Who: Alistair Theirin and Cullen Rutherford What: Alistair is thinking about getting a dog When: Backdated: Early January Where: Pitbull Rescue Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly Status: Complete!
Alistair hadn’t had any new dreams in a while, which he was partly relieved by, but there was a part of him that wanted to find out if dream him ever found out who his mother really was. When he’d seen Fiona amongst the other Mages, he’d been shocked, because she looked exactly like his mother in real life except for her hair, which was longer in real life and of course there was the whole elf part of it. He still couldn’t believe that in his dreams he was actually part elf, because he’d seen half elves before and their build was usually closer to that of elves, but Alistair being a Warden had changed his body, both in the dreams and in real life, so perhaps that was the reason he had never given it any thought it the dreams. That and he’d always been told that his mother had been a serving girl in the castle and had died.
Thinking about the fact that he was half elf made him think of Zevran and how amusing the full elf would have found it and that caused him to miss him despite the fact that the assassin had broken his heart, not once, but twice. Honestly, he was more mad than anything else and he tried not to spend too much time thinking about his ex. So really, not having had any recent dreams was a good way of not thinking about him.
Of course lots of things reminded Alistair of the dreams these days and one of those things was dogs. Dogs reminded him of Maia’s Mabari and he often times found himself at shelters, looking at the larger dogs. He hadn’t brought it up to Lara yet, but he had been thinking about possibly adopting a dog of his own. Today he’d decided to stop by a local pitbull rescue that he hadn’t been to yet. There were lots of stories about pitbulls, but as far as Alistair was concerned, all pitbulls weren’t evil so there was nothing to be scared of.
Even if it had been four years since he’d been honorably discharged from the British Army, Cullen Rutherford was still trying to get past difficulties in his life. There had been a time where all he’d wanted was to serve...but after the things he’d seen, he had just needed to get away, even if it had meant leaving his family across the ocean, back home. Slowly he was finding his way, pushing down the harsh memories that wanted to haunt him at times. He’d begun to find a bit of happiness in his life, and perhaps some passion.
The medication helped most of the time, but what was even better was having a four legged companion.
He’d immediately been taken with Sammy when he met the loveable dog, trained to help veterans like him as a psychiatric service dog. Most people didn’t understand it, thinking all service dogs were for the physically impaired, and so Cullen had just chosen to surround himself with people who wouldn’t judge, and it seemed to make sense that he would end up working at a pit bull rescue where both he and Sam could make friends. Friends which included a second pit bull named Meredith.
That had been over a year ago and Cullen was quite happily settled into his life working at the rescue, getting the pits to trust again, and finding them loving homes. It was, he knew, also a distraction from the loneliness in his life, but he did his best to ignore it. After coming back home, he’d promised himself he would never get into a relationship until he was better. And...he was better, but not any less afraid.
He seemed confident enough talking with the woman who ran the front desk at the rescue, Sam sitting at his side, wagging his tail and staring up at his master with wide eyes and open mouth. The dog’s head perked when the front door opened and he sat up, proudly displaying the harness that marked him as a service dog.
As Alistair entered the building, he saw two people at the front desk as well as one of the dogs who was clearly a service dog so he knew not to try and pet him. Instead, he approached the desk, smiling, “Hi, uh, I was wondering if I could get some information on pitbulls. I’m thinking of adopting a dog. I mean, I haven’t run it by my roommate yet, but I plan to and figure the best way to do that is to have all the information possible. Ya know?” Sometimes Alistair hated talking to people he didn’t know, because he never knew exactly how to approach them. Didn’t know if they’d realize who his father was when he introduced himself and really, the last person he wanted to talk about was Maric.
Cullen’s bright eyes made their way to the stranger’s face, his lips soon curving up into a small smile at the words that came out of his mouth. It was always nice to hear people interested in adopting one of the dogs at the rescue. Some people could be right arseholes about them, asking if they were fighting dogs, or worrying over one of the pits attacking a child. Ridiculous.
