[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

[bringspeopletogether]

"Leaving the board wide open for some unscrupulous character to sneak in and steal all the pawns."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...who did you have in mind?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"You take Kieran's side of the board, I'll take Dorian's?"

Innocent.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen lightly tugs a tuft of Alistair's hair.

"I'm an extremely scrupulous character, Theirin."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Right, yes, how could I forget." He chuckles. "What if, as Kieran and Dorian just happened to be distracted, you realized we needed every chess pawn in Skyhold for very important Inquisition reasons?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Dorian would turn all that profanity on me," he points out. "It would undermine my authority, and then I suspect he might try to burn my coat."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I suppose we can't have that. It's a very nice coat."

He turns his head, resting his cheek on his arms.

"Both fearsome and an excellent pillow when required."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...is that a hint?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair laughs. "No. Just an observation. I wouldn't be so cruel as to make you give up your coat."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Don't burn it or otherwise ruin it, and you may feel free to make use of it."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair brightens, lifting his head.

With such enthusiasm that it can't be anything other than a joke: "Can I wear it on patrol tomorrow?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"Of course not," he says, affronted. "Spiders might ruin it."

[bringspeopletogether]

"Aw."

He droops over his arms.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen pats his head.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair takes a moment to lean into the touch -- not luxuriating, quite, but close.




"So." He peeks up at Cullen. "You know I have to ask. When was the last time you left this tent?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"A few hours ago," he says, mildly enough. "I do have people to meet with, you know."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair pulls a face -- it's a milder version of the faces he made when Cullen assembled the desk -- but doesn't press further.

"What would you like me to do for you while I'm here?" he asks instead.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen looks alarmed, then mildly disgruntled.

He sits up straight, which has the side effect of pulling away from Alistair. "You're not here to be my adjutant."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's brow creases; he straightens in kind, though it's diminished somewhat by his chin barely clearing the top of the desk.

"I know," he says. Doesn't sigh, much as he'd like to. "That's not how I meant it."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen raises his eyebrows in (slightly skeptical) question.

[bringspeopletogether]

He lifts his shoulders in a small, faintly helpless shrug. His mouth quirks.

"More like checking in as Double Commander, I suppose."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...my turn to report, then."

With a faint smile, Cullen relaxes again, and begins to take off his vambraces. "Yes, I've eaten. I've gone outside in the last six hours. In the next day or two I'll accompany Lieutenant Farrow along the river to visit our camps there. At some point I hope to see the Inquisitor, but it's not a need at this point in time. Then I'll pay a visit to Stone-Bear Hold, I'll no doubt be invited to participate in feats of strength which I will do my damndest to avoid, and then I'll visit the treetop camps on my way back here. At which point, Farrow and Harding and I will make some decisions about the Inquisition's needs in the area and how best we can maintain our presence here to protect Professor Kenric's interests while strengthening our relationship with our Avvar allies. And then, Double Commander, we get to go home."

[bringspeopletogether]

As Cullen delivers his report, Alistair settles his chin back on his arms, smile growing.

"Excellent news, Commander," he says once he's done, as gravely as he can. "I'm glad to hear it. However, I do have one important question about a matter you've mentioned there."

He untucks one hand long enough to raise a finger.

"Will the feats of strength be shirtless?"

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen looks up in the middle of removing a pauldron. "What difference does that make?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Cheerful: "It'll let me know how much time I need to take out of my busy Double Commander schedule to observe the proceedings."

Beat.

"Unless you successfully avoid it, in which case the answer is 'none.'"