(no subject)

[theboogieman]

Who: IT'S A GAME MINGLE GET IN THE VAN
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: All of it!
When: Second half of the month.

[hey everyone! how's it been going? how's medieval-fun-time-world treating you? anyone pillaged and burned anything yet? got kicked out of the castle? been planning expeditions? registered for jousting? busy angsting for the last two weeks on your ship?

this is a mingle for everybody, whether they're hiding in the volcano, out and about in the city, or up on one of those random random stations where you can get quirky souvenirs.]

Comments

ACTION | IN TOWN/THE TEMPLE

[serves]

[Cullen's been taking a stroll through the city at least once a day. He can't help it, it's in his nature to patrol... or pace in a very roundabout way. He lingers at the job board, browses the shops... all pretty boring, but his armor makes him look like a knight out of a fairy tale, at least!

He can also be found at the temple, in a quiet corner, hands clasp before him as he kneels in prayer. He doesn't need statues of Andraste to pray. A candle will do.

He's used to the Maker not answering his prayers so it matters not that Thedas is worlds away.

Come pester him, he needs it.]

HI HOW ARE YOU

[howcanihelp]

[ Steffa had the same thought, really, when it came to the temple. A candle and her voice, that's all that's really necessary.

She was never very good at praying on her own, honestly - she never felt like she was able to phrase what she meant in the right way and... well, maybe Andraste knew her heart, but she'd rather stick to things she knows. Like the Chant.

She doesn't notice Cullen when he comes in because he's off in a corner, probably initially out of sight of where she settles with her candle.

But she does softly begin singing part of the Chant, one of the parts that had always given her hope. Even if Andraste can't hear her prayers, such as they are, she can remind herself not to lose faith. ]

Then the Maker said:
To you, my second-born, I grant this gift:
In your heart shall burn
An unquenchable flame
All-consuming, and never satisfied.
From the Fade I crafted you,
And to the Fade you shall return
Each night in dreams
That you may always remember me.

And then the Maker sealed the gates
Of the Golden City
And there, He dwelled, waiting
To see the wonders
His children would create.

[ Only a matter of time before the familiar melody and familiar words, quiet though they may be, make it over to Cullen, right? ]

[serves]

[Those are familiar words. Cullen looks up from his prayers, surprised to see Steffa. He's come to decide that seeing her again, especially as the young girl she is, is unsettling. Whoever pulled them in had no right.

It's time to go. Cullen stands, knees cracking a little despite being used to kneeling in numerous Chantries. He hopes she doesn't notice him--the last thing he wants to do is disturb her.]

[howcanihelp]

[ It's the crackling that gets her attention, her words falter a little as she glances up for the source and finds... ]

Cullen. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here, I-- are you leaving?

[serves]

[He clears his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. Curse getting older.]

No, I--please, don't apologize. I didn't mean to startle you.

[howcanihelp]

[ She was surrounded by people older than her in the Wardens, especially once she got to Vigil's Keep. She might not be a healer, but she soothed her fair share of stiff joints, especially on the road. She's used to paying attention to things like that. ]

Oh, it's all right. [ she glances at the candle, then back at him with a crooked smile, pushing herself to her feet.

She favors the left one, just slightly. ]

I wanted-- the last time we spoke, on the network, I was-- I didn't want to be thoughtless or cruel, and I think I was, a bit. You deserve better from me than that, I was just... bristly, I suppose. Or maybe overprotective.

[serves]

[Of course she'd bring that up. It was too much to hope that it'd be forgotten.]

Think nothing of it. I may have reacted a little strongly myself. [Did he give the impression he'd kill Anders if he so much as looked at him the wrong way? Oops. He's calmed down since then, and trusts Jove to have things under control in regards to what the man may or may not do.]

[howcanihelp]

[ Probably best to trust Jove. Steffa is... perhaps overly protective and trusting in her people, sometimes, even when she means the best. ]

Such things happen, when emotions are involved.

[ She hesitates, then offers her hand ] Friends? Or, not enemies, at any rate?