The blond stepped away from the desk and around to a metal rack full of different pamphlets of information on the breed, care, and abuse. “The most important piece of information is that they’re not vicious beasts. Pit bulls are one of the most loving and loyal breeds around,” he said, backing up his words with a gentle pat to Sam’s head, making the dog’s tail thump on the floor with its wiggling.
“They’re all bark and no bite, not unless provoked, just like any other animal.”
It wasn’t until the other guy had come closer to the counter that Alistair realized that he knew him. Not in real life, but in the dreams. He’d met the man at the Circle Tower. He’d been a Templar then. If Alistair remembered correctly, his name was Cullen. Of course Alistair couldn’t let on that he knew the other man, because he didn’t want to come off like some weirdo kind of like how Zevran had come off to him when they’d first met.
“Yeah, I feel like pitbulls get a bad wrap unnecessarily,” Alistair said, picking up one of the pamphlets and flipping the front cover of it, “I assume he’s yours?” He said, gesturing towards the dog that the man was petting.
Cullen immediately nodded, teasing one of Samson’s ears and scritching behind it, causing the dog to close his eyes with a pleased look on his face. Yes, that was the spot, Cullen knew it well. “For over a year now. His name’s Samson. Incredibly loveable. You don’t have to be scared by his top harness and all the patches,” he pointed out with a chuckle. “I’m sure he would love to make a new friend. He’s a popular fellow.”
He was more than aware that the harness was a sure sign to most people to stay away and not touch, but considering Samson was a psychiatric service dog, Cullen didn’t mind him getting some attention when he wasn’t feeling some kind of breakdown coming on. And if it did, Sammy was always a quick one to react.
“He’s a beautiful dog.” Alistair said, moving around to crouch in front of him, but not too close, now that he had permission and held his hand out in front of the dog to sniff. “Is he your first pitbull?” He was curious if the man had had other pitbulls before or if this was his first one. It seemed like a valid question, especially since he was thinking of getting one himself, because it would probably help knowing what one should expect as a first time pitbull owner.
When Alistair pushed his hand forward, Samson immediately leaned in to give it a thorough sniff, deciding soon enough that this stranger was a good person and could most definitely give him lots of pets and scritches if his master allowed.
“Thank you. He’s quite aware he’s a stud as well.” Cullen gave a little laugh and patted the beast on the head. “My first, but not my only. Adopted a girl a couple months back. Her name’s Meredith and she’s...definitely queen of the castle. I think two’s enough for me and my small flat.” Didn’t mean he wasn’t tempted to adopt more; Cullen really did have a weakness for those big doggy eyes.
“Ah...mind if I ask where you’re from? ...Bullocks, that wasn’t...too upfront or personal, I hope.” He shook his head and ran his fingers through his curls of blond hair. “Just always curious. I’m from Southwark myself. Born and raised.”
Alistair shook his head as he scratched Samson’s head, “Not at all.” He gave the dog a few more scratches before standing straight to talk directly to Cullen again, “Originally from Sacramento. Moved out here about two years ago.” While the last few years had been extremely strange at times, he was glad that he’d moved out to Orange County, for a number of reasons. “What brought you all the way out here?” Now Alistair was the curious one.
Cullen nodded at the answer as his hand was straying to scratch at the back of his neck in adorable nervousness. He could do small talk. He could do small talk with an attractive stranger. Underline *attractive* a few times.
Just keep eye contact and don’t talk the recovery of his PTSD.
“I needed...change. To start my own life, I suppose. I miss London, of course, and my family… I’ve learned to drive on the proper side of the road for America, and I know what pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters are exactly. Still think it’s strange you lot don’t use a coin for a quid though. ...I mean, a dollar.” He grinned at Alistair...and then it faltered and his cheeks went a bit red. “I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Cullen.”
If Alistair had been doubting whether or not this man really was the Templar he’d met briefly, in the dreams, once he introduced himself there was no doubt, “I’m Alistair. It’s nice to meet you Cullen.” He smiled and leaned against the counter a little, “And I know all too well about wanting to start your own life. Kind of the reason I moved here too.” He’d needed to get away from his father constantly trying to control his life regardless of how old Alistair was.
