(no subject)

[ataashihunter]

WHO: The Iron Bull
WHERE: His house, then the inn
WHEN: The day after Dorian disappears
OPEN TO: Everyone
WARNINGS: Sad Bull, heartache

---

At first when he woke up alone in bed, Bull had thought that Dorian had just gotten up before him and gone to his room. He smiles slightly to himself and gets dressed before he walks down to make breakfast. Though fairly soon it starts to dawn on him that Dorian being gone this long is weird. The first thing he does is to check the weird device on his wrist, and the fact that that is his first thing to do now is an odd option too. He looks through it twice. No Dorian. Then he swallows. Fuck.
Then he types up a quick message to everyone

[Text network @everyone]
Has anyone seen Dorian? He is not at home.

[A few hours later]
The realization that Dorian is gone is enough to knock Bull out of his routine. He hurts. More than he should. He doesn't show up to the patrols and instead heads to the inn to go find something to drink, his own beer is still fermenting, and maybe something to take his mind of things.

Comments

The Inn

[skyward_eyes]

It wasn't often that Nida checked up on other people doing rounds. Part of being with the watch was that you trusted others to do their work too, or that was what Nida thought. But when the message had gone into the Network, he'd paused. Didn't know a Dorian but he searched and couldn't come up with the name.

So he went back to check the board, hoping to look for the big guy, to talk to him. To just check if there was a way he could help, and that wasn't something you did over Network. Went to check the board, then ran to check if he could catch up to Bull on rounds. Which, of course, he couldn't do because the Qunari wasn't on rounds.

It was a tired and worried Nida that ended up coming into the inn to warm back up. And there he was instead. Bull. Nida frowned and moved over to the Qunari.

"I'm sorry," Nida said as he reached Bull's side. Because he got it. He'd lost someone, only days after arriving. Seemed people disappeared almost as often as they arrived.

Re: The Inn

[ataashihunter]

Bull gives him a tired and sad smile. "Thanks." He sighs into the mug. "He was just gone." He glances up at Nida. "I am sorry I missed patrols." He motions to the other seat. "Want to warm up?"

Re: The Inn

[skyward_eyes]

"That's not important right now," Nida says to the patrol thing as he takes the offered seat.

For a moment he's silent, because he gets it. All of a sudden, Squall had been gone. He hadn't even had a chance to get his head on straight. Unlike Rinoa he'd mostly moved on, but he definitely felt a lack. There wasn't the sort of emotional stuff there as Bull had with Dorian, but there was still a loss there.

"I was trained by a paramilitary organization and through them became a SeeD. I mention this because all I've ever known in my life, all I can remember is being part of that command structure, working toward being a mercenary, being recognized by the organization. So coming here, not having that was jarring. Only when I got here, the first person I met was my commander. He picked me up, put me on my feet, and took me into his home. Briefed me on everything here and for the first few days, Squall supported me like a commander should."

Like Squall would. For all that he never wanted the job, Squall was good at it. Because he cared about the lives of his men in ways that the previous command structure hadn't. And he'd had more than a year to develop a strong working relationship with the man. A lot of trust.

"One morning I woke up and... he was gone. I hadn't even been here a week. Which, honestly, was part of the reason I was so happy to turn to the watch that fast after getting here I guess."

Re: The Inn

[ataashihunter]

Bull listens and nods though what Nida was telling him. "That sucks. And we are lucky to have you on the watch." He reaches out to put a hand on Nida's shoulder. And then just leaves it there. It is comforting to feel the steadiness that is another person. The warmth.

"Dorian and I... We... fuck... Well we had a thing, like you and I do, but it was more than that. It was a bit more than friends with benefits." He sighs. "I just hope he is ok"

Inn

[cryptoherpetology]

Breakfast cooked by other people is really a good argument for housemates. The absence of Dorian is noted, but not thought of until he sees the text later and groans to himself.

Oh, damn it. Don't let this be what he thinks it's going to be. Also please don't let Bull be a mean drunk. Alex has to consciously push the thoughts of china shops out of his head, reminding himself that's really kind of racist, and also if he's going to start thinking in animal metaphors, he could pick one a little less on the nose. Once he's finished with his day's work and reasonably cleaned up, he heads to the Inn.

"Hey."

It's really the only thing he can think to open with. He's a herpetologist, not a grief counselor.

Re: Inn

[ataashihunter]

Bull had left the breakfast more or less untouched if a little cold. In fact he hasn't eaten anything yet. But he is drinking cocoa by the time Alex gets there, not booze so that is a good thing.

"Hey. So... Dorian is gone." He sounds surprisingly flat and emotionless at that.

[cryptoherpetology]

"I thought that might be the case," Alex says, gently. "I won't ask if you're alright," he promises, because he knows the answer- he wouldn't be. And, truth be told, he isn't. He's been missing a part of himself in Shelby since he got here. He can only keep himself distracted with agriculture for so long.

"I can take care of things around the house for a while." Including packing up Dorian's things, if need be. And making arrangements for the cat. And all the other mundane details of a totally non-mundane experience.

Network

[hallaifyouherd]

[ Guess who is immediately concerned, it's your boss. ]

He's missing?

Re: Network

[ataashihunter]

Yeah, He isn't at home and he isn't on the device either. Normally everyone's name is there.

[hallaifyouherd]

Do you think he's been taken?

