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[rideme]

"You've got the Iron Bull here. I'm listening.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

TEXT | VOICEMAIL | CALLS

Comments

[rideme]

Hey, I knew Dorian was around. Cullen and Cole too but...

[But now they're not. And that was sort of disheartening. Very, very disheartening. No reason to dwell on it, though.]

Crap... no. Not yet. Been a little preoccupied.

You all right, boss?

[melavasomniar]

We're not going anywhere, so I'm sure you'll get around to a conversation or two.

I... I'm doing alright. Mostly. Thank you, Bull.

[rideme]

Sure hope not.

Mostly? Something happen?

[melavasomniar]

No, nothing particular just... adjusting. I've almost been hit by those contraptions in the streets more times than I can count. [Cars. He means cars.]

Not to mention you're the first of my friends not to treat me like a complete stranger. I'm still getting over that.

[rideme]

Oh, shit. Stay on the sidewalks. The bits of the road close to the buildings. Cars don't drive there.

[Yeah guess who found that out the hard way, oops.]

Eh, yeah. I got that before. Don't worry, they'll come around.

[melavasomniar]

Oh. The raised bits? Right, of course.

[Well, that makes a lot of sense and will make exploring the city vastly less dangerous.]

Luckily Sera's easy to please, she and I are already getting along famously. But I'm afraid to say our Tevinter friend is more of a challenge. [That's not surprise, of course. Dorian was slow to warm up the first time too, but it's still low-key annoying.]

[rideme]

Yeah, those. Also, the yellow cars? They're like... carriages for hire -- just in case you need to get somewhere quick.

[Any wisdom he can pass on to the boss? He's happy to help.]

Eh... he's. Had it rough since he showed up. Couple bad things happened, got in his head. Think he's okay now -- but that shit's never good. Don't tell him I brought it up, though. Just thought you should know.

[melavasomniar]

Really? Well, that's convenient! Thank you. [You're the best Bull ♥]

[Oh. But that's not a good thing to hear.] I see. Anything you could tell me about, or would privacy be an issue?

[rideme]

Hell yeah! Oh -- and boss? Wait until you see planes.

[Technology is awesome and Bull loves it all.]

... He got paranoid. Really paranoid. Started ranting and raving about how I was his father's spy. Me. Spying for the Vints.

Started throwing magic around, trying to kick my ass. Happened to a few others, too.

[melavasomniar]

Planes? Do explain.

[If this was back in Thedas that Lavellan was hearing about this he would be speaking to Dorian immediately. But things are different here, Dorian has no history with him so the boundaries are different. He's not sure he can ask him about this.

There's a pause for a moment while Lavellan considers his response.]

...I take it from the fact you say 'try' that you weren't hurt?

[rideme]

They're a little like the cars. But bigger. And -- best part is -- they fly.

[He's going to leave out the bit about no headroom. That sort of seemed like an Iron Bull problem, for the most part.]

[The enthusiasm in his voice sobers rapidly when he moves on to the next subject, however.]

Nah. Nothing that didn't heal. He apologized and all, afterward... but haven't seen him since then.

[melavasomniar]

I half way feel like you're messing with me. Actual flight? That's just too incredible. [But he jests. Bull wouldn't lie to him.]

[Moving on he adopts a more serious tone as well.]

Good, good. I'm glad. ...Should one of us talk to him? I admit, considering his history with his father that makes me worried.

[rideme]

It is. You can go from one side of the country to the other in a few hours. I'm not shitting you. I did it once.

[And his friend had to coax him on with the promise of booze and Vegas showgirls, but OH WELL.]

Not sure. I'd say I would give it a try, but I was sort of the problem.

[melavasomniar]

I have to try this. [It will take absolutely no coaxing with booze and show girls. ...though that would be an added bonus.]

And I don't know that he trusts me enough to actually give me any straight answers. [That makes their options pretty limited.]

[rideme]

Yes! Round up everyone, we'll go to Vegas!

[Iron Bull no.]

... Well shit. How many bees do you think it'd take to get Sera talking to him?

[Yes, he knows that is a bad plan, but at least it's a funny mental image right?]

[melavasomniar]

I don't know what or where that is, but I'm in.

[Iron Bull yes.]

[And that mental image is indeed funny. It even gets a little laugh.] To talk to him seriously? Probably a whole hive. Usually those two just bicker.

[rideme]

It's this entire city, made of light. Lights. The fancy kind they have here. Lights, and drinks, and more dancers than you can meet in a month.

[Good. He was hoping he'd hear that laugh. Mission accomplished.]

Damn, well. There goes bribery. Maybe just keep an eye on him. See if he comes around on his own.

[melavasomniar]

That sounds like my kind of city, many times over. You've been, I take it?

[Bull has a point about giving Dorian space, but... !!! He kind of just wants to whine like a child about wanting his friends to talk to him. ...he's not going to. But he wants to!]

You're probably right. You're always right. Or maybe not always. But often enough that I might resent you a little bit for it. Maybe.

[rideme]

Oh, damn right. Friend of mine took me out there a while back -- Ramir's her name, in case you run into her.

[He snorts.]

You want me to pick the big dumb mercenary act back up again? Just to make you feel better?

[melavasomniar]

I'll keep her name in mind. "Any friend of yours", and all that.

[With a much more exuberant laugh than before:] Never. Despite that, I think I like big smart secretly-a-softie Bull much better.

[rideme]

Hey, and while we're at it -- you should meet the guys in my house. Well, the guy. And the kids.

[Iron Bull the parent. Dear God.]

Aw, come on, you're ruining my image here, boss.

[melavasomniar]

Kids? You live with kids? And you're accusing me of ruining your image?

[rideme]

Hey, just one actual kid! The other two are teenagers.

... okay, three kids, two teenagers.

[melavasomniar]

How did you go from one kid to three?

[rideme]

Okay, so. One of these kids lives with us. The other two live with their uncle, but they're our kid's best friends. Or something. So they end up over at our place all the time.

Basically ours.