He was staring, watching those lips move, as well as his body when he leaned into the counter so bloody casually. Meanwhile, Cullen just shuffled on his feet again and looked down to pat Samson. “And now all you’re missing in your own life is a dog, yeah?” He grinned, even if Alistair could barely see it from the way his head was still dropped. He finally managed to lift his chin a quiet moment later, eyes wandering back to Alistair’s face.
“Come on. I’ll introduce you to the rest of the lot, Alistair. You can see exactly what pit bulls are like.” He moved towards the door, Sam following loyally after, and waited for the other man to join him.
Not used to attention being on him, Alistair didn’t realize how Cullen was looking at him. Unlike when he’d had drinks with Isabela, Cullen was extremely discreet about it. “That'd be great.” Smiling, he followed after Cullen, looking forward to meeting the other dogs. He’d definitely have to talk to Lara about the dog thing soon. “How long have you worked here?”
As they strolled further into the rescue, it was nice to simply talk more. It felt like he and Alistair could relate in quite a few ways...though he highly doubted the other man had ever dealt with anything like PTSD. He had surely already guessed that something was up with Cullen that he needed a service dog. He ignored the thought nudging at the back of his mind.
“About...six months now? I enjoy the hell out of it, working with the dogs, showing them attention and then finding them homes where they’ll be happy. Meredith, for example, didn’t trust anyone when she was brought in, but slowly came out of her shell. Now you’d hardly believe she’d been abused in the past.”
“Have you only been in the US for six months or just here at the shelter?” Alistair was curious, but he didn’t want to come right out and ask. He didn’t think it was his place to ask considering he and Cullen had only just met. “Wow. That’s pretty awesome. Does she like other people or is it just you?”
“Been here in the states longer. Did a bit of wandering before I settled here,” he explained. Cullen had needed to find somewhere that fit. Somewhere he could hopefully be happy...or at least feel normal again, like his life was under control. He was finally starting to get that.
“She takes a bit to warm up to strangers, but once she does, you’ve got yourself a canine friend,” Cullen went on, but soon stopped at a door in the hallway that opened up to a sort of courtyard. There were other employees and volunteers outside, as well as some of the pit bulls that were recovering and waiting for homes. One of them broke away from the crowd, tag jangling against her collar as she made her way over to the two men and Samson. She gave the other dog a sniff and started to wag her tail happily, big eyes turning up to her master.
“This is Meredith.” He grinned and leaned over, scritching behind her ears and giving her a big kiss on the head.
“So you’re still fairly new then? Still get to act like a tourist?” Alistair smirked as they continued down the hall. As they reached the courtyard and the other dog came over to them, Alistair’s grin turned into a full smile as he watched Cullen with the dog, “They’re both beautiful dogs. And they seem really happy.” It was obvious from seeing them with Cullen even for a few moments.
“I have my tourist-y moments.” He gave Alistair a wink which was perhaps...a bit flirtatious, even if Cullen was completely awful at it and had hardly any experience. But there were dogs to distract, and with their need for all the pats and pets, it worked out.
The blond crouched down on the concrete and allowed both of his animals to smother him with affection, giving a few licks to his face that he wiped off with the back of his hand before booping them on the noses. “They are absolutely my furry children. I finally understand how crazy cat people can exist -- even if I prefer my dogs.” He chanced a look back up at Alistair, heart pounding like a quick drum in his chest from that gorgeous smile on his face.
“Shall we continue the tour then? I’ll introduce you to the rest of the lot.”
Alistair didn’t think anything of the wink. Had he been talking to Zevran or Isabela maybe he would have thought of it as flirting, but he’d just met Cullen and it was unlikely that the other man was flirting with him. After all, not everyone from their dream world had sex on the brain twenty four, seven.
“I’d love that.” When he left he’d be sure to take as much information with him as possible so they he could look it all over before mentioning anything to Lara, but after seeing Cullen with his dogs, he was really wanting one of his own.