserably sad bump into something more honest, and Jove is able to smile at Cullen again as she curls up on her side facing him, fingers winding around his so they're holding hands.]

I promise I won't touch you with my cold feet. I think that would be incredibly impolite after you tucked me in so nicely.

[serves]

We'll have to find you some stockings.

[Or... something... Maker help him.]

[dawnwillcome]

[That gets a laugh, hushed so it won't wake anyone outside the room.]

Those lacy things human women wear on their legs? What good will that do?

[serves]

[Cullen has to chuckle a little as well because... that mental image.]

There are thicker ones, made of wool, or cotton. To keep your feet and legs warm.

[dawnwillcome]

That won't do you much good now, though. I don't think I toss and turn in my sleep, but will you hold me accountable if I accidentally freeze you a little?

[serves]

I'm sure I'll find some way to manage.

[This is already a strange situation.]

[dawnwillcome]

Well, I promise to forgive you if you get close while we're sleeping. You're like sleeping beside a furnace, it's lovely.

[And she'd like to lay her head on his chest, wind an arm around him, but she'll have to settle for keeping hold of his hand.]

[serves]

[Ffffffffffffff that is essentially the thought in his head.]

--are you that cold?

[dawnwillcome]

[She shrugs one shoulder, apparently not too worried about it.]

I got a bit of a chill when I took your coat off, but I'll warm up now that I'm under the covers. It just takes me a bit.

[serves]

[Well, he'll dutifully warm her hand, shifting so that his other is free. That way he can clasp them around hers.]

[dawnwillcome]

[With a smile, she squeezes his hand softly.]

My hero.

[serves]

[He smiles in turn but says nothing, mostly focused on how tiny her hand is in comparison to his. He matches them up, examines the slender fingers and the curve of her nails with reverence.]

[dawnwillcome]

[When she had stopped him when he tried to kiss her before, it was because she was at a place where that sort of thing seemed impossible. She'd needed time to adjust to the idea and she still does, but in moments like this...

Well, there's no point in denying it. She'd like to kiss him, watching him look at her hand like she crafted the very planet they're on with it. Like she used it to pluck him straight from their world and bring him here to her side. The timing seems wrong, like it would be taking advantage after his nightmares and basically forcing him to get into bed with her, but the urge is there, gently simmering under the surface.

She settles for kissing the back of his hand instead. That will have to be good enough for now.]

[serves]

[Her lips are so soft and he misses the feeling of them on his own. His eyes lower to the empty space between them as he kisses his hand, and he squeezes her fingers. Really, he should have just gone back to his room, but... it's hard to walk away from her.]

[dawnwillcome]

[Winding their fingers together again, she brings his hand up to her face, presses his palm against her cheek and closes her eyes.]

You would think running the Inquisition would prepare me for rough days, but even I get exhausted when they pile up like they have been. I needed this.

[serves]

[His thumb lightly brushes over her skin.]

I'm here. If you'd like to talk about what's troubling you, I'm here.

[dawnwillcome]

[After insisting all night that he let her help him with his own burdens, refusing to share any of her own now would be incredibly unhelpful. How could he open up to her if it didn't go both ways?]

When Anders first arrived here, I was so set to hate him. Why wouldn't I? But we became friends and when I told him about what he does to the Chantry it- [She breaks off there, eyes opening again but unfocused.] He seemed so lost.