[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]

"All right." A small sigh of relief. "Good."

He tucks one arm under his pillow, curls up a bit to get more comfortable.

"Make sure you sleep. And eat something. And don't do any reports until tomorrow morning, they'll keep. Double Commander's orders."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's stretched out by the time the string of orders is finished, head on the pillow, fingers linked behind his head.

"Yes, Double Commander." Amused.

[bringspeopletogether]

It finally occurs to Alistair that Cullen's making himself comfortable in a way that indicates he'll be sticking around after Alistair falls asleep. He probably ought to protest, but...it's not like he wants Cullen to leave.

Far from it.

He attempts a firm nod -- though it's not really stable enough to qualify as such -- and lets his eyes fall closed. Still awake, for now; just resting.

[howtoactfereldan]

It's a long, cold walk back to his office, and Alistair did ask Cullen to stay, and if he doesn't move he can pretend that Cole will make sure nobody makes off with his armor, and if somebody does make off with his armor it's not like there's not a fortress full of armor right here.

He should probably make sure there's water, for when Alistair wakes. But that would require getting up. And that would disturb Alistair, who's trying to fall asleep.

Surely it's all right just to stay here where it's warm, blinking at the ceiling.

[bringspeopletogether]

"D'you think Bull's ever got stuck somewhere because he can't get through the door?"

Drowsy; half-mumbled.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I have it on excellent authority -- "

Varric.

(Iffy authority, at best.)

" -- that Bull told Vivienne that he tries to use his horns to knock the frame loose."

[bringspeopletogether]

A beat; then, slowly, Alistair dissolves into snickers.

"All I can think is -- " He makes a vague, loose gesture parallel to the floor. "Is big holes at the top of every door in the tavern -- "

Like a Bull-shaped Bugs Bunny cutout, if Bugs Bunny existed in Thedas.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I gather his horns have lost every one of those fights."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Poor Bull." Still laughing a little. Clearly, Alistair is not that sympathetic to the Qunari's plight. "I believe it, from the state of them."

The laughs trail into another yawn; he stifles it with the back of his hand.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I'm going to tell him you said that," Cullen says cheerfully, "and then you'll have to hear all his theories about how impressive racks are signs of assorted qualities that most people don't discuss in mixed company."

[bringspeopletogether]

Aaaaaaand Alistair's off again.

"Unfair," he manages around his laughter, and buries his face in his pillow. "Unfair saying that when I'm this drunk, dammit -- "

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen stretches.

Smugly.

"My revenge is complete."

[bringspeopletogether]

Still laughing, Alistair balls up one hand and gives Cullen a weak slug on the arm.

He's at the point where, of the two drunken side effects in play, sleepy is beginning to win out over uncontrollable giggling. As the laughter peters out again, he shifts closer so he can tuck his head against Cullen's shoulder.

[howtoactfereldan]

"First you punch me, and now I'm a pillow?"

He heaves a sigh as he works his arm around Alistair. "I see how it is."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Have to make sure the pillow's nice and soft before I put my head on it."

Serene.

[howtoactfereldan]

"And now you're calling me soft?"

His free hand goes to his chest, the better to indicate his immense shock and despair.

"I'm not sure I can handle such a blow to my confidence."

[bringspeopletogether]

"It's all right, Commander, I'll keep your secret."

After one or two tries, he manages to pat Cullen's hand reassuringly.

"I'll tell everybody you're the toughest and least pillow-like man I know."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...what a ringing endorsement."

[bringspeopletogether]

"That's what I could do to make myself useful," says Alistair, in tones of great enlightenment. "Write endorsements for everyone. Sera: once gave me pie that wasn't poisonous. Cassandra: once frowned so hard it did stick that way for ten minutes."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I'm sure that will win you many friends," Cullen says, after snorting. Loudly.

[bringspeopletogether]

"I'm a people person, it's true," he says, with sleepy contentment; his eyes are starting to drift closed again. "Besides, would you want to fight someone capable of frowning that hard? I wouldn't. I'm saying all kinds of nice things."

[howtoactfereldan]

If Cullen argues with that... one, Alistair is inebriated; two, all his counterarguments are total downers.

"Yes, they're very nice," he agrees instead.

[bringspeopletogether]

"Mm-hmm." Smug. Alistair yawns again, smaller now; he drifts into a quiet lull.

Within minutes, his expression's slackened into the mask of deep sleep, every breath slow and even.

[howtoactfereldan]

Note to self, Cullen thinks, if you want Alistair to shut up, tell him he's right.

He manages to restrain a laugh, letting his eyes close instead.