audio;

[stubble]

[ It's late at night when Cullen makes the post, the time of night when people would probably text something like this. But typing on the phone is still too much of an unnatural struggle for him to default to it.

He sounds relatively normal. Maybe just a tiny bit tired. ]

What is it you do when you cannot sleep and there is no work to be done to better utilize the hours you spend awake?

[ There's a tiny pause. ]

I am no stranger to sleepless nights, yet in coming here, I've now naught to do with mine.

Comments

voice;

[buttonedup]

I train. Just because I encounter less battles here does not mean I should not maintain my peak physical condition.

( #priorities )

[stubble]

It does seem easy to grow soft in this world, doesn't it?

[ He spends most of his day being active to combat that, but... ]

It's no wonder they have so many machines.

[buttonedup]

( She makes a small surprised noise, as if the idea hasn't occurred to her until then. )

You think that is the reason?

[stubble]

[ At this point, Cullen is willing to blame everything on machines. ]

I cannot see how it helps any of them. Their strange boxes cook their meals, wash their clothes, clean their floors. There's no need to write letters or visit anyone because these boxes facilitate communication. They even have boxes on wheels to take the place of walking.

[buttonedup]

I wonder which came about first: the machines, or the need for them.

[stubble]

I am uncertain. There are machines in Thedas, but none like this. Why we might waste the time creating microwaves when we have perfectly serviceable stoves and fires, I cannot imagine.

[buttonedup]

( A beat, then: )

They are efficient.

[stubble]

[ He sniffs. It isn't an agreeable kind of sniff. ]

If you enjoy them, you are welcome to them.

[buttonedup]

I did not say that I enjoyed them.

[stubble]

Did yours give you difficulties as well?

[buttonedup]

I -- ( she is about to agree, just to be amenable, but it would not be true. as a matter of fact, she has not encountered many difficulties at all. )

Not particularly, but I am still in the process of learning how to properly use them.

[stubble]

I wish you well in that endeavor. Perhaps one of the natives here might be of some use on that score.

[buttonedup]

I'll keep you updated on my progress.

How about you? Have you received any useful advice?

[stubble]

Practice, I've been told. Simply keep practicing.

[ He sighs. ]

But I've more productive things to do. Ah well, I suppose it doesn't matter. With or without the things, I'm managing well enough. That's all any of us can ask for.