[Closed]

[theladyofhighever]

Who: Mariane Cousland and The Dog
What: Two Hadrielites meet up for a talk
Where: The Range
When: Current
Warnings: None



[there were still very few people Mariane felt close to. she'd always had a difficult time letting people in due to her melancholy. the time of the Blight was different, being forced in such close quarters with others.

this place was different. it was possible to hide herself away with only Chance for company. deep down, she knew she shouldn't do that, that she should be trying to reach out to others more. but taking that first step was difficult.

so she went out with Chance to the range. she'd heard that the Dog frequented it and she'd genuinely enjoyed their earlier conversation. she was hoping to run into him there and hoping that their conversation would go as well as their earlier one had]

Comments

[theladyofhighever]

Oh. [she bites back the urge to apologize for apologizing. everything was so much more simple during the Blight. she had a job to do and she was able to focus her attention on doing it.

she has many regrets, but there's little she can do about them]

How do you do that here?

[standformyself]

Oh. Well, I like to talk to people. I've a cushion at the range, and Pratt lets me fetch things. I enjoy sniffing around, although it's mostly creatures that I find.

[She does enjoy digging, and herding, and chasing...]

Try new foods. Roll around in the grass. Explore.

[theladyofhighever]

A cushion out in the open? Would it--would it not be nicer to have a place indoors?

[this weather is too cold for her and reminds her uncomfortably of her return to Ostagar after the slaughter]

I would . . . like to do two of those things. [a pause] Would you want a companion?

[standformyself]

[Welcome to the Dog, a walking and talking puzzle wrapped in an enigma, with a shell, and never a straight forward answer.]

But then I would need to open doors to get out to do my job if anything was happening.

[Not to mention that the Dog doesn't feel the cold like others do. It doesn't bother her, and she will happily bark and run around in snow or water or the heat, although she would pant with the latter.]

Companions, certainly. I can show you all the best places to roll.

(cw: mental illness)

[theladyofhighever]

[and welcome to Mariane, a desperately shy, terribly insecure sixteen year old girl plagued with melancholy who was forced into the leadership position of the Hero of Ferelden]

I would open them for you?

[she doesn't know how to make friends, how to be a friend. the Blight companions largely invited themselves along and insinuated themselves into her life. this place is. terrifying]

I would. . .prefer companions?

[standformyself]

[Her tongue lolls playfully to one side at that, as the Dog really has no qualms about doors or windows or anything like that. She can open them. It just takes a little effort and some change in her paw structure.

The Dog does dip her nose towards Mariane's companion.]

I would assume Chase would be coming as well?

[theladyofhighever]

[she always fears she's asking too much from those she would call friends. she asked her Blight companions to risk their lives for her goal, after all. she asked Alistair, Zevran, and Morrigan to accompany her on her mission of vengeance against Howe, the man who slaughtered her parents and she asked them to keep out of their fight, not intervening until Alistair pulled her off of Howe's corpse where she'd been stabbing him over and over again until there was nothing left but a bloody mess where his face and chest had been. she asks too much of people]

Of course Chase would be coming.

[standformyself]

See. So plural.

[As the Dog does enjoy the company of both of them.]

[theladyofhighever]

[she smiles. it's a littl shaky and her eyes are watery, but she smiles]

I thank you. [she reaches hesitantly out to touch]

[standformyself]

[And she'll find a warm canine head beneath her hand, pressing up against her palm.]