Plotted starter for @howlingstorminside
Now more than ever, the distinct rhythm of footsteps GRATED on nerves already wound tight. The intrusion came slow--he would say TENTATIVE--and yet not enough so that he consciously recognized a lack of familiarity in demeanor: an obvious absence of the strong and unyielding air that carried the Seeker who he presumed to have come to GROWL at him again.
In the right mind, the commander would have noticed it, and thus turned to ascertain the presence before unleashing the biting remark niggling at the tip of his tongue. But he remained. Back turned toward the door still gaped from Cassandra’s retreat. And the sole motivation behind the minimal angling of his chin was to be better HEARD over his shoulder.
“If you wish for me to CHANGE MY MIND, you’re going to have to wait longer than a few minutes,” he advised, his tone like a sharpened BLADE. “Could you have the decency to close the--” Finally, he pivoted--brows stitched, lips twitching disapprovingly--to brace for the ensuing dispute. Only to set shocked eyes on a devastatingly UNEXPECTED guest.
VICTIM of his burst of irritation.
“--door.”
He gave himself--much less HER--little opportunity to grasp the situation: the onslaught of curiosities that would have swarmed every trail of thought regarding the Inquisition’s newest mage all but SWEPT aside by a tarnished greeting. Collecting the composure CRACKED upon her very first step into the office’s gloom, he cleared his throat. Dipped his chin--one would think RESPECTFULLY so.
“I--forgive me. For the, uh... I had thought you were--” A breath to release the tension eased through his teeth, and Cullen temporarily averted his gaze. “That wasn’t directed at YOU.” And yet, he rued the day when such a SCATHING tone would have been nothing but NATURAL in the face of a mage--particularly that of one FRESH to any sort of discipline.
To many--to the man he ONCE was--she was nothing but a THREAT. A danger. A MONSTER. But here. Now. In his office. She was--
What?
Another glance in her direction, one crafted by barely concealed CONFUSION. “I’m... sorry, but was there something you needed? Or are you simply gaining your bearings?”