We could go looking for him. I've got a pretty good map of the surrounding woods. I think.

Network

[fooloftheking]

[Thinking about the things they had talked about involving this Dorian, Bobo winces at the text. Glancing around the shop, he figures he can give up a few hours. Bull matters more than work.]

Where are you?

Re: Network

[ataashihunter]

On my way to the inn. I am thinking he is maybe there.

[fooloftheking]

On my way

***

And it isn't long before Bobo in his long fur and a dark look on his face as he sidles up alongside Bull.

"So? Any sign of him?"

later

[rebornpaladin]

He'd seen the message come in while he was on patrol that morning, and while he'd never met Dorian, enough people had spoken to him about the man that he at least knew who he was keeping an eye out for. Then it had been a planning session with Watney and the day had actually filled up.

Things had been okay, lately. Better than.

So when he sees the Iron Bull in the inn not looking especially at ease, he frowns, and crosses the room to him. His first hour in the village, the Iron Bull had been warm and hospitable. He hadn't spoken with the man much since, but the impression had been made.

"No word?" he asks, sitting across from him.

Re: later

[ataashihunter]

Bull shakes his head. By now enough people have been by, enough time has passed that there is no word. He swallows. "It's just him, gone and he is not in the list on the device and he is not in the village..."

[rebornpaladin]

"I'm sorry," he says plainly, because the words may be uninspired, but they're true. Bad enough, strange enough, to be trapped where they are, but to have someone you care about here and then gone... it's deeply unsettling, and Shiro's sorry for the Iron Bull's loss.

"It's... incredibly unfair."

Inn

[theimmortalweapon]

Danny was here for a quick bite and then back to the Dojo but he paused when he saw the large figure sitting at the bar like he wished for liquor to appear in his palm. He stepped over to him and took the seat at his side.

"Hey, it's been awhile." He had expected to see Bull at the Dojo though he'd likely have to fight outside since he was big enough to damage the room he had set up for sparring.

He was also kind of oblivious and didn't realize that Bull was upset. "I thought I'd see you at the Dojo by now."

Re: Inn

[ataashihunter]

Bull blinks, for a moment he had been so lost in his own thoughts he had completely forgotten who Danny was. Then he remembered it and he smiles slightly. "Yeah, sorry, I've been kind of ... busy with the patrol."

Then he pauses, looking Danny over for a moment. Maybe he'd be able to help him. He glances back at the fire briefly before he turns to Danny fully. "Maybe you can help me. There is a Qunari training exercise to master your fear, and I think it might work to clear my head too. But I need a partner for it."

Inn

[theimmortalweapon]

Danny had heard something about the patrol but he hadn't been paying a lot of attention to it. He knew that they had had an attack the month he had arrived but that had been a long time ago and nothing similar has happened since. He didn't think that attacks were common enough to have a patrol around the village but perhaps he was wrong. He vaguely remembered someone might have died then.

Better safe than sorry.

"Huh?" He looked genuinely confused but also curious. He had been trained to master his own fear and anger through meditation but it didn't always work. The feelings were still there, only buried.

"Yeah." He quickly replied, turning to face Bull fully. "What is it that I have to do?"

Hours Later

[assemble_the_lovbacken]

Thor had seen the message on the network, and he'd been meaning to respond to his friend. Only .. he isn't sure who Dorian is, so he's afraid he can't be of any help in locating the missing villager, and he'd much rather offer his support in-person than over some strange, virtual message.

Thankfully, he runs into Bull whilst the other is at the Inn, and it doesn't take much for Thor to realize that his friend is in a great deal of pain. He can only assume, then, that whatever search ensued for the elusive Dorian has proven fruitless. Thor's only scratched the surface of this feeling of loss as a villager with Steve's disappearance, but it's not as though he's a stranger to loss all together.

He approaches carefully, gently touching by Bull's elbow once near enough.

"I am sorry," he offers, voice sincere and soft. "I do not know this Dorian person, but I can see he was of great importance to you. Is there anything I can do to help you, my friend?"

Re: Hours Later

[ataashihunter]

Bull gives him a bit of a sad smile. He is happy for the support and the honest tone to Thor's words. He considers for a moment and then nods. "There is actually. Qunari have a few exercises to clear one's mind. You might be able to help me with those." He motions to the chair facing him.

"They are physical all of them. One is to simply work yourself until you can't really think about anything. Another is to have someone hit you with a stick. That one is mostly to counquer fear but it might work here too."

[assemble_the_lovbacken]

Thor lights up at being told there's something he can do to help. He's practically beaming like the sun when it's all explained to him. Yes, yes; this is something Thor can do, and something he would do, even if it wasn't in the aid of helping a sad friend. That just makes it better!

"Okay, yes, what would you like me to do? I very much like the sound of this already! I do that first one - working until I can't think anymore - every day at the forge. It helps to keep me focused on creating things, smelting, melting .. instead of everything else." He glances to the chair at mention of the second exercise. "You want me to break this chair over your back or something?" Because he will, Bull, if you request it - no questions asked.

un: olivia moore

[living_proof]

shit



i have booze if you want to come around
not really up for leaving the bed but i can make room if you wanna join me hiding under the covers

Re: un: olivia moore

[ataashihunter]

That would actually be really nice around now. Mind if Nida comes too? he said something about cheese.

[living_proof]

not really looking to have a cheese and wine party in my bed tbh
was thinking more hugging and crying