[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair surprises himself: he adapts to the Basin a lot quicker than he expected.

The camps feel -- snug, he decides. In a good way. Trees overhead, a limited number of egress points, a vantage point so high it puts every night by the ladder to shame: they're not the stone walls of Skyhold, but maybe they're the next best thing. After an initial restless night or two, he sleeps soundly.

(Knowing he's surrounded by lots of people with sharp, pointy weapons? Also helpful.)

Joining the patrol rotations seems like a decent next step. No point in being in the field, especially after all that training with Bull, if he's just going to twiddle his thumbs all day.

Comments

[howtoactfereldan]

No sign of the Inquisitor and her party yet. Of course, that's not strictly necessary for Cullen to do his work.

For the first few days he sticks close to the main camp, shadowing Harding (and making sure it's obvious that he's shadowing Harding, and not the other way around) and reviewing intelligence, paying special attention to the rough maps and estimated travel times between camps and landmarks. At night he retires to their tent, and it takes him a good deal of time to wind down.

It doesn't help that, given a place with more permanence, he's quick to fashion a low table and chair so that he has somewhere to write late into the night. It's not doing much for his posture, Cullen supposes, but at least the additional paperwork helps his overall mood.

[bringspeopletogether]

His first patrol doesn't last long; it takes a deliberately easy path, with intention of edifying the greener recruits who've come along (some of whom are so young they still have spots). Considering he's fairly green himself, after months of relative idleness and that ongoing asala-taar business, Alistair doesn't mind.

...all right, he doesn't mind too much.

Though if he happens to hang back a pace or two when they round a corner and crash headlong into a spider, it's -- just because he wants the younger ones to get some experience. Certainly not because everything goes a little hazy at the edges for a moment. Of course not.

He clatters into their tent, tossing his helmet aside and raking his fingers through his damp hair. Miraculously, though, he does not make a face at the desk.

(He made enough faces at that desk when Cullen slapped it together. It's mostly out of his system. Mostly.)

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen looks up at the clattering; immediately he raises his hand to rub the back of his neck. Not because of any lingering feelings of awkwardness -- this time, it's all stiffness.

Alistair seems all right. Seems like -- maybe nothing dire happened. So maybe he could --

"Report," he says in his very best Commander voice. It's ruined a little by the half smile.

[bringspeopletogether]

It's a very commanding Commander voice. Alistair approves!

Struggling not to smile, he straightens, clasps a fist to his chest, and makes a great show of clearing his throat. "One less spider in the Basin, Commander."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Well done." He puts his pen down carefully, so as not to splatter ink, and turns to face Alistair. "At ease."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair grins, relaxing out of the salute.

And goes one step further by flopping into a graceless seat on the floor of the tent. The desk is just low enough that if he sits down, he can wrangle his folded arms onto a clear spot and hook his chin over them -- which he does, immediately.

"Reports going well?"

[howtoactfereldan]

If Alistair is willing to pile himself on the furnishings, however crude, then things can't have gone badly, Cullen figures.

"Well enough," he says, with a modicum of cheer. "I've just about got a handle on things, I think. Means I can get out and see things for myself."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Excellent," says Alistair. He lowers his voice conspiratorially. "I just heard someone make a report that there were spiders out there. Tread cautiously, ser."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Yes, I greatly trust that particular source of intelligence," Cullen says.

And then, smirking: "Fortunately there's someone in my party who's very fond of them. Can't get enough. Apparently it's mutual. I plan to bring him wherever I go."

[bringspeopletogether]

"What intriguing news." Cheerful, as he claims a little more space on the desk. "Do tell me more."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Do you know, he's even spent a great deal of time in the Deep Roads? Apparently they're full of spiders. He speaks quite fondly of the friends he made among them."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Really."

He's struggling not to laugh.

"Did they accept him as one of their own and crown him their king?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Mm, no. He's not one for kings." Cullen gives Alistair a fond, crooked smile, and rests his hand on Alistair's head for a moment, crown-like. "But they did accord him a place of honor and gave him a medal or two. And a few rousing speeches. Full of hissing."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's own smile warms.

"Well, I'm very glad he got the recognition he deserved," he says. "Even if those medals were probably covered in webbing."

Beat.

Thoughtfully, "Makes them much easier to stick on the chest, I suppose."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Quite. And so I'm counting on him to take point along the river. We're trying diplomacy first."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Seems like a wise choice, Commander."

His eyes drift closed, briefly.





"Things went a little -- " He frees one hand long enough to wiggle it beside his head, as if miming the blurry, hazy feeling. "For a moment. Not long, though. Likely just first-day nerves as much as anything."

[howtoactfereldan]

He rests his hand on Alistair's head again, thumb brushing along his temple. "Sounds promising." Quiet. "You're out again tomorrow?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Yes. For a longer span, most likely. I expect I'll stay with the new recruits again, but they did well today."

A faint smile.

"I think I picked up at least ten new swears in Orlesian from the youngest one, after we found that spider, but he composed himself handily."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen laughs. "Good man. Sending any of them to Kieran?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"At least three or four." He grins. "I'll hide them in the margins so Morrigan doesn't notice."

Alistair's crafty like that.

(Morrigan will totally notice within five seconds.)

[howtoactfereldan]

That... is what Cullen is thinking as well.

He pats Alistair's shoulder. "That's..."

Pause.

"Good luck," he says.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair wrinkles his nose. "I'm sensing a distinct lack of faith on your part," he complains, good-naturedly.

[howtoactfereldan]

"I think there are more secure ways to go about getting the list to him." A crooked smile. "Dorian or Varric would be happy to assist, I think. Or Leliana, if you'd rather. But I also wonder whether Morrigan would mind too much."

[bringspeopletogether]

"...She probably wouldn't," admits Alistair, closing his eyes again. "Maker knows Kieran's probably heard his fair share of Orlesian swearing already. At most I'll get a glare once we're home."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Which you'd get no matter what."

He returns to lightly stroking Alistair's hair.

"Little risk. Significant reward."