[serves]

[He still thinks she and others would see Anders in an entirely different light had they been present in Kirkwall, but he wouldn't wish that day on anyone.

Cullen gently shakes her hand. No, they'd never be enemies, but making friends with ghosts from his past? Strange, but he's not about to say so.]

Friends sounds about right.

[save_the_souls]

[While Cullen is praying in the temple, Allen is there. He doesn't disturb Cullen directly, he's not one to interrupt a person's prayer. But, he can be overhead talking to one of the temple's priests. Oddly he sounds a bit...off. As if he's trying to sound younger and more like a local on purpose.]

...My Master said to give a small amount of this powder every six hours to any with plague, preferably with water. It should help, he said. If you run out and need more, he's written instructions for your best alchemist to craft. Make sure it's tested on mold before given to people, it's not an easy recipe.

Oh, And he said to please make sure anyone who treats patients washes their hands and wear clean scarves over their mouth and nose to cut down on falling ill themselves. It's, uh, a trick of the elves, he said...

[Annnd so on. But eventually the conversation ends and the priest departs after thanking "Cross" profusely for the donations of medicine, money and blankets. Once he leaves, Allen lets out his sigh to himself and relaxes]

[serves]

[He recognizes this one, even if it's a little odd trying to reconcile what he saw on screen to what he sees here in the temple. Cullen listens, and stands only once Allen seems to be done talking to the priest. He takes a a few strides until he's within talking distance.]

Busy afternoon, running errands for your... master?

[Cullen lifts an eyebrow. See, that doesn't quite sit right with him--they were all on equal footing, given how they were pulled together.]

[save_the_souls]

[He turns when he's addressed. He seems a bit surprised, as if he had been lost in his own thoughts.]

Hm? [For a moment, he looks concerned that it's a local. But oh, wait. That's the guy he spoke to before. It's hard to forget that armor. He relaxes and sounds more like his regular self] - Oh. Cullen, right? Sorry, I didn't know you were here-

[Or he had and had forgotten. Whatever. He gives a slight sheepish smile and rubs the back of his neck. ]

Ah- Not...exactly? I thought...they might not trust something that was made by someone who looks so...young.

[serves]

[Cullen's lips curve a little at that--he also has that tell. Break that habit as soon as you can, kiddo.]

How old are you, if I may ask?

[save_the_souls]

[Don't worry man, he won't be the one ending up naked at poker night]

I'm twenty-three!

[serves]

[Huh.]

... twenty-three?

[save_the_souls]

Yes. Twenty-three.

[serves]

You are rather... youthful in appearance. [Like, almost alarmingly so. Maybe it'll take a few more years...]

[dirth]

[ It doesn't take Solas too long to spot Cullen, to move forward and walk through, ignoring the looks of people around him as he approaches the Commander. When he does, it's with a smile, leaning forward so he can catch the other man's eye. ]

Good day, Commander.

[serves]

Solas. [Cullen greets him with a smile, glad for another familiar face to be present.]

I take it you've been treated well?

[Hopefully.]

[dirth]

[ The smile is returned, gentle and clear, and he nods his head again - another greeting, though silent. Solas is obviously a little more relaxed, a little comfortable beside this man, and that's enough for him for now. ]

No worse than I had expected, strangers as we are.

[ He turns, looking around. ]

I hope you're well?

[serves]

I am, considering the circumstances. [Timelines, space, being entertainment--none of that is his cup of tea, but what choice do they have but to adapt?]

A strange place, isn't it.

[The name alone is like some play on Kirkwall and he doesn't like it.]

[dirth]

Just a little. Far stranger than anything I've seen for some time.

[ A pause, and then - ]

And I walked the Fade.

[ Physically, he means, a little joke to lighten the tone. ]

[serves]

[That gets a small snort. Solas and humor, who would have thought?]

The Fade feels far removed, here.

[dirth]

[ He can be funny. Sometimes. ]

It is strange, not to be able to touch it.

[serves]

What do you make of it?

[He's hoping if anyone could find them some way home, Solas is one of the forerunners.]