[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

Herald's Rest gets as crowded as any respectable small-town tavern come nightfall. Considering Skyhold's a village unto itself nowadays, that's no surprise.

Maryden's holding her usual court over near the fire, her song weaving in and out of the noise: voices, laughter, shouts, clattering. Bull's there, towering over half the crowd even while seated, deep in enthusiastic conversation with Krem, but the rest of the Chargers don't seem to be anywhere near. When Alistair stands still, he's pretty sure he can hear about five different languages in a ten-foot radius.

He's nothing strange or remarkable in here. It's...nice.

And there's alcohol. Even nicer.

Comments

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair snorts, and taps a finger to his temple. "Whatever Cole finds up here, he brought it on himself for looking."

The best defense against nosy spirits: carry so many nasty memories of the Fade that they wouldn't dare take a peek.

"And if Sera throws a pie at me, well...free pie, yes?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"That depends," Cullen says darkly, "on what she put in it. Dorian's formed an alliance with her. He feeds her information about assorted awful things one can put in anything edible, and in return she swears not to use them on him."

Cullen isn't scared of Sera. That would be overstating it. Rather, he's... very cognizant that she shouldn't be crossed, if at all avoidable.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Wasn't she trying to weaponize bees at some point?"

Alistair's staring into the middle distance, with the dawning horror of someone picturing a pie filled with live bees.

[howtoactfereldan]

"It wasn't her, it was one of her contacts. They're actually quite useful. ...in the jars," he clarifies. "She did manage to sneak the better part of a hive into the dummy in my office. Much less useful."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair cringes in sympathy.

"Please tell me you discovered it before you started throwing knives."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I did. It started buzzing."

He takes a drink. It makes it easier to retell the story.

"Once I was sure I wasn't hallucinating, I... poked at it. With something blunt. They didn't take kindly to it regardless."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I'm sure the healer was thrilled to use a week's worth of poultices on all the stings." Still wincing; still sympathetic.

(For more than one reason now.)

[howtoactfereldan]

"I made it out before the bulk of them could escape." Cullen lifts a shoulder in a half shrug. "Good thing I didn't use a blade."

He casts a look up. "Can we go? The longer I'm here, the more likely it is I'll be spotted."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I was just about to ask if you'd prefer Cole to -- "

Bull's booming laugh shakes the floor; Alistair doesn't jump, precisely, but his tankard comes dangerously close to sloshing over for a second there.

"To that," he finishes, rueful, and gets to his feet, drink in hand. "Come on, Commander."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's already up and headed for the stairs by the time Alistair makes it all the way to his feet.

He is also guarding his drink very closely.

"There aren't any chairs," he mutters to Alistair by the time they're headed to the top floor, "but there are the steps by the door to the tower."

[bringspeopletogether]

"That'll be fine."

There's no sign of Cole once they reach the top floor. That might not actually mean anything, but Alistair's reassured nonetheless. He takes a long swallow of his drink as they settle onto the steps; whatever Cabot gave him is already doing its work admirably. Good.

Come to think of it, maybe that's why he's not too worried about Cole possibly lurking around.

"Better?" he asks Cullen, gently wry.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I realize it's not a sincere query, but yes. Much."

He leans one shoulder against the stone wall, closing his eyes again.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Good."

That's quieter, as Alistair studies Cullen. He drinks a little more.

"Thank you for indulging me on this." Another lopsided smile. "I know you could've changed the terms of the bet."

[howtoactfereldan]

"That would show a lack of character. Also, you'd never let me hear the end of it."

[bringspeopletogether]

He quirks an eyebrow in rueful agreement, turning his attention down to his drink.

"I'll find a better place for you to take a break someday. Or at least a more tolerable one." Beat. "Besides your quarters."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I showed you where I hide my deck of cards," he protests. "That's a perfectly fine place to take a break."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Does that mean I get to beat you at Diamondback every day from now on?"

Innocently.

[howtoactfereldan]

"As long as there isn't betting involved."

Cullen isn't that self-flagellating.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair places a hand over his heart. "No more bets. Promise."

Beat.

"Unless you get good enough to start winning."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen makes another noise very like a growl.

"Glad you're enjoying this."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I didn't say the bet would involve coming back here!"

A good laugh does not trump Cullen's abject misery.

"We could wager food. Or actual money. Or -- the loser has to train with Bull for the day, I don't know. Decent things."

[howtoactfereldan]

He takes a moment to enjoy more of his drink. Maybe if he asks Cabot really nicely, the bartender will tell him where it came from.




"Maybe," he allows.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair smiles. "All right."

Cullen gets a gentle nudge on the shoulder -- not enough to upset his drink, fortunately -- before Alistair returns to his tankard. This is good. Nice and relaxing. He can still hear the crowd downstairs, but Cullen doesn't have to be in the thick of it. A good compromise.

(Especially since a familiar, raucous melody is rising above the noise. Sounds like the rest of the Chargers are back.)

[howtoactfereldan]

"I prefer the garden."

Much more quietly.

"Though I know that's... not ideal."

[bringspeopletogether]

Ah. Well.

"Even Morrigan has to eat sometime," says Alistair, with dry amusement. "And it's a nice spot."

If, occasionally, a bit too exposed for Alistair's usual tastes. He drinks.

"We can take a meal there next time if you'd like."